Yesterday we officially started our letter of the week. We are a couple weeks behind, but just the other day Braden told me he is ready to learn his letters. He knows how to say the ABC's but now we are more intense.
I came across No time for flashcards a couple months ago and knew it was the perfect accompaniment to our Sonlight P4/5 schedule. I've been rather lax the past couple weeks with the prescholers, and of course, they feel that. They LOVE doing school. LOVE it!!! Can I emphasize that enough? And their stuff is tons of fun to do so no wonder they like it.
We started out with A is for Alligator and Zach did all the artwork on the dry erase easel which transferred its home from the storage barn to our living in the past couple days. Yeah, the easel was so lonely out there, it needed some little children for company and decided to walk into the house. *smile*
Since Merv had the camera for the day, we waited until this morning to capture our artwork. I asked Braden to pick out an 'A' in a book, and he promptly showed me the 'A' on the side of the easel. He's a visual person and I thought it was pretty neat he picked that out.
Being inspired last week in PA, we've been starting our days a little earlier than we had been prior. 7:30 A.M. is still early, but late to other children going to school by bus. So I pulled out the Bullfrogs & Butterflies God is My Friend CD and played the "Good Morning' song every day so far:
*rooster crowing*
Good morning, good morning, good morning
It's time to rise and shine
Good morning, good morning, good morning
I hope you're feelin' fine
The sun is just above the hill
Another day for us to fill
With all things we love to do
Oh can't you hear, it's calling you
Doodle-de-doo, doodle-de-doo, doodle-de-do.
Good morning, good morning, good morning
It's time to rise and shine
Good morning, good morning, good morning
I hope you're feelin' fine
Come on and get up, get out of bed
You gotta get up, you sleepyhead
The day is dawning just for you
And all your dreams are coming true
Doodle-de-doo, doodle-de-do, doodle-de-do.
Repeat 4 times:
Good morning, good morning, good morning
It's time to rise and shine.
Landon loves to sing and he's always the first one to pop out of bed and come downstairs dancing. This morning he looked a bit tired with those puffy eyes he's been fighting all week. But he had a song in his step even if he was tired. That reminds me of the song "Wake Up Dancin' " sung by Gordon Mote.
VERSE 1
He pulled that straight-back wicker chair
Up next to grandpa's bed
And with a voice left weak by pain
His grandpa softly said
Could you get my cowboy boots
And that gold pocket watch of mine
And bring me my Sunday suit
With the vest that's satin-lined
When he saw the sadness in his grandson's eyes
He said I've got to be prepared
Because I'm going home tonight.
CHORUS
I'm gonna waltz across the Heavens
While a band of angels play
I'm gonna two-step on some stardust
A million miles away
You'll never have a new beginning
Until you reach the end
And these old legs are gonna come to life again
Gonna wake up dancin'.
VERSE 2
He said if it's not too much trouble
There's one thing left to do
Since I'm going to see your grandma
Could you get her favorite shoes
The ones with those ribbons
Red and trimmed in white
The last time she had them on
I believe we danced all night
And why she left them here it's plain to see
Your grandma never danced with anyone but me.
CHORUS 2
And we're gonna waltz across the Heavens
While a band of angels play
We're gonna two-step on some stardust.
The girls said the 'Good Morning' song made them want to sleep rather than jump out of bed!
I first heard about Bullfrogs and Butterflies when I discovered WDAC request time. When I was still at home, I would sneak the radio and play the station when Dad would leave the house in the evening. Mom loved to hear the music herself and she never put her foot down and said, "No". I learned a lot of new songs that way.
You see, radio was forbidden and acapella music was the only music the church allowed. But it hadn't always been that way. The rule had changed sometime when I was age 7-10. As a very young girl, instrumental music was allowed on tapes and 8 tracks. I was fatuated with singing and music. I still LOVE to sing!
One day, the tapes with musical instruments disappeared. I asked my Mom what happened to them and she never gave me a solid answer, although a few of her favorites showed up every now and then. I was always sad that my favorite 8 track was destroyed. It featured the song, "Try a Little Kindness" which was a long time favorite of mine. I could never understand why Mom was sad and why she and dad never explained to me what had happened. A simple answer to me like 'the church agreed to this' may have pacified me.
I've had a lifetime dream of playing the piano. We had a friend from NY who had offered to give us her antique pump organ which played out songs using sheets with punched out holes. I was so sad that my Dad wouldn't accept it as a gift. But he was faithful to the church rules. I had a hard time getting over that one. I could never understand why the church changed the rule except that some had been involved with playing worldly music before being a Christian, and now they wanted no parts of it in their church. I always wondered why everyone had to suffer with them. I guess it was part of Amish-Mennonite tradition.
We're both thankful our children don't need to go through that. And I thank the Lord for the gift of music! It is an honor to sing for my Saviour. The atmosphere in our home is better with music than without. Music creates peace and much joy!
Amber has had a dream to play violin for years! And Allison has had a dream to play piano. Up to 2-1/2 years ago, we were still attending a church where musical instruments was a no-no. I could never understand why not, when you could have them on cds. Why we didn't join a church before that allowed it is beyond me. I only know that God had an awful lot of pruning to do in this lady's heart!
Tonight our dreams are coming true. We finally got to attend our first lesson. The girls' teacher is a sweet 73 year old lady with a Long Island accent. We had a blast hearing her talk nonstop. She and her husband have 7 children. She took her first violin lesson at 62 years old. I believe we're in for a fun ride! She called me Mommy. Her 'official' music teacher name is Nanny. She calls her husband daddy and he calls her mommy. It is too cute.
Our first lesson was on rhythm and she got us all including 'Mommy' and the boys involved. Merv was at work so the whole family was along. She said we can all come every time. That way the boys learn free while she teaches the girls.
Two rhythms we need to practice are:
Mississippi hot dog and Jack Rabbit eats carrots.
She is teaching the Suzuki method which involves parents and the children. It will take lots of practice. Violin takes about 7 years to learn and piano 3-4 years according to her.
Our next step is to buy a keyboard and I've always wanted one with weighted keys. She recommended the Casio Privia so with Black Friday and Cyber Monday coming on, we are searching for some deals. God has blessed Merv with work and there's a light at the end of the tunnel. God is faithful!
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