We continued with our Native American studies this week. It all started with a drumming circle at church. The children loved it! Skye was drumming and dancing. It continued all week long.
We learned more about the true story of Thanksgiving. Used some really neat interactivesites. Make and learned about dreamcatchers.
On Wednesday night we went to the 22nd annual Interfaith Thanksgiving celebration at a local Detroit church. We watched calls to prayer in different faiths, Hindu dancers, calls to meditation and more. It was great fun and I was really very happy with the length of time the kids were able to sit and (mostly) enjoy.
We watched the parade on TV. Not quite the same But had a lovely dinner with family. Then off to a retreat to the cottage. Unplug. Relax. Knit, read, sit by the fire, take long walks, visit with family, tie flies, play games and just relax! My memories of this short but sweet vacation will warm me through the winter.
Thanksgiving 2008 Pictures
am I the only person who doesn’t care about the Black Friday? The waking up early, the standing in line, the crowds (mobs) of people. All for what? To spend money! No thank you, I’ll just stay home and buy nothing.
I’d decided nothing good can come from checking my email before church on Sunday’s. So, together, Paul and I decided that we will turn off the computers Saturday night and leave them off till the kids fall asleep Sunday night. Family day. No computers. Unplug.
Are these updates boring? Should I just skip them? It’s nice to have a record of what we’ve done…hmmm something to think about.
After much struggle with what to do with a Native American study (to supplement what they are learning in RE) we landed here
A nice unit study that we will continue with next week while we learn about Thanksgiving, the right way.
Some highlights;
Carter wanting to create a picture just like Little Gopher. So he did, everyday! We used crayons and watercolors.
Squishing fruit and veg to create colors.
Listening to Native American music on YouTube
Lots of many books and talks about Native Americans.
Carter is still writing love notes to me. I should save them all for when he’s older and won’t say I love you anymore!
A good friend suggested we label everything for Carter. So I did, he loves reading the words (chalkboard, bathroom, mirror…).
On a more personal front;
I made lotion (so easy!)
Took lots of walks outside (despite the cold!)
Went to a clothing swap (how fun!!)
The kids and I spent my Grandma’s 87th birthday with her. What a treat!
We went to a parade, at night!!
Today is Saturday and we are having a pj day! Relaxing and resting up for a busy next week!
We ‘rowed’ Owl Moon this week. Learning (lightly) about Owls and Moons and having lots of fun along way. Highlights; the kid ‘whoo who whooo’ing all week. Carter loving the learning about the moon (including a full moon this week!). In a few weeks we will go on an Owl Prowl and hopefully see our own owl!
Also this week; we baked bread, had a fun meeting with lots of friends, took a long and beautiful walk in the woods, had our last open gym class, visited with some playful kitties, and went to The Henry Ford Museum.
On the home front, Skye started seriously eating this week. Expect a growth spurt soon! The kids are learning about Hopi Native Americans in UU RE. They’ve made Kachina dolls and drums. We had our first snowfall, which means we watch Polar Express! Carter wanted a scarf so he chose the yarn and I proceeded to knit him the uglies scarf on the planet. But don’t tell him, he loves it. Even asked to pose by the tree and take a picture!
Lots of great reviews on movies and games. Great info for parents so they can make an informed choice about what they are watching. But the biggest bonus is the age rating. If Carter REALLY wants to watch a move (Star Wars) we just go there and agree (most of the time) with whatever they say. He accepts it!
This is how our UU @ Home looks. We try for weekly, but actually get to it about once a month, maybe.
We sit in the living room. I’ve gathered anything we might need for the lesson (books, supplies). We light the chalice and an incense. After we say this.
After that we do our UU bag (thanks Sally!). Each items represents one of the 7 UU Principles.
We read a chapter from the book.
Then we follow the lesson plan.
This time we made personal torches and read about The Grumps. We had a great talk about what makes us feel the light inside. And what we can do to help others feel their light.
We blow out the chalice and that’s it!
Sometimes if the lesson is long we might do some yoga or other movement activity to get us moving.
We’ve been doing these in the evening while Paul is home!
Warning; This is my personal rant. This is what works for MY family. If your family isn’t doing this, my place is not to judge you. We can all only do what we feel is best. Ok, now on with the blog….
Skye’s all girl. It amazes me how she’s naturally attracted to girly stuff even though she’s surrounded by boy toys. I have to admit that I’ve kept her away from the Disney Princess game. I didn’t BAN it entirely but I don’t go out of my way to encourage it either. For LOTS of reasons including; the sense of entitlement that comes with being a ‘princess’, we won’t be playing that game here, no one is better than anyone else. No one is entitled to anything. You have to want it, to work at it. You don’t just get ‘it’ by being cute. It’s not good to just get everything you want in life. Sure it would be nice, but you have to have some disappointments. But the biggest reason is the consumerism. I do fight hard to keep my kids out of the marketers hands (and my wallet too!).
In early 2000, when Andy Mooney was hired by Disney’s Consumer Products division to help combat dropping sales, the idea for the Disney Princess franchise was born. Soon after joining Disney, Mooney attended his first Disney on Ice show. While waiting in line, he found himself surrounded by young girls dressed as princesses. “They weren’t even Disney products. They were generic princess products,” he mused. Soon after realizing the demand, the Disney Princess line was formed.
Despite limited advertising and no focus groups, the various Disney Princess items released became a huge success. Sales at Disney Consumer Products rose from $300 million in 2001 to $3 billion in 2006. Today there are over 25,000 products based on the franchise
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So, needless to say I don’t need their marketing practices influencing my family or my children. I’d like to think of us as more than consumers. Once we start consuming it starts consuming us. We become monsters, wanting more, wanting it all. Well, I just think there is more depth to life than that. Happiness comes from within. Not Target.
All that said…. the other day at the library Skye sees a CD-ROM with THE DISNEY PRINCESSES on the cover. She says ‘mama, that my size’ in other words, that’s for me!! I said OK, let’s pick ONE and check out a book on her. So she picked Ariel. She wasn’t really interested in the book, but oh well. I guess I realised I can’t keep it from her forever. And I do expect that from about 3 to 6 or whenever she will be interested. And I will allow it, in limited quantities and highly supervised.
BTW, don’t think Carter gets out free on this. If we go see a movie, we DON’T buy every piece of garbage that is associated with the movie. First of all, it’s garbage, likely made in China (with unfair work conditions and lead paint!), and it’s play time is about…hmmm.. a day?!?! Maybe?!?! Now, if we are still interested in a movie, we can rent a game or maybe find a book based on it.
But had a lovely dinner with family. Then off to a retreat to the cottage. Unplug. Relax. Knit, read, sit by the fire, take long walks, visit with family, tie flies, play games and just relax! My memories of this short but sweet vacation will warm me through the winter.
