Three Little Jewells
Archive for the month “July, 2010”
A Present
We were so blessed to receive a beautiful gift for Lyra in the mail when we returned home from Virginia. I grew up in Upstate New York and our family was friends with the Ellis family. I took my first steps in their living room. Whenever I go home, I always go visit Becky (the mother of the family). She still lives in their beautiful home and I love going there to visit. Becky is a master quilter- she sews the most gorgeous quilts you can imagine by hand- they are truly works of art. She has sent each of the children a baby quilt- each quilt is just as beautiful as the last. I should get a picture of all 4 quilts together. At any rate, here is Lyra wrapped in her new quilt.
(This is not the best picture because you can’t see the design Becky quilted- I’ll have to take another picture of it later.)
Lyra, 3 1/2 months old, 7/12/10
L
Virginia Trip
Saturday, 7/10/2010 was the Jewell Family Reunion in Shawsville, Va. I wish I would have taken more pictures- sadly, I only took one. Lyra won the Youngest Person in Attendance award- she got one of Aunt Barbara’s GORGEOUS blankets! (We won last time, too, with Savvy!)
I took a picture of Lyra with Carl Tarpley (married Etta Mae Jewell?)- he won the Oldest Person in Attendance award.
After leaving the reunion we headed to Luray, Va for two nights. We rented a cabin for Saturday & Sunday nights. We got up there Saturday evening & ate it a fabulous Mexican restaurant for dinner. On Sunday we went to Luray Caverns, the Car & Carriage Museum and went to the 45 minute evening concert at the Luray Singing Tower. We missed some things so we’ll probably go back after the next reunion & do the history museum, the garden maze, zoo, etc.
On the way back to our cabin after the Luray Singing Tower, a black bear ran in front of our van! It was dusk & she/he was heading towards the river, probably for an evening snack. For the rest of the time we had the kids play up on the deck and not out in the yard. Pretty cool to see one out in nature though- not at a zoo, etc.
Reflection in the underground lake!
Luray Singing Tower
At the Singing Tower concert.
Nathan loved this $2.99 plastic sword we got him at Luray Caverns.
We left Luray, Va on Monday morning and headed down to Buena Vista, Va where Kip’s Mom’s family lives. We stopped for a visit with Kip’s Aunt Dotoozie (his Mother’s sister).
July 2010: Pictures at Bicentennial Gardens
On Saturday, July 3 we had family pictures taken at the Bicentennial Gardens in Greensboro. Mary is 6 years old, Nathan is 5 years old, Savannah is (almost) 3 years old and Lyra is 3 months old. We are so pleased with the beautiful job our photographer did- I know we will treasure these pictures for years to come!
More Sleeping- Notes on Mary & Lyra
Thursday, 7/8/10- Lyra is 3 1/2 months old (15 weeks).
Kip & I have been growing increasingly suspicious that Lyra is like Mary in temperment. As a baby Mary was SO interested in people and what was going on around her that you could NOT feed her if there was anyone in the room or even if the television was on. She would constantly pop on & off the bottle, turning & looking anytime she heard anyone talking. She did this from very early- at 4 or 5 days old she was doing this. If we had company over & it was time to feed her, I would have to take her back into her bedroom and feed her in there. Otherwise she was so distracted by talking, etc. that she couldn’t eat and then she would start crying, almost hysterical because she was so hungry. But as soon as I took her to a quiet room she would settle down and eat voraciously. She also really wanted her crib to sleep in fairly early- by 4 months old it was the only place she would sleep and she wouldn’t sleep without her “meme”- the blanket Great Gramma Johnston made her. I remember one time when Mary was 4 or 5 months old my sister, Sarah, stayed with Mary while I had an OB appointment (I was pregnant with Nathan by the time Mary was 2 months old!). I told Sarah that when she put Mary down for her morning nap to be sure to cover her with the meme because she wouldn’t sleep without it. I think Sarah thought I was full of nonsense since most babies do not attach to anything that early. When I came home that afternoon she said to me, “you know, Kelly, you’re right about the meme! I put Mary down for her nap & she cried for 45 minutes! I couldn’t get her settled until I finally gave her the meme and she went to sleep right away!” Also, Nathan & Savvy were pretty portable, sleep wise, for quite a long time. They would sleep well in the infant carrier or stroller and slept fine in the playpen or anywhere out in the house. Mary would cry & cry- it was just to much stimulation for her. As soon as I put her in her crib she would do the “tuck & roll” as Kip and I called it. She’d grab hold of that meme in her little fist, roll to the side a little and she was out.
Lyra, 7/3/2010
SO- On to Lyra! We have been thinking for some time that possibly the tv and Kip & I talking in the evening was keeping her awake. She wasn’t falling asleep on our shoulders as well as she had early on. She’s been having a really difficult time settling down for naps during the day- I’ve been keeping her downstairs with us during the day & I think the noise and commotion of the other 3 kids has been disturbing her. We decided to see what would happen if we started to occasionally put her down in her crib in the nursery. On Sunday, we put her in the crib when she got fussy in the late afternoon and we couldn’t get her to settle. She went right to sleep and slept for an hour, hour and a half or so. On Tuesday evening, we were were putting the big kids to bed and we set Lyra down in her crib just to free up our hands for the other 3 kids pajamas, teeth, etc. We came back 10 minutes later and she was sound asleep. This was around 7:30pm. Around 9:30 or 10pm, we got her up, changed her diaper & I did her “dream” feed. Then we put her down in the bassinette in our room and she slept until 5:30am
Last night, (Wed. 7/7/10) we decided to see what would happen if we skipped the dream feed. I gave her one last nursing at around 7:30, changed her diaper, put on her pj’s and laid her down in her crib by 8pm. She slept all night in her crib, waking up at 5:20am for her morning feeding. I must confess, I am SO disappointed! I really, really liked having her to ourselves in the evening. Kip & I enjoy the 1-on1 time with her and I like having her close to me in the night. BUT, obviously that is more about what I want then what she apparently needs. 
SO- although I expect there will be a few bumps here & there, I think she will be sleeping in her crib now with an 8pm ish bedtime.
Lyra in her crib, 7/7/2010
First Quarter Lesson Plans-Fall 2010
I’m posting these for B.. to see- hope this gives you some sort of idea of how I do my planning for History and other extras. For Bible, Math, Phonics, Grammar, Handwriting & Science I use the “do the next thing” method. 
Week 1: Twilight of the Western Roman Empire
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 3,6,16)
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Alaric the Visigoth, Attila the Hun, Genseric the Vandal, Theodoric the Ostrogoth and Clovis)
-Brigid’s Cloak
-Saint Valentine
Do Make a “Valentine” card for someone you love and mail it to them.
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 1
Art
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Bulgaria, pg. 30
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 325 Nicean Council
453 Attlia the Hun dies
Week 2: Byzantine Empire and the Eastern Orthodox Church
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 4-5, 7, 38-39)
-Life in a Medieval Monastery
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Justinian the Great, The Two Monks: Benedict and Gregory)
-Caedmon’s Song
-Patrick: Patron Saint of Ireland
Do Make a Byzantine mosaic using graham crackers, white frosting and mini m&m’s for snack.
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 1
Art Look at pictures of Byzantine mosaics- link saved under bookmarks.
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Children of the Streets, pg. 36
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 1204 Crusaders capture Constantinople
Week 3: Byzantine Empire and the Rise of Islam
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 8-11, 62-first column only)
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Muhammad and Harun-Al-Rashid)
-The Legend of the Persian Carpet by Tomie DePaola
Do Watch the movie “Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves” (in Netflix queue)
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 1
Art
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Druzes, pg. 52
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 570-632 Muhammad
Week 4: The Making of Medieval Europe: Charlemagne
*Maybe switch weeks 4 and 5*
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 18, 22, 28-29)
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Charles Martel, P epin, Charlemagne and Egbert the Saxon)
-The Adventures of King Arthur
-Sir Cumfrence and the First Round Table (check the math section in the school room)
Do -Days of Knights and Damsels, pgs. 69-70 Make a family tree.
-Have Daddy demonstrate juggling and try to learn. (K&D, pg. 97)
-Watch Disney’s “The Sword and the Stone” (in Netflix queue)
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 2
Art
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Egypt, pg. 54
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 742-814 Charlemagne
Week 5: Developments During the Viking Age
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 12-15, 17, 20, 58)
-The Vikings by Shuter
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Rollo the Viking, Alfred the Great, Henry the Fowler, Canute the Great, El Cid, Edward the Confessor, William the Conqueror)
-The Tomten
Do -Watch video- “Viking Ships 1” on Youtube (saved in bookmarks)
-Movie- “Vikings: Journey to New Worlds” on Netflix queue
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 2
Art
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Ethiopia, pg. 56
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 793 Viking Age begins
1066 William the Conqueror invades and conquers England
Week 6: Medieval Life: Feudalism
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 19, 24-27, 34-first column only, 56)
-Knights by Turnbull
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry IV)
-The Making of a Knight
-See Inside Castles by Daynes
Do -Get out castle & knight playset and put it up in the schoolroom.
-Visit the Renaissance Faire in Huntersville, NC
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 2
Art
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Greece, pg. 66
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 1081-1106 Henry IV is Holy Roman Emperor
1073-1085 Pope Gregory Reforms the Church
1170 Thomas a Becket is murdered in Canterbury Cathedral
Week 7: The High Middle Ages
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 23, 35-36, 40, 42-43, 54-55, 61)
-You Wouldn’t Want to Be a Crusader!
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Peter the Hermit, Frederick Barbarossa, Henry the Second and His Sons, Louis IX, St. Francis and St. Dominic)
-The Minstrel in the Tower
-Francis: The Poor Man of Assissi
-Cathedral by David Macaulay
Do K&D, pgs. 127-129: Learn to embroider (possibly ask Susanna to come and give us a lesson in exchange for a meal?). Mary’s project? My project- embroider a tracing of Mary’s hand. Redwork?
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 3
Art
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Gypsies, pg. 72
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 1096 First Crusade
1189 Richard I “The Lionheart” rules England
1208 Francis of Assissi
1232 First Inquisition
Week 8: The Mongols, Marco Polo, and the Far East
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 37, 52-53, 66- second column, 75)
-Marco Polo
-Chanticleer and the Fox
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Marco Polo and Tamerlane)
Do -K& D, pg. 121- Maps: Create a map of our home or our street.
-Using Nathan’s compass, give the kids a map and have them search for something hidden on our property (a snack or toy from the dollar store)- do this with Daddy.
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 3
Art
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Hazara, pg. 76
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 1206 Genghis Khan
1254-1324 Marco Polo
1368- China, Ming Dynasty begins
Week 9: The Reshaping of Medieval Europe
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pgs. 21, 3-33, 34- second column, 41, 44-51, 57, 59)
-The Story of Joan of Arc
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Robert Bruce, Edward the Black Prince, William Tell and Arnold Von Winkelreid, Henry V, Joan of Arc)
-The Squire and the Scroll
Do
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 3
Art
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- India, pg. 84
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 1347 Black Death in Europe
1412 Joan of Arc
Week 10: Early Lights of the Reformation
Read -Usborne Internet Linked Medieval World (pg. 89)
-The Renaissance by Shuter (pgs. 10-11)
-Johan Gutenberg and the Amazing Printing Press
-Famous Men of the Middle Ages (Gutenberg and Warwick the Kingmaker)
-Marguerite Makes A Book
Do -K&D, pgs. 116-117- Make a Book
-K&D, pgs. 110-111- Decorate the borders of pages in the book you made.
-K&D, pg. 118- Secret Letters in Invisible Ink
Geography “A Child’s Geography” by Ann Voskamp- Chapter 4
Art Look at pictures of real illuminated manuscripts- link saved in bookmarks.
Pray “Window on the World” by Spraggett- Iraq, pg. 88
Poetry “A Child’s Garden of Verses” by Robert Louis Stevenson
Timeline 1391-1468 Johan Gutenberg
1382 Bible translated into English
Uncle Ron & Aunt Alice
6/26/2010
Aunt Alice and Uncle Ron were here visiting the weekend of 6/26-6/28. “Aunt” Alice is really my first cousin, once removed. She and my Dad are first cousins. Alice’s father was Charlie Fairchild, the brother of my Dad’s father, Sam Fairchild. (NOT Charlie Fairchild, my Dad’s brother. Sam named his son after his brother. Two different Charles Fairchilds!) Aunt Alice had three daughters and was pregnant with a fourth when her husband was injured in a car accident. At the hospital they found he had cancer and it had spread through his entire body. He died within a week. It really was horrible for Aunt Alice. A few years later she met Uncle Ron. They married and he raised all four girls as his own. Uncle Ron was a public school teacher for years. He retired at 60 and then he and Aunt Alice bought an airstream trailer and traveled the country for 23 years! Uncle Ron is 83 years old and Aunt Alice is now 71 years old. This past year Uncle Ron decided that towing the trailer was getting to be to much for him so they sold the trailer and settled into a place in Florida. They drove to NY to spend the summer at Uncle Ron’s brother’s home- Uncle Bob Archambo. We were so thrilled to have them stay with us (in the past they always stayed in their Airstream over at Hagan-Stone Park campground). We had a great visit.
I took some pictures of Uncle Ron & Aunt Alice with the girls. I didn’t get one of Nathan- he was at work with Kip.
Aunt Alice holding Mary & Savannah
Uncle Ron holding Lyra
