Sick in Bed

Sweet has been sick in bed for the last two days.. Yesterday she played the guitar almost all day. She has been yearning to learn to play and being stuck in bed gave her all the time in the world to learn. She has learned to pluck Jingle Bells, Good King Wenceslas, The Caisson Song, Beautiful Brown eyes, Little Brown Jug, Lightly Row, Kum Ba Yah, Down in the Valley, Blue Tail Fly, Aura Lee, Good Night Ladies, She'll Be Comin' Round The Mountain and Are You Sleeping.

She also took pictures while in bed. I really like this one.


(c) 2008-2009 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines

Doe a Deer, a Female Deer

I am a sucker for The Sound of Music. This is my cup of tea. Enjoy!

Taps

Dill had the honor of playing Taps on his ocarina this week at the burial service for my grandpa. Unfortunately the wind was blowing terribly and it can barely be heard on the video but I am posting it anyway. He was so honored. My great aunt (my grandpa's sister) said she didn't shed a tear until he played. That was very touching. And best of all, I am sure my grandpa loved it.




(C) 2009 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines
Rights Reserved

Helping a Friend

The picklets were asked to help their friend from ensemble with a school project. She is a junior and had to give an 8-10 minute speech on Moravian and German music in the 16-1800's. The picklets were her audio/visual props.

This was an interesting experience. Sweet has never been in a classroom setting. The boys haven't been for years. We had to sit through morning announcements (that lasted 5 minutes), we walked the halls with 9-12th graders (all looking at us like we had horns growing out our ears) and we got to see the childish attitude of teenagers. You should have heard some of them grumbling about the "cool" props and laughing at the funny clothing the picklets wore. The teacher had to shhh them more than once. It was disturbing, but I guess that is what happens when you get hundreds of hormonal teenagers together with little supervision for 8 hours a day. They lose something. Oh well.

Anyway, they helped with two songs. Chip played the bass for a cereisniski (that is not spelled right but I can't remember how to spell it) while Dill and Sweet danced to it. The second song was a line dance called O Dej Nam Pane and they all danced.Their actual performance was just a little over 2 minutes but it was worth it. Helping a friend is something I have (I hope) instilled in the kiddos. And, if nothing else, it reminded me exactly why my children are homeschooled.

You can watch one of the dances.

© 2008 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines

October 3, 2008

Sweet informed me today that there is exactly 1 month until her birthday. I can't believe she is going to be 10. The years have flown by so fast.

We definitely didn't accomplish everything on my list, but that is ok. We had a pretty good day, laughed alot and learned a little too.

• daily chores
• Chip and Sweet finished their Think! projects
• practiced sign language alphabet and learned the "Now I know my ABC's" part
• practiced counting in Czech and using our fingers the Czech way...ouch! (review from Czech School)
• finished butterflies and got package ready to send
• did unplugged project for the week
• went to practice Moravian dances and singing for a friend in their ensemble to help her with a school project...they are the audio/visual part (Chip played bass for one of the songs)
• learned that in the 1600-1800's Moravian music really didn't exsit...it was part of Austria
• practiced piano
• Chip practiced bass
• Dill and Sweet practiced recorder
• jumped on trampoline
• Dill continued reading Harry Potter and finished an Animorphs he got at Goodwill
• Chip continued reading
• Sweet started reading "I got an F in Lunch"

I know there is more we (they) did, but I can't think of it right now.

Hope you all have a good weekend!

Tiki Piano Players

These little guys have been on Dill's fingers non-stop for days. They have played many a fine piano piece.

Every once in a while they start dancing to the fine music...lol
© 2008 Wicked Pickles-Homefront Lines

A Morning at Gaga's House

Yesterday we were invited to my Grandma and Grandpa's house for breakfast. We are very fortunate to be able to spend this time with them. On top of having a devine breakfast of eggs, hashbrowns, toast, bacon wrapped little smokies and juice we got to spend quality time to get to know them. The highlight was listening to Great Grandpa play the harmonica.
Of course we had to get a picture of the picklets with their Great Grandparents. What a treasure of memories.

©2008 WickedPickles-HomefrontLines

I Will Survive

Received in an email...too good not to post...Enjoy!

I WILL SURVIVE (THE FIRST YEAR OF HOMESCHOOLING)
First I was afraid
I was petrified.
Kept thinking I could never teach
'Cause I'm not certified.
But we spent so many nights
Reteaching homework that was wrong.
I grew strong,
so now I teach my kids at home!
We study math and outer space.
I just kept on despite the fear with a big smile across my face.
I bought a set of Base Ten blocks.
I bought books with answer keys.
My parents think we're nuts,
but they don't even bother me
Come on, let's go walk out the door.
We're on the road now,
'cause we're not home much anymore
My friends would laugh and say we'd be unsocialized.
I heard one mumble that I'd give up by July.
Oh no, not I!
I will survive!
As long as I know how to read
I know we'll be alright.
I've got all my life to learn.
I've got energy to burn.
and I'll survive.
I will survive.
It took all the strength I had not to fall apart.
Decided to attend a play date at the local park,
and I met oh so many moms who offered eagerly to help.
They used to cry.
Now they hold their heads up high,
and so do we!
My kids are cool!
They're not those chained up little people stuck inside at school.
So if you feel like dropping by and just expect us to be freeyou'd better call ahead first 'cause we're probably busy!

***Sung to the music "I Will Survive"

Original song:

Written by Freddie Perren and Dino Fekaris

First performed by Gloria Gaynor, October 1978

Homeschool lyrics written by Natalie Criss***

For 30 Fingers

The kids have the best piano teacher. I mean the best. She loves them, they love her. It makes for a great situation.

She asked if they would play a piano piece for the Czech School Program as their "piano recital". They tried and just couldn't get it. The notes were different, the positions were different, the music harder. She sat down with each of them and helped. They only had one week to get the song or they would not be able to play during the program.

They worked their butts off. Before Czech School, after Czech school, when we got home; they practiced, practiced, practiced. By Friday they were ready. They nailed it! Hard work, perseverance, cooperation and dedication to a great teacher...what a great learning experience!

© 2008 The Homefront Lines

Best Friends

C and her friend N spent the last week writing songs, singing the songs they wrote and making music videos of said songs. Here is 1 in a line of music videos that will appear here. I think they did a great job!

© 2008 The Homefront Lines

Beethoven's Wig

We went to the library yesterday and just lost ourselves in books, CD's and computer games. When we finally left, we had an entire cloth grocery bag full of books, books on tape/CD and music CD's.

I put one in the car CD player as soon as we got in and I tell you what, the kids love it! Beethoven's Wig has got to be one of the funniest CD's of classical music I have ever found. The beginning plays the classics's but has funny songs sung to them. The last part of the CD has the music only. What a great way to have your children not only remember the names of the composers and pieces but also a great way to have them really appreciate it!

One night on Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader someone sang the presidents song to get the right answer. I can just see one of mine singing to the tune of Beethoven's 5th..."Beethoven's Wig! Beethoven's Wig!" It just makes my heart smile!