Book Review: Nowhere but Up

I'm not sure why I picked up this book to read.  I guess it was just curiosity.  It was a relatively quick read and what a story!  The amount of trauma and abuse she experienced at such a young age is quite unbelievable.  As a teen mom with a drug and alcohol dependence issue she was trying to overcome, God just wouldn't give up on her.  At one point she intentionally made a decision to just write God off.  She was frustrated with the fact that she had fallen back into her old ways of drugs and alcohol and assumed God wasn't present.  But He was and He just kept showing Himself to her in a variety of ways that were just too coincidental.  So amazing.  She sure has a great testimony.  It was interesting to read about how Justin came to be so famous too.  He was a talented little guy from a very young age . . . a real natural. 

Anyway, I was pleasantly surprised by this book.  It’s an interesting read and great proof that no matter how far we fall away from God, He will never give up on us.  

Mondrian Art

Today we learned about the artist Piet Mondrian.  I told the kids a little bit about his life - information I learned from this website.  We talked about some of the different styles he used throughout his life.  We focused on this particular painting - one of his most famous.  

I got the idea from this site and thought it was perfect because of Valentine's Day this week.  So the kids created their own Mondrian hearts.  First they cut out a heart out of white paper.  They used a ruler and pencil to draw the lines on the heart.  Then they traced over the pencil lines with a black oil pastel.  I gave them a choice to use either markers or pencil crayons . . . they all chose markers.  They coloured in random squares/rectangles with red, blue and yellow and left some of them white.  

Here are the finished pieces.  I was happy with how they all turned out.  

Austin's masterpiece

Samara's masterpiece

Victoria's masterpiece

Denver's masterpiece

Book Review: Cutting for Stone

This is one of those books that has been on my radar for a while.  Then when a friend mentioned it again, I got right onto the library website to reserve it.  I'm glad I did.  It’s such a good book.  I loved the way each character was developed throughout the story and by the end, I felt like I knew them all so well.  My favourite part is that the book takes place mostly in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  There were so many places and scenes and names that I recognized from being there.  I gained more insight into some Ethiopian history too.  The book takes place at a hospital in Ethiopia and a few of the characters are surgeons.  So there are a lot of medical details.  If you have a weak stomach, some of the details surrounding the medical conditions and surgical procedures can be a bit intense at times.  The characters in the book go through a lot of “tough stuff” for lack of a better way to put it . . . major trials that bring them closer as family and friends.  I'm being kind of vague about the details because I don’t want to give away any of the story and ruin it for anyone.  Overall it was a great book.  I have to admit though, it took me forever to read it – not because I was ever uninterested or bored throughout it, but just because it’s a really long book.  Definitely worth the read though.  

The Big Melt

Notice I didn't say the big meltdown??  Although we have those around here sometime too!  LOL!  

Anyway, it was warm and rainy yesterday so a lot of our beautiful white stuff melted.  Oh so sad.  I was hoping it would last for more than a few days but I guess not.  But thankfully there was still enough snow for Austin to get outside and make a snowman.  I'm hoping it's not the last snowman that will show up in our yard this season.  

Poor Frodo.  When he goes outside now to "do his business" he growls and barks at this stranger that has invaded his territory.  Oh Frodo . . . it's not alive you silly dog!  

Optical Illusion Art

Saw this idea here and wanted to try it with the kids.  It's always nice to have an art project to work on while we're doing our read alouds.  The kids drew the lines first using a sharpie marker.  Samara did it with pencil first and then traced them with marker.  Then the spaces were coloured in with markers as well.  

 

Victoria took it one step further and added some shading.  If you look closely you can see it.  It adds a nice touch to the finished project.  Here are all the finished projects.  I think they all turned out looking really cool.  Good job guys!  

Austin's finished piece

Victoria's finished piece

Samara's finished piece

Oh and Denver was busy working on his own art project . . . tracing his hands.  

Great Canadian winter

I was away all day yesterday at a conference so I missed out on a day full of playing in the snow.  As Mike was making dinner, I scooted out to take some pictures of the kids.  Victoria had made herself a fort dug out of the snow bank.  This is what I remember doing all the time as a kid.  I wish we still had winters with as much snow as we had when we were little.  It's so much fun!  

Samara and Austin worked together to make a cave for themselves to crawl into.  Shortly after this picture was taken, the roof caved in . . . but it was fun while it lasted.  

So far . . .

. . . we have 28 cm and it's still comin' down!