Nursery Reveal: Mostly Completed!

It's only "mostly completed" because of our lack of a name for this little guy.  I have two blank walls because the name is involved in my plans for those walls.  Otherwise, it is finished.  Officially, it was finished two days before my due date, which is tomorrow.  Cutting it close this time, wasn't I?

I always pick an artist or work of art and draw the rest of the inspiration for the room decor from that.  Taking colors and a bit of the theme from the paintings I choose to use.  Hannah's was Degas' ballerinas.  Genevieve's was Monet's flowers.  Isaac's was Van Gogh's Starry Night.  Drew's was Paul Signac's sailboats.  For Tad, I first became obsessed with a color scheme, gray, yellow, and some turquoise.  Then I became fixated on horses.  Then the search was on for an artist that did black and white horse pictures or one that had enough highlights of yellow and turquoise to satisfy me.  This was a lot harder than I thought.  Although Degas did have a few drawings of horses I wasn't thrilled about reusing an artist from before.  Brian has a friend from veterinary school, Beau Whitaker, who is an equine vet and draws/paints horses on the side.  He even has an online gallery.  His work is displayed in several places, including Texas A&M University Vet School in the Equine Hospital.  Here is the piece I chose from his gallery, called "Morning Light."

I wanted it big enough to fill that wall and so I got a 30 x 40" canvas print.  It looks great on my freshly painted gray walls. 

Then I added embroidery hoops with fabric.  I had hoped to find more fabric in my color scheme and some with horses, but I had a hard time finding that.  I drew some horses myself and transferred (with a heat transfer pencil) onto the fabrics I found.  Then I embroidered the full horse body, and did a reverse applique for the horse head.  I may do a reverse applique of the first letter of Tad's name later on.  I looked everywhere for a clock that I liked and wasn't too pricey, but I ended up settling on a plain one for now that I plan to embellish with my own horse drawings as well.  That may or may not happen depending on how late this tadpole is.

The cool gray and yellow bag is from Home Goods.  The gray chevron changing pad is from Target.  I made the Batman hooded towel (which I will be adding a name to eventually) that is sticking out of the bag not even thinking of how the colors matched his room.

It's hard to see in this picture, but this is the embroidered full horse.

This is the reverse appliqued horse head silhouette. 

I had Brian hang these two shelves that had been in Isaac's room lower on the wall to serve as book shelves that do not require floor space because that is a luxury in this tiny room.

I found this horse Beanie Baby at a flea-market for $1.  The baby cowboy shoes were a gift to Drew from a friend.  The yellow horse on top, I found at an outlet Carter's store.  The yellow ball is something I crocheted for Drew when I was pregnant with him.

This shelf has Tad's yellow Peep that I bought him on my girls weekend away.  I had to fight for that lamp at Ikea.  It was a display and I had driven so far to get this yellow lamp.  All of the ones that showed up as "in stock" online for that store were displays.  They had only funny colors.  I asked enough people and finally someone let me buy it "As is."  

 Then, in hopes of avoiding the need to set up our second crib that we have in the basement, I accepted this hand-me-down bassinet to serve as the crib for as long as possible.  I made Tad this horse blanket out of the only horse fabric Joann's Fabric Store had in stock and some swirly minky fabric for the super soft backing.

It looks like camouflage until you take a second look.  It's a bunch of horses running.

See it now?  It has some gray, but not enough to be on the walls.

 The piece that I just finished yesterday is the mobile.  I found an inspiration here, and later I found a pattern for sale for these cute felt horses.  I sewed while I watched a favorite series with my husband most nights for a couple of weeks.  My good friend found me this cowboy hat for cheap at a party store.  I put a few holes in it and hung up my gray horses.

 The girls love to contribute to the baby's room.  Hannah mad Drewy a pillow with a lighthouse and sailboats when he was in my tummy.  This time she drew a picture of a horse.  Her German Tutor helped label his parts in German and we decided it was just what we need to go on the name shelf that I don't have yet (since we don't have a name!  It's driving me a little crazy too.  You're not the only one.)

Right now Hannah's masterpiece is hanging out on the changing table.

Genna is a huge horse lover and somewhere along the way she was given this little kit to make a stained glass horse.  She found it a couple of weeks ago and asked if she could make it for the baby.

Genna's horse is hanging in the window.

Okay, actually this piece was the last to be finished.  I saw a Pottery Barn wall decal of a horse made out of the cursive alphabet.  It was in pink and from Pottery Barn, which Brian has a thing against Pottery Barn.  Anyway, I figured I could do a small scale pencil version of this and frame it for something extra in Taddy's room.  It took all of 15 minutes to make.  I have since moved it to the top of one of the book shelf cubbies, next to the yellow horse.

Again, thanks to my mediocre camera and photography skills, you can't really see the cursive alphabet.  

 Here are some room pictures, now that I have shown all the details up close.  I love it!  I like to go just sit and look at it when everyone is in bed asleep.

The adorable down comforter cover and pillow sham is from the Land of Nod.  I stole yellow and gray stuffed animals from the boys' room to throw on the bed.

The rocking chair is not in here yet because it is still being used in Drew and Isaac's room.  My mom is coming to stay with us and the bassinet is moving to my room when Tad comes home form the hospital.  I am disappointed that the curtains don't match, but not willing to part with these awesome room darkening navy curtains.  It will have to do for now even though I am super tempted to take the gray ones out of our bedroom and switch them just to make it prettier.  However, then my bedroom would look funny.

You can follow my brainstorming on my Tad's Nursery Pinterest Board.  That's about it for now.  Hop on over to Beau Whitaker's website gallery if you are a horse lover or an art lover!  His artwork look like photographs.  Unbelievable!

My Curriculum, Part 3: My Third Grader

Hannah is starting 3rd grade which I also can't believe.  That means this is my fourth year homeschooling.  It doesn't feel like it has been that long.  She is doing great and is an excellent reader.  She read the 7 books in the Chronicles of Narnia in about two weeks time this summer.  I think her gifts may lie in reading, vocabulary, and art.

3^rd Grade Curriculum

Memory Work:
Classically Catholic Memory: Gamma Year

Grammar:

First Language Lessons 3 (workbook and teacher’s manual) by Jesse Wise 

Handwriting: 

New American Cursive by Memoria Press

Prima Latina Copybook

Reading:

Charlotte’s Web and Memoria Press Literature Guides and Workbooks
Lassie Come Home and Memoria Press Literature Guides and Workbooks

Spelling:

Spelling Power

Science:

REAL Science Odyssey Chemistry

Math:

Primary Mathematics Textbook , Workbook, and ~Teacher's Manual 2B by Singapore
Primary Mathematics Textbook , Workbook, and Teacher's Manual 3A & 3B by Singapore

Extra Practice 3 by Singapore

History:

Story of the World 3 (textbook, ~activity guide, and test book) by Susan Wise Bauer
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia by Charlotte Evans (already own)
The Usborne Internet Linked History Encyclopedia (already own)

CCM Maps and Timeline Cards

Health:

Proper Manners and Health Habits 2 (Seton)

Religion:

Seton Religion 3

CCM Gamma

Languages:

German Saturday School
German Tutoring

Latin-Classically Catholic Memory Gamma Year 

Prima Latina (CD, workbook, etc.) Memoria Press

Art  

Sew and Go

Music:
Piano Lessons 1 hour/week (practice 15 minutes/school day)

PE:
basketball (winter)
golf (fall and Spring)

In addition to these texts, I have library book lists for science and history for each week.

Week 5: 10/14-10/18	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Math	2B Teach p. 114 2B Textbook p. 102-104 2B WB p. 156-158	2B Teach p. 115-116 2B Textbook p. 105 2B WB p. 159-162	2 EP p. 101-102 2B WB p. 162-168	2B Textbook p. 106-108 On own paper	Catch up or fill out multiples grid
Grammar	Lesson 5	Lesson 6	Lesson 7	Lesson 8
Spelling	Spelling Test	Spelling Test	Spelling Test	Spelling Test
Handwriting	Cursive Book -1 page	Cursive Book -1 page	Cursive Book -1 page	Cursive Book -1 page
History	Chap. 4, Rd. 43-46 Coloring Page Narration	Rd. p. 47-50 Coloring Page	Mapwork		History Test 4
Science	Rd. We are Family	The Friendship of Beryllium and Boron	Prove It
Religion	Seton Book p. 6	Seton Book p. 7	Seton Book p. 8	Seton Book p. 9-10
CC Memory	Week 1	Week 1	Week 1	Week 1	Co-op Week 2
Health					Care of School Property p. 14-15
Reading	Charlotte’s Web - Chapter 5	Study Guide p. 14	Study Guide p. 15
Music	Piano practice	Piano practice	Piano practice	Piano practice	Piano practice
German				Homework/Tutor
Latin	Lesson 5	Practice vocabulary words		Practice vocabulary words

My Curriculum Plan, Part 2: My Second Grader

Genevieve is still keeping up with her sister for the most part.  She is slower at doing her independent work, a slower reader, and further behind in writing.  Other than that she is pretty much on a 3rd grade or higher level right now.  Much of this will be repeated in my "Part 3" post because of this.  It is nice to keep them going at the same pace in grammar, math, science, piano, art, German, and history.  I think it has made my homeschooling experience much easier.

Here is her textbook list and another partial sample from her planner.

2nd Grade Curriculum

Memory Work:
Classically Catholic Memory (CCM): Gamma Year

Grammar/Writing:

First Language Lessons  (Part 3) Teacher's Manual and Student Workbook by Jesse Wise

Reading:

Mr. Popper’s Penguins- Memoria Press Literature Guide and Workbook
Beatrix Potter's Peter Rabbit and other stoies- Memoria Press Literature Guide and Workbook

Spelling:

Spelling Power

Handwriting:
Manuscript Copybook by Memoria Press
Handwriting Without Tears Cursive Book

Science:

REAL Science Odyssey Chemistry

Math:

Primary Mathematics Textbook , Workbook, and ~Teacher's Manual 2B by Singapore
Primary Mathematics Textbook , Workbook, and Teacher's Manual 3A & 3B by Singapore

Extra Practice 3 by Singapore

History:

Story of the World 3 (textbook, ~activity guide, and test book) by Susan Wise Bauer
The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia by Charlotte Evans
The Usborne Internet Linked History Encyclopedia

CCM Maps and Timeline Cards

Health:

The Care and Keeping of You (American Girl)

Religion:

Seton Religion 2

CCM Gamma

Languages:

German Saturday School
German Tutoring

Latin-CCM Gamma Year

Art

See and Sew 

Music:
Piano Lessons 1 hour/week (practice 15 minutes/school day)

PE:
indoor soccer (winter)

In addition to these books, I have library and book lists for science and history by the week.

This sample is from "Week 5" because of the new baby making the earlier weeks a little abbreviated.  Again, I can't get the whole table to post.  Sorry!  Also, you may notice Religion is empty.  That is because I have to meet with my priest to discuss my curriculum for the girls.  For some reason, they suddenly don't want me using Seton since it is not on the approved list for the archdiocese of Washington DC for parishes and Catholic schools.  I spoke with a lady from Seton and she basically said that is because it is geared towards homeschoolers and not classrooms.  I haven't gone in and filled it in my planners for the girls yet because I am not sure if I will be forced to supplement with another book.  It won't change my using Seton, but I may agree to supplement so we don't have to go to the trouble of moving parishes if I cannot convince our priest that Seton is enough.

Week 5: 10/14-10/18	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Math	2B Teach p. 114 2B Textbook p. 102-104 2B WB p. 156-158	2B Teach p. 115-116 2B Textbook p. 105 2B WB p. 159-162	2 EP p. 101-102 2B WB p. 162-168	2B Textbook p. 106-108 On own paper	Catch up or fill out multiples grid
Grammar	Lesson 5	Lesson 6	Lesson 7	Lesson 8
Spelling	Spelling Test	Spelling Test	Spelling Test	Spelling Test
Handwriting	Copybook -1 page	Copybook -1 page	Copybook -1 page	Copybook -1 page
History	Chap. 4, Rd. 43-46 Coloring Page Narration	Rd. p. 47-50 Coloring Page	Mapwork		History Test 4
Science	Rd. We are Family	The Friendship of Beryllium and Boron	Prove It
Religion
CC Memory	Week 1	Week 1	Week 1	Week 1	Co-op Week 2
Health					Read Eyes in The Care and Keeping of You
Reading	Mr. Popper’s Penguins- Chapter 5	Study Guide p. 10-11
Music	Piano practice	Piano practice	Piano practice	Piano practice	Piano practice
German				Homework/Tutor