Declan's "Dog Show"

Last night at 4-H, Declan was able to be a part of the action with our Junior Leader and her dog, also a pug, named Ellwood.

The Cape Cod Kennel Club was running an event called Rally-O (for Obedience), and we got to participate along with the kennel club. There were some great dogs there, including a miniature poodle in a little diamond collar! Too funny. These are the kids getting ready to take Angie and Ellwood into the cheese ball rally race!

First they did Rally-O the regular way (no cheese ball racing), which Milo and Ella had never done before.

I am always so impressed that she will go out there in front of everyone and do these trials! He and Ella got a 70 out of 100 points, which was pretty good. She misunderstood the directions, and thought that you *could* touch your dog, which you can't, so they lost a bunch of points for that. Also, Milo was his usual drama queen self and gagged, so she got a "too tight on the lead" deduction.

After the more intense graded parts, they did a fun event where you had to go through the agility course with your dog and carry a spoon with a cheese ball in it (hee hee). Of course, the dogs were very very interested in the cheese ball! Ella used one of Steve's dogs for this event. Labs are far more interested in cheese balls than pugs, but Ellwood used a different kind of bait. Ella was so proud to get to the end with Angie. Angie is such a sweet lab, but she can be a bit interested in all that is going on around her. Ella did a great job keeping her focused on that cheese ball lol.

So, these sweet dog folks let Declan compete in the cheese ball rally. Ally, our junior leader and Ellwood's owner, walked Declan through it. She did a great job of letting Declan be independent and be supported at the same time.

He was BEAMING with pride at being included in a 4-H/Kennel Club event. Then, he won an award! Fourth Place! He was so excited! Everyone clapped and clapped!

Declan is so ready to be a part of this. Ella is more interested in the social aspect, and has a bunch of friends at 4-H. Declan is really into the whole dog part. When he was doing the event, I could see that "calm assertiveness" that Cesar Milan talks about. Ellwood even jumped on him at one point, and he just kept on with the sit command. So cool. For someone with so many strong personalities around him all the time, he definitely is his own little character.

Video Club

Here, Ella is setting up her segment on craft materials that inspire!

The control room!! Where the magic happens!!

I can't remember if I posted about this before, but Ella does this video club that is shown on a local cable station. Her stage name as the Krafty Kid is Lacey Trim. Here she is with her wig on. Doesn't she look so much more like Declan?

It is pretty cool there, and they get to use all the equipment. Ella's friend (She-Who-Has-Requested-No-Internet-Exposure *grin*) has a character that uses a green screen. So awesome.

Visual Presentations, Part 2

What a night! The highs! The lows! The laughter! The tears!

When all was said and done, there was a great showing by the Muddy Paws crew! In Ella's room, four kids (out of 8, in six categories), went on to State VPs. They were all four from Ella's 4-H group, Muddy Paws. There were a bunch of first time VPs that went on to states. It was all very thrilling.

Some very proud girls!

Last year, Ella did a visual presentation for 4-H on Duct Tape (The Duck That Doesn't Quack - Duct Tape). She won at the State Competition, so the pressure has been on. Well, self-imposed pressure as always *grin*.

This year, she did an entire presentation on Artist Trading Cards. It was beautiful. She had sponge-painted all her "boards" (the posters that the kids use as an outline for the presentation). She made one HUGE Artist Trading Card so that everyone could see what it was. Then she found a great way to mount all the atcs so that they popped off the display.

But, then, in February, she decided to do a visual presentation on the eye.

Deep breathing exercises were used.

And then she set off to work again.

She ended up making a beautiful cross-section of the eye from large pieces of that foam paper (why didn't they have THAT when I was a kid?).

She worked really hard, and set up a whole new project. We are going to the county visual presentation this weekend, and if she does well then she'll go on to the state competition.

We'll keep our fingers crossed.

This is one of her "visuals" for the VP. It shows an image of the inside of an eye and some fruits and veggies that contribute to eye health. as she says (every time she practices), not only are they good for your eye, but they provide nutrients for your body to keep your eye healthy."

This is her title page (ohh....it feels like you could be right there listening to her, doesn't it?)

Oh, yeah, baby, feeling like a winner. With a carrot.

Felting! Feeling!

It seems almost everything we do around here lately becomes a potential Visual Presentation for 4-H. They have to be done by February, and I think my Ella-girl may have finally decided on a topic: wool. The Wild World of Wool, actually.

But, yes, you may remember I thought it was going to be soap......

Anyway.....

Ella made this felted piece the other day. She is planning to turn it into a purse. My camera didn't quite capture the smaller sparkly threads that are running through it.
We are going to be trying out different ways to do this over the next few weeks because it was so freakin' fun! Ella got a little tired of rolling the big felt back and forth, but she really went to town on little beads and made a baby for her gnome from Edelweiss. I can't, unfortunately, link you directly to the store.

The store is owned by some Waldorf former homeschoolers. They don't own a computer, or a tv. Each year, they buy a live Christmas tree and put real candles on it. It all sounds sort of idyllic and cozy sometimes to me when the giggles of SpongeBob are getting to me.

However, the children, once they got a bit older, decided to attend Sturgis Charter School, and the mom has told me that she'll forever wonder why they decided to do that. She is sad that as they get bogged down in homework and everything else and she sees less and less of them, both in the physical sense and in the sense of seeing the real kid behind all the pressure and scheduling.

It is sad to me to think that the struggle for some *ideal way of being* led the family to leave home schooling. I hope that on our homeschooling/unschooling journey, I can stay mindful of what my children need and not get too focused on a methodology.

After a Bath

Now that it is cold and not dog show season, Ella doesn't have to bathe them as much. But, we did yesterday. They snuggled together in front of the heater under the kitchen sink. Are they cute or what?

Marzipanimals

Declan and Gramma creating.
Declan's special creation in his favorite colors.
Totally edible (if you can stand to eat marzipan)
Marzipanimals from under the sea.

Okay, so every year, Ella's 4-H does this even called a Visual Presentation. Apparently, one of 4-H's big things is Public Speaking. So, the 4-H groups all practice, and then they have county-wide evening events, complete with judges. The judges decide who was the most well spoken, articulate, creative, etc.

Last year, Ella did The Duck That Doesn't Quack, DUCT TAPE! as her presentation. She won in the state competition and the county one. This has put the pressure on this year. She has had a number of ideas, the latest being marzipan animals. She would call it, Marzipanimals.

My Mother-In-Law, and artist with the Art Guild of Cape Cod has been making marzipan for Ella for Christmas every year for a long time now. She came over and helped the kids make all kinds of "marzipanimals".

Oh, but now the VP (visual presentation) is going to be on soap making.

Halloween

Declan has some serious moves as a Jedi, doncha think? He is here rockin' the light saber moves. Our church has a no weapons at the Halloween/Samhain party. We ended the party with a big fire at the graveyard behind the church which more than made up for the lack of a light saber at the party.
This is the pumpkin that barely made it through the door! I had to include the picture of the girl, since that night Ella and she had the same hair (hee hee).
Ella was going to be Sandy gone bad, and have a devil tail and a pair of horns, but she decided to go as straight Sandy. How about that poodle skirt? I think the whole point of the costume was that awesome wig.
Yep. That is the Hokey-pokey. I love this picture, because Ella has at this point ditched her wig, her neck scarf and finally her skirt. This is mid-turn, she is actually in the front really rockin' the hokey pokey. Declan was in the hall covering his ears. The hokey pokey is NOT what it is all about for him.

Halloween is getting pretty exciting around here! Nana helped the kids pick out Declan's costume and Ella's wig, and they are looking ready to trick or treat. Nana is completely flinging herself into grandparent-hood (not that she wasn't already), and has become a Red Sox Fan. Yep. A raving lunatic fan, in fact.

One never quite knows what life will bring.

Tompa came over yesterday for a pre-view of the outfits and to check out the goings-on. He just got back from DC so we compared notes. He made it to the National Museum of American Indian, which we found out after our trip has the best kept secret lunch! He said it was excellent, and he ate there twice. It has been very cool, because our town was one of only ten towns choosen as America's Hometown and it has been a nationally recognized honor. I am sure it is in part to all the hard work Tom has done to help people with housing over the years.

Ella has already been to two Halloween parties. One was at 4-H and the girls who planned it did a great job. There were games, snacks, even Thriller dancing. Ella's friend Olivia had made a pumpkin that almost didn't fit through the door! Her father is an artist and it was made of "tape-r mache".

The hokey pokey dancing is at church and the other shots are 4-H.

I am sure that there will be more to follow since Halloween is still 5 days away.