Tuesday, November 9, 2010

This counts for a lot of projects


So, I've obviously not posted any projects for months and months. I thought this was entirely due to being pregnant and moving. But, I've realized that there is something else that really gets in the way of getting any projects done.
It's called Motherhood.
My mom told me that it doesn't matter how many kids you have- 1 or a dozen, they will take up ALL your time. She is (as usual) completely right. So, I've decided to stop trying to figure out if I'm crazy for having my 4th kid, and just embrace the fact that I may never get another project of my own done for the next 20 years.
And, I've decided that it's O.K. to count projects that I do with my kids.
My 4th grader was assigned to make an Indian Village diorama. He could choose any Indian tribe of Texas, and went with the Wichita.
I made the baking clay, and we went to work.

These are not actually teepee's. They were permanent structures made from mud, minimal wood, and straw/grass.
Making those little Indian people was the hardest part. The next day the teacher sent home some plastic Indians that the kids could use. A day too late, and since we'd already put the work into it, we were keeping our little clay people.
My son painted it...
And put straw on all the houses.

Here's some close-ups of our little people sitting around the fire, tanning a buffalo hide, and grinding corn.
That's my sons hand, gluing rocks on in the upper left hand corner, so you get a sense of how tiny these people were!

Anyway, we are really proud of this project, my son and I work really well together on things like this, so we are hoping he nails the oral report and winds up with a grade worthy of the 20 plus hours we spent on this project!!!

6 comments:

  1. I think there is as much fulfillment in painting a pumpkin with James as there was in completing a large scale design project. I love your village! And the detail is amazing. The little Indians are great. You seem like a fantastic mama!

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  2. Wow that is cool. If my kids needed to do a class project like that they are in trouble. Maybe I'll send them to your house.

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  3. Looks like he has a career at the Bean Museum in the future--I am glad my kids are not in his class!

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  4. i think you definitely need to count that on your list of projects! Nice job.

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  5. Oh yes, I think that totally counts!

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