Monthly wrap-up for November

There were so many things I wanted to post in the month of November and I just didn't get it done.  Those cute wooden scarecrow, pumpkin, and turkey centerpieces the girls made for Thanksgiving?  Yeah, I didn't get to post about that, complete with pictures I didn't post either.  The adorable turkey handprint crafts?  Nope, didn't post those either.  How about the super sweet fall tree crafts we made with buttons, paint, and tissue paper?  Huh-uh.  The Pilgrims and Thanksgiving lapbooks we worked on?  You guessed it -- they never made it to the blog.  It just seems silly now to do it, but I did want to at least mention them!  We had fun, nevertheless, even if I didn't get it all documented here.  You'll just have to trust me on this.  ;0)  Check back next year and maybe I'll get it done in time!  I am proud of the fact that I actually did post about our field trip to the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock.  

The scarecrow centerpiece Big Sis made for our table.

The pumpkin Lil Sis made. She wanted to put lots of green leaves on it. The turkey was Big Sis' project.

We began our Christmas studies and activities yesterday.  I did take some pictures and hopefully will be posting those soon.  Hope springs eternal, after all.  I'm doing some fun Montessori stuff with the two little sisters and some more advanced arts and crafts with Big Sis.  A Christmas lapbook is in the works, of course!

NaNoWriMo ended Wednesday.  It's no real surprise that I did not reach the 50,000 word mark.  However, I am thankful for the opportunity it gave me to really think about my writing again, which has been on the back burner for years now.  I got a new perspective, a new direction, and a new sense of dedication.  These are all good things!  In some ways, writing is like riding a bike for me -- you never really forget how, but I wouldn't recommend trying a marathon your first time back in the saddle!  In spite of my mixed metaphors, I hope my meaning is clear.

Big Sis began her own novel last month.  It's about a pioneer family with three little girls.  (Can you tell we've been reading Little House books?)  I'm so proud of her for thinking up the story all by herself and working on it.  She is a great writer!  Totally undaunted by the idea of writing an entire book, she already tells me what her next book will be.  Maybe I need to take lessons from her!  She did let me in on one of her secrets, though.  "Books have to have something sad or bad happen in them, otherwise they're boring.  But it all comes out okay in the end, so don't cry."  Wise words from a little girl who already understands rising action and resolution in plotting!

Speaking of books, this was our reading list for November:

Pilgrim Cat by Carol Peacock -- great picture book about a cat on the Mayflower

Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew Thanksgiving Thief -- pure fun for Big Sis because she likes these stories about Nancy Drew at age 8

Stories of the Pilgrims by Margaret Pumphrey -- a great classic living history book recommended by Heart of Dakota

The Caroline Years Book 1: Little House in Brookfield  -- this series focuses on Laura Ingalls Wilder's mother's girlhood years.

The Charlotte Years Book 1: Little House by Boston Bay -- Charlotte is Laura's grandmother.  I've been impressed by how many historical facts Big Sis has learned by reading these books!

The Charlotte Years Book 2: On Tide Mill Lane


The Three Trees by Elena Pasquali

The Person I Marry by Gary & Jan Bower

Boys and Girls of Colonial Days --  by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, another classic history book recommended by Heart of Dakota

Sarah Morton's Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl -- real photos from Plimouth Plantation re-enactments

If You Sailed on the Mayflower in 1620 -- I really like the "If You . . ." series of history books

The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving 

Squanto's Journey: The Story of the First Thanksgiving

There are so many great resources to read on this subject!  I plan to do a Thanksgiving study next year, too, and probably every year while the girls are little.  We can always find different books to read or re-read favorites.  Actually seeing the Mayflower II and Plymouth Rock in person was a highlight for Big Sis and she would like to go back to see Plimouth Plantation.  We didn't have time for it that day, unfortunately.

We worked on some Artistic Pursuits lessons for a TOS review, which is coming soon.  I'm really excited about this curriculum and so is Big Sis!

That's our week (and month) in a nutshell!  What did you learn this week?