The Sword Craft and a total break down.

So - some really awful grown up things happened. I was so distraught yesterday - one of those on the verge of tears kind of days - and trying to homeschool - and be focused ... and nice... guh. It was not happening so much.
Ten year old stepped up!!!
She did all of 5 year olds beginning exercises with him. His practice writing, his line drawing, his counting - all of it!!! All I had to do was supervise and help with the craft!  Then she did her silent reading on her own while he played with his new sword!
I am so touched and grateful .
And today is better.
So - hey - when you feel like giving up - take a day off and let the big kid do the thing!
And lots - and I mean LOTS of prayer.
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Yesterdays craft.
A flaming sword of the ArchAngel Michael! I have way too much wool roving and felt - it needs using. So - that's what we used. I don't know if the swords look good - I asked my husband and he very carefully said " well - Hugo thinks its a sword - so that's good!"
Aw. What a sweet heart.
 We went with the old pool noodle on a stick sword making technique. I didn't have any wooden dowels the right size - so I used some of the frame pieces from a broken party tent. I had some pipe insulation left over from a plumbing project. These are not amazingly non toxic - however the next step I think covered my bases. I duck taped the insulation in place then wet felted a bunch of wool roving around it. Then I whipstiched a big sheet of white wool around it. Then - it was set for My Mathildepan to needle felt our deep blue roving around it. We have only a little of this - so I cheaped out - and we only did a pattern - instead of felting it solid. And - I had just barely enough patience and calm to help the five year old Hugo to try his hand at needle felting - for realz. He has "felted" but- up until now - we included in felting using a old needle that had the barbs snapped off. He usually only played at it for a few minutes before he ran off to do something more fun for his 3-4 year old boy self.

Also - see the G practice his big sis set up. I hate succumbing to stress and depression - but the up side is seeing how capable my littles are at sharing the load.

 After it was felted * mostly by Mathildepan and myself - the boy did his best - but even working with super sharp dangerous felting needles gets boring ^_^  * we cut out some felt sheet flames - whip stitched them on - and then went lazy and just used a piece of goldish felt for the handle and wrapped it tight with kitchen twine. Again. Not the best looking "sword" but my boy thought it was amazing!!!

Captain of the heavenly hosts!

**** I am waaay better today. Tonight we plan to do our Lantern Walk and hopefully we can get our shadow puppets finished. second week of school. I'm doing all right, getting good grades. The future's so bright I gotta wear shades.****