Classical Music

With two sick children today we abandoned formal 'schoolwork'.  However we still had a great day of learning.  Following the arts lesson plan in our Five in a Row Volume 2 Manual (in which we are rowing Babar: To Duet or not to Duet) we spent the day learning about classical music and specifically the Austrian composer Franz-Joseph Haydn. 
First we snuggled up together on the lounge and read the Babar story.  This story mentions Haydn's Surprise Symphony.  Then we read a book I picked up at an op-shop a couple of years ago called Joseph Haydn The Merry Little Peasant.  This book told the story of his life and was interspersed with piano music he had written which I attempted to play. 
After this we enjoyed watching on Youtube Haydn's Toy Symphony (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1miohLVZobE) and part of the Surprise Symphony (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLjwkamp3lI).  The children enjoyed this after discovering he wrote this specifically so the ladies watching his orchestra who were nodding off would be startled awake by a loud surprise chord.  Then we watched an interesting Youtube clip on the four different groups of musical instruments in an orchestra and the different ways in which they produce their sounds. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haLtMkNL84g)

The sun was shining beautifully today so we ventured out onto the front lawn with a blanket to soak up some Vitamin D.  We potted some fuchsia's into hanging baskets.  We can't wait to see what colour flowers they have.  After this we picnicked in the sun and then planted some seeds out into seedling trays.

As fevers returned we retreated to the lounge to watch some DVD's I had borrowed from the library on classical and orchestral music.  Matthew fell asleep during the first one, succumbing to his fevers.

 The girls brightened up again and headed back outside for some more fresh air.

To finish off our theme of classical music we dined in front of the TV while watching Andre Rieu's Live in Melbourne 2008 concert on DVD.  This was a really enjoyable show and certainly brought classical music to life.  All in all not a bad day of learning considering the fevers and headaches going on amongst us.

Catch-Up

A quick catch-up - we were looking forward to the addition of a new baby to our family in October 2012. Unfortunately he arrived on ANZAC Day - perfect and tiny but too young to be able to live on this earth.  Losing Our Little ANZAC Boy has been heartbreaking but we cling to the promise that while "Weeping endures for a night, joy comes in the morning" Psalm 30:5. 

June 12, 2013 brought another heart-break as we miscarried at 10 weeks.  Losing three in a row has been extraordinarily difficult but we are still standing, united by God's love and hope. 

Our Little Boy's hand and foot prints taken the morning after his birth.
 

 

The bear with his ashes and the things that belonged to him.
I put this together in honour of him on his due date.