Day 13

Thursday is our outing day with the homeschool co-op.  Today we went to the Limestone Heritage where we learnt how stone is cut.  There were also some lovely animals to see and a punic tomb.

At home we continued school by baking a cheese cake.

Gregory was disappointed that we did not have formal schooling today and for me THAT was the best part of it!

Day 12

We had shared house cleaning today.  Maya had a bad day - so she spent it whining or crying.  I tried to be emphatic but it was beyond me today, I just got super irritated!

After house cleaning I was asked if we'd do school today :) the answer was yes and Gregory freaked out when I gave him some new math to do, but then felt cool enough with it after he let me explain and saw that even I am not much good at this!

We spent the afternoon at the beach. Benjamin was the shark running after the older ones...wish I had some one to take a video of us!

According to my 6 year old, for the second time in a row this had been one of the best days this Summer.  Seeing that smile and joy is priceless! Trusting tomorrow my 4 year old will be happier.

85 days of Summer (days 1-11)

We started the holidays with a holiday.

However, the vacation wasn't quite successful as we got sick before, during and after those 4 days!

The children though had some special dad time in the end and that was awesome.

Last week, we were still in sickness land but we also started the homeschooling programme.  Which has been a success so far.

top is mine, left is Greg's & right is Maya's

The beach happened only twice, but we intend to make up for it.  Benjamin loved it!

let Summer begin

We are counting the days till Summer holidays here.

We are learning new ways how to interact and love and learn so the excitment of 3 full months practice together is impossible to contain.

My weaving is finally forming a pattern; and everytime a little bit is added, it looks amazing.

Then I get my moments of impatience and I practically rip it all up.  But the pattern is growing slowly and I can't wait to see its full glory in a few years' time.

Each learning curve, each moment I am using new tools to get me to my destination.  I will never see a clear path, because life is full of wonderful surprises leading us to expand even more.

I am afraid, ecstatic, at peace, unsure......but I am loving the process with its infuriating slowness.

This is how it is meant to be and my little Benajmin is there to remind me to take it slow because in its slowness, things are changing quickly.  In this continuum change I am savouring the moments that slip by a blink of an eye.

This Summer is going to be a wonderful experience of changed love, of joy, of friendships and family.

These 12 days is what remains between now and then.

Summer Days

Apart for beaching alone or with family and friends most days, we have also been doing some fun schooling.  I admit I am enjoying schooling so much more this year that I am forgetting the camera to memorise that moment.  But here are some of the things we've been doing.

We updated our nature table to picture Summer in all its glory (the painting was done by Greg at school)

Here you can see a variety free drawing and form drawing and the things they love

Form drawing is something we do everyday. I draw something and they have to try and copy it.  More geared towards Gregory but Maya ain't doing a bad job of it either

Free and sensory painting is another thing we do often.  This is paint and sand and Greg's interpretation of fireworks

This week we were doing our 5 senses.  Apart for these sheets we did a lot of feel, taste, hear, smell and see experiments

We also role play a bit and today was at the restaurant.  We took it in turns to be waiter, chef and customer.  The above are Maya's idea of a pizza and Greg's idea of a pizza - can you see how particularly perfect it is?

We also learn through fun P.E.  Last week we had masking tape in straight, zigzag, wavy lines for the kids to walk on forwards and backwards.  This week we had the ribbon sticks which we used to learn more on curves and circles and waves.

Gregory is also learning to read and write a little and next month we will also introduce maths.  As part of the curriculum there is bed making for the little man and dusting, cleaning bathrooms, cleaning and feeding the birds as well as watering the plants for both.  I hoped they would also be more involved in the cooking but they are not interested so had to let go of that.  Please note that the kids are still 5 and 3 so for the chores I am present at all times, helping them, directing them and reminding them to do them.