Friday Afternoon

Back to the soccer field. The new season begins.

Daddy kept A busy while the practice was on.

And look what we had....we were on babysitting duty for friends. And look she's in pink...a girl.

She checked out the soccer game too. But A, did not enjoy sharing his mommy.

Family Project

E had a great idea and the rest of us did what we could to make it happen. Enjoy.

68??

I went to download my pics today and was surprised to see there were 68 pics on the camera. It seems that A had been using the camera without my knowing. Amongst pics of the couch and unflattering pics of me in the kitchen I found these gems.

The End Is Near

Boating season is almost over....there is a bit of a chill in the air.

A made an experiment in the kitchen this morning.

The Ones They Wanted

We went to have family pics done a couple of weeks ago and the boys were disappointed that they couldn't bring their guinea pigs....they are family after all. So I told them we would do a guinea pig photo shoot another day and I keep my promises. We went back on Friday to the portrait studio and they were kind enough to indulge the boys.

Puppy Dog Tales

Even though it was pretty misty and overcast we went to the park to play for a bit.

And boys will be boys.

It Wasn't Me It Was the Evil I

After reflecting on yesterday's flapdoodle the problem became obvious.

I wanted to go have breakfast at Strbcks like I used to when the kids were in school.
I wanted to go out for lunch because I had the van and I could.
I wanted to look around a little at Targt instead of just dashing in and out.
I wanted to cross that spice off my list so I went to another store.
I wanted to get some teaching in despite our busy morning.
I wanted to fill the afternoon time with a playdate.
I wanted to make gumbo for dinner even though the day had gone to h-e-double hockey sticks so I made the kids walk to the grocery store.

Yikes. It was like "suburban mom goes wild" around here. Well....lesson learned.

24 is Enough

Well I blew it today. I don't know what I was thinking but today was a disaster.
We met a friend for breakfast at Strbcks....so far so good. Great oatmeal.
We were a little late for our first day at a new Bible Study but no biggie.
After we were done with this new experience we should have gone home but instead......I took them out for lunch (they didn't eat.)
Then we stopped at Trget so I could grab a couple things I needed for dinner. (But instead of three cans of chicken broth I inexplicably picked up two cans of cheese sauce and one can of cream of chicken.)
Then I stopped at another grocery store to look for a spice I wanted and didn't find it (waste of time).
Finally we arrived home and I squeezed in an hour of school work. The boys were anxiously awaiting the arrival of their friends after school but they didn't arrive. (I started packing up to take them to the park and on the way out the door....their friends arrived.) Problem behaviours were all over the place during the playdate.
Then we walked to the local grocery store. (So I could buy the three cans of chicken broth I still needed for dinner).
E made a tearful phone call apology to my friend with regards to his behaviour.
At this point I threw in the towel and when we got back from the grocery store I sat down with the kids and we played a game. (At this point, M walked in and innocently said, "The tutor is going to be here any minute and the kids haven't eaten? What's going on?")
After a quiet dinner downstairs with my husband while the kids were doing tutored.......I've somewhat recovered. (I cooked a delicious new recipe tonight....shrimp/sausage/okra gumbo.)
Tomorrow will be better.

Lucky Us

Some pics from Friday's homeschool day.

A is very proud to be able to read his first book all by himself.

This was a fun lesson. (And yes those are freezies they are eating.)

There was an art festival down by the water this weekend.

Today the weather was fantastic again and we went out on the boat. Lucky us...friends of ours were also out and we tied up together and spent a few hours visiting.

Why?

The question has been asked, "Why did I decide to homeschool?" That's a big question.

1. Most of you know that I have been playing with the idea for some time. And that I had a very hard time sending E to kindergarten...we didn't have very good attendance that year:) I really enjoy spending time with my kids. I miss them when they are gone and they are growing up so fast.


2. I trained to be a teacher and have spent time in the public school system and I believe that I can do as good a job as they can educating my kids. (I didn't feel that E progressed as he should have in his class last year.) There is also a HUGE American History component in the curriculum here. Academically speaking I could go on and on but I'll spare you.


3. E didn't like school. He was fine once he got there but he hadn't truly learned to enjoy spending a big part of his day away from home. He also likes to be master of his own schedule and spending 7 hours a day at school was cramping his style. A likes to be where his brother is.


4. As far as socializing the kids....they seem to enjoy more the time they have with kids when we get together in small groups to play. And I schedule a lot of playdates! Socializing at school is limited to recess and after-school because E's school is very strict about behaviours. (He once got a consequence for talking at lunch.)


5. A major factor also was the lack of french instruction here. I would love for the kids to enter the immersion program when we return to Canada. Providing tutoring after a long school day was not going to work, they were too tired. By homeschooling we can focus on french every day and also have a tutor come in two hours a week to work with them.

6. I am also able to include religious studies with the kids here at home. I want them to be well equipped to be in the world without being of the world.


These are the major reasons. I have no idea if it is going to be successful. We have committed to trying it for now. I'll keep updating on our successes and trials as we go along.

There was a scary Halloween mannequin that talked in the craft store and it scared A.

Little guinea pig photo shoot.

Tuesday

After spending the last week putting together all 26 L_E_G_O sets that we have I was able to take a picture last night.
Also, I don't remember who gave us the Monopoly Kids game but thank you again. We have really enjoyed it.

Recently the boys have beed exposed to an IndianaJones movie. And now A is completely obsessed. All day he kept telling me to call him "Anny-anny-jones". So after checking the net for an idea.....I made them both a safe whip tonight. These are made from soft cloth.

Are you wondering how it went with the first day of home school? It went alright. E was not as enthusiastic as I had hoped but he did say he liked it better than 'real' school. I think he needs to get used to the new routine and what the expectations are. My guy A enjoyed it quite a bit.

Smile

For the first time in a long time we went for family pics. This is them on their way to get their pics done.

The guinea pigs have been enjoying the not-as-hot weather and getting out into the garden.

We went out and about on the town at the end of the week. The weather has been just fantastic.