What's My Thing

I'm not so arty. Truly I still draw stick figures. But luckily there are lots of great websites with ideas for how to incorporate art into learning.

We have been learning about rainbows this week. Here the boys are working on creating their prism/rainbow placemats. (At Staples they photocopy and then laminate them.)

A has been talking about being a bee for Hallowe'en. And wouldn't you know they had a costume in just his size at Giant Tiger today. (Good thing we went in for wood cleaner.)

Y'all (see...I haven't forgotten VA) know I love lists. Here E is adding to his to-do list for the day. I have been writing it on the board next to their chore lists. Did I mention I love lists?

The Joy of Cooking. On the first page is a note from GrandmaJean circa 1999. On page 774 is banana bread. On page 795 is pancake batter. And today I tried a new one.

I'm about to go and cut myself a slice. Raisin/cinnamon loaf. I wish this blog were scratch-n-sniff.

Off To Granny's House

This week we have been studying Little Red RidingHood so this a.m. the boys did a skit. But they didn't want me to take any pics of them, especially as LittleRed....a GIRL!! But here are our props.

We have been comparing/contrasting some of the many different versions of the story.

We have read:

Little Red Riding Hood by Charles Perrault. (For some reason LittleRed takes off her clothes in this one.)

Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf by Roald Dahl. (My fave.)

The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood by A. Baruzzi and S.Natalini. (A cute alternative.)

Little Red Riding Hood from the DLTK website. (More traditional.)

and tonight we are reading from Classic Fairy Tales retold by Michael Foreman and tomorrow we are ending with a version from 5Minute Fairy Tales adapted by Jane Jarrard.

Today I sent the boys up to clean their room. After an hour and a half I took this pic. Technically they cleaned their room. It's just that after finishing they took out all new toys to play with.

I was just about to point that out when E said, "Mom, I made up a new game." And then he excitedly told me all about it. I couldn't rain on that parade by mentioning something as mundane as tidiness!

Brain and Brawn

So my brainy husband, he got an A on his first Masters Course, also has brawn. He set aside his homework today and took out all the tile in the kitchen. When it was done E asked me, "How come it took you so long to do the hall which is so small.....and daddy was so fast when he did the kitchen and it's so big?"
The answer?? Because he rocks!!! Thanks hubby.

A got in on chore day today too.

From Fri-Sun night the kids were up at camp with G2K. It's a tradition on LabourDayWeekend to have Hallowe'en at the camp. That's my red ninja in the first pic and my wizard in the second. Yes, you read correctly.....a wizard. Once I said yes to Hallowe'en it was just a quick backslide to him dressing as a wizard.

Not A Hand Model

I had time this morning to tackle a home improvement job before heading out to camp. Voila....the front foyer in progress.

Work work work. (I love it)

Do you see how it's almost done? There's that little piece in the corner? 12" by 3"? That's where I ran into trouble. I tried to use a different tool than I had been using and sliced my thumb.

Here's what my thumb looks like now. Three hours at the hospital. Three big ugly stitches. Seriously, these are not pretty....very Frankenstein. And my hand modeling career is over.

Just For Giggles

I saw this at a blog I sometimes read and laughed out loud! Some things are universal I guess.

Nothing blows a little steam like jumping on the trampoline with your cousins.(Thanks for stopping by Grnny/D/A)

This picture just warms my heart. I stopped in to a toy store today (while waiting for the van to get an oil change) and both the boys gasped when they saw the Mr.Men books, grabbed one and sat down to read. And it wasn't school time!

We have been talking this week about history and how it is passed down and (re)discovered. Archaeology plays quite a role and is a fascinating topic. Today we set up an archaeological dig in the backyard. (I had purchased some trinkets that I hid in the dirt.)

Scientists at work. And, of course, things must be recorded!

The boys enjoyed finding the things that were buried there.

Tomorrow we are going to discuss the significance of their 'treasure'. What would it mean to an archaeologist to find money, writing tools, toys, not just food but candies, bones(skeletons)?

It Was Fun 'til It Wasn't

Here are the boys on their first day of school. Can you believe how tall they're getting?

I read an article in Macleans this week called, Why Your Teenager Can't Use A Hammer, by Cynthia Reynolds(click on link to read). And I was really thinking about how as a culture we are moving away from doing things ourselves and teaching our children and moving towards getting other people, "professionals", to do everything for us. I'm not suggesting that we don't need people with expertise to do complicated jobs for us but that we should take the opportunity to try and solve some of our own house problems with elbow grease and problem solving. So it was with this attitude that we, meaning me and the two boys, started removing the tile in the front hall.

I would say it was a success. But caveat that with the info. that E sustained an injury to his finger. Nothing serious. No stitches. Some blood. He did pass out. But then that gave me the opportunity to teach A about first aid. You know: feet up on pillow, loosen clothing, cool cloth on head.
Learning opportunities are everywhere!!

Last Day

Well this is our last day of summer. By that I mean that we are starting school tomorrow. Hopefully be 9a.m. we will be sitting down together to get started.
Going back to school is a little different for us as homeschoolers. They didn't go and buy new pencils/books/markers. (We keep a steady supply available all year.) They didn't get a whole new wardrobe of clothes. (We have a pretty relaxed dress code here-though no pjs) There is no nervous anticipation about finding out what other kids are in their class or how their new teacher will be. (Yup-still your brother. Yup-still your mom.) Those are the things I remember from going back to school. I hope that when they are grown that they won't resent me having made this decision and wish they could have done school 'normal'.
Anyway, tomorrow we will have new workbooks and journals. And we will go to the library and get a pile of books to match the theme for our first 8 week term. (Fairytales)
I was trying to think today of what the biggest difference is between 'homeschool me' and 'mom me'.
And what I decided is that when I am 'homeschool me' they have my complete and undivided attention for our classroom time. No phone calls. No internet. No chores. Just me looking them in the eye and talking with them. Not just telling them what to do. Talking with them.
I also went back and read the reasons I gave in Sept2009 for why we are homeschooling. Most of them are still true.
Sept2009
1. I still enjoy spending time with the kids. And they are still growing up very quickly.
2. I said before that I thought I could do as good a job as the public school. Correction:I feel I can do a better job.
3. I'm not sure how the kids would like 'normal' school now. Maybe they'd like it(shrug)....I'm sure they'd cope.
4. They are going to need to form new relationships with other homeschool as a result of the move. But they have already made fast friends with our neighbours.
5. Hmmm. This one no longer really applies.
6. But this one sure does.
Sept2010
So.....here we go.
School Year 2011-2012.

And There Was Light

The Man, the Myth, the Legend (a.k.a. Grandad) was here last night to finish the install on our skylight. First the hole.

Then the tube.

This is how it looked at 6:15a.m. (M took this picture...too early for me.)

And at 8:30a.m. And then 10:30a.m.

We're saving energy. Love it!

Happy Cancerversary

Yesterday we celebrated Grnny's 2 year Cancerversary. We love you Granny.

Not Yet

I'm glad they're not too old to ask for a push.

Or play in the sand.

Or smile for the camera.

++I'm thinking of my VA friends who had the earthquake today++

i love weekends

The roofers came and finished the job.

A got really involved in the reading program at our local library. First you add your 'books read' to the wall and then you put a marble down the track for each one.

We started Saturday in good style. Pancakes. And cuddles.

The only thing better than cake pops for dessert...

is getting to decorate your own LEGO cake pop before eating it. (ThanksMissLra)