The Swift Clan

What a few months we have been having!!!

2010-07-04T12:17:00.004+01:00

I can't believe the time has flown and here we are near the end of the kids first school year! What a year that has been! There has been so much happening, I got a job that I hated, school reports, Christmas, rugby, Youth Theater performance, I volunteered, Rugby tour, I got a job and soon it will be summer! Already I am planning loads of things for the kids and me to be doing - nature study, lapbooks, geocaching, spending days at the beach, going on walks, relaxing and enjoying the time again. However Eldest K and Middle A will be wanting to spend time with their mates as children at 13 and 11 love to do! So looks like it will be just Littles H, me and hubby doing all the exciting things together.

Life has definitely been filled with lots of ups and lots of downs over the last ten months since I last posted! A bit of a roller coaster ride you could say. But it has been needed and although I am not totally sure I am happy with the children's decision about returning to school, I am happy with their progress academically. Eldest K had such a glowing report academically it was like reading about another child! She has settled in and works fantastically hard, in fact her worst subject (Mathematics) has seen her move up two sets! Shock and amazement that Eldest K now LOVES maths!!! It was the bane of our home ed existence! Her art has always been her passion and she is now more open to try different techniques. The results have been spectacular - Manga is her current obsession.

Middle A has gone from strength to strength, I managed to give him the belief in himself and that is more evident now at school and he is the most improved pupil of his year! He even has managed to make friends, he is looking forward to starting secondary school in September!

Littlest H has had more a bumpy ride to the start of her school year. She was the shocker as I had more issues with her than I thought possible. She was just used to doing her own thing in her own time and the shock of school routine and structure had her in a tizz for a bit. All sorted now and she is doing well too.

As for me, well the short and narrow is I am now a Teaching Assistant - one on one support for a Year 5 boy, just covering maternity leave - till end of October. Then we will have to see what to do then!

The hens are doing great now and laying fantastic! Your own eggs are so much tastier and scrummier - that is agreed by us all! The garden has been neglected but my apple, pear, plum and damson trees are all coming along nicely. The rhubarb was great this year and my gooseberries are nearly ready to pick. The polytunnel has tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, peas, mangetout, cauliflower, pak choi, beetroot, green beans and cabbage - all doing brilliantly! So we are still managing a little self sufficiently, but more effort is needed in this area - a task for me to tackle this winter - more planning needed.

And to conclude a few pics from the year!

Back to School Part ONE!

2009-09-03T10:51:00.002+01:00

Well the day has finally arrived and boy did the summer fly by! Not that there was actually much of a summer!?

Two started school day, Middle A and Littlest H! The home educated journey has definitely been put on hold!

End of July Update

2009-07-29T16:21:00.003+01:00

Well here I am on our anniversary - married for 11 years! - instead of having a fun time with hubby! Why? Because due to the kids activities (well Middle A's) and no chance of a babysitter we are doing nothing exciting! Hubby is cooking me a nice meal later! So I forgive him.

Okay, life as a home educator is now coming to a close! All the kids will be starting school in September! Eldest K has already went back so she will start September as a Year 8. Overall I am not sure if she loves school just yet, she has said she is bored some days with some lessons, but then her maths class she says she loves (she hated maths with a passion!). It is probably more a social thing for her as that has the area for the last four and a bit years that has been a thorn for her. There was never enough home ed things going on near us, so I had to travel, then that became an issue. She struggled to make friends and there where limited girls her age - and if she did they lived too far away. So for her school just means you get to be with your friends all day every day!

Middle A will be going back for the last year of Primary school, a different one to the one he came out of. A smaller school and a small class too. He has had a couple of afternoons to try and was upset that he had to wait till September. But we will wait and see how things progress once Middle A has gone through his "honeymoon" period.

Littlest H thought you had to be 12 before you went to school, so when I said no she could go in September, she was all delighted. She has had a try at preschool (one I know and loved -Middle A adored the Aunties!) and got about 12 sessions in, she loved it a lot. Littlest H also did the induction to school and that was a hit! Even though I didn't get to take her, hubby said that she was fine and thoroughly enjoyed it all!

So I feel a little like a fraud now on the home educated blog rings, so will have to look into removing them when I remember! I think I will carry on with the blog, might need to tweet the profile a little!

As for me and how I feel, well I am gutted really. This was not what I wanted nor expected but it is what hubby and the kids want so I am outnumbered. Fingers crossed it all goes more smoothly than my worse nightmare.

And thanks for coming along and listening to our journey!!

Well school is a hit!

2009-06-17T20:34:00.002+01:00

Eldest K loves it!!!! She is not so interested in the learning more about the socialising and hanging out with her mates! But she is doing her school work and her homework, so can't complain too much! On a personal note I am gutted really deep down as it has been such a hit! I had hoped in the back of my mind that maybe it wouldn't be for her. Even though I want the best for her and most importantly for her to be happy, I am still struggling with it all emotionally! I will survive!

She seems to have settled in really well, which has been assisted that most of her Youth Theatre group go to the school, so she is mixing with older years easily and just having a great time! She did have a friend for a sleepover from her year this weekend, so she definitely seems to have settled in well.

So all my worries and woes where for nothing really as far as my concerns for her and how she would cope! Instead I should have worried about myself more!

On another personal note my sponsorship for the Race for Life is going well!!! I am so surprised and chuffed that people will sponsor me! But so happy that my initial target might actually get met!!! Does that mean I should increase it??? Thanks for those that have been generous, and you can click on my link at the top of my blog if you feel inclined to part with your money!!!

I have been successful on freecycle to get a hen house! So we might be getting a new home for our chickens! Oh and there is a hen coming with the house too! Am all excited but will have to wait till Saturday to collect it!!!

Middle A is having a bad time of it and refusing everything! "No" is his favourite word at the moment, which is keeping me on my toes and biting my tongue a lot!

We have had a major reshuffle in the house, which meant that our bedroom moved downstairs into the living room, the living room moved into the school room and the school room moved to the office (now called hobby room) and the hallway and the kids bedrooms too! The reason for all this was to give all the kids their own rooms! Started it on Friday and I am still trying to sort it all out! What a mess!!!! Only room not affected was the kitchen!

So that concludes the update for now! Thanks for listening to my moan!

Quick Update

2009-06-03T14:43:00.004+01:00

I have been so bad yet again and not been updating my blog! Life here has been hectic, we have had an unexpected lodger which has upset the momentum of the house. But our good deal of helping a friend in need had been paid!!! Middle A has lost his room, and this has caused a lot of upheaval. I even felt like I was farming the kids out to ensure I only ever had a max of two children in at one time! Thanks to those understanding and have the unexpected house guest thrown at them! We still have the lodger but am hoping that this weekend will see life returning to normal family life!

I have decided to do Race for life and I have the links added to my blog! This is for my Nannie who fought and won and for my Grandad who fought very bravely but lost. I decided this as I have also embarked on my own weight lost and the walk would help me and others at the same time! I have lost 2 stone since February.

My last piece of update is that Eldest K has decided to return to school and will in fact start on Monday. It was her decision, took me a while to act on it! But she is all excited and set for Monday - apart from the mammoth shopping trip for uniform etc and then labelling it all!!! Wish me luck!

Bird Study Week One!

2009-05-11T22:11:00.005+01:00

As it was such a lovely day we continued our nature study and this time we did Bird Study! Again, using the Barb's Handbook of Nature Study blog as inspiration and to show us the way. We did about Robins! We researched a bit about them first, with various books we have and the internet too. The kids found some interesting facts about the British Robin:

they are resident in UK, but some females can migrate
they nest in anything available - bicycle handlebars, machinery anything!
they eat worms, spiders, bugs, seeds and fruit
they are very friendly (we also know this from personal experience!)
the female will leave the male in the winter times and have her own territory
they can lay 2 - 3 clutches of eggs during breeding season and each clutch will have 5-6 eggs!

The most interesting fact for the kids was the way the female just left the male at winter! So we did our research, off we went into the garden (where we know we have robins!) Could we find one? No of course! We did hear a lot of birds singing, all different songs, mow we just need to find out the songs of the birds to see if we can find them.

We did have swallows flying and diving, quite a spectacular sight!

So there I was armed with the camera but no pics this time! I will search my photos, as I am sure I have one of a robin sitting outside my widow where my computer is. Quite a few birds like to stop by.

This was taken in February this year!

We topped up the bird feeders, discussing and identifying the seeds that where in it. They always love feeding the birds so completing this nature study was just another step in our exploration of nature!

After coming inside we spent some time on our nature journals and here they are!

This is Eldest K's effort, all her own work, so I am very proud of her as she only had one spelling mistake!

This is Middle A's, now it did take a bit of encouragement but this is a wonderful result which makes me so happy that he managed to achieve!

Littlest H of course decided red and brown are just not enough colour for a robin!

Well you can guess who's the last one is!!

Looking forward to next weeks bird study!

101 Things To Do This Summer

2009-05-08T19:21:00.005+01:00

I know it is ages away yet!!! But just to get some planning in, here is something I came across on one of my endless groups! I know some aren't applicable to the UK, but hey there is more than enough options! Quite a few I would want to put on my to do list for the summer, or even just anytime for some of the options!

Make a scrapbook of everything you do this summer - The Basics of Scrapbooking http://www.scrapbookscrapbook.com/beginners.html
Have a picnic -Planning a Picnic http://www.the-picnic-site.com/
Learn how to play soccer - How to Play Soccer http://www.ehow.com/PrintArticle.html?id=
Visit another country - Lonely Planet Destination Guides www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations
Go to a ballgame - Major League Baseball Team Schedules
Get a job (parent permission)
Become a photographer - BetterPhoto for Kids and Teens www.betterphoto.com/photography-for-kids.asp
Make dinner for your family - Do-It-Yourself Dinner Party Project (PDF)http://www.reynoldskitchens.com/ReynoldsKitchens/KitchenConnection/special/dinner_party/DinnerParty.pdf
Compare a book to a movie - Compare and Contrast Essay (PDF) http://www.csudh.edu/CLASS/services/studyskills/english/webpageworksheets/comparecontrastessay.htm
Write a poem - 30 Days of <http://www.msrogers.com/English2/poetry/30_days_of_poetry.htm>
Learn about fireworks - How Stuff Works: Fireworks
Bake some cookies - Science of Cookies cookies.htm<http://www.bakingandbakingscience.com/cookies.htm>
Take a boat ride - Boat Safe Kids! <http://www.boatsafe.com/kids/index.htm>
Sketch a picture of your house from the outside - Perspective Drawing<http://www.artyfactory.com/perspective_drawing/perspective_1.htm>
Go to camp
Visit a farm
Take a walk and record the sounds - Listening to Nature <http://www.museumca.org/naturalsounds/>
Embrace Other Cultures - Culture Quest <http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/cquest/>
Keep a journal of what you do during the Summer - Keepsake Diary <http://kids-indoor-activities.suite101.com/article.cfm/keep_a_summer_journal>
Cut up an old greeting card picture and make a puzzle(parent help) - How to make your own jigsaw puzzle <http://tn.essortment.com/howtomakeyour_rgzx.htm>
Start a band - Make Music! <http://www.mustcreate.org/kid_home/kids3_1.shtml>
Learn how to make a movie - Digital Movie Making for kids <http://www.adobe.com/education/digkids/intro_video/making_of_movie.html>
Blow up balloons, put notes inside and hand them out to friends - Message in a Balloon <http://www.nmhct.nhs.uk/pharmacy/nmha-activities.html>
Go backpacking - The Beginning Backpack <http://www.backpacking.net/beginner.html>
Learn how to oil paint - Free Art Lessons <http://www.interactiveartschool.com/free-art-lessons.html>
26Create a web site - Lissa Explains HTML for Kids <http://www.lissaexplains.com/>
Go camping
Learn how to use Microsoft Office - Free Tutorials for Microsoft Office <http://www.baycongroup.com/tutorials.htm>
Help an elderly person with house or yard work(parent permission) - 20 Great Reasons to Volunteer <http://www.volunteermatch.org/volunteers/resources/tipstricks.jsp>
Visit the zoo
Learn a foreign language - Free Online Language Courses <http://www.word2word.com/coursead.html>
Make an obstacle course in your back yard - How To Set Up An Obstacle Course <http://www.ehow.com/how_3113_set-obstacle-course.html>
Make a treasure hunt - The Ultimate Treasure Hunt <http://www.allthatstuff.net/treasurehunt.htm>
View and learn about Modern Art - Destination Modern Art <http://www.moma.org/destination/>
Learn about the Animals that live on our planet - A Library of the World's Animals <http://www.learnanimals.com/>
Recycle bottles and donate the money to a local charity - The Internet Consumer Recycling Guide <http://www.obviously.com/recycle/>
Explore the Universe - A Learning Center for Young Astronomers <http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html>
Build a tree house - The Tree House Guide <http://www.thetreehouseguide.com/>
Create a new world - World Building <http://teenwriting.about.com/library/weekly/aa071602a.htm>
Set up a lemonade stand - Lemonade Stand Game <http://www.coolmath-games.com/lemonade/>
Learn how to make ethnic food - Ethnic Recipes <http://www.bhg.com/recipes/food-slide-shows/ethnic-food/>
Attend a concert
Have family game nights - What Game Should We Play? <http://www.hasbro.com/familygamenight/pl/page.games/dn/default.cfm>
Learn about science - Latest Science News <http://www.sciencedaily.com/news/>
Make a collage from magazine words and pictures - Collage <http://pbskids.org/zoom/activities/do/collage.html>
Create a terrarium - How to Make a Terrarium <http://www.ehow.com/how_9374_make-terrarium.html>
Learn how to help the environmentEnvironmental Kids Club <http://www.epa.gov/kids/index.htm>
Discover new games to play - Nature Games <http://www.ultimatecampresource.com/site/camp-activities/nature-games.page-1.html>
Go to a museum - Find a museum in your area
Make a fire plan - Home Fire Safety <http://www.usfa.fema.gov/kids/flash.shtm>
Make up bubble solution and have a contest - Casey Carle's "Secret" Bubble Solutions <http://www.bubblemania.com/faq/solution.html>
Find a pen-pal (parent permission) - Pen Pal Directories <http://www.stonesoup.com/main2/penpal.html>
Plant something - Gardens for Beginners <http://www.geocities.com/mastergardener2k/>
Learn about Plants and our Environment - Think Quest <http://library.thinkquest.org/3715/>
Host a yard sale - How to Plan a Yard Sale <http://www.ehow.com/how_137461_yard-garage-sale.html>
Build a sandcastle - Sandcastle Tools <http://www.sandcastlecentral.com/toolpages/>
Donate some of the toys and clothes you no longer use - How To Donate Toys <http://www.ehow.com/how_10124_donate-toys-children.html>
Research your family tree - Tree Genealogy Information <http://genealogy.about.com/cs/free_genealogy/a/free_sites.htm>
Fly a kite - Professor Kite and the Secret of Kites <http://www.gombergkites.com/howgen.html>
Invent your own board game - Design Your Own Board Game <http://la.essortment.com/boardgamedesig_rxcu.htm>
Make your own comic book - Comic Creator <http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/comic/>
Create a book cover for your writing projects - Book Cover Creator <http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/bookcover/>
Act in a play - So You Want to Put On a Play? <http://www.writewords.org.uk/articles/theatre1.asp>
Learn to Cook Introductory Cooking Lesson <http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/kids-cooking-lessons-cit-intro.html>
Make a bird feeder - Easy birdfeeders for young children <http://www.care2.com/greenliving/make-easy-bird-feeders.html>
Organize a bike safety clinic - Bicycle Safety Command Center <http://www.state.il.us/kids/isp/bikes/>
Spend time with your grandparents- 10 Great Activities <http://www.education-world.com/a_lesson/lesson136.shtml>
Learn how the Internet works - Learn the Net <http://www.learnthenet.com/english/section/intbas.html>
Dig for fossils - Dinosaur Dig <http://www.sdnhm.org/kids/fossils/>
Write a song - Notes on Songwriting <http://www.robinfrederick.com/write.html>
Tie-dye some t-shirts - How to Tie-Dye <http://iaia.essortment.com/tiedyedyefa_rmel.htm>
Make your own banana split Yum!<http://parentingteens.about.com/cs/recipesforkids/ht/bananasplit.htm>
Create a themed dinner - Theme Dinner Ideas <http://www.kids-cooking-activities.com/theme-dinner-ideas.html>
Tour the World - Google Earth Style <http://earth.google.com/tour.html>
Throw a pajama party - Make it a success <http://www.ehow.com/how_2047629_plan-pajama-party.html>
Learn some new outdoor games - Games Kids Play <http://www.gameskidsplay.net/>
Make something from recyclables - Crafts from Recycled Products <http://www.makingfriends.com/recycle.htm>
See a movie with a friend - In the theatre or on DVD
Make homemade ice cream - Kitchen Theater Science in a Scoop <http://www.carnegiemuseums.org/cmag/bk_issue/1996/julaug/dept4.htm>
Build a time capsule For the entire family <http://www.ehow.com/how_6637_make-family-time.html>
Get a magazine subscription (parent permission)
Organize a scavenger hunt - Outdoor Scavenger Hunts <http://www.lovetheoutdoors.com/camping/kids/scavengerhunt.htm>
Go swimming - Video Clips of the Swimming Strokes <http://wellness.lattc.cc.ca.us/real/strokes.html>
Paint a portrait of your best friend - Draw Your Friend <http://www.arts.ufl.edu/art/rt_room/sparkers/friend_portrait/portrait_friend.html>
Start a collection - How to Start a Collection <http://www.ehow.com/how_10563_start-collection.html>
Write a fairy tale - Fractured Fairy Tales <http://www.readwritethink.org/materials/fairytales/>
Travel in time - Odyssey Online <http://carlos.emory.edu/ODYSSEY/MidElem_Home.html>
Stargaze and track the moon phases - Moon information <http://www.moonconnection.com/>
Learn how to sew - Learn to Sew <http://cyberseams.com/>
Visit a National Park
Rent a video of a ballet - Easy to Read Profiles of the Histories of Ballets <http://classicalmusic.about.com/od/historyofballet/>
Roast marshmallows - How to Roast a Marshmallow <http://www.ehow.com/how_1164_roast-marshmallow.html>
Watch the birds - Tips on Getting Started with Bird Watching <http://www.birdwatching.com/tips/kids_birding.html>
Arrange a bouquet of flowers - Learn how to make a beautiful display <http://interiordec.about.com/library/weekly/aa021403b2.htm>
Learn to blog (parents' permission)How-to <http://learn2blog.pitas.com/>
Re-decorate your room - Decorating Gallery <http://www.hgtv.com/topics/bedrooms/index.html>
Learn to play chess - Chess is Fun <http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/chess/chess.html>
Adopt a pet (parent permission)
Keep your brain going - Brain Teasers <http://www.brainconnection.com/teasers/>
Teach someone to use email - How eMail Works <http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/20how.htm>
Create your own holiday - A Month With No Holidays? Make Up Your Own! <http://www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson018.shtml>

Flower Study Week 1

2009-05-06T18:28:00.004+01:00

We have finally managed to start our flower study! For more info pop along to Barb's Handbook of Study blog - she is an inspiration and without her we would have achieved nothing in regards to nature! She really helps to give guidance and invisible encouragement! Thanks Barb!

On to our flower study, I have been meaning to start this for weeks, and finally decided today was the day! We started our venture with bluebells! Well it seemed fitting as we have loads in the garden!

After an Internet search we discovered that we had two types, hybrid and spanish bluebells. Or else we could be very bad at identifying! Also found that their was a bluebell survey, so I printed that out for us to complete too! So a very good flower to start our weekly flower study on!

This is my attempt!

Eldest K

Middle A

The children loved drawing in their nature journals a bluebell and even coloured them the correct colours! Littlest H went one further and included an actual blue bell itself!

Littlest H

Sorry the pics aren't that great, was having problems with the camera! Will need to practice using the functions on it more!

For our next flower study, it will probably be dandelion, as we have even more of them in the garden too! I also have lupins coming through and after that I haven't thought far enough just yet as I am so happy we started finally!

Music Appreciation Lapbook

2009-05-06T18:04:00.004+01:00

This is a lapbook that took a rather long time to complete!!! No real reason for it taking it so long, it just did! Both Eldest K and Middle A worked on it together - which now explains why it took so blasted long! They cannot work together on the same thing - more like Middle A will not co-operate with his eldest sister!

Anyway, it is from Hands of a Child and I think it is a very good introduction to music and composers! It is basic but still has a lot of detail to get them interested. Music is more Eldest K's thing so she enjoyed it, but all in all the kids did come together and give the answers themselves!

So here are the pics!

For me, I do tend to let Eldest K arrange the lapbook and stick as she sees fit, so the layout is all her own design and hard work!

My Body Lapbook

2009-05-04T22:08:00.007+01:00

This has been a subject Littlest H developed an interest in so I found a lapbook to do on it from Homeschool Share

She adored doing it and wanted to do it every minute that she could! I did do a google search and did find some extra things to add to it - just can't remember the links now! Enchanted Learning was one of the websites I used.

This is the front cover, yes I mis-judged the spacing on "lapbook" but Littlest H loved colouring them in and thought it looked funny being all higgly piggly! The sheet of the things inside and out of the body she told me all the words wrote down and where they were to go!

Again I filled in the answers she gave! She really is a smartie! And drawing round her hands she always loves! She added the nail detail herself.

The middle one shows the body systems and that was a nightmare to fold, but very effective once I understood the instructions - took a few gos!

Admittedly the rhymes and songs, did not rock her boat! But the germs did! And yes the little bags with the labels on can all be placed in the correct boxes by Littlest H!

She was bored one day and wanted to draw some bones, so I thought it was fitting to include it in her lapbook! She even copied the words too!

The skeleton was an extra which we put on the door (yes I know it could do with a clean and a new coat of paint!). Although she looks smaller that the skeleton, the skeleton is cheating and it's feet aren't on the floor! They where roughly the same size! Finally we drew around Littlest H and placed some of her internal organs in the correct place! She doesn't like the fact that I didn't get her neck right!

She still loves looking at it now, still gets the information books out and talking about it non stop! She was sad when I said it was all done now. Her immediate comeback was - "What lapbook next mum?" Adorable!

Where did April go?

2009-05-02T14:20:00.002+01:00

Ok own up who stole a month from me?!!!!!

I can't believe it has been over a month since I last blogged!! Goodness me! And yet so much and so little has happened in that time! There has been The Gang Show rehersals and performances, Easter and a Nature meeting to name a few! Then a holiday in Scotland for a week (still unpacking and trying to sort out!).

Still no excuse for not blogging! So we shall try and start May off with a frenzy of blogging! (Well ok maybe not lol!)

I am still in shock it has been so long since I last spoke about and there is so much I should hve blogged about! Maybe I will once I find the folder hubby put the photos!?!

A trip to the theatre and an audition too!?!

2009-03-28T14:14:00.005Z

It was a trip to the Theatre yesterday afternoon for Eldest K and I. A lovely girly day we had as we got the train too! Eldest K was most happy yo get a seat for the journey back, she can be such an old lady complaining when she can't sit down!

So we seen

It was great! Eldest K loved it and was stood up for most of the show, singing and dancing along!!! So it was a lovely day to spend in her company!

Then for the evening time, she had an audition for the Youth Theatre she joined two weeks ago! They are putting a play on about the second world war, it is called Back to Front. She tried out for two different parts, so now we will have to wait and see how she does. Not sure how long she will have to wait, but whatever it is it will be too long!! Even I want to know!!

Here I am on a Saturday afternoon, in between my taxi-ing duties! Have dropped Eldest K off at her Arts Award class, which is before her drama class. Returned home to remember that Middle A need to go to a Cubs sports event - I remembered at the exact time he should have been there! So instead of tidying and cleaning I thought, I'd give my blog an update while having a lovely quiet cup of tea. Especially as littlest H is playing "Brown Hat Man" on the Wii! Can you guess what "Brown Hat Man" is? I will tell you in my next installment and leave you all guessing!!!

Quick Fire Update - All about me, Cowboys and Harry the Dirty Dog Lapbooks and pics too!

2009-03-27T22:11:00.011Z

Why is you have have a great blog layout in your head, all planned out the wonderful things you need to write about your darling children and the various wonderful things they have been doing and then blogger goes and takes a scheduled maintenance or something or other! You can't post this wonderful piece of stuff in your head, so you come back another day and what do you have? Absolute zilch!

Now I've had my moan, on to the important stuff! Life, education and three adorable angels! Nope that's not quite right either! But here goes!

Managed to finally get some pics off the camera and we have Bat Box making at the library - yes I let my children use a hammer and nails and I just took photos of them doing it! Every other parent/grandparent was holding hammers, hands, and in the other children's faces constantly! Poor souls, won't know how to make their own bats boxes in the future and as for using a hammer....well.....enough said!

Then there are three lapbooks to post about too! Like I said my darling little angels have managed to produce something to show for all my moaning!

All about me lapbook by Eldest K, this was hard work for her as she actually had to focus on the nice stuff about herself, and I think by the end of it she did really enjoy it, but it was a hard slog at times! Here is the completed article, and with hers, she also puts the complete lapbook together herself which also ticks design and technology box! Can't remember where we got this one, as I have so many things on my computer lol! Most of it is from Live n Learn, but there are other components from something else, I just can;t think where!

Cowboy lapbook by Middle A - something he was keen to do until we actually started doing it! Typical eh! But as you can see the final outcome is very good! Am pleased as he participated more on this one than he has on previous ones. This was from Hands of a Child.

And final lapbook is actually Littlest H's first one! It was from homeschool share and is based on her favourite book Harry the Dirty Dog. She loved doing it so much that we had to do the entire thing in one sitting! So I learnt that I need to pre cut all the elements outs prior to siting down and completing the lapbook with her!

Finally some proof that work does happen occasionally!! Eldest K was doing Whizz and Middle A was doing Education City.

Chickens, eggs and walks!

2009-03-25T14:35:00.002Z

The chicks are so much bigger now and they even have feathers too! They are trying to fly out of their box at every chance they can, and the first time you see them fly in the box, their feet actually do leave the floor for a few seconds! It is an amazing sight indeed!

We started our eggs off to try and hatch our own little chicks! A chart has been drawn up to mark off three times a day for 18 days all with the anticipation of a new little chick! The kids are excited. I am so excited! The anticipation is exhilarating! Now we have to just turn our eggs and wait and hope!

Walking was what we did yesterday! A little gathering of home ed kids and parents crossing a golf course is something to see! The golfers where sure interested! Thankfully the weather held an it was a lovely walk, across fields, over numerous stiles and ended at a playground! This is where I froze Kids where having a great time while I froze and became so stiff, oh the joys of not being a youngster!

Chickens and more!

2009-03-18T21:04:00.003Z

Well I am now a mummy hen!

I went to a home ed meeting and came home with three baby chicks and some eggs to hatch (as you do of course!)

They are so cute and gorgeous! And I love being a mummy hen, but I have a lot of competition for this position from Eldest K - she is a mummy hen too!

The meeting was fantastic! It was so informative all about chickens, hatching an egg and raising them. It is something we have always wanted to do but never really managed to get the courage to actually do it! Well it looks like that dream has now turned into a reality! So a big THANKS to MB for all her hard work planning and organising the meeting as well as the inspiration to encourage me to take the plunge! Not to mention the excellent slide show that was inspirational made by D of course! The kids really did enjoy that part and are so more informed and noticed so many more things than I did!

Signs of Spring

2009-03-11T16:23:00.003Z

It was the Nature Group meeting today and our topic was "Signs of Spring" so I got them all to brainstorm and let me know what they thought where signs of spring, quite a few suggestions where given and all the children seemed to participate. Then we headed off into nature to have a walk and do a Spring scavenger hunt. We were out and about for nearly three quarters of an hour and lots of finds and beautiful drawings too!

We went indoors and started on their nature journal covers, so there was stamping, cutting, gluing, drawing and colouring happening too. Some lovely masterpieces made too! So next we put the journals together with all the sheets they had completed already. I gave some more out, flower anatomy, a co-ordinate grid which produced a picture, word searches, littler ones did the growing flower and there were more but I have forgotten already!!!

All where very busy until the very end! Then after two hours of hard grind it was lunch and the freedom to run around and play! So here I am back at home with three very tired kiddies! Hoping they will all sleep well tonight and NOT get up at the crack of dawn in the morning!

This time I forgot my camera so no photos taken! Am so frustrated with myself! Time for thinking hat on again for next months theme!?!?!

Update on room change: it is nearly complete! Yippee!!! Just a final vacuum and a final tweak and we will be all set for lovely work tomorrow! However our schedule may change as I have lever arch file upon lever arch file of "stuff" I have printed out and then filed - about time I used them!!!! So what we will be doing - I haven't a clue!

All Change.........Again!

2009-03-10T13:56:00.002Z

Hubby has been having itching feet for a while now and due to family it has been considered in the past that we should move closer to them. All types of scenarios have been thought through, discussed, muddled over and goodness knows what else. This (personally) has left in a state of turmoil for years (and that is no exaggeration!) as this is how long it has been going on for! Then it was finally decided we would stay put and make our house fit us better (it needs an extra bedroom as girls share and Eldest K is Little Miss Messy and Littlest H is Little Miss Tidy! Not a great combination for the same room!) so we applied for planning permission! Nervous wait, but it was accepted! Yippee I thought (and filled with dread at same time at thought of all the building work and home educating three children on a building site!). Hubby thought........No.......costs too much, so maybe it would be better to move!!!! Oh give me a bat quick!

Poor man! So anyway to try and make his feet stop itching we decided to try and make current house as is to fit us better! So first job was to swap our current school room with our current living room. What a job and what a task - such a task I am still in the middle of it - 4 days after starting!!!!!!

But on the positive side, the kids will have separate computers and already Eldest K has wanted to actually lift books off the bookshelves and use them (the books have only been on the shelves for nearly 4 years with only me touching them! lol) Poor books are in shock (as I am too!). She is now in the kitchen making cupcakes from a book from the shelf!!! Middle A has been desperate to go on his computer, however that is more due to the fact he wants to play his computer games, not do something mum considers "educational"!

So all change again! What a nightmare I am in, but hey the spring cleaning coming along nicely! Place has never been so clean (well two rooms anyway!) The amount of dust 4 years on a bookshelves can make would surprise you!

Board games to make - preschoolers/starting to read

2009-03-07T22:51:00.003Z

In my multitude of emails, I came across this one!

Games to Make

Which seems to have a lot of games to print out and use, there is a lot of themes covered: tv/cartoon personalities, holidays, and the list of them is quite long! There are at least 40 of them (more really as some have more than one theme!)

I love using games with my children and especially file folder games so these board games are an added extra for me to incorporate with the children (at least two of them anyway!).

Horrible Histories

2009-03-04T22:35:00.010Z

This is what we did today! Well Eldest K, Middle A and moi! It was organised by me and what a story that was! There I was up at about 1 in the morning last night, doing the seating arrangements as there where 34 in total going! But odd numbers are so hard to accommodate into even numbered rows!!!

First performance they actually came and asked some of us to move due to the low numbers in the theatre which would make audience participation uneven! Poor actors, there was very little audience participation! There were four groups in the theatre in total! And the First World War was superb! I loved it the best! It was so informative and "educational" that the kids actually had a great discussion over lunch with me about it! (Oh, that's a first for me!)

Second performance (personally) wasn't as good, but the children still enjoyed it and as it was about the children who where evacuated it was very much on the kids level. The most disappointing part of the second performance was the squealing school kids! Aahhh poor things!

Overall a very successful trip to the theatre me thinks!

More maths - tangrams this time

2009-03-01T19:20:00.003Z

Came across this! Jimmie is wonderful and puts across her ideas and suggestions in such a fabulous and understandable way! Just what I need!!!!

So here is her squidoo page on tangrams

Here's what she had to say about it

I thought it would be a math topic, but it's had some overlap into art! I love it when learning does that. It's a great way to add some fun to your math curriculum. We made our own tangrams from fun foam and the templates linked there.

So go and have a look and have some fun!

World Maths Day

2009-02-28T17:46:00.009Z

The kids have been loving this, or should I say Me and Eldest K has!!!! Still in training and I am so crap and I am supposed to be the kids age!!!! Great for increasing mental maths!

Go on have a go!

Here's the link World Maths Day

The kids are working!!!

2009-02-18T22:32:00.004Z

Yes I am surprised too!!! But am probably posting too early in regards to Eldest K as she has only been at it for one day, but Middle A has been doing it since Monday! And it has been far from plain sailing but I am succeeding! I am so happy! It is so draining and I am absolutely shattered now, but I can say they have ticked off more on their schedules than they have ever done before!

Home educating three different ages and with one who has their moments, is extremely difficult and unfortunately someone always loses out on my time! That is Littlest H the most, and she so wants to learn and know more and do "school" and I am not giving her the time or the opportunity to do this!

So here I am beating myself up again! As if there isn't enough going on, that I have not got enough on my plate, I just want to add to it!

Today was a turning point from the point of view that I have been cracking the whip! We where still "working" at 8pm tonight! I was determined not to back down and not let their whining get to me! I can proudly say I didn't! Might have to invest in ear plugs though!!!!!

So long may it continue I say!!!!!!!!

Another Long Absence and No Excuse Again!

2009-02-15T10:29:00.003Z

All I seem to do on this blog is apologise for not posting and then I sit and wonder why no one comments when I do post!!! Probably a lot to do with my infrequent posting!

But the reason for my infrequent posting is that we seem to have hit a wall and I am still trying to get around it really. Not much success just yet! There seems to be so much going on all at the same time that I am being pulled and pushed in so many directions I think my limbs will come off, or my head explode!

So what stage are we are? Good question! A few bombshells have been dropped and a few spanners thrown into the works for good measure! Hopefully the light at the end of the tunnel will appear soon!?!

On a camera note I have finally took the pictures off it onto the computer! My goodness me there are pictures from November last year on there! I am such a disorganised person sometimes - okay, most of the times! There are some fab pics too, just a pity only my computer gets to see them! So yet another mental note - remember to take pics of camera more often so can actually find an excuse to blog! No wonder my poor head so messed up all these mental notes!

As if life isn't complicated enough, I have taken over the local nature group along with another helper! We had our first meeting last week and it was Weather and Colour. The Colour part was a walk looking at finding colour in nature and the weather was making a barometer! The kids enjoyed being outside even if it was a little cold, but the sun was nice and warm when it appeared - at the end of the walk of course! Yes I did take my camera and didn't remember to take one photo!

I have also organised a trip to the Theatre to see the Horrible Histories, it is the great wars this year! Now that was not as easy as I thought and had a slight hiccup where the Theatre was being more rigid this year on the adult to child ratio in regards to a school booking. They did compromise slightly but would not have everyone at the school rate! Will make next years booking more interesting!

So it is half term and that means that my kids will have been out for school for 4 years! Where has those years gone!!!! I can't believe it! But there it is in black and white! So where we will be in another 4 years, right now that seems so long away, but the last four passed so quickly......

Big Garden Birdwatch Weekend

2009-01-24T19:36:00.003Z

I almost forgot, but still got tomorrow to do it!!! Look like poor birds won't have anyhting to eat this year as the kids normally make them some fat balls to hang out!

So here is the Recording Sheet and here is the RSBP website to give you all the info!

Busy Busy Week

2009-01-24T18:04:00.002Z

And it sure doesn't rain here, it pours! End of the week and I feel like a taxi service!

The kids have been to a home ed get together at a play area where Eldest K was too tall to play at (didn't stop her though!) on Monday afternoon, St Johns Ambulance Monday evening,

Tuesday was another Home ed meeting - a newish one and the theme was "Balloon Bash" as it was also a birthday celebration too. It was busy - great to see! - and the kids loved it, I even helped with an experiment! Wow! I am improving - except I didn't take enough potatoes and straws - got you intrigued? Here's the link: Killer Straw. Evening was concluded with swimming!

Wednesday was a quite day - yippee! There was no planned activities or outings! It was a day to catch up with work and the mountain of washing to be tackled! (PS It is has decreased to a hill today!)

Thursday was a catch up on work day with Nan visiting for her usual visit prior to her weekly visit to the hairdressers, so work didn't start till well after lunch about 2 pm really - not a lot achieved! Thursday evening Eldest K had a try night at Guides, now that is a long story. Had her name down for Brownies when she was at school and when I finally got contacted she was too old and would be a Guide, so started all over again on the waiting list. Got fed up and went via the website for the next nearest and that is where she tried. She loved it! And now another activity to add to the list!

This is also the day the letter arrived from Elective Home Education Department, with only Middle A stated on it!!!!!!

Friday was home ed tennis, and Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade - so lots of taxi-ing!

Saturday is drama for Eldest K and Sunday will be gymnastics for Littlest H (should be interesting as we not been since before Christmas with me being unwell since!!!!) So a quiet weekend!

I also started increasing the kids schedule this week to try and get us back to doing our work on a more organised and regular fashion. Eldest K wants to be more in control of what she does and when, so she will get a weekly schedule. Middle A likes to know what he is expected to do, but in small doses - so just a daily list for him! So far this week they have not reached the level I had hoped but I always over schedule anyway! But still they have indeed achieved a lot more this week. Now I just need to plan the next couple in advance to give myself a break - lol (like that will happen!)

Now its not like I have enough on my plate that I decide to let Middle A try out Cubs (that will be Tuesdays after swimming!) but also to take over the running of the local home ed nature group! Can I tell a dandelion from a buttercup? Should be interesting!!!! Well it never rains but it pours for me! I really must get the photos off the camera, there is about 4 months of photos on there by now!

A not so quick update!

2009-01-20T10:23:00.003Z

I have been blogging regularly but it has all been websites etc that I want to start using and hopefully passing along some useful information along the way. But what I haven't been doing is blogging about what we have been up to as a family and our education! I have been so naughty!

Partly it is due to the fact that now nearly 4 years after taking the kids out of school I have finally become known to the LEA and am nervously waiting for that bomb shell to drop! In my heart of hearts I always knew it would happen, it still nerve wrecking four years later for it to finally happen! So in my own usual way I have been getting myself in a tizz! It will all work out and there is nothing huge to worry but me being a born worrier, well it hard not to!

That aside, generally life here has been ticking along. Slowly - very slowly! But still ticking! Last time I blogged personally was to wish Middle A a happy birthday, well he had more a birthday few days as his birthday was a Tuesday and his party (I know I am mad!) was on the Sunday after! Fifteen children I had at my house (as well as some mums and dads too!) it was a Pirate themed party! The kids had a great time the parents who stayed (the home ed ones as the school parents dropped the kids off) all seemed to have a good chat and seemed to enjoy it as well! So everyone had name tags to make it easier for people to know who was who (aren't I organised!) they also received a pirate hat and an eye patch on arrival. They had a treasure map to colour and place a star where they thought the treasure might be! This was just till everyone arrived! Only Littlest H coloured! Then the games began!

First we played musical islands - like musical chairs but instead of chairs we had an A4 sheet of green paper with corners and edges cut off to make it look like an island! That had to be played in two rooms as there where too many bodies! It was quite comical as Littlest H was music controller - tip: never let a 4 yr old be in control of the music when you trying to play musical islands! She kept switching it on and off and was in a fit of giggles! I had to manoeuvre myself between the rooms removing the islands, then the kids got smart and where "sharing" islands, so the final part of the game was I removed the last island and kept walking between rooms!!!! Just picture it - with fifteen children trailing behind me! But at least they all had a laugh!

Then it was One Leg Jake - you stand on one leg, other knee bent and have to hold that position with your hands on your hips. Now boys where in one room and the girls in the other, the girls where in the room with the parents which was good as the boys weren't as good and where more interested in dislodging their opponents! So I had to get them to close their eyes and then move their arms about! Eventually we got a winner, although Eldest K did try and swap feet at one point - but I caught her out! Ha Ha!!

It was then time to unleash them onto the food, and to be honest at the end, there was only scraps left! So thankfully the food went down well as the thought of party food for lunch and dinner for the next few days was not very appealing! But thanks to everyone they ate well at the party! Hubby made the confusion over letting them have the sweet stuff while I was trying to get them set up for another game! But we got there in the end!

Pass the Booty - yes pass the parcel! That was different as I had the chairs alternated so some where sat on floor and some on chairs! Again they seemed to enjoy it, especially as every layer had a sweet!

They did Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate - which to be honest never really works for large numbers of kids as they all put the eye patch in pretty much the same place, so deciding a winner for that was hard and did receive complaints! They also had to put a star on the large Treasure map I had drawn where they thought the treasure was (I know a repeat, but the first one was more for the colouring- which no one did!). In the kitchen they played a game where there was a bucket of water with a smaller dish inside and they had to drop coins into it, highest number of coins won! A five year old girl won that one!!!! To the dismay of the ten year old boy!!! Well Done P!!! That proved a very popular game!

They also had to find some plastic gold coins I left around the downstairs and gave to parents to hold, that was quite interesting as my instructions where vague as even I got confused on that one! But they where supposed to return them to the treasure chest and guess how many coins there where! Didn't quite work and Middle A hadn't given me an answer (I hadn't realised) so was a bit upset with me when I announced the amount and the winner!

Upstairs they played Knock Down Em Pirates - skittles! We used empty pop bottles and I copied a load of pirate pictures from a story book and glued them on the bottles, then they had to knock them down with Spiderman balls (it was all I had lol!)

But my time was up and people where starting to leave so I had to quickly rush and do the cake for Middle A - skull and crossbones of course! Hand out Loot bags, and say goodbye only to realise we hadn't done the treasure hunt and there where clues all round my house!!!! So the stragglers did that and got their booty - gold money coins!

Now for those who read my blog and where there - this is not in the right order I know I have got a bit confused on my order, but generally at least that was the games we played!

We started to get back into our home ed schedule last Monday - quietly and slowly and I gave them a list of a few things they needed to do but let them know as we had been out of the schedule for a while with Christmas ad Middle A party, we would take it easy. Well they managed it, there were fights and tears of course! But I can say that I stuck to my guns and we at least managed something!

This week we have started out with the same as last week and I am now adding more to the list! And so far so good! We have also had a few home ed meetings and get togethers over the last few weeks as well to pop into the schedule, so that balance just isn't quite there yet! But am hoping to get close by the end of the week!

I did spend the entire weekend sorting out, tidying an ad rearranging the girls room! Boy did I ache! Now what a mess and how on earth could it have got that bad as I went through it not so long ago (couple of months or so back) but it was a tip!!! Under every unit there was a mountain of stuff, no wonder no one wanted to play with anything from the bedroom! It was splayed everywhere! So we decluttered, got rid of what they wanted and some more too! Filled two bags of rubbish! Yes TWO bags!!!! But end result now is all toys are where they should be and we even made room to put a desk in! As Eldest K now wants to do her work in her room! So although she did last week, she now does it at her desk! But I am not finished in her room - there are the clothes to do still!!! So looks like another weekend gone!

Like I said as the title a not so quick update! So congratulations on reaching the end! Or just by scrolling to the end as most of what I said was a tad boring! Till the next installment....

Mad Math Minutes

2009-01-20T10:15:00.002Z

These are American but I think they might be great for "drill" or if you want to give the kids a quick few minutes of maths enforcing something that they may have just learned or recap on something they might have done. You could also do it too, get those little grey cells going! It would be frightening for me to go up against the kids as I could even work out my own age yesterday and then have to take 9 away from it to find out how old my youngest brother was! It was embarrassing!!!! So maybe I should have a go at these lol!

Mad Math Minutes is a great way to practice basic math skills in addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. Here are some worksheets to test your child's skills. Set the timer for 60 seconds and let your child see how many they can do. Once they master a skill, move on to the next worksheet.

Mad Libs

2009-01-20T10:08:00.003Z

Now here we go again! Came across this a while back and saved to my favourites - as I always do and guess what? I forgot about it until it popped up on a list today, so thought I would share it with you and more importantly put it on my own blog so I will use it! Oops meant the kids of course!

Mad Libs are word games that create a new story by changing a few selected words in the story. For years, parents, teachers, and homeschoolers have used these FUN word games to teach children grammar, sentence structure, parts of speech, and even vocabulary. Here is website that offers FREE Mad Libs that your child can complete on your computer!

I had so much fun and you can even print it out and it really got my old brain ticking for a few minutes anyway!

Card Games

2009-01-18T21:42:00.007Z

Been wading thought my emails again and here are a couple of card games I came across:

Here are some games that I found in a great book about using card games to teach.

1. To teach place values
Take a deck of cards with all of face cards removed. Each player has a sheet in front of them with three columns. The columns are hundreds, tens and ones. The first player takes a card and decides which column to place it in. (The objective is to get the largest number to win). The play moves on to the next person, who takes a card etc. Until each space has been filled. The one who has the largest number wins the round. Play as many rounds as you wish.

2. Adding, or multiplication
Using a deck of cards without the face cards each player draws a card, in order. When each player has two cards they either add or multiply the numbers together. When adding we have the person who reaches 100 first win. When multiplying it is 300. You could play this with numerous children at the same time (eg one is adding the other multiplying) and find that these numbers work well.

3. Subtracting and adding
You use cards instead of a die to move around our game boards. You can make your own or use regular playing cards. You either add or subtract two cards to determine the spaces to move.

4. Multiplication Rummy
Ages: 9 years old and up
Number of players: 2 -4
Materials: Deck of Card
Skill Practice: Multiplication facts
Goal: To be the first to lay down all the cards in your hand showing multiplication tables. This game works for the tables 1-9.

Set up:
1. Dealer removes the all the face cards from the deck (Kings, Queens, Jacks)
2. Players determine the times table facts they will be practicing (example: 6 times table)
3. Dealer passes out 7 cards to each player.
4. The remaining cards are placed face down in the center of the table.
5. The dealer turns over the top card.

Rules for play:
1. The player left of the dealer goes first.
2. The first player either selects the card that is face up on the table or draws from the draw pile. If taking a card, the player must discard 1 card face up to the discard pile.
3. During their turn, players lay out card sets of 3 or more that show a multiplication fact. For example, if playing the 6 times table, and a player has a three 6 sixes and one 3 in their hand, the player can lay out the cards to show 6X6=36.
4. Play continues as stated above.
5. The round ends when one player has used all of their cards.
6. The remaining players total the number of cards in their hand and multiple that number by the number of the multiplication facts they were practice (ex. Multiple the total by 6 if practicing with the six times table).
7. The player with the lowest overall amount wins the game.

5. Another Adding or Subtracting one!

Ages: 7 and up

Players: 2

Materials: Deck of cards, Paper and pencil if needed

Skill Practice: Addition and Subtraction

Goal: To be the first to reach the total of 70 when adding, or to reach 30 when subtracting. Card Value: Number cards are worth face value (ex. 2 = 2 points) Aces = 1 point Jacks = 11 points Queens = 12 points Kings = 13 points

Set up:

1. Cards are shuffled and placed in a stack in the middle of the table.

2. Each player picks one card from the top of the deck in the middle of the table.

3. The player with the higher card is "add. "

4. The player with the lower card is "subtract."

5. The dealer passes out the remaining cards, one at a time, face down to the players.

Rules for play:

1. The players begin with 50 points.

2. Players take turns placing their top card on central pile in the middle of the table.

3. The "add" player tries to reach 70 points and the "subtract" player tries to reach 30 points.

4. The add player begins play by placing a card in the middle of the table.At that time, the add player adds the card number to beginning 50 points. For example, if the add player plays a 2, the add player says 50 +2 = 52.

5. Next the subtract player plays a card. The subtract player takes away the number shown on the card from the previous total. For example, if the total was 52, and the subtract player plays a Jack, the player says 52-11 = 41.

6. The players add or subtract the amounts listed above for Face cards and Aces.

7. If the cards run out before there is a winner, the cards are shuffled and play continues.

8. Play continues until a player reaches their designated amount (70 for the "add" player and 30 for the "subtract" player).

How to play the card game thirty one

Thirty-one is a card game played between two and seven people but is usually best played with at least four players. The object is to obtain a hand with a point value closer to 31 than the hands of one's opponents.

Using one standard 52 card deck, cards rank as follows: aces are high, counting 11, face cards count 10, and all other cards count face value. Each player gets three cards and the rest of the pack is set in the middle of the table to act as the stock for the game, and the top card of the stock is turned over to begin the discard. After the hands in the first round are dealt out, each player receives a previously chosen number of tokens, or, most commonly, coins.

Play proceeds as in Gin Rummy, with each player, starting with the player to the immediate left of the dealer and going clockwise around the table, taking the top card of either the stock or the discard and afterward discarding a card. Play continues clockwise around the table until any player knocks or obtains a blitz.

When it is one player's turn, and that player believes his or her hand is high enough to beat those of his or her opponents individually, he or she knocks on the table instead of drawing and discarding. All other players, going clockwise from the player who knocked, have one more turn to draw from the stock and discard, or they have the option of keeping all three cards in their hands (i.e. standing, staying).

A round ends when the player to the right of the player who knocked has had his or her final turn. If no one knocks by the time a player exhausts the stock, the round ends in a draw.

At the end of the round, each player shows his or her hand and totals it up. The player whose hand scored the lowest has lost the round, and must place one of his tokens or coins in the centre of the table.If, at any time in the round, a player attains a hand made up of an Ace, King and Ten of the same suit (a blitz), he must immediately show it, the round ends and all other players must place one token on the centre of the table.

When a player has lost all of his or her tokens or coins, he or she continues to play until that player loses again; at that time, he or she must leave the game.

The last player to stay in the game wins all of the tokens on the table.

Hopefully they might be useful to someone and also to remind me to actually play them with my children :)

Science Notebook Pages and Websites

2009-01-15T21:02:00.006Z

I just came across these science pages, for Biology, Chemistry Human Anatomy and Astronomy. Click here

Now here is a colouring book for Physics, here's what it says about it

Color Me Physics is a coloring book that introduces children to physics and
some of its most famous characters. The book includes one coloring page and a
short description for each of the ten physicists featured. Color Me Physics may
be reproduced for non-commercial purposes

Next we have a FREE weekly puzzler - Cogno's Challenge there are two puzzlers to sign up for the Science on and the Maths/Language Arts/ Science one. What happens once you subscribe to one or both is you get a weekly email with the puzzler attached and you simply print them out! Now that's easy for me! And they also give the answers too! Even better!

I have also found Invent World which is an American site and is also free, I haven't really had much of a play just yet! But it looks promising and signing the kids up as inventors as I speak for them to try it out tomorrow!

There is also Periodic Table Element Trading cards, but you need to do the research to make them as they are blank. Which you could then use as trump cards.

Another 2 player game for the Periodic Table would be like Guess Who:

Each student would have a Periodic Table (if you lmainate them they
could use wipe off markers to mark off as you ask the questions). Then you'd
need a stack of cards with one element on each card and all the components of
that element found on the periodic table. Each player picks one card. Then, they
have to ask the other playeryes/no questions about THEIR card. For instance: Is
your card a mineral? If the answer is "No." then they cross off all the minerals
on their periodic table. They continue to ask questions until they've narrowed
down their table and they know what the other's card is. The first to guess the
others card is the winner.

Word Games

2009-01-15T20:29:00.004Z

Here is another site I came across ages ago and had it save in my favourites to forget about! It has just come again on a list I am on so am putting it in my blog to remind me!

Word ducks is a FREE site and here is what is says about itself:

"This site has been created for people who love word games. We will be adding more games in the near future but we think you will find the many word lists that are currently available will keep you entertained for quite some time.

What makes WordDuck.com truly unique is that we let our members create their very own word lists. This can be a valuable tool for educators, especially those teaching vocabulary or foreign languages. Please click on one of the images to the right to get started playing either Dunk-A-Duck Hangman or WordDuck Word Search.

If you are interested in creating your own word list collection then please register for membership. It is completely FREE and will allow you to create multiple word lists of your own that can be easily used in our hangman or word search games. You will just need to tell people your username for them to be able to access the collection of word lists you have created."

I did have a go and thought it was quite entertaining but then I am an adult and I have always loved word games - whether it is the kids cup of tea I haven't the foggiest!

Am now considering setting up yet another blog with all these resources or do I just keep them here?!?! Not sure what to do!

Maths Games

2009-01-14T16:04:00.005Z

Okay, my head is in a little tizz and I wanted to blog this before I forgot!!! Seem to be doing that a lot these days! Have decided to try and incorporate some of the info I gather from the masses and masses of emails from all the Yahoo groups I am in to firstly try and get everything in the one place and secondly to remind of that fab "thing" I found that I wanted the kids to try and have a go at! As I am currently adding it to my favourites (my favourites list is so huge!) but haven't a clue where anything is anymore! I know I have a PE curriculum saved somewhere - can I find it? Three days I have been looking, and to no avail!!!!

Onto the Maths game!

Using a deck of cards to add 3 digit numbers, first to 1000 wins! Click here for the instructions.

Zap card game

Now there is a pack of cards of these but I can see that you could use a normal pack of cards and the numbers 1 to 9 being the numbers that you add and the picture cards could be the "zap" cards. You draw cards adding up your numbers and each card you can decide to continue to draw or to stop and keep your score. If you continue to draw and get a "zap" card then your score is zapped and you have no points! It is then the next players turn. The first to 50 wins! So this one gets them adding single digits, maybe more a mental quickie!

Adding to 10

Learning the additions that total 10 and help increase mental maths here is a wonderful game for that.

You take a standard playing deck of cards and remove the face cards and the tens.
Lay an Ace, One, Two, Three, Four, and Five in front of you in a circle.
Deal seven cards toyourself and your child.
Lay the remaining cards aside for a drawpile.
Take turns laying a card on top of one of the cards in the circle to add up to 10.
If you are unable to play a card, draw two cards from the pile and wait for your next turn.
The person who runs out of cards first, wins.

Birthday Time Again!

2009-01-06T21:54:00.003Z

This time it is Middle A, he sets the scene for the year, he is the first to have a birthday! And it is a big one he is now into double figures!

I just can't believe it, where does the years go? Around my middle me thinks!

But instead of this lad just having the one day for turning ten, he is having it spread over a few days! His grandparents will see him on Thursday and no doubt bestow him with presents then. He has his party on Sunday where he will be bestowed upon even more!!!! A pirate theme!

He is indeed a very lucky ten year old!

Happy Birthday Son!

Good Website to Sell Books on!

2009-01-06T19:35:00.002Z

Just a quickie!!! I wanted to pass on a website I recently discovered and am now using! It is List Books and it is great for buying and selling second hand books! Reason why it is so good is:

it is free!
it is easy to use for inputting books as you put in ISBN numbers and generally all the info is there! (have cheated and used amazon's info too!!!!)
it is so quick and easy to use!

So my shelves are having an early spring clean and I am putting them on for silly money (lowest so far 25p, dearest so far £1.00) as I just want the space and a little money to buy some more!!!!!!!

So have a look at their About page to give you all the info you need and to answer any questions you may have!

Go on have a look, but you might need to tighten your purse strings first! lol

A Belated Happy New Year

2009-01-05T11:38:00.003Z

Welcome to 2009!!!!

Just wish it had got off to a little better start than it actually did! Ill kids, Middle A had a cold and cough but more a cough and a lot of gunge - he decided to not reach the bathroom in time during a coughing fit and I have a cream carpet in the hallway!!!! Ahhhh!!!!

Back from the doctor this morning and I have now an ear infection - being given antibiotics - huge big yellow pills!!!! Have to take one four times a day! (Now this is where I fall down - I can never remember to take the blasted things!) Anyway - I am deaf in one ear and with my hearing being iffy to start it has made life very interesting and quite quiet really. Like I am in the bath with my head under the water constantly! Oh yes and painful to!

So as for "Education" (as that is supposed to be the topic of my blog!) We are easing into it, am hoping the kids will tear themselves away from the TV and their DS's to try and attempt some copywork, bible, and not really sure what else just yet! I just love my planning!!!

Can I have a new brain please!!??? Oh and the body to go with it lol!!!

Dreaded illness and its Christmas Time!

2008-12-24T13:36:00.003Z

I have been ill and still no better! Came down with what could only be described as a cold and I still have it, it has moved into a cough as well. I feel lousy, I feel shattered and just can;t be bothered! And nor can anyone else in the house! The washing is a mountain, the ironing is another mountain, the floors haven't been vacuumed for days, I haven't wrapped a present yet (they are still not all bought!), I've done no baking! And I am now depressed at my massive list!!!

So it is Christmas Eve, hubby is out doing final bits and pieces shopping, I am blogging, Eldest K is in her room wrapping her presents to her brother and sister, Middle A is playing on computer and Littlest H is on the vtech (in her pjs still!). The TV is on in the living room with no one to watch it and the turkey is out in the kitchen (oh and so is the cat! - one moment........ok good news cat hadn't noticed turkey!) with no one to stuff it! I think I have my work cut out for me!

But I feel ill and just can't be bothered! There is one good thing about this illness!? I don't seem to be stressing out as much and even though I just wrote a huge list of all the things I need to do or haven;t been done, well I'm not bothered!

It's Christmas time! I am going to make myself a brew and then as the kids what they want to bake each and that will be all as that means they can make three things between them! As for the house, well it will be even more of a mess tomorrow, so why fret about it today. Only need to tidy on Boxing Day as we are having Nana, Grandad and E for lunch and supper. Well not to eat, as I think they may be a little more tough than I used to (sorry - bad bad BAD joke!)

So to you - I wish you and your family a lovely warm Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Thanks for inspiration and busy(ish) week

2008-12-11T18:18:00.003Z

Just wanted to say thanks for inspiration it is appreciated and has got the ball rolling again! We have been able to make a list for most of the relatives regarding presents, just the Grandads are the hardest to cater for!!! So if you have inspiration for the males then please let me know!

This week has not been as busy as I had anticipated at the start of the week! Thankfully! But still busy none the less! The older two had their St Johns Ambulance Presentation evening on Monday, which lasted all of 5 minutes, but at least they have got another badge! Although it was also Eldest K's last night as a Badger, as she should have been a Cadet for quite a while but the leader had not wanted to move her up due to their being such an age gap between her and the other cadets. So she had kept her back, but she got found out at the last presentation when the visiting officer asked Eldest K how old she was!?! Well poor girl didn't know what to do and so told the true. With the response of how old she was and that she should be in the Cadets! She has been both since September but that is it, from January she will only be going to Cadets.

Tuesday night was swimming with the Mend friends again, seems quite a good regular group now, but the weather is awful to go swimming in! Especially as the swimming pool we use is right beside the sea, and I mean RIGHT beside the sea! I don't go in the pool and I feel freezing when I come out!

Wednesday turned into a disaster this week, out local home ed meeting was cancelled, so we arranged to meet up with a friends and that was cancelled too due to illness on their part! So a surprisingly quieter day than anticipated!

And today was Christmas lunch get together at Pizza Hut followed by pottery! Now did I mention that us mums did a pottery evening near the end of November (well we did!) I did a mug with a cat on it, and we got them back today. To be honest I was pleasantly surprised mine had worked and didn't look too bad! Definitely room for improvement though! But I am quite pleased with the result! Would try again!

Tomorrow we have Tennis and then a busy weekend too! They have their wildlife watch group Christmas party Sat morning, Eldest K has drama in the afternoon. Sunday brings Church Parade for the oldest two and then gymnastics for Littlest H in the afternoon. But Littlest H has had a cold for over a week now! And the sleepless nights are starting to have an effect on me! Hoping she will get over if finally once and for all REAL soon!!!!!

Christmas gifts inspiration needed!!!

2008-12-08T20:33:00.002Z

Okay, for all two of you who read my blog a huge task for you! I am have run out of inspiration about what gifts to give family!!!!!!

Please help!

The kids need to make their gifts and I try to make mine too! All in the name of frugality! Inspiration has seriously left me this year! But then I also have the problem, that a few who read my blog might be getting something crafted from me! So for those individuals (all one of you probably lol!) EYES CLOSED!!!!!!!

Right, now that they will be such a good person and not peak, the rest of you can let loose with your inspiration so that I may absorb some of it!

So I have grandparents, my brothers, and my brothers partners to cater for. I also have my kids friends too. Now I do have a few ideas, but I am hoping for something different that isn't too hard to do!

It's a bit of a hard post to write as I do know that there is a few that I can't let know about this post! As I will be making for them! Aaahhh!!! What to do!?!?!?!?!?!

Time for a change...

2008-12-06T22:28:00.002Z

Well it is almost Christmas! lol

Firstly, thanks so much for all the lovely kind comments in regards to the biggest two and their robots! I did read them all out and they where so chuffed to hear such positive comments on their creations! After all a mum has to be nice and say they are fantastic! But for a "stranger" to make a comment - well now- that just is the bees and ees! So thank you for your lovely positive comments!

Now we are preparing for Christmas! It is a nightmare every year, and no matter how many times (or years) I say "I will be more organised next year!" I NEVER AM!!!!!!! I frustrate the hell out of myself, never mind anyone else around me lol!

The schedule is somewhat reduced on the education side, with still the basics being covered with a great big helping of Christmas crafts and present making thrown in! As well as a lapbook too on Christmas Symbols - printed it out last year and still to start this year! So the burning question is will we actually manage it this year?? So that is how this week went, with (hopefully) more crafting and pressie making happening!

I just feel absolutely shattered all the time and running around in circles when I never actually seem to achieve anything - hopefully it is just the time of the year?!

We have had a busy last couple of weeks, but more from the point of the the kids social lives as opposed to heaps of educational advancements! Then have been visiting friends, we have had numerous friends for tea (not to eat, as I can't really manage a whole child! but to have round and entertain and then let them criticise my cooking!). So I have been taxiing children (both mine and others too) here there and everywhere! The older two seem to have finished the Mend programme and found a couple of non home ed friends. So I have to make more of an effort to ensure that the kids can keep these new friendships going!

We need to get sorted out in regards to presents for my family as I will need to post them soon! Otherwise I will be paying extra for courier service (like last year!) But at least they got there sooner and probably in a better condition than Royal Mail. Just don't seem to have much craft inspiration these days! I do miss my crafting! A big must for me come the new year - more crafting time for me!

Talking of new year - once I get Christmas over, I need to sit down and plan out the kids for next year, as Eldest K is still fighting me tooth and nail, but after a long chat with her, me and her dad we seem to have come to some conclusions as what we can all do to see if she will work a little more. So a new schedule again in the new year (well it really only one of my old ones with a little tweaking!) and wait and see how long that one lasts!

Eldest K will be preforming in her first play tomorrow! She is so excited!!! It is "The Snow Queen", but we only get two tickets due to limited seating. So Middle A and I get to go to this performance! I am excited for her too, now at least I will find out if my money is worth spending! lol! Oh I am so cheeky! They will preform it again in their drama class next week and those who don't get to see it now can see it then, so that's not too bad! It is a tight squeeze with time tomorrow though. Littlest H has gymnastics 12.30-1.30, then Eldest K needs to be at the theatre for 1.45! At least I can hopefully sit down from 2 till 4 while I am entertained!

And finally, where is our snow???? Who took it, come on own up? Eight years we lived here and it has only snowed twice! I think it is us as when we lived in Scotland, the year before we moved there the village got snowed in, while we lived there for seven years it snowed once, and not that bad then either! So who's keeping all the snow from us??

Robots and more robots!

2008-11-27T12:18:00.004Z

For St Johns Ambulance annual craft something or other (I wasn't paying that much attention lol) Middle A had to make something, so as he is not crafty we had to come up with something that would be in the "Other" section. So he decided to make a Robot out of modeling clay.

An afternoon of model clay catastrophes and this is final result:

Now I thought it was pretty fab and cool! But judges did not! He didn't get anything at all for it! They just don't know anything!

Not to be out done, Eldest K made a washing machine robot:

So the robot finds some dirty washing and puts it into its drum

close the door and do the washing!

Now if only we had a real one lol! Just think of the possibilites as it also has legs to walk about and other chores while it waited for the load of washing to finish!

Quick(ish) Update

2008-11-25T21:48:00.004Z

Time is indeed flying by!!!! So what have we been up to since I last remembered to blog? Now let me think....

Apart from feeling like a taxi service, the kids haven't really been up to much! They have been attending their normal evening activities. We even met up with a new family to the area on the Friday afternoon. The kids all had a great time and more importantly I did too! I got to chat with grown up people all by myself and I loved it!!!!!!

So the weekend came and went, Eldest K had her drama and Littlest H had her gymnastics. Both girls enjoyed them as always! Really need to look for something else for Middle A!

I had a bit of a head wobble over the last week - wondering and questioning myself constantly if I am doing the right thing by the kids! I just feel we seem to go from one fight to another argument in the house! Then if we are out at activities I am always worried and stressed about what can happen next with my lot! Although generally, to give the kids their dues, they are usually fine at the activities. But it still stresses me out that they aren't doing a lot really - of "schooling" or making and meeting friends really. Whenever we do seem to make friends life seems to conspire to keep them apart. As for "schooling" that is a constant (all day every day) battle - it is sooooooooo draining! I want it to be structured. Middle A needs it to be structured. Eldest K just can't be bothered with any of it!!!!! Yeap she still a pain! I just feel like banging my head off a wall! But would they even notice? Probably not!

Anyway, I sat down and had a chat with my rock and he suggested I break it down under the headings of "My Life", "Hobbies" and "Other". I did just that and what an eye opener! There is no "Me" left! Where did I go? Smothered under all the paperwork and printouts and worksheets and lapbooks of the kids! If I am not reading the millions of emails about home education and the methods and techniques, I am researching the home education methods and techniques. Looking for that all illusive "ONE"! The "one" way to home educate my kids where they love to learn, want to learn, smile about learning, laugh about learning, jump at the chance to learn! Guess what.......

I am still looking!

Things need to change and I need to prioritise and as my rock said "If they don;t want to learn in the time we have allocated, then they will miss out and you need to move on to the next thing!" Which is a scary thought - but will be needed to keep me sane! I don;t feel very sane at the moment!

So much for the quick update!!!

Bat Talk and Author Visits!

2008-11-16T17:22:00.003Z

Not only have we had a busy week with a birthdays but we also had two educational visits on! On Wednesday there was a Bat Talk (also Littlest H's first birthday party!) So we were late arriving as I was in a mad spin still making sausage rolls!! The speaker had already started and was it consisted of sitting in a dark room watching slides while he spoke about bats. Not very interesting sounding! Well to be honest it was interesting and he did relay a lot of information about bats. But it was also like being back at school and I did catch myself wandering off in my mind!!! Had to give myself a stern talking to!

The guy did give a lot info and the talk did go on, but after the slides were done, he did a q&a. This is where he really came alive and interacted with the kids! Then it was so much more on the kids level, and even the adults asked some questions (even one who asked a question that he had said during his talk! His response was that she hadn't been listening, followed by a show of kids hands with the answer! Which he immediately praised the child! He was so chuffed that the kids had been listening!) We listening to a recording of a bat and the raspberry sound meant that the bat had caught a midge! That was quite hilarious to hear!

So after the talk we all filed outside for the kids to burn off the excess energy while they played around outside! They had a great time! So the bat talk was a success, a bit over the heads of the kids in places (ans me too!) but something that I am glad they had a chance to experience!

On Thursday, as previously blogged, was the family party, but also an Author visit in the afternoon. So Eldest K and I abandoned the in laws and went to the author visit. Middle A was also supposed to come along but he had had a few difficult days and was not in a cooperative mood! So he stayed home!

Again we arrived late! (Note to self: Must start respecting other people's time and getting there on time!) Thankfully he hadn't started, so we didn't miss anything! He was very entertaining and you can see why he writes children's books. He talked a little about how he became an author and what type of books he writes. He read some of his books out and the kids where really interacting and enjoying the session. Afterwards he had a question session and the kids got to ask all kinds of questions and the adults too! I was very guilty of asking some too, as it has always been something I have been interested in. It was definitely an eye opener and I just wish there were more hours in a day lol!

So a busy education visit week as well as party week!

Deer Lapbook

2008-11-16T17:10:00.004Z

Eldest K finally completely her Deer lapbook which was a quarterly freebie from Hands of a Child. And I finally got round to taking pics of them!

Overall she enjoyed it and did have a good time doing it (when she actually did it!) So I have printed her out a little one just to do quickly (we will see how quickly she does it lol!)

So here is her pics of her lapbook.

Front cover: and inside:

under flap:

I am so pleased with her efforts as she actually has completed it independently. She really has done a good job from doing the activities to deciding her final layout and sticking them in! A proud mum moment!

Birthday take two!

2008-11-14T11:26:00.004Z

Well this is "Take Two" as this was the family birthday, although the family only consists of my in laws! So I had to do another birthday lunch, but disaster struck and I forgot when I put the cake in and took it out too soon!!!! It wasn't cooked enough and was a brick! It went in the bin! So no second birthday cake - I am such a bad mum! But have promised I will make a cake (not a birthday one!) at the weekend. Must keep my promise! And will time it this time!

Anyway they arrived and we set up the table in the living room with all the goodies, chicken drumsticks, sausage rolls (home made!), sandwiches, cocktail sausages, scotch eggs (home made!) and some cheese chunks, grapes and crisps. I received a comment from mum in law "That looks like a nice spread, you have done well" Well you could have picked me up off the floor! She has never said it before!!!! I am still in shock - I was so shocked I don't think I spoke for half an hour! Then we had the nice stuff! Chocolate buns, rice krispie cakes, chocolate slab cookies, and top hats (marshmallows with chocolate). All home made!

I know I keep going on about the home made stuff, but it really is a big thing for me! I am so disorganised I usually never have the time, so I was just so chuffed with myself that I had managed so much myself this time!

Littlest H opened her presents, from grandparents there was clothes - she wasn't so impressed. Then magnetic letters - her response was "I already have them, they not what I wanted" Followed by mum and dad's (now considering that was all hubby had to sort out he failed miserably as he left it too late! He was supposed to get a cat teddy for Middle A to give to her, but couldn't find one so our present had to be from him and we got the substitute) Toy Story 2 100 pc jigsaw puzzle. It was opened, a comment about it being a jigsaw and it needed to go away with the other jigsaws! Prefect just the response I wanted lol! She opened Middle A's next (remember this was our one originally) Diego play set - it was perfect just what she wanted!!!! Then Eldest K (don;t ask about the arguments this caused as I had thought of this one from me ages ago, but Eldest K got her way and it was from her!) Elefun game! Now this was more than perfect, this was fantastic and needed playing immediately. Did hubby get batteries? No! Eventually found batteries in other appliances - house bell and tape player - they are so weak you have to wait 5 mins for a butterfly to come out! It takes a long time to play one game and I think I fell asleep!

All in all, a successful two day birthday for the little girl who is now 4! Goodness me, where has the time gone! And then even scarily what have I actually done in them 4 years???

Birthday take one!

2008-11-14T00:34:00.005Z

I cannot believe my littlest H is 4 years old!!!! Where has the time gone? Where has my little baby gone??? Boy they do grow up fast!

So take one was her birthday party for her friends! The theme was "Jungle" and I only ordered her party stuff on Sunday!!! So had to pay express delivery, but was thankful as everything arrived on Tuesday early afternoon. It was all as expected and in fact if I am truly honest - it was better than expected in quality! It was worth the money! The company is Party Pieces and I have been getting a catalogue through the door for yonks. Have no idea how or why, but I have. I have occasionally looked at it but generally it goes into the recycle bin. But thankfully not on this occasion! However it did not stop me going and trawling the net, looking at far too many other websites to see if I could find a better deal - after all money doesn't grow on trees! What a waste of time that was! Should have just ordered it from Party Pieces in the first place and be done with it! A whole 4 hours(at least!) I lost to my futile searching.

Jungle was the theme! Guests arrived and party started. They had bubble mats to jump on and burst - what a noise! It was so loud and deafening - but they loved it and we did think all the bubbles where burst, but Littlest H and Eldest K spent time finding more later that night! Then it was pass the balloon and when the music stopped the last one to touch the balloon was out! Again they all got stuck in and had a good laugh. Food was next (my rock of a hubby put on a lovely spread (as always) - I did make a lot of it, but as I was out in the morning at a meeting, it was up to him to plate it and put it on the table! A lovely job he did!). Kids where good and no buns where taken on the first helping. They all retired to the front room to much and view Shrek the Third. Quietness for a while. We then did Pass the Parcel, a Treasure Hunt and Pin the Tail on the Donkey. Then Eldest K took them all to put a play on using the animal masks we had. It was a hoot! Mums were giraffes! I missed the start but it looked like they had a great time. They even enjoyed the layered jelly I made!

I am proud of myself and for actually achieving a home party with a theme and for making all the food myself. Even the cake - although a disaster - was a lion! I was shattered by the end of the day and no rest as it had to be repeated for the next day!

Dinosaur digging!

2008-11-06T23:45:00.004Z

Well I finally let the kids pick something off the shelf - the shelf that has all these lovely educational things and activities for them to do! Also know as the "Do not touch" shelf lol!!! Does anyone else have one of them? It is packed full of craft, arty, science experiments and goodness only knows what else!!! But will I just let them use anything off it - NO! I am such a control freak and the thought of them taking something from the shelf, opening the packaging and investigating everything to then decide on the courses of action

use it as per instructions and make a lovely "whatever" that is just so lovely and perfect and exciting!
decide that instructions aren't necessary, nor is time, nor is there a need to be careful and diligent

just leave it abandoned all over the table/floor/wherever it landed as it is boring and not all of interest to child concerned

what it is supposed to be is a naff idea and come up with their own original and fascinating use!

So apart from the first option, the rest just fill me with fear and dread - so it is a "Do Not Touch" shelf!

Anyway, back to the shelf - I did (bravely I might comment!) allow them to pick what they wanted to do. Which was followed by me saying "No, not that, no not that either, nor that, no, something else instead....." You get the gist! To finally - "Just do your dino eggs!" After all the huffing an puffing due to me speaking, they decided that Dino Egg excavation was just the ticket! So off they went! And here we have the evidence...

As for completed projects, well Eldest K was a little more rough and broke hers during excavation which requires more gluing to assembly. Whereas Middle A had a simpler one where his was already in one piece which means I only have a finished pic of his!

This was a joint effort with Littlest H assisting with the paint brush, brushing away the debris and making a storm cloud in the kitchen, followed by making every surface and child was covered in the brown dust. But the kids had a whale of a time and that's what counts!

Do you ever....

2008-11-05T13:55:00.003Z

feel that if you could move house it would all be better without actually moving house!? I seem to have this thought in my head that if I had to pack up as if to move house then I could declutter and then unpack it all into a better and more organised fashion! Well I know it is just a dream but boy was it nice! To have functioning rooms, that function as they should and kids are able to find things without the fear or worry that the entire contents of the shelf will end up on the floor! I know it only happens in dream world!

This is something that has become a major thorn in my side at present. I feel we have too much stuff, and way too little proper and adequate storage! Can I see a way round this? No! Talk about wanting to pull your hair out! Although hair itself won't make proper and adequate storage!

I feel like I am losing the plot!

Kids still fight and bicker when at the table - which is too big for the room, but needs to be big to separate them - to stop them fighting and bickering. Table not working! Room not working, feels like a library but if I went to a library looking like my front room I would turn on my heel and leave. I do that already and it is my room!!!

Ideal solution - put them at desks in their bedrooms.

Why unable to fulfill this:

Girls share a room and their not enough room for their own stuff never mind a desk!
Middle A still feels he can't read and also does not like to be in his room alone for any length of time
I feel they would play and not do any work.
I would be running up and down the stairs constantly (although the plus of this would be I would be exercising and losing weight!)
As a control freak this option just freaks me out!!!

So am I just making excuses! Probably! But I still feel I wish i could pack it all up and then unpack it all and everything will be perfect! Which planet am I living on!!!! lol!

Trip to the Zoo

2008-11-03T23:15:00.007Z

We had a lovely time and the kids had a great time! Did take Middle A a while to come round to the concept as had booked an educational session and it turned out to be Animal Handling! The worst thing for Middle A!!!! Well he panicked but was unable to communicate that except in his own way. It took me a while before it clicked, so his morning didn't have the start he had hoped. But he did cope with it and I was more understanding of him, but like he found it difficult to communicate why he was being like he was - I found it difficult to explain why he was saying he was so ill!!!!

Guess what - I had my camera!!!! After receiving batteries from friends lol!

I can honestly put my hand on my heart and say that when it got to late afternoon and it was just us four - I had the most pleasant time with my own children! I don't remember the last time I actually stopped and thought that! That makes me feel like a horrible mum now! But the thought just popped into my head, how wonderful all three of my children were being - with me, with each other! It was a very special moment for me!

Not blogged in ages!

2008-10-15T00:07:00.003+01:00

Well as the title says, I've not blogged in ages and main reason is I have absolutely nothing positive to blog about! I've also had a bit of a computer meltdown, followed by hubby doing an upgrade (took forever to sort), then me trying to find where he had put everything on the blasted thing!!!! I am so computer illiterate whenever someone moves something on mine!!! Thankfully he just laughs at me!

Life has been travelling down the not so great path, I have been having major problems with Eldest K. Feel like ripping her head off on several occasions! Must be her age! Well I have to say something lol! We are just clashing big time and it seems over absolutely everything! As for schooling - that is the major argument hot spot! She just doesn't seem to have any get up and go and it takes her forever to do nothing!!!

Oh a more positive note we have been to our local nature meeting last week and the topic was Hedgehogs. Eldest K did join in and seemed to have a great time! Middle A doesn't really go for crafts so he listened to his MP3 player for that part, and Littlest H decided to play under the table for most of it, but did do a little messing with the craft time. I, on the other hand, managed a lovely hedgehog magnet (which I pointed out that Littlest H had completed of course!) Well it did look about as wonderful as a 3 year old could manage!

Our schooling journey has been quite a rough one and I am really at the end of my tether - another reason not to blog! I do so hate to blog in the negative so that is why I haven; blogged at all. But for the one reader (maybe) I do feel something should be recorded to prove I am still alive! Most of my turmoil and sleepless nights are over Eldest K, I just can;t seem to find the"fit" for her! So I have chopped and changed so much this year I am in a spin myself! No wonder she is struggling with it all. It feels like her problem is more a motivation issue, she is just not interested in education and really just does not care about it in any way, shape or form! So what am I to do? (Apart from tearing my hair out!)

As a last resort I have even subscribed to Time4learning! Which as usual, Middle A is pottering along and completing it! Eldest K is so slow, it really is like trying to get blood out of a stone (or whatever the saying is!) So I just don't know what to do anymore, so here I sit wondering......

Nature study and nature challenge!

2008-09-25T23:16:00.004+01:00

OUTDOOR HOUR CHALLENGE TWO

Nature has been a big theme this week, only because for the first time ever we have managed to accomplish the nature side of what I want to accomplish in the week. In fact we have gone beyond and done double! I am delighted (doesn't take much does it lol?)

We completed our first nature walk on Tuesday, we headed out, with two children on scooters and me with a bag of books, drawing pads and colouring pencils. Plus with the second challenge of nature study ringing in my ears as I had read it prior to leaving! (I was organised!!!) So I only needed to spend 10-15 mins outside, I could do that, but I went one better. We went for a walk to our estuary and found a picnic table to sit at and focus the children. I had explained on the walk there that the quieter we are the more we can hear. This had them already listening, even littlest H! So on arrival at the picnic table they where all ready to tell me what they had heard. So we chatted about this for a minute and then I said I wanted to try and listen too, immediately they where quiet.

After about 10 mins, I asked what they had heard - birds, wind, dogs, people. So I asked for the older ones to use one word to describe what they heard - tweeting, rustling was the answers! I was so chuffed! We where off and running! I asked for two words for something they saw - green tree, blue river. Finally I asked for three words of something they felt - hard bumpy ground, hard wood bench.

We concluded the walk with a short cut through a field that had horses in it and one tried to eat my bag! Obviously thought I had something nice in it! But we survived!

Thanks to Barb for organising the Outdoor Hour Challenges in the first place, as without them I would be lost! But now I feel we are on our way forwards at last with nature study!

What a time...

2008-09-25T23:07:00.003+01:00

Another week nearly over, where does the time go? It really does zoom past too quickly these days. Every since I reached the age of 21 (which I can tell you took forever to happen!!) time has sped up! So much now that years are just merging rapidly into each other! It is a very scary thought indeed.

Right to business! What have we been up to this week so far, well Middle A has not been himself this week at all. Not really sure what is wrong, but he has taken it a lot easier this week and not achieved as much! Eldest K has been a nightmare for a few days and I really did want t hit her on the head with a huge encyclopedia! The image of me actually doing it did flash through my mind - in slow motion. However I didn't! That was on Tuesday when she had constantly fought me and gave me attitude and cheek and the looks!!! However it did not get any better with her on Wednesday - the day that the devil visited!!! End of the day saw her tidying her room still! I followed through and removed everything that she hadn't sorted - the tears and the drama!!!

Thursday and there arrived a lovely Eldest K, well mannered and pleasant, joking and laughing! Today has been a good day, and work has been done and a day that will be recalled and remembered for a long time!

Quick update on last week

2008-09-23T15:45:00.003+01:00

Ages again since I last posted!! The number of blog entries I write just before I fall asleep are much better than the ones I actually get round to writing about!

So update since new schedule put in place! On 15th Eldest K and I went to the Theatre to see Shakespeare 4 Kidz Romeo & Juliet the Musical. It was very good, got concerned when they first started as I couldn't understand a blasted word - thought they were singing in a foreign language, but it settled down and I understood! The play was fantastic, the actors were superb, and my daughter enjoyed it. My only criticism was the place was filled with school kids! Admittedly nicely coloured school kids as every colour of jumper seemed to be there - but extremely loud! I had a throbbing headache afterwards! So no "learning" completed today!

The older two also had their St Johns Ambulance starting so that was a rush to be organised again! And Eldest K was moved up to Cadets, but due to not being in Badgers for long, I asked could she do both for a while to gain some badges. This is agreeable, just means I drop both off, run and do first bit of shopping, collect Middle A, then do second bit of shopping and finally back for Eldest K before heading home shattered! I am not used to all this taxi-ing about just yet!

On Tuesday and Thursday they had their introduction to the MEND programme, which they will be completing for 10 weeks. At the end of which I hope they will learn and understand they are responsible for what they eat and how much they exercise. It is based on fun so am hoping that will be more informative than me rambling on "Do what I say, not what I do!"

Wednesday was our nature group and the topic was Fungi! We were out hunting for fungi and of course where not allowed to touch! The kids all seemed to enjoy it and possibly even learnt from it without realising! That is always a bonus! This is Eldest K's sheet she completed!

Thursday passes in its usual blur with the everyday normal things as mum in laws visits that day and all the kids are asking is how long till she arrives. Only because as soon as she does they are liberated from further work! Then to try and get them to do something after lunch is like pulling teeth!

Friday we had a birthday lunch to go to first, followed by tennis, then the kids where going to camp with Boys and Girls Brigade for the weekend. So Friday passed in even more of a blur! The house was drastically more quiet without them. Littlest H missed them at bedtime on Friday, but that was all.

Saturday we went to cinema to Kids club with Littlest H and she watched Kung Fu Panda, but my hubby was the one who laughed the loudest and most! Plus Littlest H and I went for a walk after dinner together. Hubby and I had a date night! Woo hoo! Sunday was Sunday! Kids arrived back for 6 and mayhem ensued! Boy he had been quiet without them!

A change of course again!!

2008-09-14T22:12:00.004+01:00

Well since last Wednesday things have developed which is why I went quiet again! I have been having major struggles with Eldest K. Or more she is having major struggles with me! We are at logger heads as I want and need her to do some sort of learning and not colouring and doodling on her schedule constantly!!! So after various chats and some soul searching on my half. I have decided that she might do better doing different from Middle A. We will still use Charlotte Mason, but this time I will use an Old Fashioned Education with Eldest K. I am also changing her English to this and this, and her maths to this. The best about all of these is they are FREE!

Having had a chat with her she seems okay with the idea, but also asked if she can go back if she doesn't like it!!! It is so frustrating! She is frustrating me so much! I am constantly stressed and on edge worrying, mostly as a result of her. So this is it, her final chance. She so needs to buckle down and do the work, it just isn't funny anymore!

As for the afternoons, I want to use her strengths and encourage her to develop them herself. So as she seems keen on French, drawing, music and crafting, these are what I will push! She can have her french taps on, she can get her multitude of drawing books out, she can practice her recorder or on the keyboard and before she can craft she needs to reorganise the craft box again! But this is hoping that she will want to do all these things in the afternoon!!?? As for knowing my own daughter these days - I am wondering!?!?!?

So this has meant that I have had a maniac weekend trying to get sorted out a new schedule and new books all for starting on Monday! Well I cheated! Her books she can read online and I have just put the links into a folder for her! If she needs them printed out then I will but there was no chance I could do that as well as the maths and english!

As always I feel there is not enough time in a day to accomplish everything I would love to accomplish - we are not even managing half!! But this is not helping my stress levels in the slightest! Generally making me worse! I just want to be organised and have everything in the right place or at least a place I can find them from! But I just seem to be disappearing under a mountain of a To Do list and paperwork!

And to top it all off we have a very, VERY busy week ahead! And that is just with the social activities and meetings - not to mention actual learning!

Not a good day for me

2008-09-10T00:09:00.002+01:00

Today was the day after the day before. Today was not a good day for me, woke up with a headache and it didn't shift all day! So I was moody, grumpy, in pain and depressed. Did this affect the kids - of course it did!! They were uncooperative and lazy, at the drop of a hat they vanished. So the end result is that not a lot was accomplished as far as work was concerned.

Did go to the hairdressers - returning home to - "Did you actually go to the hairdressers?" Lovely!

Did tidy up this evening as have father in law and a builder coming at the crack of dawn in the morning (well when else is dawn??!!) Another story and won;t get into it until after tomorrow and builders verdict! Ahhh are you all in suspense now?

Note to self: For having a crappy day you are sure trying to crack some jokes!
Second note to self: Well nobody is commenting much so maybe jokes aren't funny!!

Okay, made myself smile so off to bed!

Running along now nicely

2008-09-09T00:00:00.005+01:00

It seems (touch wood) that our current schedule is now running along a lot smoother than it has ever done! The kids are doing their work (still not achieving everything but a lot more than before!) by themselves at least to start with. The basics are being covered everyday - a vast leap forward!

Now that is the older two running along nicely, I just have to pull my socks up with Littlest H. With all my time, effort, energy and concentration used on the other two, she is falling a little by the wayside. So that is something I need to focus on and change!

So note to self "Pull your socks up and sort yourself out!"

Home Management Binder: A new concept that I have just started! Generally it is a file with everything in it, so it is all in one place which means I should be more organised and less stressed! Well worked tonight when I printed out my "Master Grocery List" to score out those items that I didn't need! Still need to work on it, but it is taking shape.

Freebie time: Not sure how I came to find this but something I have a look at everyday is Homeschool Freebie of the day. Actually I joined the email loop to ensure I get a "heads up" email on a Monday to let me know what there is on for the week. Then I just go to the site and download the ones I am interested in. It has a variety of things including ebooks, audios and stuff. But it is all free!!! So you might want to pop along to the site and join the email loop to at least know what is coming up in the week.

So in the words of Bugs: "That's all folks!"

More lapbooks - ahoy me hearties!

2008-09-08T23:35:00.006+01:00

Middle A was on a roll and completed his pirate lapbook. This was the project that he was to do on the scheduled days to let me work independently with Eldest K. Well schedule not a complete failure just needed a little more tweaking, but am proud of him to finish it!

Also as part of the project he had to make some things (dead descriptive me lol). He made a ship, some pirates and a telescope (Littlest H decided to vandalise the telescope so no photo of that). Here are his efforts!

I think it was a wonderful project for him to work and why do I say that? as soon as he had finished he said " I want to do cowboys next!" So guess who's printing out a cowboy lapbook? So watch this space!

More Olympic lapbooks

2008-09-08T23:08:00.006+01:00

Eldest K finally managed to put together her olympic lapbook and I just left her to fit in where ever she so desired! This was the result!

In the end it looked the part and she loved gluing it all down! Even if it took her half the night and she managed to delay bedtime by about an hour!! Very proud of her for this!

A slow start...

2008-09-01T21:56:00.002+01:00

But we started!! It was slow and not much was actually accomplished, but for me looking at the positives only - we started! It was a struggle with all the usual excuses and avoidance techniques used. Including the fact that Middle A had been at his Nana's for a few days and only came back this morning - what an excuse!

So there was moaning, complaining, fighting and bickering. Did I let it phase me? No I was a good girl and let it all wash over me! Well at least for when I was in the same room as them! When I was making lunch that was a different matter! But always nice to know that there is moral support at the end of a phone! Just keep texting!!!!

We had friends for the afternoon, which was a first here for them. All in all it went okay and the kids seemed to enjoy it. Did mess up my pizza making and there I was trying to make one pizza dough make two pizzas (I normally make up two lots but bread maker takes 1hr 30 mins). But it all came right in the end - well everyone had at least two slices of pizza each - so they are not starved!

Plan of action for tonight - go to bed earlier! Notice I said earlIER not early! lol. Then get up earlier in the morning (maybe even set my alarm to be up before the kids?!?!?) and hopefully (fingers crossed, touch wood etc) we will be able to start earlier. Which would mean we could possibly get more things completed!

Watch this space.

Planning for starting all over again!

2008-08-31T22:44:00.003+01:00

Well September is breathing closer now! Where has the time gone? So much for being organised and relaxed about starting back into it all again! Made rush today printing and trying to get my head round everything that seems to be floating around in it!

End result I have gave up! lol! But tomorrow will commence with learning. Poor kids, well they have had a break (technically). Doing the Olympic project and then last week was a "meet with friends week" so they will be roaring to hit the books tomorrow! Well I will dream that one tonight.

So what will be doing? Following our schedule and doing a split again with lapbook on two days and the rest on the other two, with the exception of the following to be completed every day - English, Maths, Copywork, Geography, Poetry, Spelling and Reading. Will now and wait and see how it works.

Still need to get my head round certain things that need to happen during the week and write yet another list! I am good at making lists. I do feel overall a lot happier about starting and a lot more comfortable than I have before. Now time will tell.

All ready to begin....

Olympic Lapbook of Middle A

2008-08-29T00:16:00.005+01:00

We actually managed it, there were tears, there were tantrums and there was stress (on my part!) Middle A reached the finish line first and here is the result, word of warning it is long and contains lots of components!
I am so proud of him and accomplishing this!

Castle visit

2008-08-29T00:04:00.004+01:00

We visited a castle and met a family visiting from Canada all at the same time!!! They are a home schooled family that Mrs Moral Support swapped flat travellers with! So cool! The kids had a fab time meeting up and chatting! And us parents were able to tick off education that day too! History!

We had a tour of the castle and although some of it did go over my children's heads, they enjoyed it so much more than I thought they would! Kids do that don't they, surprise you when you least expect it. And another surprise - I remembered my camera!

Yet another week gone where???

2008-08-19T19:20:00.002+01:00

I really am getting worse at this blogging! Littlest H is still being a torment with not sleeping, but now is playing it a little different! Two nights of sleep, two nights not! My body clock is shot! When she sleeps through, I am not and when she wakes I am jumping up out if bed and running before I even open my eyes now! Scary thought if you could see the mess my bedroom is in!!

As for education well, now that is a story and a half!! We (or should I rephrase and say I) decided that it would be a fab idea to do an Olympic project! So this is what we have been doing (correction - trying to do!) for the last 2 weeks! Initially Eldest K was fine with it all and went and did it out of "normal" time, but that has not lasted. In fact today has been a hard day on all of us and in particular her! I am a bad mum as I am not spending enough time with her and I am not giving her enough praise or encouragement. I am just leaving her alone and she is feeling that i don't love her! In my defence, all I could think to say at the time was "I am here if you need me and because you have not asked for my help I assumed, obviously wrongly, that you where doing fine and didn't need me!" Which went down like a lead balloon and she promptly burst into tears and stormed off.

Can't win!

As for middle A, things are going along nicely and we have completed the Hands of a Child lapbook, maybe with a little too much help from me. (Which is another reason for Eldest K's explosion! - we passed where she was up to!) We still have other things to do, as I didn't just settle for one thing! So still lots to go at! Another reason for Eldest K explosion - she doesn't want to do the rest!!

Like I said before, can't win!

So a quick update on the last week and a bit! The kids had the local nature group meeting last Wednesday and I was dreading it as the weather had been awful, as it turns out for the time on Wednesday for the group, the weather was kind to us! So we managed to get outside and do a Nature Scavenger hunt, followed by some games! The kids seemed to have a good time!

Friday was tennis day and initially thought this was also going to be a washout due to numbers this time, but wasn't. Middle A could a bit of a strop to start with, but was able to control it and pull himself together again to join in. Although traffic was horrendous on thew way back due to an accident on the motorway!

The weekend came and went, it was that memorable!!! And already we are on Tuesday and I have not really got a lot to blog about! So that is my sign for finishing off!

Round up of last ten days in short form!

2008-08-10T23:21:00.005+01:00

Well life has been a bit strange lately, which is why I haven't really blogged. Not much to blog about, not much to feel blogging about and generally too tired to blog!

So forewarning - not a great post, so will keep it short!

Life has been a bit strange, Littlest H continued to do less sleep than I needed and definitely a lot less than I needed to function! End result a ratty and irritable me! Poor kids! Poor hubby!

Eldest K had a sleepover at her friends and stayed an extra day, she was wonderful there and enjoyed herself immensely! On return she was moody and grumpy and let everyone know about it - a hell of a few days!

Middle A had a sleepover at Nana's and returned fine, until I (through lack of sleep) shouted so he repacked ready to go back to his Nana's! Aren't I an adorable mum??

Received bad news from my Nannie about her losing her best friend and then her brother within a space of 12 hours! And I am stuck here so far away and not able to be there for her! My parents are not speaking to me, but say that they are, but they don't ring and are very subdued when I ring them.

But hey hasn't the weather just been absolutely awful too!

Like I said at the start not a great post!

Sleepless Toddlers, Down to one child and blasted printers!!!

2008-08-01T20:39:00.002+01:00

This week has been a bit of a wash out really! Sleepless toddlers!!! She hasn't done this for months, and boy did she decide to remind me how bad it used to be!!! First night I got off lightly - only awake for an hour! Second night was the full treatment - awoke at 2.15 and never actually went back to sleep! Hubby decided to give up and took her downstairs at about 5.30 so at least I had 3 hours sleep! Then the third night we returned to the 1 1/2 hours awake at 1am, (10 mins after I had fallen asleep myself!). So I am the Mummy Zombie this week! Not a pleasant sight or experience!

So work has ground to a halt yet again, and I am getting quite annoyed with myself for this!! As after all it is up to me! and I know they are behind and although that doesn't worry me it does concern me! So another week to try and catch up, although come Monday we are starting an Olympic project! Been gathering loads of links and info, even got the Hands of a child lapbook (BEFORE they reduced it!). All set just need to start printing it all out!

Which leads nicely and neatly onto my blasted printer!!!!!!! I am so mad at it, if I could I would throw it in the bin! My last printer died, well the scanner part died, not the actually printing part. So hubby got me a new one, a more up to date one! Fabulous I thought, but it has been a pain form the moment I put ink in it!!! The blasted thing takes a new ink cartridge and then has to have a million head cleans to even see a faint trace of the new ink! By then another ink has run out!!! So you replace that, and 45 minutes later, 4 ink cartridges later and too many to remember head cleans and nozzle checks! Guess what it still isn't right!!!! Ahhhh!!! Blasted printer! I only wanted to print a couple of things from the library book that needs to go back tomorrow! Because everyone now wants all the Olympic books from the library - that I just happen to have as I got them 3 weeks ago! At least I was organised for something, just happens I can't actually have the books while we do the project!??!!!!

On a side point, I only have one child in the house! The littlest H (Miss sleepless Toddler!) is all I have! Eldest K is having a sleepover at a friends (her first one!) She was so excited, so over excited! But am hoping it will go okay! She was due to be returned tomorrow sometime, but has rung to ask to stay till Sunday! So have no idea when now!

Note to self: Must chill and relax, and think everything will be fine!!

Middle A is spending the weekend at Nana's, and will be returned on Monday, not sure what state in? But at least then I can start and try to return him to normality!

In conclusion in case you missed it - I hate my printer!

Quick Catch Up

2008-07-29T22:44:00.002+01:00

Okay, I am behind yet again! Now why am I not surprised!!??

Friday we did catch up day and it was a bit miserable and hard work really as Eldest K was not interested in catching up!!! So we are struggling again with her big time!! Need my head and a wall to make contact - that's how it feels after being with her for 5 minutes!! So it has a struggle and hard work, but if I had asked her to do the lapbook, well that would have been different!! What a silly mum I am!!! Middle A tried his best to do his catch up but it was difficult as I was shouting or sulking myself! Bad mum!!! So overall, catch up not a roaring success! Typical!

Weekend - passed in a blur and can't really remember what we did, but did manage to collect a slide for Littlest H from a freecycler!!! Not in fantastic condition, but hey it was free!

Monday was start of schedule again and seemed to start okay until Eldest K realised that she was on non lapbook day!!! Not a happy bunny, and a struggle again with the work! Can't work it out really - is it the work, is it her? Just something else for me to worry and fret constantly about! Middle A is working fine and pottering along nicely and I can see vast improvement sin him and his work in the last 3 years, it has been a long time coming but we have reached the point where I can say that home education is working for him. Just not at the same point with his older sister??!!! Hoping the ten ton brick while fall soon and make it all click for her too!! One can hope!

Monday night was St Johns Ambulance Badgers night and the last one till September, where Eldest K will return as a Cadet instead of a Badger. Goodness me they do grow up quickly!

On a personal note - I got to go out!!!! I went to the cinema with Mrs Moral Support and saw Mamma Mia! It was fab and I so enjoyed it!!! Need it to come out on dvd asap!!!! Need the music cd too! A lovely night in great company! All kids where in bed on returning to the house and house was still intact - in fact it was tidied! Reason being my mum in law was visiting the next day (Tuesday) because she was babysitting the kids!

Tuesday - our 10th Wedding Anniversary and we awoke to breakfast in bed! Middle A had made toast and brought it to us in bed!! Wasn't that gorgeous and unprompted! Admittedly mine was like cardboard as he later informed us that he didn't know when to make it so kept popping it up and down while he decided! Eldest K made a brew! And Littlest H joined us in bed to eat breakfast! A lovely and very unexpected start to the day. Eldest K had made 3 cards and got each to sign them individually! So another unexpected surprise! Mum in law arrived about 11, and me and hubby departed. Nothing overly exciting, but as we hadn't been out for so long, we kept it simple. Pizza Hut for lunch, cinema - Hancock (actually very funny and quite a good movie), walk along sea front, quick trip into some charity shops and a brew in a cafe! Then home again, back to normality. To conclude the evening we will watch a dvd and slob on the sofa!

Tomorrow is another day!

Schedule and other activities too!

2008-07-24T23:12:00.003+01:00

Well it is now day 4 of the new schedule and it is still working! (Fainting in amazement!) So that means that tomorrow (day 5) is "Catch Up Day" - to catch up on the work they have missed (more to do with their non lapbook day of work!) Middle A has decided he will go first as I will still split them and spend time with each of them. He decided that it would take Eldest K too long and he would not have any time then! Probably right!

So Wednesday morning we got up and did some work before we went to the Rangers Summer Fun - games and activities. They had a good morning and made some butterflies on a willow stick that you can put in the ground and the willow will grow! Amazing! The afternoon we had a friend visiting and the kids had fun in the garden and making hama creations which had to be ironed prior to departure! Eldest K then had her first lesson in ironing! Which she thoroughly enjoyed and has even asked since if she can iron again! Keep it up girl! We concluded the evening with Middle A finishing his tasks for his lapbook with his dad's assistance (well advice really!) and made his pirate ship. All photos will be shown once lapbook completed!!! Eldest K did a little work but became distracted with the hama again! So her catch up day will be longer!

Oh and amazingly I managed to at last get a sand pit for Littlest H!! It was from freecycle and I before I collected it I told her I had to go and get something for her. So I went to B&Q and got some play sand first (very heavy bags and four quid a bag!!!) Collect the sand pit and arrived back at home, as she was out scooting she came to me and asked what it was so I said she could help me, we got it out of the car and her little face was a dream! She was so happy!! Now 24 hours later and 4 outfits full of sand later, I can tell my washing machine is going into overtime!

Thursday, well it wasn't a fab start to the day as both Littlest H and Middle A decided to not sleep through the night before! So if I wasn't dealing with one I was dealing with another! I lost 2 and 1/2 hours sleep!! So I was not a happy bunny come Thursday morning! But I soldiered on - well I have to! We did get some work done, Eldest K was fine as she was on lapbook, but Middle A was brilliant again and got stuck in! I had to halt proceedings as I had a hairdressers appointment and while out mum in law arrived. End result no further work was achieved! After lunch we headed to the park to meet with fellow home edders (for the first time) and I was late!! Thursday was rapidly turning into a bad day!

Arrived at park - first problem - where was the front gates (it has several gates and I didn't know which ones where classified as the front ones!). Second problem - am now late and have no idea how to find fellow home edders in a park swarming with kids and parents! It has hectic!!! Remembered another family I knew was going but didn't have their mobile, so phoned a friend!!! They didn't answer house phone - now I am in a state of panic - kids can see playground, Littlest H making a fuss, Middle A grumping as I haven't a clue and Eldest K, well I have no idea as she just didn't say or do anything! Texted same friend - who thankfully rung me back to give me the number I needed. Here I am stood in a park with 3 kids, 2 giving hell and 1 just stood there, how on earth can I write the number down??? Thankfully friend then rings person concerned and tells me to wait on other phone! Ain't she fabulous!!!! But no answer!!!! Ahhh!!! Now this is where I am just about to pack the whole thing in and go back home - but can' as have friend on phone still! Manage to compose myself long enough to complete conversation with many thanks, and then look blankly at children. Decide to try and see if we could find anyone and then promptly found the family we had been trying to contact!!! Who would have thought!

Now long story short! Kids played at the play area for a while, which was so busy if you blinked you lost slight of your child! Middle A was being Littlest H's bodyguard and following her everywhere ensuring no harm came to her. He did a fantastic job, until he realised that he wasn't getting a play. So I relieved him from his duties, at this point it was decided to go to the pond to look for newts! Poor lad never got a play! So off we hiked to the ponds that had newts and there we spent even longer as the kids thoroughly enjoyed themselves. With a slight accident of Middle A losing footing and ending up with his right leg past his knee in the pond! Quite a few newts where found and captured. Also observed water snails, a toad, boatmen (the beetles that swim on their backs - not men in boats!) and dragonflies! Guess who never took her camera?????

Evening was concluded with some baking of mars bar squares and muffins! First time for muffins and smell kept everyone awake for ages. Note to self: do oven baking earlier so as smell has dissipated!

Day Two of New Schedule!!

2008-07-22T23:12:00.004+01:00

Well day two and the result of today is......another success!!!

I am so chuffed, that it is working for two days (a huge achievement in our household!!) Eldest K launched herself into her Deer Lapbook and although a few hiccups and a few errors, we worked through them and she succeeded in completing eight components of her lapbook - I am impressed!! Middle A started well with his day of work and did very well, like Eldest K, did not finish his list, but made a very very good effort!

Littlest H wasn't so keen to participate today and decided to read through all her library books and then climb all over the back of the settee. With a minor glitter all over the office floor incident in the middle!

So there we have it, a hit! Long may it continue!! Although at this rate I will be needing more lapbooks sooner than I thought!!!!

Nature Study - Outside Hour Challenge 1

2008-07-21T23:36:00.005+01:00

We completed our first Outdoor Hour challenge today! Have only been wanting to actually start for sooo many months! I just glad we did our first challenge!

Challenge 1 was Getting Started! So I read the section I had to and found it more interesting and informative than I had first thought it would be, which is always a nice surprise. Then with the thoughts fresh in my mind, we headed outside to our garden. I explained to the kids we where going to do Nature Study, but today we would look around the garden to see what we could see and to maybe take a few pictures. We had a lovely stroll around the garden and took quite a few pictures, but I did struggle taking photos of bugs, the butterfly flew away and the birds where flying too fast! But apart from all that, this is what we did capture:

The kids thoroughly enjoyed it and I did not have to prompt too much, even Littlest H found items of interest that she brought to everyone else's attention!

We came back in and I asked what they found outside and they really remembered quite a lot of things, we completed the Notebook Page and Record of Item Collected forms, and again, the kids did this without complaint (and me too!). The things that they want to investigate further are: a tap, tap noise on a tree and to learn some of the bug names!

Day one of new schedule

2008-07-21T23:14:00.005+01:00

Well the day dawned (not that early) but still it came!! There we were all excited fort he new start - okay truth be told, no one was really that bothered!! Not surprising really as I have lost count of how many new schedules we have tried and each one with the phrase "I am sure this is the one that will work!" So my kids know me better than I know myself!

So off we (eventually) went into the schedule - initially disappointment from Eldest K as she was not doing her lapbook first! But after that initial hiccup she did actually manage to do some work. End of the day and no she hasn't ticked everything off, but a good effort for the first day!

As for Middle A well, he just proved that it can be done and he completed all his components for today! Am so proud of him!
Littlest H was cutting and gluing today! As well, she wanted to make the toilet roll person like her big bro! So she appeared with an empty toilet roll and coloured it in all afternoon. On my trip to the "little girls room" I found a huge pile of toilet paper on the floor - minus the roll - now can we guess what happened?? All I can say in her defence is that she did answer my query as to where she found the toilet roll with - "in the bathroom with the toilet roll on it" Did I at that moment think that she would have unwound an entire new toilet roll to get the middle out? Not for a moment - how wrong I was. And guess what it is the last roll in the house! Typical! So we are now using toilet roll in a carrier bag! The joys of home educating and of little ones!

Catching up yet again!

2008-07-20T17:05:00.007+01:00

This is a habit that I just can't get hold of!! Writing in my blog!! But then I am struggling with a lot of habits these days- or at least things I should be doing and I am not!

So what have we been doing since Wednesday last week. Well Thursday we were supposed to go to the park and meet up with some new families, but guess what? It rained and rained and rained and rained some more- so no chance of meeting at the park as we are not fish! So we went to another friends house for the afternoon, where will the kids played, we discussed my situation and the fact I am majorly struggling splitting myself into 3 to give all the kids some time and the time they need and deserve! Well I have had this dilemma for 3 years now and never able to work it our really, so have been asking poor hubby what I can do? Well he is not in the thick of it so I hope that he could shed some light and make me see the errors of my ways - well he didn't! So this was what the conversation turned to at my friends house. And she had a light bulb of an idea!!! (Just wish I knew how to put smileys in - need a light bulb one!)

Instead of doing all the kids together at the same time at the same table (which is causing major fighting, falling out and arguing). To split them up and to have them have a day with me (well morning in our case) So one morning Eldest K ad go through all her work which was scheduled for 2 days in one, and the next day do the same with Middle A. Then on their day not with me they do their own lapbook - all by themselves, without my control or influence or me doing it!!! So then I am learning to let go too! Obviously Littlest H will fit in where I am not doing with the other two on their days, as she is quite good and wants her own work so we are doing "Theme of the Week" from Letter of the Week. We are up to letter D, here are the learning posters we made so far:

And afterwards we put them all into a scrapbook for her to keep:

So she has her own "school work" to do in a week, and she is loving it - the joy of NOT going to school, as the other two do not have that "get up and go". But Middle A knows that there is no computer if he doesn't do his work, so that is his incentive. Still haven't worked out Eldest K's one!!

Been looking on my computer as I know I have loads and loads of stuff, surely I can find a lapbook for the kids to do!!! So I have looked and looked and looked and failed miserably!! So looks like I now have to spend more money and go to Hands of a Child and get them what they want! So it will be a Pirate one, a Butterfly one and a Down on the Farm, as Littlest H has demanded that she needs one too! Reason for buying at this stage, is I know there are others that I can download and print but I don't have the time to mess about too much at the moment! I just need it all there in one and print it out!

New plan of action now - have to make yet another schedule - this time combining their work into two days, with a "catch up" day as the 5th day of the week. Purchase and print three lapbooks. Then I should be organised for Monday morning! Wish me luck!

Playgrounds and friends

2008-07-16T13:24:00.002+01:00

Why are playgrounds so hit and miss?? It is so hard to find a decent one these days that caters for all the ages I need - there is always something for the older ones or for the younger one but never really enough for both! So you spend your time telling various kids at various times to go on other things or to stay away from ceertain things! It is such hard work being a mum!

So we tried out a new playground and to be honest after everything that happened, I don't think we will be visiting that particular one again!

The rest of the afternoon was spent at a friends house where we had our lunch and the kids played all afternoon! While the grown ups could have a brew and a good natter (with the usual occasion interruptions!).

Although a no education day yet again! Becoming a habit again!!!

Pottery

2008-07-15T10:08:00.003+01:00

Thursday saw us off to pottery for the afternoon, and this week was "Name Plaques". This also is an activity that littlest H does not participate in so she gets some lovely quality time with her dad! And apparently they had a whale of a time and didn't even notice I and the other two had gone!

I positioned myself in the corner again so that I could not add my own comments to the kids on what I would do or suggest any suggestions of any sort!! After all this home education is teaching me to try and let the kids find their own way - I still panic and I still worry - but I was told to let him be, so I did as I was told! Well I was cornered!

Middle A took an hour to complete his masterpiece and for me the sweetest part was actually that he asked his sister how to spell something as he had started to write it, and she responded by asking if he wanted her to write it. Now this is a mile stone in our house - they are fighting like cat and dog at the moment, always at each other throats. Well actually they are like that since they where born, but they have some really rough patches and we are in one of them now. Anyway I digress! So for me to see that was quite a touching moment of parenthood - they might actually like each other today! sigh! He was completed within and hour and had another hour to sit and wait for the rest! Poor chap!

As for Eldest K, well lets say it this way, she was the full two hours and all I kept being told by other mums - "Detail, its all in the detail" I also never saw it as she made her usual point of not letting me know what she was doing! So will have to wait and see the masterpiece! Hopefully this Friday all will be revealed! I wait with baited breath!

Minibeasts!

2008-07-15T09:59:00.004+01:00

Our local home ed meeting (Wednesday last week) topic was Minibeasts!! So what had I let myself in for?? I managed to get hold of the local ranger and have a chat with him and he said we could borrow any of their equipment anytime! Which was great and really helped us out! He also showed me where to look for the "bugs" and what to expect to find! (Not that I remembered!)

So the meeting got off to a start where I just asked the kids what they thought was a minibeast, where they would find them etc and we then headed out in the wilderness - well no actually it was the family are where no dogs are allowed! lol Gathering all the kids at the picnic table I read some rules about what not to catch - bees and wasps as they can sting, slugs and snails due to slime trail, a quick demo of how to catch a minibeast and off they went!

Started slowly but they did start finding things, and everyone spent ages looking, picking and prodding at various sticks, stones and logs. It seemed like they really got into it and carried on for ages having a good root in the undergrowth.

Then we played some games "Bat and moth" and "Woolly caterpillars", although not all caterpillars where found so I had obviously used too good of a camouflage wool!

I did remember my camera and did remember to at least take a pic of my own kids doing the activity!

I am naughty!

2008-07-15T09:53:00.001+01:00

Well I am really as I have not kept this up to date all week! I am so bad!

Oh a good note I have bumped Eldest K up to do a combined year 1 and 2 at Ambleside so that she can move onto year 3 when she is finished - which has made her happier and the readings have gotten a lot meatier for her! Although it has only been one day since she started it - so time will tell!

Right to bring everyone (the two or three people who read my blog!) up to date, I will separate my headings otherwise we will either end up with me saying nothing or a huge long blog entries that are so hard to read! Although the "me not saying anything" does sound a better idea! lol. Although thinking about it it dos mean you (the blogger reader) will have to read backwards!??!!

Joseph

2008-07-09T15:32:00.002+01:00

Well not a lot been happening really - or is that I just can't remember what has been happening as I seem to be in a daze these days!!

The kids are starting to knuckle down and do their work, although middle A is really the only one who is doing it with some gusto! He is completing his daily schedule and ticking everything off. Which is a relief as I was worrying that I had given them too much to do in a day. Eldest K has her moments, which seem to be far and few between. She is a daydreamer really and will doodle and draw and colour till the cows come home - just not complete her schedule!! So am struggling to know what to do with her as threats and ultimatums just aren't cutting it. I really need to think of some different ultimatums! Like "you won't be going out to "whatever" if you don't do your work!" is a hard one to do as middle A and littlest H want to go to "whatever" too! And I can't leave her with dh as he is our money maker and if he has a child hanging off him he can't make diddly squat! (His words - although I may have edited for "politeness"!) So I am stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Now the exciting thing we did this week that I have remembered is - Joseph & His Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat! Eldest K and I went to see it yesterday with some other home edding families (Huge thanks for arranging it!!!!) And it was brilliant - especially as I was in the front row. I clapped and sang and was grateful not to be sitting beside my daughter! She would have been mortified! Mum enjoying herself! And who was Joseph but Mr Craig Chalmers (who was in Any Dream Will Do!) Although I did prefer Antony Hanson (also from Any Dream will Do) who played Pharaoh and one of Joseph's brothers. But shhh don't tell anyone!

Can I just finish on - what miserable weather we are having!

Drawing and Princesses

2008-07-04T12:24:00.005+01:00

The schedule is going along well this week, in fact this is the best ever! Have no real idea what has happened and why but I am NOT knocking it!!!

Started our Draw Write Now, supposed with middle A but everyone joined in, and I mean everyone!! So here are the results:

Did you notice that I only have 3 children but 4 sketches? I wonder who's the extra one could be???

Then we have had a gorgeous strawberry eating Princess in our household!

And all Pretty Princesses require at least two outfits!!

Field Trip Day - Roman Museum

2008-07-02T14:00:00.004+01:00

We had arranged to meet up with a couple of our home educating friends and take a field trip to a Roman Museum as then we can tick off the day as being educational!! As well as having a natter! So set the alarm and even managed to get up and the kids too. We were all ready to set off for just after nine, just a pit stop to get me a drink and some cash (always necessary with my three!!). So for once we where not only on time but actually early! I am never early and this just makes you worry that you are actually late or in the wrong place! lol

The weather was gorgeous and the kids had a great time. The museum and ruins did not live up to middle A's expectations but then he wants a re-enactment of his computer games in real life! But we got a couple of postcards as the kids would like to do a "scrapbook" of their visits and outings. I even found the old style scrapbook that I used to use as a kid (no mention of Duran Duran please!).

We had a picnic lunch followed by a play on the playground - which was like a Roman Fort so that cheered middle A up. Then concluded the afternoon with some ice cream. Three tired kiddies!

Although that did not conclude our day's traveling! As eldest K decided to try littlest H scooter and promptly broke it (a wheel came off) - unfortunately this also broke littlest H's heart and was completely devastated. Tears galore! So then we had to trek out to try and get another - at 6 in the evening! Choice of shops - Asda or Tesco?? Result - nothing!!! Then my friend who I happened to text about our reason for out at the shops at the time said that she had one that was no longer being used and we could have it! Wonderful we thought, problem solved, a solution and a scooter is found! Slight technically difficulty - a 2 hour round trip and three tired kiddies in the car!

End result, one extremely elated (littlest H0, two grumpy (middle A and eldest K) and thankfully 3 kiddies who stayed awake! (Grumpy because they had to try and keep littlest H entertained through out journey so she didn't go asleep!).

A very eventful day!

Beach, Sketch Tuesday, Flat Travellers

2008-06-30T23:03:00.012+01:00

The list is endless of everything that I have to remember to do! Last night there I was sowing on their St Johns Ambulance Badgers badge - Active Badgers. Guess what I have gone and put them on the wrong blasted arms!!!! Will have to unpick and re-sew onto their other arms now! (Please note: I mean the sleeves of their jumpers not the actual arms of the children themselves!!)

Flat travellers - needed to send back the two that where visiting, one from America and one from Canada - have I? NOOO!!! Do I have the time to sort them out? Apparently I need to make some extra hours in a day to accommodate all the activities that I am not achieving! So plan for the coming week, is to finish off the journals and post them back. I have all the info and photos printed. So I just need to sit and do them! I feel so bad as life has just zipped by and I never even noticed!

Sketch Tuesday - this weeks topic was to sketch something that you would serve at a picnic. Now the topic has been wrote on and on the cupboard all week. I have reminded them and asked for the pics as soon as they get a minute. So here I am Monday, at the beach (more later!) and still I ask "Have you done your Sketch Tuesday yet?" United answer of "No" followed by the look of - "silly mum why ask such a dumb question!" So within the space of 5 mins returning home we have the following entries:

This is eldest K "slice of cake", now we have never had a cake or even a slice of cake at a picnic, but this is according to eldest K what we serve at a picnic. This was promptly followed by middle A's effort of "chocolate chip cookie", now ok we might have had one of them so there wasn't much said about that!

Littlest H had been harping on and on about going to the beach and as today was fairly sunny and nice, I decided to take them. It was supposed to be a full family outing and that would have meant that I could have gone for a walk while the rest played in the sand. At the last minute hubby decided that he could no longer make it. So I was on my own with the kids.

But I was not letting the lack of schedule completing beat me completely and I packed a bag to take! We did read alouds and some sketching so that when they returned they could tick off a further 4 things off their schedule! Still not a fully ticked off day - but a vast improvement! I also had to sit through a little moaning and complaining as how on earth could I have even thought to bring "work" with me to the beach!!

Most importantly - I remembered my camera! So to finish I will leave you all with the kids....

Feel like pulling my hair out!

2008-06-30T21:52:00.004+01:00

Seems to be that kind of time at the moment, where I am just going along with the flow, but it seems I am not coping with the flow! It is too fast and I am falling behind and struggling to keep my head above water at the moment!

I have too much on my plate at the moment and trying desperately to lighten my load. But the fact of the matter is, it is all for the kids and for their education. Well, that's what I keep telling myself, and although it is all for the kids, I do seem to have bitten off more than I can chew!!

We are not covering everything as we should be - or as I have scheduled us to! We are covering a whole lot more than before but we really should be able to manage the schedule I have came up with in the day. So that is making me worry and stress. Constantly questioning myself why they aren't achieving what I want them to achieve. It's not hard we are only doing year one of Ambleside Online. It is only supposed to take a couple of hours at most. Nope not us!

The kids have "lost" some of their own curiosity and interest in learning. That makes it a struggle to do any "work" past lunch. They just want to do their own thing and be as far away from anything schooly or connected to learning! But we are not getting up in the mornings and then before you know it it is lunchtime. As soon as I walk away from them they are messing and fighting and not working! I am not spending the time with littlest H as I would love to, in fact poor child is just pushed aside and put in front of the telly or handed yet another colouring sheet!

So feeling like am banging my head against a brick wall and no one is noticing or caring!

A new plan of action is needed and it will mean I need to move out of my comfort zone. I will also need to grow an extra skin! I am going to have to do something drastic to bring our normal day back under control. What that new plan of action is - I am not really sure!!!

Catch up time again!

2008-06-25T23:44:00.003+01:00

Am I ever going to get the hang of this blogging, it is so erratic and it really should be better!! After all the kids are supposed to be structured so I should be too!

Still need to take my camera with me when I go or do anything with the kids - at least then I wouldn't need to type so much!

Since last Thursday we have been not really "doing" a lot! Tennis was cancelled for the Friday due to a tournament being on at the tennis club - the cheek of it! :) (really must find out how to put smileys in!) So we just did our work in the morning and the kids played n the garden in the afternoon - or attempted to pay in the garden I should say! Saturday morning saw us up early and off to the church at the bottom of our road and their Summer Fair - we paid 50p admission, walked in, went and used the facilities and walked out - it was so bad it doesn't even deserve mentioning how bad it was! So we headed over to the church where the kids go to Boys and Girls Brigade as they where holding a fun day and spent over two hours there! It poured all the time so the bouncy castle and slide where inside but the kids had a hoot and really yes I never took the camera!!

Sunday came and went as Sundays do in our houses - not a lot happening, pj day, trying to tidy and sort. Concluded Sunday night as always with me printing out the next weeks work and copying worksheets (I am a miser and only buy one workbook - then photocopy it for the kids to use!!!)

This week we have tried to start work as soon as we got up and had breakfast, unfortunately the "getting up" part was the slight hiccup - we didn't!! So after that by the time we sat down to do work, it was practically lunch time - end result kids haven't done much structured work so far this week!

On the good news front we have started to tackle our garden! (Note: I have been very bad and not been in my garden doing gardening for 4 years or so!) So we have a jungle as a garden and Monday saw us pruning trees - I know wrong time of year - but it NEEDED it!!! Again a missed photo opportunity - before and after! On Tuesday a little more strimming and some grass cutting, still along way to go, but a start!

Today saw the arrival of a friend, we were supposed to go on a guided walk but the weather was so unpredictable and it did rain on and off. So we stayed home and the girls played their little hearts out, middle A watched telly and did his own thing! And I had a few brews and a great natter! A very pleasant day!

Thanks for reading and can I be so bold as to ask can you please leave a comment - don't care how small, just feeling a little uncertain if I am doing this blogging okay, as I am not receiving many comments. Thank you again!

Nature and Art

2008-06-19T23:12:00.003+01:00

Yesterday was the local home ed meeting and this months topic was trees. Guess what the weather did on us??? Yes it raining all Tuesday day and night and carried on for Wednesday too! So had to have a mad printing session on Tuesday night so we would have something to do! But I did have my Mrs Support who has very organised (as always!) and had planned ahead a little (a lot more than me!) and had branches and some bark!!!

All I can say is thank goodness for Mrs Support and Nature Dectectives! We started off with a leaf hunt as thankfully the rain stopped momentarily, the kids loved being out and about and looking for all the leave son the trees. I decided to stay near the door to be able to hand out the spotter sheets and pencils when families arrived. (Had nothing to do with the fact that I had no idea what leave on what tree was what!!! Honest it didn't!!) The kids spent longer than expected examining leaves and they all seemed to throughly enjoy the activity.

Next was indoors to start some craft. Well the plan was to make a little treasure bag then go out and collect some things to make a collage picture using a tree as the basis of the picture. Eldest K had made one the night before to show what I was talking about (using a neww full tube of glue in the process!) She was very proud of it and it was displayed for the entire meeting. Unfortunately due to the wetness this was changed to simply making the tree picture however you wanted using what was available - colouring, collage with small pieces of paper, using the bark to make rubbings, cuting out leaves from paper. There was some lovely and wonderful creations from everyone. Middle A did bark rubbings for the leaves in green and the bark in brown. But I was so impressed that he actually completed the task and activities of the day as insturcted (a complete first for him!) I also suggested that they still make their treasure bags and this was also completed. Then their were some further colouring of other pictures, some finger puppets and crosswords completed too. There were a few brave enough to tackle the leaf cartoon sheet. Now this was where I was speechless as I could not find the words to explain how wonderful the ideas and creations that they had come up with! We completed the session with a show and tell and I do think everyone had a fab time. So topic for next one is Minibeasts - a huge ripple of appreciate from the boys!!! Now I just need to plan and sort out what we will be doing then!

The schedule this week has gone along nicely, we are still sticking to it and even though we are completing it we are covering so much more than before. I know why we are completing it and that is my fault yet again! I am trying to fit too much in as I want the kdis to progress. I have the problem as I think they should be in another year. So I need to sort my head out and just relax and let it go, if they are enjoying the work we are doing and the pace is set by them to a certain degree, thenI should just chill and enjoy the journey too! After all they are only little for a short time!

On a personal level I have struggled with tiredness this week but having littlest H getting up in the middle of the night and dealing with her is a big strain and the downside of my tiredness is I do find it "easier" to lose my temper and shout first. Something I want to work on and hopefully be more in control of.

This week's Sketch Tuesday is to sketch something sweet, I have wrote this out on apiece of paper and put it up in front of the kids so hopefully they will begin the task a little sooner this week! Eldest K was delighted to watch all the other entries and was so chuffed when she sasw her own! Now I just need to get to grips with completing the Outside Hour! Have wanted to start this for months and as it ties in nicely with Charlotte Mason ideas and also using the Handbook of Nature Study, which I seem to be struggling with! So something else I need to sort myself out and just do!

Sketch Tuesday

2008-06-16T23:51:00.001+01:00

This week's topic was to sketch something hot!

Littlest H was not interested in the slightest - after all she a had a more pressing engagement - watch the new Dora dvd that arrived from LoveFilm!

Middle A gave it a blast - literally! Was not impressed he had been asked, so grabbed the first piece of paper to hand and drew a sun that looked liked a daisy, so next he did a match - unfortunately on lined paper. So tried again, this time looked like a VERY short match, so I went and showed him what a match looked like (to assist!) He then drew what looked like a match but this time not lit - in his words "It's not lit so it is not hot!" And there concluded middle A's sketch Tuesday!

Eldest K first attempt was a cooker with a cabinet next to it - on fire! Now I have never set fire to the kitchen when I have cooked, but this has rather worried me and what does she think of my cooking???? So her second attempt was this:

So tomorrow will be another day and let us see what it brings!

First Lapbook!

2008-06-16T22:28:00.001+01:00

As we all know it was Fathers day yesterday! And we decided to be a little different this year and make a lapbook for dad instead of making cards! I got the idea from another blog Just Call Me Jamin, and this is our attempt at it ( with a few tweaks here and there of course!)

So the kids presented it to there dad, once he had come back from doing a car boot that morning, and he was so thrilled and chuffed at all their hard work that he had a little tear in his eye! He was so pleased that all 3 kids had done something to make it such a lovely unexpected present.

Behold our first completed lapbook! We have started 4 and completed one! And this was completed in the space of 30 minutes colouring on Saturday evening and then finishing colouring and putting together on Sunday morning. All in all I am very chuffed with our combined efforts! Hubby sure was.

Monday saw a return to work, at a later time than last week - littlest H decided to grace me with her presence at 5.30am this morning, thankfully she climbed into my bed and eventually nooded off, just wish I could sleep as well as she did! So when the alarm went off - I hit OFF!!! So we were all up over an hour later than planned. Work was a little more stop start today, more stop than start at times! But still we managed to do something and at the moment that is good!

I am being consistent - to a point! Lets hope it continues!!!

Flying past!

2008-06-14T21:35:00.001+01:00

Well I am not doing very well at keeping this blog up to date, in fact I am not blogging at all, it has been over two weeks since I last posted! And all I can give as an excuse is life itself! We have been so busy with life I have just not got round to typing about it! lol

I will have to update you on the last two weeks as so much must have happened :) to us!

Start of June was pretty quiet really, was wanting to get the kids back into their work and failed miserably on the Monday and the Tuesday, we managed to pick up some books on Wednesday and surprisingly did quite a bit of work - both eldest K and middle A achieved:

Spelling
Reading
Aesop Fables

With eldest K also doing her English and Maths, middle A had disappeared completely! Then the rest of the week we didn't actually managed to pick up a book and keep it in our hands for long enough to actually achieve any work!

Wednesday afternoon was a "Ten Pin Bowling" Party for one of their friends, the kids have never been before so I did have my concerns if it would be okay for middle A. As it turned out I had no need to be concerned, everyone had a fab time and my two want to go again! So can't have been too bad. But I did stay close to middle A and just let him do his own thing yet be there to explain or calm him when necessary - which I was surprisingly did not need to do much of!

Thursday was the second pottery lesson and this time they did a plate - now not a small plate - a HUGE dinner plate! Actually the mugs turned out really well and was so chuffed when I saw them, they are so good we aren't using them just yet! Eldest K was the last to finish her plate and to be honest I sat beside the wall and just let them get on with it all themselves! Just have to wait and see the outcome of their hard work! Whatever it is like will not beat the fact that the kids had a great time and the concentration that they both gave for the full length was amazing. Makes me proud that they can now feel like they are able to do something on their own without asking me constantly!

Friday was tennis and the kids have really settled into it and seem to be enjoying it, although afterwards did have to have a little word in middle A's ear. He is becoming too comfortable and forgetting where he is and what he is there for! "Tennis racket cannot transform into a machine gun please while waiting please!" Was my most memorable sentence to him!

Saturday morning was me and littlest H's time, it was so great to actually have her to myself for an hour! We went to a story time again, an author who is publishing and promoting her own books Frog the Dog. This is actually the third one we have been too and littlest H just adores the story, the colouring and finally the juice and biscuit! She loves seeing the other children and I can see so many differences in her that I love. She happily goes to the other side of the room and sits to listen to the story (for the whole length of the story too). It is gorgeous to spend time with her.

Decided to sit and have a good long think on Sunday and sort out my head to see if I could find out why the kids where not completing enough of their work and the only answer that came back was - me! I am the problem as I am not consistent, and it hurts that you are the cause for the kids "failings". When it isn't the children but the adults own bad habits! So a new leaf needed turning over immediately.

Monday - new leaf was turned and the alarm went off! Up I got, woke the kids and off we went - breakfast, dressed and the books out!

Spelling
Reading
English
Copywork

Middle A also did some phonics! The kids where happy, uncomplaining and achieved the lovely task of colouring in the subjects they personally completed. So much happiness to colour something in! Evening was concluded with the St Johns Ambulance Badgers and they had a great time making some interesting drinks!

Tuesday - new leaf was still turned - alarm - kids up - breakfast - books out! Same as yesterday accomplished with the addition of Aesop Fables. I took a trip to the hairdressers and the kids where angels as they finished their work with dad! Then we were off to meet up with a couple of friends and learn about Trees from the Ranger! Bark rubbings, pine cone hunting, and tree hugging to name a few of the activities! Again the kids had a great time and didn't even realise they where learning. Don't you just love days like this.

Wednesday - still new leaf! Am so proud of myself and more proud of the kids, as this was the day we managed to do Geography and Maths too! We also went for a walk.

Thursday we kept it going and going! Plus we went out to a friends house for the afternoon, well actually as soon as we arrived they where waiting for us at their garden gate. We were whisked away to the river to have lunch and the kids then spent the rest of the afternoon river dipping! Middle A was quite successful and did catch a lot of fish- all of which were safely returned to the river! I was not very organised and had left their shoes in the car, but that did not hamper them one little bit and they six wet trainers later... I must admit the older two where asleep within minutes of their heads hitting their pillows! Littlest H was not so accommodating as she had already slept all the way home!

Friday - can we complete a week - never done before...... Well yes and no! I managed to turn the alarm off as soon as it went off due to littlest H and inability to go to sleep till really late, but then after we all did rise (about an hour later) we carried on with the routine and so yes the day did managed to end the week with all days successfully completed!!

So I am now a happy bunny! Just need to keep it up and we will be flying!!

Saturday - morning was a guided walk along the sea front - just me and eldest K (we had a lovely time and a great chat!). Afternoon was spent at in laws, rather a lot of time of nothing! Evening was spent with the kids starting their lapbook for their dad for tomorrow - Father's Day! He will be car booting so we can finish off!

My only other comment is "I must remember to take my camera with me on trips and outings!" It is so frustrating that I never have anything to show what a superb time my kids can have sometimes!

Holiday Two Over

2008-05-30T20:41:00.001+01:00

At last another week (with my parents this time) of holiday concluded!!! We were at Albuferia in Portugal and the first time we have had an abroad holiday and it certainly had its ups and downs! Overall a nice holiday but some major downs as my dad clashed big time with middle A. My dad is too aggressive and just brings the worst out in middle A, poor lad tries but his stubbornness just takes over and then all help breaks loose!!!! So to end the holiday was a relief for everyone concerned! It was more my parents holiday and what they did which mostly wasn't very suitable for 3 kids, especially for middle A (who hates shops) and poor littlest H just got pushed around in her buggy!

Plus came back and eldest K has a stinker of a cold! I have a sore wrist (an old injury that flared up - due to wheeling a buggy and pulling a suitcase at the same time!!) and a very sore throat. After a week I had to go to the docs and I am now on antibiotics. End result it is definitely not a holiday to forget! Unfortunately for all the wrong reasons!!

So now all holidays concluded and work can commence, well this week didn't get off to such a great start due to some of us being unwell and wanting to meet up with friends. But Wednesday was great, they started work and did manage some without too many moans! Thursday was worse for me and my throat which is why I ended up at docs! And then today, well I took eldest K out for her belated birthday present from me. She got her ears pierced! She is so grown up now! No longer my little girl! So we had lunch and a good mosey round the shops and even had a stop at the cafe before coming home. It was lovely to spend one on one time with her and not be arguing!

For the weekend I have planned to conclude sorting out and organising their work for them to start all excited and willing (of course!) come Monday morning. We are going on a guided walk on Saturday and at some point we have to fit in the customary birthday lunch at pub with grandparents for eldest K. Due to the holiday and everything that was going on we never fitted it in around her birthday! And finally some house cleaning - well maybe?

Two weeks whizzed past me!!!

2008-05-15T19:29:00.000+01:00

So what happened, one minute we are back from Scotland and the next it is two weeks later!!! Ahhhh! Haven't done anything structured, kids have been absolutely not interested in working, but then nor have I as I have to get ready and sorted for our next holiday - to Portugal with my parents for the week! They have been to a couple of home ed meetings, tennis and pottery. That was cool! Middle A did thoroughly enjoy it, and most impressed was me! I was so impressed that I actually managed to let him do whatever he wanted - although I did have to give myself a talking to a couple of times as I caught myself telling him what "I" would do!

Eldest K has had her 11th birthday come and now go, she had it at the local home ed meeting, so we hired the room for two hours after and the kids had a party! Eldest K thoroughly enjoyed it and her birthday - various presents later (including a new stereo and the promise that she can have her ears pierced!). She had a good day and a great birthday. Not the same can be send for Middle A as he had the day from hell! A long time since I seen him act like that, and what he did took me back to when he was in school, not a pretty sight and very distressing for him and me!

So just a quick and brief update as I am frantically trying to pack and sort out for the holiday to Portugal - and the kids DON'T know and won't until I wake them to go for the plane! So all the sandals, clothes, sun creams and all sorts we have been buying with the kids and they haven't twigged yet! Fingers crossed that they won't, only one more day to keep it a secret!

Holiday One Over

2008-04-30T17:36:00.000+01:00

Well first one over and only one more to go!

We have successfully returned from the first holiday to Scotland with my in laws! And all in all it actually went okay - as in - it did not dissolve into a massive argument (has happened in the past). I continued on my brave theme - I went out on my own with the kids and drove them to places so we could be out of the house. This happened on two days as hubby P went fishing with his dad. But I did have a head start as the area we were visiting is also the area we lived for 7 years before moving to our current home. So it wasn't such a hard task really for me! But I still felt as proud as punch that I did!

We did lots of things when we were away, well we took the kids to lots of places. Cream O'Galloway, Mabie Farm Park, Mereshead RSPB, Dalscone Farm, Sweetheart Abbey, and we also started Letterboxing. We also went to the beach - actually me, middle A and littlest H did. Eldest K went fishing with her dad (and didn't fall in the lake this time), but then did get locked in the car park! Sweetheart Abbey is where me and hubby got married 10 years ago and we always visit it when we are in the area. There was some other things that we visited - or more like - stopped in the car park and took a photo! Well the cost of going in and looking around a ruin abbey/castle/tower does start to mount up when you have 2 adults and 3 kids!

As for all the lovely photos that I was constantly taking they are all still in the camera! Hope to have them off sometime soon???

Oh I did mention letterboxing! We found 5 out of the 8 we where looking for! The kids where so chuffed and we all thoroughly enjoyed the activity. Plus a lovely walk in the woods is just great for getting out of the house! Letterboxing combines elements of a scavenger hunt, hiking, orienteering, map reading, puzzle solving and creative expression. The purpose is to locate boxes - these boxes normally contain a visitors' book and a rubber stamp. On finding the box, hunters use the stamp to record the find in their own books or on a series of cards, and then mark the visitors' book in the box with their own personal stamps. Our signature stamp is a cat (which has nothing to do with our name but littlest H adores cats and she chose it!) and we where the first finders on two of the trails. Most delightful was being first finder at Sweetheart Abbey and getting a lovely heart shaped stone to keep! Letterboxes are all over and we hope to carry on this activity and maybe even plant some new boxes too! Here are some links to other letterboxing:

Lakeland Letterboxing
Dartmoor Letterboxing
Letterboxing in Scotland
Letterboxing clues
Letterboxing - forum and search facilities

Since we have come back life has been a little more calmer, middle A did not have such a "controlled" time away. Life was a little more interesting with him and less "cool as a cucumber". He is not completely settled yet but there has been improvements in the right direction. No "schooling" so far, it was mentioned by eldest K late Sunday night - how she was looking forward to starting again in the morning. Only when morning came she was no where to be found or seen! Not that I was too bothered as I had a huge pile of washing to tackle and a house to clean! Now as I post this I have a huge pile of ironing to tackle and a house to clean!! I have been in "making lists" mode. Which started on Sunday with my first list being a list of all the lists I needed to make! Just taking "making lists" a little too far - me thinks!

Now we have lists, we just need to action them so I can put my nice score line through them when we have completed that task. Have not managed to complete anything just yet to tick off! Typical!

Did manage another of the guided walks yesterday with t he kids, more close to home and was amazed to see things that we never even knew where there. Plus the ranger who lead it also took the time to stop and talk about a couple of things on the route. Both the older two found interesting , especially the oldest gravestone in the cemetery. Unfortunately it was for two children who died from swallowing a marble that was also placed in the stone. Littlest H tried her best but decided the buggy was a good place and promptly had a nap!

Have a busy two days ahead as we are going to the Theatre tomorrow to see Horrible Histories, two performances in the one day. Then Friday we are going Ten Pin Bowling, we didn't actually make it last time as I had so much to still sort out on the Friday before we went away. So at least they can go this time! Followed by the normal Friday taxi-ing service for the kids for Girls/Boys Brigade!

Pond Dipping

2008-04-17T22:58:00.000+01:00

Today was outing day!!! Met up with some friends and we went pond dipping! Kids had a fabulous day, did an "educational" activity and spent a whole afternoon with their friends. Lots of nice fresh air and active running around, now 3 very tired and weary children!

We arrived and had lunch first, kids where eager to get started, although mine do like to eat! So they weren't as eager until they had eaten at least half of their lunch. Then off they went for a run about to use up some of their excess energy. Which gave "adult" time and a brew! Isn't it nice to chat with other grown ups! Well I think so! Then at the appointed time we started our activity, although the hike to the pond nearly did kill me!!! (I am SOOO unfit!!) But it was nice walking through the woods and listening to the pheasant (although the sound of my heavy breathing was a bit off putting!) We arrived at the pond and where shown the guide to which we could compare our finds - very good indeed and wished I had one of my own. Then the exact method to "dip" was explained especially the correct position. As the incorrect position could result in a child toppling into the pond! The kids then commenced a little tentatively at first t pond dip. There where some great finds - water flea, fly larvae, a beetle (I forgot which one!), a greater boatman (4 of these!), quite a bit of frogspawn and even a tiddly tadpole too.

The kids where delighted and enjoyed the activity for nearly 2 hours, they were excited, chatting and continued to dip in the search of that something "special". In middle A's case he wanted to discover a dragonfly larvae or a leech. Lovely. Littlest H was dipping away as good as the older ones and thoroughly enjoyed the whole activity as there were tears when it ended!

A most enjoyable activity that was concluded with the kids having a good run around playing together, laughing and having fun. While the adults had another brew and more adult time! I was spoilt today wasn't I! Adult time!

Then the rest of the evening has been a blur of making dinner, eating dinner, shopping for the holiday and unpacking it. All to be repacked tomorrow??? Am I mad? I think I must! So tomorrow the kids have ten pin bowling as a one off activity with the same children that they would normally play tennis with in the afternoon. Why I said "yes" when I was phoned, I will never know!!! There is so much to do and so little time before we go away! But we are never that organised no matter how much I try!

All in all today was a good day and middle A was a delight to behold - such a transformation for the better today. Definitely a good blog day!

Off the rails again???

2008-04-16T21:21:00.000+01:00

Well weekend came and went again in such a blur that I can hardly remember what we did! Saturday was the kids Squirrels morning and I promptly dropped the older two off, while littlest H and I went on the guided walk again, this time a different town but still by the sea! Littlest H didn't so so well this time and only managed to walk half the distance before giving up and getting in to her buggy. Had a nice chat with another lady on the walk it was her first walk as she had recently moved to the area. (We have lived here 8 years nearly and it was only my second walk!!) It was dry which was good. Unfortunately couldn't join them for the coffee afterwards as I had to go and collect the older two. So that concluded the morning.

To be honest I can't even remember what we did for the rest of Saturday (with the exception of me and the kids watching Doctor Who!). Hubby P was out for most of the afternoon and quite late into the evening, which threw us all to pot really. He was especially upset that he missed Doctor Who as I did not record it!

Sunday morning was supposed to be church parade for the kids, but to be honest we all couldn't be bothered so we decided to have a family day and went to the cinema instead. Kids club was showing Alvin and the Chipmunks, all 3 kids seemed to enjoy it, even littlest H. We then had a short walk on the promenade and then off home. Although not sure how it happened but we ended up back again and got some chips and ate them in the car sitting at the sea. Then off to the neighbouring town to get the kids some new trainers (remember I am a bad mother and the kids have crap trainers for tennis!). Oldest two got trainers for tennis and another pair of "walking" trainers. Littlest H got sparkly pink and white trainers, well Peppa Pig wasn't in her size - she had too small feet!

On Monday midde A and I managed some read alouds, and that is the conclusion of our education for this week! What a total disaster really! But no one to blame but myself. Structured education is just not happening. In fact no education is happening.

We have a little hiccup coming in the next few weeks in the form of holidays! We have two, one in Scotland with my in laws and one in Portugal with my parents. Now for the last 2 years we have had to holiday with my in laws as otherwise they would not get a holiday. Hubby P and me have to take two cars to drive up (me with his mum and him with his dad). His dad feels he can no longer drive and his mum will not drive that distance. So that is how it started and now it continues. Once in April and then again in September. We don't complain too much as we are funding it, but it is a highly stressful time for me and hubby P. Plus we get added aggravations called middle A! He cannot deal with the emotional excitement of "going away" and is extremely difficult to deal with on an hourly basis! He turns into an uncooperative, grumpy, moody, arguing, stubborn boy. But this will only end after the holiday as his Nana is great at helping him maintain this attitude as she encourages his every whim. So we are not telling the kids about the second trip until we have to wake them to take them to the airport!

End result this week is that I am not meeting the education of the kids which has a knock on effect on me and my mood, so I have had a gradual decline as the week has progressed. End result - grumpy, moody mum (just like her son!) So enough is enough, have talked the ear off a good friend (poor thing - having to listen to me!). Had a long chat with hubby P and we have decided that I need to take a break from stressing and see what we can do to help the situation. End result we will take the time between the two holidays (3 weeks) to get the house sorted - tidied, cleaned thoroughly, decluttered and re-organised. The garden will have all the rubbish removed, the torn sheet off the polytunnel, the sheds and garage decluttered and the garden made into more manageable maintenance. During this time I will still take the kids to their activities, hubby will still work and I will sit and think about how to make it all flow more easily once we commence again.

So not an easy entry to write, but I wanted to as I feel we have accomplished something and I can now see a light at the end of the tunnel. Now off to list making and planning!

Blogging and learning

2008-04-11T23:38:00.000+01:00

I just love reading other peoples blogs!! I love reading about all their interesting days and things happening that they feel are ordinary or boring - they are so fascinating to me! I am so sad!!! The best entries are the ones that you can either say - yes that's whats happening to me and wow! I'm not the only one to be going through that! Then there are the ones where you just think, boy if only I had thought of that, or that sounds like a really good thing to do. Sometimes, if you know you don't really know the person, you can feel a little intrusive as you read them, but not many. But the wealth of information and insight other blogs can give you it is amazing! And then you return to your own and think "Oh lardy - who on earth would want to read this!" But I do know someone is as you are are kind enough to leave comments (sometimes I can't even work out how to leave a comment on my own blog!!)

Anyway on to my quick update, the kids have actually been consistent this week and we have managed to cover the basics (bar Wednesday) Still need to do some read alouds this weekend to get them finished for this weeks schedule, but am happy. Would hope to maintain what we achieved this week and then I can build on that to, hopefully, achieve a days schedule in a day!

The kids went to Tennis again and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but did point out that I need to be a good mum and get new trainers for them. Middle A was nearly crippled as his is too small, but he is being stubborn about telling me! Eldest K's are falling apart from the bottom up! They make a clip clip sound as she walks as the bottom of one is coming off! But they won't be able to go in 2 weeks time, as we are away for a weeks holiday in Scotland with the grandparents. So they where disappointed. But it is nice to see them making friends.

On another note our activities are increasing again, as Pottery is being organised for once a month, which the Eldest K will thoroughly enjoy, not so sure Middle A will as he is a perfectionist (like his mum!) but he is willing to give it ago! A couple of activities using the services of a Ranger - Pond Dipping is the first one planned! Plus generally with the weather (trying) to improve being out and about is a little easier. Having motivation now is a big improvement for me and that is due to me finding my own friends that like me and are happy to spend time with me. All a new concept for me - never happened before (apart from my adorable hubby of course). But now I feel like I have found a couple of friendships that are helping me to come out into the world and participate in life again. Which is an education in itself for my kids! As I am now taking them places and letting them interact with other kids on a more regular basis, which helps them to enable making their own friendships. Thank you girls!

Weekend plan then is:

Read alouds
start to re-organise/declutter etc "education" room

So wish me luck!

Just another day

2008-04-09T20:36:00.000+01:00

Work has improved for the last couple of days, was going well until today!!! I just didn't manage to get up this morning, so as we had a local home ed meeting and friends after we didn't manage any work today! Not that the kids are complaining!

Decided to give one of he past Sketch Tuesday topics ago yesterday, thinking that it would be a nice break from work. The topic was "Something with Legs", littlest H did a spider which was fantastic until she decided to colour it in and then it didn't really resemble much of anything. Middle A decided that was a silly topic as he had his "I don't want to do anything if it is not on the computer" head on. So his was ....indescribable! Finally I was given Eldest K attempt and this was it:
Why is we try and plan so much and then realise that we are trying to fit too much in the day, so we cut back on our plans, but we still don't get everything done, even after we revise our plans. Why is that??

So we had a local home ed meeting and the topic was maps. Eldest K enjoyed it and made a lovely 3d map along with a story to explain about what happened when the volcano exploded. It was a collaboration with 3 others, and the end result was quite effect. Unfortunately middle A was not impressed with the topic and was more taxing from start to finish, eventually decided to do a pirate map and then under durest made a further map of the island in question.
Then that his conclusion to the meeting and promptly went outside to play. Littlest H was not interested in maps, well a girl of 3 has her own agenda! and that was CATS! She drew them, coloured them in, then wanted scissors and sticky glue to make her finally masterpiece!
The topic for the next home ed meeting is "nature journals" and that is mine! So looks like I have to get sorted and get some ideas and examples made up! Seemed like a good idea at the time!

Where does time go?

2008-04-07T21:35:00.000+01:00

Weekend came and weekend went. Just like that.... what happened????? I am sure I only sat down for a cup of tea and then it was Monday morning again!!!!

So what did we get accomplished this weekend, all full of hope on Saturday morning, then noticed in the local "What's on Guide" that there was a story telling on which littlest H could go to and more importantly it would be " me and her" time. Something that is very rare for us both. So off we trundled (well it was only down the road!) She was the most well behaved child ever!!!! I was so proud of her - she is only 3 but is so little for her age (still in 18-24mths clothes!) but I said for her to go and sit down and listen to the story (thinking that she would say no and want me to go to!) How wrong I was!!! Off she went straight round the other side of the table and stood and waited to be told to sit on the floor, and there she remained for the full reading of the story! Now all the other children ..... that was not possible! After it had been read the lady got some colouring and pencils out. Which littlest H loves to do, but she is a felt tip kind of girl and when all there is the big chunky colouring pencils, well that took a while to agree to use them (after all they are for babies and she is a big girl!). But yet again, I had nothing to do but sit and watch the entertainment provided by the other children! Mine was an angel and quite a few mums commented. Talk about walking on cloud nine!!! To conclude the visit we had to go to another room to have milk and biscuits. A lovely idea, but in reality the ladies who had to do could have turned the milk sour with one look! Thankfully they didn't! Another novel experience for littlest H, she isn't really a big milk fan, but as others where drinking it so would she, and sipped away at it with such dainty delicate sips too! But TWO chocolate chip cookies!!!! To part with them was not on her agenda at all! In fact she took half of one home to finish in front of her sister - just because she could!!! A most adorable experience that really brought it home how gorgeous she really is, but that thought gets lost in normally every day life.

Back home, lunch and then all three kids and me off for a guided walk (also in the "What's on Guide") Now I have been meaning to do these for about the full 8 years we have lived here!!! Finally managed to go on one, all three kids in tow oh and one buggy too!!! Arrived and was slightly late as they where just about to set off. Now where I live is more the place where you go to retire, so guess the age range of the walkers! Adorably littlest H, totally refusing to go in the buggy got everyone ooohhhing and aaaaahhhing. My other two just stayed close not really sure what to do with themselves and then off we go. Now by the sea, quite breezy, refreshing of course! Two older kids complaining (admittedly quietly!) that their ears where hurting - the kind, thoughtful and concerned mum I am simply said - "Put your hood up then". Eldest K was good and kind and offered to wheel the buggy - after nearing running two of the walkers she decided to go in front and then took it that she could walk far in front, turn round and come back to me (just to check that the buggy was not needed!) and then back to the front! My heart was in my mouth every time she passed someone, for fear that they might end up in the buggy! Part of the walk was along a path that had a lot of sand on it so that made the buggy tough to wheel. In steps our hero - middle A- now this is when all fear jumped on an escalator and I was trembling at the thought of what might happen now. Image - bulldozer and ten pin bowling pins!!!! Ahhh you got it then! The wind is too strong for me to shout, so he is oblivious to me and my concerns, my eldest K was gone ahead also talking to one of the gentlemen guides. I am pulling along littlest H as she tries her hardest to walk as fast as her little legs will carry her through all the sand on the path. We must have looked a right sight! Every now and then a fellow walker would comment on how little littlest H was and enquire after her age. then go off and consult with another fellow walker! Oh the state of us all must have been quite a sight to behold! Now about half way round and middle A has decided that pushing buggy is just too much like hard work. Littlest H refuses to go in it, but I still have to hold her hand to pull her along, while trying to keep the buggy going in a straight-ish line with the other! All I could think was "Who's bright idea was this? Oh yes -mine!!!!!" Littlest H did concede at two points to go in the buggy for about 5 minutes at a time, so that made it a little better. My other two where no where to be seen as they had moved on to be at the front and meanwhile I had ended up at the back! So one hour and ten minutes later, the walk was finished. Bravo! Hadn't we done well!!! All I could think was - "Where's the loo????" Could we escape quietly - no I was collared to fill in loads of forms and lists and all sorts, but we did get a hot chocolate with some of the other fellow walkers. Again oohhhhs and aaaahhhs, and how gorgeous littlest H was - especially with her huge red rosy cheeks. So the conversation then was to see who was the oldest as littlest H was the youngest! Actually I was surprised as they where all a lovely bunch of people and I did feel very welcome. So a lovely afternoon stroll (well not quite a stroll!) was had by the kiddies and me.

Saturday evening revolved around Doctor Who - we all love it and we made a night of it. Th roughly enjoyed it!

And then it was Sunday - some cleaning, some tidying, some washing, some drying, a Sunday roast with Yorkshire Puddings, and not a lot else!Oh yes, some emailing! Did manage to tidy my desk. Made a to do list and hubby put a lot of the things to do the following day! Not helpful at all!!! Showered. bathed kids, bedtime and I concluded the day by ironing! Then realised - that I hadn't even thought to sort out the education room!!! Ahhhhh - the one and only thing that I really wanted to accomplish and I didn't even think about it. Well I did think, briefly, then thought "Have absolutely no idea what to do" So will have to wait till next weekend now! At least that gives me a week to think about it!!!!

Ramblings of a home educating mum's mind!

2008-04-04T21:54:00.000+01:00

Life is full of things that are there to test us! This week has been full of them really! How have I managed to get through the week is beyond me! The kids "education wise" have done extremely little, i can't even claim that they have done the basics - they haven't! Two days, just two days is all I have to show for our supposedly 5 day schedule! And of those 2 days, they just covered English, copywork and poetry! As far as the rest is concerned - well its not concerned and nor are the kids!!!

So for my testing week I have had various things decide to test me, test boundaries, test relationships, test my sanity!!! Oh the list is a little too long and a little too depressing! I want and need the kids to learn, but more than that I want the kids to WANT to learn! Now that is the biggest test of all for me, and it is not happening, or if it tries to happening with one child then the other is at the complete opposite and opposing every word, every suggestion, everything. So this week has been more of an eye opener for me and to sit back and watch my children and see what is working and what isn't. Well straight away I can put my finger on what isn't working - and that is me "shouting". Why do I so it? They don't listen to the words when I am shouting, they don't understand why I have lost my control and then they just don't care. Which I can see and understand why they are like that, but through my own frustrations I have got us into this situation. I am now trying to alleviate that.

Looking at our day room (school room/ education room) I can see it is not functioning and not flowing as well as it could be and I am always hunting for something on a shelf, or in a drawer or in a cupboard. We have way too much stuff - but I know it is all needed (or will be one day!) So to get rid of anything is an impossibility. Storage is the answer and better storage than we currently have - books in boxes on the floor isn't really great storage! Another topic is books - we have so many I have no idea what we have anymore and why do we have so many when we hardly ever pick up a 1/3 of them to either read or to find something out. But to get rid of any books is like a nightmare to even try and do! So getting rid of any of the books is a no really. I need to sort out the table we are using as it is just not big enough when there are the four of us trying to use it all at the same time. That stems from the fact that everyone wants to be beside me and there isn't the room! Plus another argument the kids have is when they are trying to write they are being "annoyed" or "irritated" by another sibling! So this will escalate into a full blown argy bargy between two or more kids. Making it feel like they need separate tables or at least a space that they can call their own. Another project for us to delve into!

As for the rest of the week (apart form education) I have been having some major email problems which are not yet sorted, but it has meant that I have not had as many emails to read (I am in way too many yahoo groups!!!). Which has enlightened me to notice that if I do not have emails to read then I am more "willing" to spend time with my children. That sounds awful written in that way, and is not exactly explaining it the way that I mean. Having the email problems has made me realise what I had already thought and that was to remove myself from some of the groups as I do have a hang up of "having" to read my emails. I have a lot of things already downloaded and on my computer. I could easily take a break and let the information pass me by. We are happy doing Ambleside (when we do do it right!) and I have enough topics, units, lapbooks and other things to last us for ages yet. So that is something I need to action sooner rather than later (remove myself from some groups!) Not to mention the vast amount of websites I have in my favorites!

We have had visits from friends this week, which where very enjoyable and definitely helpful and inspirational for me. As I now also have "friends" something I could never really say before! I feel so comfortable in their company and to be able to chat freely is something I have not been able to do (apart from with my hubby!) with anybody before. It has helped me so much on a personal level and enabled me to become a better person with a little more confidence and self esteem. It is good to have another couple of ears eager and willing to listen as well as helpful and encouraging words! Thanks girls! :hug:

The plan for the weekend, is to try and reorganise the day/school/education room a little to try and achieve a better flow. A little housework, a little ironing - although both really require "a lot" rather than " a little"!! But vast improvements have been made already and just to maintain what we have already achieved is the immediate goal! Oh and to try and do some education with the kids, but more along the lines of geography, history, literature, nature study and some arts and crafts too.

Out again??? Sketching too!

2008-04-01T18:47:00.001+01:00

Now I am on a bit of roll, once I get out and about I keep on going!!! I also managed to take the kids to another local home ed group meeting at Botany Bay to the indoor play area Puddletown Pirates We managed that motorway again, although it was a lot more busier (on purpose me thinks!) and got there at the right time for a change! The kids had a really fab time playing with their friends but due to the school holidays be so messed up for our county there were numerous "other" kids there too. Now my children didn't mind and played with whoever was playing at the time, but they did ask a question on the way home - "Are all the kids there home educated?" So when I explained that they weren't my eldest commented " Well let me know when the holidays are over so I can find out who the home educated kids are!" Children can say the darnest things!!

So now the kids and I are getting out and about quite a bit and meeting with others, which is a good thing, but it also means that I will have to be more consistent and make sure that the learning time happens too!

Today we were back to just the basics again, but they also did Sketch Tuesday, although we are behind, I found it a few weeks ago and was reminded about it on the Structured Home Education forum. The topic we used was last weeks - Something Alive

This is littlest H attempt, now it is a hedgehog and not a bad effort for only 3! We were all impressed as we were able to guess it before she told us, plus she has been drawing cats recently so we were all surprised to see something different.

This is middle A's effort. Now this did lead to a bit of a discussion as I was not elated on his choice of "Alive", but then as it was pointed out to me, it was not my drawing and as far as he and his dad are concerned they are "alive". Well I just decided to let it be after all he has been drawing castles and knights prior to this.Finally we have eldest K, and this was her second attempt as her first was a page full of all different animals, when I pointed out that she really only needed to do one, she off and made this instead.

All in all the three of them enjoyed the concept and actually took to it more readily than I thought they would when I told them the task. Which is a vast improvement. I also noticed on Harmony Art Mom's blog the Green Hour, so we might just try and give that a go too. At least them I might actually try and get our nature study off the ground.

Tennis Anyone?

2008-03-29T14:14:00.000Z

Well I was very brave and took the first step of many yesterday! I took the kids to a Home Ed Group that meets and has a tennis lesson for an hour at a proper tennis club with a tennis coach. Now this is a big step for me as I am not the most confident of person, nor do I drive anywhere that I never been before. Plus the fact that all things changed that morning when my moral support (she knows who she is!) couldn't make it as her own daughter was unwell. So now I had it face it alone.... and I DID!!!! I drove down a busy motorway, got off at the right junction and was able to follow the directions my friend had some faithfully given (and they where correct to the letter!) I arrived 35 minutes early for the lesson!!! Now that is another accomplishment for me as I am always late! I don't mean to be and I don't want to be, but it just seems to happen. Plus as an extra "hiccup" my hubby had to work and that meant that littlest H would also be accompanying us!

So we had arrived and my nerves where in crumbs but as we where getting ready to depart from the security of the car, I was approached by L who organises the tennis, my friend had rung her to tell her I was still going and to look after me! How sweet and touching! I was so glad to feel so welcome. So we entered and although it was a little awkward at the start, I did manage to settle and littlest H did not appreciate that she would not be partaking of the tennis lesson and likes to cause a fuss. So that did make it a little more awkward for me initially, but she did settle and started to colour and play with her dinosaurs that we had brought.

I even tried to join in and add to some of their conversation, another thing I am usually useless at, so all in all I am chuffed I made an effort - how it came across - obviously I have no idea and hope it went okay!

The kids had a whale of a time and eldest K even made a new friend and exchanged email addresses. So they are most definitely looking forward to returning in two weeks. They where doing tennis skills and even I could see a vast improvement in middle A's control, as he couldn't balance the ball on the bat at all at the start and this progressed to being able to! I was so chuffed for him.

We even managed to get home, make and eat dinner and get out the kids Girls and Boys Brigade that evening - on time!!! So a good day was had by all and a big step was taken by me! Now I will just have to keep it up!

Homeschooling my littlest one!

2008-03-26T23:34:00.000Z

My 3 year old is definitely a handful and it's hard to keep her busy while I do school with the other two. The old stand-by, of course, is to do the more one-on-one subjects while she naps but she no longer naps!!!!. So I thought I would make an entry on how I have found it a little easier to school with having a toddler/pre schooler. First I looked it up on the net to see what other where doing and took it from there to try and make up our way to cope with this slightly more awkward but constantly changing time! It is not an extensive list, but has some ideas that might help out.

This is where our "School Box" was invented! I purchased some plastic boxes with lids just for this reason. I got five and have one for each day, although we don't always change them that frequently it is dependent on the littlest one and if the box is likely to keep her interest for more than one day!. Make sure that this box is ALWAYS put away completely out of sight! This will make it that much more special to the child. It's a good idea to rotate the things inside the box every week or every other week. This keeps interest in the box fresh.

So here is a list of some of the items we use in the boxes:

Wooden Puzzles (no more than 2 puzzles per box)
Lacing Beads
New Coloring Books (in order to keep them new, just tear out unused pages and staple them together)
Shape Sorter
Books (make sure to pick some out that are ONLY used for the box so that they always seem new)
Magnets and a magnetic board
Small Tape Player, Headphones, & Fun Music
Lacing Cards
Chalk & Small Chalkboard
Stickers & sticker books (they can reuse the stickers that way)
Envelopes, Paper, Stickers, etc
Felt sets

Obviously this is a work in progress and I am still finding new ideas and add to them as I find them. Remember that older children can be helpful in keeping the younger entertained even if only for 15 minutes, by reading to them or engaging them in an activity.

Some ideas that I plan to use in the future as a one to on with littlest H are:

help her make her own photo album of friends, family, pets and familiar things.
get her to make her alphabet book
allow her to find colours of objects in magazines etc to cut out and stick on a single page showing that colour.
do some lapbooks suitable for her age.

Well that is enough to enable you an insight into how I have coped with schooling with a little one. Hopefully if might help or at least initiate some imagination, after all that is all the children really want to use!

Another week gone by!

2008-03-19T23:17:00.000Z

It's been a week and I've not posted, life just flys by sometimes and this week has definitely been one of them. The kids have had a disrupted week really, they did manage to complete most of their schedule on Thursday and Friday of last week - just the basics again! Something that I do need to try and sort out is achieving everything needed in the one day. Have made another planner for the readings and this seems to be flowing a little easier. Just need perseverance from me to maintain it. As soon as I let up the kids are off and doing their own things rather than picking up a book and doing some education. Monday went on a similar line with just the basics covered. Unfortunately it all went downhill from there. On Tuesday afternoon it was the Theatre trip for littlest H and me to see Harry and his Bucketful of Dinosaurs, now for £8 a ticket each I was expecting great things - big mistake! Only I will say is that I am glad littlest H is only 3 and that means she had a great time and thought seeing Harry and his bucketful of dinosaurs on stage was absolutely fantastic. Then Wednesday has never really got going as I had a hairdressers appointment and as the older two had messed their dad around on Tuesday, they also managed to get out of doing any work while I was away. Then with littlest H having the cold and not sleeping so well meant that I was tied up with her. Just another excuse for the bigger ones to go away and play in their rooms. As for Thursday well we are off over to one of their friends houses, which is an hours drive each way, so no schooling again for another day.

Although I have decided that I am just going to keep on going and there will be no "holiday" except for the already booked and paid for ones through the family. We will just keep going and hopefully that will make up for the time that we have neglected to make full use of. I am hoping to sort out some "field trips" and days out so we won't be working all the time, plus I've just sent for the Family Railcard as it was free for 3 months with 1/2 price renewal for the year. Really what I need to do is get more courage and self esteem and drive to places I have never been before as that would open a whole new lot of possibilities. Instead of always having to wait on hubby P to take us places.

I have managed to spend about and hour and a half at the new website for Homeschoolestore and found the 7 freebies (eventually!), new site is Currclick and I always get the freebies from them on a weekly basis. You can get some good cracking ones, this weeks is a lapbook from Hands of a Child on the History of Sport. Hands of a Child is another website that I like the freebies from they are only once every 3 months. But I do like their products and have super membership there which means that I can also get free lapbooks that haven't been released yet, so they in effect pay for the membership.

I seem to enjoy gathering resources and have so many now that I am swamped with them all. Especially as doing Ambleside means that I do not need further resources (most definitely not int he quantity that I have accumulated). But i just can't seem to get myself to stop. Something that I need to work on obviously!

Another Home Ed Group Meeting

2008-03-12T23:06:00.000Z

Well the second Wednesday of the month is our Home Ed Group Meeting, so off we eventually trot this morning to our Art and Nature group, this will be the fourth meeting. Today's topic was Easter, so littlest H coloured in some eggs and found a bunny punch to use to add some coloured bunnies with lots of glue to her egg. She then (with mummy's help!) put the paper that had punched out bunnies all around the outside onto a coloured piece of paper. Then using stamps and Easter sticks made a nice picture in the middle. All in all not bad for a 3 year old! Most impressive was the fact that mum (me) was able to control herself and not try and control H and her creativity too much!!! I do tend to do that but was able to sit back and let H do more than normal. She thoroughly enjoyed herself.

K, the eldest, made some lovely flowers out of tissue paper and put them into a polystyrene cup as a vase. She then made an Easter basket and made a lovely chick tag to attach. She only needed a little assistance when it came to the sellotape situation of trying to stick the bottom of the basket to the sides.

Now as for A, well as I had had littlest H with me that did mean that he did not have my full attention, in fact as it turns out - he had none of my attention. But thankfully a couple of other mums helped him and he also made an Easter basket and a lovely flower (which he sweetly presented to me!), and two pictures that he made with a mixture of stamps and punches.

This week was a good month for the Home Ed Group!

The kids had two friends from the group come back to the house to have lunch and play for the afternoon, so that was our day today!

Our Quiet Week

2008-03-07T15:46:00.003Z

We have had to take a time out week. One for me to evaluate how things are progressing and to try and get up to date with all the paperwork the kids are now generating. We have also sat and had a family meeting where we talked about the character building and forming "good habits". So it was decided by the kids that they like shcedules and tick off sheets and rewards so I was left to devise something! Ahhh!!! Was my first thought, but as usual the internet comes to my rescue and I found the following: Character and habit training cards So far so good, have been using them for a week now and the kids are definitely improving.

The kids have managed their own "education" this week. They know where all their shcedules and timetables are printed out in their folders and they have completed their own readings (or in A's case has brought the book to me to read) They then did their narrations to either their dad or to me. So although they have not completed everything they have doen well for themselves. I was even asked to photocopy their English workbooks so they can carry on.

They have been loving Get Squiggling on cbeebies, and even A is drawing so much better after a fortnight and we get more than just soliders and castles now!!! But my door where we put up all their pictures is not coping with the volume, so another folder had to come into operation - their own individual folders for colouring etc!

So now I have been and purchased the Homeschool Tracker plus as I am so fed up of trying to type up the kids schedule every week, I just have to spend about a month trying to get it all sorted out! Am not too good with new packages until I have used them for ages. That is the plan for me for the next week, trying to get the scheduling sorted out on HS Tracker Plus.

The kids weekend plans involve going to their BB/GB tonight, then Stanah Squirrels in the morning and apart form their own things they are going to reply to their penpal letters. Well that is for the older two of course! Youngest is just pottering around doing all her own fabulous things!