Poke

Starting to see starts!

A New Kinda School

Well, the update is that home school is working for us. The first 1/2 of the year was a personal little hell for me and E, but we've reached a place where it's working and we're planning on continuing next year. I've had to be flexible in my ideas about what learning at home should look like. She's had to set aside ideas about what a teacher/student relationship looks like. And we're both determined to try harder. We want it to work, we see the areas we need to improve, we like our days together as a family. We set out each morning for 1 or 2 classes at our Resource Center where she's been attending Math, Life Science/Animal, Spanish, LEGO Builders Workshop, and a Gym class. She's also enrolled in the greatest YMCA combo class; 1 hour of gym sports and then another hour in the pool! Having activities in our day helps break everything up, and gets her and I geared up for learning at home. We also have made some really meaningful friendships with a particular family, and that has made all the difference!

Here she's helping to plot out our garden; Spring offers so much learning!

Garden Happy

Today was the day. Got together my seeds (thanks Jenn Hall), my accumulated toilet paper rolls (thanks Erica), soil, my dog and girl and set to work! IT was magic. All of us sitting in the sun, the chickens pecking around, and my hands in the dirt.

seeds!

filling tubes

everything organized

Even weeds are cheerful sometimes

Moll's

IC Giveaway!

Mosey on over and enter to win!

Etch

E's getting pretty good and using this thing, she etched our fair city.

Tea Party

No, we didn't go some swanky hotel, or fancy pants tea room, but look at this spread! E's girlfriend invited us over for a dolphin themed tea and lunch, and it was more than I ever expected! The girlies got dressed up in their fancy dresses, and had fun sipping on sparkling cider and tea, and we got a little serenade from the boys. Thank you Kaela and Jen!

Living Social + Red Cross

Donate now and Living Social will double your money toward the Japan Earthquake & Pacific Tsunami Fund through Red Cross.

Climbing the Walls!

My kid learns how to rock climb in school...

and she loves it!

8 Pairs of Underwear

Last week things got a little heated between E and myself, and at the end of the argument she was asked to go to her room. I retreated to the kitchen to resume supper preparations and the next thing I knew she had her backpack on and was solemnly explaining her plans for running away. I told her that it was dinnertime, and I think she should stay. She easily obliged and all was forgotten over the course of the meal.

This evening while I was tidying the kids' room while they were in the bath I found her backpack still full with the items she planned on taking with her. They are as follows:

8 pairs of underwear
6 undershirts
1 light weight warm-up suit (matching jacket and pants)
Her Leapster with a Star Wars math game
1 lavender fluffy bathrobe
1 old toothbrush
1 nearly empty tube of toothpaste
1 nearly empty bottle of children's anti-cavity rinse
dental floss
1 pair of Hello Kitty sunglasses
1 heart necklace charm
Her Library Card

Her little antics brought me back to when I was her age, didn't we all fantasise about doing things like this? I don't think I ever actually packed a bag, but I'm sure mine would have been full of coloring books and stuffed animals, nothing like; a toothbrush, or even 1 pair or underwear.

Paw Print

I found this from my youngest on Daddy's very dirty van.

Under the Weather

N is sick today.

When Dog Meets Park

 

We took Molly to the waterfront dog park this afternoon. It's still pretty chilly out, but you couldn't convince her it was too cold to go in the water. For being a desert dog originally, she sure has taken to our cooler and wetter climate around here. After sniffing around for a long while she was off with a group of dogs swimming after sticks!

Our Dolly, Molly

Here is our special girl, she couldn't be sweeter.