Nov. 9, 2009 - Hospitality

Nov. 5, 2009 - It doesn't happen every day!

There are two incidents that have happened around here in the last week or so that I just shake my head over – it doesn’t happen every day – thankfully!  Let me tell…

The other day Pete had an early start to his day.  He was filling up with fuel at the 24hour BP at 3.00am.   As he was at the bowsers he felt the car drop down – he just thought the car was adjusting to the weight of the fuel but then the car started up and started to drive away on him.  He looked up and there was someone in his car – driving it away. Someone was stealing his car – and he was standing right there!!   He had the presence of mind to pull out the fuel hose, jump in the back seat and whack the gear stick into Park.  The car stopped.  He realised the woman in the car was so ‘out of it’ drunk that he got out of the back and walked around to help her get out of the car.  She was very drunk, very distraught and had no idea!!  Obviously she was still able to steal a car though.

I am personally very impressed with Peter's presence of mind.  I would have had no idea what to do.

Second thing happening in our life is that we have acquired a Bull – he’s not a pet bull, he isn’t even really our bull but he seems to like us.  Next to our farm there is a scrub block and it appears as if this bull has lived there quite happily for some time.  But he has since found our place and seems to like the company.  He has been right upto the house yard fence, grazes down near the chook shed, and today has been enjoying the shade of the mango trees.  We would like him to be gone!  He is very big.

Bull near our house yard fence

Bull grazing on old bale of hay down near chook shed and veggie garden

Bull near backyard play area

Nov. 1, 2009 - Going Grocery Shopping - a Training Opportunity

This week’s newsletter talked about training each of our children even though they are all at different levels of skill and understanding.  One of the ways that has worked for me is by breaking down a skill or moral truth into bite size pieces.  Each step is progressive and therefore each of my children can be working at a different stage and yet I keep my focus knowing that we are working on one thing at this moment in time.

An example of working with these progressive steps is going grocery shopping.  We do this every week; it is a fantastic training opportunity and yet we miss that opportunity because we want it over and done with real quick!  And yet the learning that goes on is huge. Here is a progressive list (it may not be exhaustive) that will move our children through grocery shopping training. 

• Stay in the trolley or pram
• Keep voices quiet, inside voices
• Hold onto the trolley, don’t leave mum
• Don’t ask for things!
• Greet people politely, say a big hello to the checkout lady
• Be patient if mummy talks to a friend
• Follow instructions, help mummy by getting things off the shelf (the right things, the things I need!)
• Help unload the groceries into the car, and then into the house and pantry once we get home.
• Go off by yourself and get 2-5 items (initially in the same isle, eventually in a different isle than mum)
• Understand comparing prices, understand quality for money
• Go off by yourself and do ½ the shopping
• Understanding the family budget and nutritional needs
• Go off by yourself and do the whole shopping

When I look at this progressive list I can immediately see what Daniel, my youngest, can achieve and what I can teach him next.  I can also see what training needs to happen for each of my children.  This means I go into my weekly task of grocery shopping ready to teach and practice and I come out knowing that each of my children have grown in this area of responsibility.

These are some character qualities that we can train towards while grocery shopping

• Obedience – do what I am told with a happy attitude
• Gratefulness – be thankful for the many blessings I have
• Respect – the other person counts
• Thriftiness – being wise with my money
• Responsibility – to be dependable in all that I’m asked to do

Yes, it is true, if we train our children while we do the grocery shop it will take longer, but in the long run you will have trained your children in a very valuable life skill.  But grocery shopping is just one situation in our day where we need to be training our children. 

Oct. 29, 2009 - Project: Christmas

freefoto

2 hours a week for 12 weeks -

Preparing for a relational, homemade Christmas -

Remembering Jesus!

I’m still revising my list on the run.  I've tweaked my plans this week so that they are in keeping with what I can in all reality achieve.  That is the purpose in starting so early - not only do you do your projects in small steps but you have plenty of time to tweak and change plans rather than rush around still aiming for the impossible as you run out of time.

Reviving my Christmas Tree:

I found some decorations to make for my tree from Martha Stewarts website.  I will have to tweak some of these ideas as I have a naive country decorated tree though some of these ideas will give the lift that my tree needs.

Ribbon around the tree – though I’m tempted to make the frosted fruit I know I won’t have time so I’ll just use the idea here of a ribbon threaded around the tree – I think I’ll look for a wide red ribbon with gold edges to match the rest of my tree.

Wooden shapes – vintage gold in colour.   This tree is all too frosty for an Australian Christmas tree but I’m inspired!    I have a lot of wooden shapes so I may just repaint a few to give a bit of a lift. Here are some instructions for painting wooden ornaments.

Beads – won’t the girls just love making these with me!

Button Wreathes – these are just perfect

Ornament hooks – this article reminded me that I need to make more hooks this year. This will be Daniel’s job – to make a collection of hooks ready for our tree decorating day.

I’ll also need to redo the cinnamon stick bundles and raffia bows that have crumbled over the last few years.

So now I need to make another Spotlight order.  It took me weeks to get around to making that first order!!

Other Ideas I came across:

I like this tree skirt but not sure I’m going to have time to make it.  Usually I have a strip of hessian crumpled up under my tree.

This idea reminded me to find the basket we usually have on the table with cards.  We like to share the letter together, then share our memories of these people with our kids (they don’t know the same people we do since we’ve lived here all their life) and we pray for our friends. 

I love this idea for packaging homemade cookies

My kids love garlands stretched all over the place – I don’t particularly like paper chains so here is a good idea – paper star garland.  A great math lesson to boot!

Now here’s something I didn’t’ know!

Still on my List to do

• Make another Spotlight order
• Checkout beads online and order some for our bead ornaments (girls also need a few beading bits and pieces for the beading they do)
  
• Get my newsletter address list made – might enlist Jessica’s help here
• Have decided no handmade gifts this year except for the two I’ve already started on and the baking I’ll do in December.  Off to the shops to find something else. 
• I still want to make gift tags but have a Creative Memories workshop this weekend so I’ll work on them then.
• I have two gifts still to organize for my family.  One I know what I’m doing – the other I am still searching for that just right gift.
• Though I am working on my Nativity scene quilt (which won't get finished this year) I have decided to work on a quick and easy project - 3 wise men applicqued in felt - for my Christmas project this year. 
  

Oct. 26, 2009 - What I’ve been doing

Last week was a very full week. 

• Monday we needed to spend most of our morning doing housework catch up.  The weekend was busy and this just needed to be done.  I also spent some time in the office while the kids worked on independent work.  Int he afternoon we had people travelling around Australia drop in.  We had so much to talk about – it’s like that when you meet people who are like-hearted.  The kids had a ball together including swimming in the channel till sunset.

• Tuseday we get together with another family for piano, math and character lessons.  For Character, it was more like a devotion this time, we discussed what we do all day and the challenge of doing it for the glory of God.  Math is just with the young boys and we worked on making a measuring jar (calibrated etc).  After a bit of catch up time we dashed home, had lunch and then headed back into town.  I had a dentist, Josh had 4-wheel-biking (I’m sure there’s a better word for this) with the boys he gets together with weekly, and the other kids had Christmas Carols Choir practice. 

• Wednesday we had some good lessons happen in the morning and in the afternoon we had friends around.  They are planning on homeschooling next year so we had lots to talk about.  We mainly talked about how discipleship homeschooling looks so different than traditional schooling.  It has its own set of priorities; the challenge is are we able to let go of what we know (traditional schooling) and work with the priorities that touch our children’s hearts.

• Thursdays Jessica has Mainly Music and needs to be in town around 8.15 to help set up.  Joshua stayed home to study.  I dropped all the kids off at the hall to help with set up and dashed around town doing a few chores.  Picked up the kids and went and did the grocery shopping.  I prefer to do the shopping before Mainly Music (If we leave home at7.00 it can be done by 8.00 if everyone pitches in) but that didn’t happen this week so the whole things takes a lot longer.  We stayed home in the afternoon, we resisted the temptation (for the kids surely were tempted) to invite kids over to play.  We needed down time, we needed together time.  We had dinner with our Bible Study group and then watched Facing the Giants together.

• Friday I spent the morning in the office, the kids worked on tidying up the house and then a little independent work.  Then in the afternoon we headed off to a friends house for our Homeschool Network meeting, which is a once a term meeting for homeschool mums to get together, to learn from each other, and to encourage each other.  This year our Network meetings have been based around listening to the Tips and Tricks DVD from Institute of Excellence in Writing which many of us are using or working towards.

• Saturday – oh to stay at home!!  I spent the morning in the office working on my newsletter and then finances.  Early afternoon I head into the kitchen to prepare dinner (we were having guests) and Jess reminded me that they had dentist appointments.  Just as we were about to rush out the door I remembered I had made an appointment for Nomi too so she quickly cleaned her teeth and off we went.  The dentist took longer than usual, plus Nomi’s appointment, so that certainly jammed up getting ready for our guests.  But we had a lovely evening getting to know these people who have just come to town.

• Sunday I was up early cooking as I was on morning tea at Church.  I talked to my mum while I worked in the kitchen – cooking the cakes and cleaning up from last night.  Then Pete and I cooked breakfast which we ate together out on the veranda as a family.  We love this family tradition.  Church.  A friend joined us for lunch but I left him and Pete to spend the afternoon talking as I worked on my planning for the week and a few other projects I’ve got happening.  Sunday night we considered going to the movies but we really just needed to stay home so we pulled out a Story Keepers DVD instead.  The kids have seen these stories before but I wanted Nomi and Daniel to know that these stories are based on truth.  Christians did die, they did need to meet in secret and the tunnels etc they see are a real part of Rome.

Whew!  What a week.  Far too busy.  We need to be at home.  We need to have some more quiet productive time.  I will have to guard my afternoon a bit better this week.  I need to remember that all good activity isn’t the best activity.  And though I don’t regret anything that we did last week I need to make sure that every week isn’t like that!

Oct. 21, 2009 - Handling interruptions

So often a homeschool mum, or any mum for that matter, asks – “How do you handle interruptions?” 

There are many things which cause interruptions to my focus time with my children.  These days it is likely to be the telephone or a household chore that needs doing but when the children were younger it was more likely to be a baby crying or nappy change.  When I have to walk away from my children, leaving them with the temptation to lose focus, fool around and cause major disruptions it helps to keep control of their choices and to have options.

Control their choices:  Just because you are not physically present does not mean your authority is not present (or can’t be).  Before you leave the room make it very clear what you expect of them.  Tell them what to do while you are away.  Eventually, as they grow up, you want them to be able to make this choice wisely for themselves, but during the training phase you need to show them what a wise choice looks like.  I remember studying Punctuality – which is using our time wisely, there was an aspect about using our unexpected ‘free’ time wisely.  This is exactly this type of situation – the child has some unexpected ‘free’ time – how will they use it.  Initially we need to direct their choices with the goal in mind that they will eventually make these choices for themselves.

Have options:  What do I tell my children to do?  Once again in our study of Punctuality we discussed that if they are left waiting for someone then they need to use their time wisely but still be ready to go when the person comes back.  This means going outside to play while Mum takes a phone call is probably not the best choice, neither is going into another room.  The best choice in this situation is to occupy yourself and yet stay in the area so you can see when things are ready to get back on track.  Reading books, playing with Lego, drawing, or playing with the doll house were the favourite things that I used to direct my children towards, these days they tend to read or work on their independent studies (something that they can drop quickly when I return).  The other thing I learnt was that it worked better if they all had individual, independent activities – this way WW3 didn’t break out while I was out of the room.

Oct. 20, 2009 - What does the Future hold?

Over at The Homeschool Lounge I am involved in a monthly, verse by verse study on Proverbs 31.   This month we are studying verse 21.

Proverbs 31:21  She is not afraid of the snow for her household, for all her household are clothed with scarlet.

When I first read this verse I saw two things

1. the physical
2. the spiritual

The physical realm

This mother, this woman was an industrious woman and this verse gives a glimpse not only to her industry but also a glimpse into her heart.  She is at peace as a consequence of her productivity. 

Snow is a harsh climate; it takes its toll on life, especially when you are not prepared.  This woman is prepared.  Her family are ready for whatever season is ahead, their clothing will keep out the cold, and they will be okay.  So too will her servants, all that live in her household. 

We have learnt from other verses in this passage that this lady didn’t just pop down to Target and buy these clothes, no, it took effort, she worked hard.  To get the colour scarlet was hard work – it was a process so it required effort, but it was also rare so therefore expensive.  She had worked hard to be able to afford this quality.

This woman had peace in her heart because she knew her family was looked after and safe from the elements.

What can we learn from this? 

1. It is my responsibility to provide for my family – I need to be aware of what their needs are, and ensure that things get looked after
2. It takes hard work to provide for my family
3. Though I may be able to pop down to Target I need to be diligent, and work hard, at using my money wisely. 
4. The reward of my efforts is not only the physical care of my family but there will be peace in my heart knowing I’ve done my job well.

The Spiritual Realm

As with a lot of things we can learn a spiritual lesson from a physical application.

Just as we don’t know what type of season we have up ahead – it could be a bad winter or a mild winter – we don’t know what is up ahead for our children.  We don’t know the society they will live in, we don’t know the challenges they will face.  And yet we have the task to prepare them, to dress them as it were so they will be able to live out the rough times.

Just as the woman in Proverbs 31 knew what her children’s needs where if they were to face the winter ahead, we too need to know what our children’s needs are, not only their physical needs, but more importantly their spiritual needs. 

• Do they need salvation?
• Do they need a personal relationship with Jesus?
• Do they need encouragement to follow Jesus?
• Do they need to become more and more like Jesus?

We have been called to be spiritual mothers to our children just as we have been called to be physical mothers.  We need to see them through their spiritual birth, we need to nurture them, we need to train them in spiritual things, we need to shoot them out to be workers for Christ just as we do all those things in the physical world.

The New Testament is always making the shift between the external, the things of the flesh, and the spiritual, the things of God all the time.  There are a couple of verses that talk about us putting on, or getting dressed, in the spiritual sense.

Eph 4:22-24  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds, and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

Eph 4:24  And that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness

Gal 3:27  For as many of you as have been baptised into Christ have put on Christ

We are also told to ‘put on the armour of God’ – to be clothed in truth, righteousness, gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the Word of God. (Eph 6:10-17)

Do our children put on the new man?  Do they put on their armour every day?

Now we can’t orchestrate their salvation – that is a thing between them and God. So what can we do?

1. We can pray for our children’s hearts
2. We can ensure that nothing in our life is a stumbling block for them so that they will see Jesus
3. We can be their teacher and disciple them in the ways of the Lord

The woman in Proverbs 31 was not afraid of the future.   What does the New Testament say to that –

Roman 8:15

For you have not received the spirit of bondages to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.

2 Tim 1:7

For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Once again there is so much to learn from the Proverbs 31 lady. 

• She knew the needs around her
• She knew it was her responsibility to meet those needs
• She worked hard to meet those needs
• She had peace in her heart because she had done her best.

There comes a time in all our lives that we are not in control – the woman in Proverbs 31 was not in control of her life.  She didn’t know what the season was going to be any more than you and I know for sure what is ahead.  And yet, she had done the things she was called to do – and she had peace in her heart.  I too will not be afraid of the future.

Oct. 17, 2009 - Time slips by so fast

Oct. 15, 2009 - Project: Christmas - Ahhh I'm behind

2 hours a week for 12 weeks -

Preparing for a relational, homemade Christmas -

Oct. 6, 2009 - Asking Questions as you Read the Bible

Oct. 5, 2009 - My Internet Reading lately

We need to watch the subtle messages that media gives us and our children.  This article points out a trend in romantic comedies - the author hits the nail on the head, she is so true.  Though my daughter (or son for that matter) don't watch many of these movies, not sure if they have even seen one yet, I was glad to have this trend brought to my attention as I certainly have seen plenty like this.  Read The Drunk - the new female tenderness

My daughter Jessica has been enjoying Jasmine's blog.  I read one of her latests posts and can see why Jess gets a lot from this young lady.  I'd recommend it for your teens to put on their blog reading list too.  Read A People Pleaser

Tea Tree used to be grown in this area and it has always interested me but I've never known how to use it other than a few drops in water when you want to bathe a cut.  Here is a list of uses for Tea Tree oil.  

Here is another link Jess found and shared with Joshua and myself:  Self control in a wired world  The challenge is so real - for teenagers and for mums!

As I play around with digital scrapbooking I am looking for free fonts.  Though the kids also use these on their notebook pages and making cards and personal stationary.

I have just found this list of writing prompts - a free download.  I have highlighted the ones that I particularly like and am going to give a copy to each of my children (in our family meeting today) for them to use as blogging prompts.  They may or may not use them but it may help them to write a variety for their blogs.  You could also use these prompts for daily writing exercises or journalling which we don't tend to do as we integrate our writing into as many subjects we can.

Oct. 5, 2009 - The End is in Sight

2009 is coming to a close – at least it isn’t very fair away.  Are you starting to panic?  Are you starting to push your children for no other reason than to get this finished?

Though we need to take stock and do all we can do to keep ourselves ‘on track’ we also need to remember a few things.

1. We need to stay ‘on track’ with God’s plans not our own.  We need to ask ourselves why do we feel we are not where we should be?  Have we been slack and therefore need the self discipline to pull up our socks, or have we simply been living life and stuff happens, learning happens but it happens differently than we planned.  We need to discern are we in a different place because other good learning has happened?  It would be helpful to list that other good learning to keep our focus on the right balance.

2. Learning happens 24/7, 12 months of the year, for life.  I was saying to my daughter just last night that I feel a sense of relief because of this mindset – she doesn’t have to know everything by the time she is 18.  She doesn’t have to know everything this year!  If I do my job well she will be able and interested in learning new stuff for the rest of her life.  I need to focus on what is the most important for the now and not be distracted with anything else.

3. Check my purposes – Am I pushing my child to finish just so we can tick it off as finished, just so we have something to show the moderator or grandparents, just so we can do the right grade level next year?  If this is our reasoning, then we need to reconsider.  Our goals should not be just to get the work done; there is no learning bonus in that.  The question we need to ask of a unit study, or class, or curriculum is – “Is my child learning?”  If there is learning happening then that is a great thing, if there is no learning then you need to consider your options but I doubt rushing through it will be one of them.

Interestingly, these three points have more to do with our heart as the parent than they do with the students work/study ethic.  We need to do a heart check.

The one other lesson that I remind myself of at this time is that just as lessons and learning aren’t dictated by ‘school hours’ neither is the discipleship lifestyle dictated to by the calendar year.  Just because the calendar changes from 2009 to 2010 there is no real cut off date that says we need to get things done by.  Life rolls on just the same.  Our children’s character, interests, and learning goals just roll on from one year to the next.  So I need to be true to my beliefs of discipleship and ask myself, “Why have I an end of year deadline in my thinking?”

Oct. 1, 2009 - New Pets

Sep. 29, 2009 - My Routine in Blocks of Time

My post yesterday on my new routine created a bit of discussion both online and via email.  I know I’ve said before, both on my blog and in my newsletter, that I use blocks of time and yet I still write up my day as if it is a schedule with time indicators (habits are hard to break).  So I am going to re-write that post to show what the day’s plans really look like. 

• I do use key times throughout the day to hang our activities on though these times are flexible, and often sway this way or that depending on the day.  We encourage the children to wake up at the same time every day, though there are exceptions.  We have lunch at the same time, roughly.  We close our day the same way and same time most days.  But what happens in between is directed by blocks of time rather than 1/2hour segments.

• My routine is more like a to-do list, rather than a schedule, each block has a purpose and a different ‘to-do’ list of its own.  My to-do lists sometimes get fully ticked off, sometimes things roll onto tomorrow.  Our goal isn’t to finish something, our goal is to learn, or create something.  This takes time, and it may take tomorrow!

• My day is arranged so we can have a balanced life, growing in all areas of life.  This is especially important if one child is having a struggle in one area of his life – he knows that the struggle will only be for a short time, and then he moves to something more enjoyable.

• My planning is so that we can use our time responsibly though interruptions, rabbit trails and opportunities often change my plans. My only guide is are these interruptions in keeping with what will benefit my family – or are they a distraction?  Opportunity vs distraction (there’s a whole new post!)

Personal responsibilities (approx 2 hours)

Get dressed, bedroom, personal devotions, breakfast, chores, exercise

Focus Time (approx 2 hours)

Including but not limited to:

Family devotions (we aim for 8.00-8.30am)

Family meeting

Bible Study (Nomi/Daniel)

Phonics/Reading (Daniel)

Independent work (Nomi, Jess, Josh)

Family read aloud (all kids)

My focus during this time is to be with the kids.

Productive Time (till lunch)

Including but not limited to (each child has their own passions and ideas to follow)

Painting war-gaming soldiers

Web building/html, Photoshop

Bamboo – Paint – drawing digitally

Lego, Pirate Lapbook,

Piano

My focus during this time is to work on my projects

12.30 Lunch this is one of those key times

Followed by chores

Individual time (1-2 hours)

Including but not limited to:

Reading

Free computer time (1/2 hour only)

Study

Productive projects

This is a time where the children don’t interrupt me; I work in the office or on a writing project.

Creative Time / Productive Time

My focus here is to be available to help the children with their projects

This is also the time we often leave the house for social commitments or town chores.

Free Relaxation Time

Down time that we all need

Read more about Routines - establishing them, maintaining them, being flexible

Sep. 28, 2009 - Change of Routine during school holidays

I have long since told my kids we don’t do school therefore we don’t need school holidays but… we find that life gets very busy during the school holidays catching up with friends who go to school, so we change our routine anyway. 

Our routine for the next two weeks will be

6.00am             Personal Responsibilities

8.00am             Family Devotions / Family Meeting

8.30am             Focus time – each child will have a different list of priorities here depending on their study schedule and pursuits.

9.30am             Morning tea and read aloud (Josh most likely will study for a bit longer than the others)

The rest of the day will be spent on either productive activities or social commitments.

Hopefully we will keep most outside the house activities to the afternoon as I have a few things that I want to work on.

10.00-11.00  Office work (including prep for next term)

11.00-12.30   Writing

12.30-1.30    Lunch / Chores

1.30-2.00       Rest

2.00              If we are at home these are my priorities:

* declutter for 1 hour

* Christmas crafts / gifts

* Scrapbooking

Of course, times are purely a guide - things rarely happen spot on time around here.

This is all Plan A – if we have to leave the house in the morning, well, we will.  We will see what happens!  The main reason I’d like to protect my morning routine is that we will have less of an adjustment getting back into our regular routine in two weeks time.

Sep. 28, 2009 - Project: Christmas, week 3

freefoto

2 hours a week for 12 weeks -

Preparing for a relational, homemade Christmas -

Sep. 28, 2009 - 5 Keys to Consistency

After reading Three Little Ladies weekly wrap up where she says her goal for the week was consistency in child training I got to thinking "how do we maintain consistency?"  Consistency is one of the biggest challenges to motherhood: it challenges all our efforts in training our children be it in character, lifeskills or academics.  Here are 5 keys, or steps towards maintaining consistency:

1. Assess the needs – know what you are working with
2. Make a plan – know how you are going to train your children
3. Set aside time – know when you are going to train your children (maybe stay home??)  Clear the decks from commitments so you can be focused
4. Live life with your kids – you cannot carry out any plan unless you are living in the same time/space world as your children
5. Reflect back on each day – so you can know what went well and what didn’t go so well, tweak things for tomorrow!  It is a new day tomorrow!
   

Sep. 28, 2009 - Weekly Wrap up, 27th September 2009

If you like the idea of a weekly wrap up, then join in over at

Three Little Ladies.

From the Heart:

A key lesson in our home this week was from 1 Corinthians 10:31  So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

I especially started thinking about relationship issues – you know, just the little niggles that go on in family life.  Whatever you do, (read – however you fix your niggles) do it for the glory of God.  How can how we relate to each other in our home bring glory to God?  So often the niggles come because someone wants to ‘fix’ someone else and yet Jesus told us to love oneanother – not fix one another – so to love each other (even in the midst of a niggle) will bring glory to God.  How?   Well, the only way we can love in the midst of a niggle is because of Jesus love to us and if we can pass that on to others, then we bring glory to God because we are not loving in our own strength but in God’s.  These are just some thoughts that I’ve been thinking about – haven’t shared them with the kids yet.  Waiting for the next niggle!

 

Our Week:

Our week was pretty busy.

Josh went to his first farmers meeting; the sandalwood growers had a meeting about mealy bug and how to deal with it.  It was a good experience for Josh to be in a meeting and report back to Peter the main points.  The key speaker was a little unsure about what a kid was doing at the meeting but that was soon set to rights by the farmers who knew Josh and knew about our homeschooling choices!  (I know I've already blogged about this but I wanted it in my wrap up as well!)  Josh had a second new experience as he went motor bike riding with a group of boys.  He came home covered in dust – an all over tan!  He ended up on a quad bike which he hadn’t driven solo before – he had a fab-time.

 

Jessica continues her singing lessons via phone or Skype.  Isn’t technology wonderful!  The girls had Keepers again this week (we do this fortnightly).  Jess and two of her friends are learning to sew, they’ve made shorts, and are now working on a shirt.  This week they learnt about interfacing and tailors tacking (marking).  Jess and I also continued in our planning a unique education together.  We sat down and looked at a list of interests/needs we created a few weeks ago, we looked at her timetable/commitments and worked out how her studies should proceed.  One thing that came out of this review was that her history wasn't working for her -she wanted something a bit deeper.  We've decided to keep Mystery of History but only as an overview and add extra reading to it as she goes along.  This may take longer but she feels she'll learn more this way.  I think it is a good step forward.

 

Nomi has been doing a lot of drawing on her bamboo mat (which is a large mousepad where she has a pen instead of a mouse and her drawing goes straight to the computer instead of paper.)  The more she explores and takes risks the better she is getting.   For Keepers Nomi and her friend helped a HS Mum look after some little kids – giving another HS mum the afternoon off. 

 

Daniel completed his math book this week (Math U See).  That was a big achievement for him.  Our focus for Daniel has been reading every day.  He has also started LEM Phonics workbooks as revision and consolidation.  He is doing so well with these, mostly working independently.  Daniel's commitment to his daily diligences (independent studies) is great - he gets in and gets it done every day.  Daniel is also working on maintaining some daily exercise.  The trampoline is his choice at the moment.

 

Friday was a child free day for me.  My friend had the kids for the day and I was supposed to get in and do a lot of office work.  That didn’t happen though I was productive.  I did a lot of cooking and pottering in the kitchen (I don’t seem to be as fast as I used to be!).  I also worked on my digital scrapbooking files, getting sorted ready for a workshop.

 

Family Happenings:

It was Jessica’s birthday this week.  15yo.  I cooked a most delicious chocolate mud cake, Nomi decorated one of the cakes (apparently it isn’t a birthday cake unless it is decorated!)  We had a pizza and games night where Jess invited family friends for the evening.  The little kids watched a DVD and the big kids played board/table games (some of the adults joined in).  It was a great family time.

Online Happenings:

You can now follow Lifestyle-Homeschool and/or this blog, Live life with your Kids on Facebook. 

Sep. 21, 2009 - Free time, used wisely

Today I talked to the kids about lifting their productivity levels.  I encouraged them that their free time needed to be spent on focused and purposeful activity.  I am always surprised at the things the kids do when movie/dvd time is reduced and the goal of productivity is put in front of them.

Today Nomi spent extra time on her Bamboo mat (drawing with a mouse).  It is a whole new art form to draw on the computer and she is improving all the time.   Nomi also sat down and got a robotic vacuum cleaner started for me.  It has been sitting in my cupboard for ages, thinking it needed programming – it didn’t!  So we’ll see how that works in the next day or two.  Imagine not having to push a vacuum cleaner - just what I need as we head into the Wet Season and all its bugs!

Daniel also spent some time on the computer but for him it was drawing a  treasure map using Microsoft Word and the autoshapes, lines, colour etc.  Daniel has also started a stitchery on plastic canvas of his own design.

Jessica spent time working on a project she’s got happening in organising a preschool activity in a bag swap with ladies in the community.

Joshua went to his first ‘farmers meeting’ representing his dad – as Pete couldn’t make it.  I think the ‘expert’ was a little disconcerted in seeing a kid there but Josh was soon introduced as a participant.  It is great having such a supportive community – none of the farmers who knew us, or Josh were the least surprised to see him there.  Though he assures everyone he has no intention of being a farmer (or a Vet!!)

We have been watching too many dvd’s of late (especially over lunch time and things just drag on after that) and since I cut that out today, there were times the younger two struggled to keep their focus on other projects but it was worth it in the end.

Sep. 21, 2009 - Project: Christmas Week 2

freefoto

2 hours a week for 12 weeks -

Preparing for a relational, homemade Christmas -

Remembering Jesus!

During the week I completed
* My budget thoughts

This coming week I need to work on:
* Completing my gift giving list (a few tricky ones still to think about)
* Plan Christmas party (date and guest list) plus add any other events that happen in December (Christmas Carols, Church services etc)
* Talk to Peter re family photo - do we want to do one?

If you would like a copy of my project list it is available as a free download.  If you are planning ahead for Christmas celebrations please leave me a comment and I'll come and visit your blog to see what projects you are working on.