February!!!

It has been such a busy season for visitors.  We love having visitors and I think we counted about 10 overnight visitors in the 6 months we have lived here!!  That's amazing.  It got to the stage where the boys would wake up and say "who is coming today Mum?"  Funny.  It has been a bit of a struggle to get back to routine though but now we are back to no visitors and obviously we miss everyone and want them to come again.  Such is life.

It's been a while since I posted, so I am thinking this will turn out to be a long post that rambles from one topic to the next and includes heaps of photos!!  Here goes:

School is back in full swing for us.  We are finishing off "Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons".  The boys are reading well now but we still have about 15 lessons to go before we complete the book.  After that we will move onto First Language Lessons and Writing With Ease. 

We are pressing through with our Math curriculum but we may well switch before too long.  One of my boys really needs manipulatives to help him along a bit.  We've heard great things about Math-U-See so that may be where we go next.  My boys are still so young so I am really letting them set the pace and not expecting them to complete pages and pages of worksheets each day. 

I need to focus on Character Study for my boys also.  We've noticed a few behaviour issues that I really don't want to become a habit, so I really want to focus on working with the boys regarding patience, obedience, not arguing, and also having a good work ethic.  They are old enough now to be able to remember simple chores.  The laziness habit is trying to show its ugly head ("it's too hard", "I'm tired") so we are going to nip that quickly also.

Anyway, on a personal note, I've been reading some great books lately and one which really made an impact on me was 'Reshaping it All' by Candace Cameron Bure.  It's not that I had lots of weight to lose or anything like that but I find that I eat out of habit.  I am not conscious of the things I am putting in my mouth sometimes.  I'm not being religious about it but I am just noticing my decisions and using will power.  For instance I will stop half way through a meal and check whether I am satisfied (not full, but satisfied).  Most of the things in the book I knew already, but for some reason it just clicked with me and it has been the tool for me to change the way I approach food.  I am already noticing a change in the way my clothes fit, so that is a nice extra.  I want to keep this up!!!  So I probably should put some encouraging verses and quotes from the book around the house for me to remember and apply.

Ok, so let the photo deluge begin.

Yay to be able to tick things off the plan!!

Note to self - do not turn your back when a 3 year old has a marker.





So amazed that Eddie was able to complete this.  He had no help whatsoever.

Eddie and Sasha won prizes for the library's summer reading competition.  So proud.

And the mobile librarian knew we had three boys, so asked the library for another prize for Isaac.  Showing off his watch.  Sorry about the scary eyes!!!

Our excitement for the day.  Rescue chopper lands across the road.  Always attracts a crowd.

Cameron has a couple of weeks off after this rotation.  During this time we will be able to celebrate his sister's birthday, Sasha's birthday and our anniversary.  Good times.

Belated Happy New Year greetings to you all,

Week in Review

EDIT - Am having trouble uploading photos at the moment, so will post our pictures from the week at another time.

It is probably almost two weeks in review, but since my last post we have implemented those two specific changes (being 7.00am wake up, and starting school work) and it has been great.  The boys body clocks are starting to adjust to it and even wake naturally at that time.  The odd morning I still need to wake one of the boys up, but otherwise it is working well and bedtime is happening more smoothly again.  The only down side is when I don't get enough quiet time in the morning before they wake (which has happened the last two mornings).  I have had a fairly positive attitude towards it but come the afternoon and I am struggling.  I guess that is what goes on the list next week - SET THE ALARM.
As for school work, it has been going great.  The only officicial curriculum I am using at the moment is Maths and we are using Rod and Staff.  This has been great and although I don't follow the script exactly (my boys tune out with too much repetition) we all love it.  I am trying to introduce them gently, as they are still very young, so I am not pushing them to do all the worksheets that are given for review.  I get them to do one or two in the lesson and the rest I will keep for an activity during a lull.

We have been struggling a bit with behaviour issues this week and I put it down to TV watching.  We are going to have to ban it for a while and test our theory, which I'm secretly mourning because it is the one time that I get to sit down and have a cup of tea in peace.  Even though they don't watch too much TV, within half an hour of watching something they start acting up, stirring each other and fighting.  It's just not worth even a half hours' reprieve if it turns into chaos and strife.

So next weeks' changes are: 

1. No TV time for the boys;
2. No computer time for me while the boys are awake (unless Cam is home and out with the boys);
3. Alarm for Mummy to rise and have quiet time and coffee before the day starts (and perhaps exercise eventually can be added!!)

Here's to a good week.
Blessings,

Small Steps

Well, I think it's happening.  Momentum.  Discipline.  Mojo.  Whatever you like to call it, I feel like I'm starting to get back to my normal planning self and I LOVE IT.  It's been so weird not being able to wanting to plan.  Even when I have wanted to, my mind has been cloudy and jumbled so I just put it off for another day, and another...

As regards to homeschooling and how we run our house, let's face it - I am a routine kind of gal.  And that's ok.  Go with the flow works for some (and I secretly envy them) but it really doesn't work for our home - at least not on a permanent basis.  So as of tomorrow, it is back to routine for us (a grace-based routine anyway). 

Some things that will be changing are:

1. waking the boys up instead of letting them sleep in til whenever!  At the moment I have been leaving them and just getting breakfast for them whenever they wake.  One will wake at about 7 or 7.30 and then the other two are 8 or 8.30.   From now on wake up will be 7.00am.  We are finding that the boys are not settling for bed until very late.  Even though they are in bed and lights out by 8, they are still awake and need refereeing often until 9.00pm, which doesn't leave much couple time before I fall asleep from exhaustion!!  Hopefully this change will help.
2. As regards to school - just doing it really.  I've spent so much time researching and planning that there comes a time to actually implement it.  I know my boys are young and don't really need much school but to be honest - they want it.  They want to do the worksheets and "do school" as they call it.  My main focus though will be on teaching to read.  Obviously that is the key to every thing else, so we'll work on that

Our school room





Our school table

 



I am finding that since we have put up this calendar and the boys change it each day, they have a better sense of time because they can visualise the days and count them off (except when they ask how long they have to wait til their birthday and they've only just had it!!!)

Hoping for a wonderful week.

Blessings,

Brag Book

Although not very computer savvy (ok not at all), my Mother is a little excited at the idea of this blog, because she gets to see pictures of her grandchildren more often.  So, this one's for you Nanna (and thanks Dad for showing Mum how to view this).

A few pictures from the last few days at home.  We have had extremes in weather this week.  Monday was unbearably hot and found us camped out in the airconditioned bedroom.  Tuesday found us also inside but because of the rain this time, closing windows because the breeze was too cold - definitely not complaining.

Isaac playing Barrel of Monkeys - remember that game??

Eddie took this photo - pretty clever hey?

Just because we found leftover Christmas crackers



Isaac playing Play Doh without eating it (that is leftover lunch on his face)



Computer time (love Sasha's look of concentration)

Eddie playing golf (a belated Christmas present received this week)

The boys playing Guess Who in the air con (they LOVE this game and we are asked to play on a daily basis)

There you go Nanna, there are my cherubs.  The great thing about starting this blog is that I get my camera out more often.  Definitely love capturing my men at work.

Bless you all,