Woke up this morning and we had running water, electricity, ac going and all was normal and as it should be on the boat. I like when that happens!
Aaron and I cooked breafast together - eggs and bacon (cooking lessons). Abi began her work early today and was done by lunch time. She managed 2 lessons of math (yay). It was a lot of word problems and such. Then English - reading skills book, 1 lesson. She finished reading Harry Potter and started another novel, The London Eye, a mystery for kids. Aaron did 1 math lesson (lots of multiplication and division revision), 1 reading skills lesson and they both covered 2 chapters of history with me just reading the history book aloud.
Our history book, A Child's History of the World, is such a great read. Today we learned about the first printed book in Europe and that sparked a lot of talk imagining what life would be like without books, newspapers, magazines. We also read about Christopher Columbus and I learned a bit more about him than I knew before.
I let them off Latin for today as we chatted about history for quite a while. It seemed too much to fit in more book work. Aaron is reading National Geographic Kid's Almanac 2012 this afternoon. He is sad because Ashton went home and is no longer at his Papa's next door. He says he can't even be bother to splash in the puddles outside now (it is raining). Woe is me. I still need him to get his spelling sentences done for Friday test tomorrow.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
No Water on the Boat, arrrrggghhhh
Today we woke up to no water on the boat - plenty of water outside the boat but no "running" water in the boat. Rather frustrating as this has been a problem off and on for a few weeks. So, instead of the usual routine of school we had to make other plans.
After I had a good melt down in true tantrum style, throwing the coffee container into the sink (it is plastic but it broke when I put it in the sink with a little force, oops and more to clean up now). I am at my wits end here with 4 years of waiting to be on our big boat and have space to swing a cat, I got Aaron to help me with the dishes. We toted them up the dock to a faucet/tap in our wagon and washed everything there. There was also no water last night on the boat so we hadn't got those dishes done from dinner, and there was quite a pile of em. We came back to discover that Abi's clothing that was left on the floor after her shower yesterday morning, was coated in something rather curry smelling. Apparently the curried chillies we brought back from England without having a single drop leak in our baggage decided to leak out of our fridge and onto her clothes which were on the floor outside the fridge. Turns out, Abi had actually put the curried chillies in the fridge on their side, big mistake. And why her clothes were there instead of in the laundry, only Abi knows. Those curried chillis will leak at the best of times. I hand washed and soaked her clothes (favourite things from England) then handwashed and soaked my shirt I was wearing when I cleaned her things because it also got curry on it.
Eventually the kids got their breakfast around 10.30am. Aaron was in a hurry today so that he could go play with Ashton. He got through his Math, Reading Skills and some spelling but once again we didn't do History since it seemed cruel to make him after all his help with dishes this morning had delayed our day.
Abi started her work after lunch and eventually got done around 5pm. She mangaged 2 lessons of math - hoorah! I don't know how she would keep up with 11 subjects in the UK. Reading skills and spelling work she also got through.
Tomorrow we will do Latin and History - I am probably being a bit ambitious but we have to catch up a bit.
This evening it is storming and we need to go to the stuff mart as we seem to be out of everything plus we need something for dinner. Justin replaced the water pump around 2.30 this afternoon. I got to have a shower so can now actually be seen in public and bettter get moving. I am starving. There wasn't enough bread or mayo for mom to have lunch so I have just had 3 coffees. I wish we could go out to eat as it is already so late.
Hoping tomorrow goes more smoothly than today.
After I had a good melt down in true tantrum style, throwing the coffee container into the sink (it is plastic but it broke when I put it in the sink with a little force, oops and more to clean up now). I am at my wits end here with 4 years of waiting to be on our big boat and have space to swing a cat, I got Aaron to help me with the dishes. We toted them up the dock to a faucet/tap in our wagon and washed everything there. There was also no water last night on the boat so we hadn't got those dishes done from dinner, and there was quite a pile of em. We came back to discover that Abi's clothing that was left on the floor after her shower yesterday morning, was coated in something rather curry smelling. Apparently the curried chillies we brought back from England without having a single drop leak in our baggage decided to leak out of our fridge and onto her clothes which were on the floor outside the fridge. Turns out, Abi had actually put the curried chillies in the fridge on their side, big mistake. And why her clothes were there instead of in the laundry, only Abi knows. Those curried chillis will leak at the best of times. I hand washed and soaked her clothes (favourite things from England) then handwashed and soaked my shirt I was wearing when I cleaned her things because it also got curry on it.
Eventually the kids got their breakfast around 10.30am. Aaron was in a hurry today so that he could go play with Ashton. He got through his Math, Reading Skills and some spelling but once again we didn't do History since it seemed cruel to make him after all his help with dishes this morning had delayed our day.
Abi started her work after lunch and eventually got done around 5pm. She mangaged 2 lessons of math - hoorah! I don't know how she would keep up with 11 subjects in the UK. Reading skills and spelling work she also got through.
Tomorrow we will do Latin and History - I am probably being a bit ambitious but we have to catch up a bit.
This evening it is storming and we need to go to the stuff mart as we seem to be out of everything plus we need something for dinner. Justin replaced the water pump around 2.30 this afternoon. I got to have a shower so can now actually be seen in public and bettter get moving. I am starving. There wasn't enough bread or mayo for mom to have lunch so I have just had 3 coffees. I wish we could go out to eat as it is already so late.
Hoping tomorrow goes more smoothly than today.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Protest Tuesday
Already the protests and it is only Tuesday!
Got up this morning 8.00am and had breakfast, cereal with yoghurt. Then we got to school stuff around 9am -9.30. Aaron got through his math work with a little help from me. He never studies his multiplication table and it shows so I've challenged him to make a real effort as some of the harder ones aren't yet memorized. He whizzed through Reading Skills today as there were no sentences for him to write out and that pleased him! Halfway through however, his buddy Ashton came knocking on the boat to play. Ashton attends public school and is out for summer now, which could pose a problem for our schooling through summer me thinks! With ants in his pants, Aaron finished up his Reading Skills/Comp book and quickly read through his spelling list and promised to be home by 5 to make a start on spelling words- it isn't due till Friday- so I let him go. He has spent his afternoon fishing, trading cards and riding bikes with Ashton and another boy - I get updates when he comes in to grab a cold drink and he is off again. There aren't ususally kids around that much during the school months except for Ashton and even then he only comes to the marina for a couple of hours after school. He and Aaron would ususally play then but we would also be finished with our work by that time. I am sure Ashton will be knocking on our boat at 7am as he is spending the night with his Papa in the boat slip next to us.
Abigail spent her morning on my laptop following a website that teaches how to draw. She must have drawn a dozen animals - they are actually pretty good and she tells me that they were fairly easy to do. She also went on a couple of astronomy websites (her favourite subject at this time). Then she did a bit of her Reading Skills/Comp book and finally, with a lot of procrastinating and whinging, she moved on to math. Ughh, I don't know if she is going to be able to do 2 pages a day. I would like her to but maybe it is too much for her. She is good at math but it really irritates her. She has to use her brain a lot more than is required of her in English, Reading, Spelling or art. She knows the stuff but has a hard time concentrating sometimes and other times none at all, very wierd. I guess we will just have to see how we go. Tonight i'll see if she will help me make the chicken & pasta and salad as it's her turn on galley duties anyway, although that normally consists of just setting and clearing the table as well as drying the dishes for me.
This afternoon Abi and I are just chilling out in the boat trying to keep cool. She is reading Harry Potter ...again and I am looking up homeschool in the UK information as well as what year 5 and 6 math have in store for Abi.
We were supposed to do history today but Abi did astronomy so I let her off the hook and Aaron took off to play with his mates so I guess it's History tomorrow?
It is already after 4 o'clock. I have no idea where the day goes.
Got up this morning 8.00am and had breakfast, cereal with yoghurt. Then we got to school stuff around 9am -9.30. Aaron got through his math work with a little help from me. He never studies his multiplication table and it shows so I've challenged him to make a real effort as some of the harder ones aren't yet memorized. He whizzed through Reading Skills today as there were no sentences for him to write out and that pleased him! Halfway through however, his buddy Ashton came knocking on the boat to play. Ashton attends public school and is out for summer now, which could pose a problem for our schooling through summer me thinks! With ants in his pants, Aaron finished up his Reading Skills/Comp book and quickly read through his spelling list and promised to be home by 5 to make a start on spelling words- it isn't due till Friday- so I let him go. He has spent his afternoon fishing, trading cards and riding bikes with Ashton and another boy - I get updates when he comes in to grab a cold drink and he is off again. There aren't ususally kids around that much during the school months except for Ashton and even then he only comes to the marina for a couple of hours after school. He and Aaron would ususally play then but we would also be finished with our work by that time. I am sure Ashton will be knocking on our boat at 7am as he is spending the night with his Papa in the boat slip next to us.
Abigail spent her morning on my laptop following a website that teaches how to draw. She must have drawn a dozen animals - they are actually pretty good and she tells me that they were fairly easy to do. She also went on a couple of astronomy websites (her favourite subject at this time). Then she did a bit of her Reading Skills/Comp book and finally, with a lot of procrastinating and whinging, she moved on to math. Ughh, I don't know if she is going to be able to do 2 pages a day. I would like her to but maybe it is too much for her. She is good at math but it really irritates her. She has to use her brain a lot more than is required of her in English, Reading, Spelling or art. She knows the stuff but has a hard time concentrating sometimes and other times none at all, very wierd. I guess we will just have to see how we go. Tonight i'll see if she will help me make the chicken & pasta and salad as it's her turn on galley duties anyway, although that normally consists of just setting and clearing the table as well as drying the dishes for me.
This afternoon Abi and I are just chilling out in the boat trying to keep cool. She is reading Harry Potter ...again and I am looking up homeschool in the UK information as well as what year 5 and 6 math have in store for Abi.
We were supposed to do history today but Abi did astronomy so I let her off the hook and Aaron took off to play with his mates so I guess it's History tomorrow?
It is already after 4 o'clock. I have no idea where the day goes.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Back to School Work
Abi read National Geographic and Harry Potter this morning of her own volition. We sat down and did some math work together. I managed to grade some of the work she'd completed a couple of weeks ago and all looked good. I am encouraging her to do 1-2 worksheets a day to get up to year 5 sooner. If she keeps it up she can start Year 5 in about 1 month. We should have already started it a few months ago. She is working on her drawing skills now, also on her own volition. However, some of it is on her body! She drew a lovely flower down her leg and a heart on her arm. Thankfully, she has moved on to her sketch book. Next is IT skills and then her reading skills/comprehension which I don't anticipate her doing until this evening.
Aaron started his day with Lego and Ninjago activities and is now working through his Reading Skills book. He dislikes it because it takes him a long time to write answers to the comprehension questions. English is not his cup of tea. Math he whizzed through this morning and has 4 more lessons to complete year 2. He spent an hour on the computer which is a big thrill and treat for him.
The two of them created some Lego videos a few weeks ago. Today we uploaded them onto YouTube - they feel professional now!
Yesterday we went to church and I have no idea what they are getting out of that but I think they must be getting something good. I certainly am. They definitely enjoy the breakfast after church there is no question about that. Yes, I bribed them to go in the beginning and now it has become a routine. The breakfast is only $3 per person and the money goes to help others so I don't mind.
Last night Abi helped fold and put away laundry, set the dinner table and make a salad for dinner. Aaron helped clear up for movie night. We watched Red Riding Hood and it was quite good.
I am thinking Abi should start French or Spanish once we complete the Latin book. French would help her in the UK should she go to school there.
Aaron is planning to go on the computer today and learn about bats.
I am happy that the book learning is back because then we have something to show for our efforts. We had about a 2-3 week break with all the recent news from the family and travelling. I want them to do a bit of Latin later this week each as well.
On the boat - The Danish Carpenter is here today to give an estimate for woodwork on Yebo! I am thrilled!
Aaron started his day with Lego and Ninjago activities and is now working through his Reading Skills book. He dislikes it because it takes him a long time to write answers to the comprehension questions. English is not his cup of tea. Math he whizzed through this morning and has 4 more lessons to complete year 2. He spent an hour on the computer which is a big thrill and treat for him.
The two of them created some Lego videos a few weeks ago. Today we uploaded them onto YouTube - they feel professional now!
Yesterday we went to church and I have no idea what they are getting out of that but I think they must be getting something good. I certainly am. They definitely enjoy the breakfast after church there is no question about that. Yes, I bribed them to go in the beginning and now it has become a routine. The breakfast is only $3 per person and the money goes to help others so I don't mind.
Last night Abi helped fold and put away laundry, set the dinner table and make a salad for dinner. Aaron helped clear up for movie night. We watched Red Riding Hood and it was quite good.
I am thinking Abi should start French or Spanish once we complete the Latin book. French would help her in the UK should she go to school there.
Aaron is planning to go on the computer today and learn about bats.
I am happy that the book learning is back because then we have something to show for our efforts. We had about a 2-3 week break with all the recent news from the family and travelling. I want them to do a bit of Latin later this week each as well.
On the boat - The Danish Carpenter is here today to give an estimate for woodwork on Yebo! I am thrilled!
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Are they getting enough "school"?
Today the kids are schooling themselves really. They are devouring the new 2012 edition of National Geographic's Kid's Almanac. They have read and re-read the 2011 edition so this was a hit with them as well. Aaron has been busy with his Ninjago building and as well as Lego. Abigail read Harry Potter this morning.
I suppose they have had a lesson in emotions this week what with saying goodbye to their Oupa on Tuesday in England and today to our five stray cats we had to take to the Humane Society. Some things just aren't in a text book. There is certainly no mention of faith in US schools. This has been a week of prayer for me and I have encouraged them to do the same. There has also been a lesson in family and the value of family and importance of family relationships. We may not have discussed these matters formally but I know they felt it keenly when we had to leave their cousins, auntie, uncle and oumie in England.
During their week in England they built a myriad of contraptions with lego, jumped on a trampoline everyday, played at a couple of playgrounds, fed the ducks at a lake, tried new foods and spent valuable time with their family. Culturally they enjoyed tossing American differences in pronunciation back at their cousins, yoghurt, yawgurt, tomato, tomahto, crisps, chips, dollars, pounds, etc. Aaron took a wee interest in the wildlife there, noticing the different birds. Magpies which reminded him of mockingbirds he noticed first, later he noticed that there were no turles in the lakes (too cold). All of it just learning on the go.
Since our return on Thursday Abigail has taken out the maps and been studying the UK a bit as well as Europe.
This week we will get back to bookwork, maths, highly important to mom and the only time I feel as though they are actually getting enough school!
I suppose they have had a lesson in emotions this week what with saying goodbye to their Oupa on Tuesday in England and today to our five stray cats we had to take to the Humane Society. Some things just aren't in a text book. There is certainly no mention of faith in US schools. This has been a week of prayer for me and I have encouraged them to do the same. There has also been a lesson in family and the value of family and importance of family relationships. We may not have discussed these matters formally but I know they felt it keenly when we had to leave their cousins, auntie, uncle and oumie in England.
During their week in England they built a myriad of contraptions with lego, jumped on a trampoline everyday, played at a couple of playgrounds, fed the ducks at a lake, tried new foods and spent valuable time with their family. Culturally they enjoyed tossing American differences in pronunciation back at their cousins, yoghurt, yawgurt, tomato, tomahto, crisps, chips, dollars, pounds, etc. Aaron took a wee interest in the wildlife there, noticing the different birds. Magpies which reminded him of mockingbirds he noticed first, later he noticed that there were no turles in the lakes (too cold). All of it just learning on the go.
Since our return on Thursday Abigail has taken out the maps and been studying the UK a bit as well as Europe.
This week we will get back to bookwork, maths, highly important to mom and the only time I feel as though they are actually getting enough school!
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