Abi and Aaron have plodded on with little prompting from me this week to get their work done. Aaron did a Latin lesson, started a new Reading Comp book (Guiness World Records) which he loves, read books, practiced cursive writing, completed 5 maths lessons, used the computer for looking up rainforest spiders, a history lesson and spelling sentences and test as well as a maths test (times tables). Abi did 10 math lessons, her new "We Believe" Grade 6 books (given to us by the church) in place of reading comprehension which she finshed last week, a history lesson, read numberous novels, spelling sentences and test.
I started giving them Pokemon cards as a reward for reading books about a year ago. Aaron still needs this motivation and so was happy to earn 4 cards this week! I think he has gotten the reading bug finally. Abigail read several books as well, so also got pokemon cards but I just gave her a few (she reads too many books for me to keep up with her in cards). I would have thought she had grown out of them by now but apparently not. I think she uses them as bargaining power over her brother. They ususally wake up in the morning and read for an hour before they jump out of bed. It is nice and allows me a chance to grab a coffee.
Our Horrible Histories books arrived and we love them! I glanced through them and found myself unable to put them down. They are so much fun to read. Abi read, "Bloody Scotland" from start to finish in about an hour. I saw Aaron reading, "Cut Throat Celts". I read, "Loathsome Londoners". We still have plenty more, 16 in total plus 3 science books, which should keep them entertained for a couple of weeks I hope.
For part of their lessons, I usually give them the watered down kid's version from Sunday's lesson at church. This week there was an activity for them to do! They had to draw a garden and then stick cut outs of weeds on it that were labelled with a personal problem they had. Each weed was to respresent something that might interefere with their relationship with God, a sin or something of that nature. The idea is to notice the weeds in your own garden before picking others. Over the course of the week they can remove weeds if they feel they've improved or add weeds if they discover more. Naturally my little angels couldn't think of a single weed they might have! After some thinking Aaron came up with, "not studying my times tables" halleluha! He never thought of another one. Abi can tend to me our "little miss perfect" in her mind so I had to help her along. Aaron suggested "shouting" for one of her weeds. He was also just trying to help. She eventually wrote that one down but refused to put anymore in her garden as it would make it ugly. I suggested "talking back" to which she responded indignantly, "I don't talk back". Hmmmm. My weed, okay one of many I probably have but the only one I shared with them was, ashamedly, cursing, to which they both agreed whole heartedly. Little toe rags.
Independently, Abi has begun sewing. I say independently because I don't sew. I actually despise it so therefore am keeping out of it so as not to spoil her fun. She buys material at Goodwill in the form of big girl clothes and cuts it up to make new clothes. Since Walmart quit carrying bolts of fabric there is but one fabric shop locally and it has very little on offer for a very dear price. She got one brand new $35 blouse for $2 at Goodwill! This is her own little venture and she spends all of her own money on it. I am quite proud of her. She has made several tops, hair bands, skirts, gloves, socks etc for herself and clothing for her brother's stuffed animals - the Meerkat that now wears a tie is my favourite. All of her clothes have her "label" in them that she has made. At this point she is sewing by hand. I have a sewing machine that my optomistic husband once bought me. She can have it as far as I am concerned when she is ready.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
I survived the Harry Potter Movie!
We survived the midnight Harry Potter Movie, I even stayed awake - nearly dozed off a time or two but pushed through.
Initially there was some sort of problem with the film. The trailers were upside down, then they were righted but split in the middle. People started to get angry. There were 2 theatres showing Harry Potter. Someone announced that the movie was melting in the other theatre. Abi began to cry and stated that this was the worst night of her life! I thought there may be a mob developing and I knew Abi would be at the front. I tried to keep her calm and make her see the funny side to no avail, this was a catastrophe in the makings. People really started to grumble and, as I listened for the gunshots, nothing came so presumably they got the other theatre's movie spliced and up and running. Ours never came through with surround sound but they sorted our split screen out and it was no longer upside down so we could handle it. It was rather quiet without surround sound so if you were careful not to chew your popcorn too loudly you could hear the movie. The grumbling eventually came to a rest and you could have heard a pin drop it was that silent, everyone was so focussed on the movie.
It was good, really good. Afterwards, I overheard some pre-teen girls in the restroom say that they had brought their wands but should have brought their "real" wands. If only they had, they might have been able to sort all of the confusion out I guess was their thinking. I had to laugh. They were dead serious.
Outside the theatres there was a blood bus asking for donations. We saw a man stumble out who had just donated. He was completely drunk, falling down drunk. I wonder who will get his blood? Poor soul.
We got home and got to bed around 3.30am! Abi and Aaron were shattered the next day but I think we made a good memory that night. They will always remember the time Mom and Dad took them to a "midnight" movie! I am thinking this means they could make "midnight mass" at Christmas?
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Harry Potter geeks and more homeschool.
We are going to the midnight showing of Harry Potter tonight! Abi has been counting down the hours since we booked our tickets on Sunday. She is so excited. Like not normal excited. She cannot eat. She's had butterflies in her stomach all week. She isn't going to the bathroom either. It is not natural. She even covers her ears and hums if someone mentions the movie is tonight. I think she is slightly autistic. She made Harry Potter posters on Tuesday.
Aaron is excited as well, but not to the nth degree like his big sister. Justin started us out on the Harry Potter madness years ago so he is excited. I am looking forward to it but shall probably fall asleep as it is midnight to 2am or something ridiculous like that. I haven't been up at midnight in years. I usually don't even make New Year's.
So, being the concerned mother that I am, I have given Abi a lot of school work this week - to take her mind off of things, snicker snicker. She completed 10 lessons in Year 4 math as I have decided not to bump her ahead to Year 5 early. What's the rush I thought? Plus she is starting to get sloppy and make mistakes in her arrogance. Best to keep her humble me thinks. We finally pulled out the Latin books and DVD. She is not sure why she was reluctant to do the next lesson because it turned out to be soooooo easy peasy. She is more than halfway through the Latina Christiana book. She finished her Reading Comprehension book earlier this week so we are stuck for English/Literacy. I've ordered 16 Horrible Histories books so we'll be delving into those soon.
Aaron got through 5 online maths lessons this week. I've found multiplication games on the computer for him to play as well. Hopefully some of it will be memorized before long. He finished his Reading Comprehension book today which he's been working through since January. He has been working on his weekly spelling words and sentences. He even did some in cursive. He enjoys writing in cursive and does a very good job of it, much better than I ever did at his age.
We haven't been able to go out on the sailboat. It is either much too hot or much to wet. Heavy rains every day which make for humid temperatures even when it isn't raining. They don't seem that bothered about the sailing though which is a bit of a worry. I got this boat for us to use, for them to sail. I hope they become more enthusiastic about it once we take her out eventually. I just hope we don't have anything go wrong on their first trip, like engine failure and we get stuck out in the heat or rain. That could really put them off. Unfortunately we don't have a bimini over the cockpit. Neither one of the ones we have for other boats will fit it properly. So we are going to be rather exposed to the elements. But we won't let that stop us. arrrgggh. Summer school sailing ..... maybe next week will be better weather.
Aaron is excited as well, but not to the nth degree like his big sister. Justin started us out on the Harry Potter madness years ago so he is excited. I am looking forward to it but shall probably fall asleep as it is midnight to 2am or something ridiculous like that. I haven't been up at midnight in years. I usually don't even make New Year's.
So, being the concerned mother that I am, I have given Abi a lot of school work this week - to take her mind off of things, snicker snicker. She completed 10 lessons in Year 4 math as I have decided not to bump her ahead to Year 5 early. What's the rush I thought? Plus she is starting to get sloppy and make mistakes in her arrogance. Best to keep her humble me thinks. We finally pulled out the Latin books and DVD. She is not sure why she was reluctant to do the next lesson because it turned out to be soooooo easy peasy. She is more than halfway through the Latina Christiana book. She finished her Reading Comprehension book earlier this week so we are stuck for English/Literacy. I've ordered 16 Horrible Histories books so we'll be delving into those soon.
Aaron got through 5 online maths lessons this week. I've found multiplication games on the computer for him to play as well. Hopefully some of it will be memorized before long. He finished his Reading Comprehension book today which he's been working through since January. He has been working on his weekly spelling words and sentences. He even did some in cursive. He enjoys writing in cursive and does a very good job of it, much better than I ever did at his age.
We haven't been able to go out on the sailboat. It is either much too hot or much to wet. Heavy rains every day which make for humid temperatures even when it isn't raining. They don't seem that bothered about the sailing though which is a bit of a worry. I got this boat for us to use, for them to sail. I hope they become more enthusiastic about it once we take her out eventually. I just hope we don't have anything go wrong on their first trip, like engine failure and we get stuck out in the heat or rain. That could really put them off. Unfortunately we don't have a bimini over the cockpit. Neither one of the ones we have for other boats will fit it properly. So we are going to be rather exposed to the elements. But we won't let that stop us. arrrgggh. Summer school sailing ..... maybe next week will be better weather.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Boat School
This morning Aaron got up and went straight to his Reading Comprehension. That out of the way, we contemplated going for a walk. It was too hot already at 9.30am. Instead, we got out all the lego - normally he'll play in the cockpit with lego but I felt sorry for him in that heat so he took it all inside the boat and lego were all over the salon floor. Abigail woke up a around 10am and got straight to helping Aaron with lego building.
Aaron had breakfast, yoghurt and orangic cereal. Then he made his bunk (without being reminded to!) Later he did some maths online.
Abigail did her maths and Reading comprehension whilst I went to the post office and the shops this afternoon. I love that! I never said a word to her about getting on with it! She is not an early bird so therefore didn't even start until after lunch. She first woke up, fed the monster in her belly and then built lego spaceships with her brother until she was awake enough to do "boatschool". Unfortunately most of her math work was wrong. I haven't told her yet. But, I think she was just in a hurry or something because when I looked at last week's work she had done everything right. She was in a hurry to go play outside me thinks. Neither one of them started their spelling assignments but that is fine. It is only Monday and I won't panic that it won't get done by Friday because I have seen from these past 2-3 weeks that they do get through all of the work if I just let them do it in their own time. I did however feel the need to mention that it is a new week and therefore new spelling words!
I am watching the weather for a good window to take them out on their sailboat. We have gone from bush fires to daily monsoons! It is quite the wrong time for nice winds I suppose but we only need a little bit to get this one going. She is a lovely 1970 Pacemaker, 22' , perfect for them to learn on and for me to have a refresher course. I am not planning to be the "captain" or anything like it. I want them to feel this is their boat and give them the freedom to sail her as they wish. It would never do to teach them on passage because usually we just want to get where we are going and not go around in circles! Add to that the fact that Yebo is quite a bit larger than their sail boat and it just isn't a good one for them to learn on.
We really need to check her bilges with all this rain we have had. I can see her on the opposite dock and she doesn't look low on her waterlines. I don't have an automatic bilge pump for her well, unless you count the kids!
Welcome to the Catholic Church!
Yesterday I went through the Rite of Welcoming at St Monica's Church. It was really cool. Father Ignatius called me up to the front of the church, I stated my name and my intention in the church, "to receive full communion with the Catholic Church". I didn't mess it up! Then Father, Karen (RCIA) and my sponser, Tracy made crosses on my forehead. Next Tracy alone made the sign of Christ over my ears, eyes, lips, shoulders, heart, feet and entire body. It was such a lovely ceremony. I believe it is from St Patrick's breastplate of armour in Christ prayer - I am not entirely sure. Then Tracy put a wooden cross around my neck which I am to wear until confirmation in a few months time. I was given a Bible which was blessed by Father Ignatius. I left before the Eucharist behind Karen and behind the "Book of the Gospels" in front of the entire church. The entire church was part of the ceremony and had speaking parts as to encourage me in my journey. I felt as though I was getting married again. Then Karen and I went to the Hall to "break open the word" and study the reading for the day. It was so fitting for me yesterday as it was from the book of Matthew and about having eyes and ears to hear Jesus's messages and parables. I felt wonderful. Tracy gave the kids a lift home and I went on to the praying alone and together group - which is part of the catechumenate I have to go through before communion. It is a really wonderful group that has deepened my prayer life.
Later I came home and told Justin all about it. Ever the supportive hubby, he had offerred to be there for me but I thought he would just feel uncomfortable and I would probably have been more nervous. So, I told him all that happened. It was sort of a strange day as it was also the anniversary of my sister's death. Now I will always have a nice memory for that date as well.
My ever sensitve hubby knows I can be a bit wierd on that day. In fact the night before I was sick - not sure if I was really sick, or if it was just nerves or emotions running me down. But anyway, we made an impromptu decision yesterday afternoon - quite a special thing for J - to go to take the kids to movies. We had a lovely time watching Transformers. We ate chocolate covered nuts and raisins and popcorn. It was really nice.
My Dad once said to me that time doesn't really heal our hurts, we just get used to living with the pain of loss and I think that he is right. It has been 24 years since my sister died and I can still feel that paing of heartache sometimes stabbing me as though it was yesterday. I felt selfish this year with my worries because Justin has only just lost his father, only 1 month ago. His grief is still very much present but he is learning to live with it. What else can we do? I wonder if my father-n-law has met my sister? I am sure we see those we love again in heaven but do we get to meet the loved ones of our loved ones that we have never met? I like to think that they have met anyway. It makes me smile to think of that.
Later I came home and told Justin all about it. Ever the supportive hubby, he had offerred to be there for me but I thought he would just feel uncomfortable and I would probably have been more nervous. So, I told him all that happened. It was sort of a strange day as it was also the anniversary of my sister's death. Now I will always have a nice memory for that date as well.
My ever sensitve hubby knows I can be a bit wierd on that day. In fact the night before I was sick - not sure if I was really sick, or if it was just nerves or emotions running me down. But anyway, we made an impromptu decision yesterday afternoon - quite a special thing for J - to go to take the kids to movies. We had a lovely time watching Transformers. We ate chocolate covered nuts and raisins and popcorn. It was really nice.
My Dad once said to me that time doesn't really heal our hurts, we just get used to living with the pain of loss and I think that he is right. It has been 24 years since my sister died and I can still feel that paing of heartache sometimes stabbing me as though it was yesterday. I felt selfish this year with my worries because Justin has only just lost his father, only 1 month ago. His grief is still very much present but he is learning to live with it. What else can we do? I wonder if my father-n-law has met my sister? I am sure we see those we love again in heaven but do we get to meet the loved ones of our loved ones that we have never met? I like to think that they have met anyway. It makes me smile to think of that.
Friday, July 8, 2011
It is funny how I need to write. I feel like I am coming out of a cacoon. I once had no trouble bearing all on our website but now, I am in hiding. Yes it is ironic as I am on the world wide web hiding. But I am hiding from my website and all the people that I know are over there reading it. I cannot write to an audience because that taints what I have to say. I discovered that that was exactly what had happened. Also, I suppose a bit of writer's block? I just had nothing to say because we were no longer "sailing" and "cruising" and living this so called wonderful life that we had carved out for ourselves. So, what the heck does that mean? Did we stop living our lives for 4 years whilst living on smaller boats fixing up the next boat for our adventure? Yes, in a nutshell. Well, I did.
I have really struggled these past 4 years. Constantly battling to gain balance between living life in the present and waiting for life to begin in the next phase of our "adventure". I somehow lost myself. I also found myself. Because I now realise that all we truly have is right this minute. My father says, "if you don't like something, change it" which is not easy advice. Even if it is something you want to change, you cannot be so selfish. Choices made as a husband and wife and choices made as a family, are something all must consider. I have learned a lot about myself during these difficult times. Sharing a 28ft boat with 2 kids, hubby and a cat has brought out the worst in me for sure at times. I am not a saint. I have definitely moaned about our situation. My husband and children can attest to that. But I have also learned that I can do it, I can just do it happily or begrudgingly. The only thing we have in our grasp of control is our own self, our own happiness. I have wondered if I was being cheated out of my wants. But, I don't think so. What I really want is to not "want" anything. But just to be me and to be happy and to give love and happiness to others. I have realised that I do like a few things that bring me great comfort. They are...happy kids, happy husband, music, great food, nice scents and health, oh and running water!
Whenever I visit family or friends I find I get the "grass is greener" syndrome. I wonder what it would be like to have that house and the kids off at school and just be normal. It isn't that I really want it but I do think that it is probably easier from a mental stand point. Someone once blogged that living aboard is like a full time job. Yep, I have to agree with that. But perhaps a house is the same with its maintenance and day to day running and what not. I find that I long for a few more articles of clothing or shoes to choose from and then I come home and realise all I need fits in my rubbermaid box and I am content. Simplifying the outter self should theoretically simplify the inner self. However, that old needs vs wants fight starts all over again. Putting the theory to practice is an ongoing process. In order to simplify our lives, things have gotten quite complicated here at this marina and boatyard. We are now the king and queen of several aquired dinghies, 2 boats, 5 sheds, 2 vehicles (1 of which died some time ago) etc.
After a recent sobering, saddening, heart breaking loss in our family, we have come back to a get r done attitude. I think my husband was probably going through something these past 4 years that I will never understand. His battle to keep motivated, pacify the wife, deal with sugar spikes, make the money etc. was his own battle. He glimpsed into my little hell from time to time (homeschooling in a tiny boat, drunks and hookers as neighbors) and I glimpsed into his. It feels as though now, at this time, we are together again, all in the same boat working toward that final destination. I have decided that it is part of my DNA the, the desire to have a house. I am woman, I must nest and it is part of his DNA to seek adventure, he is man, he must hunt. So, once I have a floating home again on Yebo and we are out sailing we should both be very happy for it! I am planning to steer a course to the UK after a stint in the Caribbean. Because one other thing I have learned is how much I miss family and feel the need to be closer to them. I wish we could all be on 1 continent but that is never going to happen.
I have really struggled these past 4 years. Constantly battling to gain balance between living life in the present and waiting for life to begin in the next phase of our "adventure". I somehow lost myself. I also found myself. Because I now realise that all we truly have is right this minute. My father says, "if you don't like something, change it" which is not easy advice. Even if it is something you want to change, you cannot be so selfish. Choices made as a husband and wife and choices made as a family, are something all must consider. I have learned a lot about myself during these difficult times. Sharing a 28ft boat with 2 kids, hubby and a cat has brought out the worst in me for sure at times. I am not a saint. I have definitely moaned about our situation. My husband and children can attest to that. But I have also learned that I can do it, I can just do it happily or begrudgingly. The only thing we have in our grasp of control is our own self, our own happiness. I have wondered if I was being cheated out of my wants. But, I don't think so. What I really want is to not "want" anything. But just to be me and to be happy and to give love and happiness to others. I have realised that I do like a few things that bring me great comfort. They are...happy kids, happy husband, music, great food, nice scents and health, oh and running water!
Whenever I visit family or friends I find I get the "grass is greener" syndrome. I wonder what it would be like to have that house and the kids off at school and just be normal. It isn't that I really want it but I do think that it is probably easier from a mental stand point. Someone once blogged that living aboard is like a full time job. Yep, I have to agree with that. But perhaps a house is the same with its maintenance and day to day running and what not. I find that I long for a few more articles of clothing or shoes to choose from and then I come home and realise all I need fits in my rubbermaid box and I am content. Simplifying the outter self should theoretically simplify the inner self. However, that old needs vs wants fight starts all over again. Putting the theory to practice is an ongoing process. In order to simplify our lives, things have gotten quite complicated here at this marina and boatyard. We are now the king and queen of several aquired dinghies, 2 boats, 5 sheds, 2 vehicles (1 of which died some time ago) etc.
After a recent sobering, saddening, heart breaking loss in our family, we have come back to a get r done attitude. I think my husband was probably going through something these past 4 years that I will never understand. His battle to keep motivated, pacify the wife, deal with sugar spikes, make the money etc. was his own battle. He glimpsed into my little hell from time to time (homeschooling in a tiny boat, drunks and hookers as neighbors) and I glimpsed into his. It feels as though now, at this time, we are together again, all in the same boat working toward that final destination. I have decided that it is part of my DNA the, the desire to have a house. I am woman, I must nest and it is part of his DNA to seek adventure, he is man, he must hunt. So, once I have a floating home again on Yebo and we are out sailing we should both be very happy for it! I am planning to steer a course to the UK after a stint in the Caribbean. Because one other thing I have learned is how much I miss family and feel the need to be closer to them. I wish we could all be on 1 continent but that is never going to happen.
Faith and School
I had to rehearse this morning for the Rite of Welcoming into the Catholic church. This Sunday I make the big leap. It is funny how I have ended up here but completely right for me. I am really happy. I still have a few months before I am totally accepted into the church and can partake of communion or Eucharist. I have arranged for the kids to be with me but not left alone to freak out in their pew when I go up to the front. They will sit with Tracy, the head of the CCF and my sponser. She is great. Hopefully, I will remember the 2 lines I have to say to the priest and not do anything stupid.
We read the rest of Tom's Midnight Garden today, that took about an hour and half of our morning. I gave spelling tests and both of them passed this week so therefore have won an hour of game time. Yesterday I spent some time going over Abi's math work, grading some of it as well. She is having such an easy time of it that I went ahead and tested her for the year, which she scored very well on. We will jump ahead to year 5 work. I probably should have done this a few months ago but it really isn't a bad thing for her to have done extra repetition in the stuff she is learning. It just solidifies it more for her I think. Aaron finished year 2 maths, for which I tested him and he passed with flying colours. He has now begun Year 3 maths and so far has enjoyed completing his lessons interactively online. I will have to print out some lessons however to be able to present something to the school board if they should ask (but they probably never will).
They have both gotten on with their math and reading assignments in their own time lately. They know what needs doing and just do it. It is rather wonderful not having to hound them to do it. They may not do it first thing but they get to it. They take breaks when they need to and still get it done. It has made for a much more harmonious school day! I wish I would have trusted them to do that ages ago.
Aaron has spent a considerable amount of time drawing up his new Pokemon over the last few days. Abigail helped him arrange his pictures in a new folder he bought especially for them. She also reorganised his Pokemon cards in another new folder (I bought him a new one as his old one broke and it really wasn't his fault). She loves to organise things and Aaron loves to get help! It is nice to see them working together on things. She made up some little cards for his card file of his new Pokemon as well which he is very happy about.
We read the rest of Tom's Midnight Garden today, that took about an hour and half of our morning. I gave spelling tests and both of them passed this week so therefore have won an hour of game time. Yesterday I spent some time going over Abi's math work, grading some of it as well. She is having such an easy time of it that I went ahead and tested her for the year, which she scored very well on. We will jump ahead to year 5 work. I probably should have done this a few months ago but it really isn't a bad thing for her to have done extra repetition in the stuff she is learning. It just solidifies it more for her I think. Aaron finished year 2 maths, for which I tested him and he passed with flying colours. He has now begun Year 3 maths and so far has enjoyed completing his lessons interactively online. I will have to print out some lessons however to be able to present something to the school board if they should ask (but they probably never will).
They have both gotten on with their math and reading assignments in their own time lately. They know what needs doing and just do it. It is rather wonderful not having to hound them to do it. They may not do it first thing but they get to it. They take breaks when they need to and still get it done. It has made for a much more harmonious school day! I wish I would have trusted them to do that ages ago.
Aaron has spent a considerable amount of time drawing up his new Pokemon over the last few days. Abigail helped him arrange his pictures in a new folder he bought especially for them. She also reorganised his Pokemon cards in another new folder (I bought him a new one as his old one broke and it really wasn't his fault). She loves to organise things and Aaron loves to get help! It is nice to see them working together on things. She made up some little cards for his card file of his new Pokemon as well which he is very happy about.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Happy 4th of July
4th of July I still had the kids do their schoolwork. They are only 1/3 American anyway so I figure it was fair. After they finished maths and reading we joined in the marina bbq. Abi and Aaron had a water bomb fight with the other kids. Then we came home, chilled out and watched the fireworks from the boat - didn't even have to leave the dock, convenient.
Today, Aaron and I went for a walk in the sweltering heat. We need the exercise but I think that 10.30am is definitely not the best time to go for a walk in the July. We will try to go earlier in the morning or perhaps in the evenings. We talked about weather, birds and some mushrooms we spotted. We came home cooled off in the a.c. and he proceeded to start his lesson in Reading Comprehension book (unprompted by me). He finished his maths year 2 so I will give him his test online later today. He read some of his Pokemon magazines. We have been reviewing multiplication tables over the weekend and I quizzed him on some more during breakfast today. I think he has a few more learned by heart. This morning he created a new Pokemon and illustrated it. He had to ask me or Abi how to spell a lot of words so that he could describe his newly created Pokemon dragon, Fang. Funny how he makes sure to spell his Pokemon descriptions correctly but could care less about the words I give him for the week.
Abigail read all morning. She is already through the dozens of books we got at Goodwill last week and asking to go again. I may take them this afternoon. Then she started creating comic sketches about a little bird character. She is calling it, "Birdie". She has illustrated and written them out beautifully. They are really cute and funny. She is now taking ideas from Aaron and I for sketches. I am leaving her to get on with her work at her own pace, as long as she covers 2 lessons of math and 1 lesson of Reading Comprehension I'm happy.
I have the Sunday lesson from church as they didn't go this past week. Too tired from Aaron being up late with one of his migraines. I will go over that with them sometime today or another day this week. Depending on if they come up for air from their studies. They are just very happy and content with what they are doing now and I don't like to interrupt that.
We read some more of Tom's Midnight Garden over the weekend. It is such a wonderful book and we are all in suspense. It is great modern children's literature as compared to, say, for example, Lizzy Macquire rubbish. You have to be careful what you read these days because everyone thinks they can write children's books and sure, they may be able to write, but that doesn't make it worth reading or worth bearing the grammatical errors, my personal petpeave.
I found a great deal on a history resource this morning on ebay. It is the DK Eyewitness History of the World cd rom which, together with shipping, cost me on $4.30! Woo hoo. I love getting a good deal. I still haven't been able to find the Horrible Histories books for a reasonable rate but now there is no rush. Once we finish our Calvert History of the World book we can use the DK cds for a bit plus the BBC history website. History resources are covered for the forseeable future I feel but I would still like those Horrible History books. They just look as though they would be quite entertaining.
Today, Aaron and I went for a walk in the sweltering heat. We need the exercise but I think that 10.30am is definitely not the best time to go for a walk in the July. We will try to go earlier in the morning or perhaps in the evenings. We talked about weather, birds and some mushrooms we spotted. We came home cooled off in the a.c. and he proceeded to start his lesson in Reading Comprehension book (unprompted by me). He finished his maths year 2 so I will give him his test online later today. He read some of his Pokemon magazines. We have been reviewing multiplication tables over the weekend and I quizzed him on some more during breakfast today. I think he has a few more learned by heart. This morning he created a new Pokemon and illustrated it. He had to ask me or Abi how to spell a lot of words so that he could describe his newly created Pokemon dragon, Fang. Funny how he makes sure to spell his Pokemon descriptions correctly but could care less about the words I give him for the week.
Abigail read all morning. She is already through the dozens of books we got at Goodwill last week and asking to go again. I may take them this afternoon. Then she started creating comic sketches about a little bird character. She is calling it, "Birdie". She has illustrated and written them out beautifully. They are really cute and funny. She is now taking ideas from Aaron and I for sketches. I am leaving her to get on with her work at her own pace, as long as she covers 2 lessons of math and 1 lesson of Reading Comprehension I'm happy.
I have the Sunday lesson from church as they didn't go this past week. Too tired from Aaron being up late with one of his migraines. I will go over that with them sometime today or another day this week. Depending on if they come up for air from their studies. They are just very happy and content with what they are doing now and I don't like to interrupt that.
We read some more of Tom's Midnight Garden over the weekend. It is such a wonderful book and we are all in suspense. It is great modern children's literature as compared to, say, for example, Lizzy Macquire rubbish. You have to be careful what you read these days because everyone thinks they can write children's books and sure, they may be able to write, but that doesn't make it worth reading or worth bearing the grammatical errors, my personal petpeave.
I found a great deal on a history resource this morning on ebay. It is the DK Eyewitness History of the World cd rom which, together with shipping, cost me on $4.30! Woo hoo. I love getting a good deal. I still haven't been able to find the Horrible Histories books for a reasonable rate but now there is no rush. Once we finish our Calvert History of the World book we can use the DK cds for a bit plus the BBC history website. History resources are covered for the forseeable future I feel but I would still like those Horrible History books. They just look as though they would be quite entertaining.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Spelling Blues but Reading Day rocks!
After a bit of breakfast we went to the thrift shop (our local library). We always go there instead of the library now because paperbacks are 50 cents! This beats late fees at our local library and the selection is much better. Also, our local librarians really dislike children so it is a really unpleasant library indeed. We bought several reading books for under $10 plus a top for Abi and a giant Union Jack to fly on Yebo for when we eventually go to the UK by boat! Hoorah!
I was happy to find some books I can use for teaching, the Dorling Kindersley, Physics and Chemistry Visual Dictionaires as well as a DK Birds around the World Identification book. I found a couple of rather boring looking geography and history books tucked away and shoved to the back of one shelf upside down. Apparently Abigail had found them before me and decided they didn't look interesting so hid them from me! The cheek of it! However, I had to agree with her that they looked incredibly boring. So, I will try to get some of the Horrible Histories books when I can find them on Ebay.
We came home and had lunch. Abigail helped me make turkey sandwiches which is a very big deal because just a few weeks ago she didn't and wouldn't help me with making lunch and I really needed her to because of having put my back out.
For the next 6 hours they read their new books! Aaron is still enjoying Garfield and Pokemon comics and Abigail is reading something she found to be a follow up on a series she was already familiar with, "The Tail of Emily Windsnap". I read 2 chapters of, "The Mutiny on Board the HMS Bounty" aloud to them. They actually went on the replica HMS Bounty 5 years ago but they don't remember it. It made a big impression on me at the time and I think this book will be enjoyable for all of us. This one is by William Bligh - I read one before for myself that was no an autobiography and it didn't paint Bligh as particularly nice. It will be interesting to see how Bligh's own book tells the same story. The truth will probably be somewhere in the middle of these two books. The one I will read aloud to the kids is one of the Great Illustrated Classics and abridged I think. I can't remember all the other books they chose but I think there was a Captain Underpants and an RL Stine. They love choosing their books and I know they'll read them if they like them. I just have to weed out any innapropriate ones before we check out. Today there was 1 Lizzy Macguire book (I just don't like her because of the focus on vanity and the books are poorly written) and one book Aaron found about a criminal vampire that is trying to survive and curses a lot - it looks good but not for the kiddies.
I got them each a new folder, Goodwill had a brightly colored gheko folder that Aaron liked and Abigail got a colourful hearts folder. Amazingly, for a boy who doesn't like to write... he has just spent a good 2 hours writing and filling up his folder with information about dinosaurs that he has drawn, studied, traced, researched and written about, together with maps and charts from different periods in history! All on his own volition, I love it when that happens. Writing his spelling sentences was like torture to him last night but today he happily writes out an entire report basically on dinosaurs and what he knows of them. I once considered unschooling which I soon decided couldn't work for us. We do have days that we call "unschool days" whereby there is no book learning but I myself and both of my kiddos need and want more structure to our lives than a full on radical unschool method would allow. It is at times like these that I wonder now, would he be able to write that report on dinos if I hadn't tortured him with spelling?
Spelling tests were not so good today. They both handed in their spelling words, together with their stories they had written using their spelling words. But there were mispellings on paper and during the oral test I give them so no game time today. They usually do poorly when they have been away from it for a while so I half expected it. Next week, they will study more and do great but today I am the meano mom.
Math and Reading Skills books haven't been touched yet today but I told them that they could do them tomorrow (Saturday) as long as they did them before any weekend game time began. Sometimes you have to go with the flow and I have enjoyed the peace and quiet this afternoon. Ahhh, reading days rock. Latin I am confident we will get to next week!
I was happy to find some books I can use for teaching, the Dorling Kindersley, Physics and Chemistry Visual Dictionaires as well as a DK Birds around the World Identification book. I found a couple of rather boring looking geography and history books tucked away and shoved to the back of one shelf upside down. Apparently Abigail had found them before me and decided they didn't look interesting so hid them from me! The cheek of it! However, I had to agree with her that they looked incredibly boring. So, I will try to get some of the Horrible Histories books when I can find them on Ebay.
We came home and had lunch. Abigail helped me make turkey sandwiches which is a very big deal because just a few weeks ago she didn't and wouldn't help me with making lunch and I really needed her to because of having put my back out.
For the next 6 hours they read their new books! Aaron is still enjoying Garfield and Pokemon comics and Abigail is reading something she found to be a follow up on a series she was already familiar with, "The Tail of Emily Windsnap". I read 2 chapters of, "The Mutiny on Board the HMS Bounty" aloud to them. They actually went on the replica HMS Bounty 5 years ago but they don't remember it. It made a big impression on me at the time and I think this book will be enjoyable for all of us. This one is by William Bligh - I read one before for myself that was no an autobiography and it didn't paint Bligh as particularly nice. It will be interesting to see how Bligh's own book tells the same story. The truth will probably be somewhere in the middle of these two books. The one I will read aloud to the kids is one of the Great Illustrated Classics and abridged I think. I can't remember all the other books they chose but I think there was a Captain Underpants and an RL Stine. They love choosing their books and I know they'll read them if they like them. I just have to weed out any innapropriate ones before we check out. Today there was 1 Lizzy Macguire book (I just don't like her because of the focus on vanity and the books are poorly written) and one book Aaron found about a criminal vampire that is trying to survive and curses a lot - it looks good but not for the kiddies.
I got them each a new folder, Goodwill had a brightly colored gheko folder that Aaron liked and Abigail got a colourful hearts folder. Amazingly, for a boy who doesn't like to write... he has just spent a good 2 hours writing and filling up his folder with information about dinosaurs that he has drawn, studied, traced, researched and written about, together with maps and charts from different periods in history! All on his own volition, I love it when that happens. Writing his spelling sentences was like torture to him last night but today he happily writes out an entire report basically on dinosaurs and what he knows of them. I once considered unschooling which I soon decided couldn't work for us. We do have days that we call "unschool days" whereby there is no book learning but I myself and both of my kiddos need and want more structure to our lives than a full on radical unschool method would allow. It is at times like these that I wonder now, would he be able to write that report on dinos if I hadn't tortured him with spelling?
Spelling tests were not so good today. They both handed in their spelling words, together with their stories they had written using their spelling words. But there were mispellings on paper and during the oral test I give them so no game time today. They usually do poorly when they have been away from it for a while so I half expected it. Next week, they will study more and do great but today I am the meano mom.
Math and Reading Skills books haven't been touched yet today but I told them that they could do them tomorrow (Saturday) as long as they did them before any weekend game time began. Sometimes you have to go with the flow and I have enjoyed the peace and quiet this afternoon. Ahhh, reading days rock. Latin I am confident we will get to next week!
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