We saw Jupiter!

Last night was fantastic.
We all had a great time and we all saw Jupiter and three of her moons VERY clearly!

We arrived at about 7pm and had a bit of disaster in the education room. Bea was tired and dreadfully uncoordinated which led to her falling into everything! She fell over someone's feet and banged into the table that held all of the 'experimental displays'... (nails stuck to a bit of wood, a balloon with a stick in it and other stuff). The displays all went flying and I thought for a minute I was in a film with Frank Spencer. THEN she took a balloon off the display desk that had a skewer stuck through it. They wanted the balloon back! Mark tackled the balloon off her, but she still had a hold of the stick... the balloon deflated and sank down to earth with a sad little 'ttteeeeeeee'. I wasn't there when this happened but when Mark told me I thought it was hillarious. I don't think the physics peeps were too impressed though! Ce la vie eh. If you run an event that Bea can turn up to, expect there to be a bit of turmoil!!!

As for the star gazing... we had a good look at Orion's Nebula - amazing, then we had a good look at Jupiter - literally 'out of this world'. Sylvie could have stayed there all night, she was totally fascinated. It was great and we'll be going back on Saturday night.

We read owl moon again today and 'Owl Babies' and also 'Ozzy Owl' which led to discussions about hibernation and 'What Animals do in the Winter'. We've also painted our planets and talked loads about what we saw last night. I'm not even dressed yet but today has been smooth and relaxed so I'm not bothered. The fire's on and the girls are watching a film while I figure out what we're doing this afternoon. I broke the printer yesterday, (eeeek) which is highly annoying as I could be doing with using it. Nevermind eh.


Making a start with the papier mache.


Bea painting her rainbow planet!





Bea's rocket! I gave her a couple of colours of watercolour paint and encouraged her to clean her brush and dry it between colours so that she doesn't end up with a muddy mess. She did really, really well.

FIAR Owl Moon

Well today we've started rowing 'Owl Moon' in a big way and we're all loving it.

I've thrown the Steiner style rhythm we were trying to hold on to out of the window and I've gone with the, 'yes, I have a plan for the day but it's flexible and things can happen as and when they need to throughout the day' kind of feel. As a result we've had a jolly good time and it's been stress free! I'm not feeling vaguely uptight - it's a miracle!

I've read the girls Owl Moon a couple of times in the past so they know the story which meant I wasn't hung up about reading to them before doing any activities this morning. We went straight for the jugular and started making paper owls! Very lovely activity. Gentle, calming and easy. Sylvie added more detail to hers than the other two did which was nice. It's good to see the different ages and stages and how they can gel together so well.
After that we looked at a lovely book about baby owls and then Sylvie drew some gorgeous white, fluffy baby owls! We listened to owl sounds on the Internet then we looked through a book about Owls that uses lots of stickers. It's excellent actually, very informative. I'll be posting some photos next so you can see what it is.

We've made soda bread and lentil soup for lunch and now - as the house is such a tip that we can't possibly find the space to start anything else, we're going to go for a walk to the pet shop!!

If I can find a packet of balloons that my finances will stretch to, (I've only got about a pound in my purse) we'll use them to make papier mache moons with this afternoon!!! I love how book 'Owl Moon' can lead to so much learning. It's really exciting!

Wish us luck!
Oh, and this eveing, if the weather's OK and it's not too cloudy, we're off to the Wetlands Centre to do some Star Gazing... this seems to fit well with the days activities. Can't wait!!

Right, where are my trousers.........................

Something for the Weekend

Pussycat Pussycat where have you Been?

We called at our local RSPCA centre on Sunday to see if they had any moggies that needed a new home. Whilst there, we met the newest member of our family, Elliot. Sylvie called him Elliot - first of all she thought 'Rainbow' would be a good name, but she soon changed her mind, thank goodness.
It's been a mixed bag of a week so far.
Elliot has brought out Sylvie's loving, nurturing side like nothing I've ever seen! She adores the cat and I'm glad to say this seems to be reciprocated! He cuddles up to her, he sleeps with her, he follows her around the house and they're so happy in each other's company.
The RSPCA do lots of paperwork and a home visit before they allow you to adopt an animal so we weren't able to bring him home until Monday, (they moved really quickly!!!). Since then, Beatrice, my little bundle of impulses and urges that she acts on at will has really started to take notice when we say, 'leave him, Bea, he's trying to have a rest' or when it's obvious to 'us' that he doesn't want any company. I was worried that it would be the chicken scenario all over again, however, she's showing signs that she's growing up and grasping an understanding of when to touch and when not to touch which is a relief.
Annabelle's adorable with him, but needless to say, a bit rough. She pushed him off the back of the sofa this morning which was a bit of a shock! It's so cute when she strokes his head and says hello in his face and he doesn't seem to mind one bit!

He's very long and very skinny. When he's in the kitchen he begs for food and tries to get into the rubbish bags even though there is food down for him. We're wondering if he's had to scavenge for survival in his past life and that's why he's still underweight. Best not to think about that, eh. He's a happy little soul and we're glad that he's found his way here!

Welcome Elliot!!!!
I'll post some pics later.

All of a huh

I feel a bit challenged by life at the minute.
I've made a change that's left me feeling really odd - I've stopped taking my Fluoxatine which has been my buddy for the past year. I figure that I should confront my feelings of anger and hurt and the sadness I feel for my mother instead of trying to cover it up with drugs. There just hasn't been any time - no time to think and, as she was cremated instead of buried and she has not headstone, no 'where' to think either. It's been very hard but I recon that's not going to change for a long time so perhaps going for a quick fix isn't going to work in the long run.
Mind you, saying this shows how far I've come since this time last year when I was just desperate to feel something other than sad. Now I feel OK with intermittent bouts of deep sadness!
I've had lots of physical symptoms which have left me feeling just 'wrong'.... that's all I can describe it as. It's as though the electrics in my body have been wired up funny for the past few days but that's gone now. I felt very upside down and inside out on Thursday and Friday, cried a lot and flew into aggressive rages with Mark but since Friday things have been OK. Maybe it was the right decision, maybe it was the wrong decision, we'll see eh.
One thing I noticed about the tablets is they took away my sense of urgency and my need to get things done. For example, I stopped caring about the dust on the skirting boards and about the drawings on the wall. Since not taking the tablets this has changed. On Friday afternoon I grabbed a paint brush and some left over paint and repainted the living room the dining room and the hall. It didn't really take that long and I've only painted 'around' the furniture but it's so much better than it was. It actually feels clean. Now, if only we had a carpet the house might be respectable!

I walked into the living room on Friday night and there was a mouse sitting in front of the sofa. Urgh. I wasn't frightened of it just a bit miffed to be honest. As a result of this brief mousey encounter we called at the local animal sanctuary yesterday and got ourselves a cat. He's a scraggy, scrawny black thing but oh, he's just lovely. I'm quite smitten. He's not here yet - they have to do various things before we can collect him but we're all really excited.

And then there's Facebook and the black hand of doom that holds high over our heads... urgh I rally don't like it but it's so useful for some things. Once again I'm thinking of leaving FB... it's taking up too much time and it's mostly wasted time. Decisions decisions.

Boobaholic in remision?

I'm a bit worried that Annie might be going off my boobs, or should I say 'boob' considering she only ever feeds from one side?  She used to want to feed CONSTANTLY...  no exaggeration, but now she's really slowing down and I'm a bit gutted, though also relieved!  What a contradiction eh!
She just had a mini feed the latched off and said 'milk', (or, milch) whilst pointing to the kitchen.  She wanted some cows milk in a cup!!!  Nooooooooooooooooo what's wrong with my boobies!!!!!!!  Oh, hang on, she's just started to slap my boobs and say 'mine'...  I think I may have gotten the wrong end of the stick

No, she's gone off to watch a bit of tele.

Anyway...  today has been lovely.

We got up, got ready then did a bit of circle time and had our sheep and wolf story.  The girls are really into it and they love the props.  Sylvie tends to be the sheep, the sun and the moon and Bea is fixed on being the wolf.  They really enjoy having a bit play with the props are joining in.

After circle time we gathered our 'props' into a silk and headed to the Botanic Gardens to meet a couple of friends and their little ones.  What a windy, wet, cold but lovely morning!  The good coffee at the Botanics is always a bonus.  The boys and girls had a good run around and thoroughly enjoyed themselves while the mamas chatted and drank coffee!
We headed into the greenhouse for a story, (yep, the sheep and the wolf) which was nice, then we came home
Anna was asleep in the car so I put 'The Golden Compass' on TV for Sylvie and Bea and I just relaxed which was lovely.

Mark's at the football tonight and won't be home until about 11.30 so there's just me and the mini ones here to entertain each other this evening. 

All in all it's been a lovely day.
I've no idea what we're doing tomorrow but I'm learning that nothing takes too much planning... not really anyway.  What's the point in stressing about things?  I could send them to school if I wanted to stress.  I really need to learn to slow down and take one step at a time keeping expectations realistic and goals manageable.  Life is sweet!!!!!! 

One thing I am a bit highly strung about is Bea's weight.  She's a big girls.  She's just turned four and she has boobs.. yes, this post is boob obsessed, but it's the truth.  She doesn't eat a horrendous amount.  Yes, I could make changes to her diet but not major ones.  I think the big problem comes from her lack of movement.  She's just not active at all.  She's very much 'in her head' and not 'in her body'.  As an overweight child and an overweight adult I know all too well the pitfalls of being big and I don't want that for her so I need to come up with a plan, one that will work and won't leave her overweight and unhealthy.  I need Mark to be fully on board with this - I think he's going to be central to her actually going out and doing some exercise.  She doesn't run around and play with the other kids, she's just not interested, she sits and plays with her toys/bits of stuff that she picks up like flowers and grass and things.  I want him to take her out every evening either before or after tea for a run 'round the block!  We'll see how it goes.  One day at a time, eh!

Beatice stepping over the Rainbow Bridge

When I have said my evening prayer,
And my clothes are folded in the chair,
And Mother switches off the light,
I'll still be four years old tonight.

But, from the very break of day,
Before the children rise and play,
Before the greenness turns to gold,
Tomorrow, I'll be four years old.

Four kisses when I wake.
Four candles on my cake!

The stars are watching for her birth,
A little child comes down to earth;
Angels do help her both day and night,
To fill her heart with love and light;
Four burning candles we did prepare,
To shine upon your birthday fair.

Woo hooo

We've had an excellent day today.

It was Mark's first day back at work after the Christmas break which felt a bit sad but me and the girls soon managed to get back into the swing of things without him! (sorry Mark).
We all had a shower and got dressed upstairs which is a small thing that's important to me. I hate the chew of having to dress all of the girls at different points in the morning - I want them dressed, fed and watered together so that I'm not constantly thinking, 'oh, I need to find another pair of socks'... once we're downstairs it's done.
Crikey that sounds so dull but honestly it makes such a difference to the day!!!
We did circle time which was lovely and we told the story of the sheep and the wolf. After telling the story for three days in a row it's like we all play a part. Bea likes to be the wolf and she's introduced a 'mummy sheep'. Sylvie is the sun and the moon and also the baby sheep - yes, she's practising those multi tasking skills making sure she has them down to a fine art by the time she really needs them! Annabelle is just, er, a bit annoying to be honest. She pulls the cloth off the sheep's head, (green silk, meant to be a thorn bush), bugs me for boobie, (it's dead hard to read, move props and breast feed when she's swinging her lanky, yet very lovely, legs all over the shop!) and dive bombs Sylvie. Luckily the story props keep the older two interested enough for them to either ignore Anna or to swot her out of the way, (soooo not ideal but hopefully they'll learn other ways to deal with their teeney sister instead of through the use of windmill arm movements!).

After our story we wrapped up VERY warm and headed to Washington Wetlands Centre which was brilliant! We would normally have our FIAR co-op meet up today but as most of us have had a hectic time over Christmas we decided it would be better to meet somewhere outside and not to plan an activities. We had a good chat about the FIAR sessions and we all feel that there are changes that we can make to make the day flow a bit more smoothly. We're considering alternating FIAR with Steiner Kindergarten so one week we'll do a book and associated activities, the next week we'll be all floaty and Steinery. We're going to H's house on Thursday night for drinkies, nibbles and further discussion then hopefully we'll have the show on the road!

After freezing our lugs and noses off we came home for some lunch. After lunch I started a mammoth tidy up stopping half way through to 'cook the cake that wasn't cooked' yesterday - i.e. the one that was smashed into the living room floor! I was sensible, if a little tight and used the Kenwood instead of the traditional mixing bowl. The cake was bloomin' lovely. I can certainly highly recommend baking with sour cream instead of butter and using cream cheese and icing sugar as icing. Yummy yummy!!!!

 Sylvie vacuumed the floor, (I know, child labour, you just can't beat it!!!) then we set to work making some crowns... and covering the newly cleaned floor in plastic jewels and various bits of sparkle.

Theeeennnn.... we made bird seed feeders from lard, (erk, what a horrible smell), bird seed and porridge. They're setting in the fridge ready for us to hang out tomorrow.

So, all in all a very, very busy day.

I'm in my bedroom at the minute. Sylvie and Bea are lying in bed snoring their heads off as I type. I think they've enjoyed themselves today and I know that Anna has.
Botanic Gardens tomorrow!!!! Stay away rain!

Hum, up and down day

Well, today could have gone better, that's for sure.
I spent ages planning what we'd be doing today and for the next few weeks using the Little Acorn Learning Guides as inspiration.
All went well until we came to mix our '3 Kings Cake'. Sylvie and Bea started scraping over who's turn it was to stir the cake when BAM the ceramic bowl containing said cake mixture landed on the living room floor and smashed.
Oh I was so p****d off. Cake mix containing eggs and sour cream all over the wooden floor which hasn't been sealed or varnished = possibly a very smelly future!!! I lost my rag and shouted at the girls which was a bummer as I'd spent bed time reading loads of one the None Violent Communication books and demanded that they bugger off to their bedrooms while I calmed down and cleared up.
Mark came to the rescue with a bowl of water and a tea towel. He cleaned the floor, calmed the girls and took us all out to lunch which was lovely.
Prior to cake making we had a great time! Circle time went well - we had the silks out, did a lovely morning blessing and were all involved in story time, (we're doing a story about a sheep and a wolf - Bea insists on being the wolf - she has a blue wooden block that howls at very frequent intervals! Sylvie likes to be the moon and Annabelle plays her usual part, 'boob monster extraordinaire'!).

Anna was asleep by the time we got home from Durham. Sylvie and I did a bit of reading while Bea coloured in then we came upstairs, plugged in the lap top and did LOTS of reading eggs... probs about an hour and a half worth. Sylvie LOVES winning points! I think she's really quite competitive and seeing the points mount up gives her that extra incentive to do a bit more. This isn't something I've pushed or encouraged, it just 'is' so I'm fine with that.

Tomorrow is another day. I'm sad that I lost my rag about something as silly as cake mixture on the floor but I stupidly had set my expectations for this morning too high and was probably too busy thinking about what we'd be doing next, (I was sorting snack time) instead of being present with the children and enjoying the moment.
With any luck we'll be going out to see our friends tomorrow, but as for now, it's bed time.
If these little tykes ever go to sleep I'll upload photos from today. Until then, goodbye!

Happy New Year

Well, here it is, 2012.

I feel full this morning - full of love for my family and of expectations of the year ahead.

I feel full of the itchy need to make plans and to prepare for the waves of learning and thinking and doing and being that will wash over us, crash into us, sweep us off our feet and gently rock us over the next year.

Most of the year ahead is still a mystery however, some things WILL be happening.

My children WILL be staying at home and will not be going to school.

I WILL be losing weight. I have an appointment with the baratric surgeons at Sunderland Hospital at the end of March. After that appointment they'll set a date for my bypass. If I don't lose a bit of weight prior to the March appointment they won't see me so yes, weight will be lost this year!

I WILL be learning how to use my camera properly!!!!!

I WILL be studying and practising non-violent communication as I've been a total fish wife of late and it's just not helpful or healthy for any of us.

I feel totally enthused about our home ed journey for the coming year and even more so about deepening relationships and friendships with those we've met on our journey so far. Our family is part of a circle of fabulously creative, dedicated, caring inspiring families from whom we can learn a heck of a lot about, well, everything!!!

Lots to look forward to.

I plan to take countless photos and to chart our journey through the year on this blog. The camera battery is charging right now ready for the task in hand!

HAPPY NEW YEAR.

.......... and I've still not blogged about Bea's birthday yet!