The Road Back To Blogging.

Its been a while since I have blogged our homeschooling journey on this blog. I'm just gonna be real. The beginning of homeschooling was hard for me. I was trying to settle Josiah into a routine without him getting to exhausted or frustrated. Any one with an autistic child will know how much trial and error that takes. Just for fun I decided to throw my five year old into kindergarten with Josiah. I am glad I did this. It is so much easier homeschooling two at the same level. But the toddler!!! Homeschooling with a  toddler is hectic. She had the attention span of 20 seconds and she was into everything. So blogging went out the window. I just couldn't do it. But we are on track now and loving it. 

This year we are Starting Year 2 and I have to say, things are pretty sweet. After two years of reading everything there is to know about homeschooling, trying several curriculums and working out what my children learning styles and what my teaching style is I think I've found my niche. (I say this very loosely because I know how quickly things change with kids).

We have lately been taking on a more Charlotte mason approach to homeschooling. I love the way it fits in with the way we live at home. Taking on a more literature based approach to teaching I'm finding my children are loving school and sometimes they are asking me for more. Our days go so quick and really we are just enjoying reading together then carrying out copywork on the topic and painting about it. The kids love it and their workmanship has just improved so much. So much more satisfying than worksheets. 

In my next post I will blog a little about what we have planned this year and what curriculum we are using. Its so simple. I love it!

Here is a little pic of our new school table. I can't believe how well this table is working for us. Its amazing the difference it has made to our learning time. Don't you just love it when you find your groove. Im in a happy place right now. 

My little Beatrix Potter

The other day we watched the movie Mrs Potter. I thought that maybe it would be a little above the kids but Eva was captivated. We had often read the Peter rabbit books and she had enjoyed them but I think seeing the person behind the books opened a whole new world for her. She straight away asked for her paints and started painting her own animals. She said to me, "mum when I'm older I want to be like Beatrix potter and paint animals and make them come alive." I love watching my kids imaginations being activated. It's just so beautiful. 

Our new unit-around the world

I am so amazingly blessed to have my best friend home school along side me. With Josiah officially staring this year and Eva unofficially, (she can't be registered till she is 6 but she is 5 and raring to go) we decided we would do our HSIE unit together. 

We had so much fun planning it. Basically each month we study two countries one after the other. The children get a parcel in the mail on the first day full or souvineers, maps, animal cards, a letter, a recipe, currency,worksheets and lots more. 

We study the countries with our own family and then fortnightly we get together to do an art lesson representing those counties. 

The best part of this unit is once a month we meet up and have a dinner. The children have to cook the food of that country and we dress up and eat as the people of that country would eat. 

It is so much fun and we are creating such great memories. 

Her is our Australia/ New Zealand fun. 

I taught a lesson on Aboriginal dot painting. We looked up many different symbols and talked about how by painting the symbols together, Aboriginal artists would tell stories. 

Rochelle taught a lesson on mauri Bone jewellery. The children look at lots of designs on a documentary and then created their own necklaces out of air drying clay. 

Of course pretend play happened 

Preparing for dinner was by far the most exciting part. Our kids made salads and Anzac Biscuits and the Vella's bought meat and prawns and pavlova. Rochelle and I had a good laugh because my Anzac biscuits were undercooked and her pavlova collapsed. We were feeling like very inadequate homeschool mamas. We are hoping our cooking gets better over this year of cooking around the world.  

Next month Egypt and Morocco!

Goodbye coffee break.

One of the things I love about the baby years is during the day there is a promise of at least 30 mins solitude if all your stars align and you have worn them out enough in the morning play. 

Lately I've been noticing we are walking into a new season. The older kids let go of their naps ages ago but I still get my cup of coffee time with Livy sleeping at lunch time. But each day she is resisting a little harder, playing a little longer, wanting to be a big kid a little bit more. As with everything in mummyville. Your heart rests in two places. I'm excited for our new season as we walk out of babyville but it pulls on your heart strings that its nearly over. 

The first shot on this page was Livys first week home. They all collapsed on my bed for a rest and I was lucky enough to get it on film. The rest of the shots were today in my attempt to get Livy down. I was lying down with her in my bed having a cuddle and Jojo walked in curiously and asked "what cha doing mum?"

"We are kissing and cuddling jojo"

"Can I kiss and cuddle too?" He asks

"Of course" 

So he jumped in and started hugging and  kissing his 'cheeky bubba' as he calls her. 

Once Eva could hear there was a party going on she was quickly under the covers too. 

So this is our new nap time. A little bit of a hug and a hopeful attempt of a sleep and I think I'm all right with that. 

A New Beginning

I've been watching on FB all my friends lovely photos of their kids dressed up in their uniforms so excited to start school and I thought I really should mark the occasion of my children starting their homeschool year. 

The funny thing about homeschooling is that their really isn't a starting date. We are learning all the time and school really is a natural part of the rhythm of our home. However I think it's important to stop and pause and mark a place in time where you state: this is our beginning. This is the day you started your journey. It was exciting, Mummy and Daddy were cheering you on and you made us so proud. 

This journey of homeschooling is made up of a thousand different emotions and sometimes I can feel them all in the same day. But I love it and I feel amazingly blessed to be the one to watch them have their firsts. It's going to be a great first year. 

P.s. I totally didn't ask them to write I love Mum in their books. The did that instinctively by themselves. 

Love you back you little cuties. 

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My Little Party Planner.

Ever since Eva has been able to talk she has been a party planner. It's not uncommon for me to be invited to at least 3 parties a week. All her dollies and stuffed animals get a celebration on their special day. 

When your four and don't have a perception of time it's not uncommon to celebrate your birthday at least 6 times a year. 

Who am I to be a party pooper. She is very efficient about it all she makes up invitations, set up the party, we play pass the parcel with something she has wrapped up in her bedroom and then I go home with a goody bag. 

I love watching her grow in generosity and care for others. She thrives on blessing others and I'm a blessed mummy to have her.