Here are Chris's awards for getting Honours in grade 7. He's proud of course, but more than that I think he is just happy that the year is through and he is finally free of that school board.Well done Chris!
1 hour ago
Jun 29, 2006
Honours Award
Here are Chris's awards for getting Honours in grade 7. He's proud of course, but more than that I think he is just happy that the year is through and he is finally free of that school board.Well done Chris!
Blackberry picking :)
Lloyd is at the homeschool boards end of year award ceremony. Chris is being given an award of some kind...he gets honours all the time so maybe its for that....... or who knows what award they have come up with....last year Chris got a special award when he graduated grade 6. It was voted for by staff and students for being an all-round great person...helpful, clever, friendly........I was very proud :) to me that award meant so much more than an award for honours because I know how easy studying comes to him......
That doesn't mean I'm not proud of him for his results...just that the fact that he is growing into such a good, kind, respectable and responsible human being is so much more important than test results.
Anyway Lloyd keeps emailing from his blackberry...some little girls are playing violins atm and he wants Abby to learn ha!!!! I told him she can practice in his office ;)
He also needs the bathroom so I keep emailing him water sounds....I also told him to stand up and swear and pretend he has tourettes...that would liven the place up ;)
Chris wrote a fab book report today....another book about the second world war...his interest atm.
I started feeling worse and worse this afternoon so popped some tylenol and soaked in a cool bath for a while......I read the entire Live Free Learn Free magazine from cover to cover - wow what an issue!!! EVERY article just spoke to me......if you homeschool or unschool or have the slightest interest in your childs education then subscribe to this magazine - or just order the July/Aug issue because it's worth every penny!!! www.livefreelearnfree.com
I read an article about 'exploring the slow lane' to Sam.....he loves to be read to...he doesn't mind whether its a childrens book or one of my magazines, he will happily sit and run his finger along the page and look around the room as I read to him.....
Laurie got invited to a sleepover tonight but I said no.....Lloyd came home and then drove back into the city for the ceremony and I don't feel up to driving tonight...but he can invite the boys over another night....I'm sure they'll be here a lot through the summer and he will be there too.....
Great Lloyd just called to say they are on their way home...with dinner :)
That doesn't mean I'm not proud of him for his results...just that the fact that he is growing into such a good, kind, respectable and responsible human being is so much more important than test results.
Anyway Lloyd keeps emailing from his blackberry...some little girls are playing violins atm and he wants Abby to learn ha!!!! I told him she can practice in his office ;)
He also needs the bathroom so I keep emailing him water sounds....I also told him to stand up and swear and pretend he has tourettes...that would liven the place up ;)
Chris wrote a fab book report today....another book about the second world war...his interest atm.
I started feeling worse and worse this afternoon so popped some tylenol and soaked in a cool bath for a while......I read the entire Live Free Learn Free magazine from cover to cover - wow what an issue!!! EVERY article just spoke to me......if you homeschool or unschool or have the slightest interest in your childs education then subscribe to this magazine - or just order the July/Aug issue because it's worth every penny!!! www.livefreelearnfree.com
I read an article about 'exploring the slow lane' to Sam.....he loves to be read to...he doesn't mind whether its a childrens book or one of my magazines, he will happily sit and run his finger along the page and look around the room as I read to him.....
Laurie got invited to a sleepover tonight but I said no.....Lloyd came home and then drove back into the city for the ceremony and I don't feel up to driving tonight...but he can invite the boys over another night....I'm sure they'll be here a lot through the summer and he will be there too.....
Great Lloyd just called to say they are on their way home...with dinner :)
Ignorant to homeschooling
Quite often I read ignorant comments about homeschooling....silly things like 'people only homeschool so they can stay in bed late in the mornings'....or 'they only homeschool so they don't have to bother making school lunches'......or 'they only homeschool because they are lazy'......
.......and then days like today you read comments by these same types of people saying how they are so happy their kids are on summer holidays now because they get to do 'fun things' with them........
.....don't they see that THIS is why most people homeschool....because they LIKE being with their kids and they WANT to be the person their kids are doing these things with ALL YEAR!!!!
I hope if anything that this blog shows the few who read it what homeschooling can look like.......every homeschooling family is different but this is one way it works. I don't stay in bed all day.......I don't sit and watch Dr Phil and Oprah all day.......I'm not homeschooling because its the 'easy option'.....I homeschool because I love what it brings to us as a family. I love what it brings out in my children. I love being there to see them learn and do and watch and grow and shine. I don't want all this limited to 9 weeks in the summer.
What annoys me most is that those with these ridiculous opinions actually seem to know very little about homeschooling and don't seem to know many if any homeschoolers...so what are their opinions based on???? Jokey comments that homeschoolers have made?????? Or what?????? Because in all my years of homeschooling and mixing with homeschoolers and chatting online with homeschoolers, not ONCE have I EVER come across anyone say that they homeschool so they can stay in bed in the mornings.....or not have to make lunches......
This is a total misinterpretation. I have heard homeschoolers say that its nice that they don't have to get up and rush their kids out the door to school...I have heard them say its nice that they don't have to make lunches in the evenings when they are tired or early in the morning in the before-school rush.........but thats a 'benefit' not a reason for choosing to homeschool.
What do these comments (and others) prove to me? they prove that these women are ignorant and a littler sad because they seem to have no better argument. Are they just trying to justify their own choices??? I'm not sure.......all I know is that I have never judged their choices in that way yet they feel able to judge mine quite rudely. My opinion of these women is not very good but I'll leave my opinions about THAT to myself ;)
.......and then days like today you read comments by these same types of people saying how they are so happy their kids are on summer holidays now because they get to do 'fun things' with them........
.....don't they see that THIS is why most people homeschool....because they LIKE being with their kids and they WANT to be the person their kids are doing these things with ALL YEAR!!!!
I hope if anything that this blog shows the few who read it what homeschooling can look like.......every homeschooling family is different but this is one way it works. I don't stay in bed all day.......I don't sit and watch Dr Phil and Oprah all day.......I'm not homeschooling because its the 'easy option'.....I homeschool because I love what it brings to us as a family. I love what it brings out in my children. I love being there to see them learn and do and watch and grow and shine. I don't want all this limited to 9 weeks in the summer.
What annoys me most is that those with these ridiculous opinions actually seem to know very little about homeschooling and don't seem to know many if any homeschoolers...so what are their opinions based on???? Jokey comments that homeschoolers have made?????? Or what?????? Because in all my years of homeschooling and mixing with homeschoolers and chatting online with homeschoolers, not ONCE have I EVER come across anyone say that they homeschool so they can stay in bed in the mornings.....or not have to make lunches......
This is a total misinterpretation. I have heard homeschoolers say that its nice that they don't have to get up and rush their kids out the door to school...I have heard them say its nice that they don't have to make lunches in the evenings when they are tired or early in the morning in the before-school rush.........but thats a 'benefit' not a reason for choosing to homeschool.
What do these comments (and others) prove to me? they prove that these women are ignorant and a littler sad because they seem to have no better argument. Are they just trying to justify their own choices??? I'm not sure.......all I know is that I have never judged their choices in that way yet they feel able to judge mine quite rudely. My opinion of these women is not very good but I'll leave my opinions about THAT to myself ;)
Comment changes
I recently changed it so anyone can leave a comment here...not just bloggers...i'll see how it goes and if I get any spam maybe I'll change it back......
...so if you read the blog please feel free to leave a comment and say hi! If you haven't fallen asleep at the keyboard from reading about my unexciting life ;)
...so if you read the blog please feel free to leave a comment and say hi! If you haven't fallen asleep at the keyboard from reading about my unexciting life ;)
Soccer monster
Sam loves balls...he has a huge collectiopn all different sizes and he loves to throw and kick and roll them.......he's pretty nifty at throwing a baseball too ;)
A good mail day....
Fuzzy Felt Farm
Laurie making the plane that came with his magazine.
Susie with the headband from Grandma and the card from her penpal.
Abigail in her headband from Grandma playing Fuzzy Felt Farm
Abby looking cool in her new headband.Today was a very good mail day which made me sad that ew didn't go on that walk and collect mail on the way as I know the kids would have loved opening the box today! There was a parcel from my Mum and Dad in England......with FUZZY FELT FARM!!!!! Woohoo! I had asked her to look out for old fuzzy felts at car boot sales and charity shops but this one was one she found new at the toy store.....
I remember sitting in bed sick when I was little, with my stripey blanket I always had since birth and boxes of fuzzy felts to play with....fuzzy felt hospital, fuzzy felt circus......we had a lot of them including the farm!
Also in the parcel were two Beano's for Laurie....one with a plane to make on it.....
Susie had a Happy Canada Day card from her penpal R so she was thrilled.
I had my 'Live Free Learn Free' unschooling magazine which I can't wait to read, and a newsletter from the homeschool board (the one I'm not signing with).
Some days I wish I had a Grandma like my kids have - she sends them such cool things!!!
Much needed......
I was stressed out and feeling ill at lunchtime...we were going for a walk but Abigail couldn't find one pair of matching shoes anywhere...then she let the dogs out on purpose and was generally driving me nuts and all seemed like too much effort so I said 'forget it' and Chris babysat while I went for a drive, stopping off at the mailbox to check mail....
When I got home there was a lovely mug of coffee waiting for me on my desk and all the younger ones were 'busy' doing things so I could have peace to enjoy my coffee and calm down.
How did I get such a wonderful Son????
banana popsicles...
Laurie wanted to cook today and I didn't want the oven on as it's nice to have the house cool today especially with my sun burn keeping me hot already!
So Laurie saw a recipe for banana popsicles on a tv show this morning that didn't need 'baking' at all and asked to make them. They look yummy and are in the freezer atm. They can have them after lunch :)
Wherever you left it....
The girls are playing with their dollhouses beisde me on the floor......its funny listening to them play...reminds me a lot of me when I was their age....and some of the things they make their dolls say is hilarious....
One of the dolls has lost something and the Mom doll is shouting at the girl doll that she needs to find it NOW and it's 'wherever you left...' and the parents have gone out for dinner at Joey Tomatoes...how funny!!!! :)
The wooden dollhouse in the picture is one Lloyd made for Abby to play with while he was building the bedroom downstairs...she loves it and will often use that one more than the big plasticy Barbie house that talks......When I was little my dad made me a wardrobe for my Amanda-Jane dolls and also a balance beam and vaulting horse for my gymnastics loving Sindy doll :) So I love to see Lloyd make these simple wooden toys for the children!
One more day
One more day until Lloyd has a week off...he is sooo looking forward to it....he enjoys his job but prefers to be at home...which I take as a HUGE compliment because I know so many men who are workaholics and would rather be at work....
I'm still not sure what we are doing today...we have a few choices.......some friends invited us over, there is a homeschool 'park day' in town all afternoon......the kids wuld like to go to the library and sign on for the summer reading game that they take part in every year...and CHris has his award ceremony this evening....
But we are all tired from being out every day this week and we all seem happy to stay home and relax....the girls have their dollhouse downstairs and are playing with their dolls......Laurie is watching the world cup and flicking between other shows too....asking questions about why Martha went to jail and why people trust her again.......so no idea what he's watching!!! Chris is relaxing as he has taken allergy meds and is drowsy and not feeling great...I was in the sun too long yesterday and burnt my back.....so am not feeling my usual fab self (lol) so I am happy to take it easy.....
My Homeschooling Horizons magazine is very good this month.....a lot of articles on nature study and nature journaling.....I've been reading up on Charlotte Mason and do like the idea of keeping nature journals for the childre.....although I guess they have been doing this themselves anyway as the girls take notebooks with them on their adventures and come back with drawings and notes on the plants and animals they have seen......here is a link about nature journaling Charlotte Masons way.....
http://homeschooling.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=homeschooling&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.home-school.com%2FArticles%2FNatureNotebook.html
I think I will find some nice plain paper notebooks this weekend and we can go out sketching and investigating next week.......Chris has been doing some nice sketches of our house too and maybe I will see if the others would like to join me in walking around our land and sketching what we see.......
Every week in the local paper they print an article callede 'You be the judge'. Chris loves to read this and discuss it. So this morning we were discussing the recent one. A lady was getting married but her fiance was always sick...she asked if he had AIDS and his family said no......three years later she is diagnosed with AIDS and so she sued the family because they lied about his illness.....she won a fortune that no doubt helped her pay for treatments and to be comfortable through her last days......
Chris wants to study civil laws next year......he is interested in law but says he doesn't want a career in it.....he sometimes considers politics though as a future career.......but mainly says he wants to work in the film industry....
Laurence wants to make some banana pops....stick a chopstick in a banana, roll in syrup and sprinkles and freeze.......I guess he can do that......ok so I'm off to get him the things he needs....
and still no idea what we will do today but this is how unschooling is.....no plans...but learning takes place.....lots of it.......and as a Mom its amazing to watch my children learning in this way the things THEY want to learn and are interested in.
I'm still not sure what we are doing today...we have a few choices.......some friends invited us over, there is a homeschool 'park day' in town all afternoon......the kids wuld like to go to the library and sign on for the summer reading game that they take part in every year...and CHris has his award ceremony this evening....
But we are all tired from being out every day this week and we all seem happy to stay home and relax....the girls have their dollhouse downstairs and are playing with their dolls......Laurie is watching the world cup and flicking between other shows too....asking questions about why Martha went to jail and why people trust her again.......so no idea what he's watching!!! Chris is relaxing as he has taken allergy meds and is drowsy and not feeling great...I was in the sun too long yesterday and burnt my back.....so am not feeling my usual fab self (lol) so I am happy to take it easy.....
My Homeschooling Horizons magazine is very good this month.....a lot of articles on nature study and nature journaling.....I've been reading up on Charlotte Mason and do like the idea of keeping nature journals for the childre.....although I guess they have been doing this themselves anyway as the girls take notebooks with them on their adventures and come back with drawings and notes on the plants and animals they have seen......here is a link about nature journaling Charlotte Masons way.....
http://homeschooling.about.com/gi/dynamic/offsite.htm?zi=1/XJ&sdn=homeschooling&zu=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.home-school.com%2FArticles%2FNatureNotebook.html
I think I will find some nice plain paper notebooks this weekend and we can go out sketching and investigating next week.......Chris has been doing some nice sketches of our house too and maybe I will see if the others would like to join me in walking around our land and sketching what we see.......
Every week in the local paper they print an article callede 'You be the judge'. Chris loves to read this and discuss it. So this morning we were discussing the recent one. A lady was getting married but her fiance was always sick...she asked if he had AIDS and his family said no......three years later she is diagnosed with AIDS and so she sued the family because they lied about his illness.....she won a fortune that no doubt helped her pay for treatments and to be comfortable through her last days......
Chris wants to study civil laws next year......he is interested in law but says he doesn't want a career in it.....he sometimes considers politics though as a future career.......but mainly says he wants to work in the film industry....
Laurence wants to make some banana pops....stick a chopstick in a banana, roll in syrup and sprinkles and freeze.......I guess he can do that......ok so I'm off to get him the things he needs....
and still no idea what we will do today but this is how unschooling is.....no plans...but learning takes place.....lots of it.......and as a Mom its amazing to watch my children learning in this way the things THEY want to learn and are interested in.
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