Sometimes its just a pizza night

Creating and maintaining balance in mine and my family's life is a topic I have been discussing with friends recently. The often delicate line of time at home or out of the house, individual needs of 6 people (of course not always being the same), time as a family, planned or unplanned time and which group activities to participate. When should we choose some down time and when will 4 activities be energizing. Throw the fluctuating emotions of very different ages and personality types into the mix and the balance can be tipped. I am learning, I am trying to tune in to when we need to pull back and when feasting on activities might work. Sometimes when a rhythm seems to emerge, naps change, teething starts, emotional growth happens and we need to start again.

The other day we were starting again. It was one of those days that wasn't too over scheduled; dance class for one while my other two get to be the centre of attention to all the other mums (which they love), and just before dinner our french co-op. It was also one of those days that just didn't start out on the right foot. There were emotional meltdowns by 8a.m., Shai wanted to be nursed none stop, there was no clean laundry and no one could find anything they wanted to eat for breakfast. I felt determined to rise to the challenge (it was Monday after all); nursing on the go in the sling, hugging and cuddling in between laundry and muffin making. By 10 a.m. there was a whole container of juice spilled, the bucket of playmobile spilled, children refusing to dress and the car keys gone missing. I was starting to feel more challenged then determined.

Sigh. Children dressed, keys found off to dance class. Class goes well, kids fight all the way home in car. After a very tense lunch sandwiched with bickering, we decide as a family to do some table work (because in retrospect that is what we needed to do!). It went as well as you can imagine; ending with proud mum moments (kwim), all three kids in their rooms listening to books on tape while I nursed on the couch chatting to a friend on the phone.
After venting and great suggestions, I gathered the kids and went for a walk. I came home and put a movie on. In the quiet I decided pizza was the best option for dinner and called Chris to pick it up. Thank goodness for pizza. The food, but also the process of letting go, of giving in to a hard day and taking care by choosing the ease of pizza. Granted it took me until the end of the day (thankfully not always), but it was freeing to let go.

It's interesting because the next day was extremely busy; table time, store to buy track pants, grocery store to shop, home for lunch, three hot meals made from scratch (really good ones too), fishing and hiking, library, running around the track and family time. Not once did we feel stressed, or rushed or overwhelmed. The rhythm was smooth and peaceful. Perhaps the crash of the day before was making way for a new flow, a shift.

I try to live my life intentionally, aware of my choices and what I am choosing. This is sometimes easier than at others. I think that some days are pizza days. Days we need to treat ourselves with kindness, that sometimes we need to surrender to the flow of life and that of our families. I believe our choice to home school provides a lifestyle in which I can see more clearly the ebb and flow, it gives me and my children the freedom (and sometimes the wisdom) to listen to how we need to spend the day (even if it's in retrospect). I can change the schedule more often than not if I need to. We can choose to be busy and out all day, we can choose to spend it in our pj's reading books on the couch, we can cook three meals a day or order pizza. The gift though is in honouring our needs, being in touch with where we are at, and realizing the wonderful moments that come with letting go. Perhaps balance is not smooth sailing which I have been equating it with. Perhaps it is the flow. The back and forth, the up and down like a teeter totter. The movement of life as opposed to the juggling to maintain a steady scale. I think we have shifted.

We all going to the zoo

It was a beautiful 25 degrees today, perfect for our visit to the zoo. Part of Ben's birthday gift was an adoption of a baboon at the zoo. We choose today to view it because kids were free when they dressed up for Halloween. We decided to go low key with minimal pirate gear, to ensure we were comfortable for the day.

Ben was thrilled to see the baboons, one of whom was about 1month old. The other highlights were watching the orangutans come out to search for snacks. The large daddy was absolutely enormous and so majestic. The gorillas are a personal favorite. Lunch was a picnic on the grass...end of October at that!

Race Time

This morning the boys participated in a cross country race organized by a neighbouring home school group. It was a cold and windy morning. The emotions were tender, not knowing what to expect combined with fear and excitement that comes with competition. One of my guys is highly competitive and the other totally non competitive. I had no idea how it would go, a little concerned that one would back out and regret it and that the other might get very upset if his finishing place wasn't what he expected.
I needn't have feared. They both did amazingly well. They ran hard and tried hard, they came in 3rd place as a home school group in their age category. One saw how his practices paid off and how he could improve for next year (next year!?). The other stuck it out and had no regrets. It was amazing to about 100 kids between 5-adult run different races with their parents and siblings cheering them on. I was teary as they came in across the finish line, when I turned to tell Chris how proud I was of them, he was teary too.

On a roll

I am finally getting caught up! I am back tracking, filling in blanks and writing new posts, its a very exciting time!

All I want for Christmas....

That's right. An alpaca (well two) have been added to the Christmas list. We visited a local Alpaca farm with our coop, and we have left totally in love with this beautiful animal. We went knowing very little and learned an immense amount in a small time. (especially that we love them and want to have some....did I mention that Chris?)

They are gentle animals, who like to live in herds. Their fleece is incredibly soft. There were different hands on stations set up for us learn through. One had fleece out for us to feel. The raw and washed alpaca fleece felt almost identical, unlike sheep's fleece which had such a contrast because of the high lanolin content prior to being washed.

There was a spinning wheel to watch, hand spinning to try and a wonderful loom that each of the kids got a chance to work with. They generously gave us the piece of weaving the kids worked on, we plan to use it as part of a centre piece for our potlucks.

The kids enjoyed some time to run around afterwards at a nearby park, the adults a chance to chat and connect.

Too much felting?

We have been enthralled with a new passion in felting. It began through the fibre arts coop we are a part of. We are experimenting with needle felting and wet felting. Last night I attended a class to learn how to make a squirrel out of felted material. It is so cute...and quite easy to make. I am left feeling crafty and wanting to do more. Its fueling a part of me that has been dormant the past few months, its great to be tapping into it again.
So lit with a spark we head to a local angora goat farm and fibre mill. We received a spontaneous tour and a warm welcome. Our visit had been preceded by numerous friends the previous week and as a result he knew all about us. Once home we started on some mini mice, purses and dragonflies. We are thrilled with our projects.
Last night when I did my rounds to make sure everyone still had their blankets on I found the boys snuggled up as usual. One of them was talking about felting in his dream, rubbing his brothers arm and felting it....up and down with his hand like you do with a felting needle! Could it be too much of a good thing? Not at all :)

Refreshed

The local conservation areas to which we have a pass close after thanksgiving weekend. However you can still walk in and hike around. It was a beautiful autumn day, which in contrast to challenging day yesterday was going smoothly and joyfully. We decided to take advantage of the nice weather and good moods and head to one of the conservation areas. The kids brought their fishing poles and tried to catch some fish. No luck.

We climbed around on the pot holes created by swirling rock and ice when the glaciers retreated thousands of years ago. We explored one of the rivers and an old mill. Before hiking back out we found a path we haven't taken before that lead to a wonderful rocky cedar grove. I didn't see much of my three older kids, they ran off into their imagination games (which I loooove to watch). Shai and I sat on the soft ground to crawl around and explore. By the time we left I felt so relaxed and refreshed. The kids said the same before going to bed. It was a great day.

Happy Birthday

My Ben. My sweet, kind, considerate, loving little boy. So full of energy, moving all the time, exploring, planning, running, seeking. You bring so many new things to my life, you challenge and pull me in amazing ways. I can't stop myself from getting caught up in your excitement and speed, nor can I not slow down to see to the wonders of stillness you share. What a gift you are. Happy Birthday

9 months ....

Today. He is 9 months today. How is that possible? He's standing, reaching, babbling in that wonderful way and loving the piano! The kids all get a kick out of playing concerts and giving him his turn, when he is done he sits and claps. It doesn't get much cuter.

Zoom Zoom Zoom

We held our third themed family night with our home school group. My kids have been enjoying paper airplane making and have been amazed at the different types to make. This was the initiative for planning a paper airplane flying night. It couldn't simpler to plane; put out a call for those interested in trying out different types of paper airplanes they have made and let the flying begin. Of course throw in a potluck snack and a free outside venue and your set. Sadly not many pictures were taken and those that were came out sad and pathetic. But fun was had.

The floating dart
Nose heavy plane
Helicopter (very popular)
the sabertooth

The groove

I am in awe that September has passed and we are currently enjoying thanksgiving weekend. The past month has been incredibly busy with programs, co-ops, events beginning and needing planning. The weather has been unbelievably beautiful, hot and dry. I have been very intentional in trying to spend as much time sucking up the weather and the opportunity to hike and put our feet in the river, roller blade and skateboard in shorts and t-shirts, sit out late on the deck, eat dinner outside. It has been a little overwhelming trying to create and then maintain a balance for our family but more for me, while navigate our way through the new season and business.

While the balance isn't always maintained, I am feeling a little less overwhelmed. The groove seems to be emerging. I find this one of the tricky parts of homeschooling, and each year the groove we find looks so different. So I think I might get to start posting, which is something I enjoy. We'll see :) For now I want to share some of the things we have been doing during this busy time, and of course share some pictures of all my kids (especially my youngest who is almost 9 months!!!!!)

The sweetest duet

Leafy Crafts

This is a craft I absolutely love the result and the kids absolutely love the process. We have family friends visiting from England over thanksgiving and we thought napkins decorated with maple leaves were the perfect gift.

Instructions

1. gather freshly fallen leaves (it will not work well unless the leaf still has lots of juice), all types and colours

2. gather your needed supplies of a hammer, a wood board and a piece of previously washed cotton blend material

3.place your leaves on the wood, then place the material over top of the leaves.

4. hold the material in place and hammer until all the juice comes out onto the material

5. heat set with an iron and then the dryer (I always do both)

6. enjoy your new print

note: use can also use flowers, although we have yet to try that. We have made napkins, table cloths, pillows and sewn material prints on cards.