Just us

There is a wonderful window that we cherish as homeschoolers. The time of wonderful weather both in the spring and fall, before school is let out and holidaying begins. It is the times the trails and parks are all for us. Today we went to one of our favorite trails that is full of gardens to enjoy this special time. We sat drawing frogs, flowers, trees. Nibbled a picnic and explored. Enjoying it 'just us'.

Just can't get enough of our friends.

Frogs.

Glorious.

Frogs.

Being a teenager on the inside

Aria: Arrr! I am going to be a teenager before I learn how to ride on two wheels!

me: you can do it, say that to yourself.

Aria: (as she attempts for the tenth time ) I can do it, I can.

me:you are doing it! wow, and you aren't even a teenager :)

Aria: I am a bike rider! but you know I feel like a teenager inside!

she hasn't looked back, biking across town is no problem!

My mum took this picture during a visit. I love it. This is one of my favorite ages, 1 1/2years, for so many reasons. The run that can sometimes get carried away, the hugs that are full body contact, the surprise kisses. The excitement of hearing a motorbike or spotting a plane, the concentration of putting pebbles into a bucket and the joy of pushing the doll stroller around the block. The exhausted collapse at the end of the day, the total surrender and trust. The contagious laughter brought on by a siblings funny face, the comfort to say hello and wave at everyone who walks by. Holding hands with Dad, following Elias where ever he goes, colouring next to Aria and insisting he have the colour she is using, laying on the floor with Ben as he reads a book, calling 'Mama' over and over and over again despite how many times I answer. I love this age.

Ocean Crafts

We have been inspired by our trip to the ocean to create. Jelly fish out of balloons, drawings of mermaids and mermen, boats built to sail, strings of shells to decorate. I decorate our bathroom mirror with glassbeads, seashells and glitter. I must admit, I just love it.

Monkey business (who could resist that title!)

We headed to the local kids museum with friends to catch the exhibit featuring Jane Goodall before it moved on. The kids are all familiar with Jane Goodall, the work she does and have been a part of a Roots and Shoots group. There were different stations which focused on chimps and the research learned about them. The kids got to see a camp tent, try walking like a primate with the aid of 'walkers', fish out termites, test to see what primate their strength, weight and height compared too. I was a little disappointed by the number of videos used. I don't find my kids engage in them or walk away with anything from them (other than pressing the button many times!)
The rest of the time we spent visit favorite spots, building a tower, laying on a bed of nails,enjoying the toddler room and a surprise visit of the Stanley cup!

Touring the Recycling Plant

Our local recycling plant had tours as part of an eco awareness. It was an extremely interesting tour. I learned an amazing amount about the garage program our city has, the way it is sorted and the problems it faces which are easily remedied by residents.

One piece of garbage takes 8 mins to travel through the plant and be sorted into its 'place'. Our composting bags are sent to another city, our landfill waste is shipped away. The bags of garbage (blue bags)are first brought into the plant with a front end loader, the cardboard on one side to be packaged and the bags put in the shredder. From here they sent through a magnet to collect the steel, then another type of magnet to collect the aluminum. The plastics are sent to a specific sorting area, the glass another. Most of the sorting is done by hand, which according to the employees is more efficient and effective. We asked what they would like residents to do to make their job easier. The biggest thing is to empty the plastic containers because the contents freeze in cold weather and to remove the lids. Water bottles in particular jam the machines and hold up the process. Another great reason not to use water bottles of plastic.

It was a very interesting tour, we all commented we would go again when they give it in August.

Five. Beautiful. And Dressed to impress her Grammy.

They're Home

After 3 weeks of visiting England and Turkey Grammy and Grampy are home!

We exchanged stories of our holidays, had hugs, shared food and were glad to have everyone back home.

Turkey sounds wonderul. A magical place, blending Europe and Asia. The spices, bazaar and mosques especially. We enjoyed the turkish delight brought back (I was amazed at all the different types), loved our gifts of woven hats and bags. Travelling, there is nothing like it.

Ever been stuck between a rock and a hard place????

Thankfully no one was stuck. The entrances (which was all I saw....I had to care for baby you know!) to the caves were quite small, the tunnels narrow. The kids had been spelunking in these caves before, and were excited to return to a local conservation area which boasts incredible caves.

Caving requires you to get out of a comfort zone (its cold, dark and small), trust your body to work for you, trust the people around you and be in the moment (so my kids tell me !). That is harder, I think, for adults then kids to do. Although interestingly my kids all appreciated knowing things aren't always easy for their adult friends, that sometimes we have limits.

We enjoyed a picnic afterwards in the ruins of a mill. The kids love to climb the stone walls and catch frogs in the pond area. Today they added algae fighting to their list of 'fun'. Yes, they throw handfuls of green slimy algae at each other. Not to fear dad, they all drove home in the buff so as not to slime the interior of the new van!!!

Beautiful Kids!

The park is calling you-ou-ou!

a park day.

sunshine.

good buddies.

a shopping cart.

a bag of bones. literally.

dandelions.

a wooded area.

welcome back spring days

Housing Coop

We got together with our friends for the second 'session' of our housing coop. It was our friends turn to choose the type of house we tried our hands at making. In combination with the world expo and their study of Madagascar we built a mud house. Well, truth be told a mud house contains much more than mud! We combined mud, clay, sand and horse manure (nice and fresh!) A frame was built out of fresh branches, a whole dug in the ground and it was mixed. Depending on their varying bravery, they set to the mixing with hands, gloves on and off, or sticks. I am sure you can imagine the jokes that we were treated too during the process.

After the right mixture was obtained we made a wall around frame. Bricks were also made, some using their hands and some in ice cube trays.

We returned a week later (which contained many rainy days) to play and check on the creations. To my surprise the hut held up fabulously in the rain, it look the same as the day we built it. We talked about the strength of the hut, the composition being biodegradable, perfect for a nomadic people. The herding lifestyle lending itself to lots of dung for construction. It was another interesting project.