Paper Making

There was a small number of us gathering for coop this week, many down and out with a nasty bug. The small group lent its self well to paper making this week. We have just under an hour for our table time activity, with fewer kids it meant there was no rushing to get it done. We brought with us the screens we had made previously. The outside frame (pink) was styrofoam meat trays we asked for at the grocery store. The screening is the same kind found in windows, we conveniently had a screen with a rip in it, so we replaced it and used the old one for the frames.

Before we began we chatted about how paper is made, which led into how recycled paper is made and why this was important. We brought in the paper from our recycling bin which included scraps of construction paper, newspaper, computer paper, toilet rolls and cardboard. (in the past we have also added tissue paper, wrapping paper, grass, leaves, flower petals, lavender, glitter, etc) We ripped each of these up into small pieces. The kids then each picked from the different types of paper, making their own unique combination.
The paper was added with water in the blender and mixed until we had a pulp. The pulp was placed on the screens for the kids to spread it into their desired shape and thickness. With a sponge or rag they soaked up a bit more of the excess water. After a day in the sunny window the kids flipped the paper to dry both sides, in two days it was dry.

While it isn't ideal paper for story writing, it is beautiful background for art, gift tags or cards.

So I can remember

While running around at coop I hear Aria say to a friend

It's difficult to run today, I am sporadically uncomfortable.

After her friend asks what she means, she responds

Out of the blue, unexpectedly I feel uncomfortable


During dinner I am telling the kids a story about when they were younger and Aria is looking at me intently. After asking what she was thinking about she responded

I am trying to create a visual about what you are describing.

Silly Me!

And I was worried about a few years age difference!

I don't know who gets more joy from their relationship; them or me. Watching them play together is both hilarious and beautiful.

Time Together

My parents joined us for a relaxing and enjoyable Easter weekend. The weather continued to be insanely gorgeous, which meant we spent most of our time together outside. There was new bike tricks and jumps to show, the frogs singing to listen to, basketball games to play, soccer balls to kick, time to sit together on the porch. We did lots of strolling, throwing rocks off the dock, crocus searching. As their car was pulling out of the driveway everyone was hoping they would be visiting again soon.

Spring Crafting

The last few years I have wanted to make these for our Easter celebrations. After forgetting so many times, I finally got around to it! The wind cooperated perfectly for lots of fun.

The Search

It's all about the search when it comes to the Easter Eggs. It wasn't until the last few years that we started adding chocolate into the eggs, and even since then the looking and then finding is really what all the excitement is about.

Blast Off!

Hours passed by with a jar of baking soda, vinegar and imaginations. It started with the re-discovery of an old rocket kit that was dusted off. Sky's the limit after that!

Hints of Green

Its spring. There is hints of green both inside and outside the house. Chris has been busy getting a new coat of paint on almost everything. It feels so fresh and clean. Mother nature has been breathing new life all around us. The pussy willows are popping up, daffodils in the front yard, new grass beginning to grow.

Snap Shots

time for hiking, throwing sticks and rocks into falls.

time for campfires, helping with syrup production, roasting hot dogs, bannock cooking, burnt knees around the fire.

time for long talks, quick chats, catching up, secret conversations, making plans.

games of mama and baby, uno and poker, Lego and imaginary worlds outside.

time went to quickly, weather cooperated for a change, and despite the distance we grow closer.

Coop

Thursdays continue to be our coop days. Our time shared between gym activities and something a little more focused. This week a friend guided the kids through making their own own foam air planes. They were given a template they could use, many of the kids embellishing with some fancy additions. After their plane was cut out and assembled everyone had a test flight.

Everyone reported back their observations, it was almost unanimous that the planes wouldn't fly. This lead into a discussion on balance and the effect of weights to the flying process. On the table were choices of clips of all sizes and weights. Through trial and error the kids saw the effect of too little and too much weight. The kids had a great time creating and even more flying the planes.

Wheel Time

This warm weather has lead the kids to emptying the garage on the front lawn. Bikes are out and have been washed. Chalk and bubbles are in full use. Kites being flown, dump trucks finding the dirt. The pond exploring gear is in heavy rotation and the shovels always handy. It didn't take long till the kids starting asking about the skate park and would it be clear of snow. Dad came home from town with the good news that it was clear. Before he was even out of the car the kids were loading up the trunk with bikes,boards and helmets. The first few runs everyone had a case of sea legs but it didn't take long before they were zooming around and trying new tricks.

Yup

That is a frog. The kids found it swimming in the pond. They also found tadpoles. On our hike yesterday we saw a butterfly. Last year at this time we had three feet of snow.

Favorite Places

When the kids were little, the oldest were about 6, 4 and 2 years old we belonged to our first coop. There were four families, all with homeschooling plans and similarly aged kids. We planned activities that ranged from gymnastics to crafting to art. The kids loved it, as did the mums. We also planned a series of field trips which we opened up to a larger group of homeschoolers. I organized some hiking outings to a few different natural spots. We visited these different spots during the different seasons, so the kids could see the same area changed through the seasons.

Ever since that coop we have tried as a family to visit our favorite natural places during each of the seasons, giving us the opportunity to observe the changes and see the beauty in the different stages. Today we went back to a favorite park, on a trail we are beginning to know well. As we round different corners I can hear the kids shouting out, "the rock slide is just up ahead" or "the stream of many waterfalls is around the corner". They are beginning to claim it as part of their world, know it on a completely new level.

It was a wonderful hike. Shai is getting to stage where he walks more than he does ride in the toboggan (there is barely enough snow in the woods for it now). His comfort zone for exploring is growing and he often wants to do it without me. There was lots of mud and water to tromp through and rocks to climb. Only one person fell in and only one close call at the waters edge.
And that sunshine. Truly. Magical.

Finally!

Raising and keeping chickens has been a crazy and fun journey! I am the first to admit I am smitten over my ladies. Although the road to collecting eggs hasn't been an easy one; a raccoon break in, cold winter nights, short days, inexperienced care takers. We have had an egg here and there, each one cherished, but I am thrilled to announce that we are collecting eggs on a regular basis. In fact the kids came running in the other day, they had found a secret stash in the far corner of the coop. They brought in 12 eggs!

Apparently the hens prefer to lay on the straw bails and not their nesting boxes filled with straw. Some talented people are willing to go the extra mile for their ladies to lay, I am thankful now not to have too :) Regardless of where they lay their eggs, we are so excited to just have eggs. We can say YES! we have chickens with pride, and wow do we make a mean quiche!

A Hard Sell

Technically, it's still winter. But the past two weeks the temperatures have been hovering 10 degrees, sunny (only one evening of a tiny bit of rain), and beautiful. The bikes are out, the rubber boots are on, we hung the hammock up today, the snow has melted and gone except for a pile here or there. The pond is thawed, the laundry is on the line, the heat is off, the windows open. The time change has meant we had dinner at 7pm and the sun was still out! The kids are eating lunch on the deck, picnicking every snack they can and asking about the sprinkler!!!
But technically, it's still winter.

Our Friendly Visitors

This morning I stepped onto our back deck to hang up the laundry on the line, to see Elias beside our chicken coop with a huge smile on his face. The house was hiding what was beside him, but he was giving me a look as to say "shhhh, look here!". I read his expression right, I stepped over to see 5 deer standing literally a few feet away from him. Apparently he didn't notice them when he was letting the chickens out but turned around to find them all beside him. I quickly put everyone on deer alert, each scattering to their different windows or outside.

Ben choose to go onto the driveway, where they happened to cross a few minutes later. They were so comfortable with the two boys being nearby that a mama deer came very close to them sniffing them out. We often see deer, but never this bold. And rarely so many at one time. Sighting them is something the locals told us we would tire of, but I can't see that ever happening.