Monday, 10 June 2013

Taking time out together...

heading off to soccer games with Damon often gives us an opportunity for some quality family time. This time we headed to Muswellbrook. Damon loves his soccer!!


The field was right next to a grave yard which fascinated the kids, so we went exploring and reading the headstones. The kids enjoyed working out how old the people were when they died and seeing how old the graves were.

My kids love to climb trees!! (and secretly so does their mum!) A tree is always inviting to us and the kids always try to get as high as possible.


 
On our way home from Muswellbrook we stopped over at Singleton for lunch. We stopped at the dreaded bat park!! ...just because of this wonderful spinning go round!! I remember them from when I was a kid and we don't see them anymore, so we had to have a turn :) (and yes we headed to the nearest bathroom afterwards to wash our hands!!).



The kids also loved playing on the two tractors on display int he park.


 We always have such fun on our soccer outings!

Back at home we have been doing some yard work. Damon has been helping his dad mow the lawn and fix up Nehemiah's cage (our rabbit).




The kids were really excited when they received letters from some of good friends who recently moved away! They immediately got started on their replies..

Adele has been continuing with her ballet project. She has been writing up information about ballet as well as making this display.

 The little kids have been learning some more about cooking through our Home economics book. They work so well together all taking turns.




After learning about sifting, Adele made some baking powder biscuits, that were kid of like scones.

We have been meeting with another home school family to share an activity. Here are the girls starting their pinata. this was their second attempt, with the first one exploding!!


Here is Damon giving one of the kids a swing :)


 The kids were set the task of writing a paper on what they are good at. this was in line with our focus on stewardship and using all the God has given us for His glory - their talents and interests. The kids illustrated their papers with tiny passport photos and printouts from the computer. They look really good :)



 Avril has been interested in frogs fro quite a while and misses her friends from our old home :( So we have started our study on frogs. We have been reading information texts on frogs. Below is Avril decorating her frog as a poisonous frog from her book.




Here is Josef joining in :)


I asked Avril to tell me something she learned about frogs, so I could write it down and then she copied it below her picture.



Another great few weeks. 

During the next few weeks Adele will venture into 1930's Australia and Avril will continue with her frogs and their lifecycle. Damon will be diving into the world of biomes, Africa and continuing his aviation studies. So more adventures to come :)

Friday, 17 May 2013

An update of us!!

Budding Artists...Avril's drawings!!




Josef learning to use scissors and then sticking the alligator back together!!



The girls have been enjoying making stick puppets from computer print-outs and  Adele enjoyed making a paper plate weave.

We have been reading about Joni Eaerckson Tada's journey with the Lord and as learning to live life as a quadriplegic. We have been discussing using what God has given us for his glory. And trusting Him in all situations we will face in life.

One activity the kids had was to try painting like Joni!





 They all found it very difficult!

Damon has been keen to share his love of geography and planes with the family! So Avril and Adele have joined him in a geography lesson and learned a lot from their big brother! He really has a gift of teaching!

He went as far as printing off maps for them to shade and plot aircraft flight paths.

Adele and Damon are researching the top ten richest and poorest countries in the world below...


Damon is teaching Avril about the UK and researching aircraft that they could take to get there.

Damon has been enjoying being back at soccer. We even got to enjoy a day out at Shoal bay after one of the games.


 It was a perfect autumn day!!


 We saw some wonderful bird life..


And the kids got to explore and climb..



 We then decide it would be fun to visit the Shoal Bay lighthouse!! But unfortunately there was water over the path across to the island, so we went for a walk instead :) There it is over on the island!

 Avril has been missing her frog friends since we moved home, and when she heard one call, she was running to find it! We didn't find the frogs but we did find their babies!


 Avril has been going leaps and bounds with her reading. I decided to abandon LLATL blue and have been using All In One Homeschool's getting ready 1 from lesson 172. It has only been 10 lessons and my little girl is reading! She is no longer frustrated and I am relieved!!

Here she is reading McGuffy primer...

 Adele has been enjoying reading many books (she is my reader) but two she has been greatly taken by are Winnie The Pooh and May Gibbs biography. She has discovered a love of history.

When having a bath she discovered a toy which illustrated perfectly the chapter she was reading in Winnie The Pooh.


 Avril has been enjoying MEP maths Year1 and I have been enjoying walking this journey with her. MEP uses many techniques to teach the children and I am very impressed.



Josef enjoyed making a wall from the blocks!

Damon has decided to get serious about his studies. So he is studying African geography (180 days around the world - apologia), zoology and aviation this term. If you have a child keen on aviation, check out this link!

 Adele has started her study on ballet!! The only thing she feels she is interested in pursuing for a career!! Follow this link for your own little ballerina!