Officially lost...

The official start of the journey has begun. The homeschool journey.

According to my facilitator (which I just met yesterday - 2 months into the "school year") I am just continuing with what I have been doing since my kids were born.

Um....no, it is different. But whatev.

I am discovering I am not as unschooly as I thought I would be.

I'm really trying to discover our balance between unschooling and classical education. I'm wondering if I can somehow blend the 2 extremes together. Perhaps Classical Unschoolation? I

The lack of time available for me to spend 1:1 (or 1:2) with my kids tells me that I must unschool. But pretty much that just looks like *lazy* to me (no offense to anyone who unschools...I just don't have the time or resources to present my kids with suitable opportunity to explore and learn on their own due to the millions of kids I have running around here 50 hours a week).

My kind and sweet facilitator told me that I could not stop my kids from learning, even if I tried...so I should just relax. She stressed how God was in control, even though I may like to think that I am in control. Sure, God is in control of the big picture. But I can't pass off everything to Him. I'm thinking my son and I both have to make some sort of effort to learn about the Great, Big, Wonderful Earth.

I feel as though I have done an exhaustive study on homeschool philosophies and will end up being one of those "ecclectic" crazies that can't commit to anything.

My son just came out of the bedroom screaming "Mom! I need tusks!!"

Hmmmm

Ninja Training

Recently Cris and I have decided that we (read: I) are going to homeschool our boys.

I am the most unstructured person I know. So to ease me into the routine of things I have started 10 months early in the hopes that by the time "they" say we should be starting, I will be well underway in developing a routine and providing at least a little structure to our days. I have made up my own cirriculum using dollar store workbooks and a little common sense.

I have included in our sons' training the all important ninja training and they both have natural skill for it:

Ahhh...they make me so proud!

My Purse

Today I was fishing through my "purse" trying to find my keys. It was then that I realized the odd collection of things I had stashed in there.

Know what I found?

This is what I found:
A package of diaper wipes (obviously for diaper changes while we are out).
A toy flower fan (this is one of Toviel's favorite toys).
A Hotsling (for slinging Toviel when he wants to nap while we are out or when he wants to be held when I'm trying to push a full grocery cart around).
An old plastic bag from The Bay (no idea where that came from).
A little stuffed bunny (another one of Toviel's favorite toys).
2 diapers (an obvious need).
A small writing book (for me to write things in when I'm out if I need to write something down).
A soother (again...an obvious need for T).
A instruction sheet for how to mount the Ikea-"Grundtal"-magnetic-knife-holder on the wall (I bought the holder from Ikea and opened the package to make sure I didn't need any extra screws or other hardware from Ikea).
My wallet.
A ziploc bag full of cherry pits (we were eating cherries for a snack while we were out today).
A monster truck.
A bulldozer.
A receipt from Canada Post.
A wad of paper towel (I have allergies...never know when you may need some tissue).
A batmobile.
A roller truck (Elijah's favorite...purchased a few weeks ago at a garage sale).
A half eaten peice of licorice (which I'm actually finishing off right now).
Dental floss.
Five "Fruitsource" fruitbars.
Two kids sunhats.
And finally......my keys.

That's what I carry around with me.

Simple Pleasures

The other day I was at a playground with Cris and the wee ones.
Toviel has not spent a lot of time at playgrounds yet since he wasn't walking well last fall and it has just been too cold to go outside and enjoy playing at a playground, so this was pretty much his first experience walking on sand.

It makes me smile every time I think about it...Toviel taking little steps in the sand and quietly giggling and giggling. Each step brings on a more intense giggle until he squeals with delight. Step. Giggle. Step. Giggle. Step. Giggle.
And it was the kind of giggle that he wasn't sharing with anyone. Just in his own little world...enjoying it quietly by himself...letting his feelings spill out from deep inside him and overflow into his surroundings...sprinkling his pleasure onto the sand with his tiny little giggles yet unaware that he is doing so.

Just from walking on sand. I wish you could have seen it.

That is enjoying life!!

Back to the drawing board, Maytag.

I wish I had kept track of the number of times I've been vomitted on the past little while. I'm sure it would impress you. But I didn't think the numbers would reach such heights and didn't think about it from the start. Hindsight, eh?



My poor boys have been so sick.



You know that your kids are sick when you wish your washing machine not only had a super sanitize cycle, but also had a built in garburator.

Good times...good times.

Oh the stress!

Elijah says to me today, "Um...well, you know Mommy, I'm pretty stressed."

Should I be worried?

It has been a rough couple weeks for him because we've dragged him around, looking at over 40 houses, usually 7-8 at a time. Two days ago we were busy doing house hunting-y things from 2pm until 9pm, in which during that time he only had one meltdown due to some simple miscommunitication. It was a difficult day for him indeed, but I know he will reap the benefits of it soon....because...

WE BOUGHT A HOUSE!!!

Yippeee!!!

Our torture of being homeless for the past 7 months is coming to a close, and in 2 months, not only will we be in our new home, but we will likely already be settled into our new home!!

Not too many people know the relief that I feel. I'm sure there's the odd one out there who knows what it's like to go through crap like this (ahem....like my parents...hehe, right guys? Twice....) Actually I'm sure there's a ton of people who know what I feel like. And I feel like dancing and shouting WOOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

I dunno...

There is nothing like the questions of a 3 year old to make you feel like a complete idiot. At least there is nothing like the questions of my 3 year old to make me feel like a complete idiot.

These are the questions Elijah asked me today...

"What's a spark?"
Okay. We all know what a spark is, but how do you explain it?
And what kind of spark? The spark that starts a fire, or the spark between 2 people?

"Are there germs on this?" (pointing to his cucumber slices)
"Probably" I say.
"WHAT?" he asks with a very startled look on his face.
And then for the millionth time he asks me what a germ is. I've obviously done a poor job of explaining it to him.

"Where does this water come from?" (while washing his hands).
I explain it comes from a water tank in the house and goes through pipes in the walls and floors to get to the faucet.
"But where does that water come from?"
"Um....big water cisterns, maybe. Or a big water reservior."
"Where?"
"I don't know. Somewhere in the city."
The scowl on his face shows me my answer has not satisfied him.

"Why do I have bones?"
Try explaining that one while helping your 3 year old go to the bathroom at Safeway while your 1 year old is standing up in the stroller and screaming because he dropped his soother on the bathroom floor.

"What does dead mean?"
Uh, do we have to talk about this?

"Mommy, why do they call it the Monster Jam?"
Um....uh....good question! Why do they call it the Monster Jam?