294 + 190 Weeks

I can't believe how quickly the weeks are flying by right now.  I guess it's because we are doing so much, as the weather is so lovely, it's hard to stay indoors.  We did have a rainy Saturday, so we had the kids' friend Delphi over to help the kids paint some large canvases for me (as a base for my Balloon paintings).  The kids had a blast drawing and painting on these huge canvases.  They had one each, and their paintings were awesome.  I was sorry that I had to change them into Balloon paintings.  Next time I am going to paint the canvas first to get the canvas covered, and then I'm going to let them paint on top, because their paintings were better than my abstracts!  And then I am going to sell them in the gallery - I bet they will sell :)

We have had plenty of outdoor fun too.  We had a park day, and we went Pokemon hunting with Pokemon Go.  We also took the kids up to Nowra to the Aquatic Centre up there, where they have an outdoor pool and a big splash pad play area.  There was hardly anyone there, the kids were stoked!  Carmie got her first real sunburn, and even though I have slathered her face in aloe vera, I still feel guilty.  Today we went to Narrawallee Inlet to have a play with the other homeschool kids in the area, and it was such a lovely morning.  The kids had a great time paddling in the inlet and playing at the park - I am so glad there are others around like us so the kids can have friends while all their other friends are at school.

Speaking of school, Carmie's Montessori day went well again this week.  She would rather be home with me, but she enjoys it once she is there.  I think it is good for her, because she does things for her tutor that she would never do for me.  While she was there, I took Arley to the pirate ship park and then to lunch at the Golfy with Lolo and Dida.  It is really nice having some one-on-one time with him too.  We picked Carmie up in the afternoon, and the kids had a play with Delphi's chickens and the goats that had escaped their pen and were eating all the veggies from the garden.

This week the kids got new computers from their lovely Pop.  They were so excited, and have been using them every day.  Arley is learning to read and can sound out many three letter words.  I have never done a single flash card with him - he is just catching on, so I think he is going to be an early reader like Carmie.  Carmie is still reading avidly, and our house has piles of books everywhere.  I am learning to live with the clutter.  Homes educating is a whole new world, and you definitely have to have a certain mindset.  Arley's behaviour is much better still, which makes life much easier.  And Carmie, she is a goof.  I asked her to stop doing something the other day, and she turned to me and said, "No fair, clown hair!"  Now clown hair has become a term of endearment for me and Jeff.  We have no idea where she got it from!

Carmie's been following my instructions to make herself breakfast in the mornings. This was her French toast:

 The kids in the studio.  So fun!

 At Mollymook

 New computers - thanks so much Pop!

 Such a goose

 At the Aquatic Centre - Arley was too excited!

 At Narrawallee this morning

 This is what school work looks like to a three year old :)

293 + 189 Weeks

We have had such a busy and amazing week!  On Friday the kids began their swimming lessons for the year, and then they went to a pool party.  It was the birthday of some homeschooled twins that we know, so there were ten homeschooled kids there, and the kids had such a good time.  We survived the heatwave on Saturday by spending the day at Mollymook beach.  The kids love to jump the waves, they could literally do it all day.  Carmie goes right in like a champ and Arley clings to me for dear life, so it is both scary and exhausting!  The kids and I spent a good part of the afternoon making a sand castle and collecting shells to decorate it.  Such a good day.  The next day I took the kids to the farm to see their cousins who were down from Bowral, and to meet their new puppy.  We had a family lunch in Milton, and were very grateful for the rain that came to cool everything down!

On Monday, Carmie started her Montessori 'school' day, which she is going to once a week.  It is being held at her friend's house; there are six kids, and the tutor is really great.  Carmie seemed to enjoy herself.  Afterwards, the kids were lucky enough to get in a swim in their friend's pool (very lucky indeed considering I had banned them from pool swimming all week for being naughty at the pool party and being the only two kids refusing to get out of the water, and swimming away from me like they couldn't hear me calling them for ten minutes!).  

On Tuesday afternoon, the kids and I took our crazy dog Bella down to Collers Beach, which is a dog-friendly beach here.  Of course I forgot to take my phone so I got no photos, but they had so much fun, and Bella ran around like a mad dog.  I think we are going to spend lots of time there having picnics, as it is so beautiful, and we can take the dog with us :)

On Wednesday, I took the kids to kinder gym.  Arley was SO much better behaved this time around!  He has been quite naughty lately, and for that matter, so has Carmie a little.  I got fed up, did a bit of research, discussed it with Jeff, then we came up with a new 'positive discipline' strategy.  We sat the kids down and told them how things were going to go from now on if they were naughty, and that was three days ago, and I tell you what, things have changed!  We have never sat down with them before and laid things out like that, and it has made all the difference.  Fingers crossed that it lasts!!

On Wednesday afternoon we met Carmie's friend Ness (and her family) down at Narrawallee Inlet for a play at the park, a picnic dinner and a walk along the muddy banks, as it was low tide.  There were hundreds of soldier crabs there, it was a trip to see!  Of course Arley stepped on one and just escaped injury.

And today was also such a great day!  Jeff was working when we got up, and I asked Carmie if she would like to make her own breakfast (her first time).  She followed my instructions to a T and made herself egg on toast and a babyccino  :)  Then we relaxed at home for a bit before the kids helped me get us all ready to go to the beach (this is also a first, usually it's me running around like a mad woman trying to get everyone ready!).  When Jeff got home, we went to Dolphin Point, and it was the MOST BEAUTIFUL DAY!  I could not believe how gorgeous it was down there.  I took about a million photos (apologies!), but I couldn't help myself.  There were hardly any people down there, and the water was crystal clear.  So nice.  We stayed until late afternoon, as Arley just refused to leave!

See?  Best week ever!

The north end of Mollymook Beach

 Swimming after the Montessori day.  Check out their view!  Best location and nicest people :)

 At kinder gym

 Arley's blue steel face

 Picnic dinner at Narrawallee Inlet

 The crab right before Arley stepped on it!

 Carmie making her first proper breakfast

 Today at Dolphin Point

 My two favourite men :)