457 + 353 Weeks

I look back on the photos from this week, and I can't believe they were only taken a week ago.  It has been raining on and off, so we got out when we could.  One day we tried to play Finska at the lighthouse oval, but it was so squelchy we left and went to the Bogey Hole in Mollymook instead, so the kids could climb rocks.  They desperately needed to get their bodies moving that day, particularly Arley.  It helped a little, but he has had a few rough days this week.  Thankfully the last two days have been better, but oh my goodness, he put us through the ringer.  It's not his fault by any means, but it's so hard to remember that at the time.  He manages to put us all in a bad mood, and then he and Jeff get into it, and all hell breaks loose!  This is such a hard time for everyone, but autistics who require routine are really hit hard.  We have no more swimming, no more Peak, no more Lolo and Dida, no more Wes.  Luckily tennis started up again on Tuesday, so that means we will have that every week, plus two horse riding lessons.  I have created some structure every day by having set meal and snack times, which is the best I can do at the moment!

We did finally get out to play Finska at Collers Beach one day, so Bella got a runaround too.  We have been doing lots of arts and crafts and science experiments, and we have the microscope out permanently now.  We've also had a lot of rat play, and now the kids want to invest in a really big cage so they can get more rats!  Jeffrey's not very keen though.  I think it would be fun.  The kids and I have started a ratty account on Instagram this week, and they are loving it.  So far they have 66 followers in 4 days, so they are pretty chuffed. I'm happy because they are helping me with photos, even taking some themselves, and they are learning the Photoshop app on my phone.

And they have even done a little schoolwork!  We are required to show the AP some work when he comes around every two years to check that we are actually homeschooling, so every now and then the kids buckle down for ten minutes (after 20 minutes of complaining!) and do some written evidence of learning.  They are learning with every single thing that they do, and the proof is in the pudding, as they are choc-full of knowledge, but the education department still wants to see a bit of written evidence along the way.  I feel so terrible for the all the school kids who go to the schools that are requiring them to be logged in to computers for hours a day, five days a week.  Learning doesn't have to be that way!

We have a couple of days of rain ahead of us, so keep your fingers crossed for our sanity!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMga9M3yiEk

Carmie practising her long jump :)

I only have minor heart attacks when they climb this.

At the Bogey Hole

Ratty love!

Art project

Family Finska game

Running races

Ready for a science experiment

Villainous Carmie

Nacho helping Carmie to learn about sentence structure :)