I am trying to wrap my mind around the fact that we are into our last week in April. Which means we are staring down at our last month here in the city. Where has the time gone? Do I honestly have enough time to get everything packed AND continue with life as usual? Thankfully the boys keep coming up with new ways to further their schooling like Gavin’s book… Zander’s massive push to work through a new and more difficult phonics book… and now the large container or beads. We are finding fun in our every day activities – making cupcakes together, singing silly songs, learning a poem here and there and teaching Trinity and Emanuel what they themselves have learned.

Now I have not been to the letter with the plan we came up with the beginning of this schooling year but I am finding that every deviation has brought us to find out something new about ourselves and our learning style. Flexibility has been a needed skill and allowing the boys to go on THEIR speed not mine. It amazes me how they learn things out of no where. While Gavin was gone Zander realized that two 10’s is 20, and that he CAN count by 2’s when he has our blocks out… and 3’s up to 9!

I find I am realizing my own skills and knowledge are more than I thought as well. I accomplish things on my own and with the boys that I never thought I would. They are teaching me things too – confidence, patience, joy in the little things. Looking through their eyes at things I already know has been amazing and will continue to be amazing. I am so proud of us and our choice to homeschool… to have this larger family and to live here in Alberta with Ken working on his dream.

Today marks the day 3 years ago the Trinity was born if you can believe it! Where did the time go? I have to make some time and space to do up her yearly photo. This year I am torn between her Easter dress and a Tinkerbell costume she got as a gift a year or two ago.

BirthDATE cupcake

We dressed all 5 of the kids back up in their Easter finery and did some photos of all of them together. I need to pick a nice and quiet afternoon to get the close up pictures of Echo in her dress… having all 4 of the other kids running around and involved gets her rather cranky pretty quickly.

Miss T

Pretty in pink

The whole group in need of cropping

We have gotten into a nice pattern now that the weather has changed. After breakfast the whole bunch of them headed outside to play in the backyard, burn off energy. Even Trinity can be coerced out now that there are nice areas of dry ground.

Out in the morning

Then the kids took advantage of the new beads they got from Uncle Wayne and some cord I had in our bead bucket and made some patterns into bracelets and necklaces. Good pattern practice for the boys… a new pretty for Trinity.

Busy beaders

Completed bracelets

Gavin wrote another page in his story. We are nearing the end now! Though I was informed it will not be FINISHED until we LAMINATE.

Newest page

The boys had a SECOND run about outside… this time I had them come in and illustrate their adventure. Soccer is a new favourite here. I cannot wait until we are settled in the new city. Maybe even in time to join a group, but if nothing else find some new parks to kick ball around!

Gavin's soccer team

Zander playing soccer

It has been a rather good day… for the most part. No call back yet on our genetic testing appointment, Ken is calling Thursday morning first thing if we do not hear from our office OR the offices we need the appointments from. We gave them Friday as it was Good Friday and many places were closed and then Monday as for some it was holiday Monday but we need these appointments made and written down for our own sanity. I just want to progress with this and get a satisfactory answer to the whole issue. Did you know that our local Public Health hasn’t been recording drop in weights in our official file? We didn’t… which of course became an issue. Thankfully we have our little book that they fill out all of the weights in with their date stamp and distinctive handwritten short hand. From now on I am going to DEMAND everything is imputed in front of me, best for everyone in case a history is needed!

Playing soccer with Daddy before bed

Now to get back to a little down time, last night I packed up our winter gear and sorted through Trinity’s closet. Tonight I need to see if I can downsize some more of the random clutter… Ken may have 2 places for friends to go check out for us as soon as this week!!!! Exciting!

Miss Echo sitting solo with her puffed wheat