July 14-17

Monday the 14th was the first day of our VBS at our own church. We did make sure to go over on the 13th after all the other fun stuff and help set up.

The whole experience was pretty amazing. We had a Monday through Thursday program of half days. 9am to noon. One thing it DID show us is that we really do enjoy our flexible beginnings in our mornings. Our homeschool day starts BETWEEN 8:30 and 9… depending on our eating schedule and if we all have a late evening.

The kids were broken up into 4 groups and we had kids in each one. I was in charge of following along with the littlest ones. Ages 3-5… lots of adorable energy. By day 4 they were rather fed up with the routine. I think it was really the little guys’ limit at that point. It was nice though, while the twins were together it was fun for the other 3 to spread their wings a little. And since Echo was only MOSTLY potty trained I really had to be there anyway.

We had various stations… science, craft, storytime, music, snack and games. I was the only one who was attached to an age group and not a station. Each day there was the same rotation for each group so it was nice and consistent.

There was lots of creativity… snacks were themed as well and the pastor was there to open 3 of the 4 days. We had one day with no water due to road work but we managed! And the science teacher brought owl pellets for the big kids to dissect (just like we had seen on Dirty Jobs… the boys were so excited!).

So here are the pictures… I tried to get a bit of everything and everyone. So much fun!!!!

July 5-7

With all the holidaying over we were still home alone. The first Saturday of the month but no driver, we did not make Home Depot for the monthly craft. In exchange we had a large amount of quiet…Just the two girls and myself is so very very different. We started our morning with dry cereal and cartoons in the livingroom. A nice slow start to a whole day of homebody fun.

After breakfast we moved the fun outside to the pool Daddy had hung around long enough the day before to blow up. It is HUGE with just two little girls in it.

We had treats in the sunshine and played babies and mommies.

With a quick lunch indoors…

And then back out to make pain fireworks. I bought black poster paper specifically for this activity. This is a yearly craft for us. Put liquid paint on the paper, place a plastic lid on top and smack it with a hammer. The impact makes the amazing fireworks you see the girls making!

They also did some personal creating

After all that fun it was time for tv and napping.

Then back out into the yard.

A trend that continued into Sunday where we had our play time and then drained the pool. Of course we watched it go all the way down the drive and then down the street to the flood drain.

We took total advantage of our girls only time while the boys were out on their camping/Gabbi’s birthday party.

Of course with everyone coming home the 7th was a write off… well… except for sewing! Of course now to post and move onto the July learning!! 

June 21-26

What to do on a sunny Saturday, the first one of SUMMER? Operation Geocache in a new location was less than successful, though we did find a bird’s nest…

A rather anxious turtle they corralled back to the safety of the marshy bits…

And a glider being flown from the parking lot.

You can just see it off in the distance. The guy had two and did some rather impressive maneuvers

After that nature filled adventure it was time to hop into our bathing suits and back into the pool in the front yard.

On Sunday we buzzed the twins’ hair nice and short.

Even with rain the kids got some time in the yard on the scooters.

Monday was a bit of a wash what with Nana and Baba getting home from Mexico and all. But Echo is one determined student and got in her workpage fun.

Additionally we have signed up 4 of the 5 kids (Echo is not fully potty trained so can’t) in the same VBS as Renee and Chris’ kids are in. They go to a daycare that is in a church and that church has a massive 4 day FREE daycare! Quite the amazing church – Living Faith Church HERE. They are there from 9 am to noon with us just dropping them off. It has made for quiet mornings and afternoons of light schooling.

Trinity is working on completing one of her review workbooks. We have given ourselves the summer to get these books done.

Back into the pool…

With a butterfly for company.

I swear the twins can play AND understand Agricola way better than I ever will! Somehow… not that upsetting! But it is neat to see them stretch their reasoning, problem solving and reading skills. In fact, one of the boys’ 10 top Summer To Do items is a boardgame day (probably on one of the extremely common rainy days!).

Miss Echo caught up on her well tanned Baba snuggles. Apparently Mexico was a very relaxing vacation for everyone!

Tuesday once again began just me and my baby… with ICE CREAM on the way home from VBS in celebration of Mommy’s 35th birthday.

And then a continuation of the pattern… into the pool. Splish Splash, this thing has paid for itself in entertainment value already!

Ken took me out for my birthday just us two to a wonderful Japanese place that cooks your food (private chef!) right in front of you! We tried chicken liver and green tea sherbet! the liver was… odd… the sherbet good! The chef was amazing as well, so personable. (Thanks to Shandai for the recommendation) 

Yup I took a pic in the car

Main course of dinner with other bits and bobs

The green tea with green tea sherbet

lovely ambiance

By Wednesday Echo was REALLY missing her siblings… lay around and watch tv sort of missing.

I am so proud of the kids for agreeing to continue with light schooling even after a busy VBS filled morning. Gammie’s mailed worksheets are a HUGE help.

This time I had two more garage sale finds! Gotta stop when you are driving home from wherever and see a sign… right?

Thursday was the final day of VBS and a busy morning. Not only did Ken have to drop the kids but then he had an appointment for Echo. So it was Baba that drove me to pick the kids up in the pandemonium that is a large VBS. We did enjoy watching the neighbourhood bunny in the front yard. Before they left for Echo’s hearing exam. Turns out she is just fine with wax buildup. So baby girl is a bit of a lazy talker with dirty ears that SHOULD have decreased her hearing abilities!

Packed with a snack on the way to her hearing test

It’s always an adventure with these two… there was some sort of a fire somewhere in the hospital so their entire wing got evacuated!! Everything was fine in the end though.

Gavin actually made his first Pokemon trade with a kid from there (name unknown).

And the final craft was rather cool! We gave our information to one of the boys the twins met. His mom had asked if we could do so on Wednesday. Sadly the rush to leave and Ken waiting when he dropped off as long as he could meant we had to give one of our little half business cards we gave as Christmas cards post move for address change had to be handed to the boy himself. So it is a bit of a crap shoot as to whether or not we will ever hear from them. We could not go to the evening program as we had other commitments.

4 days of 9 until noon and I can honestly say… our family is not hard wired for that sort of life. I think we really do enjoy and maybe now appreciate a little more, the flexibility that is homeschooling. BUT the experience of a large VBS has been great and really got us excited about our own church’s much smaller version. That one Echo is enrolled in too as I am helping her age group.

She really was a card this week 🙂