Still June 27th!

Cuz I had to share!

Echo and I

Trinity and Me

I still need a crinoline

The back

SPIN!

Time keeps on trundling by. I actually feel like I blink and BAM days have passed. We did manage to run to the Dollarama and get some new workbooks on Monday and Tuesday started using them. I am doing my usual review of the previous year for the twins and Emanuel to see if those basics have stuck. Though really Emanuel is just doing the Kindergarten level, the twins are re-doing grade 1 in brief. It is actually going rather well and a lovely confidence building activity. 

Workbook time

Kids at work

Zander made the mistake of leaving his shoes outside and luckily the dogs did NOT eat them… so in order to earn them back I had him cleaning house. He was AMAZING at scrubbing the bathroom and swept, put things away… wiped everything down. Lesson really seemed to be learned as it was past lunch time when he could finally get outside again! 

Earning back his shoes

Emanuel snuck in some DS time

Ken and myself got to go out for dinner to celebrate my birthday too! Sharon came by to watch the kids so mom and Mike would have the freedom to leave if need be and he and I dressed up and ate out (Irish pub, sorry no pictures we were just so RELIEVED to get to go out! ALONE!). It was a lovely night out and gave us some much needed down time without forcing mom and Mike to be stationary. 

Grandpa time

Now Wednesday… Wednesday was a special day! It was the library’s High Tea… so of course all the girls in the house HAD TO dress up and go out! We each ended up with our own personalized fascinator.

With her fascinator bits

Picking flowers

We did good

Enjoyed a good story.

Storytime

And of course had tea (Blue Eyes)! 

Tea time

With scones

The boys had to come up from the children’s library area and enjoy THOSE snacks of course!

Though only the girls dressed up

Thursday was a visiting day with the Bleau family. Lots of kids, lots of fun and lots of laughter. The best remedy EVER to a stressful existence. 

On the deck

Playing video games

Time keeps ticking along… and with it our days and nights. Tuesday was an interesting combination of outside fun and inside schoolwork. Our morning was dedicated to learning… with our flag folders of course I had to get my hands on copies of the Pledge of Allegiance and the US National Anthem (first stanza). And with that their books are pretty well done. 

Celebratory cupcakes!

The piggy bank was finished as well… Daddy cut the slot and all of the kids had a go at adding stickers to the bottle. They are VERY proud of it. (Picture to follow eventually)

With Farmer Boy covered and some colouring and pictures created and lunch eaten the twins headed out to play in the pool… in the rain! Apparently that made it more fun? We had some thunder, no lightening and a warm rain so I figured why not. Besides, they had energy to burn and the others were all napping. (Though we did have a rogue Echo get into markers while we were busy and she coloured her hand and some of the carpet, thank goodness for vinegar water… came right out!)

Such a naughty baby

We did have a mild issue regarding the tv Tuesday and had to unplug all of the sets in the kids’ rooms (Emanuel’s and the twins’). The easiest way to deal with that was to disconnect. What a great reinforcement that our choice to cancel our cable tv was the best one. Netflix and Crunchyroll are much more affordable AND less tempting as they have to get onto the laptop to get to it anyway. 2 days tv free. Though I allowed for the Weather Network for our schooling purposes and a movie when I went out on a walk in the evening… this time it was Echo and Gavin who joined in with Grandma and Gypsy. Most of the kids are getting over a bug so it was good for Echo to get some fresh air before bedtime. We got to see a train… actually had to WAIT on one as it stopped on the tracks for a few minutes before making an almighty noise and then moving on. 

Waiting for the train

Oh and for those interested in Viking ships… a friend on Facebook linked me a site that was local to her! The Jorvik Viking Centre. Isn’t the internet grand!! 

We are still dealing with acting out and loud children but at the same time, I think we are doing well… There are moments that I wonder if my norm, my kids are what others would see as acceptable. Or are we louder than most? More outrageous?? 

Wednesday was another slightly stalled day… Ken worked hard and long as Thursday AND Friday are implementation days for a couple of his contracts. This meshes badly with the viewings we are trying to set up, the going out for things to do and the general family time as it is. So we made do at home today. Except for in the evening when mom helped me out by driving me, Echo, Trinity and Emanuel to bedtime story time. We are missing the next week but going to the High Tea the following Wednesday. 

The craft at the library

Zander designed Gavin his very own colour by numbers! He worked really hard and figured out colour codes, though he DID copy the words off the sheets we bought, HE sounded out each one and wrote them out… I only had to help with the word gray.

Zander's colour by numbers

Of course the backyard was sunny for most of the day so where did the kids go but OUT! As much as they wanted, until I figured they were starting to get too much sun!

Fun in the backyard

Best way to end the day – HAIRCUTS for the twins! We are now all basically presentable… woohoo! Mom had to borrow her friend Ashley’s shaver set as we didn’t have our attachments on hand. Nice and short on both of them! 

Cutting of the hair!

I have to apologize for my inconsistent updates as of late… my mind has been scattered and stressed lately. I have to say I REALLY appreciate how Ken is not only working full time but dealing with my insecurities (can you really blame me after last month’s ugh fest?), being a father and working with me to hunt the mighty rental. 

Watering Grandma's flowers