Are we there yet? I am sure EVERY parent has heard this question repeated over and over again. There are days when I wonder if we will ever get to that far off “there”… Life is full of journeys: little, big and in-between. Some come to an end and some continue for the rest of your life. The true adventure is getting there… and I have to admit, some of my journeys… well I wish they were shorter.

We woke up to a ton of fresh snow on the ground and more coming down. So our morning plans went out the window in favour of the twins getting into their winter gear and working on what they are calling an igloo with a treehouse on top. I made them promise NOT to go into their igloo alone and we checked it for reinforcement. It IS very sturdy and today they realized – WARM. So the idea of an igloo working as a home is not nearly so abstract for them now!

Showing off the "treehouse" aspect

After fun outside it was back to Ireland and St. Patrick’s Day. We are focusing on some instruments today. Each of the twins picked one they were interested in (harp and fiddle) and coloured a picture of them. Then we read some information about each one I found online and wrote what they found interesting on the back of their illustration. We also watched some YouTube videos. My favourite of the two we watched has to be the fiddler. We have two more exotic instruments to learn about as well – the Bodhran and the Uilleann. The boys really enjoyed the videos for those. 

This one got Trinity and Emanuel dancing! So of course, PICTURE TIME! 

SPIN

We found some more colouring pages to share HERE and HERE. Trinity really enjoyed colouring the Irish princess and had to do TWO versions. 

We finally started our paper mache project today… glue and water and torn up newspaper is so messy! And we have kids who HATE getting dirty… so… we squished the twins’ hands in it and put Emanuel to work tearing paper strips… It was fun! Though I had forgotten how much difficulty there is in getting ALL the white glue off our hands! We made the bowl portion and the little base pieces but are going to glue those on once they are dried. You can find the project we are working on HERE. 

Getting messy

Of course there was a SECOND run out into the snow this afternoon. We have had so much come down it looked like the first time they went out! I have to admit, the igloo – rather cool! But… I think we have enough now… could someone turn it off???

IGLOO

Emanuel

I am not sure what it is about a truly snowy day but it seems to sap a lot of my energy and drive away. The world looks absolutely beautiful though with the fresh layer of white, pure snow on everything. However, I have not exactly been productive. Although it does feel safe… like we are insulated away from the world with our family together… Echo is healthy and fine in here, the boys are smart and learning well… Trinity and Emanuel adorable and Ken my hardworking soulmate… there is no depression, no PDA, no dissenting of my choice to homeschool… the world is right here and right now. Don’t get me wrong, I am on Facebook during the day… my MSN is connected (though I am slow getting to some messages) and I check my email periodically for interesting info but right now… right now the van doesn’t matter, the bread is done in the breadmaker and the house smells lovely… right now the world stands still. 

So a rather introspective day… 

So much snow!

Mondays are always a bit of a mish mash for this family. There is the inevitable whining to play MORE Minecraft or computer games, the randomness of which kid is actually interested in learning something new and of course the constant requests to go down and bother Daddy (and today Sean as well) that have to be headed off before feet hit the stairs. 

We started our true focus on the Inuit people and the land they live in. We have a stack of books and actually managed to go through 4 of them and read the first chapter in a 5th. The goal is to actually make it through all of the books we have out from the library by Wednesday. The main lapbook I am using with supplement files from a friend can be found HERE. 

Working at the table

Even Emanuel got creative and on his own suggestion made a black paper picture. He loves using the white crayons to create art on black paper! I am VERY impressed by his igloo. He added a person crawling in after I took this picture. 

Igloo on black

We found a really interesting video on YouTube to share as well… Watch a young Inuit boy make his first Igloo!

Another interesting and more amateur video done up by an Inuit girl has some interesting information in it. 

Another interesting video from a definite CANADIAN perspective. I love the little bit about poutine (and boy did it make me hungry!).

And here is a shorter one with different aspects of Inuit life!

I will share more videos and such as we come across them! Zander is especially interested in the tools they use. So I have some research to do tonight! I think we are all enjoying learning about someone who lives a VERY different life in the same country as we do!

The start of our readings

Karyn and I ran out for poutine and Dollorama perusing. I spoiled myself… well Karyn spoiled me (it is always a struggle, the wish to purchase something and the wish to not use the debit card for said tiny purchase so she combined ours) with a new set of Valentine’s Day themed socks… time to make owls! I would like to pick up a couple more pairs of socks before Valentine’s Day passes. If nothing else, they would be great gifts for little girls! 

The part for the van has been shipped, it went out either Friday or this morning so it is not looking good for us to have our own van for the weekend. Thankfully we have the Chris’s on hold. I am still trying to get my mind around the fact that we are almost to their party. Where has the first month of the year gone???

And here I am at the end of the day thinking… didn’t I do more? Though we have learned a lot! More on the Inuit to share tomorrow and of course library day! So definitely will have more to share! But for now, it is time to post and then get ready for bed… or watch more anime… choices choices!

My little girl