Mid week already and the Valentine’s Day/Birthday fun continues. I got to sleep in this morning as Ken had hooked the Wii up and put the kids’ new drawing game on. It is basically a tablet and they loved it! As I was asleep during the play time I am not exactly sure what all there is to do but I do know that everyone had something they COULD do!

We have continued our Inuit learning. Today it was hunting and Inuksuks. I have been alternating with them writing things down and myself. That way we are focusing on the content and not so much the frustration of having to print letters and words. We keep finding more and more interesting things about this group of peoples!!!

We spent a nice chunk of time with our workbooks and with Sean here for a visit Ken and I were able to leave everyone (Echo was sleeping) at home and do some very necessary grocery shopping. I am on the look out constantly to find ways to cut corners with food. The kids have HUGE appetites and our wallet is far from full enough to indulge all their fancies. I think my best find to date was the breadmaker. Our first was Ken’s mother’s and when we used it until it broke I found another on Kijiji for a steal. Add to that recipes like my mom’s brown beans that we converted to a slow cooker recipe and really ANY slow cooker recipe and we are able to stretch things further. I would love to hear more ideas from people! We use a lot of rice, potatoes and noodles as well. Anything to decrease the amount of meat as the main. Any advice? Supper tonight was helped along with the lovely piece of moose sent home from Grandma’s! Having a step-father who is a registered native american is lovely… he gets to hunt for personal use and as we are a part of his family… well we are VERY appreciative!

Workbooks in the sunshine

And some Magic School Bus

I have to share another Valentine’s themed worksheet the twins did today – this onehas the boys write something lovely or nice for family. Each of the hearts has a slightly different saying to finish. I had the boys each do one for each other and then they either did an Emanuel or a Trinity. I think it is important to get them to focus on  good things about their siblings! Sometimes I think we ALL need a reminder to look for the GOOD in people.  

Finished hearts

Oh don’t forget about the maze Emanuel did this morning. He loves a good maze. Of course what was REALLY wonderful was the picture he drew on the back of the sheet. I think the maze will be sacrificed to paste the picture into our Inuit lapbook. I love spontaneous creativity. 

Emanuel and his Inukshuk

I have been creating my own little parliament of Valentine themed owls (a little later for the special day I know). I figure I will put a few up on Facebook and then the rest will be gifted through the year. 

Owls

So I am still debating other presents… and my weekend goal is to get that extra page up here on my blog for ideas and suggestions. I do so like to work ahead! I do need to get a nice variety of owls sitting on my shelves for when the need comes! 

I have to admit, I have been feeling a tinge of green-ness about the eyes lately… metaphorically speaking. It seems like that feeling is  a slightly familiar one when it comes to gift giving events and holidays. Those visual and material signs of affection, approval and generosity are lovely to receive but when not possible to do so (or give for that matter), are hard to watch. Now don’t get me wrong, we have what we need… some of what we want and are truly blessed here in our little home BUT (oh is there always going to be a but?) there are those unrealistic wishes that create the discontent. I have been spending some time, these past weeks… well since Christmas really… trying to reassess in my mind what IS important, what things, trips, events, etc are necessary to myself and my family’s true happiness. I am one of  two adults in this home and my expectations cannot be the same as my children who do NOT understand the realities… we do not NEED every new thing, or even every OLD thing… we do not have to compete/compare with the rest of the world. What we DO need is happiness in our hearts. We can share that and our love abundantly and really, I think the world does not gift that enough. Do I WANT a new toy or two, yes, but what I NEED to stability, my husband, my kids, my family and friends… I need to be aware of the fact that what I create is as special as something much more expensive when I find the right recipient. I may not be able to buy the kids the newest toys BUT when Emanuel asks for an owl, well I can make that… teach Gavin a new stitch, create hair things for our Trinity or simply play a game with Zander. Someday we will be in a position to do and give more, I hope that at that time I still remember the priceless lessons and the sweet gifts I have received that have not been costly now! 

But enough of that… Valentine’s week continues and with it desert with Ken and time to myself to create… maybe TOMORROW I will get my time with my brush and ink to practice my characters???? 

Cuties!

So we had a trade off on Sunday – we missed Sunday school but in return we spent another 3/4 of a day with Grandma and Gypsy AND got to go visit the Bleau family who are settling back into their home here in Alberta after 3 years in California. But first the morning… well breakfast and then games, new toys and Grandma time. We had leftovers for lunch – grilled cheese sandwiches with the roast beef inside (very yum!). We had to tidy up our stuff of course but everyone had time to kick back and relax. 

With Puppy

After lunch Karyn, mom and I headed over to her work to check out some of the dresses they had for sale. I found a pair of boots that I WOULD have bought … if they had been the right size. Sadly a half a size or more too big! Boo. BUT we had fun looking! Soon after that Karyn had to head back home – her mom is here for a week for some bonding time. 

We had to pack the family up (thank goodness for the borrowed van or I doubt it would all fit!) and head over to visit with the Bleaus around 2:30. They have a lot of room so the kids were able to run and have fun! We actually decided to stay past supper time and spoiled the kids with pizza and breadsticks! So much fun AND we got to catch up IN PERSON with people we so rarely see. I think once we have a more reliable vehicle we will make many more visits. After all Ken gets a ton done work wise at mom’s and there is a great children’s library in town… now I just need to convince Ken, well and have a reliable van. 

PIZZA and a full table

Echo is small in comparison to many things... well the projection tv is no different! But she did love watching it.

It was definitely on its way to bedtime by the time we got home. Ken emptied the van (almost but more about that later) and left to drive the 15 min or so to Chris and Chris’ to return the van and then catch a return ride back while I let the kids play a bit before bed. After all we had to put some things away in their rooms anyway. 

It wasn’t until Ken got home with (he) Chris and (she) Chris’ computer (it needs some help with its RAM) that he realized that HIS computer was still in the van and that they had driven back in the car! OUCH. So luckily he could do SOME work with the netbook and such and (she) Chris had to come through town early anyway. At least all of the other stuff made it in! We are just out of practice with using the stow and go! 

Monday started off with a mess (to be expected, I mean this is like Christmas in February around here) BUT we rallied, cleaned up and had breakfast. Then it was onto the school stuff, well somewhat. We are still working on our Inuit lapbook. Today more animals were drawn (seals) and we talked about what they did for fun and games… and of course read some more interesting information. This time on their spiritual beliefs. I am not sure how well the boys understood it but they asked questions and I know I learned a bit!!

Train break

Trinity and her special "un birthday" gift from Aunty Karyn - LOLA! You can draw on her clothes and bag, wash them and then do it again!

Gavin has been hard at work on his craft gift from myself and Ken – it is making mosaics using little squares of foam that are backed with adhesive, mess free and really quite amazing! 

Working on his craft

Two masterpieces

There has been colouring and building and taking back down and building again! I have reorganized ONE of our shelving units (the one in the dining area) to my own personal satisfaction and hope to continue my way through ALL of the homeschooling supplies this week. Whenever we get new things there always seems to be this horrible instant mess of what we already have! 

Snacks, new toys and a sunny room

I spent some time sorting out the nativity costumes mom sent home with me, BUT you have to wait until the NEXT blog entry to see the kids model 4 of them! I know, cruel and all that but I figure I will work my way through pictures in order. 

I did finish a cross stitch. A second copy of one with somewhat strong language! But for a good friend! This one used some metallic in the lettering, a blue based one which looks lovely!

DONE

I am sure there are little things I forgot but I plan on thinking through on my special moments from the weekend and sharing those later… AFTER the pictures from the nativity costumes. I won’t draw that out too much longer! 

When I was taking photos of the kids in their costumes it was against this wall. After I was all done Miss Echo walked up to the wall and made her cheese noise and smiled... she kept doing it for at least 3 pictures before satisfied!

And another child falls to the cold… we now have THREE with runny noses as Trinity joins Emanuel and Echo. Myself, well I am feeling ill but better. Thankfully this is all happening now and NOT when we are at mom’s for the birthday party. Instead of organized learning everyone broke off on their own or in pairs to work on something that interests them. 

Gavin and Trinity working on learning to tell time

Zander reading all by himself!

He honestly IS awake

That is not to say we didn’t read something interesting! A really wonderful story about a young Inuit girl creating Inukshuks. There was some wonderful information in the story about how caribou were (and are) used by these people. And the pictures in the story were absolutely lovely!

Our storybook for the day

Echo has decided it is time to start drawing. Sadly with her RIGHT hand… it is starting to look like I am the sole lefty… boo. 

Working with her crayons

So with runny noses and mild fevers 3 of my 5 are out of commission. Thank goodness we had NO WHERE to be today! We have had some baths… washcloths for the funny noses and a lovely afternoon nap for the 3 younger. We are going to focus more on our school work, barring MORE sick kids and of course the twins have their new responsibility – helping pack for trips! They do a pretty good job actually. They are learning to plan ahead, to be aware of what is needed and to economize to ensure that there is enough space in the vehicle for everything. After all you can’t take EVERYTHING. Especially when Daddy has to take his computer as well! 

Ken and myself were spoiled by Sean for dinner today – Burger King Whoppers and KFC! Decadent for this house! Late supper after the kids were in bed. It has been fun to have him around this week. Moving out of the city has curtailed our time with the guys substantially. Next weekend is our cookie party which will bring a nice portion of our friends back together as well. Seriously booked up for February!