We were lower in numbers (people wise) due to illness… seriously February seems to be the month for colds/flus/general ick feeling. BUT we rallied with those who could make it (some of which were not at 100% – myself included) and we had ourselves a cookie party and then some! In fact, I can safely say I am cookied out! 

Sitting around munching

There was time for a game of chess

Miss Echo and Aunty

I personally made sugar cookies with the kids, and then we took the left over icing from the birthday party the weekend before and put it in a bowl for people to help themselves. Ken made his chocolate balls everyone seems to love, though he was baking while we partied. I took the veggies I had in my fridge including some cauliflower (he) Chris picked up for me in the city (such a sweety) and had a veggie plate to offset the sweet. We made coffee and used some of our Kenyan tea (lovely and strong loose tea that worked perfectly in the tea pot Karyn gave me – thank you Esther!!) as our drink offerings. 

Veggies! And Fat Sheep's Daughter!

We had a few people who could not make it due to sickness, Kristen and Fydo, Esther… though Karyn braved her near voiceless state and joined in on the fun. Lauralee and Victoria brought their homemade offerings and some cartons of juice. Chocolate orange cookies from Lauralee and chocolate chip or raisin cookies from Victoria. Sean picked up chocolate chip and monster cookies from the store with a case of cream soda (which is an unusual pop to make it into this house and apparently a nice change from our norm!). We also had Chris, Chris and Mae (remember the other bridesmaid from the wedding? She is featured in Fat Sheep’s blog of the same time as Fat Sheep’s date!). They came with gingerbread men, peanut butter cookies and shortbread cookies… oh and A&W Rootbeer, diet of the same and the familiar case of Coke. Quite the offerings for a party!

And the leftovers… some took cookies home but the lion share remained here. I now have a variety in the freezer and some containers on the counter and some VERY pleased children. In the summer we are planning to have a Veggie and Fruit party and try having everyone bring a vegetable or a fruit and a drink and see what we end up with (or maybe even MAKE drinks from what we have… how adventurous can we get??). 

This is some of the left overs if you can believe it!

There were some belated birthday presents for the boys including movies! We are now in possession of TWO Cyberchase DVDs as well as a Charlie and Lola (volume 7). Amazingly enough one of the math ones included FRACTIONS! Timely huh?

Prezzies

After seeing everyone off, tidying up the cookies (and freezing a portion of course) it was beyond bedtime and the end of our very busy Sunday. Next Sunday it is back to Sunday school for the kids. And maybe all of us going for once… I really want to know where February has gone! 

Family Day Monday was a much quieter affair. Our morning was slow with Ken and myself being sick… BUT in the afternoon, sick or not, Ken took the 3 boys to the MAG for their special Inuit Cultural event. There was Bannock bread, throat singing, games and more. The only thing the boys did NOT take part in was the craft due to crowds and wait time. 

Watching the speaker

Games

Ice fishing

More games

SNACKS

We had Kathy stop by on her way home from the city. So I got in a brief visit and send a package of cookies on with her. These more frequent visits with Kathy are another reminder, on the days that are less bright, that moving to this city was a GOOD choice. While the home we are in is just that bit too small the town isn’t. I am just hoping that after Echo’s surgery we can finally find a way to really get to know the other homeschooling families around us.

Ending our day was rather quiet too. Emanuel was sent to his room for a time out and ended up napping.

Asleep

And after Zander got out of HIS time out, the other 4 spent some fun time in the sunshine in the livingroom. 

Fun in some sun

Now I am working on future plans for our schooling, Christmas presents and other random things. All of our Valentines Day and Chinese New Year decorations are stored away and the buckets holding the Easter pieces are ready to be brought out. Now the boys have shown an interest in St. Patrick’s day so books have been requested from the library and I am hunting down some crafts and worksheets. 

Peek!

Monday is here… the first of the year. We did a GREAT job in making it a positive start. Ted and Sean stayed over ANOTHER night and left this afternoon for home. And then, in celebration of Lauralee’s birthday Karyn, Victoria, Lauralee and I went to Marble Slab and had ice cream. Definitely NOT a place we go to often… but so good!

Occupied the kids before we left

Poor Gavin is still trying to worry out his front tooth. The adult tooth is down and straight and wonderful but the baby tooth has been pushed further out and crooked. It is not affecting anything else but it is driving him mad. I cannot wait until it falls out, I think the tooth fairy will give a bonus for something he had to work so hard to remove. 

The kids took advantage of the card table out to make a tent. I have to put that away tonight as we do need to get back to our normal… but it was cute to see the bulk of the kids under the table playing peacefully. 

Tent

I have started the ground work for Zander’s duct tape bag. I decided to do it shopping bag style instead of what my cousin Veronika terms a “man purse”. If this works out well I may make them for other kids on our Christmas list. A good bag to take to the library or carry some prized possessions in! 

A beginning

So not a leap forward in schooling but we are getting there… the house is on its way to tidy, the kids are calming down… tomorrow we start talking about telescopes and space in earnest. 

Girly snack time

Happy New Year everyone! 2012 is here and ready to go it seems! Although, our first day of the year was very quiet and low key. In reflecting back at 2011 I do see how things have improved for our not so little family. A dear friend made a very good point – we chose a harder path earlier in our lives so that with all that we are doing now, when we are older it will be better. Of course, not everything that has occurred has been a decision or the result of a decision we have made BUT each and every occurrence has been something to learn from. A saying I saw on Facebook comes to mind – my your BEST day of 2011 be your WORST day of 2012!

We spent out New Years at home, as is our norm. After all a babysitter for 4 or 5 kids on a REGULAR night would not be cheap, on New Years… yah right! This is our first year of not having a LAN party here at home, the lack of computers and the urge to play den mother to a bunch of men in my basement was rather nice! 

Hanging with the baby

Instead we all congregated upstairs and played various card and boardgames. Kathy brought (and then later left here) her card table with folding chairs and I cleaned off the kitchen table. There was enough room for everyone! We played Dominion, Settlers, and Chez Goth. Of course Karyn had her new iPad and Ted his old so we played around with those as well. I have to admit, I am hard pressed to agree to buying an android when the iPad is so much fun and on top of those two having one so does Ken’s mom and Veronika. 

The guys at the card table

Settlers

There was a whole stack of snacks to enjoy including baking from Kathy and Lauralee. We did pizza for supper and then munched our way through to 2012. Rather sedate and after seeing off quite a few of the guests those left over stayed up past 2 am chatting and relaxing. Just the way I WANTED to spend it! 

Kids and snacks

Since New Years falls on a weekend Monday is a holiday for both Ted and Sean, so we lucked out and had company for the whole of today AND tomorrow. And Kristen and Fydo over to play poker… Quiet but fun day!

Tomorrow we start back to working on our schooling. There is math and reading to be done… and thanks to a kind person on Freecycle, a telescope to learn about! I put up an email looking for one on the off chance that SOMEONE may have one they no longer need/wanted. The same day we had a response and by today a telescope in the middle of my livingroom! Very exciting for the family as a whole. 

Telescope!

So I guess that decides our new topic of study – the solar system and ways to examine and learn about it. I already have a book out from the library and am going to start searching Youtube for other interesting videos and information. 

I am looking forward to this year, we are going to make the best of each and every opportunity we are offered. If that means changing our location, our plans… well it will make for a more exciting year right? Either way we will be making each day as full as we can. Educating, crafting, growing as a family, it is going to be grand! I have already managed to find a new sweater and my first pair of post baby jeans (I know took me long enough!) on amazing deals!

Baby in the post New Year's Chaos