Not a terribly auspicious start to my week – Ken had a bit of a set back health wise and did not manage to get done a single thing on his list… this after I stayed up past midnight so he could have a nap and then he told me to go to bed and he WOULD get at least something done. This meant my morning was balanced between doing all the back house work (mommies really CAN’T get sick and expect the world to function normally) and getting the boys going on their very first traditional lapbook. Not my favourite start to the week when you also have to add in a talk with the hubby about how you feel about said mistake but at least now we have better tools to discuss and get my points of view across in a way that does not set his hackles right on up.

Our schooling this morning was centred on our very first lapbook – for numbers. Very simple, we basically focused on the numbers 1-10 though we did include a 1-100 chart. We made more copies of our number matching game (the one with a card with the number printed and corresponding card with the same number of stickers.), these went into an envelope I plan on adding a brad and thread to to tie close.

Envelope with Matching Game and 1-100 chart

We photocopied a shrunk down copy of one of the 1-10 dot to dots in the workbook we had bought ages ago that the kids then connected the dots (I did for Emanuel) and then coloured. (All of a sudden Emanuel is trying SUPER hard to colour in the lines!)

Little Dot To Dot

Ken shrunk down a little 1-10 book that a homeschooling friend linked us to staple and then paste in as well – this one has the word, number and number of objects on each page! For the last thing on the side panels I made up a little pocket with left over scrapbook paper scraps which we then put in little strips of paper that had a number which the boys coloured and then lines for them to write their own (1-10 again)… Emanuels are just the papers so he can do it later.

Pocket and Book

The centre was Ken’s favourite – matchbook folded pages.. each with a number and then inside the number of bunnies. Behind that is an 8 1/2 by 11 inch scrapbook page that each boy got to stamp with real stamps and ink. I think that was their favourite part… they were so proud of the stamping! I figure we will do some sort of stamping for each and every book.

Proud Stamper with Stamp and Page

Gavin and the Dinosaur

Zander and Bunny

Pride in One's Work (Zander left) and Trinity Sneaking In for a Picture!

Bunnies in the Garden

I think with the next one I will put more paper over the folders are we are reusing folders. My mom was able to give us a nice, big stack! I do have a ton of bits and pieces of paper that if nothing else we could make a quilt like look to it. We need to cover the back and front parts of the folder yet but I figure as a first attempt – not half bad! The next one will be shapes and colours. I plan to go much more detailed!

For breakfast this morning I made up a triple batch of the whole wheat pancakes and froze a bunch for later. I figure for mornings like when we leave for our trip 3 1/2 hrs south to see my brother and his family we can just pull out some, pop them in the toaster or microwave and there you go… stupid simple as Ken says! And the kids still LOVED them.

I made another foray into edible Christmas presents today courtesy of my good friend Bree. I was going to hunt down the individual packets of hot chocolate until she suggested I make my own and linked me to a terrific recipe – by Alton (he is on the Food Network). Very simple, and though powdered milk is not cheap any more still a very affordable way to make a gift. Added to that another friend (homeschooler) suggested I get pastry bags to make the whole thing look pretty and top it with some chocolate chips and mini marshmallows. This will then be combined with a mint rock candy stick and maybe a mug! MMM

2 cups powdered (icing) sugar

1 cup cocoa

2 1/2 cups powdered milk

1 tsp. salt

2 tsp. cornstarch

1 pinch cayenne pepper (I left that out)

hot water

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and incorporate evenly (we put it all in a container we could put a lid on and shake and then store it in).

In a small pot, heat 4-6 cup of water, fill mug half full of mix and pour hot water. Stir to combine, also works with warm milk.

Ingredients Collected

All Mixed Up

We haven’t tried it yet, that will be tomorrow’s treat. Ken is so excited about it. He is also in charge of cutting down our bamboo skewers to be prepped for more rock candy. Mint and cherry – we need to up the amount of colouring and all that but I am excited to see how they turn out!

I did get some good mail today – I had signed up for Heinz baby a while ago and in the mail we got a nice bag, height chart (Trinity is right around 30 inches tall now!) and a tin of their formula. So another bag to use for trips and the like (always helpful!). Thought I am not sure what I am going to do with the formula – it is good until 2012 so I may just hold onto it until someone else needs it.

Freebies!

Ken had his first experience with being in charge with a whole letter – Q! An after dinner lesson as Ken was also called into work early with an emergency. It was quite interesting watching him muddle through but it got done and they did have fun!

Daddy at Work! (Gavin middle)

Letter Q

Of course they ended with the computer stuff. Trinity as usual was quite adamant she be right by the computer and everyone practised their “qu” sound.

Computer Time! (Zander front)

I started a new stitch today – the one for my pharmacist friend. It is coming along quickly which is nice to see… I may even have it done by tomorrow! Which of course puts me right back with doing my stocking… bah! Ken is working on a special stitch for Trinity’s birthday buddy but I am not sure how simple it will be. I plan on having the boys draw their simple pictures tomorrow for me to get to work on… that is one project I am looking forward to!

Newest Pattern!

My day has been stressful but productive… tomorrow I make sugar cookie dough for Friday… Thursday muffins as well. My brother has requested apple leather and my nephew his cousins… I think I can handle all those requests! We are still up in the air about the company picnic… if the kids are still fighting this bug I may chose to stay with my sister in law instead of going. I am looking forward to seeing the 3 of them though. It has been a while – mom’s wedding I think. The boys are rather excited as well.

So though I have felt a bit the grump, I feel like tomorrow I can start off fresh again. Letter R, pictures to draw…oh and a mountain of laundry to fold!!! Teach me not to get sick!!!

So We Stay Hard at Work... Sorta!

I think we are finally coming to the end of the summer weather… though our up coming Saturday at the corn maze is projected to be VERY nice out! Not sure if that is a good thing or not, I would like the kids to wear jeans running through all of that but if it is going to be very warm out that may not be a good idea. Today though it was over cast and the surplus of apples from the “icky” tree seems to have called out the wasps. Ken is planning on raking them up and disposing of them tonight.

We sat down and did our letter i together as well as watched h and i’s computer bits. The “i” song is a “big hit” (sorry I had to – listen to the song on http://www.starfall.com/n/level-k/song-si/load.htm?f and you will see why) with the kids.

All Lined Up (Zander left)

We read two of our early phonics stories which the boys are a little bit ambivalent about. I am not sure if that is because they are not familiar with “Toy Story” or just don’t like how simple the story is (they are VERY simple) but once we are done reading their attention is pretty much off of it. I think I am going to try one on one with them and the BOB series.

Books for Today!

We finished up the picture frames with some glitz. Emanuel chose the pink gems for his blue frame, Gavin silver and gold angel confetti and Zander our Christmas  tree and ball confetti for his pink frame. We then painted another set each – green for Emanuel, white for Gavin and orange for Zander (I am not too happy with the orange but am hoping when we glitter it up after pasting them to the frame we may have a better colour). I am going to take the excess green ones and do some more wreaths.

All Prettied Up!

Mail today was rather nice – I got my forms for my Canadian loans to work out a different pay set up (a positive really that I will fill out tomorrow), the boys’ bible lessons are here (we are doing those tomorrow) and I got a letter from my sister in North Carolina. I had to dig out some of my stationary but I figure tomorrow in between school for the kids, stitching that stocking and working with the puzzle pieces I will draft something up. It is nice to catch up and I do love a little letter writing.

I think we are finally coming to the end of our apple harvest. So the next few batches are all going first for freezing in smaller containers to be included in Christmas gifts for the ones we are giving treats to. I figure I will see if I can find some baskets and give people cookies and baked goods and then maybe some applesauce – well the local people that is!

Speaking of Christmas gifts I am happy to report my Dr. Who piece is completed… I am hoping to post that pattern later this week. As well I am working on the name on the stocking – thank goodness Aidan is short! Ken is working on my next little pattern – a pharmacist themed one for Gavin’s god-mother. It is really nice to be finishing things up, though I am not sure about framing and the like… some have to be mailed as is of course but the local gifts… I would like to be a bit creative!

Ken is feeling better – slowly but surely sort of thing. His appointment today went well, his next is Friday. Meds have been adjusted  (time taken over dosage) and I am watching him like the proverbial hawk! There is still quite some time before he will be 100% but at least I am noticing a change and the advice I have been given by his doctor has been relatively easy to follow and given me some more hope.

Other than that life is relatively normal around here… Trinity is working on teeth and talking, Emanuel is enjoying those big boys undies – during naptime he slept and did NOT pee in the pull up! So we are very excited. The twins are being themselves which is both a good and not so good thing at times! Lots of hugs though to even out the arguing. I am not sure if we will make it to Thursday’s homeschool park date BUT we are taking in our registration to HLSA – Ken is going to drop it off at their monthly meeting – and even better – tomorrow Ken is heading to a nearby mall to meet up with someone off of Kijiji who, for 10.00 has a snowsuit, hat and gloves in the 12 month size! So now all that is left for her is boots and I know I can get those for around 10.00 at Superstore. Bonus!

Watch as We Live and Learn !!!

I miss my husband. Working from home he is a part of our lives to some extent each and every day. Today he was not even available ONLINE, which for those of you who know him, you can truly realize how completely out of the norm that is! No MSN, no gmail, no Google chat… I feel absolutely out of touch with him! And to top it off – no cell of course! Thank goodness he is staying at a mutual friend of ours and SHE got in contact with me this morning to let me know he had AT LEAST made it there safely. MEN!

So our morning started out hectic. It is always more difficult when you are short a set of hands. All 4 kids wanting to be fed at once and Trinity needing help with her meal just adds to the confusion. After everyone was fed and clothed I managed my morning raspberry harvest (I do believe we are coming to the end of the season finally) and I started yet another applesauce batch. The boys are in love with applesauce and though they are NOT eating it as quickly as I am making it they are making a valient attempt. I already have 3 containers in the freezer and a couple in the fridge.

As a super treat I made the boys cupcakes from a cake mix – vanilla fudge swirl. Not overly swirly but absolutely yummy. All I had was my Halloween cupcake papers but the boys don’t mind. 3 eggs later and we had desert. Thankfully it has not hit the hottest part of the week, so I also started my apple leather. My first tray was WAY too thick, I was starting to think I will have to have the oven on OVERNIGHT! So while I cooked the chicken patties for dinner I made a thinner batch to throw in there too. Hopefully something yummy will come from it. The boys have decided I MUST be making candy and therefore they MUST have some as soon as possible. What I have gotten seems to be… leathery…

Nom Nom Nom

Apple Leather!

By the time I managed to sneak in a bath (the boys and Trinity were watching cartoons before lunch) I had already gotten enough done to feel pretty accomplished. I printed off the number pages for 8 and 9 and got the boys to willingly colour 8 (9 will be for tomorrow). Then I went to put on my shirt – STAINED. Just a tiny stain but right on the boob… le sigh. So I had to scrub a shirt I am rather sure will NOT come clean. As if I have the cash to buy myself more clothes. Oh well.

Naptime was another chuckle. As soon as I got the boys settled TRINITY woke up and woke up CRANKY so half way through the afternoon when I had the boys’ pool filled and the 3 of them out playing I put her back to bed for another nap. This time she was kind enough to wait to wake up AFTER I made everyone supper but BEFORE I got to eat mine. Figures!

Just Loves the Pool

Zander and His Mini Waterfall

I let the boys play outside with Trinity this afternoon without standing over them. She had fun, didn’t eat any sand or marbles and they managed to play nice with her AND each other. Definitely a success. I want to try and give her a little more freedom now that she is creeping up on 1 1/2 but at the same time it is hard to let her not be baby any more.

Gavin and Trinity in the Sandbox

We did work on our last of the requested bugs. Emanuel actually finished his but Zander and Gavin’s are repairing after an ice tea incident. Gavin spilled his at dinner and though the majority of their craft was far enough to the side some pieces are being dried and squashed flat. I really need another table area for the school stuff. I am thinking if we go with small stocking stuff, one toy and then one shared gift for all 3 a table and chair set from Ikea may be the ticket for Christmas. I won’t write out the step by steps on this one since it is a little complicated but here is the link if anyone is interested:

http://www.dltk-kids.com/CRAFTS/INSECTS/mhandprintbutterfly.htm

It was great fun and turned out kinda cute creepy. Emanuel is VERY happy with his. The plan is once all these bugs are done, is to put them all up in the twins’ room. Their room is pink so anything more boy oriented is exciting to them and the scotch tape is forgiving to the paint.

Butterfly!

We took our ornaments out of the Borax mixture. The kids are VERY happy with the result though next time Zander wants to use a white pipecleaner so his purple tinted Borax mixture shows up more than it did on the yellow. They are VERY heavy but glitter ever so nicely. I wish I could get the sparkle better in my pictures. The excitement with the boys was plain though.  And already they are making plans as to who will get them next time! This is so exciting for them – the ability to make and give away something precious.

So Proud! (Gavin yellow)

All 5

I spent some time last night working on the beads. Definitely NOT something the boys could make, but I am thinking under supervision they could easily use a needle and thread and string them themselves. I am very happy with how they look and am already having fun cutting pages to get the colours I want. I just need to work on a more even winding to get the more traditional bead shape I am trying for. Quite a few of mine ended up with the look of a top. Pretty but not quite what I was shooting for.

Handmade Beads

I am debating taking a day off from the applesauce, my thumbs are now stained from the apples and I am a little bit tired of pressing out the apples. I figure I have kept up with going through the ones that are falling on the ground to the point where I am picking what I can reach so if I take a day and just be diligent with getting the good ones that fall or I can reach then on Friday I can go nuts. If the apple leather becomes a bit less of a shot in the dark I may use up a ton of my sauce making that. Of course today was already quite warm so it will depend on the weather. I am not sure if I want to get up on a stool and dig out my dehydrator. That may be something Ken and I should do together.

I am really wishing I had had more time to sew today. I am set on tomorrow starting that new stitch for my brother.  I am going to use the silver I had to frog out of my nephew’s I am sure there is enough for this one… at least I am pretty sure. Every time I have set out to dig out my big piece of fabric to cut a piece I have found something ELSE to do. Focus is not exactly high right now on anything not kid or food related for some odd reason! I have some triangles already cut for the beads as well so either I will cut more triangles or make up the prepped paper. AFTER the fabric of course…

Ken and I have a very unique relationship. We seem to fight like cats and dogs the moment one of us is not in the same town. Like if one of us heads off to Minnesota or South Carolina. We work so well together but apart… it is like the countdown has started for our first fight. Online or on the phone we just seem to clash, and we both know it is coming. I am hoping THIS time will be different, but the best I can figure is it is born out of a frustration about being apart. This could be why Ken working from home works so well for us. We like that constant contact (as long as there are times when he is secreted away or I am not here). Our family works best as a complete unit which is a great strength. I can certainly picture myself 50 yrs from now with Ken, heck the rest of my life can’t be long enough! My very own imported American Penny.

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