February 15-16

And so we come to the end of our week… and of Sean’s visit. Ken and Sean had an evening of shopping and a movie to round off Sean’s visit. That left myself and the kids home to do schoolwork… the special Friday dinosaur time? Watching episodes of Poet Plays with Dinosaurs on youTube. I have posted the link to the first episode HERE.

Sean!!

To go into Emanuel’s binder the boys all banded together and drew some pictures of what they saw there. Apparently this is now the mod to have for our family and there have been MULTIPLE requests that I get Daddy to add it to their Minecraft.

Working together

We finished some Valentine’s Day themed colour by numbers.

Completions

I did a take 2 on the hairstyle and then in the evening ran out to Target with Ken to get some hair mousse to help contain the hair a bit… oh and some black elastics instead of the coloured ones I have been using.

Take 2

We said good bye to Sean on Saturday. The kids were all rather put out that he was going home and that I was cracking down on the rules even more. It is funny how with Nana and Baba gone on vacation the behaviour they mostly held in check for their benefit has EXPLODED! I foresee A LOT of time outs and technology withdrawal in their future. And then we said hello again when his flights got cancelled due to weather in Toronto! Next flight out – Sunday morning… 7:00 am, through Toronto AGAIN!

Bibi hunting

Take THREE of the milk maid braids was even better than the previous 2. I bought some mousse for curl control with the hope it will control my wave a little and help hold the braid shape. So far so good! Next I attempt the gel eyeliner…

Getting better each time

I have decided that once a week we will have a technology free day for the kids… we have so many random toys and educational items that they just do not touch. This afternoon I turned off the cartoons and had them dig through drawers and cupboards after a particularly annoying bought of whining over show choices. I want my grateful children back… lately we have had whiners and a lot of fighting. Oh well, phases.

I love this kind of active clutter

So we had a rather eventful uneventful start to our weekend!

Ok so I had to share this – POCOYO on TV here in the USA !!! YAY

February 11-12

Time to finish off Chinese New Year… Zander and Gavin each finished up their studies with writing out some of the things they learned about the celebration on pages with year of the snake themed borders. They also each drew their own special cobra… the instructions were found on Art for Kids as a special Chinese New Year offering. Added to each picture is the Chinese characters for Snake. Not a bad finishing touch.

Gavin and his snake

I lucked out and came across TWO shows for the boys to watch the night before. The movie Mulan (which they then drew something in their journals about) and a FoodNetwork special on making a full out Chinese New Year meal. We learned a few interesting things from that second show:

1. fish in Mandarin is the same words as abundance
2. dumplings symbolize wealth
3. roast chicken symbolizes togetherness and prosperity
4. long noodles symbolize longevity

Emanuel got creative with the Legos… He made his very own McDonald’s counter… giant M and all.

“M”

The counter

I attempted the heart shaped cupcakes with a less than amazing result… still yummy but NOT heart shaped. With lovely whipped icing everyone was content with them anyway.

Gavin and his snack

The weather has worked in our favour BOTH days what with the storm warning over and all the lovely snow that resulted from it. So the kids have been out enjoying, shoveling, getting wet… I had to throw all the gear into the dryer after Tuesday’s fun in the sun… so much melt off from the roof!

First

Putting them to work

It was a nice day out and they all got a little damp

I have to share a sort of dinosaur related video that Trinity and Emanuel assure me is AWESOME!

Tuesday was right into Valentines Day with all the worksheets and hearts and colouring.

Dot to Dot

We also made our monthly poster – I am having the kids make one a month for the whole year. I write out the name of  the month and then each kid draws something they see or do that month!

February

Since it was Shrove Tuesday I gave pancakes a try again on the gas stove with much better results! At least the kids were pleased.

Chowing down

Not a bad work up to Valentine’s Day… and a completing of something special from Chinese New Year.

We also pulled out the micro remote control cars from Alan and Xinny.