Flexibility has got to be a cornerstone for the homeschooling family. Especially when you are attempting a more child led version of schooling. Which is why our planned for library excursion is now postponed until tomorrow. While chatting with another homeschooling mom last night I was alerted to something called a Reuse Centre… for 4.00 you can go in there and get whatever you like from their used items. Since her schedule right now is busier than ours (her husband is our very favourite photographer trust me email me if you are in need of photos done and I will send you on to him – he is terrific!) so when she said she had the time today at 4pm husband in tow I jumped at it! Not only is it a grand opportunity to expose the kids further to recycling and reusing but with another pair of kids AND a hubby for Ken to hang out with… bonus!
Reuse Centre!
This definitely ate up our afternoon combined with Ken’s follow up with his specialist at 1 and my cookie dough making adventure with the twins. They helped as best they could with counting, pouring and stirring. And of course, tasting the dough to make sure it was just right! Ken and I will bake the cookies and ice them but the boys were so proud to be involved in the dough making process. We worked on counting and remembering what was in the bowls.
Measuring Out Sugar (Gavin)
Stirring The Dough (Zander blue)
Our morning was an unusual one – Ken took over for the morning of homeschooling which placed the focus on insects. We are hoping to complete our insects module by Friday in time to let us go full out on Fall, with our very winter weather I want to be through with that as soon as possible.
They did some more research online (Ken’s favourite place to be) on beetles, and then they made up a butterfly life stages book. Of course this led to furthering our fall activities with a counting book to colour that featured squirrels counting things!
Busy Boys!
Zander and Gavin started a new, much larger beading project each – these ones should end up 3D… Gavin chose a snow covered tree and Zander a sled. It is slow going as they are much more complex and bigger patterns but I am hoping I can get them to stick with it long enough to get a nice free standing object out of it!
Started Projects
I have been working on a 3D project of my own – a puzzle, that once you put it together it becomes a box. The pieces snapped together quite nicely. Once I get more white and black I am DEFINITELY doing dice!
One More Piece to Go!
The tutu is also coming along, late last night I added the green pixie cut layer to make the top of the strawberry. I am hoping to spend some of tonight wrapping the waist with a green ribbon and then focusing on the pom pom seeds over the rest of the week. I am very happy with the effect of the green against the red… especially such a nice shimmering green.
Second Layer on the Tutu
Mail today was rather positive for once! I got A PACKAGE! A Halloween fun filled package from a lovely lady in one of my cross stitch egroups! (The Canadian one) Now Ken and I need to sit down and brainstorm a good way to make a nice big craft out of the lot! Everything from black felt to wooden shapes to pumpkin orange paint! What a lovely gift!
THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
Our trip to the Reuse Centre was well worth it! We walked away with a lot of ideas and supplies to supplement our craft supplies and I managed to get a bunch of old cross stitch magazines! In fact, the one that has the twins sampler I have stitched twice was there too! Talk about hidden gems! The boys got a new puzzle and some pieces they want to make into houses with Daddy. I am sure we will return there both to purchase more and to drop off our own excess!
All This for 4.00!
Another happy circumstance – Karyn stopped by on her way back home from Saskatchewan and she and I went out to The Mall and had Chinese and then stopped in at a clothing store for her and then Sephora and the Body Shop (all without spending money!). It has been AGES since I have had Chinese and it was so yum!
Stitching wise I have been PROMISED 5 new patterns by tomorrow and the hopefully soon return of my new and improved pattern section. Fingers crossed that will be all set up and ready to go right away. I really want to sit down and focus on my stitching for the rest of the month (with necessary bead time of course) to get closer to the end of my Christmas list! After all I still have cards to make and kids’ kits to create! Definitely making every waking minute count this month!!
All For The Love of My Family