Not a mid week puck me up but one day from… TWO packages today, BOTH from the UK! One for the kids and one for me! A fascinator/hat for me in white with feathers and tulle… so fun and in my mind so British! Now I just need to find the right hairstyle and pair it up with one of my dresses (maybe the polka dot one?) and take photos! 

Isn't it pretty?

The other package had a few Christmas items but some bits to share now too. I am very and truly blessed in my friendships here and abroad! 

We are still experiencing a healthy share of the “I don’t want to’s” here in the house. BUT we are working through it. I just really want the boys to embrace the excitement of learning new things – even if it IS just math or new words. 

Some workbook time

Playing games in the sunshine

Gavin is back to work designing another project to stitch, Zander is still on the lookout for a new passion. BUT everyone spent some time in the “Lego room” for the day – the twins’ bedroom… and created something to show. 

In the Lego room for the day

Two little builders

The hunt is still on for snowflake information and activities… that is the next choice of focus after all… and in the meantime we are working on our reading and math, cooperation, use of imagination and understanding of fair play and being a good winner or loser. I have taken some time today to be crafty as well… a new feltie in fact, though the debate is on as to whether or not it IS a dragon, or a demon, or in the case of the first attempt… a bat! What is universally agreed is that they are cute! And will be up on my Facebook page It’s a Hoot for sale for 5.00 a piece plus shipping soon! 

1st attempt

Much more dragon-y

Tomorrow friends start arriving for Ken’s LAN party so I don’t know that we will get much done. BUT we have managed to complete ALL our Halloween pages and activities, and tomorrow we have our mouse books to read. Gotta finish going over what a mouse actually is like vs. the Stuart Little version(s). The twins have shown some interest in making some felties of their own so once I get a spare moment I am going to enlarge the penguin pattern to a more manageable size for tiny learning fingers and let them try! 

Got your nose Fat Sheep

As is the pattern for the month of October… the kids woke up anti school and anti mommy. We did manage to wrestle our way through the few sheets I did have for them to do, courtesy of EnchantedLearning, Bogglesworldesl, and our favourite UK site. The mini books were a big hit and limited to two pages only of colouring, word copying and cutting and assembly. Thank goodness I did remember to pick up staples on my payment order funding shopping spree.

Gavin and his Mini Book

For once the word search was a hit, each of the twins had their own sheet but were allowed to work together. Zander went so far as to include Echo in the exercise! She REALLY enjoyed that!

Teaching Echo about word searches

I got some LOVELY mail today – a package (one of many if you go by the fact that PARCEL ONE! was written on the outside – and what I was told by the sender) all the way from the UK! Some sweets and ponyholders for our Trinity. I am thinking I will hold onto the holders for Christmas! Then she will get something OTHER than Hello Kitty from us!

The kind of mail that makes you feel spoiled!

Certainly makes the week feel like it is starting out the right way. And with Ken hard at work in the basement… we are going to make October end properly. The weather is still lovely in the afternoons so the boys spent quite some time out in the backyard. The twins were more than willing to show off for the camera on their bikes and scooters.

Bikes and scooters

We made pictures using black cardstock and white crayons  today as well… the boys remember doing this before but it was a new idea for Trinity – she was SURE it would not work!

Some Halloween art

We had some fun with Play Doh as well… those new Halloween coloured mini containers have been a great time filler for the kids!!

You can just see 2 cows

The twins were the next ones to finish their 8X10 scrapbook pages… They picked the colours, the ribbon, the embellishments… and we worked together to make something we are all proud of.

Zander's hot springs

Gavin and Maligne Canyon

It inspired me to get a page that has been awaiting my attention for ages done!!

Zander and Gavin's 7th and Emanuel's 5th birthday party

So tonight I still have stuff to clean, laundry to sort, wings to sew onto owls… the list goes on. I am told Lemur ears are made and mittens on their way… and Ken is working hard to complete some outstanding issues… I feel like we are working towards achievable goals and that feels GREAT!

Pre-Naptime story

More storytime

And just cuz she IS adorable