Homework! Oh, Homework!

William very pointedly picked out this poem for copy work today...

Homework! Oh, Homework!
by: Jack Prelutsky

Homework! Oh, homework!
I hate you!  You stink!
I wish I could wash you
away in the sink,
if only a bomb
would explode you to bits.
Homework!  Oh, homework!
You`re giving me fits.

I`d rather take baths
with a man-eating shark,
or wrestle a lion
alone in the dark,
eat spinach and liver,
pet ten porcupines,
than tackle the homework
my teacher assigns.

Homework!  Oh, homework!
You`re last on my list,
I simply can`t see
why you even exist,
if you just disappeared
it would tickle me pink.
Homework!  Oh, homework!
I hate you!  You stink!

On the ice...

We are a in a little bit of a panic around here these days, owing to the 2 (!!!) invitations to skating birthdy parties that arrived in the past few days. We are not what you would call avbid skaters in this house, and the boys were feelign a bit self conscious about getting on the ice with their hockey-playing friends.

I thoguht taht I woud share a bit of teh encouragement that the boys sent my way as we hit the rink this week to get in some practice begore the parties....

Way to go Mama - good trying!!!
You can do it, butt-girl!! (as in falls on her ...)
You have to let go of the side if you really want to skate!
Don't worry Mama. I will show you where all of the slippery parts are....

Bad, bad Canadian Mama who can't skate.....

Company...

Mommy, I can't help you clean up the toy room - I am busy keeping you company!!~Charlie

Words of Wisdom

Tim Hortons is like an invasive species.

William (this afternoon, as Mama pulled in to buy a cup of tea.....)

Day Camp

This weeks the boys are going to a local day camp, as both Jim and I have to work a lot (sigh). This may not sound like too big a deal, but for kids who are home schooled and spend most of their time in self-directed activities or 'lessons' planned with their interests and abilities in mind, this presents a major culture shock. You can bet we have had some very interesting conversations every evening.

One of Williams biggest complaints is that 'they treat me like I don't have a brain'. He is referring to the counsellors directing the activities - something that they are hired to do, and apparently do very well. Now, there is certainly a part of me that feels the need for my kids to spend some time directed by others - unfortunately, life is just like that sometimes. But William raises some very good points - if camp is supposed to be fun, and he is having fun playing with building toys, why should he stop in order to play pin-the-tail-on-the-elephant which is not fun?

The other frustration, for both of us, is how tied the counsellors are to the 'rules', Part of this is a function of their age - as young summer staff, I don't imagine they are encouraged a whole lot to think for themselves.

Example #1 Each child is supposed to bring a lunch and 2 snacks every day. I have two kids going to this camp, so each morning I pack a cooler bag with enough food for 2 kids (2 lunches, and 4 snacks). I put in one treat each, and the rest is nutritious foods. At ages 7 and 5, I trust them to eat when they are hungry, and stop when they are not. If they choose to have their treat first thing, so be it - they will have lots of healthy stuff for the rest of the day. Apparently, that is not good enough. I have been requested to divide the food up by child, and by meal - each to be clearly marked.

Example #2 It so happens that there are fairly few kids registered for camp this week (about 10 kids) and most of them are between the ages of 3-5. That makes William the oldest by about 2 years. Monday night when he came home, William expressed a bit of frustration at feeling left out - and not all that interested in the activities planned that have been geared for younger kids. I suggested that he speak to the leaders and offer instead to help with the younger kids - something he currently does at soccer, and loves it. This, apparently was not an option. I am not sure if the counsellors are not able to think of anything for him to do, or rather it is just too different from how things normally happen. Either way, Will is still bored, and now feeling a bit rejected, too.

So here is where we are at - unfortunately, we don't have any other options for child care this week. And really, although they are not loving it, it is not a horrible place for them to be. We have had some great conversations about making the best of a less than ideal situation, and about how we all learn best. So this post, I guess, is a bit about venting my frustration, and even more about appreciating how blessed I feel to be able to home school my kids. These frustrations that we are facing are for a week, not for a whole school year. They are the exception rather than the rule to how we live our lives. And after all, there are only two camp days left in the week.

A New Look at an Old Trail

We had such a great day today, exploring a local forest trail with friends. We have been to this trail before, but only a time or two. The family that we went with goes there often, and have really made it their own. They were thrilled to show us around, and we all loved the guided tour. We saw snake hill (and three garter snakes), the tree hotel, the island, Yoda's hut, the hook, the tree maze, and a beautiful meadow where we stopped for lunch. Most of all, there were lots of trees to climb!!!

I loved watching the kids today (there were 6 in all) and how at home they were in the forest. They all virtually flew up the trees, exhilarated by how high they could climb, and the beautiful views from the top. When they were tired, they found a branch to stretch out on, or a sunny patch in the meadow to lay back in the grass. There was the occasional scratch and even a fall into the creak, but no tears - all part of a day in the woods. I am so thankful that we have the time and space to enjoy nature so close to home, and good friends to share it with.

I frequently tramped eight or ten miles through the deepest snow to keep an appointment with a beech-tree, or a yellow birch, or an old acquaintance among the pines.
~Henry David Thoreau





How many kids can you spot in the tree?

What Adults Can Learn From Kids

I thought that I would share the link to this Ted Talks speaker and prolific author who, at only 12 years of age, has a lot to say. Adora Svitak has been a short story writer and blogger since she was 7 years old, and now speaks across the USA in her campaign for literacy. Here is a snippet from the talk:

Who's to say that certain types of irrational thinking aren't exactly what the world needs? Maybe you've had grand plans before, but stopped yourself, thinking: That's impossible or that costs too much or that won't benefit me. For better or worse, we kids aren't hampered as much when it comes to thinking about reasons why not to do things. Kids can be full of inspiring aspirations and hopeful thinking, like my wish that no one went hungry or that everything were free kind of utopia. How many of you still dream like that and believe in the possibilities? Sometimes a knowledge of history and the past failures of utopian ideals can be a burden because you know that if everything were free, that the food stocks would become depleted, and scarce and lead to chaos. On the other hand, we kids still dream about perfection. And that's a good thing because in order to make anything a reality, you have to dream about it first.

Adora Svitak on Ted Talks

Adora's Blog

Bunk Beds!

Today was a big day in our home - the long awaited arrival of Bunk Beds!! Our family has played a sort of 'musical beds' since the boys were born, the result of our love of sleep-sharing with the kids, odd work schedules, various illnesses and injuries that needed either other people close by, or beds to ones self. We have decided, over the past month or so, that it was time to settle into a more 'regular' pattern. The boys really wanted to have a bedroom of their own, and Mama would really like to have a full nights sleep without having to defend my foot of mattress space from invading cuddlers. We found these from a man who lives 2 towns over. They are nothing fancy, just solid, unfinished pine. They smell lovely, and I don't have to worry about all of the chemicals oozing into the air that the boys are breathing all night long. We ordered a twin over a double, leaving lots of space for 'company' when the boys need some extra cuddle time. They even have two huge drawers underneath. You can never have too much storage space!! So, this afternoon was spent breaking in the beds with climbing competitions, games, and forts. Whether or not anyone will actually get any sleep in them tonight is another story....

Dollies for Haiti

We have all been effected by the devastating earthquake in Haiti, and wondering how we can help out. Sometimes the magnitude of the tragedy puts us into paralysis - what could we do to make a difference with something so big? But still, we try. We send the money that we can, and raise more through the generosity of our friends and neighbors. Our home school group is doing a toilet paper drive (which has been so much fun, as well as much needed!) and many of us are taking part in a Dolly Drive for the Abundant Ground Foundation, an organization that has an orphanage in Haiti caring for 181 children between the ages of birth to 12 years old.

Here are the three dollies that I managed to pull together. They are all packed away with another 27 or so dollies that other members of our homeschool group made, and are on their way to Haiti and into the arms of little boys and girls who need something to cuddle. If you are able to help out, please follow the link - there is a downloadable pattern, and simple instructions that anyone can follow. Their goal is to collect a hand made doll for each of the 181 kids who rely on the orphanage before March 31, 2010. I am not kidding myself that this will change very much in their hard lives. I know, though, that if my little ones ever found themselves without me there to care for them, I would be overcome with gratitude if another Mama, somewhere in the world, shared a little bit of her hand made love with my children.

The Greatest Source of Happiness...

William's musings while he was getting ready for bed...

Why are some people so stupid that they cut down all of the trees? The trees in the forest are where all of the animals live. Don't they know that if the trees are gone, the animals will die? And animals are one of the greatest sources of happiness!!

First Big Snow

William and Charlie have been so worried lately that there might not be any snow for Christmas...so they were thrilled to get outside today and play in the first really substantial snowfall. I was a little less thrilled, I admit, to wrestle with the snow pants, hats, mitts, pant legs that won't stay down, hoods that won't stay up, wrists that won't stay covered.... They had so much fun, though, that I soon got over my grumpies. Sometimes I need to remind myself that snow is more than just cold and beautiful. It is the canvas for snow angels, the stuff of perfect throwing balls, the cement of the best forts, that delicate and delicious speck on your tongue, the softest landing, the provider of shelter, comfort, and fun. Welcome, winter.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

When we woke up this morning, we saw this outside of the living room window.....

which prompted a whole lot of this....

changing the nature table from fall to winter. I know, it is not technically winter yet, but what the heck. The white stuff was lovely, even though it didn't stick around.

Charlie really loved playing with the new fairy house that we bought from a good friend at our homeschool group's craft sale last night - such talented Mamas!

William's Dream

A quote from William, while we were driving in the car this afternoon...

Mama, wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a really big forest with a lot of trees and a squiggly river than ran through it half way, and then there was a waterfall where all of the water poured down into a lake that was in the middle of a green field, and it was really sunny so the water in the lake was all sparkly??

It sure would.

Charlie, on swimming

Charlie, while swimming in Pop's pool yesterday...

Mommy, I'm swimming!! Swimming like a chihuahua!!!!

Really, I have no idea.....

Come See

Mom - come see the lovely flowers in your garden - there are six! They are so beautiful it pops out my heart!
Charlie (3 yrs old)