Oh, how they grow!

There has been a sneaky little thing happening around our home lately, in the form of the boys growing up.  It doesn't happen all at once, oh no, but everyone now and then I will be caught off guard by it - the little bit of mustache fuzz growing on William's lip, the fact that hugs are still OK, but kisses are only tolerated first thing in the morning and late at night, the look on my baby Charlie's face that is no longer at all babyish, and the independence and maturity that they are both exploring and craving.

One of the ways this 'growing up' is happening is through the boys spending bits of time on their own at home.  It might be just a few minutes while I run into the grocery store, or for an hour or two when Jim is home but sleeping after working a night shift.  The boys generally love it, and I have to admit that it gives me a new level of flexibility that I haven't had in, oh, 10 or so years.

In celebration of it all, the boys spent the day at a St. John Ambulance course called Home Alone - they learned about what to do in case of a fire, snacks that they could prepare themselves safely while home alone, stranger danger, when and how to call 9-1-1, etc.  Although I admit that the day got mixed reviews (my guys are not used to sitting in a chair listening to someone else talk for 7 hours!!) they seem to have at lease been exposed to some good information.  As a family, we are going to be talking next about first aid and how to take care of those inevitable nicks, cuts, scrapes and sometimes burns that come with being a kid.  I certainly hope that they never need to actively use these skills, but I do feel a little more relaxed knowing that they are better prepared.

Now if I could just convince them to slow the whole growing up thing down just a little bit more, I would be happy.

Tinker Toys

I told you I had Tinker Toys around here somewhere...

Sundaes on Sunday

I know that the more health-conscious of readers will cringe at this, but sometimes you just need sugar.  Or friends.  Or rest.  Or some combination of the three.

Today the boys were full of energy, and wanting more focused attention than I had it in me to provide.  They wanted to play, to explore, to go out, to build, to do something new, and I wanted to sit still.

So, we did the only thing that a mother can do in circumstances like that (assuming that yelling at the kids and locking yourself in the bathroom is not the solution of choice).  We decided to have a  Sunday Sundae party.

The boys invited their neighbourhood friends over for a quick pizza dinner, and then to make their own sundaes.  I provided the food, and the friends provided the entertainment - a rather nice exchange in my mind.  The kids all created sugar-filled masterpieces with ice cream, sauce, nuts, candy, chocolate chips, coconut and whipped cream, and then retreated to the basement to play and to burn off all of their newly acquired energy. 

As for me, I enjoyed almost 2 1/2 hours sitting on my butt with a book.

Win - win, wouldn't you say?

Abundance

There is nothing that gives me a more wonderful sense of abundance in the world than picking apples.  To walk through rows and rows of beautiful, ripe apples, to fill a bag so quickly, to see so many other people out enjoying the same experience, and still there  are more apples to pick. 

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!

Black Swallow Tails

Before...

And after.


If we can recognize that change and uncertainty are basic principles, we can greet the future and the transformation we are undergoing with the understanding that we do not know enough to be pessimistic.

~ Hazel Henderson

Lego Creations

I love seeing the designs and creations that the boys come up with when they are up to their knees in LEGO. Over the past week or so, William has been designing his house. It seems to change daily, but at the time that I took this pic it contained a kitchen complete with appliances, table, chairs and dishes, a bedroom with a double bed accessible by a folding staircase (to save space, don't you know!), a living room with fire place, desk and book shelves (and books!!), a bathroom and everything that requires...you get the idea. He even build a LEGO vacuum cleaner. I have to say that I am very impressed, and very much more upset than he was when he decided to take it apart to build something new!!

Spring Walk In The Rain

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon your head with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing you a lullaby.
~Langston Hughes

Spring

Spring makes its own statement, so loud and clear that the gardener seems to be only one of the instruments, not the composer.
~Geoffrey B. Charlesworth

Outside and In

We have all been so excited about the coming spring lately. The deck has been cleared off so that we could walk outside in bare feet, we have gone for walks in our t-shirts and sandals, and we have generally decided that winter is behind us. Today, we wake up to this nastiness. I know it is not unusual to have snow this time of year, but still!!

So, early or not, we decided to plant some seeds today and just pretend that it is nice and warm and sunny outside.

Glad It's Not Me!!

I came across these guys at an old school next to where I had a meeting scheduled today. They certainly took me by surprise when I parked my car, started to get out, and saw men in black hanging outside the third floor window. I felt a little better when I remembered hearing that the building was used to train police officers, but it was still a little unnerving. Still, better then than me!!

Gratitude

Today I am thankful for...

*A fire in the wood stove,and snow falling outside
*A new book waiting for me at bedtime (The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent - I will let you know!)
*An 8 year old boy who sometimes feels too old for kisses, but still says "I love you Mama" when I am least expectign it
*The papa-build snow fort in the back yard that is now two stories high
*A fresh tray of brownies on the kitchen counter, and a tall glass of milk waiting
*Bed time stories that I enjoy, too - C.S.Lewis' The Horse And His Boy
*A little break in my hectic work schedule to catch up with the people that I love
*Finding a $25 gift card in my wallett that I forgot I had
*My Charlie who still snuggles up to me at night, and touches my cheek before going to sleep
*A work training retreat that included a 2h hour silence exercise
*A new week coming filled with new opportunities for the whole family

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.
~Thornton Wilder

Silence

Soon silence will have passed into legend. Man has turned his back on silence. Day after day he invents machines and devices that increase noise and distract humanity from the essence of life, contemplation, meditation... tooting, howling, screeching, booming, crashing, whistling, grinding, and trilling bolster his ego. His anxiety subsides. His inhuman void spreads monstrously like a gray vegetation.
~Jean Arp

Sir Ken Robinson - Changing Education Paradigms

">Sir Ken Robinson's talk on changing education paradigms is another one of his great talks one educational reform. I found this one on a friends blog (Thanks Karen!)and had to post it hear, too!!

Apple Day

Charlie was thrilled to be old enough to start Beavers with his big brother William this year. So was Mama - a whole hour each week with both kids otherwise engaged!!! They have been meeting new friends, playing games, and doing crafts together every Monday night for the past 4 weeks.

Today, however, was special - Apple Day!! This is the biggest fundraiser that the troupe does, and goes something like this...

Shine the apples...

Sell the apples...

And try not to get too grumpy when you find out you can't keep the money!!

Hope you are all having an applicious Saturday!!

So much to tell..

So much to tell you all, and no time to do it in. I thought I would chime in here just long enough to say that we are all still alive and doing well, but just a little too busy for our liking (or for blogging!). We have been working at home, enjoying the lovely fall weather, playing with friends, and having adventures. There was a trip to the Stratford Festival, the years first building co-op, a ground water festival, beautiful sun rise photos, and likely more that I have forgotten. And all of those lovely pictures still sitting on my camera. SIGH. Still, the weekend looks like it may offer up some 'down time', especially if the neighbourhood kids want to play.

Until then, I hope that you are all enjoying adventures of your own !!

Morning

There really isn't a lot that I like about getting up super-early for work on a Saturday morning. To make it a little more palatable, today I left myself an extra 10 minutes, and took my camera along for the drive. It really did make the whole ordeal a little easier to bear.



I never knew a man come to greatness or eminence who lay abed late in the morning. (I know I should believe it, but really.......)
~Jonathan Swift

Little Things - uniform bags

The scene - Monday night, 6:50pm, and we are supposed to be out the door and on the road long ago. Instead, Mom is yelling "Hurry up!!" from the top of the stairs. Kids are running here and there, hollering "But I can't find it!!" Dad chimes in "Well if you put it away when you were done with it you wouldn't have this problem!!!!!!!"

Sound familiar? This scenario happends all too often at our house. So finally, I have done something about it. This was my project for tonight - uniform bags. Nothing special, really, just a simple draw string bag for each of the boys made out of an old sheet, which was the only suitable fabric I had around at 9:30 on a Tuesday night. These little goodies are made especially to hold soccer shirts, socks and shin pads in the summer, Beavers vests, hats and necker slide(those little clasps that hold neckerchiefs in place - now you know!)in the fall. Put the uniform on, take it off, put it in the bag. End of evening chaos. Yeah Mama!!

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.

Rites of Summer

The road side lemonade stand...one of the best parts of summer, isn't it? The boys set this up this afternoon with their friends next door, and waited at the end of the driveway to accost any passers by. It is so wonderful to live in a neighbourhood where not only do people stop to buy a cup, but even go home and then come back if they didn't have any change on them at first pass. The kids had a great time, and will be smelling like lemons for a week.