Our days always seem to be busy, despite the fact that I'm at home most of the time! Homeschooling certainly takes up a fair bit of time, but is lots of fun too and the children enjoy learning, which is always good!
I'm hoping to start a new maths program, called "Math-U-See" which uses manipulatives and has short DVD lessons, as well as worksheets, etc. I've bought some of the materials already and the children seem to really like it. It's only Abigail I'm "officially" homeschooling this year but Benjamin is soaking up stuff ALL the time while I'm teaching her. :-) It's amazing how he's actually hearing and taking in what I'm reading to Abigail, whilst it looks like he's totally lost in a book or catalogue (Argos, Lego, The Book People, etc). This morning I was reading a chapter from "The Mystery of History" about the Zhou dynasty and it didn't look like he was listening at all, but when I asked him what dynasty we learned about a few weeks ago, he quickly piped up with "the Shang dynasty" and also answered questions about the lesson I was currently reading.
This photo above was taken today. I had been doing maths with Abigail while Benjamin was making patterns & designs with the blocks when he suddenly came over and told me he wanted to write "87" on my board! After writing the number, he took his board and put 8 x 10s and 7 unit blocks to show me he know what the number was he had written! :-)
Clement's current obsession: jigsaws! Sometimes it seems like he does them all day long - when he gets up in the morning, when he's meant to be at the table for a meal, and when it's time to go to bed! :-) He did this one this morning - a 54 piece puzzle which he nearly did all by himself!
This photo is probably about a month old, so Deborah already looks a bit different - but I thought I should upload the photos I had on my camera. She's *always* climbing something - I fear she's going to be worse than her brothers! :-O
She *does* love her dollies - they get lots of cuddles and she's very motherly to them, which is precious!
Car in one hand and baby in the other - best of both worlds!
My beautiful little girl! :-)
She loves books - but also likes to eat them, which isn't so good! Her favourite thing to find is a small Psalm book and she immediately starts singing too!
Benjamin and his wooden model fork lift, which he made mostly by himself.
Some "Viking ships" the children made a few weeks ago - ignore their funny faces! ;-) We're not studying the Vikings yet, but they got a book from the library about them and wanted to make some boats.
As I said, *always* climbing - and a pencil in her mouth too!
Playing ball together
Abigail and a small bowl she made out of play doh.
Giving her baby a cuddle
Having a chat with dolly
Playing football around Deborah!
My biggest girl who looks all grown up! Hard to believe she'll be 6 next month.
In early September we went to Glasgow to see Leah and Caleb and their girls. It was great to see them again and very exciting to have Leah in Scotland again - even if it's on a temporary basis. The kids had lots of fun together. I love these photos I got of Deborah and Brooklyn walking around a chair together.
Deborah is taking a good look at her!
"Coming to get you!" :-)
My beautiful niece Brooklyn, the day before her 1st birthday.
Deborah, Shona, and Clement having fun in the Phil & Teds push chair.
Caleb and Brooklyn and her birthday cake
Dangerous climbing - up the back of one of the high "tripp trapp" style chairs!! (I do have a hold on her clothes here, btw.) Thankfully I've not found her there again, tho she does attempt to get in the chairs.
Learning about money and counting with a pretend shop!
Having fun with flags - bargain clearance item in Tesco, left over from the Royal wedding! lol
"This is the way we eat our breakfast..." much to mummy's horror! I just *cannot* get this little girl to sit still. The harness keeps her from falling in the floor (so far!) but is useless for keeping her on her bottom, so we can't leave her for 2 seconds. Perhaps we need a different high chair, though she'd probably get out of anything!
Found the boys like this the other night - reading books together! So cute! :-)
You never know where you'll get put when you have a big sister! We found Clement sitting in Abigail's window with *some* of her teddy bears.
My delightful daughter (even if she *is* full of mischief!) wearing a lovely dress made by a friend in South Africa. The lady is a wahm (work at home mum) who started up a business called BabiWabi and makes some really lovely dresses - excellent quality and very nice fabric.
Abigail, Clement and Deborah
Looking quite grown up, but still not quite walking yet!
She much prefers climbing - a lot more interesting than trying to walk! ;-)
She's a born maid too! She found a pack of baby wipes and soon was washing doors, walls and chairs! :-O
Love her cute face! :-)
Opening birthday presents and sharing with her cousin Shona!
Opening a present
Playing with her wooden toy kitchen she got for her birthday and play food. The kitchen is *just* the right size and she LOVES it!
Deborah was fascinated by the candle - she kept trying to grab it though! :-O
Birthday girl behind bars! lol
Cousins waiting for their dinner together - Brooklyn & Deborah
We had a lovely few days with Leah and her girls staying with us, the week of Deborah's birthday. The day they left we had really nice/mild weather so walked to the rose garden in town and had a picnic together. The kids all had fun there.
Abigail, Clement and Shona
Deborah enjoying her sandwich!
Benjamin being silly with a straw
Shona!
My biggest girl! :-) Hard to believe she'll be 6 next month.
Peter and the youngest two
Walking along the stone walls at the rose garden
and again
lying down too!
My dear Clement
Deborah thinks her snacks taste better if she's sitting *on* the table. :-/
On the table *again* - we have to shut the gate and keep her out of the kitchen/dining room, as she can't think of *anything* else to do but climb on the table!
Looking cute :)
Playing with toys on a table again - at least this one isn't so high off the floor!
