My House of Days: Big Family

Showing posts with label Big Family. Show all posts

Sunday, 20 March 2016

February Activities

February was a fun filled month.

We went camping for the first time as a family. It was a gathering of home educating families at a camping ground on the shores of Lake Taupo. The weather was perfect, we secured a really good tent spot, and thanks to my very resourceful husband we lacked for nothing while still making it a proper camping experience (as opposed to "glamping" which I personally find a bit ridiculous).

Roasting marshmallows with friends.
There was a total fire ban in place so we couldn't do a real fire.

Hot chocolate with marshmallows before bed.

Mostly, this is where they could be found!

The lake was so calm and the children collected A LOT of pretty volcanic stones.

Arrow loved having a turn in the kayak.

If they weren't swimming, they were jumping.

...and splashing.

The older children jumped from higher and into deeper.

On our last day the wind had whipped up the waves which completely changed the swimming experience.

Back home again life resumed normal routine. Home educating Aunty L organised a science day at her home for a small group of families.

Walking water demonstration

A bubble within a bubble

Effects of dish liquid on pepper sprinkled on top of water (water tension).

Sensory play in ice

At the end of the month we celebrated another birthday, this time Blossom who turned 11 years old! She chose to have a "Cafe in Paris" theme for her party.

These lovely girls!

Blossom with her cake.

The Cake. By Butterfly.

Butterfly was very busy for a few weeks leading up to the birthday of her sister. She made a Barbie house with everything!

She thought of every little detail! Everything is up-cycled from other bits and bobs.

Even the food in the fridge.

Old unused shelves became the house.

~Lorna

Sunday, 27 December 2015

The Story In The Carols

I don't like to leave things unfinished. This post will, for me, just tie it all up neatly.

This December was unexpectedly harder for me. This is why the posts just quietly stopped.

But we didn't stop. My Christmas enthusiasm was carried by my children, one in particular, who continued to celebrate and make memories even on the days when I couldn't.

And that for me was a gift; knowing that they have caught, and cherish our traditions of the past years.

This was my present from Butterfly... She gets it :)

We attended a Christmas parade with friends.

Crystal and Butterfly with Friend #1

Blossom and Crystal with Friend #2

Arrow and Cedar watching the bikes.

We finished our Story Beads. I managed to finally find the crotchet cotton I wanted to use, rather than wool.

Butterfly set up little things around the house to add to the festive feel.

*Broken Glass Jelly*

It's No Fairy Tale

For a few months a little group of home educated children practiced a play written by a home educated young lady. Butterfly, Blossom, and Crystal were all a part of the production.

They were very privileged to be able to record their little show at a radio station and have it aired just before Christmas. This was a really neat experience.

Listening carefully to the radio man.

Blossom speaking her lines.

Butterfly speaking her lines.

Crystal speaking her lines.

The choir

Butterfly sang a duet

Crystal surprised us by singing a solo like an angel!

She is a natural.

The group performed the play at our local home educators end of year break up.

Centre of photo Blossom, Butterfly, Crystal

Crystal singing her solo

Butterfly dancing

Butterfly singing her duet

Blossom and Crystal dancing

To listen to the radio broadcast online *It's No Fairy Tale*

Blossom speaking @ 1:37
Butterfly's duet @ 4:39
Butterfly speaking @ 7:07
Crystal's solo @ 7:53
Crystal speaking @ 9:00

Merry Christmas

~Lorna

Wednesday, 23 September 2015

Our Home Education 2015

I have been home educating for 12 years now. I still enjoy it as much now as when I started. It is what I always wanted to do for my children, a desire that grew from when I was a little girl and family friends chose to educate their children at home.

This thing called home education is fluid. It changes. I have educated through many changing circumstances - babies, toddlers, moving house (multiple times), and the biggy... children that change and grow!

Educating seven children means that the dynamics do not stay the same. What I did in the early years just doesn't work now. Our dynamics are just too different. Part of me finds this a little sad. I loved what we did, the older children and I, when they were little. But as they have changed and moved onward and upward to different things I have learnt to adapt to the ways and interests of the younger ones.

My year began with perfectly listed out plans and ideas which I pretty quickly found difficult to execute! We muddled through keeping to the important subjects of Math and Language/Reading, and although none of my other wonderful ideas made it to the table the children found many other things to inspire learning.

They do that - learn in spite of my efforts!

Still, I wanted to be a little more intentional. That was when I discovered the idea of having a box for each day with a collection of learning resources. Credit goes to my sister who showed me her brilliant idea!

These boxes are for the girls (ages 8 and 10)

These boxes are for the boys (ages 4 and 6)

The boys were very excited to open their box! They both spent about an hour at the table playing with all the bits inside. The funny thing is that they had access to all these things before, none of it is new.

I am hoping that the fact they will only see each box once a week will mean they wont grow weary of the contents as quickly. Also not being able to pick their "favourites" from a big box may mean they will find value in the activities they weren't initially attracted to.