These moments

These moments, snatched late in the afternoon on a warm spring day.
This is what we do, this is why we do it............

spring springy springtime!

It has been lovely.
Warm and sunny and blue skyed gorgeousness.
Yes we have been sorting, and the bedrooms are almost done, yay!
But when we have not been sorting, tidying, throwing out junk, recycling, wiping and vacuuming- phew!
We have been enjoying.............

shared time learning

our crazy chooks offerings

pockets of spring emerging

blossom rain

our favourite book at whatever time

five minutes for mummy

sunshine

rolling

building amazing and useless machines

learning new skills 

becoming a cub

cantering

North Norfolk

Adam and I were lucky to have a day to ourselves the other weekend (thanks Mum!) and decided to head to the sea. Now, where we live couldn't actually be further from the sea in any direction but as it's one of our favourite places to be the two hour+ drive was worth it. We loaded dogs instead of kids and headed to North Norfolk. Pottering along the coast from Happisburgh to Cromer to Sheringham before having some fish and chips in Wells next the sea. We managed to take some photos of our epic walk along the cliffs and sands and I also got to see some fab knitted graffiti attattched to some scary metal steps that led from the cliff top down to the sea at Happisburgh (almost made my whole day!) But sadly I couldn't get a good shot.

Scary steps (we hated them, dogs included!)

catching up (again!)

We are in the midst of crazy mess. Swapping rooms around and generally sorting out the house, I think there is a definite spring time clean theme here! Hopefully next week the garden can get  similar treatment.

For now though we have our playroom done!

From crazy mess, to a hopefully more usable space. Books sorted by subject, tubs labeled and paperwork organised. One room down!!

Our weekends have ended up being a bit more like other peoples school days with music centre and art club. The race to get up and be organised and out of the door to arrive by nine takes us some effort! But the end results are so worth it. This weekend the boys all took part in the regional competition as part of the National Festival of Music for Youth. They showcased a medley of Mary Poppins songs that form part of their big summer show (this year Disney musicals). They were accompanied by the centres senior band and were completely fabulous! They got one of the biggest cheers from the audience and were up against some very stiff competition from other ensemble groups, but in their section nobody had combined all the different elements (dance, singing and music) so fingers crossed!

And despite all my crazy, illness induced ranting and worrying the kids have been reading, learning and working hard in lots of different ways.

Teaching himself piano and guitar!

His favourite book this week- "thinking of a number"

6 was too many!

::UPDATE::

Not doing pirate faces but the crossword.
Phew, crisis averted and panic over.
I feel much better now.

Manic list making...........

I keep writing lists and calendar entries and then deleting them all again.

Chatting with all the kids about what to do now, what to do next.

Thinking about all the things that need to be, should be, must be done.

And then doing nothing.

At all.

My brain is frazzled and my body is rebelling by not getting better.

And the kids are rebelling by playing nicely so I don't notice them and make them do something that I cant follow through.

And did I mention my brain???

Anyway plans are being made and will be put fully into action. When we can finish them and do the job properly. Work will be planned too. But for now I take every little bit of something done as a positive or a box ticked, like I have a massive face sat watching from behind making sure......

 :: WE ARE EDUCATING ::

Discussions about the news, research made about when the next installment in a favourite book series, music practice and even reading from a cereal box, yep, educational!

These are the times I wish they liked a nice work book, just a page or two maybe. Tick a box, add a sticker or maybe a nice gold star. Who said it was a good idea to raise articulate, argumentative and inquistive kids? Ones that turn their noses up at a bit of CGP or Letts. Who want to see the world from their own perspective and learn in at least four different ways.
Oh yes, me.
Us.

Well not today and not this week. Not last week either and probably not next.
Instead I am snotty and sore, they are bouncing and reading a newspaper (mostly to find the best face to add a pirate look to) and planning world domination of the music charts.

Will that do? Fingers crossed.

On the upside today is our anniversary and we are going out, together, in the evening!
I am a very lucky lady!

Still sets my heart aflutter!

Busy week.

Full of nothing and everything it feels!

I think my head and my house need a very good spring clean, just not sure where to find the time!!

The number of pancakes consumed this week has been wonderfully enormous and I think we have ticked a fantastic amount of socialisation boxes too. Although I'm not really sure why this still worries me, mostly because it is almost the the number one question we get asked when people find out we home educate.

I think the top 5 are,

Are you a teacher?
What about socialising?
What about exams?
What do you do/have you done today then?

and lastly but not really a question,

"Oooh, I could never do that, how can you spend all that time with your children? I'd go mad!!"

Anyway I digress, we had a really fab time on thursday with The lovely people from the Naseby battlefield project and OPAL (open air laboratories) and iflow doing a hedgerow and pond survey. We were also discussing the new viewing platform they are hoping to erect at the point where the battle of Naseby all started. It was wonderfully educational and a fantastic chance to continue our involvement with the Battlefield project. But most of all fun! Sadly there is not too much to find in a hedge at this time of year, but bark lice and dead spiders were still deemed super interesting! Even more so the pond (although I think its mostly the going in to the top of your wellies) and there was lots to find in the way of larve and also a dead furry thing (turned out to be a vole).

The knowledge and enthusiasm from the adults working with our group was brilliant. Helping us grow our knowledge whilst being interested in a very positive way about home education and very complementary about the children. I think most of that comes from the children asking lots of questions and showing a real interest back.

When I'm having a bit of a low time days like these help reinforce what we do so much.

Anyway pictures can speak a thousand words (or so they say!) so here are some of the other bits and pieces from our week.

David's background for his collage work

cutting and measuring gates for her stables!

wand making (yes, they are obsessed)

Watching the electricity men prepare to dig a hole

Getting bigger

Blimey, how big??

Riding, they had a fab lesson!

{This Moment}

A single photo, capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment as inspired by soulemama.com.

10k

First 10k finished!

After only 10 weeks training today Adam completed his first 10k run. He set himself a challenge and has been inspiring us all with his dedication and determination. We are very proud of him! It was a very, very hilly route, something he had not been anticipating, but he completed it in his own personal goal time.

Kids running along for the last 200m

Made it!

Just had to show off a little bit!

made by me!!

I have finally made something bigger than a hat or scarf and I feel very pleased with myself. That she likes the colour, style and is happily wearing it is an added bonus! Now i just need to fins some good boy patterns (not so easy for crocheting it seems) and just like Mrs Weasley there'll be jumpers for everyone!

Need a cuppa!

Have had a positive day with everone at iflow today (but neeeeed a cup of tea now!) and it made me remember our trip the other week.

Through iflow we have been really lucky to have made contact with some fabulous community groups and people and over the past year we have been working with the rockingham forest trust on an Iron age project. We have made and  displayed work for their new discovery centre at Stanwick Lakes and been invited along to several interesting talks and walks.

making "cats"

not sure what they are doing here!

Ah! A young Celt

My little roman

homemade roman helmet

listening intently

coins 

bashing their tin coins

very heavy hammer

the finished coin

Our last trip out was to daub a reconstruction of an iron age roundhouse and an afternoon with a storyteller and crafter.  And a fabulous day was had by all!