Poetry is fun!

Who is behind the tower?

 We have a white magnetic board that I though we would use for all sorts of structural time tabling and other such scheduled, organised, recorded somethings. Our version of home educating has not turned out quite like that! It is all the more fulfilling because of it in my view. Not much point of school at home when you can go to school, but I was new and naive! I also forgot my complete lack of organisational skills or desire to acquire some. But I digress, we now use it for all sorts. It has most recently been the place to record your well wishes for Christmas and the new year if you happen to be passing. And with the removal of things festive I thought a bit of poetry words would go down well. I sneakily stuck them up and hey presto the lines start appearing. I particularly love the line below.

My fave so far.

Stuff we love!

6B is his favourite

Today we've been bumbling about at home, playing games, taking down decorations, cooking chatting and even doing a bit of maths! Much Mama and Papa work organising has been going on. The coming months are definitely going to be busy and interesting!

But this afternoon we got to indulge in a bit of retail therapy that was fully justified - Yay! And in one of mine and one of David's favourite shops. A much needed visit to Chopper for new shoes and jeans. Davids joy at continually growing and passing me and now almost Granddad in height is not good for the budget, but the sales are on and the purple jeans he had been coveting for months are now finally his! On then for purchases in Colemans- pens, pencils, pastels. Rubbers and rulers, sketch pads and protractors. Apparently we needed all sorts! I love looking round shops like this, I could stand for hours choosing, touching and trying all the different brushes and pencils wondering what I could make or do.

And so now bedtime has come and gone, at least for the Little's, as they all sit around the table drawing and trying out our new purchases. I love it!!!!

Getting back into the swing!

The next Jamie Oliver?

Loving Graph paper

Spinach Filo Pie  & Tom salad

Sun and Jumping!

While we didn't sit back and do nothing for the whole month of December, we definitely lost a feeling of routine. And I find that we are missing it and this surprises me!!!

So it is with our new PMA (positive mental attitude!) that we are setting plans for the coming months. Finding a gentle routine that suits our needs, thinking about how we would like to spend our time with a renewed focus.

We have found a balance in the past, sharing breakfast while pottering around feeding animals and getting ready for the day. Working together in the morning, walking the dogs, making lunch and knowing we have time in the afternoon to be creative or indulgent or share time with friends. Of course it doesn't always turn out like that, its life, they re kids! But we are taking our firsts steps back into that rhythm that seems to work for us.

So today saw a bit of sunshine and warmth that drew the younger ones out to play and the bigger boys take pen to paper and do some fabulous drawing. Instruments were played with greater enthusiasm and focus since before Christmas and William cooked us a fabulous lunch!

New Year, new habits?

Ah, resolutions!

It's that time of year, do you make them? Sometimes. Do you break them? Inevitably!

As a try-er and an encourager of trying, that is hoping and trying to be the best at what I/we do, I always thought that was positive enough. But with all the big plans we have as a family for work and life this year (should that just be "life" actually) I am thinking I should be a do-er too! Not that I think I am not, a do-er I mean! But that I should put an even more positive spin on the things I and we wish to achieve.

Less "I will try" and more "I will do". Goals after all are a positive thing when they are realistic, sustainable and achievable. They are not just for the gung-ho, corporate executive character I visualise, repeating their mantra full on in the mirror (odd image, I know).

I can make the all positive changes I would like actually happen, and still be me!!!

So resolution number one I can share!!!

I am going to use this blog space and continue to watch it grow in to something that we can all be proud of and publish it at the end of this year as a wonderful keepsake of this year in our lives.

And January the second is as good a place to start! January the first was too filled up with wonderful time shared with old/new friends. Check out www.trionium.com/knackercracker to see what some people get up to on News years day morning, we were just supporting but had an early start to make it to the beautiful Box Hill in Surrey to watch the weird and wonderfully dressed runners raising money for charity. Very inspiring and brilliant fun.

Happy New year!

After what seems an extra, extra busy Christmas, we are rushing headlong into a New Year!

We are not as a family good at staying up late, partying the year in, but we are already excited about what it will bring us all.

After big changes this year work and family life combine with our choice to home-educate so that we are able to plan our whole life to suit us and for that we feel very lucky. We hope we can continue to mix all aspects of our life in our own crazy way! Supporting, encouraging, working, playing, learning and laughing together.

Pics of the preparations and Art work

Make, make, make!

Artwork inspired by Giacometti, Andy Goldsworthy, jewellery designer Kleshna and loads more!

Crazy busy days!

We have had and are about to have some busy, busy days. All in the name of friends, family and fun leading up to Christmas. We are of course looking forward to it all. But the preparations continue, and each time I strike a name off the list another one seems to add itself, no idea how its happening!

Note to self, start earlier next year!!!

In addition to all this the kids have had end of term concerts and art club exhibitions which we have enjoyed very much and so have they. They have grown in confidence over this last year performing happily in front of an audience. David had his first ever guitar performance this saturday and was rocking the stage with his band!