Getting into the Home School Groove

This is the year that we start homeschooling :) I've been researching for the last 6 mths, checking out all the exciting things we will be able to do/attempt and finally I'm starting to gear up to the start of the 'school year'.

So I've been pottering around doing a little this and that - excited much? lol!







I've also been doing up the space I'll be using to home school (not a necessity I know but I'm able to so why not?) and will share that soon :) Its been a huge work in progress as the space used to be a 'nothing/junk' space! Next week will be about curriculum and the purchase of workbooks that I will be using. YAY :)

Small Success Thursday

Its been a long time since I've participated in Small Success Thursday, but I did find that it was nice to actually list some achievements for the week.

The run down on SST is as copied from Chocolate for your Brain "This is the day we take stock of those little things that we've done in the past week that either advanced us towards a goal, advanced us towards preserving our family or showed that we did the little things this week that matter, that add up to a lot of little things done with great love. To participate, just list three or more if you were feeling ambitious things that were small successes in your week on your blog and link up."

SO here are my SST's......

1. I online shopped for the 1st time in ages. I did toy with the idea of taking 7 kids out to the shops, you know, something to do, but decided that the potential of the babies playing up and or the kids nagging me for this and that, was wayyyyyy too much for this Mumma to enjoy lol!!

2. I've got my organising mojo back and I've been pottering around the place hitting the hotspots and putting things back in their places, culling anything 'broken/wornout/not used this century'. Its amazing how much 'stuff' is collected over 10 yrs! Even with semi-regular culling!

3. I've managed to keep up with the everyday chores for the last few weeks :) Its so nice to wake up to a clean house and not worry about doing a mad clean if someone decides to visit :) Even the washing and folding is completely up to date!! Fingers crossed we stay in this groove :)

So that's it for me - short and sweet :)

Quote of the Moment

WW - Wordless Wednesday

We have babies! Baby Kookaburra's that is :) There is a nest in the tree just by our back fence and we've been spending lots of time outside watching the Mumma/Dadda come and feed the babies :) About every 15-30mins they fly in with a new treat :) There must be a few in the nest cause they are noisy!!

Totally at my witts end!!

Nope its not the kids driving me nuts, its not the chores making me loose my mind, its the socks! YES! SOCKS! lol!!

I have a over abundance of socks that seem to end up loose and lost around the place, in various baskets and draws.

Sock cake anyone? lol! This is a 3l milk next to the pile, big hey?

And since I seem to have early nesting going on I thought that I would tackle the situation head on! lol! With Livia's help, who is the puzzle master, we managed to cull the socks once again to a (hopefully) manageable amount.

We chucked out nearly half the bucket, due to socks being holey or stretched. Surely I'm not only large family out there with a sock situation?? ;)

Family Fun :)

One thing we like to do together as a family is have Marshmellows by the fire :) There is something so earthly and grounding about making a fire and sitting around it enjoying the warmth. Time seems to slow down for a little.....




Sometimes we make a damper on sticks and fill them with honey, or toast bread on sticks over the fire and spear with butter.......yummo......

The kids then enjoy a night play, running around with balls and hula hoops or jumping on the trampoline. I love that we have a 'old fashioned' backyard where we can make fires and have the kids play outside late without the neighbours cracking it lol!

Oh and we take fire safety seriously, as you can see the baby is strapped into his pram, Aliya has her long hair tied back and once we are finished enjoying the fire it is put out with the hose. The children are not allowed to pick up leaves or put in paper to 'make the fire bigger' and they are not allowed to be constantly getting up out of their seats in case they bump into each other or the fire. One can never say never when it comes to children having accidents, (without wrapping them up in bubble wrap) but I try to let them have some 'old fashioned fun', supervised of course.

2009, 2010 and 2011 Christmas Santa Photos

I came across some old Christmas Photos and couldn't resist sharing how much our family has changed over the last few years :) As you will notice Jaidon is not in every photo, that is because we have him alternating weeks ie before/after Christmas Day on the Christmas holidays over the years....

I can't wait for 2012 Christmas Photo because Jaidon and the newest baby will be in the photo :) All of our 8 children together :)