Tree Fort

 

I figured I best post these pics before the snow flies!  lol.  I've been meaning to post them and keep forgetting. Too much to do.  Too little time.

 

 At least it's not a cell phone I'm forgetting about!  Oh my word!  You will not believe it!  This past weekend I grabbed my cell phone to snap a picture of Jackson playing outside.  While waiting for the cell to pick up a signal, I decided to grab the garbage by the door and toss it into the garbage can.  I got to the garbage can and realized it was overflowing.  Being the "do as much as I can, as fast as I can" kinda gal, I grabbed the matches, stuck them in my pocket, filled both hands with garbage and headed to the burning barrel and promptly dumped everything in...including the cell phone I was still holding in my hand!  Yes, I did light the fire, completely forgetting about my phone until after I had put the matches back where they belonged.  I have no idea why I thought to put the matches in my pocket and not my cell...dumb!!!  It took about 15 minutes before I realized where the phone must be...yup!  Too late!

 

See here's the thing...I've had this phone for almost 2 years and h.a.t.e.d. it at first.  Martin thought he was buying me a VERY thoughtful and lovely gift when he purchased it.  I, on the other hand, was m.a.d.!!  I could not believe that he would spend money so foolishly when I already had a cell phone that worked perfectly fine, thank you!!  Well...eventually I fell in love with that phone and forgave Martin for spending the money.  I realized my phone was a pretty sweet thing to have.  Now I'm back to the phone that "worked perfectly fine, thank you!!"...and I HATE it!  It is so ssssssllllllooooowwwww!!  Oh well!  Lesson learned! 

 

Anyhow....back to the pictures of the boys' tree fort.  Alex and Morgun have been working on this fort for a few years and it gets improved upon all the time.  I love seeing them be creative and use their hammers and saws.  It takes quite the determination to saw those boards with a handsaw.  So proud of my boys!

 

 

 

Two Months with Jackson

 

Two months ago I met Jackson.  This was my first glimpse of him.

 

It took him a long time to warm up to me.  The first few weeks were filled with a little boy grieving intensely.  Jackson would cry and become limp like an infant.  He refused to eat by himself and he reverted back to not being potty trained.  He cried at all hours of the night and was very sad during the day, and I could hardly get him to smile.

Upon arriving at home, it was only a matter of days before Jackson began eating on his own.  He warmed up to his daddy and siblings almost instantly.  Before long he was smiling and babbling with them.  However, he still wasn't too sure about me.  

Jackson is finally beginning to trust me.  This past week I headed out on my own for a bit, and the girls gave me hug as they always do.  Jackson followed, arms wide, wanting a hug too.  Ahhh!  Warms my heart!  He is beginning to giggle when I tickle him or do other goofy things.

 

Jackson had his first haircut a few weeks ago and was a perfect angel!

Jackson loves being outside and will play on his bike, in the sandbox, or watch the fish for hours at a time.  Jackson loves to push the limits.  When told "no", he will intentionally do the inappropriate behaviour over and over again.  If we say "no" too harshly, his eyes get really big and he sniffles, usually not crying, but very sad and hurt.

 



Jackson and Raina have a special bond.  They play together a lot.  But mostly they get into mischief!  It may be jumping on the couch, throwing tomatoes in the entrance, making their sipper cups drip water all over the floor, taking all the toys and dumping them all over the play room, or wandering around looking to make a mess somewhere.

 



Jackson loves riding his trike and learned how to peddle very quickly.

 



When he's not on his trike he can often be found with a larger bike, walking it around...and dreaming of being big enough to ride it. :)



Back to School...so Far. ;)

 

Our school year has not started as I had hoped.  I knew it would be chaotic and unorganized, but I had hoped by the end of the first week to have found a bit of a comfortable routing...NOT!!

 

Instead we have basically had no school at all.  The boys both started their on line courses only to discover that they were both placed in a grade one year above their level.  We've been waiting for this glitch to be corrected.  It still hasn't happened.  Needless to say the boys are getting frustrated.  They are convinced they will never catch up.

 

Malia's curriculum arrived on Friday.  So as soon as the boys' schooling gets sorted out, we will begin school in full force. 

 

So, instead of focusing on school we have been going to appointments, and enjoying the unusual warm temperatures.  We reached 32 degrees last week and made an impromptu trip to the lake.  We barely fit everything into the Tahoe. 

 

It was the perfect day and just what we needed...actually it was a fraction of what we needed!  lol!  We could use an entire month of relaxation with no demands!

 

The boys enjoyed the boat and were determined I wouldn't get a picture of them.  Haha!  I got some keepers!

The girls spent the better part of the day looking for and collecting snails.

 



 

And Jackson enjoyed the beach and a little snooze...much to my delight!

Now if only homeschooling could always be this enjoyable and relaxing.....:)

Raspberry Pickers

These are not the greatest photos, but I love them!  The girls were so very proud of all the raspberries they picked.  Malia can pick half a pail in the time it takes me to pick a pail.  She's my little berry picker and loves it!  She'll even come and ask if she can pick raspberries.  :)

 

 

Back to School

I've been having a difficult time writing this post.  My heart is heavy and I am sad and, at the moment, completely overwhelmed.

It's that time of year again.  Time for the kids to go back to school.  Usually I'm kind of dreading sending the kids off and spending a quiet, but wonderful day at home.  I miss my kids when they're at school.  However, after the first week, I love my 7 1/2 hrs with my little kids.  I love nap time and the much needed time to get things done...or to have some quiet time.

This year is different.  We have decided to school all of our kids at home.  Alex and Morgun will be taking on-line classes, with Saskatchewan accredited teachers and Saskatchewan Curriculum.  Malia will be home schooled.

 

I have mixed emotions.  On the one hand, I'm sad to see my kids miss out on all the wonderful things public school offers...Christmas concerts, musicals, extra curricular things, friends, etc.  On the other hand I'm so thankful that we will no longer have the rushed mornings, crazy after school rush with moods flaring, running to Taekwon Do and other activities, and then hurrying to get to bed on time.  Most of all I'm so thankful we will not be dealing with the bullying.  I suppose that is what makes my heart so heavy and sad.  Sad that bullying has played a huge part in our decision to keep our kids at home.

As you know, we home schooled Alex last year due to bullying issues and the plan was to send him back to school after Christmas.  When that didn't work, the plan was for him to go back this fall.  After many meetings, and numerous non-school professionals giving their recommendations, we have decided schooling, at home is the best option.  I can not give too many details.  I want to be respectful and professional.

For the past couple of years I have wondered why our "Anti Bullying" campaign isn't working well.  I have come to the conclusion, that in part, we as a society have failed our children by classifying levels of bullying.  There is no such thing as "minor" bullying.  Ridiculing a child for what he/she wears, does, and is interested in is not "minor".  When a child is wearing his/her best clothes and is ridiculed...it's major bullying to that child...especially if it happens numerous times a day, and every day.  Those "little" things are what make our children who they are.  Allowing "minor" bullying is literally tearing apart the essence of who our child is.  I believe we need to be very conscientious in teaching our kids the basics of being a "good citizen"...kindness, gentleness, loyalty, etc. within our schools.

As for why we have chosen to home school Morgun and Malia...

Morgun has wanted to be at home for a few years and is totally pumped about this new opportunity.

Malia on the other hand, is ticked off!  She loves school.  And I love it that she loves school.  However, in the past few months it has become increasingly evident that some of her behaviors need to be dealt with now...not when she's 13.  Our hope is that homeschooling will give us a greater opportunity to fill Malia's "love bank", which in turn will increase her level of trust and decrease her need to manipulate, lie and be in control at all times.

I know in my heart of hearts that this is the right decision for us, and for our kids.  But knowing that doesn't make it any easier.  It just gives me the energy to put one foot in front of the other.

I had hoped to post a few "back to school" pictures of our wonderfully organized day, but that didn't happen.  Our morning was rushed (oh the irony!  lol) with some school work for Malia and orientation for the boys.  Then we headed to the Minor Emergency to have Jackson's ear checked.  His ear began to ooze yesterday.  The only sign that he had an infection.  I feel horrible!  I knew he was susceptible to ear infections due to his cleft palate and had been on the look out for any possible symptoms.  Apparently, our little man has a very high pain tolerance.

Hopefully the next few days will bring some routine and organization to our daily routine...and then I can post some pictures!  ;)