A bit of friends mixed with science!!

We had some great friends come by for tea, and L put together a wonderful science experiment for them:
Firstly they get to build their prehistorical worlds complete with little dinosaurs and plantation, with volcano, then they get to have their little volcanos erupt (using a mix of bi-carb/dishwashing detergent/food colouring/white vinegar.)

They all got involved and really enjoyed the whole experience! But most of all I think they enjoyed sharing their newish love of LittleBIGPlanet - and the fellowship of friends. Oh, that sounds so religiously gay, don't it?

Quasior's been busy, very, bery busy

So much to do and so little time. We've been madly getting through our reading lessons, Kai has now jumped up to the green level which is the one before Master Reader. He's just flying, he did the red level in just under 2 weeks (that is 6 months worth?). Dante is up to lesson 8 in Master Reader, Blue. Labyrinth, lesson 5 same level. Raven just loves his little Dora books! We read them everyday but today he went to sleep straight after tea so we missed out! Poor little guy - he came into the study where I was listening to Dante read and he asked for his Dora book and I told him I'd be straight out after Dante had finished - which I was, but it was too late! He'd already crashed. SO he will be first tomorrow. A part of Monika's present is LeapFrog the first book reader thingy, so I'll be adding that to the daily list of things to do as a special thing for us to do as she just loves books so much and seems so interested when I'm doing reading lessons with the other children.

Monika is still taking steps and talking quite a bit, unfortunately at her check up today (I forgot they dropped the 12 month check up in the blue book but I'm so glad I got her checked out). Turns out she's actually dropped off her growth and weight (?) and shes closer to 70%ile as opposed to 90-97%. It appears to be due to the fact she's only been interested in breast milk for the last 6 months, the last two weeks have seen an increase in what she'll eat, but it's obviously not enough. So he wondered if I would give her liquid vitamins and try and force her to eat. I can only try, but she's healthy and walking now, and her milestones are better than average so is it all panic for nothing?

Last night Labyrinth stayed at her friends house and made a pizza and puff pastry treat, they played well. So the boys had a bit of a boys night in and didn't have to do any chores for last night and today. They enjoyed a picnic tea, a new DVD - Eragon, and then did some modelling with their father and some lovely spray art which I'll add in another post later with other art.

We're back to doing animals, to the children's wishes. They are doing quite well. Learningpage.com if interested. *Free*


Well, that's it for now, there isn't any more, (lots happening for me - but for some other time), Q.

Time marches on... I'm S*L*A*C*K

Officially Monika's very first picture! I think she was very sweet doing this, and it helped to keep her occupied while the other's worked...
Below is their cat day stories: (in order of Labyrinth, Dante and Kai)

Below is grade 2 math colour by addition from enchantedlearning.com (please make more of these wonderful things!)

These worksheets were requested by Dante (Labyrinth requested cats). He specifically wanted to learn about the Amazon River dolphin, so we learnt about them from this site rainforestalliance.com and coloured in these dolphins (all different shades of pink because the darker/murkier the water the pinker they are!) We also learnt about bottlenosed dolphins from enchantedlearning.com and we labeled them accordingly. (In order is Raven, Labyrinth, Kai and Dante's dolphins respectively).

(Raven, Labyrinth, Kai and Dante's bottle nosed dolphin labeled pictures in order.

They have been enjoying animals again, they are leading the learning and this is what they want!

We have been working very hard, both Dante and Labyrinth have been enjoying Master Reader (HOP), and Kai is halfway through the red level now !! Raven has been 'reading' along with me with his Dora the Explorer phonics books and now we are up to the second box of books *yay* ! We do read together freqently and now I feel they are gaining their literacy stars. It feels great to know they are achieving and exactly what they are achieving - OK a fair sight better than any school makes a parent aware anyway.

Other news: Monika is very nearly walking (and just shy of her first birthday! Slacker! ) We had a lovely BBQ with our family at Montrose Park (which has changed sooo much since I used to hang out there.. um another day perhaps, NOT!) It was lovely, Monika is very confident, and so is all of them really, playing well with their cousins... and they are now homeschooling too! Andrew's moods are improving. Other than that I've been in pain but I'm not going into that - very embaressing. They have been doing lots of art for cards etc and the boys are still doing modelling with their Dad. YAY.

Be well until next time, Q.

Monika Baby Brag Book

I believe that is what they are called.... to me its my almost finished off the page project. I hope to gift this to Monika on the arrival of her first baby or some other significant event in her life...

I've had so much trouble getting this thing to work! In the end I had to call in Andrew's expertise in HTML to get it to work. It has taken well over 24 hours (broken up times obviously). I haven't finished binding it yet, but I'm going to do some purple whipstitching and add ribbons and lace later.

Yesterday, we went and visited a friend who is giving away her puppy (her X partner gave it to the children on their visits over the holidays). Being in rented accomodation and the size he was growing up to be and the expense made it impossible to take the puppy on. There were many tears shed and hearts broken. I feel so sad for their little family at the moment... we went to have a nice visit and see the puppy and see the angora bunnies they are bunny sitting right now for a friend.

For some stupid reason theres this whole big gap between the typing and the images, and the frustration of trying to get them to be side by side and in the right order has left me and Andrew frustrated. But at least they are actually in the right places now, so here they are: Back and Front pages, first and second, third and fourth, fifth and sixth respectively... M is For Monika, my cut-out baby :D