Happy 60th Mum

Yesterday we celebrated Mum's 60th birthday, just family, her request was "I would prefer to slide into 60 going un-noticed!"

Her actual birthday was Valentine's Day but because we all live apart the consensus was to save it up until the weekend....

Mum threw a family statistic at me though....she is the only person in her family to reach 60! She lost both her parents in their 50s and unfortunately her brother in his 30s! I told her in that case she better keep peddling that bike and doing puzzles she just might crack 90!

Plenty of little helpers...

A Koolaman design pendant was our gift for Mum....

And me besotted with my two nieces, just can't help but give them a cuddle each...

typical behaviour of a mother of boys!

Is that a rhetorical question?

Our family, in the scheme of things are a fairly traditional country family. We talk a lot too...kind of unusual for a family of boys but there is constant banter.

Last night I had a conversation with my youngest son who is not far off turning 8.

"Did you have a good day today with Grandma and Grandad?"
"Is that a rhetorical question?"
"What is a rhetorical question?"
"You know when you ask a question that you don't really want to get an answer to"
Eldest son chimes in, "You know like in advertising where they ask a question that gets you thinking but don't get your answer"...
"Right, no it is not a rhetorical question"
"Yes I had a great day at Grandma's. We went swimming, watched MKR and had chips for lunch"
"Where did you learn about rhetorical questions?"
"School of course, you know persuasive language"

I have been out of the schoolroom for a week and look what happens....sensational stuff!

Capturing our landscape

We've had Tracey, HTRS (Home Tutor Relief Service) here again this week, projects have been started and completed and school is out for the week.

A landscape photo shoot was high on the priority list. Tracey, the boys and I were armed with our cameras and Aeroguard as we set off through the timbered country, making our own track to get out to the marine plains.

Here are some of the images we have captured.

Oh yes, they took what was required and went about being kids again...

Not usual for a fence to be looking like this but the floods are to blame, until the water dissipates it will have to remain.

Goal: To learn so much more about my camera...

The Element by Ken Robinson

This book was written to enlighten us!

I have laughed, cried and been inspired by this book. It has changed by life, the way I look at things, the things I do and the things I want to do.

Given the fact that I also have the privilege of teaching my own children, it really has made me think about the way I approach teaching them, the questions that I ask, my expectations and most importantly their dreams for themselves to find their Element...

Read the book, be inspired!

Week 1 Distance Ed...the beginning of our 6th year

As I look at my children growing ever so quickly, the times they are ever changing and in 2013 as I we embark on our 6th year in Distance Education I am left wondering how quickly time flies. Over the holidays I have been ever so relaxed about schooling the boys and the outcomes of their efforts.

I myself am not a graduate of this unique and engaging way of learning, this means that at times I feel like I am a square peg in a round hole. But as this year has rolled around, all of sudden, I feel like an old home tutor. I am not "going with the flow...like a dead fish" more like "floating my own boat"!

The job of being Mum and teacher can be so isolating and yet in a moment in can become the most rewarding job of your life.

Teaching your kids is all about priorities. My top priority is my family, and part of that is to ensuring that we remain balanced in our life, school, business, work, sport and play. I would by lying if I told you I get this right too but by god I try.

One thing I have learned is, it pays to be organised....
(this schedule is a new thing, I won't claim the idea but I have an expert...aka Mary Poppins who was able to sort me with this!)

We have designated areas for art and craft...

 I try to be inspiring...

I like to have things at their fingertips....

We indulge in wall graffiti, covering our walls with posters...

I try to be adaptable and flexible, sometimes we get thrown a curve ball...

And they love their reading corner...

Last of all I get them exercising...

and me too, even if it is just half and hour a day...