The Week I Became A Parent Of A Teenager!

This week began with an extra fun afternoon and something the kids and I look forward to each and every time it comes around. Our Roald Dahl Book Club! One of the young ladies in our small co-op has envisioned her book club for some time; between her, her mother, who tirelessly organises and preps all the behind the scenes stuff and myself we made it happen.

We meet every six weeks at their home, on a weekend. During that time everyone reads and/or listens to the audio version of the book. We've done, Witches, The Twits and this time around it was George's Marvellous Medicine.

The meeting begins with an always lively discussion about the book, the characters, the juicy bits, the funny bits and the really gross bits. Cause let's face it, there are generally at least some gross bits in each Roald Dahl book.

This time around the group got themselves into pairs and created their very own 'marvelous medicine' which they then presented to the group. So many laughs! I love that we tick so many boxes within this couple of hours but that it doesn't feel like we are learning at all. Isn't that the way it should be? We are simply a group of buddies having a great time together chatting and laughing about our current book.

We always wrap book club up with a yummy afternoon tea (everyone brings a plate) and some play time. Now that the weather is warming up nicely that play time is spent mostly in the pool!

It was our first co-op day for the term during this week also. These days are so important to both myself and the kids. We all love them and all get so much out of participating in the small group learning environment.

We have begun a unit on Biomes and will work through a large number of the Terrestrial Biomes over the coming weeks. During last term we all worked together on an Ecology unit, so a Biomes study for this term, ties in perfectly. This week we looked at the Tundra, chatted about it, viewed a slide show and completed a very cool flip flap booklet.

After a little break for snacks and a bit of an energy release we gathered to work on our Tundra collages.  Each week we will complete a different Biome collage on the faces of a box.

We also took a closer look at Edmund Hillary, Mt Everest and glaciers. Did you know that Mt Everest is actually growing every single year? Pretty impressive stuff!

The day rounded out with the introduction of our Simple Machines Unit. We discussed the terms Power, Force and; Work and put them into action with a couple of simple lifting experiments. I introduced the topic with a couple of very short clips found on you tube. From there we looked at Friction and completed a simple experiment on the amount of force required to move an object dependent on the level of friction that was in place.

Midweek saw us bouncing and chatting our little hearts out! The kids simply love these giant indoor trampolining centres and with the weather warming up quite quickly we wanted to get in a visit before the heat inside this place becomes unbearable. It was a lovely opportunity for the mums to connect with friends both old and new. These little homeschool outings truly are just as important for the mums (parents) as they are for the kids.

However the highlight of the week was most definitely our first born, turning 13. Did you see that? 13, I said, yes 13. I am now the parent of a teenager. Everyone tells you but you don't really get it until you experience it for yourself. Those years of little sticky fingers and muddy feet and tiny kisses and cuddles truly do fly by.

One minute you are up to your armpits in nappies and running around after toddlers, the next you are off buying your child their first mobile phone in peparation for the inevitable times ahead that they are off doing their own thing.

B13 chose to head to one of our newest attractions with just a few close friends, they climbed the walls, raced around the go cart track and tagged each other in laser force. All in all a fun couple of hours.

Later that afternoon all of our friends and family gathered to celebrate with him. The kids all got into games of backyard laser tag, smashing the pinata, enjoying birthday cake, dipping strawberries in the chocolate fountain and just plain old having fun! He went to bed one very happy teenager.

I took a look back at one of the first posts I ever wrote on the blog with an image of B in it. He's 7 in the photo on the right and working on one of his first pottery pieces. This was taken back in 2009. The photo on the left is one from his 13th Birthday party with his beautiful Great Grandmother, that turns 90 in just a few short weeks.

 My heart swells with love when I look back over the photo's on the blog, which truly is the number one reason I keep this little space going. A spot to reflect, to document and to count my blessings, which I do, every single time I sit down and look at it, because my life is full to the brim of blessings.

This post is linked at Collage Friday  and Weird Unsocialised Homeschoolers

Fifth Birthday ~ Wordless Wednesday

Ninth Birthday - Wordless Wednesday

Happy 10th Birthday

It's Lego Lovers 10th Birthday today, so we are off having fun with his awesome new gifts. He had a fabulous party, perfect for a 10 year old boy and was surrounded by his totally amazing friends!

I will blog about his party, but I am terribly behind with my posts and want to try and catch up first so it may be a couple of weeks.

Until then, I'm off to kiss and hug my sweet boy.

Happy 9th Birthday

My first born, 9, already! Ok ok I know we mothers spend our entire lives doing this, don't we? Every year when the birthday's roll around we just can't believe how the time flies.

All of the, I remember this time 9 years ago chit chat starts happening and the bringing back of fond memories begins.

I actually remember these moments all too well as a child. My mum and my aunts would have the same conversations every birthday, about each subsequent child and my sister and I would just roll our eyes, ok here they go again!! (Sorry mummy hehehe) So I do try to keep most of my thoughts, when birthdays roll around, to myself.

My babies are all growing up, this is his last year of single digits, how quickly does childhood pass you by?!

This little guy is so totally adorable, loveable, kind, caring, empathetic, funny, cuddly, innocent, sometimes shy sometimes not, always a true friend and above else a beautiful person. He is a joy to be around and we are blessed to have him as part of our family.

I just hope the next 9 years don't go as quickly as these last ones have. I can see him packing his bags and moving out of home right before my eyes and I don't ever want that day to come.

So anyway, enough of this mum's blubbering and on to the festivities of the day. We kept to our plans for a simple affair, as we did with everyone's birthday's this year. Oh it was lovely! Sometimes it is nice to have a grand bash and go all out but simple is also great too. Simple with no pressure :-)

B was allowed to invite two friends, which was very hard, he has a bunch of mates that are all quite close and get along very well so having to choose only two wasn't easy. Add in family and our (just about family) close friends and we still had 12 children and several adults. The numbers add up really quickly don't they.

There had to be swimming. With a pool in the backyard now, a pool party was definitely the order of the day.

However we've had quite a lot of rain of late and very little sunshine so the pool really wasn't ready to be open for swimming. Whilst the weather for the day turned out to be glorious, it was only mild, somewhere around 23 degrees, certainly not swimming weather, by a long shot. But swim they did. By hook or by crook they were having a swimming party and a swimming party they had!

Obviously they froze and their little bodies were covered in goosebumps but they were all smiles in the pool, even if it didn't last that long.

Of course I couldn't not include a picture of this grogeous little guy. He was squealing it was so cold but was giggling the entire time he was in the water, albeit only on the step because no adult was braving that water lol!! (yes daddy is right there, that's his hand just next to him to make sure he stayed close to the step and he did very well at that too)

Of course there was cake. Now this little cake involved a 40 minute trip to purchase. Yes that's right 40 minutes and that was only one way!! Dad found a nice little boutique patisserie and suggested to B that he might find a super scrummy cake there, so off they headed (the day before his birthday) on a little jaunt to purchase his cake.

I have to admit it was yummy, very rich, chocolate cake, with custard cream between one layer and chocolate mousse cream between another, add in the ganache and the truffles on top and oh boy, my tummy was near exploding.

Of course there's never really a birthday without gifts. He was blessed with some lovely thoughtful items. Gee they get difficult to buy for as they get older don't they?!

And we can't forget all of the lovely people, well these photo's don't actually show all of them, but you know what I mean LOL!

Well, that's our birthdays over with for another year, time to start thinking about Christmas.

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Happy 2nd Birthday C

Oh what a bittersweet day it has been for this mamma! My sweet, gorgeous, funny, caring, loving absolutely delightful baby is no longer a baby. Whilst we are all just loving being a part of his growth, I do also feel very sad in a selfish kind of you can't grow up way.....you know how it is with your baby!

Having him in my life has taught me so much. I have grown more in the past two years than I think I have in my entire life. He has given me the opportunity to be the mum I really want to be (far from perfect but working on it everyday) and it isn't only him that is benefitting, all of the kids are. The opportunity to really listen to myself and my instincts and what is right for us as a family and to be able to do away with the worry over what everyone else thinks is an amazing feeling.

I am so truly, utterly blessed every single day to have this guy as part of our lives and if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't even think twice. His presence in our home has changed us all in so many wonderful ways and for that I am ever so grateful.

Happy 2nd Birthday my sweet, precious baby boy.

Very low key celebrations this year. In fact we had to have 2 seperate birthday's for him as his Grandma went away today for work. Last night we had over dh's family for dinner and cake. C was really very unsure what he should do with all of the attention during the Happy Birthday song. I think if it had of gone on any longer he may have had a tear or two.

Then tonight a similar evening with my family. After having happy birthday sung to him several times today by his mumma and brother and sister he had warmed up somewhat. Still not 100% happy with all of those eyes on him, but he coped much better with the situation.

He certainly had his candle blowing technique worked out tonight too.

We are headed to the Zoo tomorrow for a fun family say out together. I will share some photo's as soon as I can. :)

K Turns 6!!

My baby girl turned 6 nearly a fortnight ago and I am only just getting around to sharing some photo's. You really have to have a quick look at a couple of her 5th Birthday photo's and wow has she grown up or what! She really is blossoming, and this past year has seen her mature so much. Our relationship is growing in leaps and bounds, as her maturity levels grows with her. She is so funny and makes us laugh every day. Even though she's 6 she still very much loves lots of kisses and cuddles from mum and dad.

Happy 6th Birthday Our Beautiful Girl!

We can pretty much brush all of her curls out now, although just add some water and finger scrunching and we can still find them again too.

This dress is from Spain. Her grandparents took a trip there recently and arrived home only a few weeks before K's Birthday. She decided that she wouldn't wear the dress (except for a few try on's here and there) until her birthday.

Now that's when you know they are growing up, when they can resist something so adorable and love so much, see it hanging in their wardrobe daily for over 2 weeks and not pull it out and wear it.

Since last year all of the kiddo's had big full on birthday's this year we decided to keep them small and more casual.

Grandma did up a great treasure hunt that finished with a pass the parcel, thanks Grandma!

We had a spot of crafting for those that wanted to participate.

They made tissue paper covered, recycled milk jug baskets, with pony beads on a pipe cleaner for the handle. Thanks Pink and Green Mamma for the inspiration.

Of course it wouldn't be a birthday without some yummy cake, delightful friends and some gifts to enjoy.

A nice quiet but enjoyable morning.....I just can't believe she's SIX!!!!

8th Birthday Photo's

If you'd like to see what B got up to for his 8th Birthday jump over to our family blog where I've posted quite a few pics.

Happy 8th Birthday

Where have these past 8 years gone?

We all (especially B) had a very memorable and super fun 8th birthday but I'm completely and utterly exhausted so this is all I have time for now. I'll post a birthday update with lots of pics and all of the fun he got up to very soon.