A look back at our week...

We started our week off with a get together with our Early Learners group where we talked about "Communities". The kids were able to start by chatting about our greater community, and all the resources available to us by way of this map.

The kids then had the opportunity to draw their own communities and cut and paste the buildings and vehicles onto their own roads.

After a snack and some free play, the idea of a social atom was introduced, and the kids got to work on their own starting with their families in the middle and growing out to all the people and friends that play a role in their lives.

I was very excited about this topic, as we have done very little, except in passing conversation, in talking about all the people and jobs that play a role in our health and well-being.

I am hoping to revisit this idea a bit and even snagged the group map to put up at our house!

On Tuesday we had a great chance to continue this idea, when Aunt Pam gave us a tour of the bank she works at. The girls were very excited to be allowed entrance into the bank vault, and to see what Pam's "office" was like. Not too long ago, we opened bank accounts for the girls where they got to bring in their rolled change ($75 each!!) and talk with a representative about where their money would be kept, and now they got to see it first hand!

Pam was also able to show the girls large paper rolls of money before they would be cut, and chatted with them about how it's made, what country it is made for, and the amount on each role.

I don't think they realised the significance of the bills, but did enjoy pointing out the robin, the word Canada and the queen.

Tues afternoon was spent playing with lego at a nearby lego store. The girls had a great time creating and racing lego cars down this track. One the left is Aislinn's creation. Once she had the base of the car, it was all about the decorations! I think she takes after me! :)

Wednesday we spent the morning running some errands, and spent most of our time browsing the used book section of Value Village looking for a new series of books I have just fallen in love with. They are the Serendipity books, and have great pictures on every page, fun words, repetition of phrases, and a morale to go with it.

There are apparently about 50 and we are now proud owners of 2 for 50¢ each.

The afternoon was quiet, but quick, as we did some reading together (the newest of our books above included), and spent some tie at the table colouring and doing mazes and worksheets. Aislinn flew through about 7 mazes in approx. 7 minutes. She very hard to keep up with nowadays. When I am done here, I am off to replenish our supply!

Today was one of those days, where my desires for finalizing Christmas shopping came before activities for the kids, but it surprises me how much they still experience even in a trip like that. After gymnastics, we ate an early lunch and picked up Aunt Jenn and drove the hour and a bit to a large mall! In the process of shopping, the girls got to bond with Aunt Jenn (as they were physically attached to her in some way the entire afternoon), wander through a pet store, visit Santa's village, take part in finding the perfect Christmas gift for their grandma and a close friend. It's also great exercise, as Jenn and I definitely didn't slow our speed for kid sized steps!

As always I look forward to what tomorrow will bring, and am sure whatever the activity the girls will come away with a valuable experience.

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely...” - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Flower girl updates

So Jenn got her pictures back, and I just had to share as they came out so much better than mine!

Updates

of a few events the girls have been involved in that I haven't blogged about.

Monday Nov. 19 - A visit to the fire station.

We visited a local fire station with our Early Learners group ( I forgot my camera), and had a great time chatting with Firefighter Ryan and Firefighter Donny. They talked with the kids about when and how to phone 911, discussed escape plans from their homes, and showed them all the gear they wear. They then took us out into the garage area, where the kids got to sit in the fire trucks, and view the equipment including an infrared camera. Awesome field trip and one that is worth repeating as they get older!

Sept -Nov - Swimming lessons

The girls just finished their fall session of swimming lessons. Tara's first time, and Aislinn taking Sunfish. Both girls will redo their level, Tara needing to develop her comfort level with putting her head underwater, and Aislinn just needs to get a bit bigger and stronger. (She was quite a bit smaller than the rest of her class). Both girls had a great time and the instructors were fabulous. It's a great way to get them some exercise in the winter too, so we will be putting them in the next session again regardless.

Sept - Dec -Highland dancing

Asilinn has progressed to dancing the Highland Fling, and has learned half of the Swords dance. She seems to really be enjoying her class which includes her and one other girl, and is looking forward to the recital in December.

Sept -Dec - Gymnastics

Gymnastics are still underway, and the girls are having a great time. It is really helping Tara's gross motor skills although she still refuses to do 2 foot jumps off of the equipment. It's been great to see her Independence from Aislinn take off in this class.
Aislinn's group is doing more skills work than I have seen them do yet, and Aislinn's upper body strength is slowly improving. (We are hoping her climb into her bunk bed is helping too!)

November - Local Children's museum

We recently picked up a year family pass which gives us access to some local museums, and one in particular the girls have quite taken too. They have costumes to wear, a sand table with hidden dinasoar bones, a restaurant set up, a fish tank, fossils to look at, a display case full of mounted birds and small mammals and so much more. We are looking forward to exploring it more when we have quiet afternoons this winter.

October -Rock and Gem show

On a quiet weekend, we took advantage of a free Rock and Gem show being held at a local university, and spent a couple hours exploring the rock exhibits. The girls had a chance to pan for gold and chatted with some very friendly vendors who were happy to share their knowledge with them. They each got a twoonie and were able to choose a specimen to take home.

October - Halloween concert

We spent a morning attending a concert with Halloween music as the means of introducing kids to the different instruments and sounds of the orchestra. The music and approach was a bit much for Tara, but it was an interesting experience as we don't often have much exposure to music of that kind.

Mouse Hunt

So we had an interesting morning today! We had recently discovered the presence of a mouse in our kitchen so Jeff and I had been working towards a humane way to remove the intruder. Jeff spent some time sealing up the holes in our kitchen cupboards around the pipes, and picked up some humane mouse traps. Last night was our trial run, and low and behold we had one trapped by morning.

Thinking all was well, I was moving through our morning until I spotted a small mouse (very cute) standing on the stairs. The girls were immediately intrigued, and after a discussion about why the mouse was not allowed to live with us, helped me to contain the little guy. I myself am not scared of mice, but I do find the speed at which they run startling, so being my brave self, I hopped onto the couch for a better vantage point, and directed the girls in our plan of attack. We managed to follow the mouse to our front closet, and the girls proceeded to place our peanut butter enhanced traps nearby in order to tempt our new housemate to enter.

Once we realised the mouse was not likely going to take the bait in a quick and orderly fashion, we decided more drastic measures were to be taken. The girls slowly emptied all the coats and shoes from the closet- to offer us a clear view- as I opened the front door and stood at a respectable distance with the broom at the ready. After an impromptu wall of Lego containers to persuade the mouse to choose an easier path,we deemed ourselves ready. With cheers of encouragement, I gently persuaded the mouse into motion with the broom, and after a few tense moments, he choose the path of least resistance and flew out the door. I leapt to close the exit and the girls and I savoured our victory with a phone call to Jeff to brag of our bravery and skill in extermination.

All in all our adventure lasted at least 1/2 an hour, and we felt a well deserved snack was in order (after we replaced the closet's contents).

Unschooling at it's finest- an up close encounter with a mammal, a discussion on its proper habitats, a chance to study it's flight patterns, an introduction to the mechanics of a mouse trap, a lesson in cooperation, and practise in the retelling of an event step by step.

A visit to the vet...

This past Thursday, we were given the chance to tour a veterinarian practice by a friend of mine who works as a vet technician there. It was so cool! I am and always have been an animal lover, and think it's so awesome to see all the equipment and procedures they use to heal the animals. (Starting to re-think my past choices to bypass veterinarian schooling in exchange for Stable Management.)

The girls were obviously enamoured by the X-ray of the puppies and of course the spoon.

8 puppies (left), 2 swallowed golf balls (center), 1 swallowed spoon (right).

They also found it very cool that animals go to the "dentist", and the 4 month old sheltie puppy who enthusiastically welcomed them in the back office was received well also.

Thanks again Trina, you did an awesome job of explaining everything, and the girls had a great time! (We appreciate you bypassing the morgue for us too!)

Marco Polo

My sister who had been home for a year and a half visit, recently left again for a teachers position in Chendu, China.

Over the year, Aunt Kristel developed an interesting relationship with the girls, who she had never met before. Kris and Tara especially hit it off, coming up with a game where they would race around the house (Tara in Kris' arms) and poked whoever was in their path.

When Kris was ready to head off on a new travelling adventure, I knew it was going to be hard for the girls to understand the disappearance of their well loved Aunt. Kris came up with Marco Polo, a small stuffed mouse to join her on her adventures. Now, through her blog http://marco-polo-too.blogspot.com/ the girls can follow Marco's adventures through China, and take part in Aunt Kristel's life and experiences.

It's also great for Geography as we have already looked up Sichuan Province, and Chendu, and located Aunt Kristel on the world map. Aislinn is also very excited about the Panda pictures, so maybe we will take some time to explore them in greater detail.

Oh, Kris, Aislinn would also like to know what Marco has to eat. ( A picture would be great, but nothing too exotic please ---I'm not so sure about the dog livers thing, even as a carnivore.)