March Break?

So I wasn't ready for New Years and now I am not ready for March Break. Surprised? I am never ready for March Break, I always seem to be broke until the end :(

Nature does not seem ready either. The last two years the kids have been out in jeans and sweatshirts. My Southern friends, do not fool yourself, the temp was probably 45F-50F. But spring was on it's way and the snow was gone. This year I am doubting we will be so lucky. It is half a week away. The last week of March would make so much more sense for those of us in Northern climates. FYI the picture showing next weeks March Break weather is showing high and low temps in Celsius where 0C is freezing.


So I have discussed with the kids the idea of working through next week. We will make sure they get time out with friends. We will do a number of unit studies since they tend to be the most efficient use of time. Then we will have a week with cash to do some activities and hopefully some nice weather to be outside in. This also means I will push to wrap up Rome this week.

I also am hoping to use our tax return money for an educational vacation. I am thinking Toronto. We went to Ottawa last year but Toronto means staying with family and saving the cost of a hotel. So I need to make decisions on what we will do there and how we will get there. I am thinking bus, and then use transit to get around. Plus the kids would be thrilled to take a subway train....ah the things that thrill children :) This station at the museum would thrill all ages though.

So stay posted. I am sure the plans will spill out on these pages as the coming weeks unfold.

WORKING AQUEDUCT MODEL

Today was the big day when we built the working model of an aqueduct.

I actually thought this was going to take several days. The day started off rough. Ko-Ko was upset that we were having math first and decided to have a meltdown. When that was over we got to work. I hope that one day we are past her meltdowns.

On To The Aqueduct.

First we needed to build the bones of the system. This was the mountain (a plastic container that had dip in it, on top of some cardboard), the bath house (bottom of a milk carton), sewer (side of a milk carton) and the pipes (straws). Fitting the straws into each container and each other and then securing them to prevent leaks was the most difficult. We ran water through this system several times finding and fixing leaks was the most frustrating. This was where I was most involved.

After that it was the details and this is where Ko-Ko and Runner really excelled. Houses were built, a temple to Jupiter (from our time-line), a triumphal arch, roads, out door toilets over the sewer, a Colosseum and of course bathhouse and aqueduct. The model is not to scale, that would have been tricky.

Here are 2 videos:

This one the kids tell about the features of the model.
And this one you see the model working. We colored the water blue to make it more visible.
The sound is not great so I recommend using speakers or headphones.

How To Warm The Heart Of Your Ex-Activist Mother

WARNING this may only appeal to major left wing liberals, activists and traditional skins.

Now with the warning over with into today's antics.

For English we have been studying poetry through the kids favorite pop songs. Today they were to work together to re-write Travie McCoy & Bruno Mars' "I wanna be a billionaire"
I let them go at the brainstorming processes while I prepared some future schoolwork.

I was very curious as they threw questions my way. For example:

>KIDS: "mom what is a word for a guy who trades sides"
ME: "traitor"
KIDS: " doesn't fit and not a bad guy"
ME: "rouge".
KIDS: " thanks"

And a while later.

>KIDS:"what is the main news story on the news called?"
ME:"headliner"?
KIDS:"not in a newspaper on the news like on global"
ME: " yeah I think it is the headliner or main feature"
KIDS : "K"

I was totally curious. Headline on global news and a rougue, nit a bad guy. Hmmmm...

So here is the song to make any retired activist Mom like my self smile.

I wanna be a Native activist on the blockades.
Buy all the cannuck rouge black ops.
Uh, I wanna be the headliner on Global news.
Smiling next to coffee drinking cops.


Oh everytime I block the 401.
I see my face on the news. ( hey mom I'm on tv).
I swear the world had better prepare.
For when I'm a Native activist.
Oh oh oh oh (eh)
Oh oh oh oh (eh)

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When In Rome

Soon our history lessons will take us to Rome. Not literally (unless I have a lucky lottery ticket), but through the pages of books, videos of you tube and info on the net.

I think this will be another big study like Egypt was although I am hoping it does not take us two months.

We will of course be using our "Cartoon History of the Universe" We have to skip ahead to the next book. Yeah I remember deciding to do history in order but I thought I would be here by now. We will back track when done. Sometimes I wonder if I could base an entire curriculum on history? I think to get through this in a more orderly fashion I will need to focus much of our curriculum into history. there is always so much to learn it seems.

Anyway

We also have the "DK Eye Witness Ancient Rome" box set. We also are borrowing a book of my dads "Roman Aromas" (it's a scratch and sniff history). Hmm...there are more...they will go on my wish list.

On you tube is a bunch of Horrible Histories videos. We also have the books (many of them). We also have some other more serious videos book marked such as the pbs series The Roman Empire in the first Century.

We plan on taking close look at the aqueducts, the baths, gladiators, Pompeii, (found the documentary for that on you tube that I watch a few years back) and the act of conquering. I remember as a kid building a model of an aqueduct thanks to a grade ten history teacher who would accept any project that took more effort then an essay. So we will see if his class was interesting enough that it stuck in my head. And if I can get younger kids to build it. I think I can. I am also thinking of doing a mosaic. I am however looking for other cool projects. If you have suggestions let me know. I will be posting what we do of course. We may perhaps also go see "The Eagle" which is currently in theaters.

I have compiled so much for us to cover. The problem is I do not have much of a plan. I need a plan. So tonight I need to put it all in some kind of order.

Quiet time for Mom

It is a quiet Saturday. When we got up this morning we all got straight to a Saturday morning clean-up. When we moved in here Aunty Claus and I decided That Saturday morning would be the day to clean under and behind furniture, do the walls and windows and all other thorough cleaning.

Now with the children outside playing with our new neighbors. And all other adults at work or errands I am relaxing on the couch. I considered hitting the computer but decided that this opportunity to relax in quiet was just to great.

It is good for us Moms to have some time to ourselves for quiet reflection. I have work this evening but until then all I have to think about is how to enjoy the quiet. A book, work on my quilt, a small nap? Whatever I choose it will be well enjoyed. I hope the rest if you enjoy your weekend an find some quiet time.



And here is the quiet space on the couch I have been enjoying.


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WE GOT SOME WHITEBOARD PAINT

I went to Lowes and although I didn't find idea paint I did find Rustoleum Dry Erase Paint. ($31 for a 7X7 area). Then we picked up our paint tools from Dollarama.



We brought them home and got started. First we had to sand down the table and wall. We only had enough for one wall but we will get more later. After sanding we wiped down with a dry lint free cloth.



Next we mixed can A with can B and rolled on the paint with a foam roller. After we let dry for one hour but only one cuz the paint has to be used within 2 hours of being activated.


After the one hour we rolled on coat #2 and then kept Indy from it.



It has to cure for two days so we won't know until Thursday how it turned out. The wall feels glossy like a whiteboard though. I suspect our table may need an additional coat when we do the other wall.

We are excited to see how it turns out! The wall area we did is 5'6" (H) X 6'1" (L). So it will be so much bigger then our old white board. I also think having the table done will be a great asset and fun too.




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TUPPERWARE & CHORES

Last night I hosted a Tupperware party. We had fun, laughs and food :)

I made my 3hr coconut cake. It is one of my best. I made it when Grandma Claus had a Tupperware party. Perhaps I will become a Tupperware cake. It really does take nearly 3 hours. You mix 2-5min. between each individual ingredient except the egg whites which go last and are folded in. It is a pretty cake.



This morning I had a lotbof dishes to do, and clean the kitchen. Indy decided to help and cleaned along with me as well as the washroom beside the kitchen. It will of course need to e washed by someone over 4 feet later.



I had planned on doing some schoolwork today but SW was sick. I left him to sleep and he us feeling better now. He us never sick for long.

Finally fine the days chores I am left to wonder what to get myself from the party. I get $125 worth of stuff plus a free gift. My free gift will be the stacking set for deli meats. In our house these tend to take over the self the are on in the fridge. Also the wrappers they come in seem to get left in the fridge.

For my $125 I am thinking the steamer, the kids baking set (a gift for Indy's birthday next month) and a bowl with lid. Is I awful if I don't spend more then my $125?



I am finally doing laundry as our washer has arrived. Two weeks without has been a nightmare. Our old one died a week before moving day so we have been a bit SOL. The upside is I am now excited to be doing laundry.

I hope everyone in the blogosphere has a great Saturday!


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CHINESE NEW YEAR

Happy Chinese New Year!

It is the year of the rabbit, I was born in the year of the rabbit :)

This is the PDF I put together for the kids using the internet.

Chinese New Year PDF

It includes the websites I got it all from at the bottom. It also includes some info on the Lantern festival which is 15 days after Chinese New Year.
And a lantern craft that I got here

Yes even Indy made one. He cut the slits himself! And yes that is us in the school room. Still in progress for example we do not yet have our exercise balls or white board...yet

Ahhh...The *sigh* of contentment

Yep, that caught your attention, didn't it?

So as everyone pulls up a seat let's get to what you are all wondering. what has brought Ina that sigh of contentment .

Are the kids quiet and well behaved?
Well, yes. But that's cuz it is after midnight.

Was I spared by the big storm?
No. But this is Canada, we can a handle a foot or so of snow. And I live at the east end of the lake (less snow).

Baking Bliss?
No, well yes but it's not about today's soft molasses cookies






My sewing area is finished! I have some decorating (pictures) to take care of (when people are not sleeping). And my chair needs to come out of the garage. But it is done. I am thrilled. And my 8 milk crate shelving tower is very functional. I can't wait to sew! My plan tomorrow is to get lessons done and kids outside to play in the great snow so that I can sew. I can't decide what is first. 1. Is this floor cushion/ stool things or 2. a quilt. Oh the decisions. But I am so thrilled.

I sat back when done, took this pic and sighed the sigh of contentment.


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KO-KO COMPLETES LEVEL 2 GYMNASTICS

Tonight was the end of Ko-Ko's second term in gymnastics. She completed level two, an part of level 3. She is thrilled! Next term starts next week an she has been making use of spare time at the new house to practice. The school room is big enough for he to do this in, which is great. It is nice to see her be so happy with herself. It was also parent picture night :)





















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