Homeschooling..

I've been updating the homeschooling blog with a few of the things we have been doing lately.  Abigail is still hugely in to crafts.  She has also been spending a lot of time reading and writing stories.  She likes to type them out and then decorate the pages, making them in to books.

We are wrapping up our 'Where the Wild Things Are' project and will then start Alice in Wonderland in the New Year.  December will be very relaxed with our focus on Christmas fun and activities.

Edmonton Reuse Centre

Today we were downtown for a while, and while we were close by, we decided to head to the Reuse Centre.  If you haven't been there before then I TOTALLY recommend it!  It's like a thrift store without the clothes and you can fill up your cart for $4 for EVERYTHING!!!!

We picked up jigsaw puzzles, games, Christmas decorations (I got a TON of artificial holly), gift boxes and tins, ribbon (as new - still wrapped), big fir cones, fabric, craft supplies, craft sets....

They have books, vases, sports equipment (Sam came home with a big pack of bats and balls and things)  They have endless medals and trophies.....sooooo much fabric and sewing/ knitting supplies.  paper, pens folders and files etc etc.....baskets....gift bags

You can basically go and stock up your craft cupboards for $4 for your entire purchase!!

The building is in front of the CN tower and the address is:

 10004 - 103A Ave, Edmonton

Opening times are 12 - 6pm weekdays and until 8 on Thursdays.  10 until 4 on Saturdays!!

The staff were so helpful and friendly - you fill bags or boxes or carts with whatever you want - as much as you want!!  Then they weigh it before you leave JUST because they weigh everything on delivery and on the way out so they know how much stock is moving...but the weight makes no difference to the price - it's just $4 :)

Enjoy!!

MMmmmmm - dinner at Swiss Chalet.

After the zoo we stopped in at Swiss Chalet for supper - it was decorated for Christmas and was very festive :)

Day at the zoo....

Last week we spent the afternoon at the local zoo.  The weather was lovely for a walk round, and it was nice to see some of the animals there who stay outside for our colder months...we were there when they were feeding the sea lions and getting them to play soccer etc in the hallway....it was lovely to see them training the baby sea lions too!!

Waffles!!

One day this week we had waffles for lunch - the children helped me make them and they also loaded them up with their choice of fixings afterwards!!  Apple slices, mini marshmallows, cream, chocolate chips, syrup....nothing too healthy but BOY were they good ;)

Potato printing...

I was making dinner one evening this week and kept Sam and Abby quiet at the island with some potato printing!  They only had a few basic shapes and three colours, but they both got creative with ideas for them.

Art classes continue - with Leonardo De Vinci....

This week in art class, Abby studied the work of Leonardo De Vinci.  They were taught a little about the artist,  (she liked that he designed a helicopter and that he used notebooks to keep records of all his ideas and inventions!!  All those years ago!!  She also told me how he wrote all his writing back to front (mirror image) to try and stop people copying his ideas)!!!  Amazing for someone born in the 15th century!!

They then studied portraits and how to drawer the face using cross-hatching for shading and using lines for placement of the mouth and eyes etc.

Coyote..

While playing outside one day this week, Abby and Sam heard the coyotes from the den in my neighbours yard.  They stayed on the climbing frame and started making coyote noises.  When the coyotes replied, Sam and Abby came inside and went up to their bedroom - they spent an hour or so 'talking' to the coyotes and enjoying them replying!!!  :)  They then spent the rest of the evening playing at being coyotes themselves - and then made brown bag hand puppets of coyotes.  It was a noisy afternoon, but they had great fun!  Abigail read a book all about coyotes and kept coming in to tell me various facts about them.

A picture for Santa....

Getting crafty for Christmas!! :)

Abigail picked up a ton of Christmas themed books at the library last week, and has been busy making festive things ever since!!  Here she is working on an advent calendar!!  We went to the scrapbook store on Tuesday for supplies :)

Friendship hearts...

Abby made a whole series of these and wrote her phone number on the back - she gave them out to her friends yesterday at art class and gymnastics class.  One of her friends said "How did you know that was my favourite colour?"

You should have seen Abby beam!!!  :)

Where The Wild Things Are....the movie!!

Last week, during Fall Break, we finally made it to the movie theatre to see 'Where The Wild 

Things Are'. Obviously the movie is very different to 

the book - being such a SHORT book, but there were recognisable parts in the movie and the main story idea was there. Max isn't getting along with his Mom, (or Sister in the movie) and 

gets told off for being a 'Wild Thing' - he runs off and then (in his imagination) he travels

across the sea 

to an island where he meets the other 'Wild Things'. One represents his Sister and one 

represents him, and by getting to know these 'Wild Things' and understanding their 

relationships, 

he learns about his relationship with his Mom and Sister. He learns to appreciate having a 

Mom and understands himself a little better before he leaves to head home again.

It was an ok movie - it was very slow in places - I think they dragged it on a little to make it

more movie-length - certain parts didn't add to the movie at all.

On the whole though, I loved the music and quite liked the style the movie was shot in (it seemed quite 70's/ 80's style to me). It was a nice

evening out. I'm glad we didn't take Sam (4) with us as he would have been very bored.  

Abigail enjoyed it although I don't think it will be a favourite movie of ours ;)

Worth watching yes, but it isn't fabulous imo ;)

(sorry I have NO idea what is up with blogger publisher tonight - it is messing up my typing and words are being split between two lines etc etc. It won't let me change it :( Gggrrrrr!!

Another talented friend!!!

I have such talented friends!!  Sharon gave me this gift on Wednesday!!  The bag on the right is a hand stitched doily bag.  Sharon has made these for years and I already have one of her doilies that I just love - really you should SEE these up close.  The stitching is so delicate and perfect!  This one has ribbon embellishments in my favourite colour too!  Beautiful!

The Timmy's cup has a sachet of hot chocolate in it and Sharon has made cup sleeves with Santa on them - from the sleeves of old red sweaters!!  Isn't that clever??   :)  Very cute!!

Thank you for the lovely surprises Sharon AND Stacey!!

xxxx

Snowman Whimsy..

This is the gorgeous whimsy jar that Stacey made and gave me on Wednesday.  Isn't he just so cute???  It was Stacey that introduced me to the art of whimsy jars - altered glass jars/ baby food jars.  Inside it is FULL of tiny embellishments and treats :)  This whimsy was full of festive themed items - including chocolate balls :)  YUM!!

I love him!!  Thanks so much Stacey - he's sat on of the shelves in my craft room :)

You can find Stacey at Molly's People blog!!

Laurence and Susannah - school pics 09

Laurence isn't happy with the way he was told to hold his arms/ hands....but I think they are both lovely pictures :)