Our little man turns a big 5!!

Introducing..... R the Magnificant!
(or 'R Kings the Magician' as he likes to call himself!)

It has been 5 years since the arrival of our first born. I remember back to that day where there was a flood of emotions - joy, love, fear, helplessness... it is without a doubt the most emotional event that we have ever experienced and almost seems like a dream to recall it now. Our healthy and active little man with questions and opinions is far different from the sick little baby that we almost lost. We watch in awe as he continues to transform into his own unique personality, we laugh at his jokes, smile at his antics and learn of his personal tastes. His cheeky smile warms our hearts.

A Happy Easter

The year is zooming along as Easter seems to come quickly once Christmas has passed. The supermarkets soon stock shelves with all things chocolate and shiny to tempt those who are usually strong willed to fill trolleys with Easter gifts for every family member and friend. Children around the world wait eagerly for the 'Easter Bunny' to deliver a mountain of sweet delights so that they can devour as much as they can before their little bellies can't take any more... ohh and not to forget the 'cha ching' of cash registers filling with the profits of the season!
We have started our own traditions for Easter, as we prefer to spend time together in the kitchen making hot cross buns and homemade Easter chocolates rather than spending money on commercial products. The kids look forward to getting their fingers sticky and of course sampling the end result!! Although we do not follow a particular religion, we hope that as the kids grow we will be able to help them fully understand the true meaning of Easter and perhaps create their own traditions for the season.

A Proud Moment

R has been gradually working through various sets of 'Magic Words'. The first 100 'Magic Words' make up approximately half of those used to read and write. He has surprised us with his enthusiasm and persistence to learn each set and is always eager to get his hands on the next set! When he had learned those first 100 words, we were proud to presented him with a Certificate to show his achievement!

L has turned One!

It is hard to believe that our littlest baby has been with us for a year!! Like all of our kids, each day she appears more grown up than the one before. Sometimes I feel like I miss those first few months, although it is also very exciting to see them reach all of those milestones and grow into their own little personalities. L loves her big brother and sister very much... she watches closely when they are playing and then joins in enthusiasticly, squealing and throwing herself into the middle of the mayhem and enjoying every second of it!! She has great conversations with R, who appears to understand exactly what it is that she is saying and responds accordingly. Time alone with B is usually more relaxed as she joins in baking cookies in the play kitchen or they sit together on the beanbag watching playschool. It is a joy to watch them all together.... we are in awe of being blessed with 3 beautiful children. That's not to say that it is always peace and love!!! There are moments when they seem to all want the same toy at the same moment or times when a friendly game gets out of hand!!

A Little Bit of Science

It was with much enthusiasm that we grew a 'Magic Tree'. For those who have not seen a Magic Tree before, it is made of blotting paper that absorbs a saline solution which then causes crystals to form. The process takes about 10 hours to complete. The final result is a miniture tree covered with a foliage of lovely delicate salt crystals!

The Road Trip

Over breakfast one day our conversation led to the decision that we would take a road trip and explore a little of the Northern part of our state. We had never before ventured off for more than a day trip as a family of five, so this would be our first real family holiday!

2 weeks later we set off towards Launceston for a stay at Cosy Cabins in Hadspen. Some of the places that our adventure led us to were the model village of 'Old Hobart Town', Ashgrove Cheese factory, Anvers Chocolate Factory, Seahorse World, Platypus House and Cataract Gorge. Of course there were a few parks visited along the way, so that the kids could burn off some of their excess energy!!

http://s4.photobucket.com/user/buboo/slideshow/Launceston%202009

After 3 days away, we returned home exhausted and in need of another holiday!! Maybe next time we could relax by a pool sipping cocktails!!

2009 - The Beginning of Homeschooling

2009 marked the beginning of homeschooling for our family. After several years of research and a trial run late during the previous year, we worked out a formula that we could begin with. For the moment we are happy to let the learning be largely led by the kid's latest interests. We expect that schooling will be something that continually changes for us as the kids abilities, focus and enthusiasm for certain subjects grow.

One subject in particular never seems to be far from their thoughts - Insects (anything creepy-crawly really!!). If it is small enough to fit into the magnifying container and stands still long enough, then it is fair game. Even tiny critters that try to make a run for it but are not quick enough, will end up as the latest family pet for a day! Over time, it seems that the content of the container becomes more and more creepy... we seem to have an influx of scorpians recently!