Extension work

I recently discovered this website with simple curriculums for the primary school years. It's fantastic with guiding you to know where to start with extra learning at home in addition to what's happening in the classroom.

http://www.cambridgeschool.eu/en/curriculum-learning/documents/

I don't know why but I have known our eldest needs more then just the basics when it comes to learning - he thinks differently and stretches further then most children his age. Sounds like I'm just a proud parent but I have notice this difference in him since he was about 15 months old when he could look at something he had never seen before - like a television - and work out how to turn it on/off without anyone showing him where the buttons were...and so many other little things he could work out before he was even previously exposed to them -- huge complicated puzzles at 20 months old and matching and memory games which became too easy for him and boring by the time he was two. He was talking in full blown proper sentences long before his toddler peers (and his later born siblings) then learnt how to ride a bike without any coaching at all - he just got on it and started riding - then it was the same with swimming...just one day figured it out without one lesson ever.

I guess this is just normal and everyone is different but with all of this I have really wanted to present extension activities to him -- sometimes this has caused me stress, it all is a lot more work then just doing the bare minimum day after day - ie turning the tv on and leaving it at that.

So now that he has started school, I am trying hard to keep on top of the extension activities he could be experimenting with. Right now life feels like I'm just keeping my head above water -- 2 other little ones at home and lots of sickness running through our familiy lately has worn me out. Just keeping it together is usually the feeling we are experiencing. So one day I found this awesome website with the curriculum for each primary school year. It is simply described and basic enough for parents to explore with their children. We hope to follow these curriculum pages with Asher and seeing whatever he is interested in.

All you need is LOVE

In the name of all things L O V E we had a little conversation around the dinner table tonight about what we love in eachother... its cute to hear what a 5 and 3 year old has to say about their siblings and lovely thoughts on their parents --

Asher loves how daddy surprises him and picks him up from school sometimes and takes him out

His favourite day ever was when he picked him up early and took him to a movie just the two of them - this happened a while ago now and he still thinks of this special day together

He loves how dad takes the boys fishing -- its the best thing ever!!

Asher loves how Jet gives him the tightest hugs everyday when saying goodbye to him at school and anytime around the house he is feeling especially happy

Jet loves how Asher lets him hold his fishing rod

Jet loves how daddy takes him fishing

Jet loves how mummy always wants cuddles and smooches

Asher loves when mummy gives him kisses and my smiling face

Asher loves how Sariah gives kisses - its soooo cute and he asks her to kiss her all the time!

Asher loves how cute sariah says "mummy, mummy, mummy" in her own funny way that we all know

Daddy said that he loves Jets cuddles and lovely kindness

Daddy loves how Asher is so helpful and is a good listener when he asks for his help

Daddy loves how thoughtful mummy is (my list of things i love about Daddy is too long for this blog ha!)

Mummy loves how Asher eats almost anything put in front of him and how much he helps her around the house.

There was a bit more I have forgotten but this little moment was happening all while eating dinner and in between "can I please have some..." and "I'm just gonna get a drink" so it was a bit of focus at the same time with lots of interruptions - but hey they are two crazy 3 and 5 year old boys.

We all felt lots of good feelings as we left the dinner table and headed for books and cuddles before bed.

As I was reading to little Sariah before bed, I had a moment of "oh no" this is nearly all over. It was like years flashed before my eyes of her now being all grown up and it made my heart sink just for a moment. She was sitting on my lap and totally engrossed in her favourite books "Sally's Secret" and "Rhymes for Annie Rose" -- baby girl will seriously sit in total silence as I read these to her with her eyes looking all over the pages. They are the sweetest books written and illustrated by Shirley Huges. A seriously good investment for your childrens library.

What a lucky girl I am to have all this love and the sweet little babies that I have been given 💗

Mastering

I'm being forced to take things really s l o w

This new routine of school pick up and drop off is a new challenge to master. I'm happy to say its all working well its just that its new and we are all getting used to it. It has been nice just to have a quiet rest at home while big brother is enjoying his school days.

I have been unwell lately, mixed with not sleeping the greatest too - has all forced me to just stop and take a breather. The house is not what it usually should look like and it gets under my skin but the kids and johnny work hard on that for me which means I'm one of the lucky ones!

Here's to another slow week at home with these babies xx

Peace

Today was a moment of pure reflection. I thoroughly enjoyed taking it all in. I haven't been sleeping well lately as i sleep so lightly when my husband leaves for work at 4am I am disturbed that I never ever fall back asleep. But even after that habit of early waking happened last night I still managed to have a peaceful sabbath today. How grateful I am for that! I was enlightened, I learnt new things about the gospel and my children were able to as well. Asher in particular commenting on how nice the music was in our house this afternoon, he was feeling the Spirit!!

Ahhh

Love those moments.

'

But learn that he who doeth the works of righteousness shall receive his reward, even peace in this world, and eternal life in the world to come'.
 Doctrine and Covenants 59:23

Summer Holidays

I have had a great time these summer holidays, I am so thankful for being able to actually say that. I bumped into another preschool mum today who asked how the holidays were going for us and I could happily say it has been going well and actually slipping away really fast. Sadly her experience has been the opposite, with her saying it has been a nightmare.

I realised a few things after leaving that conversation. I remembered to thank Asher for being so good every time his younger siblings are having a nap. He simply stays downstairs while I have some quiet time and listens to stories on CD or plays with lego and helps himself to the pantry. I don't mind, and find it incredible because we're talking 2 hours of naptime most days! That one simple part of the day that occurs is why our school holidays have been a breeze. Both the 3 year old and 21 month old sleep for 2 hours a day. Sometimes
1 1/2 hours instead but that simple break is heaven.

On top of that, daddy is home so much more. Sometimes home as soon as naptime is over. Now this is an absolute first in our soon to be 8 years of marriage. I am counting my lucky stars and high fiving the guardian angels who watch over me for him having such an awesome work schedule. But I have done the hard yards to get here. Out of the last 3 years with his previous employer I only saw him for 18 months. So I am beyond grateful right now.

Generally though the children have been happy grateful and fun lately. That makes my mummy heart swell. Today was an impromptu outing and i decided to take them for lunch somewhere with ice cream as a treat. Asher said while smiling, thank you mummy so much for this lovely surprise. His exact words! Almost kipping as he said it. And kept saying it while he was eating his lunch. It made me feel glad and comforted that hard days make up for these good ones.

The house is noisy, immediate chaos when their little feet hit the floor in the mornings but little things like a grateful child can smooth it all over.

I know we have really kept things simple with easy outings rather then full on day trips anywhere and even just not catching up with anyone and just doing our own thing has made for less stress and commitment. No rush to get anywhere and stress if someone is in a bad mood and we have to cancel. Its just been us and its been easy. Maybe that's a secret ingredient. They have me all to myself, well its working out fine and sadly there's only about 10 days left!

Then onto Asher starting his first year of school...

Oh.

My.

Goodness.

1. Summer holiday community activity day - the boy loves face painting!!

2. There were 3 in the bed...

3. Jet started Primary at church!

4.The Darling

5. Busy crafting

6. Busy burning energy, diy indoor snow slide

7. My cherubs on the old church piano

x

The Gingerbread Man

I'm sitting in my car blaring my speakers listening to my favourite album of 2015 - well 2014 really....this album is the one that got me through all the loneliness of the year that has just gone. After moving at the end of 2014 to yet another town, another church ward and a whole new life ( did i say yet again!) this music is what got me through. Every track has a little trigger of a memory of a smell, a particular day or even a certain street in our town where I used to go and drive to get away from it all. The loneliness of motherhood at that time was dark and I know that the music probably, no definitely, magnified that darkness. But here we are at the end of the year and I'm still listening to his smooth sound and perfect exact lyrics to what wraps up a hard but good year. I still feel my heart rise in my neck as I remember that awful feeling when Johns car would roll away yet again, with no end in sight for a positive change. When, when, when. I'd always cry, everytime he would leave, yep never got used to it. Ever.

Unaware that I was being moulded and changed and still cared for at the same time, like a perfect ending to any struggle, all our prayers would be answered and all my wishes would come true through the remarkable gift of a dream job offer. Dream being that we would now share the same bed each night for the first time again in almost 7 years.

Dayum is all I can say to the last 12 months.

Here's to Mr Ginger himself, Ed Sheeran...

X

Dr Sears

Probably the best article on discipline I have read in a loooong time -

http://www.askdrsears.com/topics/parenting/discipline-behavior/discipline-for-children

We have our fair share of not knowing which way to turn in this parenting situation. I have so many ups and downs, and always lean on prayer to guide me. Today my prayer lead me to this wonderful article from Dr Sears. I need to print this out and read it weekly. Everything - EVERYTHING fits whats going on in our house to a T. I am thankful for prayer and support in my motherhood. And for smart phones that can get you so much help in an instant!

x

1. Our collection on the way home from preschool, beautiful natural Christmas decor!

2. Mama and son lunch date

3. Lego club!

4. The tree is up and we're excited!