Nearly December again!!

Well I haven't been on here for a couple of weeks so thought that I'd better get another update in before the final month of the year is upon us and Christmas mania sets in - maybe life as we know it too if the Mayans have anything to say about it.  I do hope they are wrong though as Jasmine has just be inspired (through the lure of winning a prize it has to be said) to try a local library book challenge which starts on the 21st Dec.  Would be a bit of shame if the world ended on the same day, then again maybe that is the transformative event - children everywhere actually wanting to read more real paper books that can be held in their hot little hands ;)

Anyway all jokes aside we did agree to engage in the aforementioned challenge after going to a presentation of 'Reading Rocks', with the home school group here.  It was held at a local school which was exciting for the kids and made me remember just how horribly hot and sticky classrooms get in warm weather with lots of bodies in them.  The guy was funny and entertaining as he juggled and joked along however while he made his point that books and reading were cool it became very evident to me that my kids were a world away from most of the school kids in the room.  There were so many references to movies, DVD's and television programmes that many of the 'jokes' were lost on two little ones without TV and who don't watch DVD's or movies.  I did notice that there was one other girl who sat as quite as my two during certain parts and guessed that she too was TVless (confirmed shortly after by her friends making comments).  It was somehow comforting though to know that I wasn't the only one who didn't put much importance on such things.

Jasmine making her Flat Traveller

Even when we went to send off a 'Flat Traveller' (a glorified pen pal system for homeschoolers based on a book Flat Stanley) I was asked if we could email journals and photos rather than posting so that the kids could practise keyboard skills.  What about writing skills and going down the post office to send it!!  So often I think I may be depriving our kids of important media and technology knowledge then I remember that all the big players in the IT world certainly didn't grow up with the technology that is around today, if any.  Instead they used other life skills such as problem solving, communication and thinking skills to create, design and engineer the world surrounding us today.  I'm not against technology - obviously otherwise you would be getting a handwritten letter each month ;)  It is just I don't see that the benefits of being computer savvy at 6, 7 or even 10 out weigh all those other skills that can be had through playing, reading, making, talking, writing and good old imagination. 

So that's my unintended rant ;) Goodness who knew!!

Hope this finds you happy, well read and prepared.

Arohanui
Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz

Our quarterly outing

Yes it was that time of the year again, where I was allowed out of the house after dark with himself.  Not that I'm kept hidden and captive of course, or hiding - though that is a more tempting thought - just that with everything going on we haven't been out together, minus children, since the end of June. 

The said event? A friend's 40th,  which my Mum luckily lives close enough to that we could venture over the hill, and was willing enough that we could have a babysitter we know and trust.  The excitement was obviously too much for me though as I got a bout of vertigo half way over to Canterbury and had to spend the rest of the day looking straight ahead, walking slowly and performing mini plie (been told by himself I have to clarify this as a squat) anytime something was dropped.  Fortunately as the day wore on the giddy bits subsided so that we left in fine form as soon as themselves were hustled into bed and asleep.  It was a great night and for once I wore just the right outfit so that I was one of the few not freezing my bits of in the evening 'breeze' - must be all that wisdom of turning 40 I reckon.  So good to catch up with and talk to people that you've known for years and can have a good laugh with.  Well worth the 6 hours of driving there and back I say.

Kids in the 'train' playground at Leeston

The kids loved being at Mum's again so soon and wasted no time in hunting for eggs and clambering up trees.  Once trees were conquered and eggs practically caught as the chicken lay them (can't say she's not eager) the kids got more than a little stir crazy - 3 hours in a car does that sometimes - so we headed into Leeston to the playgrounds (believe folks - 2 whole playgrounds to choose from in Leeston).  Themselves had a grand time see-sawing, swinging and sliding.  It was lovely to watch them however at the same time I kept my eye roving for any passers-by.  There's nothing like visiting a small town that you lived in as a kid to put you slightly, ever so slightly mind, on edge. I had a morbid curiosity of seeing someone I knew but at the same time not having them recognise me.  Then I found myself walk just that little bit taller (stomach in, bottom tucked and chin out) in the event that someone may happen upon us, and god forbid, recognize me and want to speak.  Silly I know but first impressions and all that........ plus I bet at least half of you know exactly what I'm talking about ;)

Anyway on that note I'll sign off.
Hope this finds you all standing tall, happy and healthy in the sun.

Arohanui
Y
www.becominghealthy.co.nz