Schedule and Rhythm thoughts

I am not happy with how our schedule for this year looks and I am not happy with how the rhythm of our days feel.  The kids are happy, but to me it feels like I am not getting enough done. 

So I am taking the bull by the horns and really taking some time now to really think things through, do research, think about our life and homeschool and what needs to change.  I am taking notes of things that need to change and those that will be easier to change when we are not all tripping over each other in this little house.  (Btw, this house reminds of that old song, "Little Houses")

There are things that I would like to do and things that I am planning on doing.  I would like to plan our daily life better and that includes our meals, our cleaning, our homeschool and our schedule.  Having a plan will make me feel like I am getting closer to getting it all done.

Here are some of my thoughts as of right now, although they are still scattered and I am definitely open to suggestions and thoughts.  This may be a lot but I am writing it out partly as an exercise for me to figure it out.

I would like to be sure that in our daily schedule we do the following:

• Get to bed at a certain time every day
• Get up at a certain time every day (me before kids to get things done!)
• Get naps regulated (this is pretty good now)
• Get mealtimes regulated (plan them out, prepare in the morning and the night before)

For fun, I would love to have color days for the kids.  My kids would get a HUGE kick out of it and we could do some of the following things:

• Wear clothes (or just shirts) of that color
• Do crafts and artwork with that color
• Try to find the day's color in the house or outside on a walk
• Serve snacks in that color (smoothies in the colors of the day would be fun)
• Make play dough in that color

I saw this on a blog I read that they had the schedule below for colors and I think it would work for us too.  Including some of the extra cleaning I thought of off the top of my head, it would look like this:

Monday - red - good cleaning in bathroom
Tuesday - orange Clean kids rooms and Change Beds in all rooms
Wednesday - yellow - Wash the floors really well
Thursday - green - Clean our Bedroom
Friday - indigo blue - Clean Kitchen (fridge, stove, cupboard doors)
Saturday - purple
Sunday - white

So for my daily schedule has this tentative rhythm:

7:00 - I get up first, get dressed, get coffee, get breakfast, get supper going (slow cooker?), get bread going, do one load of laundry (in summer hang on line and get off line at lunch time)
8:30 - Get everyone up, tidy up the room, make the beds, dressed and fed
9:30 - Go for Walk
10:00 - Circle Time
10:30 - Little Girls Lessons (Princess Belle helps with littles and sits with us as she likes to participate in their day)
11:00 - Snack
11:15 - Princess Belle Main Lesson
12:30 - Lunch/Play
1:30 - Handwork/Art/Extra Lesson
AFTER THAT: Free time until dinner on some days we go for another walk or just hang out in the backyard.
7:00 - Bedtime Routine and then I sweep floor, do my evening tidy, clean play area

homeschooling update

I took the new year to rethink our homeschool curriculum.  Princess Belle could not take our journey around the world seriously.  It seemed too fun and she didn't want to do anything with it that involved work or thinking.  So, I am taking a step back from that a little.  I purchased a Waldorf Curriculum, a main lesson book and some block crayons.  She likes this way of learning and I can still supplement with books from the library on specific countries around the world as a fun thing to learn, we will still have monthly feasts based on those countries.  I am just switching our curriculum. 

I am also making some changes in the way I get toys for the kids.  I want to spend a little more per toy to get a good quality toy that will last a long time.  Like wooden cars and blocks and such.  I want lots of things to foster imagination and less plastic stuff that gets broken in seconds.

I am getting back to the way I used to be.  At this moment I am making broth to have for soups and sauces.  I am making a list of things I need to make bread for our family every week and I also have a project for myself that I want to use my spare time to do crafts by hand.  I will share what I accomplish here.   

Planning Ahead

I have been thinking about next Christmas and some ideas I would like to try.  I would like to wrap the gifts with fabric and ribbons.  I would like to include more nature in our decorating.  I want to make some of my own decorations.  Some of these things would take some time and so planning and thinking about them now isn't a bad idea.  I like the idea of simple things I can do by hand when Prince Charming and I sit together in the evenings.

I would like to make some of my own Christmas ornaments (click the pics to see how these are made):

1. Wool Pom pom type ornaments such as below are one idea I had

2. Felted wool hanging balls are another idea I had

3. felt Christmas tree ornaments

4. Pine cone ornaments (I also thought these would be nice with a little bit of white on them and these would be cool too.)

5 Folded Origami stars

6. Orange Ornaments

7. Winter Wonderland

8. Other Wool Ornaments

And there are some other GREAT ideas over at THIS BLOG that I would like to try.

Listening to Princess Belle.

Princess Belle has asked if we can go back to a Waldorf-inspired approach to homeschooling.  It really resonated with her and it was the only math approach that she enjoyed.  So while we will still be learning about the world we live in, and taking our journey around the world, including our feasts, starting in January, we will be returning a Waldorf-inspired approach.

I feel like I have to listen to her and what touches her in our learning.  We are making this journey together.  So, I will continue to make our home a place of learning, where there are lots of opportunity to learn, we will be including Waldorf once again.

There are so many part of Waldorf that I really like, so I am quite happy to listen to my girl and go with what moves her.  She is almost 11 years old and if some part of our homeschooling is what she enjoys the most, I want to foster that.  And truthfully, this approach to the whole child and nature and natural elements speaks to me and changes I have been making to our life. It is the way I will go when I approach the coming years with Princess Magpie and Princess Snifflefritz.

Homeschooling update

Homeschooling has gone well. She is really enthusiastic in her learning and she amazes me with how much she knows. I think she learns just as much through our providing a learning environment as she does through the structured learning, but I think we have a good balance. We are LOVING our curriculum. We are finding learning to just be such a fun experience. We are taking so much more time because it is fun to think about it and do it. Even Prince Charming got involved today as we caught his interest. So far this year, it feels like we are doing the right things.

Thursday Thoughts.

Had a wonderful day for so many reasons:

1. Homeschooled using the new Waldorf math book and Princess Belle actually wanted to continue on! She loved it.
2. Someone came and took our horrible deep freeze so now I have a little room for storage!
3. I made a yummy teriyaki broccoli, tofu and rice for my supper that was really good and I made a chicken stew for my family that they enjoyed.
   

I have realized that I am probably going to run out of coffee at least a week and a half before Prince Charming gets paid and I can get more. This may be a good time to try cutting out coffee again.

Curriculum Thoughts

In regards to curriculum I decided to go with my instincts and if we have to use our HSLDA lawyer to fight to be allowed to use it, so be it. I just know that my high-functioning autistic girl does not do well with a standard workbook type of curriculum. That type of curriculum allows no time for the more creative types of things that I want to do, it does not nuture her soul and it turns school time into a battle ground. I don't want it to be that way, she needs a more hands-on, creative way of learning. I know that a Waldorf curriculum can provide that for her. I also know that choosing a Waldorf curriculum here may end up causing me to have to fight for what I believe is right for my daughter. So, I kept trying to come up with ways to compromise to make it more acceptable to the officials. But in the end I decided that I am not going to let them keep me from doing what is best for her. I truly believe in Waldorf and I am very very drawn to A Little Garden Flower. I have been all along. I keep coming back to it as no matter what else I look at, her way of teaching, talking and dealing with people speaks to me and I believe it will allow me to speak to my girl in a way that will return her love of learning.

Since math is our greatest battle, last night I ordered their math curriculum to start as soon as I get it and I will order the Grade 4 curriculum for next year.

Today, I was looking at curriculum samples from the math curriculum I ordered and read some of it out to Princess Belle. It was such a lovely way to teach math that I couldn't resist. She loved it. She wanted to know more and went on to play math on her own for at least a full 1/2 hour afterwards. I love anything that turns something that has been stressful into something fun and interesting.

The more that I told her about our future curriculum, my plans for our future school days, the more she liked it. She loves the idea of a nature table, the math Gnomes were lovely, creativity was exciting. Just knowing her reactions to it all let me know that I am making the right decision in this regard.

And the fact that I emailed Melisa last night regarding her curriculum and she got back to me within a half an hour let me know that my feelings in regards to her and how she deals with people were right on as well.

In regards to our bread making adventures yesterday, the bread ended up being cooked in the oven but mixed in the breadmaker after having overflowed the machine. It tasted yummy though, and I tried again today and it seems to have been a bigger success.

Planning, Planning, Planning

I have so much going on right now that I have to plan for.

In the immediate future, I have to plan for our upcoming move. Prince Charming has a job and I need us to get there as soon as we can. I need to plan for the financial side of actually moving and I need to plan for the physical aspect of it. We need a way to move and we need a place to move to. This is some pretty basic important things to plan.

In the not to distant future, I am planning on our curriculum for next year. I have settled on Waldorf, I am just trying to decide on a provider. They are so sticky here on approving curriculum's, I really feel like I need to buy one from a company and I am leaning towards Live Education. As far as I can tell, they are a true Waldorf curriculum and they have Returning Family and Multi-Package Discounts. I am really really drawn to A Little Garden Flower, but Prince Charming wanted one that had all the books included and from a bigger more established company may make it easier to fight for.

I have a lot of stuff swirling around in my head and I am trying to make some pretty big decisions.

I am making a nice big batch of bread tomorrow. I love the smell of fresh bread in our house and I will probably make some Newfie toutons as a treat too.

Toutons are made when egg-sized pieces of bread dough are flattened and fried in oil in a pan on medium heat. Originally, toutons were made in the morning when the woman of the house put the day’s bread to bake, after letting it rise overnight. With a topping of butter, molasses, jam or syrup they became a tasty, filling breakfast.

Random Tuesday Tidbits

Princess Belle has been busy this morning. Because she doesn't have the shows she likes, she has been accidentally learning instead. I loved it so much, I waited to start school so she could keep it up. She was reading and studying a nature book and drawing diagrams of various things including sorting them into categories. She was reading and sharing a book about Canadian Geography and she watched a video on Canadian History. She has spent her whole morning voluntarily learning.

Once we started actual bookwork, it went downhill for a little while. She developed her nine-year-old attitude and said she was bored with it. But after a little struggle and frustration, we pulled it together and actually did okay and had a little fun with our work.

I changed around the living room yesterday evening. I needed to get the couch away from the window because the girls were climbing it and pulling on the curtains, bending the curtain rods. So now the television and bookshelves are in front of the bottom of the window (blocking their access). It actually looks okay.

I have been thinking about our education goals for next year and I have decided that I am going to do Waldorf with Montessori elements brought in. I think it will suit us better than strictly Waldorf alone. I can't wait to be able to get our new curriculum. There are parts of it I plan to use right away.

I am making a treat of fried chicken for supper tonight. I think Prince Charming will love it! I am also making some cookies today. I am having fun spoiling my family with all the goodies I have been making. They are in no way feeling the fact that I had to be very frugal with my groceries. Old fashioned cooking and baking is making my house smell yummy and homey all the time.

Southern Fried Chicken

Ingredients:
1 (3 pound) whole chicken, cut into pieces
1 egg
1 cup milk
1 cup all-purpose flour
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 to 1 tsp of cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 quart vegetable oil for frying


Directions:
1. Beat egg and milk together in a shallow bowl. Dip each piece of chicken in the egg mixture, then season chicken pieces and roll in flour. Shake well.

2. Add 1/2 to 3/4 inch oil to a large, heavy skillet. Heat to approximately 365 degrees F (185 degrees C). Place chicken pieces in hot oil. Cover, and fry until golden, turning once, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels. (since this is a treat and not a diet recipe in any way, I will probably experiment with using my fryer for this one )


Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

1-1/2 1-1/2cups rolled oats, (not instant)
1 1cup all-purpose flour
1/2 1/2tsp baking powder
1/2 1/2tsp baking soda
1/4 1/4tsp tspsalt
1 1tsp tspcinnamon
2/3 2/3cup cupsoftened butter
1 1cup cuppacked brown sugar
1 1eggeggs
1 1tsp tspvanilla
1 1cup raisins

1. In bowl, whisk together oats, flour, baking powder and baking soda, and salt.
2. In separate large bowl, beat softened butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Blend in egg and vanilla. Mix in flour mixture. Stir in raisins.
3. Drop batter by tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
4. Bake in centre of 375°F oven for 10 minutes or until golden. Let cool on pans on racks for about 2 minutes. Transfer to racks; let cool completely.

Not So Wordless Wednesday

I have been trying to give up sugar and I have been having some massive cravings. So this morning, I invented a chocolate oatmeal with oatmeal, cocoa, sweetener, and whatever extras I feel like adding (like a few berries and some flax seed mixed in after it is cooked). It is a yummy, healthy way to feel like I am having sweets.

I organized my kitchen yesterday. I like how it looks and I like the extra counter space. Now if I could only get the rest of my family to stop piling junk on my kitchen counter, it would stay looking nice.

Today, I organized and tidied the girls bedroom. I gave them shelves to store the bigger toys with a special section set aside for their musical toys. Princess Belle was so inspired by the changes that when I left, she spent some extra time in there and prettied it up.

I also organized and tidied the living room and classroom. It really does looks much better.

I told Prince Charming that little by little I can see me coming through in our house. I love all the natural elements and all the old homestead type elements. He told me that it was a part of the reason that getting back to basics things I have been doing and all the Waldorf type natural things I have been moving towards have so inspired me. It is not that I am changing myself to be like that, it is that I am just moving things towards the way I have always felt (my words but his meaning). It really feels like the things I am trying to incorporate in our house are just outwards displays of my true self.

Now, the kids have it all untidy again, supper is on the stove, and I am completely exhausted and looking longingly at the bed, wishing I could have a little nap.

Many Monday Mumblings

Princess Belle was experimenting with paper cup phones and having a blast with it. It was fun hearing the kids playing and giggling with them. It really is the simple things that make you smile

It is a bright sunny day and it feels like Spring could actually come at some point in the future.


When our lease is up on this house, it looks like the owner is going to be moving back into it. So that means we will be moving at the end of this year again. Knowing this far in advance means we can plan and organize and do it right. I am beginning to feel like a Nomad.

I have been incorporating some parts of the Waldorf Homeschool in our days now. It is nice to see how much the girls really respond to them.

I am rediscovering my creative side again. It is so fun to feel my creative juices flowing again. I am very inspired and am looking forward to some sewing and felting projects in the future.



I made french toast for breakfast this morning. It was kind of frustrating to hear Princess Belle declare that eggs and bread didn't sound good and she was just not going to eat and then after much fussing and complaining to eat all of hers and half of her sister's too.

I have some steaks out for Prince Charming and the girls to have for supper and I have no inspiration at all as to what to do with them. I am taking suggestions at this point!

Getting it off my chest

The winter is getting to me these days. I am feeling isolated and blue. I miss my friends in St. John's. I miss my family that I haven't seen in years. I miss trudging up the hill to the center to visit with other moms. I love my girls and Prince Charming, but the last few days I have been feeling blue. I can't keep my house clean for more than a few minutes. I tell myself that it is a necessary evil of the joy of having three beautiful girls, but I don't remember my mom ever letting the house get the way that I can't seem to get it out of.

I need better storage solutions. I need more space. I need to have a place to go when I want to visit and chat. It is cold and snowy and dreary and I want to go out with my girls to a park and have a picnic or to take them to the splash park, or to have a barbecue and get to know my neighbors. I can feel it creeping into our homeschool too. I know I have less patience than I should. I am not the kind of teacher I want to be. I want to skip past this year and get to the new waldorf-inspired curriculum I have planned for next year to see if that helps us as much as I think it will. I guess I just want to get out of today and skip ahead a few months to warm weather at least. Maybe I won't feel so isolated and alone at that point.

There you go, it is a pretty depressing post, but I have been feeling that way for a few days and I just wanted to get it out there and maybe shake it off a little too.

Next Year's Curriculum

I have made a decision regarding our curriculum for next year. I am definitely going with a Waldorf-inspired curriculum. I am leaning towards Oak meadows supplementing with a few other Waldorf type things. This is a creative way of learning and I think it is what Princess Belle needs. There are days when I find myself getting frustrated with her and I know she gets frustrated too and I think that a Waldorf-inspired way of learning be much better for her. This type of learning is new to me, but I am doing lots of research and I am really excited by the possibilities.

Homeschool thoughts

I am already thinking ahead to next year and how I want to proceed with our curriculum. Throughout my research I have decided that for the upcoming years, I want to move to a more Waldorf-style approach to education. I was reading about Oak Meadow and I am pretty impressed with it. It is not as inexpensive as what we used this year, but with some planning I should be able to put the money aside for it. And the preschool program is really inexpensive so I will definitely be able to get that for Princess Magpie is ready.

What are your thoughts? Do you know of any other Waldorf Inspired programs? Do you like them?

Edited to add: Princess Belle just does so much better with a creative approach to learning. Right now, she is going through a book that she got for Christmas filling in the blanks to create a new story. She is coming up to me and verifying that she has the correct type of word (noun, verb, adjective, plural). She is doing language arts and has no idea). She thrives in creativity, and that type of approach to learning.