Friday's Backward Glance - 9 September 2011

I really cannot believe we're in September already!!  Only 2 months to go until the December holidays... WOW!

~~  Holidays in 2 months means only  2 months left of school!  I can't say we're on the Over-Achievers List this year... We are pretty settled into our Sonlight curriculum now, but having started a few months late, and then taking time to get into the swing of things means we'll be stopping in the middle of the year-plan.  It doesn't really matter though, hey - we're homeschoolers!!

~~  Speaking of school matters - I'm thinking that I need to put Ben and Daniel onto separate Cores next year.  Ben's coping ok, but his is the minimum recommended age for the Core they're doing, and I think he'll flourish a bit more on something more his level.  So IF money allows, that's what I'll do.

~~  I'll be putting Eden and Nathan back onto the Cambridge program, but this time with another college.  There is a big reason for it, but it needs a post of its own.  I'm rather sad about this, but it's what must be done at this point in time.

~~  Eden and Nathan have enjoyed their work so far!  They're doing the "History of the 20th Century" core.  They've been delving into topics that they wouldn't have paid any attention to before.  Eden especially is fascinated by World War 2 (NOT one of my favourite things...)  and on our last library visit checked out The Diary of Anne Frank and another book called The World of Anne Frank, as well as several other books about the War.  This is not something she would have done previously.  Actually, I think all of the children have had their minds stretched by the prescribed books!

~~  Tuesday this week saw me at the Orthopaedic Surgeon.  That too needs its own post.

~~  The kids all need new clothes!  What else is new??  So do I!!  BIG TIME!!  I have almost nothing to wear...  really!!!  I have been taking them in turns every Friday afternoon (I'll go crazy if I take them all together) and I try - I TRY - to find some clothes for myself at the same time.  But that doesn't really work, so tomorrow afternoon I will head for my favourite mall with my hubby in tow.  He likes going shopping with me, really he does!!

~~  It's supposed to be Spring here now, but as usual we seem to have gone straight into Summer!  The kids are eyeing the swimming pool, and our trees are all covered in new leaves of light green.  Our jasmine creeper is full of flowers and the smell comes into our bedroom at night.  All I would ask for now would be a good downpour!  It's so dry here!!  My skin feels itchy and tight, everything feels dusty, and even though I water it, the grass has a parched look.  But I suppose it'll be another month before we have any rain.

~~  Summer has made itself known another way too!!!  I found a scorpion in the passage while vacuuming today!!!   Eeeeekkk!  I can't stand them!!!  I feel sick whenever I find them inside (and outside too..)   We don't even live out of town in any bushveld-like place.  This is right in the middle of a suburb that's been around for about 40 years!  I'll take your flower-munching deer anyday, Julie G!!

That's about all for this week.  We're planning to do some serious garden work tomorrow on our pool area.  It looks as though the house has been abandoned for some time....  not good! 

Have a great weekend!!

P.S.  I wanted to add a photo here, but for some reason it's not uploading properly...