Looking back on the year that was 2008

Ive taken the first sentence of the first Weekly Review for  each month.   Ive also taken the first photo as sometimes they can jog a memory more easily. This may or may not relate to the sentence.   Read ahead to  see what ushered in each new month for me

January

Started the week off with an hour and 5 minute bike ride

Februrary

Had a very quiet day resting my poor head.

March

“Today made an effect to go on a walk.” (LOL effect I think I mean effort)

April

Took My Home Schooler to the chemist and got some cream.

May

After taking Colin home we dropped my car off in town to get some new tires.

June

Home schooled felt a bit lazy in the afternoon but we ended up doing some good science stuff.

July

still not feeling 100%.

August

worked on our first lapbook

September

Our Little Man wanted his daddy to get into his car

October

Went down to the bank with My Home Schooler he lost his wallet over the weekend so we had to get him a new bank card, then we went to shops I got a stapler he got a new wallet, then we dropped off the recycles.

November

Last Sunday we went along Marine Parade.

December

My oh my I foresee this week as being BUSY!!!

Weekly Review

This morning My Home Schooler and I took 3 boxes of Our Little Mans old toys down to the Salvation Army shop.

Then we went shopping My Home Schooler wanted to buy Mr Wonderful a little something else for Christmas.  We also looked at few opshops.

Then we had lunch at Heavens Bakery. A bit expensive but nice.  I remembered being a little girl and my moghter taking my sister and I out to lunch after a morning of shopping.

This  afternoon I mowed half the lawn.  Mr Wonderful mowed the other half and My Home Schooler cooked dinner – yum

This morning Mr Wonderful took the boys out shopping.  My Home Schooler is getting a play station 2 from his grandfather.  His grandfather lives in Timaru, in the South Island of New Zealand.  While they were away I wrapped Mr Wonderful and my presents up for the boys.

This morning at about 9am I had visitors.  Im on holiday time so Id only been up an hour and was still in my nightie.  I quickly donned my dressing gown.  It was the pastor and his wife.  I got $20 petrol vouchers bless them.

My Home Schooler is sick (the flu) I think so he spent the day in bed.  This afternoon I did his paper run, went to the supermarket to get groceys and stocking fillers.  Gosh the supermarket was BUSY!!!

We dont usually fill stockings up instead saying everything is from Santa but after reading Kates On the Twenty Second Day of Christmas post and Hays post (especially the part about Santa her 4th point)  I decided too.

Just little bits and pieces will be in them.  However, then I will expect them to thank us for the rest.  And as I told Kate

I thought about that stocking thing yesterday this year My Home Schooler and I have been reading the Little House on the Prairie books. They were so content with what they got and it too was basic stuff. I think I may follow in yours and their style. Also means that it wont cost me a lot to do and I really have spent enough on stuff from me for the boys

Christmas Day

click above to read about day

A quiet day tired from yesterday.

Took My Home Schooler up the road to buy 2 PS2 games.  He got a PS2 from his grandfather   He wants to play some games with Mr Wonderful

today picked up some books I won on Trademe, had McDs for lunch, been grocery shopping, cleaned & vacumed the house.

After dinner spent some time outside reading.  If I can read one more book by the end of this year I will have read 52 books.  I dont know how many books I usually read in a year.  I think I have read more books this year since I am home schooling my eldest.  I am a slow reader always have been but I do LOVE reading.

church followed by getting rid of the recycles after lunch took the boys to the best playground in the Hawkes Bay and then for an icecream.

Secret Santa Gift

I recieved this the other day

I have no idea who sent it to me

which is ashame as Id like to say

Our Christmas Day

For My Little Man Chistmas started on Christmas Eve when he went his daddy to see the Christmas Light and have his first ever ride on a bus.

He was so hyped when he got home but soon fell asleep.  The long glow stick he got from Santa helped

Unfortunately My Home Schooler and I couldnt go.  My Home Schooler spent Christmas Eve and the day before Christmas in bed with a sore throat and cold.  He was upset and worried that Christmas Day wouldnt happen for him at all.

On Christmas day I was awoken by our door being closed at 6am by My Home Schooler.  He was strict instructions not to wake us until 7 and intentionally he had suceeded in waking me   We waited an hour and then woke the other 2.  It took some doing to wake Our  Little Man but My Home Schooler could wait no longer.  I must say that despite the late and very exciting evening and all the festitivies of Christmas day Our Little Man did very well on Christmas day.

We had lunch at home.  Singing Happy Birthday to Jesus when it was cake time.

The afternoon saw us go to the rest home where Mum Wonderful now lives.  It was nice seeing her but she was tired.  As way of a catch about her she has lost the ability to use her legs.  She has 24/7 care at the hospital.  She has her good days and bad days.  On bad days she cant remember anyone.

Its a nice rest home though and when the hospital board wouldnt pay to get Mum and Dads house reorder (in order that she live their and most importanly shower there) there was only 1 option and it seems to have worked out ok.

Some of the extended Wonderful family were there.  Our Little Man decided to go with his favourite aunty back to the party house.  As for My Home schooler, Mr Wonderful and I we went back to Dad Wonderfuls house.  My Home Schooler went with Poppa/Dad.  Mr Wonderful and I went via the petrol station where we had 1/2 an hour to ourselves with an icecream (2 in the case of Mr Wonderful who won another one (it was written on his icecream stick).  He was pleased he seldom wins anything. ) and drink.

After a little time at Dads we went to the party house.  One of Mr Wonderfuls sisters is a wonderful hostess.  At the party there were probably 30 people.  A wonderful time for cousins to get together and play.  Their outdoor area was set up with BBQ, tables and chairs.  We all sat in the shaded area, talked, ate (salads, cold cuts of meat, a very yummy seafood salad, BBQed steak, sausages, sliced potatoes follwed by all sorts of puddings), drank, laughed and had a merry old time.  Catching up with people we hadnt seen for a while.   Sometimes Mr Wonderful and I have hard times.  Sometimes I dont feel loved.  Sometimes I think I could walk out (if it werent for the boys).  However, if I were to do this I would miss these times.  I would miss belonging to a wonderful, caring, speical family.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

to all my readers

A Christmas Card for you my dear

reader

click on the above heading

Weekly Review

This afternoon we went over to our home schooling friends house for history.  I mindedthe home schoolers while my friend went Christmas shopping.  Shes a solo mum

I also picked up some stuff for cooking for tomorrow and dropped off some Sunday School stuff to one of the sunday school teachers.

In the morning

In the afternoon at kindy

A busy party day

For my Wednesday home schooling  get together group this afternoon we went to Par 2 Minigolf – forgot my cameras memory stick   then went and got an icecream

My Home Schooler then went to doing some filming with his private tutor on her learning game and Our Little Man and I did his paper run.  Our Little Man doesnt seem to like the heat we are having at the moment.  Im not sure what the temperature is today but it was 39 C yesterday

Last home schooling day for 2008 Its gone by fast   Im pleased with what we have achieved this year.

After school I went and finished my Christmas shopping

My how hard it was buying something for My Home Schooler so pleased its all done

cleaned up my house today and  delegated the vacumming to the boys – Mr Wonderful and My Home Schooler

got rid of the recycling at the recycling centre

sorted out Our Little Mans toys – from baby toys to toddler toys

Next week I will take them to the Salvation Army shop

Sunday School dress rehearsal and then our breakup at Splash Planet

This morning at church we were busy.  The boys were in the play.  There was a part of the service that included the play group and as I led the music on Tuesdays I lead them again this morning in front of the church.  Not all the children that go to playgroup came so we invited some of the younger church children to join in.  The parents were up there to as they are when we do our music at playgroup.  The church seemed to enjoy watching us and as it was pointed out to me it is a special calling I have to lead the playgroup music time.  I hadnt looked at it like that before.

I liked the Christmas tree too.  This is usual  for me as I usually find them tackie.  If I had my way (usually) I would just have a small tree that would sit on the dining room table.  This tree though I thought was lovely.

During the play I sat up the front of the church and was there to promt any children that may need it.  I didnt have to do too much and was proud of them all

I have to make mention of children like My Home Schooler and those younger that had several lines and did well remmebering them.

Afterwards we had a special morning tea.  Time went really fast this morning.  We got there early.  However, before I knew it, it was all over

Tonight the boys and I went back to church to watch a dvd.  It was BRILLANT!!!

Weekly Review

Took my car for a warrent. Its a month overdue and i got caught last week (hangs head in shame) its hard when your on a tight budget. I know its work done to it.  Church has lent me some $$ bless them.

Took My Home Schooler to a friends house where we did shared home schooling

Dropped My Home Schooler off at church to set up play group

carried on to the garage then biked back to play group with Our Little Man, after play group we got a lift home, had lunch, took Our Little Man to kindy on the bike then My Home Schooler and I biked over to the garage to pick up my car.

I really felt the biking later in the day – havent biked much recently

This afternoon My Home Schooler and I got together with some other home schoolers for a fun afternoon see photos here

Tonight we had a salad a church friend dropped off some tomatoes while we were out – bless her

This afternoon I cleaned up the whole house we were meant to getting  a house inspection tomorrow afternoon I dont like housework.  As it was the landlady never turned up and she never phoned either.  I was livid I had rushed home to be there for her.

Sea scouts break up

for more photos go over here Im a proud mama – my oldest is really good on the sea and sea scouts has given him a lot of fun and friendships

Tonight I did the grocery shopping and My Home schooler was in his drama group play

see photos over here

went to church to practise the Christmas play next week

I added some of my ideas to do with drama presentation and felt like a bossy teacher I told the leaders later how I felt and they said no I didnt appear that way but in fact helped a lot to make it better

After this we went to a costume shop and My Home Schooler tried on his costume for the play

dyed my hair – chestnut voilet

tonight we went to Christmas in the park with some home schooling friend and meet some church friends there too

by putting your mouse over the slide above you can read the decriptions

Weekly Review

Mr Wonderful and Our Little Man came home this afternoon

They had a wonderful time

And Our Little Man got a late birthday pressie from his aunty

I got an award from Amy - thanks my sweet friend

and if your reading this consider yourself awarded too

My Home Schooler put up our Christmas tree today

This morning as well as the usual home schooling we wrote thank you letters to the sponsors of the yatching last week

I wrote the letter draft witMy Home Schooler telling me what to write
then he made it into a good copy
then we photocopied the letter and I wrote the address on them and the envelopes

quite an undertaking but we  were so blessed to have been able to do the yatching

one of the home schooling families are helping to raise funds for their church for their missionery team serving overseas.  They had desks for sale so I brought 4 – 1 each for the boys, 1 for the home schooling computer and one for beside my bed – they hold a lot   They were only $NZ5 each too

I  got the above award frome Alice thanks

we usually to the local indoor pools on a Friday afternoon its a nice way to finish the week

I went swimming this week (I dont usually ) and the boys liked that I did

The boys and I went to the library

Then we picked up two more desks for a home schooling friend of mine

and spent the morning there playing.  The boys in their pool.  My Home Schooler made  another home schooling friend  there.  I had a nice chat with that home schooling mum.

Then we took the desks to their new home.  We spent the afternoon there.  Losing all track of time.  We got home at 6.30 pm.   My friend has been wondering whether to send her son back to school or not.  We got excited and wished wed talked at the beginning of the year.  We have decided to make a new home schooling group up.  Im going to lead it.  Shes going to support me.  It will be a Wednesday afternoon get together group.  We have decided it really helps when like minded people spend time together and the boys need a group to belong to that consists of other home schooling children.  that what has been lacking for the last year in the Bay is a group like this.

When I home schooled my daughter several years ago she was involved in an art group and even more awesome was the fact that the home schooling group rented out a play centre once a week and lot of home schoolers would go to it.  I have felt something was missing this year without that here in the Bay.  We are hoping that this new group will address that need.

I enjoyed today with friends and my boys

church after the service I had to help My Home Schooler find his cellphone it keeps falling out of  his pocket

then in the afternoon went back to our home scholing friends house her dog has just had puppies

they were facinating to watch and I helped my friend find out how to care for the runt which didnt seem to be taking its mothers milk well

Ive never had much to do with dogs or baby animals and I felt like I was learning something

the boys enjoyed playing with their friends again too

love thursday: first time ever

Last week when we were doing the sailing thing

My Home Schooler found and gave me this that he found on the shore

bless him

to see more Love Thursdays go here

Bread Cases

I was asked a couple of times what Id made for Sunday lunch

This was a recipe I learnt from my mother and its EASY!!!

Cook potatos in the normal way.  Then mash them with milk and butter.  On Sunday I added tinned fish to this.

Get your muffin trays and cut the crusts off 12 slices of bread

put these into your tray pressing down

then pop the potato mix into the bread cases

I sprinkled grated cheese of top of these

then put under the grill in your oven until the cheese melts and the bread cases kind of toast

The other plate I made on Sunday was simply the left over potato mix again sprinkled with cheese and put under the grill again until the cheese melts