The Week in Review

Sid appeared in the local newspaper with the group of adults and kids that also won prizes from the summer reading club. After the ceremony we took Sid and her 25.00 gift certificate to Chapters and she picked a box set of 4 Pixie Hollow chapter books. We have already read the first two and we are really enjoying them!


Sid found a slug and we brought it into our kitchen to study and discovered we could make slug art by letting it scootch around a piece of paper. No slugs were harmed in the making of this artwork!


We finally got around to taking Sid to the dentist for the first time. We wanted to do it before her 4th birthday but really left it to the end. To prepare for the event we did a Tooth Lapbook. It was fun to compile and Sid was really prepared and relaxed at the dentisit.

We have been picking apples of the neighbours tree and decided to also do a lapbook about a great library book called the Apple Pie Tree. I LOVE making apple pie!



Finally, yesterday Daddy brought Sid home her early birthday present. We knew now was the time of year to buy it so she got it early and had a chance to play with it. We will give her something small on her birthday in November to unwrap but this really made her day!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

She is really please with her new toy!

Elephants at the fair

We have been working really hard on an elephant lapbook this past week. We checked out several story and reference library books about elephants and spent a lot of time discussing elephants and the ethical treatment of captive animals. Whoa, a heavy subject for a little kid but we were planning on going to the fair this weekend and we knew there was going to be an elephant giving rides. Sid knew that if the animal appeared mistreated in any way we would not support the ride so we worked together to find out what elephants need and when we met Limba at the fair we were able to discuss how well she was taken care of. We decided to pay the 5.oo and go for a once in a life time chance to ride an elephant. Limba is 46 years old and was walking around without any restraints. Elephants need to walk for miles a day and going to the fairs is supposed to be helpful in getting them a variety of exercise. She will do whatever the trainer asks as long as he is around. He is what makes her work, she could care less about what she is doing as long as he is the one asking her to do it. It was a neat experience and a great learning curve for both of us.


This lap book had a section on all things mamals have in common and compared humans to elephants, the elephants 5 senses, a write up on Limba, the difference between an African and Asian elephants ears, how many birthdays elephants have and animals that all have baby calves.
While at the fair Sid had her hair painted purple and was quite coordinated with her pink top and pink converse. She met up with her good friend Celia and her family so the girls went on rides together and even explored the fun house with the assistance of the Dads.

Her favorite activity still seems to be seeing the animals.

We brought some clothes into the consignment shop and spotted a great skeleton costume with 3d foam bones. It was only 5.00 and falls right in with Sid's never ending interest with xrays, and playing doctor. She is having so much fun with it. I called this picture Run Away!!!

We have come to terms with Fall and have started working on the changing of the seasons. Here you can see our budding artist working on a fall tree.

An Aventure in Upper Canada

Thursday we woke up to the sun shinning and it was clear that it was going to be a fantastic day. Nan Nan took us to Upper Canada Village for the day and we figured we would get there mid-morning, tour around have lunch and come home. We were wrong. Sid loved it so much we got there around 10:30 and left at 5:00. We almost had the entire place to ourselves and didn't have to wait for boat rides, wagon rides or chances to talk to the villagers.

Right before you go in to the village there is a spot to feed the carp who swim in from the St-Lawrence. I can never get enough of this, it is the strangest thing to see the feeding frenzy and hear the slurping and snorting that sounds like pigs.

Look at the lips on these fish! They make me laugh.

The best part by far was when Sid and I got invited back to the barn for the 3:30 milking. We were given our own cow and milked her as long as we could. Sid was thrilled and it was my first time milking a cow too.


What impressed me most was the interest Sid showed in the village. She appeared to understand that this was a recreation of a time when they had no cars, electricity or indoor plumbing. She was curious about all the buildings and townspeople and liked watching a group of kids learning their daily lessons. On a side note, I found out last night that two of the kids were one of my homeschooling acquaintances children and they are there for three days living like children in the early eighteen hundreds. I can't wait to let Sid have that opportunity, the kids looked like they were having a terrific time.

Here Sid checks out this neat little piece of engineering that ensures the gate closes after you have gone through it. No springs required.

Learning about the forge, iron and the art of the black smith.

On our way out, Sid was drawn back to the post office / hardware store to hear this guy playing the banjo. It was almost five so we went to the gift shop and then headed home. It was a great day packed with fun. In all the time we were there we didn't make it to all the buildings and missed the mills entirely. We will have to go back again soon. I am considering a family pass for next year.

This morning we were talking about yesterdays adventure and all the things we saw and we decided to go and collect wild flowers in our yard to hang and dry for crafts this winter. We had seen some hanging up in the rafters in one of the village sheds and Sid was the one to come up with the idea.

Our bouquet

Sorting and counting

Tying them up and bringing them to the shed to dry

Thank you for sharing such a wonderful day with us Nan Nan, it was a day and experience we won't forget!

First Day of School

It was the first day of school for all of Sid's friends and this is how she spent her first day of school. It was the Not Back To School Picnic with many other homeschooling families. We had such an amazing day and so much fun talking and playing with like minded families. The weather couldn't have been better for a beach day with a beautiful sunny 26 degrees. The kids swam while most parents watched knowing how cold the water really was.

Sid and a bunch of their new friends worked hard on sandcastle building. It was really neat seeing all the different age groups working together and respecting one and other. A mom sitting next to us pulled some really strange items out of her purse. She had the long balloon animal type balloons, tape, crepe paper, paper cups and other miscellaneous treasures. One girl sat down and started playing with the crepe paper and made another person a paper grass skirt.

Sid checked it out and decided she needed one of those. She took it upon herself to make one too.
Ah that's better now we are ready for a beach party!

We were there for over three hours and Sid decided it was time to go. We met so many nice kids and families and cannot wait to get together again soon. Next week we are going to go on a nature hike and invite some of our new friends along.

This past labour day weekend we were invited to a friends cottage about an hour and a half away. We just went for the afternoon and Sid got to go for her first boat ride (other than our canoe rides). She loved the speed and had a big grin when we got back to the dock. Thanks for inviting us Marco and Karen, we had a great time!

Ken playing with the jet ski.

Back home again probably having the last campfire of the season. Jules, Gerry and Buddy came over to help us roast some marshmallows and hang out. Too bad summer is finally hear and it is fall!

One last thing, I just found the most AMAZING site for ebooks for preschool and elementary kids.

http://www.tumblebooks.com/library/asp/home_tumblebooks.asp

I linked to it through the library site so I am not sure if you have to have a library card to access it but if not, don't miss this opportunity to have access to some amazing books without going to the library. We will be using this all the time. Thank you OPL, I don't know what I would do with out our Library, we are very lucky!

Back To HomeSchool 2009-2010

Sid was quite sick for two weeks with a really high fever and the need for constant ibuprofen and Tylenol. Finally after three visits to the hospital, two to her doc and one to a pediatrician they found the problem which was a simple UTI. I don't know how they missed it for two weeks but now thankfully she is on the mend. We are so relieved to have found something that was so easily treatable.

We decided to take a trip back to the farm with both cameras. The Nikon D60 for me and our Kodak z740 easy share for Sid. It never ceases to amaze me at the pictures Sid takes. There is a members only photo contest at the museum this year so we tried to capture some fun moments visiting the farm. Sid will enter her horse picture in the under 12 category and I might enter the picture of her taking a picture of a calf in the adult category. If we can make it back before Halloween I will try for some nice fall shots.

Sid takes a picture of Mom
Mom taking a pic of Sid checking out the Sunflowers

This is Sid's picture

Sid's picture of King and Ted
Mom's picture of Sid and the calf

Last week the school called and informed us that Sid was starting JK on the 8th. The bus would pick her up at 7:15 and drop her off at 3:00. Starting this year the kids are to go 5 full days a week. WHAT???? She is only 3 and not 4 until November so she will be staying home with me this year. I cannot imagine such a brutal start to school. 2 full days a week was sounding rough to me for a 3 year old but 5? Mom isn't ready either LOL.

We have started working on some fun curriculum. She really seems to like lapbooks so we did another one this week and we both had lots of fun with it.

We focused on four main parts of the story. First we did a four sheet mini book of things Sidney thinks she is really good at. She drew a picture of playing baseball, teaching cat school and dancing in her tutu. Above that we have a sheet which charts her daily routines from brushing her teeth, eating meals, getting dressed and playtime. This brought about another activity which involved just morning and bedtime routines dressed, teeth, bath, books, etc. We made two charts for the bathroom door so she can remember everything she needs to do. On the left side of the book we made a string painting with red and black paint to replicate Olivia's painting in the book and the right side of the book has hearts listing all the things Sid loves about her mom and dad and all the things we love about her.

Day and Night routine charts

Next week we have a Not Back To School Picnic with fellow homeschoolers and the weather is supposed to be perfect. Later in the week Sidney is being awarded with a 25.00 gift certificate for Chapters from the local library. She participated in a summer reading contest and her name was drawn for a prize. I LOVE chapters wooo hoooo, I can't wait to see what she chooses. Then next weekend ballet starts again. I figure now that I have the bun thing down, why not put it to use LOL. My hockey will also be starting that weekend and we start gymnastics the following Monday. Dad is busy trying to get his to do list done before it gets cold. He got the shed all fixed up, the clothes line posts straightened, and lawn tractor fixed in between Sid being home and back to the doctors. There is always more on the list and lots on the go but we love it like that!