FIVETRIBE

The kids went back to their respective schools today. Even though I could have done with another good week of holidays I do think we all do much better with the routine that formal education brings to us. :-) Time is careening by; it does not even escape Faiths notice as today she commented: "Mom, it was just the other day Rach was in Grade 1 and now she is in GRADE 5!! Its incredible; just crazy how time goes by. " And this from a 7 year old? I spent a good few hour re-ordering my shambles of a house. I let things slide in the hols for fear of becoming the Neat Police so there was some order to be sought today. Extramurals only start next week so we have a gentle slide back to normality. This terms school activities include soccer, (Levi) crosstraining (all 3)  and squash (Rach). I am dragging my sorry ass back to the gym tomorrow. And to a *group exercise* class. Can you tell how bad my mojo is? It has been many a month since I got my sweat on so the time is NOW...

Lulu's Grade 2 class have been reading an amazing book . They have been actively working through the principles in this book and recently they presented the concept/analogy to the school during assembly. "The concept of bucket filling is an effective metaphor for encouraging kind and considerate behavior and for teaching the benefits of psoitive relationships.  Words hurt. That's the simple truth. And bullies abound no matter what the age. If we can teach young children the power of words and teach them to use those words carefully, we can stop bullying in its tracks." The kids in Grade 2 each have buckets on their desks. They are taught why we should fill each others buckets, why some kids are bucket 'dippers' ie bullies. How can they effectively deal with bucket dippers? ....and how to 'put a lid on your bucket' so that you do not allow others to dip! (very important!) The dynamic in the class has changed 180 degrees. Last year there was so ...

Last week the school had their annual prize-giving. I was NOT looking forward to it as in previous years it has been a long tedious drawn-out affair.  I was very pleasantly surprised this year – the evening was a superb combination of a slick production with a distinct family feel about it. I was exceptionally proud of both my girls who did extremely well. Lulu  and Mrs Butler Overall Academic Excellence; Conquesta Literacy and Numeracy – Gold. Honey and Mrs Venter Overall Academic Excellence, 2nd in her grade, Best Actress 2011, Special Art Award, Conquesta Numeracy and Literacy: Bronze; Math Olympiad and Humility Award Both girls were very happy with their achievements but I had to have *the talk* with them. You know the one hey? It went a little bit like this: ” I am so proud of you girls but I want you to always know that it is not important to me for you to BE THE BEST at everything but it is very important for you to ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST.” My dil...

With no tv to watch we have plenty of time for reading in the evenings. Today I will be going in to my girls' school to be their Mystery Reader for half an hour in each grade. It is Book Week and there are all kinds of exciting things happening revolving around the joy of reading. The Grade Ones are celebrating Dr Seuss while the Grade Fours are reading The Secret Seven...much to Honey's horror. She (and many others) are WAY past Secret Seven so she was less than impressed with this choice BUT they do get to do silent reading for an hour with their own books (and blankets and pillows!) I really love being involved in the life of the school; it is a top priority. I love watching how the kids interact with one another and I really enjoy getting to know each of the children; with such small classes (on 12 per class) it is easy to build great friendships. After reading to the kids I will be heading off to my friend to help her pack up her kitchen. It is with great sadn...

Yesterday Honey had a project due. She was given it about a month ago. It was in the form of a diary and she had to choose her character from 1670's or something; living life at the Castle of Good Hope. They had to talk about how they got there, what they wore,ate and generally their daily life. It was a doff project in my opinion. It irritates me when they have to do dumb meaningless things. But annnyyyywaaaaay....it had to be handed in yesterday. She wasnt finished. She still had to colour her title page and write some screed on the last page about something I cant remember. She freaked and said she wasnt going to hand it in and would finish it that afternoon. I told her if she left it at home on purpose I would bin the thing and she would get zero. She handed it in; she got 78% for it but would have gotten 90% if she had put more effort into it. (her teacher told her this). She has learnt a valuable lesson..... Mama aint doing your projects darling. Apart from that little drama...

I am not enjoying not blogging. My blog is my diary; I used to scrap book and now I blog. I am missing some epic stuff going on in the lives of children - I find myself thinking daily - I need to blog this moment...and then time slips away. Hooli rides for the first time I will be doing a photo show n tell post soon as I havent uploaded photees for ages. Kirstenbosch, Sunday 6 March 2011 - thanks to Hooli Bullets for now: Week two of the Internet Marketing course - this week we are learning how to build our own sites. Great to have some creative mojo going. Miss Lulu strutting her new boots and fav outfit The girls both have had haircuts - they look very oulik with their matching bobs. Saves us at least 20minutes every morning. Honey's teacher is driving me friggin bananas. She is so disorganised and scatty. Worse than any of us moms. And she doesnt even have kids of her own! Thankfully she is a temp so the regular lass returns in the second term. I received a text from the parent ...

It has been a week. I am very very happy to have it behind me. Most of you are friends of mine on fb so you will know that Hooli's biopsy results came back clear. You can all imagine my relief. He is still at home with me even though he could go to school. He isnt really keen because everyone is treating him with kid-gloves and he isnt big on that. He wants to run around, climb trees, scale the climbing wall and play helicopter pilot in the big tree. Suffice to say the teacher isnt to keen on *any* of that before he has had his post-op consult. (and neither am I!) So we have taken to just arbing out at home. Literally just doing nothing but watching movies, playing endless games of Ludo and Uno, drawing and occasionally getting irritable with each other. ;-) The weather is glorious today so we are going to head to the beach and meet my sil and nieces. Tomorrow morning early we are going head out to Mcgregs - we are all in need of some r + r and luckily we dont have to go far (...

Lulu started school last week. Today she plucked up the courage to speak to a second grader. The conversation apparently went like this: Lulu : Wow, you have the same rollerblades as my sister! Nasty girl : Do I care? No I dont! (and stormed off) Lulu was aghast. When retelling me the story she almost sounded like she wanted to cry. I got all mad and furious (inside my head) but I gave her a hug and asked her how it made her feel. And she said: She looked like such a nice girl and I just dont understand why she had to be so rude. Suffice to say I did the mom thing and we had a lovely chat about life ( and its crappiness etc) but I encouraged her to keep *unwrapping new friends ; to not let this one rude person ruin her engaging attitude. * Unwrapping new people : Hooli started school again today and many of his mates have gone to Grade 1 so he was very upset by all the new faces. I spoke to him and explained that new people are like wrapped presents. Just like you have to unwrap pres...

Lulu started school this week. You all know what I am going to say.... cant believe how time flies, she looks so grown up - yada yada. Yes, its all true. I feel all those things. I am not, however, a mother who has ever felt tearful when my kids have started school. I am missing that gene. I am always very excited and cant help thinking how cool this next phase is going to be. Dont be mistaken; I am not made of stone and I do have nostalgic thoughts but never tears! Honey also started Senior Primary so it is a big year for her too. It is lovely to have them in the same school even though they finish at different times....eish. The extramurals are nuts this term - spent a crazy few days trying to sort it all out so I can avoid having to be in 3 different places at the same time. I have ended up with extramurals every day of the week but fortunately still managed to be home by 3pm every day except Tuesday so that is a mercy. I am not complaining ( right now ) as I choose to be a SAHM for...