The British Homemaker - One day at a time

Yesterday I talked about my decision to homeschool my 9 yr old. Today I want to share a few thing that I've learnt along the way (though I know I have so much more to learn yet) in hope to assist a couple of my friends who are also considering this move with their own children. We each make this decision for different reasons yet from what I understand the majority of us struggle to make the transition without 'beating' ourselves up, doubting our ability and being unsure what is available out there to prevent our kids being 'held back'. A few check points to consider: * We start our schooling at 10am * We have a timetable that guides us, not dictates * We cover 2 elements of numeracy and 2 elements of literacy a day plus reading * We've set our basic subjects as numeracy, literacy, reading, religion (not just Lds), arts & crafts, homemaking (no surprise there, eh?!) * I set up a jar where any questions Charley has on other subjects get written down...

If you read yesterdays post you will see that Charley's birthday party last month was photo'd by the talented Pink Apple Studio team, Jamie and Sharon. Hiring their services was the best money spent, the kids interaction with a camera was funny and hilarious. They posed their most geekiest faces and poses and tried out the weirdest poses. They captured the quiet moments when the children were eating and chatting as well as running round the field in the rain having water fights. The food table, food and general goings on throughout the day are being compiled into a book for Charleys future memories. I received a disc of all the photos taken, one that is watermarked with their company name and another set without. There is no limit to the photos they take and no limit to the strange things they say to get the children relaxed, all appropriate of course! Meet Mr Jamie Kinloch... the man who loves to play, laugh and interact with people. Sadly, the only way this photo got...

It's a good job no-one is perfect! I know I'm far from it. It plays on my mind when things are wrong between me and another if they wont be up front about things with me. After all, what do they think I'm going to do? I've always maintained if I am causing you to be unhappy come and talk to me, let me explain, apologise and/or put right. I don't like contention yet I find it a lot within the one community I expect it least and by not talking about it is more damaging than anything because the natural inclination is to jump it up out of all proportion to the point where you loose sight of what the original issue was! But I can't fix everything. I'm not everyone cup of tea and I'm ok with that. I pray for many people, whether I like them or not. Liking someone is not a requirement but a respect is. If I don't like someone I have two choices, tell the world or keep it to myself. I choose the latter but I will always be respectful to that person, just...

Do you like white Christmas trees? I have to be honest I have never, ever liked or appreciated them, that is until I saw my moms last year and I kinda sorta maybe almost liked it, a teeny, tiny bit! Being in temporary accommodation when Christmas came last year we had zero tree/decorations so I set out building my own, or at least I planned to when my mom offered me to use her green one. The kids jumped at it and who was I to say no? I mean, they'd had so much to deal with for the previous 8 months that I was going to do anything to put some magic back in their lives if only for a couple of weeks. I think I should learn to stop digressing! ;) This week I went into town to get a couple of things I'd 'added' to my list, one being a 6' white Christmas tree. Now for those of you that know me in real life will know that my Christmas tree is the pride of the season seconded only to the Saviour himself. I usually have a huge one, 8' high by 5' wide at the...

I meant to post this on 1st December to see if it could be added to and/or altered for other fun crafts. My teen isn't huge on crafting but the dude is, he will sit for hours making, drawing, designing, writing, colouring and creating something from almost nothing. Add that to the fun of Christmas crafting and it makes for a happy mommy! Every year we have our own little routine in preparation for Christmas, quite simple really and it keeps the kids happy on the colder days and longer nights. Goes something like this: 1st - Tree goes up and decorated 2nd - Decorations around the house From here on we have a rough sketch of what we want to do each day up to Christmas Eve: Make window decorations paper chains operation Christmas child boxes {between 2 ad 6} paper bunting felt ornaments bread and pastry goodies soap/hand lotion gifts teacher/church teacher gifts salt dough decorations personalised baubles chocolate and marshmallow chocolate gifts cookies, cake...

Christmas is a little late in our house this year. 11 days too late to be precise. First we decided we’d get a fresh tree so we moved round the living room, re-homed the piano to the dining room, swapped the display unit in the hall and voila, one room ready for a super tall, super wide tree. Just not on the 1st December! Severe weather conditions meant that many of the tree’s weren’t able to be delivered here so we were on ‘hold’. Through this last week whilst waiting to get internet connection by the new supplier (see The British Homemaker Diary for more info) I worked through my to-do list like it was a marathon. The temptation was almost overwhelming to just give in and go buy an artificial one. Today I’m glad we didn’t! This baby has made himself totally at home in the living room, so much so we had to cut his diet branches back an inch or two! Next challenge comes from the erm, lack or ornaments! Last  year I gave a lot away and dumped the rest. The few I kept ar...

The Lds church don’t believe that Jesus Christ was born on 25th December but we do celebrate the day for a few reasons. One being that it’s an opportunity to share in the birth of Christ with other religions and non faith people, two being that we love to have a good time when it is good and uplifting and three because it’s an event that very often brings people together. Our church is all for unity; unity of people, of faiths and of hearts. Today, in our Branch Council Meeting I was deeply touched by the vision our recently called leaders have for the coming year. We have been called the ‘happening branch’; we are well liked and respected by other wards/branches in our stake and I  know from experience we give the warmest welcomes to visitors, members and non members. Our activities are driven by the spirit (I know cos I am the activities leader!), we are driven to include anyone that wishes to come along and take part. We do not ‘bible bash’ and preach. We are friendly, bus...

Share this post : Yesterday proved to be pretty good at getting things checked off, I also got things done that wasn’t on the to-do list. However, the biggest thing that I failed on was the Christmas tree. When we got to Beechenhurst Lodge to collect, we found that the severe weather conditions the rest of the UK was experiencing had held up delivery. So I bought the stand (after scrapping the idea of a cement bucket!) and we had a wonder round. Come walk again with us: The entrance, looks so pretty with that snow sitting up on the canopy, dontcha think? “Where’s Rudolph, Mom?” asked my 6 yr old son. “Ooh he’s just resting up ready for the big night” ‘Nuff said, the boy was happy to chatter on to Prancer and Dancer (hey, I couldn’t think of any other names!) The views into the various trails was so pretty; with few people around it looked so peaceful and I’m sure I cou...

Remember the last post when I said I have so much going on that I won’t have time to blog? Well I have decided to hold myself accountable and blog my daily to-do list over on The British Homemakers Diary . Today is day 2 and so far I’m doing pretty ok, but lets see what happens in a week or two! Lol While all is good and well here, the kids are busy doing their to-do list to ensure that when Jay, Tara, Bailey and Scott arrive they are organised and ready for the best Christmas ever. Me, I am determined that this year, while busy now, come Christmas Eve it will be the first day to relax and enjoy all the wonderful blessings that I have. My philosophy this year is ‘’preparation & organisation’’. So far, though I have a little more on my plate than I’d like, I am happy to actually have so much stuff going on. I am meeting more wonderful people, doing some things for the first time and having a ball with it all. I love that my friends know my talents and want to include me in ...

For about a year now Charley has enjoyed playing on the Lego site testing out most of their games, entering competitions and printing off there colouring pages etc. Some days he will get an hour straight after school while I begin dinner. Most days I am running up and down the stairs because he wants to go back a page or something. Tonight, after not hearing him call after about 15 minutes I went up anyway. Yep, he is totally super glued to the screen, he is on the edge of the seat racing against the clock on a game! When I asked him if he needed help with anything, he simply said: No mom! I am 6 and I know what all the buttons do and I know when to use them! Of course, what do mothers know? :D   Debs