Pea Pilly Bean *

There’s a Fraction to Much Friction

Sarah — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 04:18:36 +0000

I found the kids outside playing with off cuts of wood. Most of their play involved rolling and sliding things down planks of wood so I thought it a good opportunity to talk to them about the science behind their play. The discussion really held their interest. We talked about the effect that friction has on motion and about how the shape and design of an object can effect its speed. I got them to imagine that they were sliding down the plank and asked if they thought they would go faster if they leant forward or back, if they put their feet on the plank or kept them up as they slid. Eli thought this was great and ran outside to experiment. Within seconds he was calling out for help. When I got to him the problem was clear. So the conclusion of our science experiment is: You travel slower down the plank if you lean back because of the friction caused by your clothing….hmmm maybe our experiments need a bit more prep.

Shhh, don’t tell them they’re learning

Masterchef ala Wombat Stew

Sarah — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 12:25:30 +0000

There has been a lot of backyard culinary creativity going on around here. Lani, Eli and Lilly have all been totally hooked on MasterChef and Lani is thrilled that Adam her favourite since about half way through took out the honours last night. She would like to be a fan of Japanese food (which Adam cooked a lot of) because it’s so pretty, but like her fractured relationship with strawberries, she has learnt that just because you like the look of something doesn’t mean you can stomach the taste.

Since their sudden interest in food I have been noticing many food related schooling opportunities. We have been shopping and cooking together, reading the labels on the back of food products and talking about all the additives and preservatives that are hidden in food. Alanah has also asked to stay up and watch Jamie Oliver’s show Jamie’s Food Revolution which we decided to let her because it shows quite dramatically the difference between healthy and processed foods.

So when the kids went to see Wombat Stew I wasn’t surprised to see their passion for cooking to develop into a passion for cooking lumps of backyard goop. After tipping out yet another plastic bucket full of gooey brewy brown goodness that had found it’s way into the house I had a brilliant idea. I’ll get them to create their own masterpiece meals then write down the list of ingredients used so that we can make our own Gooey Brewy recipe book. I thought we can even have a go at being food stylists and photograph the finished dishes. How brilliant am I, I crowed inside, I can even turn mud into school work!

I’m pretty sure the bible has something in it about crowing. I’m also pretty sure we have all lived in this world long enough to guess the lesson that was about to be learnt, It wasn’t the lesson I intended but it did have to do with cooking, well eating at least, eating a specific type of pie…

I presented my Really Cool Mum schooling idea as a surprise when they were having an outside break after maths. I waited positively glowing inside for the squeals of delight. The two girls were sufficiently impressed and ran of to hunt down the best ingredients our backyard could produce (please note we don’t have a veggie patch). Eli however stood stock still staring at me, a look of horror slowly consuming his features. “I’m NOT doing that” he finally blurted out followed quickly and firmly by a “I”M GOING INSIDE!!!” “Oh come on Eli” I responded softly “It’ll be fun” (doesn’t that just sound like one of those teachers) I even offered to help him with the writing thinking that might be the problem. “YOU”ER NOT GOING TO MAKE ME DO IT!!!!” he screamed backing away from me outstretched arms protecting himself from the horror of mud pie schooling.

Now I don’t know whether it was PMS or just not being back in the swing of things after the holidays but this performance was like a red flag to a bull. Fully aware that my gardening neighbours were only 5 millimetres of metal away from us and with all the blood in my body rushing to my cheeks I growled back “Yes I am, this is school work and you are going to do it” (Grrr). And as the girls skipped happily around the backyard filling their buckets with twigs and leaves Eli and I performed a dance that would put any pantomime to shame. He ran, I followed. He climbed over play equipment, I followed. He dashed through the dark garage, I followed. He clambered on top of a rickety pile of old furniture and perched like a living gargoyle baring his teeth at me, I yelled “Get down here now” He responded with “YOU can’t get me” and then just in case the lovely neighbours weren’t worried enough already “DON”T MAKE ME DEAD”

It was at this point I think that the sense kicked back in and I asked the bleedingly obvious question “Why don’t you want to do it?’” “I don’t want to get the yucky stuff on my fingers” he said “but you are always making soup and potions in the backyard, you like doing it” (That’s why I thought of this totally stupid idea) “No I don’t” he shouted down indignantly “Lilly makes them for me so I don’t get it on my fingers” “oh” I said.

See this is the reason I chose home over school, so that if anything stressed Eli out he would be able to approach the task at his own pace. So that he would be free from pressure and here I was practically dragging him kicking and screaming into an activity that was causing him anxiety. granted he can sometimes refuse a task just to be defiant and I am pretty sure he has touched gross things before but that is beside the point. He was stressed and after all my back patting earlier I turned out to be the worst educator in the world that morning. Let’s face it people my pride was hurt by his reaction and instead of focusing on the ones keen to do the activity I entered a battle of wills I shouldn’t have been in.

I apologised to Eli told him he could go and find something else to do and walked over to help the girls. The girls and I had fun, the rest of the morning played out as excepted and low and behold as Lilly was plating up Eli rocks up cool as a cucumber with his bucket full. As soon as he had time to think it through he wanted to join in and was just as keen as the girls.I’m not sure how much education the kids got that morning but I learnt my lesson and the dish I plated up was flavoured humble.

Lilly’s Snake Stew

Alanah’s Zebra Stew

Eli’s Red Belly Black Snake Stew (He did do the writing, in fact he insisted only I have temporarily misplaced his writing book, see what a bad mother I am)

Wombat Stew

Sarah — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 13:56:08 +0000

We took the kids to see the Gary Ginivan musical production of Wombat Stew.

It was written up as: A Brand New “Gooey, Brewy, Yummy, Chewy” Aussie Musical For Kids!

It deserved the exclamation mark. Wombat Stew the Musical opens on a stage glowing with the vibrant colours of the Australian bush. The rich ochre and burnt reds of the painted landscape contrasting dramatically with four bleach white ghost gums. Standing centre stage, framed by the four marbled tree columns, a rickety gypsy style wagon waits in anticipation. From this humble vehicle a rag tag cast of Australian larrikins present the story of a troop of travelling players with the brilliant Idea of turning the well loved story Wombat Stew into a play.

What I loved about this musical, apart from the opportunities the kids had to interact pantomime style with the comical characters, was that it took the audience through the process involved with putting on a play. The kids were able to watch as the travelling players sorted out their characters, designed costumes, arranged the set, collected props and experimented with puppets.

By the time the characters got around to actually presenting their little production the audience themselves felt a real sense of ownership of the little play.

It took our bunch of introverts a little while to warm to the idea of calling out to the actors and singing and dancing along with the musical numbers. Once they got over the jitters thought they had a ball. Well all three girls got involved I did look across at Eli too find him sitting with ridged folded arms starting at the scene in front of him. When we were leaving our seats I asked the kids if they enjoyed the play and the girls responded by telling me all of the things that they did. Eli however said “I didn’t, I just stared at it” Immediately thinking he mustn’t have enjoyed himself I asked “So did you like the play?” and he answered dead serious “Yes I did, that’s why I stared at it.”

Little Elephant

Sarah — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 02:28:15 +0000

This little guy is for our friends first ever little baby, I’m very excited. Glenn and I went to Uni with the Daddy (sorry didn’t check whether they minded their names being plastered all over the internet) so we have known them for a while and have been patiently wondering when they were going to produce a play mate for our horde.

I think he looks a little like an Eliphoctopus with legs like that. I like saying Eliphoctopuss because it makes Glenn think I’m saying a bad word and then he giggles, I’m probably going to get in trouble for writing that.

Their nursery seamed to be mostly red cream and green so the little elephant is wearing colours to match. His ears are made out of crocheted circles. I’ve only ever made granny squares before look at me branching out. The eye are hand embroidery, in fact every stitch in him is done by hand as I still don’t have a sewing machine (do you sense the frustration??)

I know, enough of the elephant already but this was Glenn’s favourite photo. Apparently he likes looking up elephant noses. I liked another one better so to avoid conflict you get to see both.

All jokes aside I am so very thrilled to welcome a new baby to that ring of people that dwell close to the heart. I hope and pray that his new little owner has a wonderful life and that she grows to love and appreciate the beautiful family she has been born into.

My Place and Yours-What’s on your fridge

Sarah — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:57:49 +0000

Ok ya ready from top to bottom:

Photo magnet of the Irwin family, it makes me sad whenever I get anything out of the fridge but Lani is loyal and won’t get rid of it.

Yellow slip of paper holding the name and phone number of one of Lani’s friends obtained in the hope of adding a girly date to her already hectic 8 year old social schedule.

Two magnets my sister bought for me as a Christmas present. I can only assume from this gift that her impression of me is that of a brainless chocoholic over run by her untameable offspring.

Plaster sun made by one of the kids (I can’t remember which one, does that make me a bad mother???)

Purple drawing of ME!!!! by Lilly Yay!!! I really get a kick out of being the focus of their art works. I’m pretty sure it’s a thrill with a time limit.

A picture letter that Lani made ages ago for her friend and her slack mummy keeps forgetting to pass it on. The girls don’t get to see each other much at the moment because their family is still in quarantine because of her little brother’s cancer treatment. Finn is in remission now, huge relief YAY, but he is still undergoing treatment that makes him very sick. They are back in the hospital at the moment and I’m sure Jo would love any prayers and messages of support you can spare her Blog is here.

More hand made and kiddy magnets holding up a flyer for Zaika very cool, we are a bit hooked on Indian food at the moment.

And lastly magnet for local plumbers, not sure if we even use this one but we do seem to have plumbers out a lot because our neighbours tree keeps trying to sneak it’s feet into out house via the toilet pipes. not fun.

I thought the spelling deserved a close up, everyone loves Animools.

Check out more fridges over at Hello Owls

19th July 2010 in point form

Sarah — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 11:36:00 +0000

We are calling today the first day of term 3 although all this really means is that we are back doing regular maths sheets. Learning didn’t stop through the holidays but it evolved a little to be more spontaneous and involved a lot more excursions than we usually fit into a week. The kids are happy to be back to a more structured routine especially Eli who spent the whole three weeks asking if we were going to do Maths today.

Today we have:

* Sang the Beep Beep Fire Alarm Song
* Watched a video of fire fighters putting out a house fire
* English –A, Excel basic skills year 3 English workbook chapter 1 writing a recount.
– E, Reading Eggs level 2 book 8 ( I haven’t used these before I just grabbed them in the book shop because the kids thought they looked interesting I asked him to do 2 pages and he did 9 when I wasn’t looking so I’m thinking maybe it’s a bit to easy???)
– L, Reading Eggs Level 2 book 5 lesson 41
*Maths –A Maths U See Beta lesson 4- Rounding to the nearest 10 and estimation
– E Maths U See Beta lesson 4- Rounding to the nearest 10 and estimation
-L Maths U See Alpha Lesson 4- Basic addition
* We painted family portraits of our friends to give to their new baby.
* Quiet reading time
*I listened to them read, Lani finished another book, Ahhh, looks like I’ll have to go back to the library again.

Fire! Fire!

Sarah — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 14:09:55 +0000

We got to chat with the Fire Brigade and clamber all over a real fire engine. Oh how thrilling life can be at times. An engine and it’s crew visited a local shopping centre to raise fire safety awareness just like the police did the other day.

Actually it was really interesting observing the outpouring of love that all the kids had for the Fire Men as apposed to the reverent silence that they held the police officers in. The police were approached by all the kids on the day quietly and asked solemn questions. However on the day the fire truck turned up kids were exploding out of their cars, their frazzled mothers desperately calling after them to the mind the cars as the pelted across the car park glowing eyes and gleaming faces announcing “My heroes are here.”

I think the difference may be that even though we like to think of these little ones as innocent, they know full well that they sin too. Yes we teach them that police are there to keep them safe and protect the community from harm but deep in their minds, just like in the minds of us all, they know that these are the guys that search for the wrong in the world.

One of Glenn’s favourite authors David Eddings puts it this way

No man is so entirely guiltless in his own soul that the sudden appearance of a few thousand police does not give him a qualm or two.

Or it may have just been that we know how to show off to the Fire guys. Eli didn’t stop talking the whole time we were there. He waltzed straight up to the first guy he saw and announced that he had learnt all about fire safety. Much to my relief he was thoroughly impressed by their knowledge. He quizzed them on everything he could think of off the top of his head and the only thing he had to remind them about was covering their faces when doing Stop Drop and Roll to get the fire off your clothes. I kept apologising to the poor guy because they wouldn’t stop jabbering on about every thing that they knew, but he didn’t seem to mind and even listened patiently to an impromptu performance of Beep Beep Smoke Alarm that they learnt from Brigade Kids.

Eli insisted that Sabrina would be upset if she didn’t have a turn in the truck. He was probably right she was very proud of herself up there with her big brother.

Today has been arresting

Sarah — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 00:07:25 +0000

Guess what we are studying at the moment?

The kids and I visited a police display at a local shopping centre. To be honest I found it a little disappointing and not really worthy of the massive add in the paper. The two police officers just stood there and expected the kids to just chat to them which proved a little intimidating, they had nothing prepared to say. However the kids have jabbered excitable about it since. They got to sit in the car, listen to the police radio (Lani was the first kid in and turned it on) and got their fingers printed. We watched a forensic episode of Scope on TV so it was quite thrilling to take part in something we had watched on the screen.

You should had seen the officer jump forward when Sabi did this, I think she was near the siren button.

Non of the kids were brave enough to ask anything so we went off to have doughnuts. On the way back to the car the sugar induced bravery must have kicked in because they wanted to go back. In the end we had a very lengthy conversation with the female police officer about all her belt attachments. The kids liked the hand cuffs and the bullets but the thing that Eli talked about most was the extendable baton because it was just like his Light Saber.

As part of this topic we have been spending a lot of time at Brigade kids and all the kids have had fun with the Triple Zero Challenge. Its a really great site for kids to learn about the emergency services and general safety. We have learnt a lot and now know we need to memorise the addresses of all of the houses that we visit often not just our own because emergencies can happen anywhere.

Fire! Fire!

My Place & Yours- Kitchen Loves

Sarah — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 05:01:17 +0000

I am eating lunch and the children are planning their futures. So far it goes a little like this.

Lilly:” I never want to grow up”

Me:”oh why there are lots of good things about being grown up”

Alanah: (dripping with sarcasm) Yeah like you can have your stomach ripped open and a needle stuck in your back” (she recently over heard a conversation involving the word Caesarean section. I tried to be as delicate as I could in the description focusing on the joy of finally getting to meet your baby and how thankful we should be that modern medicine saves lives but apparently all she took away from the conversation was the cutting and jabbing bits)

I just roll my eyes at her, I’m trying to get in as many eye rolls as I can before the teenage years turn up.

Alanah: “When I have a baby he’s going to be called John, Eli’s favourite name”

Me: “Well that’s not fare if it’s Eli’s favourite name wont he want to call his son John”

Eli: “That’s ok I’ll just call my baby John too.”

Lilly: “My baby’s name is John” (said like it was something totally new to the conversation)

Me: “Well that will make it easy for me. When I have my grandchildren around for Lunch I can just call out JOHNSSSSSS foods up. ( Totally ham up the acting here, cup hands around mouth, lean back as I draw out the call then put hands out to fend of the hordes of invisible Johns)

Peals of hysterical laughter ensue, I so rock the stand up stage in this house!

Finally Lilly manages to get enough oxygen in her lungs to speak (yes I know so surprising that Lilly spoke first..a hum.)

Lilly: “ Noooo you’ll have to call come in John S, John K and John J”

Me: “Oh do you two girls already know who you are marrying then”

Lilly: “What????”

Me: “Well when a woman gets married she takes her husbands last name that’s why all your babies would have different letters, so who is Mr J then??”

Lilly: “Eww no that’s just the baby’s name like John Jay Kay Ess Ell Emm……” ( I so love that they want babies but the thought of kissing boys is still yuck to them)

Alanah: “Actually my baby is going to be called Wendy”

Lilly: “OH OH Oh and mine is TINCKER BELLL!!!”

Eli: YES and my other baby is called CAPTAIN HOOK!!!!”

And suddenly I’m Grandmother to a fairytale.

That is what I love about my kitchen, the conversations.

Find out what other people love by popping over to Hello Owls.

Birthdays

Sarah — Sun, 11 Jul 2010 12:26:38 +0000

I love going to little kids birthday parties. They don’t hold back on the emotions like we adults have learnt to do over the years and it’s just hysterical to see them overloaded on sugar and emotions. Only I didn’t get to go this time because I have a stupid virus, Blarrh. I also missed out on going to the chocolate cafe how cruel is that.

Anyhoo, I made the little girl a crown with her letter on it because her Mummy said she liked dress ups and sparkly things. I hope she liked it according to my family who are all not sick and got to go to the party she wore it so that’s a good sign.

I also made her a rainbow kitty cat because the little crown didn’t seem like all that much when I had finished it. I hope he’s not to weird looking I made him up as I went along.

The lovely thing about the day was that the parents of the birthday girl took all our kids for the rest of the afternoon which was nice for Glenn, I didn’t really notice because I was asleep from 9:30 am till 2:30 pm. Then because apparently a birthday party and unexpected afternoon guests wasn’t enough stress for them they offered to have the kids over night. So Lilly and Eli went to their first not Grandma’s house sleep over and I was too woozy with flu medication to even panic about it, much. So just before I let my porridge filled head collapse onto the lounge chair to watch House make other sick people feel worse I would like to say a Huge Happy Birthday and Thank You Very Much to my friends, don’t I have cool friends?