~There's more to this life~

Getting started on our learning center!

2008-10-05T14:14:00.008+02:00

The next school year starts on the 14Th Jan 2009. The boys break up at the beginning of Dec to enjoy a long Summer holiday. But guess what the kids and I have been doing this past week? We have been setting up the home school room! Yes I know it's a l-o-n-g time before we open the doors to "Gibbons Funschool" again, but we are all SO excited that we decided to get stuck in now.

WizzKid's priorities were to get his computor into his little corner and to make sure that the bug light was "Layed to rest!"
CoolDude was commisioned to build Tanzi's stationery holder..... he managed it so well, even without instructions!!
And Tanzi........ well she didn't help a stitch, but she did provide some great entertainment!

I never thought the boys would beg us to return to home-ed. When I asked them why they wanted to be home schooled again their unanimous reply was "The learning we do at homeschooling is way more exciting and interesting than that at normal school!"
Yahoo....... I can't wait to start learning again too!

Update on Mosaic mirror ........

2008-10-03T18:05:00.002+02:00

Have a wonderful weekend..... Thanks to all my friends that are praying for MrGee. The hospital has suggested he goes for a Dialysis lecture quite soon. Tests show he has way to much Urea in his blood.

Looking for Feedback!

2008-10-02T18:13:00.002+02:00

Have any of you heard of Diane Waring 's History Curriculum? I am interested in it, but would love to hear other's opinions.

Take no affence ..... PLEASE!

2008-10-02T18:00:00.004+02:00

I do realise that I have been tagged by some dear friends, but I have chosen not to partake in these very interesting memes......only because I am trying to create a virtual diary of my family, and not a blog about me! So I do try to stay away from tags. BUT..... I love you blogging girls and value your readership hugely!!!!

What I'm working on at the moment.......

2008-09-30T15:49:00.006+02:00

Okay, so the mosaic bug has me hook, line and sinker! Unfortunately MrGee is not a great fan of this craft. I think he's quite nervous I'm gonna mosaic the entire house! In his opinion, "It looks rather Muslim." I don't feel put off by this remark as he confesses to be colour blind and void of any artistic bone in his body. I feel secure in the knowledge that most mosaics look extremely classical. And I just love anything classic!

Yes! I'm making a mirror for the bathroom. Aren't these colours wonderful? Incase you're wondering what that little bag of white stuff is...... it's tiny beads! Wouldn't want you thinking I rely on any sort of substance for the creativity to flow!! hehe

News on Hubby!

2008-09-28T19:01:00.007+02:00

MrGee got some bad news yesterday afternoon. His Nephrologist phoned to tell him that blood test results showed that his kidney filtration had deterioated. I can see he is not taking this news so well..... he is stressing! You can read about his situation HERE

Please pray for MrGee.

Almost complete.......

2008-09-25T18:12:00.005+02:00

I really enjoyed making this mosaic piece of furniture. Perhaps because I know it is going to be used .............. ALOT! My boys just love chess. I chose the colours to match my lounge.

I just have to sand and varnish the wood , and then it will be totally complete!
TanziPanzi did her first proper craft project today. It was looking SO pretty..... and then I think she smudged the black eye paint onto the wing. She said, "I decided to make a duck with a broken wing."

I suppose she's using artistic licence at the age of 4! (hehehe)
Good night friends...... I'm off to dinner at my favourite restaurant with my favourite man!

Let this be my prayer........

2008-09-22T13:14:00.004+02:00

My very dear friend Mrs P. from By His Good Grace has just written a beautiful and challenging post entitled Parenting ...... What a task!
She ended the blogpost with this prayer which had me in tears.

"Dear Lord,
There is no higher calling than being a wife and mom. You have entrusted these precious lives to our care and what we impart to them while they are with us, is our offering to you. You have not called us to be 'cool', to be liked, or to make our children happy. You have given us the responsibility to shepherd their souls. If they are great in sports, academics or worldly success, but do not know YOU, we will have failed. Help us to live what we proclaim, to be strong enough to discipline consistently when we are weary, to lavish them with love (as You do to us), to be quick to forgive and to admit when we are wrong. Help us to continue to grow in our love for the Savior and for Your word so that we can live an example that will draw them to salvation. We will never be perfect but we can be faithful and that's all that you ask. Lord encourage our hearts with the knowledge that You have the power, ability and desire to see us succeed in this endeavor. May we raise up a generation of young adults with a heartfelt passion to serve You. As mothers may we look forward to hearing; well done, good and faithful servants.' Amen"

What a wonderful reminder and encouragement of this high calling that we as mothers have!

Tanzi's 4th Birthday Party

2008-09-21T19:04:00.004+02:00

Unfortunately it rained and rained the day of her party so everything had to be under cover. It was freezing!

Sneak preview........

2008-09-21T18:10:00.004+02:00

I just love creating mosaic pieces. This is what I am making at the moment.

I bought the wood table at a second hand shop for R150.00. As I was staring at the table wandering what design to put on it, inspiration hit me! ...... It needed to become a chess table !!!(My boys love to play chess.)

So back to work I go ........

2008-09-18T18:27:00.006+02:00

I got the kidlets off to school and on returning home I decided to take an early morning walk in the garden........ the kitty-cats followed suit.

Aren't they just adorable!!

A conversation we often have!

2008-09-17T20:16:00.008+02:00

Tanzi : "I'm clever hey?"

Mom: "Yes, and you're modest too."

Tanzi : "Oh Sank-you Mom!"

(Love you lil' punkin xx)

WizzKid's Grade 7 Science Expo

2008-09-17T06:16:00.008+02:00

We actually had alot of fun experimenting with different veggies and fruits to find out which one produces the highest voltage and amperage. We found out that 2 lemons and 1 potato fire up a small calculator and 3 lemons make a buzzer buzz! In his presentation WizzKid had to include a flip file with the Scientific Method. His focus question was "How do the power outputs of different fruits and veggies compare?" And the conclusion was."Out of the four vegetables and fruits the potato produced the highest voltage. However, the lemon produced the most amperage."

This pic shows his jubilation at completeing the Science Expo Presentation & Interview. Yip, they had outside judges come in and ask them questions on their topic. WizzKid decided to end his Project with ...... "God created the first battery when he created vegetables . GOD IS GREAT!"

My little psalmist!?!

2008-09-15T19:26:00.004+02:00

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo Printing - Photo Books

This was off the cuff...... she LOVES to make up songs..... I think she loves the sound of her own voice! I do too..... so keep singing my lil' punkin! God is going to use this talent for His glory!

Poor Tiggy-Pooh!

2008-09-15T18:38:00.004+02:00

Tanzi and Tiggy have a love/hate relationship!

Tanzi mauls Tiggy silly ........ but still he keeps coming back for more!

HAUNTED HIGH ....... WizzKid's first book!

2008-09-13T07:12:00.002+02:00

WizzKid had to write a book for school. He chose to write a grade 6-7 book because he knew he wouldn't have to do too many illustrations! (He does not have one artistic bone in his body!!!) He was very relieved to hear, that he could employ any one to be his illustrator and publisher. I was delighted to get the job. Just up my alley!

Yip, it was alot of work! The night before he had to hand it in we were up till midnight putting it all together....... but we were so pleased with the final result! His story is brilliant! He writes the most beautifully poetry and short stories!

A cool 10 .......

2008-09-11T08:35:00.005+02:00

CoolDude turned ten yesterday!

He did not want to go out for dinner but asked to have a picnic on the lounge floor. We watched SIX with Steven Baldwin and THE CROSS AND THE SWITCH BLADE. This morning he told me it was the best birthday he's ever had.

!!! Happy 10th Birthday !!!

I love you my special boy!

Tanzi's Birthday Treat!

2008-09-07T18:50:00.005+02:00

It was TanziPanzi's 4Th Birthday on Saturday. We asked her what she would like to do, and she said she wanted to go to the 'A-CARE-LIAM'(Aquarium). So that's where we went! Afterwards we went to Moyo, an African Restaurant on the Durban beach front. The waitress washed our hands, and painted our faces before we ordered food! I decided on an authentic South African meal called a Bunny Chow! The name was coined by the local Indian community in our country, and it consists of a mild curry(chicken, samp and beans or mutton) placed inside a quarter loaf of bread(or huge bread roll!)

The 'Bunny Chow' was absolutely delish!...... NB !! it must be eaten with your hands, no utensils allowed!!

Just let me at him!!!

2008-09-05T18:04:00.007+02:00

We have tried 'turning the other cheek' and reasoning with the lil' blighter but still CoolDude is being bullied by an older boy!
Today the bully was harassing a girl in CoolDude's class so CoolDude told him to leave her alone. With which the bully replied "You're a stupid Ass!" Cooldude then retorted with "No I'm not.... the person who thinks that is one!" When CoolDude was consoling the crying girl, the bully came up to him and said "I'm gonna kill you, just watch out!"

And this is a private christian school....... frightening! I would like to meet this bully in a dark alley and read him his rights! Roll on homeschooling!

Compassionate CoolDude.

2008-09-02T08:17:00.004+02:00

At Cooldude's school there is a little girl in Grade 1 who has been diagnosed with a very serious and rare condition. I'm not too sure what it's called but it is causing the one side of her body to calcify. Her parents are raising money to get her over to the US for treatment.
Cooldude asked me for a donation. I dug in my purse and pulled out all the change I could find.

CoolDude:"Mom, is this all we can give?"
Me: "We can give more, but I will have to go to the ATM."
CoolDude : "Mom...... I was thinking.... I want to give the R300.00 I've saved."
Me: " Are you sure sweetie?"
CoolDude: " Yes Mom ....... she really needs people to give alot!"
Me: "That's very kind of you CoolDude."(I continue packing lunches with a huge lump in my throat.)

I love that boy!

Resident pyrotechnic!

2008-08-28T18:15:00.011+02:00

CoolDude loves making fires with friends that come over to play . Okay..... let me reassure you that they are little fires, done in a wheelbarrow with my supervision.
He also gets great enjoyment out of scorching toy soldiers. Doesn't he look cool with Mamma's sunglasses on!

I so enjoyed burning ants with the magnifying glass when I was a wee thing! But ..... I think CoolDude has found a more humane way of playing this game! (Pun most definately intended!)hehehe

S-O-S !

2008-08-27T18:11:00.005+02:00

I have used the Sonlight curriculum for 3 years and love it! Well almost all of it. To be honest I don't really enjoy the Sonlight Language Arts. I know that there are many options out there (an internet search can leave you feeling quite confused), but I value the advice of friends and their hands-on experience. SO........ please tell me what Language Arts program you love and why.

Thanx.

The anticipation is killing us!!!!

2008-08-26T18:59:00.008+02:00

Spring is just around the corner for us southern hemispherers and MrGee and I are enjoying spending time in our garden. MrGee planted many different vegie-pots.... unfortunately the packets were thrown away before he could label each pot so we will only know what veges we have when they eventually produce!!! Any ideas?

(?????)

(Carrots?)

(Lettuce perhaps?)

(This could be beans!)

(??????)
I find it all quite exciting guessing which pot is going to produce first and what it will be! (oh yes ---you find joy in the simpliest of things as you get older. hehehe)

We will survive!!!

2008-08-25T20:33:00.003+02:00

As long as we know how to read.......... and a whole lot more I'm sure!

hehehehe

What am I gonna do Mom?

2008-08-25T17:59:00.006+02:00

WizzKid is good at many things but at art he is bad, an' I mean really bad!!This last week he was asked to draw a poster informing people what to do in the event of a natural disaster. He chose to do it on Tsunamis.He came walking to the car with a very worried look upon his mug.
"Mom, I don't know what I'm gonna do. I have to draw a poster and I don't think I can do it!"
As we drove home from school I reassured him that I'd show him how to create a poster that required very little drawing at all. We spoke about the 3 elements(wave, buildings, hills) that were needed in the poster, and he assigned the colours.

WizzKidd cut out the coloured card,outlined the shapes in black felt pen and drew rectangular windows on the buildings. I wrote the heading, and he inked it in. He loved the bold colours and I think the simple message works well.

Another project complete...... whew!