Reading eggs

Since one of us is home with Sam for the moment, I decided to reduce Lara's daycare days from 3 to 2 days. Lara's going to school next year, I'd like her to have one more leisured mornings, I want to spend more time with her especially if I'm at home anyway. We will also save some money.

Lara first started showing interest in 'spelling' words a couple of months ago. I thought it was very clever when she said "p-ra-m, pram... pram starts with p and r" (not sure where she learned that from?). I let her try the reading eggs online program for 2 weeks and decided to subscribe at the end of the trial period. I don't care if Lara is able to read before school, I'm sure she'll learn that from school. I care more about her "attitude towards learning". Lara had shown enthusiam about the game so I thought it would be a good idea to monitor her attitude while she learns in the home environment. I am careful about how much time she stays on the computer. I let her do it once or twice a week, around 30 minutes each time.

Lara got frustrated earlier on with one of the 'stamping' game, not because she didn't know the answers but the letters came out too quickly and she couldn't click the mouse fast enough. She cried and exclaimed "I don't want to do computer games ever again!". I directed her away and told her she didn't have to do it if she didn't want to. After she calmed down, she wanted to have another go. After a few tries, she's now, in her own words, "very good at the stamping game".

She anticipats which picture contains the correct answer now and puts the mouse near that area and is pleased with herself if she gets it right. She also starts to try the wrong answers just to see what the animations do. Lara has the tendancy to rush through the lessons so she can advance to the next lesson. She didn't want to repeat any lesson when I suggested it. Lara learned to buy "stuff" with the eggs she collected after the lessons. She bought the first object she liked rather than looking at all her options. I observe her, but try to leave her alone and not tell her what to do, it's all playing to her at this stage.

There's uncertainty around work and daycare at the moment. We can only take one day at a time. In the meantime, I have more time to think about what I can do to help Lara and Sam enjoy their childhood and my parenthood more.

New project

I'm learning to crochet. I want to make Lara and Sam a granny square blanket (each). Here are a couple of my practice squares. I have a few teachers (a friend, mother-in-law and a book), but each told me slight differnt stitches (I'm sure there are many ways to do grannty squares) and I struggled to understand the book (it was a very lovely book called 200 crochet blocks by Jan Eaton from the library). My fingers are sore from holding the wool and needle and my squares are a little too 'loose' but I'm gettint there. I can now "see the stitches" so I can tell if I'm doing it right.

This new hobby provides a nice distraction, a goal to focus on. I'm very excited thinking about the colour combinations of the blanket. There are so many nice blocks I want to do when I'm better, but I need to understand the book first (and finish my first blanket!)

Sunday baking

There were lemons in my vege bag two weeks in a row. To use them up, I made a couple of "lemon-styled" cakes. I didn't bake much in June as there were some sort of illness in the family almost every weekend. Now that the rain has stopped and the sun is out, it feels more like cake-eating weather!

Last week's lemon and poppy seeds cake.


This week's lemon and chocolate cake.

Birthday dinner

Simon's birthday dinner at home last week. His favorite pizza!

Lara's artwork

Lara uses a lot of colours in her drawings. Pictured above are roller coasters. Teachers and parents in daycare all liked and commented on her artwork. Lara sometimes gets frustrated though. She was colouring the sky blue the other day and exclaimed "Mum my arms hurt and I'll never finish the sky!". I suggested she draw a 'smaller' sky so she could finish it without aching hands.



Lara is also very interested in drawing birds. She has been doing aboriginal painting in daycare and this is Lara's interpretation of aborigianl parrots. She enjoys drawing/painting a lot and can sit down for longer periods of time doing it.

More kids pictures

Lara and Sam have been getting along well. They still fight for toys (whatever toys Lara's playing with, Sam wants the same one too), and have small accidents (like the time Lara fell on Sam, or Sam hitting Lara or pulling her hair) but I think they enjoy each other's company. Lara is quite protective of Sam and is as gentle with him as a four-year-old can be and Sam's eyes light up when Lara is around.







These photos always bring a smile to my face, sometimes tears to my eyes and most definitely light up my life.