Seven Little Australians

I am so proud of myself!

Posted on March 7, 2007 by sevenlittleaustralians

This is my year to achieve, yes!!! Already this year I have acheived two elusive goals that I have striven towards for years. Firstly I finally, finally have successfully made scones. After years of failures, grasping at fail proof receipes (so called) I have cooked tall, fluffy scones. Not only once mind you but repeatedly. In fact after the first weekend we ate so many we were all sconed out.

With goal one achieved I moved on to the next. To make bread, now this has long been my goal since my honeymoon days in fact 14years ago. When we were first married we lived in a little village that made bricks. My darling Prince Charming made many a remark about how I was competing with the local brick making company, he thought he was being funny, well I guess it was in a way. Persistently every year oh about January, you know just after New Years resolutions were made I would try once again to only give up after a variety of failures. Well this year I finally have done it. I have made bread that has my family begging for more!!!! I am officially the bread champion of my family. I do hope you excuse my boasting but I think I should be able to for some time bask in the title. Prince Charming not to be outdone has had a try with my new receipe and I must admit turned out a fancy loaf that did look lovely, his was plaited. However it was not as well cooked as mine as he thought that he knew best and didn’t take MY advice regarding temperature. So for the moment I am the reigning champion although I just know PC will contest again. Oh and not to be left behind the children have been trying their hand as well.

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Re-visiting Phonics

Posted on February 12, 2007 by sevenlittleaustralians

This year we are commiting to having a major focus on phonics. With two beginner readers and older children who still need to improve their spelling it is rather a timely commitment. We are quite excited about this really and looking forward to seeing the results come to fruition.

In the past the children have learnt their sounds via flash cards which have served a purpose to a point. The point being that several have learnt to read and read fluently. However once we have mastered reading we tend to ‘drop’ the rest of the sounds so therefore have never progressed through all the phonetical sounds in the program. Now my belief is that the program is an aid to the goal, the goal being ‘to read’. So once said goal was acheived we stopped. I am now re-visiting my previous position with the strong realisation that all of my readers need help with their spelling. So always being one to combine children and needs where I can all the children are learning/re-learning their phonetical sounds.

I also like to be able to achieve a goal in the most economical way of my time, so I looked around for a more interesting way to present phonic sounds to several children at a time. My eyes alighted on the hundred chart we have hanging on our wall. It is a great chart put out by the education department back in the 50s or 60s. The numbers of one to hundred are printed onto an upholstery canvas within a grid. After visiting upholsteries in town with the idea of buying the canvas and painting the sounds on my self I came to the realisation that I would have to find another way. The upholstery canvas was not a product marketed anymore. There were other products but being the thrifty soul that I am they were not options.

I then took myself off to our local ‘cheap’ shop Crazy Clarks and purchased a painter’s canvas for $7!! My idea was to paint the sounds on it. When I took it home and explained my ideas to Prince Charming he was able to suggest easier methods again. I typed up all the sounds into Excel and Prince Charming sized and fit grids to match my canvas. When they were printed out I taped the sounds onto the back of the canvas so I could see them through, with a permanent marker I traced over the printed sounds and viola! I had my hanging chart.

I went a little further and printed out a further two sets, one in a different colour ink. I then laminated all three sets, keeping one set intact I then cut up the other two sets, including the one of different colour ink. We can now play games with these as well, sound bingo, memory, go fish etc.

Of a morning we now have a quick run through the sounds using the chart and later when all the sounds are more familiar we have some games awaiting. When spelling the children also have a visual aid.

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Walking after the Rains

Posted on January 20, 2007 by sevenlittleaustralians

Recently we had continuous days of rain, after a dew days we had cabin fever. Despite the continuous drizzle we set out for a walk to see the extent of the rains.

‘Lilypad’ dam just below the house was overflowing. So full in fact that the fish were being poured out over the dam and down the road.

Later we had to come back and repair the road as the waters were causing erosion.

The creeks were up and moving along at a fast pace.

Despite that we found a shallow place to cross.

The previous owner considerately made trails for us to walk along with relative ease with the pram.

We walked up to the ‘middle’ dam to see the effect of the waters there.

It also was full and overflowing. Therese loves it here when it is wet because the mud/sand is lovely and squishy. She calls it ‘sinking sand’ and ‘bathes’ in it.

Back home again.

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Glimpses of moving in.

Posted on January 3, 2007 by sevenlittleaustralians

Returning home from swimming lessons we turned off the highway to find a tree over the road.

As we travelled up the drive our way was blocked by the gum down in the driveway. You can see our ‘cabin’ in the background.

For ‘this’ we needed a chain saw. I was devastated as this was one of the attractions of the property.

We love the sunsets seen from our ‘dining room’.

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Protected: New Year Ramblin’s

Posted on January 2, 2007 by sevenlittleaustralians

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Moving In – The second load.

Posted on December 30, 2006 by sevenlittleaustralians

When out at the house I left the windows open to air the place. Whilst in town we had a torrential downpour and I was worried about those windows. As we drove back out with dh ahead in the car we noticed leaves all over the road. As we pulled off the highway dh stopped ahead of me to pull a tree off the road. When we drove up our driveway we were stopped by a massive gum down on our front lawn blocking our way in. Welcome Home. For the first night we managed to carry everything in via another gate, the next morning we rang friends to borrow a chain saw (we get mobile reception on some spots of the lawn)This area was hit by a massive hail storm with hail the size of cricket balls. We have a swath of trees down, just torn off their trunks and twisted and branches torn off.

Fortunately I had arranged insurance and they are happy to replace the iron on the roof which was damaged, the carpet in two rooms which were ruined and the screens which were slashed. They also fixed the TV antena very quickly as they understood that dh wanted to watch Australia thrash England in the Ashes. The tv part was funny, I was getting slow response for the antennae repair, I rang back the company and said to the representative when he asked if anything was urgent that we were happy to wait on everything else but that dh must have the TV for cricket on boxing day, he said he absolutely understood and would ring the antennae business immediately.

Well this was all twelve days before Christmas, by this time I was resigned to a simple Christmas, I figured if Mary had to travel all the way to Bethlehem on a donkey she would have only been able to fit in some basic swaddling clothes and gave birth in a stable then we could also Honour Him simply. Which we did. We had a lovely Christmas day with the children receiving all outside toys (bikes etc)

Now the ‘honeymoon’ is starting to wind down and I am facing the very real conundrum of how to fit 9 people in a house less than one third the size of their previous home My biggest problem is how to fit a homeschooling life into this house. Homeschooling sure comes with lots of ‘stuff’. Papers, craft supplies, scissors etc. I haven’t even begun to fit the books in yet. It will definelty only be three bookcases

The kitchen is much smaller too, I am going to have to go shopping fortnightly and I have had to pack away half of my kitchen equipment.

At one stage I thought we could fit in six bookcases but then we decided that we couldn’t keep eating on the verandah the sun and mosquitoes got to us. So I am now trying to fit four rooms of living into one. Which is my conundrum how to fit a study, dinning, lounge and family room into ONE room

We love it out here I know we have made the right decision for us when I sit on the verandah watching the dc ride their bikes and have room to play cricket. When they come to me and say “Mum I’m heading down to the bush”.

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We are now country dwellers!

Posted on December 18, 2006 by sevenlittleaustralians

Last week found us finally with keys in hand for our new property. As I came out of the real estate office I could feel this big grin on my face I couldn’t stop smiling and it wasn’t because of the overflowing basket of goodies that I carried in my arms courtesy of the agents. Mind you the smell of the chocolate in the basket was rather delicious and the champagne seemed like something to look forward to also. The day was fraught with dramas but we rose to the occasion and didn’t worry at all. Early in the day the children arose eager to pack the car and be waiting at 12pm to pick up the keys. The plan went well and we were already to leave when it was discovered that the keys had been locked into the house. For the next half an hour we tried to break back into our house we had some very worrying moments as the boys perched on the second story roof trying to open the screens to their rooms, unsuccessfully. In the end we were successful in getting the keys and made it to the agents on time.

It was a most satisfying moment driving up and realising that it was finally ours. In fact it still is sinking in days later that we own 140 acres! It is also a daunting task to try to fit nine people and belongings into a house (read cabin) that is one quarter the size of our previous home. We plan on LOTS of ourdoor living here in fact our dinning room IS the front verandah.

We unloaded our first load and returned to town for our next load. When we returned disaster had struck! to be continued…..

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Wedding Anniversary and the Big Move!

Posted on December 13, 2006 by sevenlittleaustralians

Yesterday was our wedding anniversary! Fourteen years of married life together and it has indeed been ‘wedded bliss’. fourteen years ago my Prince Charming and I exchanged our vows to ‘have and to hold’ and set forth excitedly on the journey of our life together. We have grown and learnt so much in those years. Our lives have become infinitely richer and we have certainly been blessed by Our Lord in many ways not the least the gift of eight children. Many changes have occurred including job changes, housing changes and sadly those years have also included the lose of our fathers and some grandparents. All through the years though we have indeed felt His Presence.

Tomorrow we set forth on yet a new venture, we finally will be moving to our dream property of 140 acres. How timely so close to our anniversary.

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100th Birthday Celebrations

Posted on December 7, 2006 by sevenlittleaustralians

Early this week saw us in Sydney for the celebration of Prince Charming’s Great Aunt’s 100th Birthday. What amazing accomplishments this lady has achieved, and for God, for Prince Charming’s aunt is a Bride of Christ.

Mother Mark or Sister Mark was born in 1906 the seventh of ten children, in 1928 she left her home to join the Sisters of Little Mary. Many achievements for God followed, some of these include the role of Mother Superior for a number of years and the founding of a hospital in Canberra, Calvary Hospital. She also started a training centre for the care of female psychiatric patients and the Good Sisters had a excellent reputation in the caring of these women. In the 1960s she started a mission to Korea and she has also traveled to Rome.

The birthday was attended by over 170 family members travelling from all over the country. Telegrams were read from the Queen, the Governor-General, the Prime Minister and the State Premier. Later when discussing with another nun as to why the Holy Father didn’t send a telegram she explained that he sends them for Jubilee’s but not for birthdays. Upon reflection that does seem more fitting, when Mother celebrated her Jubilee I’m sure that the telegram from the Holy Father was more treasured than the one from the Queen. However I did think the Queen’s telegram was lovely,gracious and personal as she signed it simply ‘Elizabeth’.

Considering her advanced years Mother Mark was still rather spritely and aware. It was a privelge to attend.

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So Proud!

Posted on November 28, 2006 by sevenlittleaustralians

Recently our children have been branching out into new areas. For Michael this has included a term of art lessons. This was a big step for him as he ventured forth on his own without his siblings. It was good to see his self-confidence blossom and his teacher was very good at getting him to be assertive in his decision making in regards to his art work.. His teacher is excellent in fact at drawing the most from the children, true she is rather formidable in some ways but she does love to see the children progress. The term ended with all the members of the Junior Art Club entering their work in our local town Festival’s Art Competition. Imagine the surprise and delight of Michael when he won a MAJOR prize! He was the “Runner Up” (second to the Champion) for the entire primary school division, not only that but he was the youngest participant. A real bonus was that he even received prize money. He was most delighted to hear that some of the ‘big wigs’ in the town’s art world wanted to ‘buy’ his picture. Would he sell? Well “NO” the picture was a portrait of his mum! And he couldn’t sell that not even for $500.

The sheep pastel drawing is his favourite and his circle painting is dad’s favourite both which he also entered in the competition.

Five of ‘The Seven” have been having swimming lessons this term which has been very beneficial. The highlight of our term was this weekend when the older two participated in a bi-atholon. This consisted of them running 1km each and swimming 600m and 400m respectively. I was so proud of them it was an absolute huge effort, swimming 12 and 8 laps of a 50m pool is a mammoth task and then to run on top of it, I thought all the children were champions just for doing it. An exciting part of the whole experience though was that Anna Maria won first place in her division! Yeah well done Anna-Maria and well done Francis for a big try, loved that last minute sprint for the finish line.