Monday 13 July 2015

I must be the worlds laziest blogger

It has been over a year since my last blog update........... I am so ashamed lol

In the last year then we had plenty to keep us busy. We found out we were expecting another baby and our little girl arrived in March 2015, Tamara Elizabeth and shes 4 months old now with 2 teeth
 ( no she didn't follow her biggest brother and have them from birth she got them just after 3 months old). With five children the house is busier but the kids are all doing well.

NJ and EJ are doing well with their studies both reading and writing at an age appropriate level, both flying with their math as long as we can find a way to make it enjoyable. Ie... NJ gets to keep a beat with drum sticks while he recites his times tables and EJ gets to use LEGO to do his addition/subtraction sums. We are using Answers in Genesis's own Science Curriculum for the children which is adaptable to all ages and the kids are enjoying it. then we fit other subjects in around it they get art included in other subjects, R.E. is the base for all education in this house as we start and finish each day with the Bible and Prayer. They will learn Home Ecconomics through their lives at home learning to help with household jobs and how to run a household through budgeting and planning.
We use short films/documentaries to support and add to subject study. for example the boys were discussing what teeth they were using for chewing during their dinner and asked if we can study teeth tomorrow so while its not on the study plan as such then we will look at teeth, Alister will get to practice counting the teeth of each all the family members. we will probably draw pictures of people and teeth and learn the names and locations in the mouth of the different types of teeth as well as taking care of teeth. It should be fun 
AJ is desperate to get in with the study group so is learning his colours, shapes, patterns, numbers and letters and phonetic sounds for the letters. We are having some issues with his speaking as he is not very clear with some of his letter sounds.
As a family we are learning Dutch so this is a challenge with AJ esp not really getting the English letter sounds and combination sounds to then learn the dutch ones but he wants to join in so we are including him. We are using a great online course called Babble.
CJ is growing far to quick hes playing make believe and really likes listening to stories being read to him. hes very good at following round and joining in with his brothers but he also likes to play alone sometimes and is quite happy with a couple of toy cars to entertain himself.
TE is rolling and as I already said has her first couple of teeth. shes been getting herself stuck under sofa's today as shes shuffling backwards and forwards got a slow worm style crawl going. I don't think it will be long before she starts commando crawling around the house. ( will need to really make sure the floors are kept extra clean)
Daddy Odendaal is back studying and changing career which means he has been around a bit more. I got a job last summer and worked for most of my pregnancy so I qualified for Maternity leave and as it stands I will be going back to work later this year and supporting the family for a bit working as a Care Assistant while I get a Diploma in Health and Social care. I don't know how long I will keep working it will be till we are in a position for Daddy Odendaal to support the family with his wages again.



My Lovely friend Louise took this photo among many others on a lovely shoot that she did for us in Salcey forest in April this year. 
From left to right we have CJ, TE, Daddy Odendaal(holding TE)Myself aka Mummy Odendaal, AJ,NJ&EJ, 
The strange expressions are due to being all mid roar for this photo as it was the final group shot of the day and we needed to work hard to get the kids to co-operate lol