Wintering

January is almost over and it seems Winter is flying by!  Just popping in for a quick post without pics to give an update on what we've been up to.

Rowan:  finished skating class at the Rec Centre and is gaining a renewed passion for hockey now that the game is back on.  He is out skating with a friend and or his Dad two - three times a week.  He talks hockey from the time he wakes until he goes to bed at night.  He continues with Music although threatens to quit every now and then.  He prefers to stick with one song and practice it until his fingers are sore rather than trying to get better at different pieces, but that's ok.  Right now he is in sports and drama once a week and loves both.  He gets to see two of his very good friends in both classes and is so happy at the end of the day.  I think he really needs and wants to see friends a lot more than we do but my introverted self has to work on that.

Rowan finished Book A of the printing program we have been following and is about to start Book B.  He also started Phonics Level B (Modern Curriculum Press) and LOVES it.  He prefers Phonics sheets over any other schooly stuff.  We also started Story of the World and he is enjoying it although it is hard to find quit time in our house for him to listen and me to read.

Poppy:  still loves her music class although we have missed quite a few due to illness and other activities.  She started Gymnastics after much begging and painful (for her) waiting.  She looks so big in her own class following her teacher and peers around.  She loves to sit with Rowan and I with her own workbooks.  She loves to print letters and looks so serious at school time.

Poppy has been begging for a sleepover for months and we have finally arranged for one coming up.  Rowan is invited too but is more hesitant.

We have been fostering a lot more the last few months.  We have had some delightful experiences and some challenging ones.  Overall I am confident in continuing with being a foster family as it allows me to continue to work and feel valued outside of homeschooling my children in my chosen field.  We also feel we are doing something very valuable for the children who come here as we see so much change in such a short period of time.  But more than that our children see another side of life and take part in contributing to the growth and richness of the lives of others, and these children also bring that to our home.  Rowan talks about most of the children long after they are gone.  Poppy more often complains about them, but even that I think is ok for her.  Both of our children participate in a give and take in our family.  They really do have a rich life with being home schooled and having me home with them all the time.  We are so blessed to not have to send them to school or care so I can work elsewhere so I think having less time with Rand or I while we're at home is not a bad thing.  We have to make sure we are aware of what all the children need and make sure ours aren't having their needs put aside too often as it would be easy to do if we aren't careful.  For now, our lives are busy and full and moving forward at lightening speed.  But we're together and we laugh a lot.