Back to the books

Aideen worked so hard today , no messing about she just got straight back to it ! This morning she wrote a report on New years eve , and how she celebrated it, and her plans for the year ahead...then this evening she read a beautiful "Snowflake" poem and also read an essay entitled "Snowmen" and answered (written) questions on the essay...I think thats a great start to the new year... :0)

A brand new Year !

WOW , does`nt time fly ? A whole new year ! WHAT wonderful conversations we`ve been having together and with friends , about everything and anything ...for example, tonights dinner table conversation was about how the climate change has become SO noticable...and we`ve gotten a little over the radiator airer for the homeschool room as drying clothes is hard in the cottage , every available space counts :0)
Also , of her own accord , Aideen made a list of New Year Resolutions...and this very morning , she got her baby sister up , changed and fed her , lit the fire and let me and her dad have a wonderful lie-in !!!!! Some gifts just cant be bought !
We want to wish all our friends and family...Lewis, Maeve , Ger and Nora very speedy "feel better soon" , all have had nasty accidents in or on the dreadful ice , so they`ve been in our prayers xx
Well , off to bed , "early to bed earlt to rise..." as tomorrow sees not on a start back at the "books" for Aideen , but also myself...
So goodnight nd keep warm from us all at Scoil Dai !

Thankyou notes...

Here at Scoil Dai , old-fashioned though it may seem , we believe strongly in manners...they cost nothing , but mean SO much ! Aideen spent the last 2 days writing her "thankyou" notes to friends and family for their kind and thoughtful gifts , and Daisy coloured in pictures to send...also we have been walking a lot in all kinds of weathers ... cold but fun ! We think we`ll probably go back to the "books" next week as everyone is getting bored of tv and lazing on the couch , as they say "too much of a good thing". Also we made Victorian pomanders...very easy , but worthwhile...simply push cloves into an orange , decorate and hang up . lovley wintery smells :0)

Winter excercise...

Hello friends and family from us all here at "Scoil Dai" ! Well , despite the winter chill , everyone has to excercise so we wrapped up well and headed to the local playground...we were the only ones there ! As you can see the kids were fine running around, but the teacher and principle had to cuddle up to keep warm ;0)
Also Daisy is very busy "posting" , well everything this weather , we had to nip it in the bud when we found some of our cards in the oven so we made her a "postbox" , very simple just a cereal box with a slot cut in it , makes for hours of fun , so she`s happily drawing and writing "letters" to post !
Also we`ve started reading a family favourite, reading around the fire , ( a chapter a night after dinner) , of "The night before Christmas" by Alice Taylor , of an Irish country childhood Christmas from days past...
and weve been cutting out paper snowflakes , this is Aideens speciality she has a great eye for patterns ! And of course the paper chains made from old magazines :0)
Today we had a great surprise in t`he post , lots of lovley educational pressies from dear Papa gene and Daisy Lila in the USA , they are the girls adopted grandparents and also sent lovley material for a wall-hanging for me ! (THANKS GUYS xx)
So , its busy but fun here in "scoil Dai" with the usual visits to the library and walks around the town to see the wonderful colours of he winter skies and the sillouttes of the branches...
hope you are all enjoying the winter wonderland wherever you are , till next time ...

Colour :0)

"Mere colour , unspoiled by meaning, and unallied with definite form, can speak to the soul in a thousand different ways".
-Oscar Wilde-

and SEW say all of us !

Well everyone , life is busy but beautiful at this time of year ! And here in "Scoil Dai" , as well as ordinary lessons , we find ourselves as busy as the elves in Santa`s workshop ! Daisy LOVES "cooking" with her homemade playdough (thanks for that Annah , great gift !) , and as you can see she wouldnt even take her coat off to play , herself and Saul played ALL DAY with playdough at the Knights house and Daisy got to bring some home , and its STILL going strong ! Aideen is busy sewing her Christmas gifts (can`t show too many pics or we`d give the surprises away) , and it SO cosy because when you are a homeschooler you can do your sewing lessons in bed with Mom :)on cold winter evenings ...
Also Aideen made a cartoon piture of her friend Ella , who loves Tinkerbell and we laminated it , so Ella has a great coaster to put under her teacup ! These pictures of Aideens are SO popular and such a quircky , personal gift !
Also with the weather being cold we are cooking a lot and learning as we go about how animals and indeed humans around the world cook and store their foods ...and plenty of lovley fruit being eaten here in Scoil Dai at the moment , to keep all the nasty colds at bay....hope if you have the winter sniffles you feel better soon !

all you need is...

Did`nt she do well???? Heres Aideens Christmas cards , the photos really dont do them justice !!!!! Some of the cards (the tree ones) are simply made from strips of old magazines (National Geographic) , and the bauble on the branch are made from old Christmas cards, and of all things ,chewing gum wrappers !!!! Aideen gets chewing gum from the USA (thanks Heather !) and she keeps the wrappers , now , yes we are really into recycling , but I was stumped as to what she was keeping them for...the clever kid was using them as the silver bits on the baubles as they have "zig-zag" shapes on them ! Then she drew the pine branch using pencils and stuck on bows saved from packages ,etc....
Daisy meanwhile spent most of the day playing "drums"...yes the faithful saucepans and singing "merry chwismast".... :o)
Hope you all had a good day too !