choosing a school

It is easy to look back on a decision and see whether it was a good one or maybe not such a good one... but when you are making that decision it seems so hard to know...

We are praying through the decision of where to put Owen next year for grade 1 , whether to keep him home entirely or whether to put him part time in a Special School...

Prayer, decisions, decisions, visits to special schools, discussions together, discussions with others...

Special Schools are quite different from the ordinary school. Guess I have never really been to one before and not sure what I expected... There are children with all sorts of needs, phobias, intense hobbies, etc. etc... and usually (necessarily) very high fences and areas with bars, extra security, etc.... hmmm....

And then there is the smell of very strong dettol...

Of course there are other programs that encourage 'real life' skills like using a cash register, weighing fruit and veg. making sandwhiches, etc. There are rooms with bright lights, flashing lights, neon bubbles and calm music... There are lots of pictures and well-labelled boxes, hooks on the wall, etc. with the child's photograph on them so they know where to put things.

Curriculums are, of course, much less academic. The child may have as their goal to eat without making such a mess (I think that is a relevant goal around our house:) their goal might be to learn to point to pictures to show what they want, or to learn to ride a bike.

...of course this is all from a Mum's perspective... my insights as a parent. Special Schools are just different.

A letter is written from a guidance officer to the school you wish to enrol your child in. The letter, intended for the staff is rather... well honest... about your child, telling in full detail their various disabilities or health concerns, stating their summary on the child's intellectual level, their need for help... probably more honest like the report cards which were all the norm before suing and political correctness issues came in.... Ok, ok, we opened our 'confidential' letter...

And so all the feelings, thoughts and swaying of views tangles in my mind. I know that decisions like this are hard to make. Hard to keep emotions, and 'gut feelings' (which can also be wrong) about things out of the way.

Humbly, back to our knees...

magnet gift ideas part 2

Here are the other fabric covered magnets for my crafty friends out there

I covered a matchbox (larger size) in pretty paper with some ribbon, an embelishment and a little tag (tag from newsagent)

Then put the fabric covered magnets inside

Here is a picture of button from the back showing the magnet

Cloning teddies

I have been cloning white teddies! I made one and then another and kept going.

After the Teddy Bear Picnic at Owen's Prep, thought it might be fun to put the teddy mould to work and make some plaster teddies for the children to paint. The teddy mould had been sitting dormant in my cupboard for some time... so nice to put it to work.







A few plaster moulding tips:

• Lightly spray mould with spray oil to help shape to come out. Plaster seems to later absorb any oil so doesn't interfere with painting later
• Ideally use a flexible mould - makes it much easier to remove when plaster is dry (my mould is very hard plastic so each clone took some convincing to come out!
• Don't try using household plaster (like I did with no success) leftover from house jobs - only use Plaster of Paris which sets quickly and for some reason seems to not break as easily. Bunnings sells 1kg of Plaster of Paris for about $4.95 (can probably find it cheaper if you buy in bulk) 1 kg made about 5-6 teddies - so works out fairly inexpensive for children's craft idea for creche/playgroup, etc... Would pay to have a couple of moulds though to make job quicker.

Red Paw Paw - just because

I just love RED paw paw. Thanks to my mother-in-law who introduced me to this higher rank of fruit!

I personally don't know why farmers bother with the other type... this is simply the best!

Yummo!!

Wish I could put a little sample here for you to try...

(actually - the truth is, it is all gone!)

crunch

Fun with cousins. The boys made patterns with cherios and sultanas on a kebab stick. The rule was you had to fill the entire stick with the pattern before you got to eat them. Nice quiet few minutes for Aunties to chat ;) and they seemed to enjoy themselves. Didn't really work for Rosa... no sooner had the cherios hit the bowl then we all burst out laughing at the "crunch, crunch" noise!

Pray for me, too

... Been thinking about this after Bible Study

In the Gospel of Luke Jesus is about to be crucified. He is praying to the Father, He is in anguish, He is extremely sorrowful. He knows what he is to face. He already described it to his disciples before hand in some detail. If that wouldn't consume your thoughts and feelings and dread enough...

BUT

The Lord prays for Peter. I just find that incredible.

And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon!" Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. "But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and that when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren."

Luke 22 v 31 & 32

That the Son of Man should even give any care to others in his own time of such agony...

What is more... Peter even goes on to boast that he,(emphasis on the he- if you didn't catch that!) indeed would do anything for his Lord, even to prison and to death... He even compares himself to the other disciples in other Gospels, saying that even if all fall away, he won't.
The heroic Peter even forgets where his ability to resist temptation comes from...

...and yet, Jesus, knowing all this, prays for him!

Isn't that enough to lift your Spirit?

If you go out to the woods today...

This is the day the teddy bears have their picnic. Owen's Prep class invited us to join them for their teddy bear picnic outside today. Poor Josh had to stay home this time and do some catch up work while Mummy had some special time with the two younger ones.

This poor nameless teddy has been Owen's favourite ... has even been where Mummy hasn't... through the big hospital doors where Owen had heart surgery... He has quite a story to tell, I am sure...

The children were asked to bring along two pieces of fruit and they even chopped it up and made some yummy fruit salad to share around. My hungry young uns' managed to scoff quite a bit down...

And then it was off for a walk in the woods... Quite a feat with a some of the children wanting to race off, others bolting in every direction and some lagging behind to smell the flowers. They enjoyed themselves thoroughly though and Rosa had a huge 3hour sleep when we came home!

Owen doing his old man impersonation... honestly if anyone ever needs an old man in a drama presentation, Owen has it down to a T!

And a re-play of the picnic at home...

paper doll link

Here is a cute link to a printable paper doll or another- for any blog readers out there who have a little girl who might enjoy this.

Another cute one (this one can be coloured in) here

Could also put pictures onto magnetic sheet and put small magnets (those ones you pick up free from the hairdressers ... that clutter the fridge:) on back of clothing items for smaller children who couldn't fold over tabs.

Or could simply be used for some cutting (requires fine scissor skills) and pasting

Either way the pictures are adorable even for big girls like me!

Fridge magnet gift idea

If you're wanting a little gift for a friend or teacher here's an idea I have tried recently.

Using self covered buttons (strangely they seem cheaper at quilting shops than craft stores...) Choose some coordinated fabrics (only need a small circle so it is perfect for those scraps of fabric you have lying around) Follow the directions on back of packet to cover the button.

Remove the back of the button... I used metal buttons so with a little pair of pliers I squeezed the wire at the back and it came out easily. I have also tried plastic buttons but it is a little trickier to make the back of the button flush after you cut the stem off.

Attach the flat back of the button. Superglue a magnet on the back.

I chose an Asian theme for Joshua's music teacher because she loves all things Asian.
I have done other styles which may come up in future blog postings...

Package nicely by sticking double sided tape to the back of the magnets and attach to pre cut piece of card. Cover in celophane bag, staple a strip of cardboard over the top and decorate (my little sister was my inspiration here!

Put a note on the back of the card letting the person know how much you appreciate them...

Wa - La !

birthday

Joshua sharing his birthday with friends from Bible study

Goody bags for friends... kind of lumpy with a tennis ball inside:)



How Josh spent his day:

• Opening a few gifts from Dad and Mum and a few cards from others he had faithfully saved to open on his much awaited day.


• Snuggles and family breakfast of pancakes, maple syrup and coconut cream (yummy.. thanks Aunty Angela for this inspiration - tastes fantastic!)


• Chatting to his cousin, Aunt and Uncle and Grandparents on the phone.


• At a 'My Time' group (gov. organised group for parents of Spec. needs kids) doing school work, playing with a few little tots and


• then off to RE (Religious Education) with Grandma, where the teachers were very nice to him. One classroom teacher let him pick out a book from the prize box for his Birthday. He chose a book of mazes and was thrilled about that...


• Then Grandma indulged him with a yummy malted milk and a trip to the swimming pool for a splash together.


• Back home for a dinner together as a family


• Cake (chocolate cheesecake was the request) with Bible study friends. Heard a little of celebration traditions in Sudan


• Off to bed, showered with kisses!