Trying and failing to find routine among the mayhem

Three weeks overdue but here it is.

Since my last entry we have been kicking on as usual. Crazy, blurry existence.
There have been many little things going on which when added together seem to be nothing but mayhem.
Sometimes I will sit at the end of the day thinking 'now why didn't we do this? or that?, I had planned for this today and once again it didn't get done.' I think these are my thoughts every night. And so every night I will make a list in my head of the following days plans, of our learning, of our goals. Now I'm beginning to wonder if this is the reason for failing everyday to complete (or even begin) these tasks.
Part of the Thomas Jefferson Education (the style we are following for our home-schooling) is to allow the children to learn through play, to develop a love of learning that is bought about by their own interests and curiosities. Have I even asked my children once what they would like to learn today?
Reading and writing are interests that both Ash and Sam do a lot of everyday, especially the reading and I am learning to recognise that any situation, or question or interest can be a great  learning opportunity for both my children and I.

I never considered myself a routine kind of person though I am realising now that I most definitely am and I have been feeling lost and discouraged not having one.

We are currently house sitting and bird and cat sitting for the Rogers while they are in Melbourne, we are returning back to my other sisters house tomorrow where I am determined to try my hardest to encourage a little routine into our lives.

This time I will be sitting down with my kiddies and we will prepare this schedule together. The only time schedule we will keep to is the usual morning routine, after that we will list learning interests for our day.

We'll see how that goes :)

 As for the rest of our time we have been having a lot of fun.

We camped overnight in a beautiful town called Derby, and participated in our fist trail run. Us mums and the kiddies only did the 2km while all the blokes did the half marathon.

Poor Sam was stuck in the dunny when the race began and although he tried his hardest to catch up, he just couldn't quite get there.

Ash Pash did a smashing effort for her first ever run, she definitely found it difficult but crossed the finish line feeling proud.

 All the cousins ran and did an amazing job and especially the men who completed the half marathon. Trail run being very, very different to a normal run as any step could be potential broken leg. There were many tumbles by the marathon runners, a few injuries but smiles all round.

We travelled to Deloraine one Saturday so Ash, Lani, Benny, Joe Joe and Chelsea could attend a stake primary activity, the rest of us went and hung out at the park, had lunch, did a bit of shopping and I got to have a good catch up with my sis Kym. Although we've been here for a while we haven't really had the chance for a good chat. We stood on the bridge overlooking the river and park and caught up on life while yelling down at the kids every now and then when they got too close to the water (the little ones were hilarious, thinking no one was watching then hearing their mothers voice and having no clue where it was coming from :)

As we were getting ready to leave JJ decided to throw a spanner in the works and break an ankle, so he's now affectionately known by me as 'hobble' who is using his lameness as a way of getting out of as many jobs as possible.

We spent an amazing day at a crop maze, yes it is exactly as it sounds, a crop of wheat made into a maze. Absolutely amazing with activities and clues set around the two mazes to keep the kids entertained and the adults completely lost for hours. What an amazing concept, something I would never have seen in Melbourne.

We ventured out for a third camping trip since arriving two months ago ,staying at a beautiful location in the hills called Myrtle Park. This trip was just myself and the kiddies although the Rogers came for a visit and a swim in the icy river on the Saturday. As it was the Easter weekend, we camped from Friday to Monday. Now I totally love Tasmania but camping reminded me very quickly how much I'm going to hate winter here, each night was freezing, ice on our tents every morning and having to sleep fully clothed, with gloves and beanies :(

The days were beautiful and warm and we all got a little burnt, not that you would notice cause the ice would come along as soon as the sun went down and freeze any burns received that day.

Warning: Spoiler alert. if any kids are looking over shoulders now would be a good time to tell em to buzz off and do something more productive than read my post :)

So my lil Ash Pash busted the tooth fairy a while ago now and over the Easter weekend she also busted the Easter bunny. She woke at 6am as I was sneaking out of the tent, I told her to stay in bed as I had to run to the toilet. I guess lying to a nine year old doesn't work like it use to, specially once she heard me sneaking around our camping spot.

I figured because she now knew about the Easter bunny and Tooth Fairy she would also figure that Santa isn't who he says he is.

Me: 'So Ash, I guess now that you know about the Tooth Fairy and Easter bunny you'd be thinking that Santa.........'

Ash: Oh mum I know Santa's definitely real cause we don't have a lot of money and there is no way you could afford the electric guitar that Santa got for Sammy'

Me: 'Ahhh, yes that's right bub'

Ash: 'And besides, your not nearly magical enough.'

So Ash has decided she will be the bunny next year and I've decided that she can believe in Santa for as long as she wants :)

Now I cant leave this post without mentioning the awesome efforts by both my kiddies over the weekend.

It was our first run for the year with the LRC (Launceston Running Club). Sammy ran a great run and now has a new goal to beat his cousin Lani who ran 27 seconds faster, now 27 seconds is a lot in a race but he doesn't seem to think it'll be too hard... who am I to bust his bubble?

My beautiful Ash who has never been a runner, is finding joy in running which to me means she is a definite winner. she came in last and received an encouragement award. I'm so proud of her for never giving up and finishing her race. I unfortunately missed the awards ceremony as Sammy and I had to run off to his very first soccer game.

This is his first year of playing soccer and has had two training nights prior to the game. He is in under 7's Scorpions, a team of the Westside Devils.

He and his team played two amazing games.

First game they won 8 - 0, Sammy kicking two of the eight goals.

Second game they also won 5 - 3, and Sammy kicked one of the goals.

So proud of him kicking three goals on his first day, he has a great team, they are all so cute, I could watch them all day. The parents of all the boys are also amazing, super friendly bunch who's boys have all been playing together on the same team for the last two years. Sammy's the newbie but definitely doesn't feel it as they all adore each other, and have made both he and I feel very welcome, as does everyone here in Tassy, such friendly people.

The more time I spend here, the more I fall in love with this town and the people.

Till next time, Adios