Before I go any further, let me say this: I am aware that sometimes my blog sounds like all is well all the time and that we just skip from one joyful learning experience to another. Rest assured dear reader it is NOT always like this. We also vaccuum the house (a lot, I might add, we have two dogs that live inside and it is a farm after all!), argue amongst ourselves, watch TV (sometimes what feels like too much), scoop up a gargantuan amount of chook poo, eat Hungry Jacks when I'm feeling really lazy and generally have many valleys amidst the peaks of mountain life.
But somehow, when I go to write a blog entry, I seem to remember the good stuff and that is what I want to record. I do believe in manifestation - what we surround ourselves with and concentrate on - so shall we create in our realities. So no, I am not ignoring the grit and grime, just choosing to focus on the good and gorgeous instead...
Anyway, back to the story....the boys had their home school swimming carnival on friday ( I turned up on the right day this time!) and it was...interersting! Flex raced and won third in both freestyle and breaststoke, Lucky missed the starting horn and took off after all the others in his race, swam like a man posessed and kept going way past the finish line. And came first! But the whole experience - the strong chlorine, the unfamiliar adrenaline surge and the sense of unsurety was a bit overwhelming for him and one race was enough! The interesting part for me was that the boys were more than happy to "enjoy a few races and then go" (their words) while I, with my years of competetive schooling under my belt kept asking them "Are you sure? You are doing so well! You might win more ribbons!!!"
Sheesh.
So we left early and went to explore Sydney Olympic Park and had the BEST afternoon playing in the crazy cool tunnel land of Armory Park, eating lunch at the Wharf restaurant and taking in the Art Express exhibition. Which you had to walk along old railroad tracks and through a tunnel to get to.....the art was spectacular - so much skill and thought and beauty! Lots of sculptures using recycled materials and lots of comment on the pollution of plastic in our world, which has been a real theme in our 'study' this year....
That evening we went barefoot bowling at a young friends 21st and the boys won a pack of Tim Tams for their excellent bowling efforts. They were MUCH more stoked about this prize that the shiny ribbons of that morning!!!
Back at the farm we prepared for this months markets by picking pumpkins and slicing onions (Flex) and making Chai mix (Lucky). The markets yesterday were a true triumph! Flex ran the sausage sandwich stall and between that and selling pumpkin and cucumbers, made over $100 dollars profit! He is saving for an ipad.....Lucky had a ball as well, spending ages at the new 'fossil and gem' stall poring over crystals and rocks. Our new home schooling friends came up to the markets then back to the farm with us where boating, swimming and tea drinking ensued....a cracker of a day!