Nathan's really gotten into sticking to task for gaining his Conservation badge for Keas. Yesterday he tended his little garden, filled the pond up again for the birds to have a drink, harvested an armful of veges for dinner and didn't suggest turning the TV on (and thinking about it, Danielle didn't either). He's really taken it on board and went online to check off another day of completing his pledge.

Today was another beautiful end-of-summer day.

The kids were inspired from somewhere to make some puppets on a string.

We went and did our grocery shopping today. Nathan asked for the list so he could read out the items to purchase. He really seems to have clicked with reading now. The phonics programme we have been working on has helped him so much and given him a lot of confidence in just the past week that he started reading an early reader chapter book by choice today. Then wanted to sit with me and read with me helping as required.

Nathan was asking me to show him how to make a flax headband since I'd learnt off my friend last night how to make them. So we harvested some more flax and I sat down to weave them both a band.

Many games played today including Triominoes. Danielle was also keen to play and it was interesting to see how both kids are different with their style of seeking and finding information. Nathan methodically scanned the outer edges for matching numbers to place his tile, whereas Danielle seemed to be able to spot them by doing a "whole" scan of the layout and would spot one. I have also realised lately that she has full number recognision despite me not "teaching" her what numbers look like written down as well as knowing at a glance what the number on a dice is without counting the dots. 

Had to take a photo of this. I was cooking dinner and came out to the lounge to see what they were up to and there they were outside snuggled under a blanket together with Nathan reading to Danielle (along with Danielle's polar bear who was transformed from a dirty grey bear to a lovely almost white bear today as well as we all gave her a bath and lay her in the sun to dry).

The wind picked up so Nathan raced in to find his kite...

Modelling their headbands for Simon once he got home (all dressed in swimming togs to go down to the beach after dinner to make the most of the sunshine since it is due to disappear for a few days). Nathan's headband has been decorated with some feathers from one of our moulting chickens.

We've also been looking and practicing Italian words (just colours and numbers at this stage). Some time in the faaaaar future we intend on doing a trip around Italy. So, no time like the present to get started on another language especially if it will have relevance. Wonder if we can learn two languages at once (the other being Maori since that also has relevance)?