Ah, I can feel the winter weather settling in (even though we've had really mild weather the past few days) and with it our interests and activities changing as we become more inside-focused.

I got out our Family Math book and found an activity that looked like it could be interesting to both kids. So they helped me make the "fractions kit". First I used some water colours to paint up the strips of paper since we didn't have any coloured paper on hand. They then wanted to help me write up the fractions.

In the meanwhile we'd been boiling up some left over purple cabbage so we could repeat the base/acid experiment that we did last year. One jar had a spoonful of baking soda in it, another jar had some vinegar in

it and the third jar was the plain cabbage water and was our indicator. I then ladeled on some water and we

saw the cool colour changes occur.

Nathan then found his dictionary and wanted to look up words he knew. I've really noticed his fluency has taken off recently and he really seems to enjoy reading whatever he can whereever he is. He hasn't discovered a love for reading fiction yet, but seeking "information" is certainly of interest.

After lunch the sun continued to shine so we decided to go for a walk up to the beach.

Danielle's collection of pumice found in a huge pile of driftwood (not sure that I've noticed pumice down this way before?). Maybe I am just looking at the beach with fresh eyes.

Nathan then decided to make a boat from a piece of pumice. Success! Then a shower came through, so off home again.

We decided to have a game using the fraction pieces.

Danielle wanted a game too after seeing what Nathan was up to.

Nathan then felt insired to make his own board game. Complete with "go back 3 spaces" or "move forward 4 spaces" or "go back to start" and a big set of chomping jaws that ate your piece if you landed on that spot and were out of the game. He decided to modify it when his sister landed on the spot and didn't take so kindly to being eliminated lol.

We had frozen the remaining blue cabbage water into ice cubes along with the pink vinegar water. I popped a blue one into a glass of water for Danielle who sat and observed the colour leaking out into her drink before finishing it up. The rest are in the freezer still for another day.

Danielle then wanted to make her boardgame for her and Nathan to play.

Throughout the day there were more Maori myths, watching a DVD of Nim's Island, played with Knex, listening to CD's in their rooms...