The first term is almost finished, and Summer is on the way out fortunately. Every year I look forward to Summer, and every year, I'm glad when we get to March, and the weather is more comfortable! This year Irving and I have only been doing formal learning since the beginning of March, although Arden started a little earlier- given that he's up to his final years of schooling.
Irving did vaccswim classes for the whole of January down at a local beach, and continued with Nippers for the rest of the summer. He also won an award at Nippers - for embodying the clubs values- which was a lovely surprise.
Working on rescues at the Beach.
Paddle boards waiting for action. This was Irving's favourite activity this year.
Coastal walk after swimming lessons.
I got into having Kombucha Spiders over the Summer. I was partcularly pleased with the colour of this Dragonfruit hippie kombucha.
We continued with some of the same classes we've been doing previous years, and we had a few adjustments too. Both boys are continuing with music classes, and they are also doing iceskating again. Arden is continuing with his flying related activities- the youth flying club and airforce cadets. We went to a few Steam sessions this term- I had organised the activities- but we had quite a bunch of things going on this time, so we got there rarely. We did really enjoy the outing to the Royal Perth hospital museum and to AQWA, right at the beginning of term. Arden has also taken up fencing.
A day at AQWA.
Entrance to the Royal Perth Hospital Museum,
Some historic treatments- antiphlogistine amused us as a name for a product. Phlogistine for a bit of reference.
Arden practising fencing.
Arden was offered a place in a TAFE course, but decided to turn it down as it wasn't his preferred preference. He's been gradually working through Khan academy trigonometry and physics, and is intending to return to "Life of Fred" now that he has some of the basics of trig sorted out to support his physics education. We've both been reading "The Iliad" for his English this year, and he's working through his Basic Aeronautical Knowledge- Aviation Theory book.
Irving and I have started off the year reading "The Voyagers" by Padraic Colum and using that as inspiration of painting. This year's painting themes so far have been to paint within or using a circle, and also painting in black. Irving has also been interested in learn lettering and calligraphy, so we've been using "The Voyagers" chapter titles, as inspiration for writing in a fancier style. Ocassionally Arden has gotten involved in our art sessions and done some drawing, and Gabriel is interested in art generally, so he's also done some painting with us. By the end of the term we had moved onto reading "Hawaiian Myths", also by Padraic Colum.
A couple of Irving's paintings.
One of my paintings.
A bunch of Irving's, Gabriel's and my paintings from our block.
Working on lettering.
Irving finished off his hand sewn pyjamas with a little assistance. He has been wearing them most of the Summer.
Irving has also taken an interest in baking, so we've been trying to ensure to fit in a weekly bake.
Hot cross buns for Easter.
Hot cross buns for Easter.
We're learning French this year so we've also been trying some French baking. These are called Langue de Chats.
Off listening to Bluegrass Parkway- a local Bluegrass band. Over the Summer.
One of our favourite shops in Freo, Compendium closed down over the Summer, and I was lucky to find Gabriel this excellent TinTin tshirt in the closing down sale.
We haven't found the Perth Festival or Fringe particularly engaging in recent years. In fact I'd say the Perth Fringe is just outright boring these days.....particularly the Pleasure Garden...it has turned into a very bland bar in Russel Sq. That said we did really enjoy this wetland and lighting installation in the old Carillon City, as part of the Perth Festival.
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We found a witchety grub in one of our garden balcony pots!
Irving and I have been plodding along making some designs for our redbubble stores. This design is off mine. Here is a link to Irving's store too. He'd love some support, if anything catches your fancy!
I'm now part way through another Harry Potter jumper, this time for Gabriel.
By the time I got to adding the pics to this post, the next term has already begun! I had planned to do more posts than last year, but we've been busy out and about so much that it's not happened! We had a particularly busy April break, as we had family visiting from Adelaide, and we were out and about being tour guides with the family. Arden also did a cyber security course in week one, and we were out a lot last week with friends.
