Term 3

Term 3 saw us complete some interesting projects from over the year.
We finally got the skateboard deck put together.

Our two broken rotary phones were pulled apart to get one working rotary phone.  (These are a lot of fun to examine....how the dialer works, how the bell works,etc).

We mad a new colour-blended version, just because we could, and the front of the green had broken a bit.

We worked on means in maths.  Arden understands them pretty well these days (and usually like to complain about them..."How useful are these things?..."  I must admit I agree. )  But it was fun helping Irving work them out together.

We now have a pokemon gaming obsession happening around here.

Plus we did some botanical studies. 

Including growing our own mushrooms.

Also a bit of sprouting.

Enjoying the view from King's Park.

Down to river level.

River beach front

Arden's sketches from our nature walk.

Arden working on a pattern.

Irving trying out compass and protractor.

Some scrabble fun and a bit of teamwork, since Irving's still just learning to read.

A night at the Opera with the older kids.  Our view into the Orchestra pit at Dracula. 

Irving and I working on sewing the letter 'Q'.

Plus some things I've been doing.  A velvet dragon pocket.

Pyjama pants for summer.

Trying machine corded embroidery, as directed from my ebay win, singer illustrated dressmaking guide.

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2025

The Pokemon obsession continues- both as a card game and as Pokemon Go game time.

Now that we are at the stage of more grown up children, and even Arden, child no 3, has a phone we have adjusted how we integrate tech into our younger children's lives.  Irving has been allowed to play Pokemon Go on my phone, with Arden and his friends, within some boundaries.  

Winter break

Our winter break was not as productive on my part as I was hoping, but I did get to do quite a bit of lego building and assisting.

We got out to the "snow" experience in the city.  Arden and Irving particularly enjoyed it.

Willow started working in a cafe- Wassup dog.

We took some walks along the Swan River.

Touched up our blackboard.

Finished customising a skateboard for Arden.

Plus Irving started to try out some skateboarding.

I got some interesting books in the post.

Term 2 in Pictures (mostly)

Irving worked out how to draw stars! This was a pleasant surprise, and he had a little burst of drawing five pointed ones.

A bit of maths. (we like to get these blocks out for our pattern making section of Arden's JUMP maths book, and Irving always enjoys joining in).

Working together.  Pre-primary and grade 5.

Labyrinth puzzle....art and maths....crazy family project!

Chocolate making.  We learnt a little about tempering with a second chocolate bar at a free workshop by Sue Lewis, and we made dark chocolate with thyme oil creatures.

Reading one of my favourite children's authors, Padraic Colum, "The Golden Fleece".

After reading about the minotaur we looked at labyrinths and mazes.

More patterning.  Working on rose windows.  These are a lot of fun to make, but can get a little complicated. (Some other examples by Willow when she was 12).

And a variation, using the kite paper to make layered pictures by tearing/cutting shapes and layers.

Reading related to our Australian history studies.  We actually took longer to read this than intended  (we just finished it recently) and it is wonderful for showing the older and slower Australian lifestyle prior to the arrival of the car. 

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During this time we did a tour of Karakatta Cemetry.

We also did a tour of the Perth mint (again)! And the Perth Bell Tower.  View from the Bell Tower.

  These are the beautiful flame trees along the river, on our walk from the Bell Tower to the Mint.

The impressive 1 tonne gold coin.  (Though I missed seeing all the beautiful collectors pieces that they used to keep in the secure vault, and which this coin has replaced).

Some of Gabriel's reading.  Gabriel is very interested in military history, and increasingly interested in working and rendering 3D objects on the computer using blendr.

Working on improving crochet, by making some dishcloths.

A blanket that I was making that is still not finished unfortunately, as I haven't found the sort of blanket binding that I would like yet.

Some new books.  Latin dictionary to help Gabriel's study.  Plus the Long Winter because we are still getting through this Little House Series.

Finally two of my favourite things about home education; Pleasurable family outings and slow breakfasts.

Gabriel, Arden and I went to see WASO performing "The Goblet of Fire", to the film.

And enjoying a family breakfast.

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2025

Link to the rose window book can be found here.

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2011/10/southern-aurora.html

Some of our rose windows over the years.

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/search?q=rose+windows

https://unicorn-pegasus.blogspot.com/2012/10/recent-work.html