Snow and sushi for the sparrows...

It snowed a (not so impressive) 6 cm.  Last year we recorded in our 'seasons journal' that  is snowed a massive 17cm in the first week of February.  But despite having a 2 thirds less snow to work with, an igloo challenge was issued.  With a little help from our friends and some borrowed snow this was the result:

But numb toes in wellies can get a bit much, so for the hours warming up inside -Tuesday afternoon games club, chicken foot on the table this week, a very competitive affair (they are Young's after all!). Papa sparrow swept the board of course....

 And an impromptu volcano session inspired by a book Jesse checked out from the library.  We used drinking yoghurt pots in the centre of the mountains and a salt dough recipe for the volcano itself. Inside some warm water, food colouring, fairy liquid and a couple of tablespoons of Bicarb.  Add to that your vinegar and hey presto molten lava.... (and a very bad lingering smell in your kitchen).

Post eruption play......   or rather island recolonisation!

 They also created some beautiful volcano collages inspired by their eruption success.

 The highlight of the week though, was a Sushi class that the older 2 sparrows attended in Cambridge.  At a YoSushi! restaurant led by dynamic and engaging head Chef Steven, they spent 1hr30mins making their own sushi.

The next morning at breakfast a voice pipes up " Mummy is Utsukushii"- beautiful in Japanese. Cute hey.

The snow is melting and the igloo calls 4 sparrows to come and complete it's downfall in a more energetic and dynamic way (please read getting jumped on). This of course will be the best bit for them!

Things to do when it's - 6 degrees......

It has been COLD. But no complaints, cold is interesting and can be especially beautiful....

The sparrows made ice sculptures in an experiment to see what would freeze and what wouldn't.  We used yoghurt pots, string, food colouring, glitter and crafty bits (don't forget to add the water!).

Gabe also made these Ice coconuts by adding food colour and glitter to a balloon before filling it up straight from the tap.  We ties them up outside and left them overnight, they were really really cool. I think we 

will try it in the summer using the freezer also.

It is too cold to play outside for long, noses start to go numb....Here the kids were busy dissecting an owl pellet we found in the woods.  It was probably from a twany owl as it was smaller and found in in a thickly forested area. For dinner/breakfast they discovered it had mainly been eating mice, field voles and shrews.

 We live very close to the American Air Force Base and were lucky enough to have a good friend organise this field trip to the fire station there yesterday.  The two fire fighters who showed us around were excellent, friendly and knowledgeable, it was a great trip, even if it was minus 4 degrees....

 
This firefighter demonstrated how he got all his gear on in less than 2 minutes when they get a call out, followed by a further 90 seconds to get in the truck and go.....

 They say more snow is on the way....the sparrows say bring it on!

In the bleak mid winter....

Grey clouds dominate the skyline but the weather has been mild so the sparrows have been out and about.

 This is a local forest park that we are lucky to have on our doorstep and it's an absolute treat to go in term time when the kids have the whole place to themselves....one of the perks of the job!

I always get asked about 'socialization'. Well I'm not all too sure what that really means but if you are wondering whether the sparrows have fun with friends.......

They have plenty! This is our fortnightly JAM Club meet, a christian homeschool Friday club. The children here mostly make memories whilst sharing in bible teaching and games (the crazier the better). We are blessed to have some great families coming along regularly.

  All ages, altogether and the teenagers get stuck right in.

 Today was a snow day, not many of those around here, the 4 sparrows were out in the snow by 8am.

 Busy looking at snow flakes with magnifying glasses.....

We did try to catch some flakes to look at under the microscope- no two ice crystals are the same, it's true! We froze the slides and collected flakes, even taking the microscope outside to keep them cool, but they melted too quickly. We only had fleeting glimpses of the fascinating patterns they make.  If it snows again we are going to try with nail varnish on the slide in the freezer- perhaps the flakes will leave an imprint?

The first thing a 7yr old wants to do when his mother walks out the door with a camera... 

Needless to say his aim needs improving, I let him take quite a few shots before one actually hit the mark. In closing may I introduce Wendy the snowgirl (J.M Barrie's Peter Pan, read aloud in the evening has captured their imagination..).  Unfortunately it warmed up a couple of degrees late this evening and she no longer has the use of her head.

Here's hoping for more snow, the sledges are beckoning!

Re-introductions and a Happy New Year

 Where have we been? 4 months since my last post, where does the time vanish? But we are still here and we are still home educating......
Christmas has been and gone, it was fun while it lasted, we look forward to meeting again soon...

A trip to Cadburys world on the in between days (thank you Tesco), it's ok a bit disney-ish but we learnt a little and had fun with friends.

 Boxing day walks (oh so needed) with lovely family.

 And a wonderful New years Knees Up with friends. Happy New Year Everyone and  Blessed 2013, I wonder what it holds for us all?

And I will try to write more often, it is fun :)