Learning Everyday

Well, we survived Frankenstorm. We lost power a few times but thankfully by 9:30 it was back on for the duration. Our only casualties were two scarecrow decorations I found laying in the yard soaked to the gills.
The weather was just too wild for me to venture out today so I had to break it to Savanna gently that we would be missing gymnastics. To cushion the blow I whipped out the Magic Tree kit I had purchased a month ago at the Dollarama. Unfortunately it didn't do too much before her bedtime but it looks like it will be in full bloom by tomorrow morning.
Savanna has been excited to work in her erasable work book she had given to her last week. It never fails to amaze me how much better she does when I don't try to teach her. That's right-it is far more frustrating to try and make her learn something as opposed to waiting until she wants to learn it. I'm beginning to see how unschooling really works. I fully believe that it needs to be relevant and of interest to the child otherwise you might as well be flogging a dead horse. Given the chance, children will happily learn but at their own pace.

The Garden Bed

Today we harvested the last of our produce from the garden. A few tomatoes, green peppers, cauliflower and one giant hornworm. We didn't know quite what to do with him so I put him on the compost pile and hopefully he will find some shelter from the weather.
After that the garden was officially put to bed with a load of sand and some extra top soil-manure to be added in the spring. I have to admit I looked away as the last of the tomato plants was disked under.
Darn these pregnancy hormones that make me cry at anything! I had a hard time keeping it together during the Lorax the other night.
Is anyone else getting tired of hearing about Frankenstorm? Okay, I guess I did spend most of the afternoon helping to put away potential projectiles but doesn't that just guarantee that it won't be as bad as originally forecasted? There goes that Murphy's law again. I suppose it was time to put the patio furniture away. It's sad to see the last vestiges of summer slowly disappear, flowers, vegetables and gatherings on the patio. I know what I'll do, I'll just look forward to Christmas.

Murphy's law

I'm afraid we may have had the last of our nice weather. Last fall and winter-if you could call it that-really spoiled us. Oh we'll, if we have to have winter I hope we at least have some snow to play in.
Today I was not encouraged to get up. From what I could see laying in my nice heated bed it was dark and dreary out. However, I did feel obligated to get up and attempt to help my Dad work on Savanna's garage. That's right, a garage for her vehicles! Just imagine what will happen when the baby comes along.
Savanna was eager to help so we bundled up and went out. Sure enough shortly after the metal cutting blade for the circular saw was located, the power went out. Murphy's law, get out your power tools, get all set up and the power will go out. I still don't know what the cause was but we ended up resorting to gasp-using tin snips. It's something like this that makes you realize just how dependent on gadgets to do our work that we have all become.

Here I am!

I'm back-again. I never actually left but I just wasn't feeling myself. Fall is never a great time for me. It is by far my least favourite season and every year when it comes calling I have to struggle to pick myself out of a funk. Let me tell you I've been down the road to depression, I recognize the signs, so I know when it's time to do something. My biggest wish is that all people would realize that it is not something anyone chooses-it just happens. I mean really, who would want to feel that way? Anyway, I am glad to report that I feel pretty darn good now.
After doing some research I found that there were a number of vitamins that could help me with my seasonal depression, D3 (the vitamin that is produced by exposure to sunlight), Omega 3 (essentially fish oil) and B12. This combination seems to have helped tremendously along with the power of positive thinking. So enough of that stuff, lets move on to some truly happy news!
So I have a big announcement to make and this was one of the reasons I was holding back on blogging. It is incredibly hard to keep it a secret for 13 weeks and not say anything incriminating! So for those of you who don't already know...
Wayne, Savanna and I are happy to announce that there will be a new little Harper come April!
We don't know if its a boy or a girl yet but, fingers crossed, will hopefully know by Christmas. (I never could wait to find out-I'm either way too practical or too anal retentive, I'm not sure which.) Savanna has already taken to telling everyone that her little sister is on the way so either she knows something we don't or she may be in for disappointment. I'm sure she'll get over it.
I also found out that one of my best friend is due on the same day so it will be interesting to see who goes first, and no, this is not a contest.:)