SIMPLE TIPS TO ORGANISE YOUR HOME

Lately it seems I have been receiving many compliments on how organised I am. I must confess to being just a little bit 'anal' but it's really only to counteract the fact that if things aren't in their usual place I tend to have a little meltdown! It's not always easy to keep your cool in a home with 4 boys aged 8 and under, let alone when they are all home each and every day homeschooling with you.

I've been asked for tips on how I keep myself organised for a very long time and up until now I've barely had more than 2 seconds to scratch myself so whilst hubby is working late tonight and I have all the kids in bed early (well before 8pm) here goes.

My best tip is the old saying 'a place for everything and everything in it's place'. The first thing you'll notice when you walk around my house is that I am a big believer in keeping things in boxes in designated areas of the house. We have oodles of white plastic boxes you get from Ikea that house all the kids toys and homeschooling resources but also use them to store each of the boys shoes in.

Knowing exactly where something is when you need it will save you loads of time, when you add up all the minutes in the day you could possibly waste just looking for something. It also means that asking your kids to help tidy up is an easier task as they always know where to put things. When we walk in the door from being out the first thing I say to my boys is go put your shoes away. They then take off their shoes and pop them into their personal shoe box, even the 20 mth old!! It means that the next day when they need to get their shoes on they are in the same place they always are. The boxes are kept in a bookshelf in the hallway. Here we also keep hats, bags and all the kids swimming togs to make it easy to collect what we need quickly should we decide on a whim to head to the beach or a theme park.

The classroom/playroom stores an enormous amount of toys, games, books, school and art supplies. I've made the most of the vertical space in the room by adding in Ikea cube shelf systems to house all the boxes. All the items I don't want little ones getting into like paint and lego are stored at the very top shelf.

One of my biggest tips is for the mountains of washing I encounter, which I'm sure most Mums can relate to. I have a separate large washbasket for each of my boys labelled with their name. When I am sorting the family's washing I order the baskets from biggest child to smallest and throw at each basket til I'm done. I'll normally have a couple of loads to do a time.

Then those baskets sit on top of each of their tallboys ready for putting away as I get time through the day. Sometimes I only have a few minutes free at a time so I just pop in their room and put away as much as I can in that time. It saves me time having this system cos I am looking for something specific in the meantime (for example a pair of shorts for Dane) I don't have to go through copious baskets. I just head straight to his basket and I'll find what I'm looking for quickly and easily. Even better I normally direct the older boys to look in there for what they need. At least this way they're not throwing all my nice clean clothes all over the place in their search.

I have also laid out each of their tallboys in the exact same format so it's easy for me (mostly hubby) to find what I'm looking for quickly. For example the top drawer has undies on the left, singlets in the middle and socks on the right. Second drawer is pyjamas, third drawer is shorts and the bottom drawers are long pants.

Just the last few days I've been busy on my latest organising mission. I picked up a tip from my friend Kylie a long time ago to take all the board games out of their boxes and put them into individual clipseal bags. I decided to give this a tackle as over the years we have managed to build quite a collection and they were taking up 4 cube spots in my large Ikea shelf unit. I bought some large clipseal bags from Ikea, you buy them in bulk in the kitchen area for $4.99 for 15 extra large bags and 15 large bags. You can see from the following pictures how much room I've saved by doing this. Amazing how boxes can take up so much room. I challenge you to give this one a go. It seems hard letting go of the box, but if space is an issue I can guarantee this will help!

Can I also add that the above pic is not accurate of all the boxes being thrown out. There are about another 4 inside larger boxes too!

Anyway I hope that I've managed to help with some tips to keep things organised in your home. If you've got some more for me I'd love to read your blog too, don't be shy!

Until next time
Take care,
Angie xx

2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF BAILEY HOMESCHOOLING

As another Easter rolls towards us it signals to our family another momentous occasion to celebrate, another year of Homeschooling! It was this time of year 2 years ago now that I decided that enough was enough and pulled Bailey out of Grade 1 to give Homeschooling a try.

I figured pulling him out of school for a while could only be a good thing considering the state of his health and mental well being at the time. From the commencement of Prep the year earlier Bailey had increasingly had more seizures (he has Autism and Epilepsy) and was coming home more stressed each and every week. It got to a point where he was having a seizure every second day, constant asthma attacks, was being bullied, hiding from class and spending lunch breaks in the library alone. One day the week before Easter break he had a massive seizure where he couldn't walk or talk for several hours afterwards. I'd had enough by then. Even the school principal agreed it wouldn't hurt to give Homeschooling a go.

As it turned out those first few months were an absolute delight! I made it a mission to get Bailey reading and within a very short time he was sounding out simple words and showing a real talent for working with numbers. I knew very quickly that Homeschooling was going to be a long term change. Bailey's seizures almost disappeared immediately once he came home to learn. He had a few small ones when stressed out in public for the year that followed and now 2 years later he has weaned off his medications completely.

Bailey can now read and write to a similar level of other children his age. He can add and subtract and is finding simple multiplication a breeze. He has learnt so much about the world around him, from books, family discussions, excursions and documentaries. He has a very special bond with his 3 younger brothers from spending each day with them, watching them learn and grow beside him.

The difference in Bailey these days is incredible. Most people wouldn't even be aware of his Autism when they meet him. Moments like today, watching his homeschooling classmates in hysterics from his comedic routine during a Cake decorating class, makes it all worthwhile. The fact he can participate in a wide variety of lessons and sports with his Homeschooling group means he really is getting the best of both worlds.

People often ask how long I'll continue to homeschool my boys. I guess I never really know when or if they'll be better off in a standard school setting. I just know that for now, this works and I can't imagine any of us being happier doing anything other than what we are doing right now!

OUR VISIT TO COBB & CO MUSEUM

For the next few months we are focusing on 'Greatest Inventions of all time' that ties in with our Year of Science. We have been learning all about the Automobile. After discussing how horse and carriage were converted into the Horseless carriage and then the Automobile I decided it might be nice to visit the Cobb & Co Museum in Toowoomba. We have annual passes for the Ipswich Rail Museum which means we can enter Cobb & Co free of charge, which is always a bonus. We have visited the Cobb & Co a couple of times before but the boys always seem to enjoy it and they do change some of their exhibitions from time to time.

Our first stop in Toowoomba was to the Queens Park gardens which are conveniently located the block next to Cobb & Co. It gave the boys a chance to stretch their legs after the hour and a half journey, run off some energy and then we had some morning tea in the beautiful gardens. There are oodles of little playgrounds all around the gardens which makes the walk across to Cobb & Co seem much shorter and more exciting for the boys.

Once arriving at Cobb & Co we took a little look around the art gallery section of the Museum which is always showing different items each time we visit. This time they had metal works created by local artists and trade persons. It was a good opportunity to discuss how welding and blacksmithing are done. This was followed by lunch in the cafe, which is quite relaxing for us parents as they have a play area in the centre of the cafe for to kids to amuse themselves whilst waiting for the food to arrive. The food tastes great and is reasonably priced which is a nice change to some other Museum cafes.

We spent the next 2 or so hours walking through the aboriginal exhibits and local Darling Downs history areas before moving onto the main event, the Cobb & Co coaches. There is an extensive range of vintage carriages, caravans, billy carts and a great example of an early horseless carriage. The Auto Buggy was the link between the carriages and automobiles back in the early 1900s.

The boys were surprised to hear that this carriage above was used in Brisbane as a bus to carry passengers to the local train stations.

The Museum has a great learning centre where they supply pictures for colouring, dot to dot pages, tables and chairs, paper, crayons, pencils etc. That same area also has touch tables with a variety of objects to explore, such as snake skin, bird wings, dried and stuffed small animals, turtle shells, coral, bark, gumnuts, etc.

After moving from the learning centre we moved into the playzone. This was a nice chance for me to put my feet up a bit as the boys had the whole area to themselves and were kept busy with a old fashioned store to play shops in. Bailey was using the pencil and paper to take down our cafe orders and filling them excitedly. Fraser and Ehren enjoyed me reading a few books in the cosy book corner whilst Dane spent his time sitting in the pretend carriage and helping Bailey in the shop.

For those looking for a fun day out with the kids or an educational experience I can highly recommend a visit to the Cobb & Co Museum in Toowoomba. We can't wait to go back again soon!

THIS MONTHS SCIENCE TOPIC - Greatest Inventions of all time

Our year of Science has started with a bang and seems to be fun enough to keep the boys amused and easy enough for me to plan! January was spent learning all about the Solar system. We covered topics such as Hubble Space Telescope, Satellites, Neil Armstrong, Landing on the moon, the 8 planets in our system, galaxies, comets, meteors, stars and The Sun.

We conducted a science experiment using oil, water and food colouring to show us the way in which centrifugal forces help create spiral galaxies. We also used varying weighted objects being thrown at varying speeds and force into sand (at the beach) to help explain how craters are formed. The boys seemed to really enjoy these activities.

This month we are covering The Greatest Inventions of all time. First topic is the Aeroplane. I'm sure the boys are gonna love this month! More things to add to their Science journals. Stay tuned!



2012 - OUR HOMESCHOOLING YEAR OF SCIENCE

2012 has begun and as usual it feels like already the year is getting away from us! I can't believe time is flying so fast we are about to celebrate 2 years of Home educating in March. Bailey is now a Grade 3 student and this year Dane joins in officially as a Year 1 student. I will be registering him with the Home Education Unit (HEU) later this year as he turns 6 which means 2 lots of Curriculum and Reports. I've kept all his work from last year and ensured he was working well within the HEU expectations anyway so it shouldn't prove to be too much more work for me.


This year we will be following a Curriculum different to any we have done before. We will be doing what is commonly referred to as 'linked-in learning' which means that we will be doing a YEAR OF SCIENCE and basing 99% of work on this subject alone. We will focus on a Science topic for 2-4 weeks incorporating reading materials and certain mathematical applications into the learning process. Eg: Conducting of a science experiment will involve reading of the steps, measuring of the materials, data collection and use of a results table.

Bailey and Dane have already started keeping their Science journals which they will use throughout the year to make notes, draw diagrams and keep clippings in. All their work will be documented in their journal which will be a nice reminder of the things they've learnt when looking back at the end of the year. Already I can see keeping the journal is motivating Bailey to be more involved with his expressive writing and inspiring Dane to improve on his reading to keep up with his big brother.


The topics are are planning to cover this year are:

• Famous Inventors and Scientists
• Greatest Inventions of all time

§  Aeroplane

§  Automobile

§  Camera

§  Computer

§  Laser

§  Light Bulb

§  Printing Press

§  Radio

§  Rocket

§  Steam Engine

§  Telephone

• Medicine (Discoveries, Tools and Techniques)
• Science in the kitchen
• The Solar System
• Weather

We have kicked off the year learning about the Solar system. I took Bailey to an Astronomy night just a couple of weeks ago to our local Astronomy cafe, which happens to be a couple of streets away from home. We listened to a talk about Orion and Jupiter and then were so delighted to take a look through 2 of the telescopes there to see both the Moon (almost full and in all it's glory) and Jupiter (with 4 of it's moons in sight). We were amazed by the clarity, even being able to see the stripey patterns of dust and debris on Jupiter itself. This year we will be buying a Telescope which is going to be one of the most exciting purchases made yet on this homeschooling journey. I can't wait to come back and blog about all the exciting things we'll be able to see through it!

Anyway, I must sign off for now. Kids are running amok waiting for us to go visit a park somewhere for the afternoon. I hope you look forward to hearing more about our Year of Science in my future blogs.

Until next time

Take care

Farewell, Angie

THINGS TO DO IN THE GREAT SOUTH EAST

A friend has asked me to give her some ideas for what to do whilst staying up here these holidays. We love to travel and do exciting things and quite often find lots of fun stuff in and around Brisbane. We take day trips as far North as Bribie Island, out west to places like Ipswich and Toowoomba and love visiting the Gold Coast and it's hinterland. Here are my top 10 picks for a day trip with low cost but maximum thrills.

I recommend keeping a kit in your car for all these day trips including Water (Aldi water dispenser only $3.99 great for filling bottles), Insect repellent (Bushman is great), Hats, Sunscreen, good walking shoes, camera, spare light shirt or jacket for warm months or heavy jacket/trackpants in Winter. You could even pack a small first aid kit and add a few extra bandaids for those little trips kids often have.

1) NATURAL ARCH: Also known as Natural Bridge, this is located within the Springbrook National Park. It is approximately 1 hour drive from Burleigh Heads or about 1 1/2 hours from Brisbane. Take a short, easy bushwalk (approx 10 mins each way) to a magnificent cave made of basalt rock. Inside you will see the amazing waterfall and at night the added treat of cave bats and glow worms on the walk to and from the cave and on the wall of the cave itself. This is a real treat for kids and adults alike. Take along your insect repellent, good walking shoes and water. I recommend visiting a little before sundown to get the cave just on sunset and enjoy the amazement of nature at it's finest! WEB http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/parks/springbrook/index.html

2) BEST OF ALL LOOKOUT: This lookout would be the perfect place to visit earlier in the day before you head to Natural Arch. It is in close proximity to the cave and there are quite a few nice little country cafes to eat lunch at on your journey. Follow your way along Springbrook Rd, towards Springbrook National Park and take the Repeater Station Rd along til you follow the signs to Best of All Lookout. This will give you amazing views across to New South Wales and of Byron Bay. Did you know Byron Bay is the southernmost tip of mainland Australia?

3) THE WORKSHOPS RAIL MUSEUM: Located on North St, Ipswich this place is an absolute winner for all kids in love with trains but if you child is not then rest assured they will be once they have visited this place! Plenty to see and do, you'll need to allow at least 2 hours but we've had days where have spent at least 4 hrs, especially during special events. Their biggest event of the year is the Day Out with Thomas and it commences this coming Boxing Day and on til 29 January 2012. The cost for entry to the Museum are fairly reasonable considering how much fun you'll all have and you can bring along a picnic lunch to eat somewhere on the shady grounds to cut your costs down even more. Otherwise if you like there is a cafe on site with very nice meals, sandwiches, snacks and drinks. Day entry is $57 Family (2A,up to 4C) $19 per adults, $11 per child (3-15) and free for under 3s. You can also purchase Annual passes for equivalent cost to 2 visits, which is great value as they have special events on all year round. WEB http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au/

4) SOUTHBANK PARKLANDS: Located in South Brisbane, opposite the city these parklands have it all. Great for weekend markets, swimming in the man-made beach/lagoons, strolling along the riverside, catching a ferry across to town or stopping for a delicious lunch or dinner, you'll find everything here to keep the family entertained. I can recommend grabbing some fish and chips and sitting on a blanket on a nice shady tree or dining in at Amicis for some yummy Italian inspired food. Take a ride on the Wheel of Brisbane (costs involved), treat yourself to a yummy dessert at Max Brenners or take a walk over one of the bridges to get to town. I can recommend parking in the Convention Centre parking (one block over from Southbank) as there are always plenty of parking and it is usually cheaper if staying for more than an hour or two. WEB http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/

5) BRISBANE MUSEUM PRECINCT: Located in South Brisbane, just a few minutes walk north of Southbank we have the QLD Museum, The Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) and the Qld Art Gallery. The Museum itself was partially damaged by floodwater earlier this year so it is due to reopen in January 2012 after extensive refurbishments. Both the Museum and GOMA are free to enter with only special events payable. My boys love GOMA as there are usually totally unique exhibitions to interest the children and keep them amused for at least an hour or two. The Museum also has the ScienceCentre operate from it's premises. There is a cost to enter but it is quite reasonable as you can expect to spend at least an hour or more learning and interacting with cool exhibits.

6) BRIBIE ISLAND: Unlike many of Queensland's islands this island is accessible via a bridge. It is located about an hour drive North of Brisbane or just under 2 hours from the Gold Coast by heading towards the Sunshine Coast on the Bruce Highway. Follow the highway and take the Bribie Island Rd exit just north of BurpengaryWoorim beach. There is plenty of space for you to find your own piece of the beach and take a dip or sit back and relax. If you head North enough you will see the city of Caloundra. Towards the top end there is also a back access point so you can head back around direct to the front part of the island. This is particularly handy if you get stuck with the tides or washouts that sometimes run across the sand. Bribie is one place Clif and I love and have been visiting many times a year even before we had the kids.

7) MOUNT GRAVATT LOOKOUT: Located on Shire Rd, Mount Gravatt this is a great vantage point to see beautiful sights of Brisbane and out into Moreton Bay. There is a small children's playground at the top and a Cafe-Restaurant that serves Australian cuisine. We often grab some Red Rooster which is at the bottom of the mountain and eat it up at the top whilst overlooking the city before giving the kids a run around to burn off some energy. It's a nice spot and usually nowhere near as busy as Mt Cootha Lookout, which is also a lovely place to see Brisbane in all it's glory.

8) MALENY CHEESE FACTORY: Located at 1 Clifford St, Maleny. We often take a drive to Maleny to have a delicious cheese platter lunch at the factory, followed by a stop in Maleny town centre for a browse through the shops, buying of some candy from the candy shop and then grabbing some wine on the way out (right side when exiting, just look for the big wine barrel). It's also a nice spot to take a drive as there are really lovely country views of the hills and farmland. It will take you just over an hour drive from Brisbane or closer to two hours from the Gold Coast. There is a really nice park on the way in/out located on the corner of Caloundra St and Steve Irwin Way that we often let the kids stretch their legs at on the way home. WEB http://www.malenycheese.com.au/

9) JACOBS WELL: This quiet little town sits along the ocean's edge tucked neatly behind several small islands so it's a great spot to take young children for a swim in the 'ocean' as the water is gentle and there is a small netted enclosure to swim. It has some small shade sails right on the sand so you can sit right with the children whilst they build sandcastles and splash at the water's edge. The town itself has a few stores, take-away places and a pub so you can take along your picnic lunch or grab a bite to eat whilst there. It is an easy drive from Brisbane or Gold Coast with the exit off the M1 (Pacific Motorway) at Yatala (opposite side to Yatala Pies). There is also a Drive-Inn located at Yatala so if you wanted to make a whole day of it you could grab a movie at the end of the day. Make sure you line your car up early though as it can get quite busy on weekends and peak holiday periods. WEB: http://www.yataladriveintheatre.com.au/         http://www.yatalapies.com.au/

10) HONEYWORLD GOLD COAST: Located on 35 Tomewin St, Currumbin, directly opposite CURRUMBIN WILDLIFE SANCTUARY. This is a great place to take the kids for a taste test of a variety of honey products and for a small fee you can take the children through the back and learn all about bees and how they make the honey. My big boys loved this place and sat listening so well for the 30 min session. You move from room to room and get to see how honeycomb is spun and taste super fresh honey. You can start your day off here then move across the Wildlife park for a full day visit or FREE to simply feed the lorikeets. Check with Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary for feeding times. WEB http://www.superbeetourism.com.au/maps.htm          http://www.cws.org.au/

So here are just 10 of our favourite places to visit! I can think of another 10 just off the top of my head so keep your eyes pealed for part two soon! Have fun in the great outdoors!

THE YEAR THAT WAS 2011.

What a year 2011 has been. It's the first year in the last 3 that I haven't had a baby but strangely it has been one of the most fulfilling. I have felt this year more than ever like a brilliant new butterfly emerging from it's cocoon. For the first time in probably my whole life I feel like I have a perfect balance between being there for family and friends but also making sure I make time for myself.

I've made many new wonderful friends this year, the kind of friends some people search for their whole lives and still never find. I'm also very lucky to have made contact with old friends this year too. I've had such little time these last few years that I hadn't had a chance to see my close friends nearly often enough. Those of you reading this will know who you are. I thank you for your love, support, friendship, company and excitement.

I made a pact with myself this year that once I was fully recovered from my Hysterectomy I would take better care of myself. It's not that I've lived a ridiculously unhealthy life before but just I'd lost touch with the old Angie, the one who loved exercise, being in the sunshine outdoors and eating really good, fresh, healthy food. It wasn't a new years resolution, it was a promise to myself to ensure I had the energy to live a full life with my children, husband, family and friends.

After recovering, around February I embarked on this mission. Now almost a year later I am down 3 dress sizes and feeling fit and fabulous. I didn't need to join a gym or a weight loss program, I just needed to get my zest back for life. I haven't felt this good since I fell pregnant with Bailey 9 years ago.

This year I decided to officially homeschool the second of our boys, Dane. He was due for Prep, but I decided not to send him and see how we went at home. I probably would've gone crazy if it wasn't for meeting a local Homeschooling group for regular playdates, learning days, sports and excursions. The boys have all made some great friends with other homeschooling families. It's so nice to see them so happy to see all their friends each and every week. Dane has come a long way since schooling at home. He has just started to read basic early readers and is increasingly impressing me with his writing, which is almost as neat as his brother. Bailey has mastered addition and subtraction, his spelling has improved dramatically and is counting money with very little assistance. He's also come a lot more out of his shell this year. He's better able to manage stressful situations without totally falling apart and even tries to push himself out of his comfort zone from time to time.

Ehren has been talking up a storm this year. It's so nice to know he won't be needing speech therapy like his two older brothers. At 2 1/2 yrs he doesn't seem to have any developmental delays and is constantly surprising me with his conversational skills. He's a real gem to have in the family, always using his manners and thinking about his other family members.

Fraser turned one this year. He has started walking, talking and voicing his very strong opinion on things. He is very outgoing and seems to strive to keep up with his big brothers. Out of all the boys he's probably the one with the personality most like my own. Even though I know that means he'll be high energy and a chatterbox I'm happy to know he'll be full of life and character!

I'm very lucky to have this wonderful life. I'm so happy that I married a man that I'm in total love with and who loves me regardless of my faults. He amazes me all the time with how well he copes with four children in the house, let alone two born so close together.

So after such a great year how on Earth will I top it next year? Well, I have some crazy ideas rolling around in my head. I have a few friends turning 40 in 2012 and we have some big plans to celebrate, perhaps even involving a sky-dive! I'm sure you'll all be the first to hear about it ;)

Thanks for reading in 2011
Stay tuned for 2012