More Planting

Ellie's plant is growing very well! When we pass other trees similar to hers at different stages of growth we get really excited. They are all over town.

Ellie has had so much fun with the tree we planted before, that we are now going to try more seeds. I am having a hard time believing that planting seeds and having them grow is as simple as putting seeds in soil and watering them, so we'll see if these ones work.

We are trying banana seeds, lychee seeds, and apple seeds.

Dirt into the pots.

Baby busy pouring water all over the roof.

Seeds into the dirt. At this point I believe Ellie was telling me how she's just like Johnny Appleseed.

Adding a bit of water.

 And we'll see what happens!

Any guesses? Which ones do you think will grow, if any at all?

P.E.

We have started adding P.E. to our homeschool routine. I had the book before, but never opened it up. Now I realize the treasure chest I was ignoring!
Last week four square was one of our activities. We had three players, though, including the teacher. So, we made an adapted space to play in.
I found it very convenient to use sidewalk chalk on our floors for this. :) Cement floors have their advantages.

Before and After

Ellie has six chores in the morning right now. She has to fill water bottles, clean up the shoe rack, get dressed, brush her teeth, eat, and make her bed. One morning in order to help motivate her to do the shoe rack, I said we'd do a before and after photo. Above (sorry it's blurry) is her effort at the before photo. Below is the after. Do you like her fake smile? She's pretty good at sorting and organizing shoes, though, isn't she?! 

Our Weekly Walk

We're going for a walk. I think it'll be a good idea to take pictures along the way.

Maybe not. :)

 And we're off. Down our little road that is almost all the way blocked by broken up bricks. Down another road and around the corner there is some construction going on. Our road is apparently the only place with enough room for this pile.

I usually push Abraham the whole way to where we play, but I thought I'd see how he did if I let him loose. At first he happily chased Ellie.

Then he wanted to push the stroller...

...which proved too hard, so he pushed from the bottom.

Following this there was a bit of a temper tantrum, which is how I came to the conclusion that Abraham will stay in the stroller all the way a bit longer.

Ellie picked her treasures.

And Mommy admired her daughter's curls.

Then we enjoyed some sugar cane juice. 

Super duper healthy, cool, refreshing... and we didn't get sick from it last time, so we thought we'd enjoy it again. (And we haven't gotten sick yet...)

And... friends.

Sleeping and Tomatoes

We all have our own sleeping space. Ellie likes to cuddle with Abe on his bed, though. I often find them together in the night.

And Ellie's new go to snack is tomatoes.When she wants one, she opens the fridge, gets it out, washes it, and eats it whole. She occasionally gives one to her brother, too.

All things Bunny

Ellie loved to baby the bunny.

I bathed the bunny once.

Ellie took the responsibility of cuddling the bunny when it was time to dry off.

Strawberry apparently didn't think I washed her off well enough. She continued the process afterward.

 We took Strawberry out with us in the afternoons. The neighbor kids loved having a turn to play with Strawberry and they were very helpful picking grass for her to eat.

Getting ready to say goodbye to Strawberry.

She was loved. And we get to see her each week at our friends house, but have none of the responsibility... like protecting it constantly from Abraham. :)

May 7

 Ellie worked on handwriting for school, and Abe wanted to do school, too.

But that didn't last too long.

In Math Ellie learned about volume. We figured out which box could hold more puffed rice.

Abraham helped eat the puffed rice when we were done.

Strawberry had a snack, too.

Abe runs around the house saying "Lap. Lap. Lap!" He loves to hold the bunny in his lap. I'm not sure how much the bunny loves it.

We did a toy and book swap. I have all their toys in big bags up in storage. Every couple of weeks we rotate and they get new ones. It keeps them busy for a few days. :)

Ellie got out her purse and a doll and new stuffed animals.

Abraham got his cars out.

Abraham is really, really rough on books, so out of the last book rotation, these are the ones that need to be fixed now. 

After his nap, Abe saw my exercise shoes. He asked for help putting the socks on, but got the shoes on himself. Then he went and got my exercise mat and ran around.

Ellie had Daddy put a lava lava on her so she could be an island girl.

And we went out to play in the field before supper. 

Lots of the mommies and aunties in the field have crocheted shirts for their kids. I decided I'd like to learn so a few of the women are helping me make one for Ellie. The yellow shirt was lent to me to be my pattern. I am copying the design.

Here's what I have done so far. When I have questions I can ask the women in the field. While we watch our kids play, we sit and chat and sew or crochet.

Franklin says he doesn't think I'll finish before Ellie turns17. In response I said, "No, I'll be done by the end of June." So the race is on... :)

May 6

Franklin went shopping today. These are just a few of the things he brought home.
2kgs of tomatoes for a total of 25 cents!
Strawberries are still in season! 1kg was just over $2.

3 coconuts were just over $1 total.

Our first lichis of the season! 

 And pineapple! Something like 50 cents for a kg! Yum!

And the kids had a great day with our house guest. We are rabbit sitting for a week. Ellie's in love.

 Abraham can also be surprisingly gentle with Strawberry the bunny. Below he's giving a lightning fast kiss to it.