Winter's Arrived

Winter has definitely arrived and the guys couldn't wait to get out to find all the ice. (Tiarnan didn't even want to wait to get dressed so was still in pyjama's and whichever sibling helped him, zipped his coat on backwards but he was happy!) The sandpit cover had filled with water in the heavy rain at the start of the week and was frozen over this morning so they were lifting it off in the biggest sheets they could manage.

Caitlin even managed to make a mini snowman with handfuls of frost who has now taken up residence in the freezer along with Tiarnan's precious piece of ice.

The job for the morning was then to fill up the wood stores in the house. As well as obviously doing a job which was needed it also got the children working purposefully outside, again so that having been physically active they would settle and focus better to whatever activity they decided on once indoors. Justin and I are also very keen on developing a strong work ethic in the children so that we will have contributing adults in the future. As the guys don't have homework as an excuse for not doing chores this is an easier principle to instill. We also get them to work as a team as much as is reasonable and certainly their negotiating skills are improving!

Once inside Orla had a 'maths attack', requesting a workbook which is a very unusual occurence in our house so it must have worked to some extent. Sitting down with a book in a nice warm house then becomes a welcome rest!

Gathering the wood is also a very satisfying job which has a fairly immediate and natural reward as we all enjoy sitting reading or playing games around the fire and appreciate the homely effect which you get from a real fire.