Other Not-so-noteworthy Happenings

 The latest winter adventures:

Jolting awake in the night to storm winds suddenly battering the house. But the previous sunrise should have been a good hint of what was coming:

The deck door opening and closing in the wind - not because the wind blows it open, but when the gust retreats it sucks the door open! Our current solution:

Slip-sliding down the driveway - in the car! - with only the narrowness of the drive way keeping it from going down sideways

The doorknob on the mudroom door broke off! Who knew so much cold air could blow through a doorknob hole? The replacement is taking more time that expected because we have to drill new screw holes...

The latest in the fish tank saga:

While Mom was in Thailand the tank had an ick crisis and 5 fish died.

Our biggest swordtail are most definitely pregnant. Possibly all three females.

We've discovered a baby snail... the adult snails we have aren't supposed to be able to reproduce in our tank (not compatible species and need brackish water to hatch their eggs).

This isn't quite what we thought we were getting into... breeding snails and fish.

A school comment: 

"Mom, I think I've finally reached the correct level of math for me. I have to think now to understand it. I like it." -Aiden 

He's working on pre-calculus. Not sure if this pleased or stunned me more.

A Very Noteworthy Happening!

Grace and Jasmin have been writing stories since they could talk, and for Jasmin, they had to be in a book...

Well, now it has officially happened: Jasmin has written a book and published it!  It's a lovely story about an adorable mixed up boy trying to sort out the world he finds himself in. Check it out on Amazon or Friesen Press, where it has even is a Staff Pick!

"When his life in SecondHome is shattered, twelve-year-old Fralith's desperate attempt to escape lands him on an entirely foreign planet where metal beasts roar, strange trees cast light, and people stand around staring at rectangles. In his struggle to survive, he accidentally-on-purpose stops a kidnapping and ends up captured.

With no way out and no way home, Fralith struggles to puzzle out the rules of the world before he gets eaten. But not all things are out to get him, and some are even trying to save him. When a flame-haired man begins to teach him the ways of this world, Fralith starts to realize that there might be hope, healing, and family on this strange planet.

Uprooted HomeKin is a heart-warming, hunger-inducing, adorable story about healing, home, and encountering an entirely alien world."

Asia - Winter Links

 

 It's a bit of a shock 

going from this to this in a matter of days

but since it means

the family being together again

it's actually quite welcome!

Mom had a great time in Thailand 

Connecting in-person with the families she supports with educational consulting

Participating in the Family Education Conference both as a speaker and attendee

Interacting with her colleagues of SAFE

Reveling in being in Asia again even for such a short while

Then, upon return, smiling at these Asia-bred kids dealing with winter:

Still refusing socks and slippers

but dealing with cold burning toes!

 And yet

daring to brave the fierce cold outdoors

to improve Canada winter skills

upon our mini pond skating rink!