Well, the homeschooling season is done and dusted! We decided to put all 3 kids in the International School -for lots of reasons and they are loving it so far. The main reasons were related to the timing of home assignment and also the social/sport side of things. We were all pretty sad finishing up, which is nice, and will think back to this time as really fun and special. Good times ahead!

Heading off on their first day of school.

A few pics from the last few days-again, mainly for the sake of the grandparents. As of next term, I will show more of the place and culture of Suva, but for now, my life is taken up with home-schooling and family life, so bear with me!

Setting up the new trampoline -a generous present from some lovely Sydney friends.

Making heart-shaped cakes from (you guessed it) Little House on the Prairie cookbook.

Warming up for the first netball match of the year- Hannah was super as goal defence.

Not really a netball fan, Soph was happy to get shelter from the rain in the car with her Littlest Pet Shop friends.

Making a volcano by wrapping a plastic bottle with play-doh.....

then spray painting it....

then presenting info on them...

and then adding baking powder and vinegar to the mix-very cool!

Our finally completed American History timeline!!

A few recent pics..

Soph helping Hannah with her daily physio exercises.

Testing out the catapult they made for science.

Hannah's dance concert -she's one of the specks of white on the left.....

Ethan and Soph's artwork!

Clever little chickens!

We've had a run of visitors lately -first the team from Queensland and then our annual CMS pastoral visit for the past 3 days. It is very helpful to be able to talk to the "experts" who have been there and done it. We basically talked, prayed,drank tea and tried to pretend the dog was less annoying that it is. It was also fun to be able to introduce them to our friends here (notice that I said friends -plural!) who are also some very key people in the ministry.

In other news, the weather has been really cool lately and my jeans have had a good workout. I even wore socks to bed the other night! Soph has stopped throwing up, Hannah is in the middle of half-yearly exams and Ethan is getting into painting miniatures(see photo below). So, that's about it on the home front -Tony's parents arrive in a bout 3 weeks and then Ethan heads back to Sydney for a Christian camp and some grandparent/cousin time.

Saturday lunch introducing them to friends (including the wonderful doctor who fixed Tony's eye)

They treated us to a beautiful dinner out on the town.

Meeting our taxi driver friend Jonny(Ali)

Ethan's favourite pastime -painting these with his Dad.

What we have read/are reading this year. Would highly recommend them ALL!

A few pics from the last little while..

Saying goodbye to the Queensland mission team -we had pressies coming out of our ears -so generous.

Making a catapult for school

Our latest Little House on the Prairie creation -pumpkin pie!

Teaching Sunday School-The King, the Snake and the Promise.

One of the kids looking pretty enthusiastic about it all!

Having an Indian dinner.

Jason playing and singing for the kids-probably the highlight for them!

We loved having some visitors from Queensland recently on a short term mission trip. Five of them came and pretty much followed Tony around during the week, joining him as he met with people individually, in small groups and they took all of his preaching gigs for the week. Apart from just being fun and generous people to be around, we found it encouraging to hear them say that although Fiji is often seen as a "Christian nation", that there is a great need and they will now go home and be able to pray more informed prayers and know how to support us well.

We had a super Mother's Day on Sunday. The kids brought my cereal and yoghurt into bed for me -followed by some poetry and chcolate! Noice. After church, we went to a local burger joint called Hungry Honchos and then  came home to a lovely drink and chat with our Pastor and his wife -then came all the skype calls. I was particularly sad not to be home for Mother's Day this year, as my mum is in hospital having had knee surgery. Not fun being away for stuff like that, but very thankful for skype....and chai sachets sent from Australia...to go with the black forest cholcolate and the Michael Palin episode that we watched after dinner. All up, a superb day with my superb children.

We've been studying the history of America and so decided to research the Grand Canyon for geography. Here is the kids papier mache Grand Canyon with Colorado River. Did you know that it's so big, it can be seen from space??

Ethan has begun guitar lessons again -with one of the students that Tony is getting to know. Can't wait for all the old sing-a-longs after dinner!..........Tony can.....

Ethan often complains that I send him to bed too early AND need to stop tucking him in!.....I beg to differ....