Happy Unschooling New Year - "Don't Look Any Further."

"Read a little, try a little, wait a while, watch."

Sandra Dodd

Upon reflection today I realise that our New Year's Eve was much like an unschooling experiment. Nine people together. Us and our friends from Muddy Sandy Life. None of us really knew how it would go but all were keen to try. Swap out the word read in the above quote for the words drink and play and that's pretty much how we rolled. Until 3am when Big Small had beaten us at cards and we wrapped up the celebrations.The option was always open to stay over, the invite was there without obligation and it worked out brilliantly.

We wondered if our friends would come for a while, how would it be, their youngest is a little shy sometimes, and how would work out without any expectations. My honest feeling when typing the blog 24 ago was no way Jose would I still have my eyes open at midnight but we had fun. Relaxing, chatting, eating (the raspberry semifreddo went down well. Patience is a virtue where that dessert is concerned :)) ; playing Barbies and lego. All of the girls made it to the midnight hour, the boys fell asleep a little before, and they hugged in on the sofa for some spectacular fireworks over the Thames and the chimes of Big Ben. Big Small was really excited to have her friends over for a sleepover and we were happy to have their parent's. A family slumber party.

Baby Small was hilarious when he wanted one of our guests to play he called him "The other Daddy, Come on other Daddy One to the lego room." He said and, at one point, around tenish, Middle Small moved back my hair from my ear, pulled me down and whispered in my ear, totally spontaneously "Everyday Mum you do so much for me and us , so much to make it the best you can and you think of us and you are brilliant. I love you"

This blog saw a fair slice of my head scratching and soul searching where our five year old is concerned during 2011 who could have predicted an end like that. Lump in throat moment for sure.

A few other notable moments when given free reign to play music, unknowingly, several songs that had featured during our wedding ceremony turned up on the play list.

Don't Look Any Further

Funkin' For Jamaica

and this was the soundtrack for musical statues

Nem Ven Que Nao Tem

Feeling pretty sleepy today, so far we have roasted a 3kg (!) chicken (Cheers Alec) water is falling from the sky outside but the there are back to back movies pumping out of the screen. We've had an exceptional Christmas and New Year. Nothing excessive or flash just small scale, low key and groovy. Perfect.