Home again

....after a lovely holiday, France was hot- VERY hot... Ill write about it properly once Ive sorted out the pictures to post.
We're back anyway, have emptied the caravan, Ill have to clean it tomorrow but also have a nagging feeling Im supposed to be working tomorrow day and evening.. ho humm.
For now its outside the house annoying the neighbours. Getting back means lots of sorting, a realisation this house needs sorting out, weve been here too long to have 'stuff' hanging about so Ill have to make the rest of the holiday time to get the house straight.

I also need to restructure the kids home ed...its something Ive given alot of thought to while we've been away.
Now while I like sonlight and its better than something I could put together myself ( and the kids like it alot!) Ive realised there are bits I just dont like about it, bits I feel we do because the schedule says so rather than because they are valuable or interesting and parts which need to be supplemented or tailored more to fit the kids needs, in some cases to spend more time on parts of the core.
The Language arts in particular Ill be changing completely so Connor will spend more time on his dyslexia specific things( which have been rather neglected) and some other books and activities. Sophie will do her Galore Park English. I cannot afford and actually dont need to buy more LA books from Sonlight when Im sure what we already have will be more than adequate.
They both need to spend time on their Maths and Id like to spend time doing some more hands on science activities and getting them to record their findings, especially those which spark their interest.
They really need to do more practical activities and enjoy the ones we already do without feeling we arent 'falling behind' because the Core is taking up more time than we have or energy than we have the inclination for!
I hope trimming down some of the daily schedule and/or spreading it over longer we'll get more other things done. I also have to find the oomph to get back to finishing Red Sails to capri, they like it... I hate it...!
Chloe is also home and I decided this year we wouldnt have a large break as such because its so hard to pick up again afterwards, she has work( a Diary) to do that is set by school which she will do at the same time as the others are doing their bits and pieces. So next week its definitely back to it!

On the family front, my brothers partner had a baby girl while we were away. Emily Jayne was born weighing a whopping 10lb5oz! We haven't seen her yet, my Mum and Dad have only seen her for all of about 10 mins total which has caused some upset as they are the only grandparents and my brothers teenaged Step Daughters are completely dominating things and making it very difficult for anyone else to even be present so Mum is feeling pretty bruised. I asked when we could visit and was told "Oh Ill put some pics on Facebook" err yeah, thanks bruv.So at least I know Mum isnt alone in being rejected... Ill post pics when I eventually do get to see her but since my brother is Chloes Godfather Im feeling pretty cross that he is suddenly treating his family as something incidental and rather inconvenient... the poor kid are bursting to see her :(
OH and this isnt even all about them spending time as a family or whatever, my brother has already gone back to work ( shes 2 days old) and doesnt even seem to acknowledge anyone else might want to be able to pop in and say hello, bring flowers or whatever and make a bit of a fuss of his partner, who is carrying on as she always has!
Bloody families, who'd have em... GRR