Lots of learning outside school

Just because Mateo is not going to school, it does not mean he is not learning a lot everyday. Pat and I do many things together and Mateo is part of all we do. At home we are trying to do the school. We have a nature table with special little things, collecting flowers for it is one of the things we do in the morning. 

At the "end of the school day" we light the candle, tell the story and put rosemary oil in our hands. It is a nice little ceremony. 

On Mondays we try to have watercolor painting as our activity. It usually last less than 5 minutes! 

On Fridays we try to color with crayons. It last 5 minutes too! 

When we go to our land in the rainforest, it is such a magical time. We are surrounded by nature and great nature sounds. We make sure our nature table there has fresh flowers and anything special we find in our walks.

A while back, Mateo and I clear a space called "La Escuelita", which is not more than a clear space under an orange tree. We put several stumps for seats and a round log for table. When we finish this work, Mateo said "when are the children coming?". This photo is the first time "La Escuelita" was full :)

This was a happy sight of our neighbor's chickens eating dinner. 

Climbing trees when we go eat out 

Mateo enjoying ecuadorian food for Pat's birthday. 

Time spent in the sandbox is never a waste of time or a mess too hard to clean up! 

One of the things Pat and I have been spending time lately has been getting our apartment ready for rentals. Mateo helped Pat painting the walls. That is a drawing of the "Backson".

After a big storm, there is nothing better than a nice walk and run!

The Day of the Death was celebrated making bread and colada morada. We had a great time

Cute "guaguas" de Pan

Last Saturday afternoon we got crafty. We made little gnomes, hearts, a hippo, a pillow case and a sewing project with different color threads.  Mateo ask me when it is Saturday again so we can do more crafts! 

And finally, since the lantern walk is coming up, we have decided to make lanterns and take them to the land for a nice lantern walk. This is the first of at least 3 we will make. 

Mateo got tired of school very soon

The excitement of going to preschool did not last long. The first two weeks were difficult because he would complain and ask me not to take him to school. I thought that would be normal and it would go away in few days so I insisted that he should go. After a month and a half he was sick with a cold and did not go to school for few days and when I said, "okay, it is time to go back" he said, "I don't want to go. Please mama, I don't want to go". Pat and I talked about it and decided to keep him at home for a while.
The truth is that I wanted him to go to school so I could reclaim my life and freedom. I wanted to have time to do all kinds of things I don't get to do when Mateo is home. And I honestly thought he was ready to make friends and "learn" new things at school.
I have taken this as a sign that maybe I could HOMESCHOOL him! and that is what we are trying to do now. It will take a while until we figure out a good rhythm and routine but I am really excited for the challenge.
Pat and I want to listen to him and allow him to be nurtured at home until he is ready to go to school again.
In the time Mateo went to school he did several things. Here some pics:

Michaelmas Festival 

Nature Walk and Run!

Getting good at balancing 

Making Bread 

Story Time with Verónica the teacher.