Autonomy

they woke up early – far too early! luckilly they then went to sleep fro 2 more hours, so 8 when I got up.

we have had a very full day. the only non-autonomous things were cookie making and watching sound of music – neither were at all resisted!! Trouble is, we did so much today, that there is a real problem in recall!

Anyway, SB has been very keen on learning more about space. So we read a DK picurepaedia book and then started painting a picture of the solar system – we have done the sun, complete with solar flares and some constellations. when it is dry, we will stick on some planets. SB pretty clued up about the solar system, various star types, rockets and astronauts. however a bit unsure about the various unmanned missions, as not sure that remote control would work. [she could have a point, thinking of mars!]

BB also keen to paint, and did a lovely daub picture – she concentrated very hard, and didn’t make too much mess either! It was great having them painting together.

Back into play mode, adn SB insistent she wanted to play Jojo in numberland – so worked her way with ease through first CD whilst I played with BB.

BB and I read, had more fun with those Ideal blox from Merry, played with teddy and dollies etc. BB jabbers away non-stop. it sounds more like words now – though not my lnaguage yet! She has been rather fascinated by our hama window decoration, and worked out that if she moved a chair from the playroom to the window she could finally reach. She was careful though, and didn’t pull any off.

A quick lunch and BB fell asleep. I had promised SB we would start to put together her roman villa, so we started taht. I had thought she would get fed up very quickly, but actually we did a fair bit. we read and chatted about the accompanying book about roman life as we went. The house lararium we decided was dedicated to Minerva – goddess of crafts amongst other things. Actually, it highlighted how much SB has picked up about ancient greece from reading around the myths and legends. I failed to find a suitable alternative goddess to Hestia for us, in the books, but now looking it up, it is Vesta, of vestal virgins fame! Hmm, her feast day is coming up. This comparative religions lark!

when she looked flagging, we moved on to hama a flower for Aunty Margaret’s birthday. [more of Merry's goods!!] We were going to play the piano, but instead SB started excavating out a pretend triops fossil [that tesco's dinosaur tube]. we msut get some replacement triops eggs [unfortunately chris spilled the last lot all over the floor, though they hadn’t hatched - actually does anyone know how long they usually take to hatch, and if we can just use pond water, or need to get a new nutrient bag as well?]

BB woke up, so some playing upstairs with happy street – and SB joined us when she had lost interest in teh excavating. it was time to offer the baking cookies. Somehow we muddled through – BB loved making them! S’s mixture was ‘interesting’ so I added flour until it felt more reasonable! They were topped with smarties, and the girls ate the spares. [where is Sam when we have cookies?]

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SB went back to jojo, doing the second CD all through – multiplication and division. Although we have done grouping and sharing as mental maths, she’s not seen it written, so I did have to do a bit of helping. However, the easiest level seemed pretty much right for her. i just had to occasisionally remind her of the signs.

More general messing about type playing, imagining allsorts, and arbitrating between BB and SB as the inevitable ‘mine’ war hotted up. Honestly, SB winds up BB on purpose. I think this might been the greenest phase she has been through. We do our best to treat diferent but equally -IYSWIM – and explain what is funny in an 18 monther is not in a 5 [when it is plain naughty] – yep, a difficult concept. I suppose BB is going through a rapid grow and develop phase and their relationship has to adjust too.

Ah well, tea of noodle, veg and seaweed soup, listening to little toe show and then settled down to the first part of sound of music. BB was slow to fall asleep tonight, but SB out like a light. She needed to be as took a long time last night – though she does now enjoy the 5 children and it story CD [partly as the phoenix one has been on little toe]

What we didn’t do was any gardening – wail so far behind!! but the weather was awful – even hail, thunder and lightening. The good thing is though, that there will be frost. And its been so long since we planted anything that I’d have prob planted out all the tender things as well ‘while I’m at it’ hopefully we will get a lot of things in this weekend. today [and working the weekend] has left me fair worn out. Must have a shower, as have paint in my hair.