You are currently browsing the monthly archive for February 2007.
she is really all girl now, there are only occasional traces of her toddler face. I can even see the future face there now.
It didn’t last long did it? luckilly that meant that chris has done a lot more organising of the base for SB’s wendy house - coming on wed.
Hmm, I got up late, SB and BB were arguing over cbeebies. mostly charlie and lola. A laid back beginning, and I read some books then to BB, AB got dressed [and played with dolls house] and then lunch - see v laid back!
So in the afternoon we were going to do some baking. However, BB went and had a nap, so SB and did a violin lesson and a piano lesson - as part of my i really must do this. SB no longer wants a purple and flowered violin, but a clear on that lights up - i wonder where she got that idea from? Anyway, we mostly did holding and bowing open strings. i bought this book from amazon to start us off with, as well as the theory book recommended by sarah [oops and a few more things]
we then heard BB wailing - so a short nap only, and rescued her. SO we went to bake, but the decorating plates were out as well, so she and BB decided to decorate their plates instead. BB finished first, so to keep her enthusiastic whilst SB finished, I got her bug pots kit out from Xmas present. We did the bee one, and SB was desperate to do one too. BB kindly gave her the ladybird one. Unfortunately the glue in the kits wasn’t really up to the job. BB lost half the eyes, and peeled all the sticker backs off the spider one [which we weren't doing!] I kept counting to 10, and we sorted it out so that we all did enjoy making our 2 pots!
Onwards and upwards we finally did our baking - banana loaf. SB helped BB do all the stages and it was quite lovely.the smell of the banana loaf baking has also been quite lovely. We did some jigsaws - BB has just crossed into the knowing how to do them bit, so is getting lots of fun from our starter jigsaws. SB did a little of the english education city. They are going to add german as well as spanish - so sounding better and better really. SB and BB then went for a runaround in the garden
I did a bit of tidying up and fiddling, but BB soon in and covered in mud - so an emergency bath! we then played games together until SB also came in having had an accident with the wheelbarrow. Hot choc and snuggles on sofa watching little house in the prairie were in order. SB was hungry, so she has had an early tea. The girls are cbeebing again at the moment. However, we are going to read a book about the native americans and prairie life when BB goes to bed. Actually, we started with that, and have now made some more of her lego hospital set.
Every night so far, SB has read me part of a level 8 ORT book, and carried on reading it when I go down. She is really happy with her reading at the moment.
I need to crack on with preparing the base for the playhouse, so my parents came over today to look after the girls whilst i tried to get on with that. Though BB didn’t help much as she insisted on coming outside in the cold - she always wants to come outside whenever someone goes out there- pottering around until she got cold/fed up and then inssiting on me cuddling her- not really the point….
anyway, weather not the best for the job (cold -don’t mind that so much whilst working - but then it started to rain 
), and didn’t quite get to where I wanted, but reasonable progress made.
Whilst i was getting cold, various things where happening. Mot sure exactly, SB did some of the Cambridge Brainbox electronics kit, whilst BB played with maxi-hama. SB did some maths a bit later (getting through MPH2B - subtracting tens and units), and finshed off her enchanted Learning lion booklet. Played couple of games - Tummy Ache and something else, played with lego, some reading, then they both played loudly with the pop-up tent. after GP’s went home, both girls wanted to help me with dinner. so spent ages cutting up caulifower to make cauliflower cheese, so dinner was a bit later than it would have been…. which gave her time to do a bit of Explode the code
After dinner SB finshed off playing connect 4 with Helen.
BB cute moment: she is extending her size words. she asked for an orange. I asked her if she wanted a big or small orange (aka Clementine). she picked up the big orange:
“Big” pause ” ‘normous” pause “ginnynormous” - big smile and giggle 
What else?
Yesterday, we were supposed to go out earlyish to BB’s toddler-gym session, but decided not to bother as it meant going out in cold slushy stuff to drive into the nearest town. So, as seen, we played out in the snow (once we eventually got all the necessary clothes on, hunted down gloves etc. which seem to have gone into hiding since Melrose 
SB was happy, BB intrigued for a bit, but then decides she preferred having a cuddle after falling over in the snow a few to many times.Eventully I got tired of carrying her around the garden and we came in. SB played for a bit more , but then also came in. We warmed up with hot choc and crumpets whilst watching most of the program about migrating wildebeest that we caught a bit of pre Melrose. There was a good bit about lions hunting together, as well as lots of other discussion prompted about different predators, why some animals are in groups and some individuals etc. after lunch she did some maths, some colouring in a dot to dot book of gladiators, we sat a read some books. she read a bit on a printed out web page about lions - it was in normal size print which she normally says is to small, but read most of it fine. There was some websiting - EC and Poisson Rouge which she likes and it entertains BB
SB is very proud of Mr snow that she made today
BB not quite so sure about snow, even if warmly wrapped
But will be quick.
Easy drive on sun, and arrived in time for a rapturous welcome of SB from E, and jacket pots! Said hello to lots of new people and tried to file names correctly with offspring!
Children got stuck in straight away. SB to bed v late!
Mon, the children set up clubs [or in SB's case, a fun cluub]. SLight panic on my part that she would be disappointed, but Alexia’s eldest took care of that, and we all went to the park to play and have races. Maddy did a brilliant play called the most unlucky [? or stupid?] pirate - well acted.
I then spent the rest of the afternoon cooking - I had very able sous chefs, adn the chopping done in no time. We had a resources and bring and buy fayre. I just managed to pack explode the code, MPH maths and story of the world - as my most blogged resources. meant to take stuff to sell, but packed in too much of a hurry. I did like the singing science - oh what was it called!!! all about monotremes!
The next day there was again much playing, and we went swimming. we had meant to go in the morning, but Sarah ascertained the pool was closed. K and B were there, Sarah and J were there, Joanna and Shannon and Jade were there, so lots of splashing around. SB learnt how to dive underwater and retrieve weighted seals. We returned in time for K’s birthday party. They liked the socks game, and K’s battleships game too. Oh, Kay’s enchillada’s were yummy.
Wed was dynamic earth, shall I or shan’t I blog that Barbara made us crash on the way? even with that, we got there first as she got lost. home ed time rules, and we still had a space workshop and then a look round the museum. At the space workshop we touched a meteorite older than earth. SB def enjoyed the class type scenario. SB enjoyed the museum as a whole far more this time, and BB managed. We bought 2 tiny fossils in the shop. Stayed to chat and then drove back for lovely dinner [I like this being catered for]
Thurs we went to Melrose Abbey. SB and BB needed a break, and the company was great. We were given a show about clowns and acrobats as well. SB impressed me by spending birthday money on papo knights rather than pink stuff, and a thimble for my mum.
friday we even left on time, driving to Jax’s via friends in Leeds.
In all a lovely melrose, meeting lots of new people, children playing well [though BB and S had some 'mine' wars] The DS-ing adults brought a smile, and Merry’s landlock game is ace. We all enjoyed fimo and hama. Hope to see loads of you and more at Kessingland!
see, that was v quick!
Here are ‘The Triplets’ at Our Dynamic Earth last week:
And here they are at Kessingland, June 2005:
Aren’t they all just lovely
Don’t quite know how we managed not to have photos of them all from their first Melrose though - obviously not such mad snappers then. There is a group piccie from Kessie, but doesn’t show all their faces very well.
Busy day here today. Sb decided she would have a hair braid for everything she did today, and ended up with 6. She finished yesterdays MPH 1B so got the first. We then did bean and pasta collages. BB did 2 in dramtic style, and SB did 1 of a ghost BB [?] and 1 of a tree in a garden. we did liberally sprinkle glue and beans around the kitchen as well. (second)
So a change of venue whilst I tidied up. SB read a charlie and lola book, BB and I did some gears [oogly googly] whilst listening to Yo Yo Ma play Bach. then Sb did some explode the code 4 - we haven’t done any for a while, so she had got out of practice, but I think her reading skills have consolidated a bit, so time to carry on. (third)
We had lunch [home grown sprouting brocolli - it also makes pH water], and BB keen to watch telly, so I put on an usbourne first french video. [feeling mean] but BB loved the singing, and Sb remembered some of the colours from education city. (fourth).
Back into the playroom for some fun altogether, and BB chose the language baby einstein and kleine hippo’s for background noise [not so relaxing] she has worked out that if you press the space bar it stops and starts - hmmm. We then painted a plate for Grandad’s birthday, but BB wan’t so keen, so we did kid k’nex whilst SB did the painting. (fifth)
We were going to do some violin, but BB didn’t give us a chance, and chris was working in the garden, so not available for distraction. We did all go out into the garden, and looked at the ice in the pond and waterbuts, and where the wendy house is going to be. The girls rampaged around outside for a bit longer, so I started making the curry for dinner and uploading photos [half of which didn't so will restart them!]
They were freezing when they came in, so wrapped up in duvets in front of bob the builder - BB fell asleep - aaargh, which is why she is still up. SB did some education city (sixth)- a bit of english, a fair bit of science and a bit of french. its quite clear from the activity tracker that she does the maths and science the most. it has been a good buy so far. Then mooched around nick jr and poisson rouge. We tried to wake up BB to no avail, so she had a 4 hour sleep.
We had a fuss about ballet clothes. Her dance teacher says the character skirt is too long [it is, but mainly because chris measured her incorrectly before it was bought!] so I have had to elasticate it [it was velcro, but her teacher doesn't like velcro] and top hem it [otherwise ruins the ribbons] and also tighten the belt thing of her leotard. there was a debate about whether you sewed it on to the leotard - hope not. Ballet sewing annoys me. why can’t the belt be integral to the leotard? why isn’t the elastic on the shoes? why doen’t they age size clothes rather than ths 0 and 2 business? Anyway, she put on a happy dance show afterwards.
SB read half the ORT Viking adventure tonight as part of our bedtime routine. She loves reading, and is getting steadilly more fluent. I do like the ORT books.
BB has been singing to me. she can do the abcd part of the alphabet song, bob the builder and twinkle twinkle on loop for over half an hour!
OK, I have loads of photo going up, and I have only tagged those that I have asked if they would wish it.
Advantages - you don’t have to wade through all my photos
Disadvantages - perhaps loss of incognito
I have used blog headings as the tag - rather than names
I noted that some have been wading through and favouriting, and it would prob be easier with a tag.
so… if you want a tag, email or put it in comments, and what you want it to be, and I’ll oblige [but prob next time!! friends and famiies can add tags to each other’s pictures btw
Friday post Melrose we went to stay with Jax and Tim. Mainly because they had purchased a teapot on our behalf, so we felt suitably beholden!! [well, ok, they are good company too] A delighted SB and Big played castles with each other until they were bundled into bath and bed. this time they slept! We adults had a Chinese and a modicum of wine!
On our way there we had stopped with friends in Leeds [S and T and baby W [nearly 2]] which was lovely. we had been reprimanded on blog about failing to visit last year, so thought we should make sure we did, and were well rewarded with good company, babies playing and tea from a teapot. rather foolishly, we drove home via our leeds house and I cried. SB recognised Molly and Terry net door’s house, but not ours. my lovely shed was still there. sob sob.
So to Saturday, and luckilly we were going to the wedding in stages, so Jax’s lot could have mayhem getting ready in the morning, and us over lunchtime. My lovely top didn’t fit, and I didn’t like the other one, so I was rather boringly dressed! Since tim put a few piccies on his ‘pute at lunchtime, i had a look at Kirsty being ravishing, and James looking quite sedate [for a change] lovely. We all enjoyed meeting up with lots of old friends, some we had just parted from, but some not seen for ages. The children turned into a pack instantly and lots of games went on - mostly of the running about variety! plentiful good food [always important!] and a fantastic ceilidh, luckilly for Kirsty there were lots of home educators to dance and cause consternation for the caller [i am thinking particularly of Ros's man-stomp impression, and Nic doing a saturday night fever routine - priceless] We mostly made it up TBH, and half the time she forgot to call. The children had a wail of a time [sometimes literally].
Went back to jax and Tim’s with K’s satnav. hmm, it only kicked in after 20 mins, when we had eventually found the motorway - not best impressed! children fell into bed in nanoseconds, and we adults didn’t - ho hum!
Still, we breakfasted early, said goodbye to the teapot and satnavved all the way to K’s for a 6 year old’s party. i was majorly impressed and amazed by the stash of crafts. BB fell in love with the big mouses [guinea pigs!] and fish, and we hardly saw the girls. We adults chatted, and there was a lovely local home educator there with her 3.
SO an easy drive home. Apparently claire from the monkey house saw chris at a service station - should have said hello! And we saw the beautiful moon. SB very excited because when she chose to play the ‘mists of time’ game it did get all misty. chris less impressed by her magic skills.
I will add photos btw - chris is being ruthless [roofless?] with them at the moment.
aargh to be back at work after not enough sleep!!
got there and steadily through the morning a mega migraine snuck up. when I had nearly ‘been unwell’ on a poor love, i thought I’d not hang on into the afternoon. Sat in the car and cried about driving it home. it is a shame that when I got home I parked on the drive though!
Swigged loads of tablets and gradually improved. Came home and SB was telling me about local group sports and doing some education city. We then read a body book together [BB was asleep] and I was rather proud that she still knows the femur, humerus and pelvis names, and a good stab at veins, arteries and circulation. BB awoke so we all made a marble run for a bit [design and technology] with SB and I making it for BB to put marbles down. We then looked at castles…
Chris’s parents came round on their way back from the shops and to hear about our hols. SB and Nana painted a paint a piggybank [well felt tip it] which I have also seen in other home-educators houses, so obviously a popular Xmas pressie! Must take a piccie.
tea, stories and bed. I went to bed at same time as SB, and she read the giant one of the ORT flawlessly [applause!]
Nic, in spite of your gentle mocking, I have decided to continue with bolding! SO star trek! Might even change categories to slot them into national curriculum too, just in case… [must discuss with chris]
The driver of this car, who sometime last night parked it right across our drive. When you are going to be operating all day just the start you need…..
Helen did managed to just squeeze the car out behind the fiesta, but only just - luckily the drive is fairly wide as it had to be maneuvered basically across the driveway. We’d have not got the larger car out of it.
I did ring the police, who were pretty helpful and were going to try and contact the owner. But a little while later I spotted someone preparing to drive off, and managed to catch them.
When I asked here why she had parked across our drive, she looked blank turned round to look at the drive in a sort of ‘drive? who put that drive there?’ kind of way and lamley said ‘ohh, I didn’t notice it’. I don’t think she really appreciated my rather sarcastic response about should you be driving if you can’t spot a drive full of cars from a few metres away though 
Anyway, I had bit of small rantlet at her about it which made me feel much better, she said sorry a lot and looked sheepish (well she couldn’t really say much else - and she was stuck since the wind screen was still all frosted up)
We do get the occasional problem with some stopping to go over to the shop, but this is the first time someone had parked there like that.
SB’s birthday castle!
this had been the one she wanted, as she liked the add on dungeon
I also liked th fact that if she does enjoy playing with it and she likes it, we could add this on
however, having played with Big’s, she is rather taken by this
c’mon - opinions please!!
Which is about as romantic description of the A14 as you are ever likley to get
Heading home last night, on the final leg of our journey, there was a lovely big, low orangey moon in the sky, dead ahead of us as we crusied down the A14. Melrose then home via Sheffield for Wedding reception on Saturday, Cheshire for a kiddy birthday party on Sunday, and home on sunday night. For all that, the driving has been ok, the worst bit of the last leg was fog in the last 30 miles or so. And Butterbean being awake until we went to bed, becuase she had napped so much in the car
We’ve had great time, but now I’m to try and get kids going as we have Home Ed sports thing in town this am, so time to get a rousting.
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