Petits Haricots

Is made and jarred and tastes FANTASTIC! Chris moaning about washing up the pan, but he can have the lickings!!

Back to work tomorrow, sad as my office mate and friend has moved on to new job - waves if she is looking!

SB watched cbeebies at unearthly hour this morning, as did BB, and I gradually came to! Breakfast was a protracted affair. We looked at our useless bio clock, and the zinc seems to have completely corroded away in the lime juice one. Since it ddin’t make much in the way of electricity, we all pondered our uselesness in successful experiments!

SB wanted to do some wicker stuff, so I put some canes in to soak - which reminds me Merry, I have also a huge wodge of canes and bases for you from Jax from ages ago. If you weren’t going to use them for PB group any more, we could set up an alternative basket weaving day?? Whilst they were soaking, SB and I did lesson 14 of first language lessons for the well trained mind. I’m not sure on this book. It moves at a snails pace - perhaps because actually aimed at a much younger child? SB likes learning the poems anyway. I might do some ‘chapter jumping’. BB made patterns with cuisinaire rods - I remember SB in a similar phase. SB then carefully wrote out the poem, whilst BB and I did a jigsaw together.

BB got a picnic ready for all of us, including a picnic blanket, and SB made a ‘declamation’ about the picnic, so we all enjoyed that, and had a bash at saying the food items in german and french. BB put on one of the french songs cd’s as well.

SB chose the Usborne book about the celts to read, and having enjoyed that, she then followed the quick links. Excellent self directed learning! BB had more fun making stories with her numberjacks. Unfortunately she has broken the number 3, so at numberjack hospital being glued together!

SB and Chris now at the scouts centennial church service in the village. SHe wants some school uniform trousers though to wear underneath. I had better see if some still in Tescos. BB is watching magic school bus about bees and giving me hugs. I have found the felting equipment as well, so when she returns, felting and weaving on the cards.

Chris as broken some more of the window panes in the arched window, so has the glass, and is going to look for some matches to replace with. It has obviously been done before, as there are some not brill matches there!

SB and I woven 2 willow coasters. BB has stropped alot about weaving a fish! For her safety, she is now helping Chris cook dinner!

ANd once BB safely in the bath, SB and I have done some felting as well. She is felting a rainbow. She is much better at both weaving and felting than when done in Kessingland - I guess that was a year ago, but even so! While she did it, I read several mother and daughter barefoot stories and had a nice snuggle when BB returned from bath.

Busy day tomorrow, so rousting her up and to bed! We are going to have a short break from magic treehouse at bedtime, and read some of her DK pompeii book.

The week has been somewhat laid back on the educational front. In fact, most weeks have been as we don’t seem to have got into much of a pattern, so I thought we might do a catch up today = I thought wrong!

i got up late, as my work schedule been punishing of late. The girls were both busy hama-ing in the kitchen quite happily - well, apart from B tipping SB’s crocodile on the floor… I did the usual hama on the floor dance to the table, and admired BB’s rabbit - the first thing she has ever done to be ironed, and SB’s hearts, from the bead merrily patterns.

BB fairly immediately demanded to know where she had lost her foam numberjacks - errr?? So after a wail that she couldn’t possibly live without them, I negotiated with SB the use of ‘her’ fimo to make some replacements. BB in 7th heaven about using the forbidden fruit of SB fimo, In the end she made the 0 and all the eyes, and I made the other ones. It took a LONG time, as BB making the most of her fimo opportunity - ROFL. Actually Merry, we didn’t have exactly the right shade of all the colours so maybe you can start selling little numberjack kits for anyone else with fussy children - numberjacks make perfect fimo for beginners shapes!!

SB carried on with hama hearts, but once BB’s fimo in the oven, took over and made a lovely fimo 20 year old lady [she was very specific] and then wanted to make a pot for the braided handles she had just made so I shew her a ‘make your own coil pot‘ and away she went. Beautiful.

BB went back initially to hama at this point - making a shaperjaper? again a numberjacks reference. Once her numberjacks cooled though, she was mostly playing stories with them, diving into hama swimming pools [yes, it was messy] and I made an abstract hama honey ant thing - not v succesful. We did have lunch at this time too, and then carried on afterwards.

Chris went out and did some window work. SB and BB went outside for a short time, and then back in to numberjack playing and fimo pot. I made the sausage and bean hotpot ready for tea, and started off the grape apple and plum jelly [henceforth known as plum and apple crumble jelly [PAC jelly], as that is what SB thinks it smells and tastes of].

For some reason, SB decided that she needed to start making halloween decorations, so she and BB had a very productive time cutting out ghosts pumpkins and witches hats ready for halloween. She said it was closer than Christmas - true!

 
SB did a piano practice, and BB finally got to watch numberjacks! Sb watched some mama mirabelle and nina and the neurons with BB, tea and then bed. SB read me some stories beautifully. My jelly is dripping away, and I am under instruction to find the felting stiff for tomorrow.

BB painted this yesterday, whilst SB was out. It is a painting of toilet. The black blog bottom left was firstly a poo, then it became apparently a dead mouse with one leg…..

Hmm to work! I had to go in today. Got back however mid morning. Decided we would have a relaxed kind of day. SB, however, wanted to do the whole of one of the revision exercises in her 2A workbook [nearly finished] so did that, and BB and I started beading. We were threading some wooden beads onto scoobidou threads. BB wanted to make some bracelets after reading the yellow moon catalogue. So we did LOADS, she was really careful and happy. though periodically she pickeed up by the knotted end and lost them all… SB also joined in.

We then did some violin practice - got to the G string, which is uncomfortable, so only a short practice. Sb wanted to read her library book about Australian animals. We had a look for Australia on the globe, and then with both girls piled on me we flicked through, talking about the ones they were interested in, which ones I had seen in Australia etc. The snakes interested them both, so naturally led onto a game of Hisss. This remains a great game to play altogether. It takes about the length of BB’s attention span without creating havoc, and both girls enjoy it.

Then, by popular request there was a short break watching numberjacks and something based in cartoons in african savannah. After this I got out the wacky wigglers/oogly googly gears, and both girls played happily. SB and I finally did some SOTW with a nice big cuddle. We have arrived at Emperor Constantine. BB and I read a BIG book about dinosaurs as well, and we went outside to pick veg and I got stung by a bee. humph.

Some more general playing around, and then SB and I looked at DK’s atlas of archaeology she picked from the library at the paleolithic section - ties in with our nearly finished magic tree house book. She the went on to read other library books, and I read some to BB.

All read out, SB off to rainbows and BB and I made pasta sauce with our own tomatoes, onions, aubergines, french beans and one chilli [though picked loads today], and added some spinach and red peppers- all whizzled up so nothing identifiable. Then olives, red lentils, chickpeas, peas and sweetcorn added to it when cooking - and the Hendersons relish. It was yummy. For me it had a slight appearance of bolognese - but I doubt regular meat eaters would agree.

We read some more and it was apparent BB falling asleep, so emergency bath. SB returned and joined in, so then messy pasta for tea - ermm, a bit of an oversight there! After tea an even longer beading fest, followed by a natural history DVD and bed. She is up there reading a Horrid Henry book at the mo. BB flaked out - yippee.

We had a good day today, with lots of cuddles and minimal wailing. Though SB and BB are not necessarily rubbing along all the time, which is stressful.

Oh, and so I don’t lose it, a link to an evolution ‘plan’ that goes with one of our books

please read the warning on the envelope. Sly joke or PC gone mad??

Where does it go?  the time that is. OK i know I’m an expert at frittering it away, but I find it somewhat annoying when I’m not and it still goes and disappears on me. I think I need to do a  time and motion study to see where it has all gone during the day.

BTW, H pinched most of the piccies for her post below, So I’ll refer you there for illustration
Monday 

As soon as H was off to work, girls watched a couple of Numberjacks episodes - BB is a real addict for these at the moment. Then it was into the bath to clean up from the camping weekend - They’d been out for the count when we got back Sunday night.  Then it was off to the shop for bread and milk and home for breakfast.

After breakie the girls made cards for their cousin E’s birthday (a day late  - ooops…). We couldn’t find any colored card, so made a another trip out to the (relatively recently opened and quite useful) stationery shop for supplies. BB insisted we needed glitter, so we bought some probably expensive glitter from there as well.

Home for productive card making. SB had plan to make a Dorothy from the Wiggles from instructions in one of the kiddie magazines around here. She did really well, I showed her how to trace using some greaseproof paper and give her a bit of help with that and some cutting out. Other than that she sat  and did it all herself - spending ages working on it - basically the rest of the morning. Did some  lovely and careful small writing in it and addressed the envelope nicely as well. BB had fun with the glitter . and then spent ages organising things out of the camping food box. She is very much into organising and sorting things out at the moment.

BB couldn’t quite wait for lunch though :

After lunch and a bit of running around and playing nosily SB did some maths while BB spent ages making patterns with the Cuisenaire rods. And then Helen came home, then after bit it was time for Ballet. While  SB out at Ballet, H and BB made some biscuits.

After ballet, SB did violin lesson with H whilst I got dinner. After dinner, with BB off to bed H and SB played some maths card games 

Tuesday was basically a reading day. After breakfast, rereading the library books before we took them back. Off (early for once) to the library for storytime - SB did a fruity wordsearch and made a fruity picture. Eventually prised them out of the library, home to finish off some of the camping Bourbon biscuits and read the new books before we had lunch. After lunch I chased them out of the kitchen whilst I tidied up a bit. SB was going to come back and do maths, but she settled down with books again on the sofa - spent about another 1 /1/2 hours solidly working her way through the books.

BB played happily for ages with the dolls house and the ‘people’  - she is very much into playing these sorts of games as well at the moment. Somehow the rest of the afternoon disappeared in maths, cooking tea etc. before going out to swimming lessons.

After lesson and dinner, whilst I was putting BB to bed (H still marooned at work) SB (unasked) emptied the dishwasher and put it all away, and washed up the plated and cutlery from dinner. So I let her stay up a bit longer and watch some TV. By the time she was settled in bed H was on her way home and it was time ti flop into our various heaps.

BB really enjoys baking. it is our secret treat when SB at ballet on Monday. this time she wanted to make biscuits

SB and I did piano and violin before we ate the yummy biscuits. Earlier in the day they both enjoyed the cuisinaire rods - SB doing areas, and BB patterns.

both also made fab cards for their cousin E’s 4th birthday.

no idea what they have done today as  was to late home.

we had a great time away for prob the last camping of the year on the north norfolk coast. we camped beside the salt marshes at Stiffkey, visited wells, brancaster beach and a lovely steam train.

we had a lovely time together, the girls were lovely, we wore them out with long walks and merry play!!

I got bitten heaps by mosquitos.

will put photos on flickr

Had my hospital appt about knee =bursitis . good.

Had a chat with SB about what to do today, so the plan was to do maths and writing quickly , some piano, baking, and experiment and paint her dinosaur. Not much then! We found the 2A workbook, and SB rampaged through the weights bit of that - nearly finished. Then did ‘S’ in getty and dubay B, and some extra writing while I got stuff ready for making banana loaf. She decided to do the writing inside a box - picture below - and had a wail as Daddy took a picture, and I collected beans with BB.

BB meanwhile had done her match and sort but us playing a rocket game, we counted down from ten, and then she had to go off and find the right numberjack. She also did some very careful painting, and put on a french song CD about animals for them both to listen to. we did a lot of jigsaws.
So we made up over banana and white choc drop loaf - an extra banana and it is truly squidgy and gorgeous. must make for Melrose. yummy. SB and BB mostly were able to share the task - today they have not been receptive to the aternate sibling receiving any attention - makes for fun. SB found the magimixer we have had for ages from brightminds and was having fun sorting it out.

Following that SB did piano practice, and BB did some afterwards - more randomly! both felt tired, so watched some Muzzy german cd 1 while I made cheese on toast for their lunch to refresh the parts…

Following lunch I put out some options for SB - facepainting, science experiment, dinosaur to paint or ’something else’. We did the bio clock - and no, we still haven’t made it work. I think SB thinks all experiments are doomed - its just like my Nuffield Physics course all over again.

SB chose to do some quick violin practice - she wants to finish the book, get a certificate and then learn some Christmas songs.

BB stayed asleep in my arms. SB also did a dancing show, the asked or face painting. I am not particularly skilled, but think this wasn’t bad.

SB painted her dinosaur - but for some reason, although I was sitting next to her trimming green beans, I didn’t take any photos. We did test the yummy cake - very difficult to resist eating it all. BB woke up, and we all did some of SB’s mosaic picture.

BB-isms. She does like to say ‘fantastic’ a lot. Also, when I want a kiss, she always says I ‘have to say something’ whether or not I have said please. Oh, and I love her ‘how about that then?’
We finished the day with bath, tea and a general chasing fun around the upstairs, ending in fits of giggles. our usual bed routine of taking it in turn to read, but with BB snuggled up to without being a scamp. A good end, because at several times, I was looking at BB and SB who had wound each other up into a shrieking and wailing frenzy thinking I could perhaps be at work. But only a couple of times. Mostly, I would rather be at home.

Oh, and we found BB’s lost croc. But we seem to have lost my camp socks!

before you all shriek, I just don’t think we are home edding to the best of our aptitude and ability. I’m not wanting to do school at home or anything, and quite happy with our mostly child led, but I’m not sure we are giving the wings as it were to fly. hmmm and more hmmm. lots of cogs and little whirring!

Anyway, we had a dreadful night. SB required feeding at somewhere between 3 and 4 am. BB woke up somewhere between 5 and 6am… So we were not at our peak!

After a very slow start to the morning, SB did some weighing things in kg and g, which we generously called maths. we have lost the 2a workbook - bugger!! Also need to scan some more Getty and Dubay. But we did read Usbornes who were the first people to go along with our magic tree house book. We looked onto the globe to see the spread of humanity out of Africa, and how it took a long time but in the end the whole world had humans on it - a bit of diversions about getting to America, australia and some islands but not all!! We also did some violin practice [onto the E string!] and some education city - english, which was tricky for her as she had decided earlier levels too easy, so on level 3 - decidedly not too easy! She read to me some stories, and I read some barefoot stories to her. This lead to a discussion about Hawaii, and islands being created by volcanos.

BB did some chair fixing with daddy. We have had a trick broken chair for about a year now, and BB has fixed it - well done BB!! She was very proud. BB also did some ‘match and sort‘ counting up to 20 [she misses out 15 and 17, and looking at her numberjacks numbers to try and recognise which one was which as part of a game. She has also watched the magic school bus, and played snowman on starfall.

After lunch :¬) we went to The Deep End to see their not so new anymore house and have a play. Also took some of the experimental carrot cake, which we all agreed didn’t taste a whole lot like carrot cake, but was quite edible even so! Children played, SB baby worshipped, adults nattered. ALl very enjoyable. Left an hour later than planned - oops.

SB and BB therefore fell asleep in the car, so jiggled them about at home long enough to get tea into them. SB went to bed at 7, BB had a second wind, so watched 64 zoo lane and has finally succumbed. Regenesis and a coffee for us.

Who lives in Canada. We had a day of her busy itinerary, looking into the family history - see post below! So we did try and madly clean and declutter, and didn’t look too bad.

SO very excited, we made cakes, got lunch ready and waited! Chris also went and picked up Little Nanny to take to Mum and Dads. Wish Dad had been there too so that all 3 siblings could be together. Hmm. Anyway, we had a great fun time together, particularly playing dinosaur ludo.

Sb and BB got a toy that has a website, so SB got herself hooked up with that. BB also impressed with her IT skills on starfall. SB read , sang, played the piano and was generally charming. BB was a munchkin of cuddliness, and also played and pattern blocked. By 6, when the guests all left, SB and BB had had enough, and in fact SB has gone to bed without tea as she was exhausted. Well, she has also been to rainbows, and we had a HUGE lunch. Both now asleep before 8!!

Thankyou for visiting Aunty Marylyn. Must save my pennies so we can all visit you in Canada.

Caught up with blogging, even over here!

bit out of sequence so am going to alter timestamp

Anyway yesterday was home-ed trip to titanic display at a local museum, and I was very wobbly about it! Chris goes to the groups, and although I’ve been a couple of times to that groups events, not really enough to particularly feel that I ‘belong’, whereas I do with the other group - possibly becuase I see a number of the families there for other reasons too.

Anyway, wobbliness aside, we set off early, got there on time, and had a good look round. SB had told BB that they could buy something from the shop, so she was a bit like a stuck record - sorry. They enjoyed all the colouring, and looked cute dressed up. Perhaps BB looked more like oliver twist than titanic! SB really enjoyed the drama, and BB also joined in. Another family from the village was there [there are 3 that home-ed here!]

Afterwards we had a bit of a debacle in the shop as they didn’t take cards, so winnowed the purchases! Both got a dinosaur to paint. We then nipped to the carpark, but i saw that clarks was empty so thought i might get some shoes. SB has the wrong size feet apparently for clarks shoes!! BB has some, but i am worried that they were fitted wrong/ hurriedly. SB was so disappointed we went to H and M to buy non-tarty leggings, and ended up with 2 legging outfits - which she was really happy with. I also bought some leggings from evans, so all set up we were back to car.

There we found T and her child in distress having been looking for their car all this time. We waited with them whilst a carpark attendant whizzed about and found it - thank goodness, as we were making ‘if it has been stolen’ arrangements. Popped into Merry’s to drop of Amelies doll, and home just in time to greet my Mum arriving, and send SB off to swimming.

BB enjoyed painting her dinosaur and making a carrot cake, and we all did some more tidying and chatting - looking up weird relatives to boot!

one of the members of this band. My Dad and Aunt have been in Norway researching their grandad’s family. They met the member of this band out jogging and had a chat about geneology - rofl!!! Apparently its either the one on the left, or the middle one!!

SB has been looking at the brightminds catalog - rofl!

I think she really really wanted that one!

I love thinking about the Muddlepuddle Winter camp. SB and Chris will have their birthdays there this time, and apparently Babs is being inundated with forms [if the camps list of senders is to be believed!] I imagine at this rate it will be full in a fortnight!

SB went to sports session this morning, and I did some tidying, and set off some oven dried toms - they are STILL oven drying! Merry and girls arrived before chris back, but did at least feed them swiftly, even if the main attraction of SB was still missing.

Lots of girls playing happily sounds, and then SB off to ballet, so Merry got to enjoy magic schoolbus for her girls. Jan/Jonathan - Chris can’t find many, where did you get yours from?? SB back, and a great clothes swap about. I find it offputting to see so many SB’s running about - as of course they wear SB’s clothes, and I usually see them and think SB before brain processes! Amelie is so like SB to cuddle as well.

Merry and I had a good gossip, and a play with the pentomino based games. I love them! might buy one for my Nan for Xmas actually, I think she would enjoy the solitaire one. [so don’t sell out and not replace Merry! Can’t find it on your site yet Merry, otherwise would link. BB had great fun playing with a mouse in a corridor game - which I am sure Merry might supply the link to too!

Girls wound down having a chippy tea watching magic school bus. SB now watching Nina and the neurons - arrgh we still haven’t done any SOTW, music practice or anything today!! But we have had fun. oh, and we have nearly finished that window mosaic now.

We went to A’s Christening [the Deep End] today. Sang one of my favourite hymns [always good]. Baby A had a comical expression when being liberally doused with the water. And after the baptism, when the children left for the creche/sunday school, there were periodic loud shrieks from that direction - often v clearly my two!

Chris was particulary impressed by the apple bread pudding cake - as were most of the rest of us, though the flapjack was my fav. Got to chat to Babs and Chris and some other home educators I haven’t seen since 1st Melrose. Children were like loons.

Back to one of the godparents houses [did they know what they were letting themselves in for?] for a very relaxed bring something lunch and out in the garden afternoon. Apart from a bit of adjudicating periodically at the trampoline, the children were all v autonomous, having great fun. Also managed to give Melrose form to Babs - talk about speedy!
Thanks Bob and Katy for invite, and to godparents for hosting the afternoon.

We are home now, still full from lunch - well, the girls are having tea, watching the dinosaur one of the magic school bus. I have to say, thanks to the SOTP crew for introducing us to the delights, but a lot of info is stuffed in these programmes. So tempted to buy all the books! SB also been making great 3d shapes with polydrons.

Need to do manic house tidying tonight as Canadian Aunt visiting on Wed - woohoo!! am really really looking forward to it. I haven’t seen her since my sister’s wedding

I think I am probably over protective wrt SB. I love her dearly,and she has such a gentle soul and personality. She is so caring and generous. It means that I struggle with the her being upset thing. I was always so totally useless at the making friends and social thing at school. I still am really, but try hard. I just don’t seem to have the cues that do social things well, and still stumble.So how do I help SB? I think she is prob better than me, I hope so anyway. I don’t have the same worry for BB. She is a rascal, and no doubt I will one day be worrying more about her forcefulness.

Anyway, SB came back from Nana and Grandad’s with a present of earings and a necklace that she bought for me [with grandad’s money!] She wanted to give me it because she loves me so much and I work hard. aaah. i was very emotional! Getting an unexpected present from your daughter when you are at a low ebb is a massive mood booster.

OK, so moving on. today I got home at about 10, and although sorely tempted to throw myself into bed I managed until about 2 to read books, snuggle watching the magic school bus, aid playdough and singapore maths, and read some then and now style books on homes and food, and a bit about cavemen. We listened to a french music CD about days and months I did want to do violin and piano with SB, but couldn’t keep eyes open so had a nap while Chris cycled with the girls to the fruit farm, and then they ran about wildly for a bit.

When I groggily came too again,it was tea time and the girls were in the bath - how did that happen?? I sorted out our Melrose forms. We had tea and both girls made some cards, for the christening tomorrow and for Chloe. Read some Magic Tree House. Hopefully will feel more wakeful tomorrow.