with a hope that chris might blog!

Tuesday - a Chris day! Nope, cannot remember anything they said they did! library day.

Wednesday - unfortunately I had to go into work for the morning. Mum came by for the day on the way to little nanny’s so that was lovely. Sb played the violin for her - jingle bells - rather nicely. much playing of games altogether.Bit of maths and some practicing latin - sort of. At least I remember some now!

Thursday - Latinetc at the intown alternative venue. lots of playing as well I gather [another chris day - I really missed out this week!] and then they went shopping and had a lot of fuss with static electricity in John Lewis. oh, and those blue lighted phones were bought! I got home late, but joined in with the talking about static that was still going on! So we found a good book and looked at atoms, electrons, protons and neutrons. It shew how static happened with a nifty diagram showing electrons shooting off, and how to make it. Sb had asked the night before how the elephant got its trunk - so we read some rudyard kipling - rofl! we decided it was just a nice story rather than truth though.

friday - And so to today. Has been the not so local group with an egyptian theme obvously daddy’s day. some SOTW activities etc. seems like a good time.

i got back and a bit earlier! so played, watched tv and did some experimenting with the cabbage water indicator from tea! so we guessed whether things were acids or alkali and then tested our hypothesis. oh, and we had great fun, particularly with mixing bicarb and cream of tartar. Sb particularly liked this eves chapter of 21 balloons - all about Mr M’s house, and she would like the elevator bed. I just quite like the idea of a gourmet government! oh well, krakatoa soon to explode!

hmmm. it is particularly crap blogging a week where i barely play a walk on part

Thanks Gill for pointing out they are published, and it seems that the HE position has been heard, so I am glad I spent the time filling out the consultation document.

guidelines

summary of consultation

just got back from work in time to take S to her open ballet lesson. I really enjoyed watching it. SB puts her heart and soul into it and really loves it.  A bit of left and right awareness would prob be helpful!Their teacher appears to really enjoy teaching too.

Daddy and BB made some yummy scones whilst we were there, and when we got back we all ate one before SB rushed off to swimming.

potentially of interest to all those following the timetable saga, today Sb chose to do ‘happy street’ as SB’s choice - rofl!! She also finished her singapore maths 2A book - woohoo, and did some handwriting practice and piano practice. Since daddy’s doing bedtime, that means no MTH or mummy’s book, so I guess that is 6 boxes today. [ i will get bored of this too!! ]
BB and I got to have a lovely cuddle and snuggle and I put her to bed today. she is currently going through a bit of a winnie the witch phase.

After having a discussion on the starting day of the week, and how it is sunday, though tbh monday seems a more likely point, Sb decided to start her ‘timetable’ today rather than Monday - i think she was desperate to start! However, we actually - I think - didn’t consider ‘the timetable’ as such when choosing what to do.

The girls got up before me and watched nemo. When I got up we did some violin practice - SB getting more and more confident and is holding and playing nicely. practicing jingle bells for Xmas! SB then wanted to do something at her desk, so looked at a roman activity pack, which she probably could have done at a push, but we both agreed might be better left for later, so intead drew me and BB mazes to play with.

An interesting discussion over brunch leapt out from how to make yoghurt to measuring temperature, absolute zero and why it was absolute, what it meant on the particle front which meant you couldn’t get colder. how our standard celsius temp is all tied in to water melting and boiling at a standard pressure. etc etc. we weren’t too sure if we had a box for thinking…

BB has done a fair bit of stickering and colouring this morning but mostly played with her lacing game and the bob duplo - which we knew would be a massive hit! S joined her for a bit, and they collected wood to roast chestnuts for all the trucks - rofl!

Sb bought me a ‘box book’ which are interesting books that we choose for the week to go with MTH, my story, SOTW or what she fancies. this one was sir cumference and the round table[ as initially recommended by kirsty]. I read it - SB guessed early on that round was going to be best, and we considered the various maths elements within the story. This led naturally on to drawing lots of circles and marking out diameter, radius and circumference and measuring them. we had a brief chat about pi, but might leave that for a different book! she decided that ‘sircles‘ didn’t fit anywhere in the timetable, so that got added to a blank box.

SB then took ages getting dressed, and the girls played upstairs for a bit whilst i did a bit more work admin - must never get behind again [who am i kidding!] SB then did some singapore maths [which counts as maths!] and daddy gave her a bit of help, and BB and I played… Bob the builder! SB moved onto zoombinis [computer box] whilst BB and I read lots of books and played lots of games. BB also did some plasticine at one point. Chris found a best of slade cd!! so SB enjoyed dancing around to that.

getting late and tired, so both up to bath, down to watch numberjacks and mama mirabelle before tea. BB fell asleep pretty much by end of tea, and was whisked upstairs. SB and I have done some felting, and I read to her the first chapter of the new SOTW book while she did this, and then whilst she coloured in a princess. We read the next chapter magic tree house, and 21 balloons at bedtime.

SO we counted that as 9 things! [yesterday without the timetable was 7]

SB didn’t like the previous title 

so i had a it of a lie in and chris brought be brekkie in bed - gotta love that man! whilst i did this, SB did some piano practice -good girl, and then playing. BB crept up and we played the hatching game. when SB was little - at about this age - she liked to pretend she was a chick in an egg, and i had to hatch her out. now BB plays it!

I did get up, and play with the bob duplo with BB and read to her - copious amounts of apple tree farm! SB and I did violin practice, and she did her maths. We then read a load of books together and did the usborne balloon puzzle one as well.

BB did drawing and stickering with birthday presents, and lots of playng with the bob duplo. we then went into the kitchen, SB to make a fimo tooth pot, and BB to make a plasticine monster - well that what she says it is! SB also made a totally fab fimo father christmas dec for the tree. i helped in telling her ovals and cylinders tough think she could have done without, but we like being a team! SHe and BB watched Spanish Muzzy.

oh, chris and I put up a freecycle desk as SB keen. She also wanted a timetable. we compromised on a chart showing what she might do in a week. i was in the interesting position of haggling down her expectations! I still think we have an enormous amount on her home-ed chart, but sad we can change things later [i think she thinks we will add to it!]

Chip supper with ‘mary on the prairie‘ as BB calls it. SHe played with her lacing game before bed, and once she was gone, SB varnished her fimo and then did some felting. What an active day! In bed she has been reading a balloon race story, and a fact book about grasslands - as she is reading loads of books about ‘big cats’ - including DK tiger tales earlier today.

 
I am a bit [lot] behind on various admin tasks work related, so had a headbanging evening. sigh!

On Friday me and the girls went out for a walk in the afternoon. Not far, but with BB we don’t go fast It was lovely sunny and cold early winter/late autumn day.

We splashed through puddles, looked for berries (the Blackberries weren’t nice confirmed SB ), squelched around in a ditch, played pooh sticks, swung on branches, stroked horses, watched diggers and got home to a nice cup of tea/hot choc.

Had lots of discussions as well about things, Why railways often run on embankments, why it’s cold, even though the sun is out all day, why more clothes keep us warmer, why the digger was digging holes, how things like water and electricity get to houses, other stuff I’ve forgotten. Lovely bit of fresh air, and modicum of exercise, really need to make the effort to get out more.

Other than that, this morning there was more maths (almost the end of Singapore Maths 2A - she can do it easily, but likes to finish things) Has said she prefers the My Pals Are Here ones, with the Aliens, so we’ll have to see, we’ve only got up to 2B in stock. Keep meaning to mix it up with the ‘Exeter Maths’ MEP stuff, but tend to forget. Did find the other day that they are starting to put some of it up online - the Year 3 practice books (as in you can do it online) which saves printing stuff out, and having yet more paper around the place. Some handwriting, reading of library books and some tidying of the girls room.

Much playing as well with BB’s Bob the Builder Duplo/Lego which she loves, even though she isn’t so much into BTB on tV.

Once Helen was home, we’d had dinner, we retired to the sitting room, to roast Chestnuts on the fire and watch Earth: Power of the Planets

Thursday was mostly a recover from BB’s party day - the parents were knackered anyway., with much tidying up to be done, a few bits of maths etc. SB’s Rainbows friend R came round after school and except for one standoff over where to play what they had fun. Playing something upstairs, some Fimo-ing, watched an awful My Little Ponies video, I cooked something she didn’t want to eat much of again H was staying over at this training thing so I got the girls into bed as promptly as I could after they’d gone home so i could collpse in a heap and watch TV moslty - even went to bed at sensible time.

BB v excited - Katy can make volcanos! the power…

she had a whale of a day. Pressies first thing - and was happy and excited about them all. then to the playbarn - also very excited as now officially old enough to go on all the bits. SB helped her round the first few times, and then various friends arrived - the puddles, deependers and E and R as well as a couple of local HE families. All chosen because BB loves them! [and were within a daytripping distance!]

All back to our house for party tea and general mayhem and playing. BB became v attached instantly to all presents opened - so thanks all as they were all perfect! Sb has been brillliant as older sister, but I think she was getting a bit worn out at being second by midaft, so a bit more delicate. A bit of cuddling and she was back into the fray. lots of hide and seek amongst the children, and the birthday girl has been having a great time.

After the running about sorting and then the cuddling, we did get some nice chatting time, and lots of cups of tea. Thanks al for coming and sharing such a great day. At present photos flickred by a guest first - and so lovely that our few are not in a hurry to be seen!! BB fell asleep before the guests left which means she is very sprightly now!! [got her bath with the new boat!]

piccies of the card and envelope SB has done for BB. SHe has really tried to do something wonderful, including the number 3 numberjack over the envelope. Its this amount of care and attention for what she thinks someone will love [ie BB] that is one of the reasons I adore her. SHe has a big heart, and wears it on her sleeve.

We started the blog at her birth, and her whole life is here… Except that obviously it isn’t. Her enthusiasm for living, indefatigable self determination, mostly utterly adorable but partly, headbangingly, stubborn! We are all bewitched by her personality, merry laugh and roguish nature. She is adored by us all - particularly our gentle soul, SB. Our children were long awaited, and I had certainly given up hope. What blessings they both are! BB charms and delights. Our challenge is to walk a steady path so she grows up appreciating compromise has a role, as does rational negotiation!
Ah, We love you BB, Happy Birthday.

during the day, SB did maths and piano practice, and the girls had their room re jigged. SB in particlar made lots of icosohedrons with the polyhedrons . I think I might have to print off the various platonic solids so that I can remember their names, and SB learn for the first time!! BB made houses and tunnels and tents - not bad![chris might expand on day, but doubt it!]

When I got back, we did some more polyhedrons. BB and i read apple tree farm, and she did lots of counting. Then - drum roll please - SB and I FINISHED SOTW!!! well, the first book anyway. The roman empire has declined and fallen! SHe wanted to do some more latin, have no idea where the minimus book is, so found the usborne first latin [or whatever its called too lazy to check!] and said hello, how are you. Chris liked being the domine - ahem!!!

SB went to ballet, returned briefly and then went on to swimming - how chaotically busy. its the new class, and there were only 4 in it today, right down at the deep end, so lots of attention each. Chris said she was excellent. BB and I played with the jigsaws and counting games, and then some more traintracking whilst I made a thai thing for tea - which i cooled down for the girls with some left over leek and potato soup from yesterday- worked well. oh, I must say at this point, SB says Marcus makes better leek and potato soup as Chris’s was to leeky!!!

BB off to bed after a numberjack hit, and SB and I then wrapped up her presents for BB, and finished her card. [OK, I have just finished it, as SB got ‘worn out with cross stitching‘ , but the design was all hers, and she did do it valiantly.] So she decided to make chocolate [dairy free] truffles to put in the party bags for wed. SO we had fun doing that, and agreed we made a very good team!

SB is reading to me the next magic tree house now at bedtime - lunchtime with lions, and I read another chapter of 21 balloons, which we both giggled over. [and yes, a maggie , hamilton and the ferocious beast]

SO now wondering whether to do a BB blogpost or read new book!!!

my sister visited this weekend with M and E - her 2 children. Mine were therefore ecstatic, and there was a lot of playing and merriment. Flickr is receiving a bonus of photos, 1 or 2 might get a p2 tag. [this is the tag for those that might want a minimal version - not sure why anyone would :¬P ]

the seeds for latinetc sprouting - well first the sunflower and now some lentils, and the butterbeans appear to be splitting. we had a chat about them. SB quite confident on seeds because of the number we sow and grow. BB v interested.

Yesterday we made mixed spice biscuits and first of the birthday cakes for BB [which wasn’t a great success! passable]. lots of games and toys ended up stren everywhere, but they did then help tidy up nicely. We had a nice evening of mulled wine and chat with my sister. Trying for her to ‘get’ HE. She pointed out that originally we were going to stop at 7 - I think I might have said that as a delaying tactic! SO I said it was working just so fabulously [fibs! I can think of loads I wish we were doing better] that there didn’t seem to be a good reason to stop [well, that bit true]

Today we made banana, oatmeal choc muffins. more games and toys [particularly gears]- lots of co-operation which is nice. BB got her present - a dora scooter - and she has been much taken with it, scootering everywhere. A party lunch with jelly and icecream and cake. My sister then went home - dreadful drive in the snow! SB did a violin practice. we have started reading 21 balloons [a sonlight book] and did masses of train playing.

i have had an amazon order - so off to read some books, but will keep an eye on rss!!

it must be the sci fi - thats not geek is it??
64% Geek 64%

being me. I had to go into work today, which messed with mine and girls heads! i started getting fidgety early on so i apologise to the hostess. We were also late - more apologies!

Its a lovely group, and the children are nice with each other, and on the whole interested in all the bits [odd bits of wildness aside] A start with making some habitats in a bag, where various seeds were sown. Both girls did it - though BB in her own sweet time! Then Latin - which SB and i had quickly revised in the car as we had missed the last group! [we had also learnt how t say it is sunny today in french - which SB set to music]. This is followin the minimus books and various other things about roman life. [in fact at the moment SB is dancing around shrieking puella whilst dancing about] We ’spare’ mums did a bit of gossiping, veg chopping and baby holding [and reading to BB and playing!]

Then after a restorative toast, they did science. There was some red cabbage water looking beauifully purple, and the children guessed what would happen with vinegar [pink.acid] and bicarb [green.alkali - or alcohol as SB said to me this eve!], and then a variety of other things. Finished with the fab bicarb and vinegar volcano - which the children were rowdily impressed with. Must utube it!

I then rushed off in stressed mode, and chris arrived moments later. SB has also had rainbows today - looking at compasses and directions - very nicely fitting with our maggie and ferocious beast theme!

We are slumped in front of downloads. We have watched beginners guide to the cosmos, about how to get to Mars, and now watching return of the raptors. Both girls interested in that. BB has a big interest in chicks, eggs and birds, and we are reading those lifecycle dk books over and over again! Both girls really enjoyed the raptor centre too.

Adding - Sb has playd a variety of patience games and read to me beautifully. i particulralry liked the different accents she gave different characters! My amazon not gone through - those textbooks too expensive, so the fraud squad at the bank need me to ring and confirm me! bother!

I’ve been  member of the John Muir Trust for years now.
They run something called the John Muir Award which is an environmental award scheme aimed at encouraging the discovery and conservation of wild places. Though primarily aimed at organised groups, it is open to individuals, families and small informal groups as well.
I’m pondering trying to organise a group of home edders to do it, it sounds like it could be interesting and fun.

Which is what Tuesdays have turned into, esp. so for Helen who should be out the door by about 730 am and often not back until 7pm + (about 7.30pm today) and lucky if she gets a drink, let alone anything to eat during the day.
But also SB’s swimming lesson has moved  (since she moved up a class) to 5.30pm - which means us leaving the house just at the time everyone is starting to flag, you are thinking about feeding children etc. and we get back at about 6.30, needing to eat dinner, all feeling tired, getting crochety, children seemingly extra noisy etc. It’s be ok just taking SB out, but dragging an almost 3yo out of the house for an 1 1/2 just to go to someone else swimming lesson isn’t a great plan. Last time she fell asleep on the way home, today she stayed awake, but didn’t eat any tea anyway and was running on that need to sleep speed fuel that toddlers have.
Have talked to the leisure centre about moving classes, but it’s complicated by people waiting to move up from other classes as well, avoiding other clashes, fit in with other things we are doing etc.

Other than that, this morning went in baths,  bickering and books, SB had only been up about 2 minutes and they were bickering about something that BB had done to annoy her (BB does plenty at the moment), then they argued about each not having enough space in the bath….

eventually we got children, books, bottles etc together and headed to the library, via the bottle banks, BB looking very silly wearing a sou’wester hat backwards, looked like a big red headed duck.

I day dreamed in the library while someone read them Mr Men stories, they cut and stuck and coloured. Oddly a pair of scissors disappeared - did a toddler pinch them to threaten other kids with at playgroup, or maybe they went off to join the knife that disappeared through a  rift in the space time continuum at Kessingland last year? they got more books, we came home. SB slipped over coming in the door, so went back outside, twirled around on the drive and slipped over harder, hurting herself….. - cue wails.

Much reading of books, before lunch. Afterwards, SB  had found a  colouring competition in magazine, so spent a fair while colouring that in, she wrote out the address on the envelope, wrote her name and address on  a piece of paper and we posted that off. BB didn’t want to be left out, she scribbled on some paper, put in an envelope and scribbled on that, so we posted that as well (too ourselves).

Also did some more maths this pm as well. And they played some complicated game with finger puppet animals and the Operation travel game whilst I got dinner cooked. Until it was time to go out to the aforesaid swimming lesson.

By the time the kids were in bed it was time to collapse in our respective heaps and watch a couple of episodes of Numb3rs, which does have some inventive, if sometimes a little implausible plot lines