Actually a lot of grizzles, but some good HE

As I think SB is a bit run down/tired. We had fake wails and some real ones about all sorts of nothings that turned into major disasters in her mind. However, do look at gorgeous photo in post below this one!

She started the day with cbeebies, and learning how to spell her surname. I could hear her discussing it with Chris whilst i was on the big ‘puter upstairs finishing a poster for the conference in glasgow – yeah, should have been done ages ago! luckilly the lady in medical illustration didn’t insist on receiving it on a floppy with a hard copy, but agreed to email of a word doc. I told her she could lay it out however she fancied, as I’m so behind I don’t really have a right to argue!

I like a nice bit of HE in the morning
When I went down, she was keen to do some more studydog, so we started the second lot of 3 lessons, where you have to get the first letters right [english]. Now, most of this she was fine at, but every so often, would just wildly hit any old button. This annoys me as
a) She’s just not even trying, yet when I say she’s obviously had enough we have a major wail that she wants to carry on.
b) If she does it to often, she may have to repeat the lesson [to my interminable boredom] to get the clue. This wouldn’t be so bad if it was because she found it difficult, but when it is just from messing about – Aaargh.
Anyway, when this happened, we did some physical activity, had a drink or some fruit.

We also started on her thankyou letters. I have printed out a foldover with picture and a short note, and she is adding her name. We did alright until she decided she wanted to do it in swirly writing like mummy. hmmm!!!! Roll on after move, when I can put getty and dubay in a sonlight order. [writing]

We also got the DK history explorer through the post [ebay purchase 99p]. It works!!! SO obviously the patch works for that one, and the science one we have is either duff or patch resistant. We had a bit of a scoot about the mediaeval section as SB wanted to look at knights. She enjoyed collecting the stickers, and seemed to get the answers easily. however, she got bored quite quickly. this might have been due to her being tired or due lunch though, so we stopped. [history]

shopping spree [ i wish]
I thought I would quickly nip to m and s to get some birthday presents. Also got a skirt for me, a nice book on the human body for SB and a fleecy oversuit for BB. The drive home was a nightmare, stuck for 30 mins behind v smelly van due to lorry crashed on roundabout ahead. not quite so much of a nip after all.

Biker Girl/ knackered girl
As in SB, wending her way around huge paint tins on the drive on her bike mostly. I think she did do some scootering as well while I was out. [PE] We then coloured in some Maisie pictures in the book she got for her birthday [art], played shopping, and role played with her dollies.

Sent Chris out to post nursery application form and stagecoach application form, and found SB had fallen asleep on sofa in front of one of the baby einstein DVD‘s. Some hefty rousing, and we did a bit of all playing together with BB. This is where I took that gorgeous piccie of my girls! We wound things down and she read a few books with Chris, I particularly like the one of the 3 wolves and the bad pig! [literature], and following up yesterday’s surprise german with a Muzzy video [foreign language], where it does seem that some has been going in. I am encouraged enough that I will try and do it more often. Dinner, bath, supper, book [gruffalo and nativity story] and bed – ah, peace!

BB has started shrieking/screaming when either tired or hungry. When hungry, she also acts as if feeding is poisonous for the let down. Does my stress levels no good! Mostly she is still relaxed cutie, with lots of smiles and giggles. She has a really good reach and grasp She’s making some efforts in rolling over, but her big bot is a it of a handicap! Anyway, lots of wiggling, arching of back and leg scrabbling going on. Not able to sit yet either – SB could sit b 16 weeks. However, she enjoys being sat up and rolling forwards. Chris is giving her a sitting/falling workout at the moment. How much falling can they do before risk of shaken baby syndrome? I always felt SB learnt to sit as a self defence measure.

Day summary: I wish I could prevent more of SB’s whinge attacks. they are v short lived, and she doesn’t seem to hang on to them, but they do on occassiona drive me up the wall. Particularly if timed when BB also crying/shrieking. Hopefully they wont be what she remembers of childhood, but instead all the cuddles/tickles and general loving that fills the day. [we are quite a tactile family].

things to do over weekend: Must try and do some Singapore or Exeter maths [1a] this weekend though. The next few pages in the singapore earlibird 2A seem quite practical, so should be fun and easy. Will also try and pop in a bit of DK explorer when she is more alert, to see what she really makes of it. Its quite a busy weekend with 2 parties to go to. For me, I’ve got to decided whether to sort out the questionnaires i talked about yonks ago, or def forget the whole thing.
Also, Jax has prompted me to think about the DfES guidelines and make my own statement. She’s right, in that it is us at the beginning of HE who are going to be the most affected, and although we might not have got our HE styles etc sorted out, we need to keep open the freedom to do that, rather than get progressively more tied to the National Curriculum and frequent more and more intimidating visits/inspections.