Category Archives: Books

first timetabled day. A maths day

Posted on November 25, 2007 by HHaricot | 4 comments

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]

4 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean's HE, Dance/drama, daubing and making, early maths skills, General, history, literacy, music, numeracy, pre reading, science, Stringbean's HE

hey its the weekend!

Posted on November 25, 2007 by HHaricot | Leave a comment

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!

The Longest Day

Posted on November 14, 2007 by Daddybean | 1 comment

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

1 Comment

Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, daubing and making, pre reading, SB-PE, Stringbean's HE, writing

walking and cycling

Posted on November 11, 2007 by HHaricot | 3 comments

My car being at work due to the shenanigans of last weeks travelling meant we all went into town today, but to the other side and had a lovely walk/cycle around the park. SB cycled, BB triked [sometimes pushed] and walked and we did all the usual looking at things that goes on. was chuffed that SB had remembered loads about clouds and weather, reminded her of the names. BB in particular had a real ball with leaf kicking. Ended at the cafe – where else? and they coloured and drew funghi and SB read the display.

Home, mostly playing. SB did do some violin practice though. Whilst we did this, BB was very carefully ascending and descending a note at a time on the toy keyboard, singing doe a deer at the same time. i was impressed. BB and I read books – she loves counting at the mo, and she and SB played a complicated game with the alphabet cards, and SB and I played a lot of card games, including rapid adding up. Rather HE-ly, we now have 2 and 3 times tables up in the toilet, which she chants loudly when she goes. 2′s are fine, and the early 3′s any way. When BB in bed, she then went through a DK gymnastics book, doing warm up and various positions. She has finished the magic tree house ghost town book already! so I have put various mapping, atlas and explorer and such like books in her choice box at her request.

I need to buy some textbooks. they come in at 150 – 200 each! added to our 2000 [well just under] mondeo bill and christmas, aaarrgh. So might just stick some of the Katie art books in anyway – or is SB too old now?

3 Comments

Posted in Books, Butterbean's HE, Dance/drama, early maths skills, General, geography, literacy, music, noises and sounds, numeracy, Out and About, pre reading, Stringbean's HE

SAD

Posted on October 27, 2007 by HHaricot | Leave a comment

I am just not so good at this time of year. I get grumpy for no apparent reason, decided that I am crap at everything I do [well, even crapper than I normally rate myself] and just fid it hard to shift. Thinking about whether those lights actually work, whether i should get one – what a lot of money! and whether it is because I am actually just crap. This time of year is a big reflection time, so will be putting up something home-eddy at some point! [not a surprise announcement of schooling!]

This week may have gone more sadly/badly because of the death of my godfather, but I have been crap and morose at work as well as home, and it just isn’t on. Work is not a place that accepts [or should accept] anything less than as near perfection as manageable, so feeling that let things down there a bit too.

SO at home, chris and the girls done lots of shopping trips as far as I can see! we had that lovely day at Michelles, and SB also has had a lovely playdate with Rainbows R. oh, the girls had a midweek swim, which they both enjoyed too.

I was at home thurs, but not sure what we did at all, apart from Chris took the girls shopping. SB did some maths, something on the web, we watched some downloads?? Nope, no idea – should have blogged! oh, a lot of playing with the castle! Oh, and the lego. Bit of a little house on the prairie revival as well.

Today both girls have spent a fair bit of time on the computer – poisson rouge and starfall for BB with a bit of rainforest maths, and education city and rainforest maths for SB. SB and I read the fall of the romans in story of the world, and then some more about atilla the hun in raiders and invaders – and discussed why both books might have what might be ‘key facts’ different. The some looking at their internet links – which were poor. luckilly Sarah blogged, so we snitched some of her roman links instead. might look up the usborne ones- must be some quicklinks on their site.

SB did some running and sports with Chris in the garden – new trainer/running shoes from la redoute which she isn’t sure whether she likes. BB and I have had lots of snuggles and silly play. SB took herself to the piano to do some practice – asked me to help when her new piece has made her move her hands – cue much panic! do I play the note they’ve written or the finger number? both dear, you have to move your fingers – aargh.

i had set up some pots of glue, assorted bits to stick on and some pringles tubes in the kitchen for them to fiddle with. SO they did that for a bit. SB got glue all over a new dress, despite me begging her to take it off and minor scene about that with me stumping off into garden – just as she spills it everywhere.

SB and BB rather nicely playing together – BB is doing match and sort with lego with SB! Dinner ready. off I shoot.

Back again. SB fancies watching robin hood, so we will do that. Chris has downloaded torchwood as we have run out of regenesis. Enjoying that too. they do like filming the girls bottom in tight jeans! That isn’t exactly the bit I watch for though!

Another little Step on the Way to Indepedndence

Posted on October 10, 2007 by Daddybean | 1 comment

Monday we had a HE group trip to a local fruit farm, before we left Stringbean had a phone call from one of her friends who wanted to make sure they synchronized outfits They both have the same stripy purple outfit from H&M. I think it’s probably the first time she has ever had a phone call to herself from one of her friends. I was highly amused by it. didn’t manage to get a piccie of them together though
Anyway the trip was fun. kids enjoyed it and I learnt a few things as well.

Rode around the farm in trailers towed by tractors

The farmer told us about the history of the orchards, the different fruits they grow (they are trying out Apricots), why the newer trees are much smaller than the old ones etc

Picked and munched on apples

Learnt about grafting different apples onto another tree

Had a look at how they grade the apples

And at the juice bottling

There were some enthusiatic helpers

Some went off to the playground afterwards, we headed home with the Deep Enders and plied Katy with tea whilst kids ran around and played.

Helen came home, then Deep Enders left, SB went to Ballet class, girls made get well cards for Nanny S, SB I think beat Helen at Landlock whilst I put BB to bed.

Tuesday – Library day, normal finding books, reading them, chasing up kids etc. Iyt was raining so they wanted to get kitted up in their full Muddypuddles outfits. BB quite comical as hers much too big for her (it’s meant to be a 2-3 but they are sized very big – SB still managed to wear it earlier this year – though a bit small for her by then…) so we probably took longer for them to get dressed up than walking round to the library

SB chose, for the first time to sit out the Storytime story bit and read by herself (but then the stories are aimed at 2-3 yo) – did the colouring though home via the shops.

A lovely bit of quiet whilst they sat on the floor in the playroom reading, and I hid in the kitchen for 20 minutes with a cup of coffee.

On the topic of SB’s reading, it really is zooming along. She got a Rainbows Fairies book out on Saturday, she wasn’t sure about it as she had found them a little bit hard when she had them before a month to two ago. She read the one on Saturday straight through in the afternoon. So we had a couple more of those, and i managed to convince her to try a few books from the Junior Fiction shelf, rather than the simpler ones.

Tuesday afternoon, was lunch, a bit of playing followed by maths and handwriting (it’s really easy multiplication and division but she likes to do it so leaving her be to finish it off), cook dinner for later, try and find out about some Gymnastics classes for SB and she got a book out about Gymnastics and was doing lots of moves out of there. There is a very good Gymnastics club nearby (-ish) but it’s popular and has a longish waiting list. Emailed about a couple of other possibilities as well.

Then the swimming lesson routine, followed by dinner and bedtime. BB didn’t want to go to sleep, and took ages, by which time I was feeling tired/rubbish as the cold/lurgy kicked in, so it was TV and then a (for me) early bed

1 Comment

Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, Out and About, photos, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE

Beading very Merrily

Posted on September 26, 2007 by HHaricot | 1 comment

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

1 Comment

Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, Cooking, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, socialisation, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE

Don’t Forget The Bacon !

Posted on September 15, 2007 by Daddybean | 1 comment

No, we haven’t suddenly turned carnivorous, this has been Butterbean’s saying of the week, they got it from the eponymously named book that we had from the library recently. So she has been running around shouting this a lot

Last couple of days they have been staying at my Mum and Dads, while I attacked a bit more of the arched window. Thursday they went to Mount Fitchet Castle, which was rather drier than when we were there last year.

Friday I think they just pottered about at their house. SB never had the chance for this at BB’s age, as they were all to far away. They do both enjoy going to stay there.
Rest of week, Tuesday is library day, so much reading of old books before we go. Made masks at Storytime:

Then home to read the new stash of books:

followed by a bit of tandem Starfalling:

After lunch, and bit of playing in the garden, Maths and Getty Dubay and then time to get going for swimming lesson, with a short play at the park in between.

Wednesday, umm…. There was some Maths and Getty Dubay, and Education city and maybe some other computery things in the morning, we did something else as well, which eludes me right now – I read something to SB. Afternoon seems to have disappeared. More reading though:

- Helen was back home from work by then. Until I took SB out for her Rainbows boat trip. She had a good time, hooked up with another girl there, R and they were getting on like a house on fire according to her mum who had gone on the boat as well. They had a bit more of a run around while we chatted until SB hit her head on a wall and we left wailing…. We will hopefully arrange a playdate soon. While we were out BB and Helen made another Chocolate Spread Cake:

A couple of snippets from Monday:

BB helped make scrambled egg:

They made this construction from chairs in the kitchen. It is apparently some sort of cot/bed/desk/sofa thing, with built in drinks thing for the baby:

1 Comment

Posted in Books, Butterbean, Daft Stuff, IT, literacy, numeracy, Out and About, photos, socialisation, Stringbean, writing

I’ll get told off again…….

Posted on September 8, 2007 by Daddybean | 6 comments

…if i don’t blog But I do have photos as well in mitigation.

So today, SB has read loads. Usborne Book of Ledgends before breakfast (Hercules I think), as well as a bit of Little hippo DVD (in German) which is one BB’s favourites -she can get it playing now, and select an episode sometimes. And if the folder of downloaded kiddy programs is open she can pick one of those and start that, though she hasn’t worked out how to make it full screen yet (“bigger! bigger!”). She is scarily competent at working the mouse for a not yet 3 yo. Thats’ what having an elder sister does I think.

We had a good sort out of the playroom, clearing up all sorts of detritus from the floor, under and behind sofas etc. SB did a great job at vacuuming it. I rather like the room when not carpeted with crap, just wish we could keep the table even sort of clearish for more than 3 seconds.

Put away more clothes in the girls room. I think that all their clothes that are washed and dried are now put away, a rare event indeed. SB tidied the floor again and made beds as she is on tidy room hit at the moment, then I vacuumed it for her. Did the bathroom as well while I was at it. 3 rooms, that’s plenty for one day .

More reading, she is very keen on the My little Treasury of Stories and Rhymes that she got from the library the other day. She spent an hour or so, before and over lunch reading it. By this point BB had decided to have napped, so it was all rather peaceful.

After lunch is was bit of maths – measuring from Singapore 2A, so pretty simple stuff really. A bit of Getty and Dubay, then they both went off into the garden to play for a bit whilst I started on dinner. Playing seemed to involve most jumping in the paddling pool, getting wet, and then running around like loons shouting ‘I’m bare , I’m bare” Had to make an impromptu run up to the potato farm for potatoes for dinner, where they managed to get a free apple each, by dint of being cute really I think..

Dinner made and in oven, SB had a go at some secret/magic writing, as H had brought home some Tincture of iodine which we had needed. Basically, write/paint of the paper with lemon juice, dip it in water with a bit of TOI in. Paper goes a darkish blue colour due to the starch. THE bit where the juice was stays lighter so you can read it, as there is a different chemical reaction between the acid in the juice and the TOI solution.

BB had been playing and pottering, but noticed she’d put on more Little Hippo This took us pretty much up to dinner time really.

After bath, (H was home by now) there was playing with the wooden train track, with the customary wailing from both children , a bit more Little Hippo. A bit of Education City (apparently i hadn’t let her earlier….???) and then bed. EVen BB who had napped for an hour was asleep by 9.

Started watching Regenesis last night, watched another tonight, quite enjoying them. Makes a change from the normal ‘policy’ type things. Though it is a bit like a microbiological Numb3rs when they launch of into an explanation of some aspect. Been also flipping between Eureka, which is enjoyable and lighthearted – reminds me a bit of Northern Exposure with it’s collection of slightly kooky characters, and Space Above and Beyond, which is mildly diverting, but a bit rubbish overall really. It’s getting bit repetitive now. It has an excellent collection of corny lines though, which is fun

6 Comments

Posted in Books, Butterbean, IT, language, literacy, numeracy, online resources, photos, science, Stringbean, writing

Rainbows

Posted on September 5, 2007 by HHaricot | 8 comments

ALthough I would have quite liked to be at a not back to school party today, SB was ecstatic to be going to her first ever rainbows. We had regular countdowns throughout the day. SHe needs a blue polo neck – does that mean her group is blue then Michelle?

Anyway, lots of playing first thing with the 2 of them together and separately. Quickly romped through some maths and writing practice. SB is doing measuring at the mo, and so went on to measure all sorts around the house. Being of ‘a certain age’ we have various things measuring in inches, so we discussed why we do waists in inches, and heights in cm – well, actually we do that in feet and inches, just cm for you for clothes!

I read a number of books to BB at this point as a snuggle cuddle, and SB wanted in, so she read to us half of tell me how ships float, and I read the other half. A tie in with the magic school bus programme we had watched the other day. So we decided we could do the experiments in our head, and did so! She then played on the rainforest maths that t-bird had so kindly pointed out. BB also had a go too – but the nursery level is a bit above her so she was grumpy!

So BB and I did playing with playdough, and she made some cool monsters. Then was doing cutesy stories with them acting out. We were listening to french songs about time on a CD that I got from ebay. SB meanwhile was back with the DS getting her dog to be trained to ‘stick your bottom out’ ???

I’d had enough of children in different places, so we all reconvened to cut the green leaves to make our rainforest tree, that we were going to do when reading about the rainforest, but never quite got to. The girls loved the idea of sticking it on the wall [chris not so keen, so a paper backing compromise reached!] . SB was VERY tolerant of BB ranting.

SB then started drawing and colouring rainforest fruit and flowers to put on it, and BB and I did a jigsaw. SB remembered a lot of the rainforest stuff – yes, I know it was recent, but I don’t test recall, so never sure what goes in!

Then – drum roll – she cycled off to rainbows with Daddy. She sad it was all right, but will be more exciting next week as they are going on a river cruise – eek!

BB and I went out into the garden, as she was looking v sleepy. So we harvested beans for tea [surprise] watered the greenhouse and picked 2kg [!] of toms. BB very pleaed with this. I noticed that a lot of her harvested toms weren’t making it into the bowl! [we have some cherry toms as well as gardeners delight and tigerella]. Some of our peppers finally going red – making me v happy.

So I had started making spicy [allegedly mild, but i don't think so] red tomato chutney with our own toms and onions. And that sort of threaded through the rest of the evening. The house doesn’t smell too vinegary!

SB came back, and the girls did some more flowers and bitterflies, and those and the ruit are now all on the rainforest canopy. We have had a discussion about the understory and forest floor – we are not putting spiders there.

BB fell asleep in the sling again after tea – she has taken to being put in the sling at teatime. SB was doing her violin practice, so obviously has a soothing effect [rofl] . She then watched Nina and the neurons about taste and saliva before bed time.

She is presently waiting for me to go up and sleep in her bed tonight. I imagine she will force herself to be awake until I get in too. SO might nip up and cuddle her till she sleeps, and if stay awake nip back down.

Flickr has come back, so am flickring a backlog to be tucked into all the last posts!

8 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, Cooking, gardening, General, language, literacy, music, numeracy, science, socialisation, writing

Category Archives: Books

first timetabled day. A maths day

hey its the weekend!

The Longest Day

walking and cycling

SAD

Another little Step on the Way to Indepedndence

Beading very Merrily

Don’t Forget The Bacon !

I’ll get told off again…….

Rainbows

Recent Posts

Recent Comments

Archives

Meta

home ed blogs

useful links

Pages