Category Archives: Butterbean

First Fire

Of the year, though a couple of evenings it would have been nice. As yet not had heating on except the occasional visitor – ie little Nanny!

Today wasn’t as planned, as I anticipated going to Flag Fen. however, both irls having a lot of fun together all morning playing imaginative games upstairs, so decided to let live. Of couse they couldn’t do the same at all pm! SB and BB read Merry’s catalogues, and ticked pretty much everything in it. Hmm! SB quite clued up that she will get v little of what ticked, so I pointed out, that she should tick her MOST favourites only else we will just choose – thats fine apparently.

She did education city whilst BB and I played with the lego and read books. SB then joined in, but her and BB were in a #not quite matching mode, so we all went outside to let off steam. SB and BB harvested all the pears [about 12 - should count!] apples and beans. Racing around duly done!

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SB then did some piano practice – very nicely. she particularly enjoys the piano. After that, we played at being housemaids, and beeswaxed the wood panelling on the stairs. Well, SB helped put it on, but removing was a bit like hard graft, so I did that – looks better for it though.

Polishing

Much general play – mostly with the castle, then watched really wild show downloaded whilst eating cinnamon toasts – mmm lovely! SB and I looked at a maps book [briefly!] before we went to bake cakes – banana choc and cinnamon loaf. Hasn’t risen as much as normal, so no doubt missed something or other out. tastes fine though! SB drooled over the fimo we bought from Merry – particularly the translucent orange one for doing pumpkins!

Hmm, just been looking at earthships [thanks Dani and Gill] . What a fantastic idea. Up for that really – and so much better in a village/community setting. Anyway, back to blogging

ermm. oh, yes, we then watched some mama mirabelle, BB got her numberjacks fix, SB and I had a very long cuddle and snuggle, I read apple tree farm books to BB, Sb practiced ballet moves. Oh, and nearly forgot, she did some violin practice too. in the end I had to be fairly insistent that we finish it, as she had done half an hour, and was getting stressed out by accidentally playing 2 strings at once occasionally. I am wondering if she is too much of a perfectionist for the violin?
After tea, we played continuo. A rather great thinking game, and SB won! She has read me some magic tree house, and is now reading a felicity wishes book in bed.

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Madly Socialising

Somewhat late in blogging myself! pots and kettles from Chris!

Wed we went to the first Latinetc group meeting. A few local home ed families are getting together to look at minimus Latin, and SB was interested . Crafts and science extras also. We were late – surprise! Katy took the children though to say SB sum, listen to some myths and legends and play a roman based game , i think, cos I was mostly playing with BB and chatting with the other mums – one of whom was cooking yummy soup.

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Children then ran around for a bit to blow off some steam, and then I pretended to be Nina of the neurons, and we thought about how we found out about the world, about our 5 senses and then concentrated on taste. I had brought various things to taste, and incorporated some of Katy’s. Unfortunately, I missed taking a pic of K with a huge amount of coffee granules in his mouth priceless! We chatted about the different things we taste, and why they may have been important, and that sweet and salty were our favourites.

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Lunch – yummy soup, SB had 4 helpings!! then children careering around the garden, BB playing with plasticine and adults gently chatting. A phone call from Chris reminded me about rainbows, and we just made it. We also came back early to watch SB proudly walk the rainbow path – she loves it!

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Today I initially had to go into work. The we zoomed off to Merry’s. I didn’t spend quite as much as I thought! Though have only actually paid for part of the order, and am going to add to it – so should keep mouth shut. Oh, and Mondeo racked up a £700 service bill, and still has to have a slipping clutch done on top.

Anyway, off to Merry’s and girls had a great time playing and putting on a show. Merry and I got to talk – nearly peacefully on occasion, but BB threw a lovely sulk – to everyone’s amusement. Both girls much taken by the press hama kits

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home and both girls asleep. Chris has sorted out the electricity circuit prob we had – took most of the day unfortunately, as out big window is stripped and exposed to elements.

Have flickred and addede the odd photo

Aargh Blogging

Chris has loads of half written posts that need finishing!

I obviously worked a lot last week, but also tried to do as much as poss at home – playing games with SB after BB in bed a consistently good thing, and we have felted and hama-ed.

Errm, keeping going with violin, and she did some spontaneous piano practice tody – woohoo! musical instruments are gradually tuning in her brain too – she is much better at singing a tune, so hopefully wont be as tone deaf as Chris.
Maths and handwriting regularly done, we are nearing the end of first story of the world. DO I think she remembers it – not a lot, but hopefully setting the scene as it were! Quite a bit of crafting and arting. Read about pompeii -buried alive, and ring of fire from sonlight. and also the leap ahead volcano, and read through a volcano book. More playing with the ello and ds. Jump ahead and zoombinis on ‘puter, and watching various natural history progs. SB reading loads – fairy books, felicity ewishes, horrid henry and anything she can get her hands on.
girls and chris swimming at the weekend – we’re trying to get back into the habit of going on a sunday as BB loves it

Girls and chris went to see oliver twist yesterday – SB found it too scary, and had difficulty getting to sleep. we talked about our visit to gressenhall, and the rellies that were born there, but she was still unhappy – doesn’t want to learn about victorians! then playing with firends and shoe buying. SB eventually got some felicity wishes boots. they sparkle along the side!
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SB is rather frighteningly gaining a waist and indefinably ‘older’. PANIC!!

BB is also getting small girlish. She counts and pretends to read alot. SHe is great at switiching on her ‘puter, finding the kids downloads and choosing one to watch – scary! Her drawing and painting is very careful,, often with a story to it, that she chats or sings along with. BB excellent at singing. I think she may well have inherited my perfect pitch. She is also getting careful with hama beading. Her vocab is excellent – prob due to having SB as an older sister. Still well into her numberjacks addiction!

My Mum seems to be OK post surgery – phew. Unfortunately found today that my godfather has been admitted to my local tertiary hospital neuro unit and not at all well. intubated and ventilated for th last 5 days – so I would appreciate any positive thoughts.

hmmm, there have been loads of things I thought I should blog from both girls – can’t remember them for toffee!! Hopefully chris will [subtle nudge!!]

visitors

we were supposed to meet up for a day in the woods, but the weather looked grim, i had had a not brill nigh and still have migraine, so visitors came to ours. they were laden with games, so a HUGE game fest went on and we had a great time. didn’t take many photos as chatting and playing!

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prior to their arrival, SB was racing through her maths book, did some more decorating of Mum’s get well card. BB and I baked some cookies too. She has also read ring of fire, to go with our vaguely volcano vaguely roman feel to the week!

Another little Step on the Way to Indepedndence

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

Our Transport

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 etcIntroduction to the Farm

Picked and munched on apples

Expectant Faces watch an Apple Being PolishedBB MunchingApple Picking

Learnt about grafting different apples onto another tree

Explaining Grafting

Had a look at how they grade the apples

The Apple Grading Machine

And at the juice bottling

Juice Bottling

There were some enthusiatic helpers :-)

Lots More Helping Hands

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 :roll:

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

argh, eek, aahhhh

or words to that effec. feeling a bit blog stuck, so will perhaps just type!

Rainbows – i really, really hate it mucking up my wednesdays. especially when i now go in occassionally in the morning to earn a bit more. humph. positives though, are the playdates she has had with R. They have got on like a house on fire, and she lives in the village.

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Just what we had hoped for from rainbows to be honest. Also, that BB and I spend time together without SB feeling jealous, or me feeling i am juggling things. thats nice as well. So I forgive rainbows, but only just!

Teeth – what a total palaver that has been! mon Sb got herself really worked up by the tooth hanging on by a thread, so we had a really long bedtime settle down, lots of hugs and chats. No good, it was to thread like and she couldn’t sleep, so in the end I pulled it out. Fabtastic, tooth gone. the next night loads of wails and tears that losing her baby teeth. I wonder whether she is worried about getting older? Something other than just the teeth must e at he bottom of this. Again as massively long reassuring bedtime. tooth replaced. I want to smooth out her life and protect her from all upsets. But teeth trauma? what is that about.

numberjacks. BB is totally besotted and adores them. she knows all the characters and makes up her own stories. She would also like to just watch back to back, but can be ditracted!

BB is just such an adorable pickle. If we say no, and she goes with it, she has this sad head down walk she does – often! and I love all her phrases ‘sorry ’bout that’ etc. SHe is very good at sorting shapes, and very careful with her painting and makings. SHe loves to be loved.

So yes, I feel, as always , blessed by my children.

eek – I was speaking to someone at work who was considering having a hysterectomy [for fibroids], as now she was 40 she had no real need for ‘those bits’. I think its the first time that I have been so acutely aware of time ticking and the biological clock. I am nearly 39! How did that happen? If I want to think of a third child and all the fertility nightmare, then I need to do it sooner than later. argh

But we did a lot today. Whilst I was at work. SB rattled through some maths and writing, and we did a violin practise together. We watched Nina and the neurons and some mr maker or something programme, and he made a string painting tree. Both girls desperate to do that, so I got string and paints and patted myself on shoulder at following through. SB proceeded to paint her ‘rainbow box’ and BB insisted on having one too. So they did that. both exceptionally careful with their design.

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We then decided to do some games. BB chose SB’s fiendishly difficult fish puzzle from E and R. Both girls made a stab of it, and S did rather well. It degenerated into some non-sharing [BB] so we changed tack and played Hisss . I read both the romulus and remus story. SB also did some first language lessons – we are jumping forwards skipping out chunks!< /p>

get the game! Mega ocean game

Rainbows [SB fetchingly dressed in asda skirt [thanks t-bird] looking v schooly], and Chris helped out to a visit to the library and SB v excited. BB and I fed the fish, cuddled, played snap, made ice lollies and were making choc oat muffins when Sb and Chris returned.

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SB did some cbbc complicated games (Edit – link added by Chris – it’s the BBC Bitesize KS2 bit) math based with means/medians and modes, making pictographs, looking at probaility. all sorts of things we haven’t covered but she soon grasped. BB watched muzzy[her choice] but when sleep seemed to catch her both were whisked upstairs for a bath efore tea. [ken hom and noodles, yummy]

SB and I played some more games before her bedtme. I started to mindmap a whole day of interactve postgrad teaching/lecturing that i foolishly vounteered for, thinking that I could persuade others to help out – nope! ny 6 hours to fill [aargh]. So the computer has been playing up! SO now chilling, blogging and watching regenesis – ahhh.

Rainbows, celts and more craft!

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!

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

A Crafty Day with a numberjack theme

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.

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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 :roll: so maybe you can start selling little numberjack kits for anyone else with fussy children – numberjacks make perfect fimo for beginners shapes!!

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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 :smile: so I shew her a ‘make your own coil pot‘ and away she went. Beautiful.

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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.

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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].

starting grape, plum and apple jelly

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!

IMG_9841  starting halloween prep
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.

A Small Insight into the Mind of a 2 Year Old

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…..

BB's Toilet Painting

Beading very Merrily

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.
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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.

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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