Category Archives: Butterbean’s HE

well, we weren’t late for *everything*

But nearly!!

We started off being late for latin group. It is sort of latin plus craft plus science. Katy did a fab latin lesson – but we’ve lost our minimums textbook, and I have forgotten bits of it! I then – rather foolishly – decided to revisit the wreath craft!Katy’s house now full of clippings from my garden, and 3 very creditable wreaths were made – though one of those played with so much it has a bedraggled air now! What I hadn’t realised was that there would be a dearth of knot tying ability. If I had had more wire thingies, it would have been easier. [will remember that for the future! Anyway, those that did it seemed happy enough. there was also some mince pie, jam ‘heart’ and bread roll making. [oh, we were late!]

IMG_2065

We skedaddled off to bowling at a not-so-local venue! We were early – hooray!!! We really enjoyed it, and were only 4 littlies in our lane, so nicely organised that they didn’t feel that they were under pressure! Actually with the lane bars up and the rolling down thingy, it was quite straightforward. Mind you, that didn’t stop us having to get SB’s ball rescued once, that A’s lane didn’t clear and we called an SOS. The piece de resistance goes to A and her mum though, for playing boules to knock recalcitrant stopped balls the final few metres. On the first occasion, the second ball knocked the first through, and then slowly carried on downwards to end up going through just as the barrier thing lifted – so 2 throws as one as it were. But the killer one was when the first ball went through, and the second one was flipped back by the barrier thing as it lifted, leaving us able to catch it back at our end once it had rolled all the way back. What skill!

IMG_2078 IMG_2076 Oh dear!!!!

The we dashed back for the rainbows party [late]. SB enjoyed it a lot though, so that’s good, and BB played with her new farm. When SB came back we had tea and then made sweeties for christmas pressies. The girls were very adept at dipping the ingredients into the chocolate. We will sort out the boxes tomorrow.

Wreathed in smiles

Today also a busy day! We did some ‘home ed’ – Piano practice [she is getting confident at good king wenceslas], maths and writing. BB did some painting. We read books together – a bit on the Saxons and Sutton Hoo with SB, and BB and I read a book where she pretended to sound out words [panic not, she was entirely making it up!]. Both girls have done a lot of singing.

We spent A LOT of time making some festive wreaths to go on various doors. SB really was pleased to do it, and didn’t make any fuss about holly – I did say it wasn’t compulsory! We also had ivy, pine and bay branches. BB decided not to make it, she did some stamping and also playing with various toys.

IMG_1991 IMG_1987

We then made some banana and chocolate muffins [to freeze for christmas breakfast – the list is gradually getting ticked off! Just in time for Nana and Grandad to arrive and give BB the wonderful farm for her birthday. [actually it isn’t quite that one, Merry ordered the other one for us [thankyou xx]. BB overjoyed and has played with it non stop since – as has SB.

IMG_2055
Oh, I did manage to take some passable piccies of the girls with tree – see below! And, if you go to the pages on the sidebar, I am gradually doing a craft and bake post!

After BB into bed, SB and I have made cheese scones for tomorrow – we have a VERY busy day ahead! I am making the last curry – phew! Chris is making sausage rolls for tomorrow, all go here.

A Nice Winter’s Walk

yesterday we met up with Michelle and family for a woodland walk and hopefully some bird viewing. It was a bit chilly, so we were all well wrapped, and arrived with not a huge difference between us – so not bad!

both girls were laden with cameras as part of the idea is that they are going to record what interests them on the walk, and be able to see some seasonal changes.

We did go in the bird hide briefly – but BB’s gentle rendition of away in a manger was annoying the other chap there [though not the birds!] , so we decided to mostly walk. It was a lovely walk, and we had a good terrain change with a disused quarry to walk down and up as well. Somewhere near the bottom it was apparent that the sun was likely to set before we made it back to the car, so we did less photography and more walking!

It was indeed quite dark by the time we got back to the car, but the dark walking had been on an easy path rather than quarry steps, so OK there, and we were alll set for food cooked by Marcus.

It was delicious – as always. And a lovely evening at their house before getting home far too late! The girls did great HE box ticking, by reading loads of Michelles interesting maths books, looking at Chloes tornado and twister facts, and drawing! BB was mostly adorable, but has left orange lizard behind. In the car she was making up songs for it ‘snakes aren’t interesting but lizards is’, and we did lots of carol singing. BB really does have a lovely singing voice and can hold a tune beautifully. Both girls enjoy singing and making up tunes and words. SB and I did latin in the car on the way home – car ed at its best!!
Thanks to our hosts!

I think I will add my photos to this blogpost, and at some point see if SB wants to do her own!!!

cough cough splutter splutter

which has been my scintillating conversational skills!

Me and the girls have been very busy today. First off we read the St Lucia bit from while the bear sleeps [barefoot books]. I know the day is tomorrow, but we are out, so we did it today. After reading, we went on to make some St Lucia crowns

St Lucia crowns IMG_1755

And then the girls went on to do some christmas stamping – allegedly to laminate and turn into table mats, but BB’s were just playing a game with each other, and SB’s is ‘minimal’ so we shall see!

Whilst they were doing this I was making the lasagne filling. I am v happy being a vegetarian, and no desire to eat meat, but sometimes chopping veg just takes TOO long, especially when you are making 4 lasagne [for 14]. because my attention was distracted, the children became distracting, so I bailed out of the last few veg, and we went and labelled the christmas cards. Muddlepuddlers be of good cheer, your cards are on the way – and open over the sink! Since with family cards we were talking of 50-ish, this took quite some time! BB also played with playdough. Chris took the difficult things into the post office and managed to cause a nice jam!
IMG_1753

We had a late lunch [3-ish] and SB hurried off to rainbows. BB and I did some playing with her duplo, and then made her gingerbread man kit she got for her birthday – with lots of run run… Whilst it was cooking she did some starfall, starting with the gingerbread man one but then dotting about.
IMG_1766  IMG_1783

When Sb returned they both decorated them, had a bath and then a light supper. SB has done some more of ‘the surprise’ with me, and read to me magic tree house and thomas the tank books.

i must look up tomorrows route and get an early night.

at home feelin fluey

Both SB and I have felt under the weather today, and taken our relative doses of nurofen. Unfortunately it meant that she missed the local group Xmas party, which is usually fabulous, and certainly the thankyous on the list suggest it was again.

Instead we have had short bursts of activity and lots of cuddles. BB wanted to make fimo Xmas trees like SB made last year, so we sat and made some, and some stars, and they are now hanging on the girls tree. SB then cooured in a SOTW map about the saxons whilst BB and I played a number counting game with frogs [or ribbets]. Both got grumped at fr playing so hard with the xmas decs that they were breaking left right and centre – nothing that a bit of glue wont sort though.

SB and I read some of the saxon pages from out english history series, and discussed the pictures, what it must have been like to live in raiding times. Moving on to war in general, she couldn’t quite understand how it could still go on. I reassured her that we weren’t imminently likely to be raided here [noting how sensitive she has been of late - she hasn't played animal crossing again...]

erm. general milling about and playing! I read Sb and BB some read alouds. BB particularly likes anything with a duck or egg in it. We then made some more 6 point stargodseyes I played a bit of scrabulous – the only bit of facebook for me I think!! [Tim is about to finish totally thrashing me!! - at present 482:330!!]

erm, I went and had my annual appraisal at work – and so the process begins! Whilst I was there, SB went swimming, and came out of the pool early as not feeling well. Good on her for trying anyway. When I got back, BB was asleep, and CHris was reading SB a science book [the usborne lift the flap we bought from Joanna which she enjoys v much. BB had fallen asleep and has not woken up from that yet!
We then snuggled in front of the TV on a programme about the earths atmosphere – so riveting we both fell asleep! So SB in bed, and I am drinking lots of fluids to try and drive this lurgy feeling away – or at least not get a migraine on top.

Thanks Sarah – the books arrived today, and SB has had a look at the 2B already. oh. and in ne of my scrabulous games i have all vowels  humph!!

guess a quick catch up in order!

we still haven’t posted the early years cards = must do that!

Sb still happy with her timetable

christmas seems to have got here v quickly

I got the job! [co-ordinating some workbased education - but get to be called a programme director!]

Hmm, chris and SB have done some SOTW, she has doen computery things – such as the DK science explorer, and some solar stuff. Actually, today, she got off a chair, and said she knew why she jumped and came down. when she jumped she had enough energy to woosh her up, and then gravity pulled her back down. on the moon she would woosh up further. [i suggested she may even woosh off potentially!]. she;s done some maths and handwriting, made a cracker for xmas. together we have a secret project for daddybeans xmas present. i PROMISE it is better than the girls world head he got last year! She had a raucous playdate yesterday with R, her village-friend.
today I  was at work for part of the day. Chris says SB spent nearly all that time DS-ing on animal crossing – i gave it to her yesterday. she ds-ed for a further 2 HOURS when I got home – at which point i said she had had enough. Meanwhile BB and I played Hiss, with the lego and with her dinosaurs. SB moved onto a violin practice – consolidating notes! and then some webland [well rather a lot of webland] followed by rather a lot of jump ahead year 2. It seems to have been a v computery day!

BB and i made some 6 spoke godseyes – known as stars for Xmas tree, and SB also joined in. we have hung them on our ‘tasteful’ tree. chris bought the 2 real trees, and they will be put up tomorrow while I am at work. BB and I read books together, SB read books herself. BB and I played a number counting and matching game.
ermm, we watched ‘mary on the prairie’ and SB and i did some more secret project! bedtime books and she has ds-ed!

interviewed

Think i might be hoping the other guy did better. not sure – so indecisive!! It was midday though, so kinda ruined the whole day. the morning with the preinterview worries, and the afternoon coming down from interview high – poor buggers, having to listen to me on my soapbox expounding on education!! [btw, this is just a tack on to present post, no radical huge change! more hours though]

The violin strings game from bonners, so the violin is restrung. so had lost her music book – so have looked at the first tune a day book, and done lesson 3. rather stupidly [especially since I spent a proportion of the day saying I was god's gift to education] it hadn’t crossed my mind that SB’s reading of music is situation specific – ie she can find the piano note associated with the musical representation, but has ‘not a single clue’ [how she put it] what that note may be for violin. Her first violin basically uses the letters rather than the musical representation. Its obvious NOW of course! However, lesson 3 starts with d string notes, and actually she is quickly stringing them together.
Oh well, also today there was lots of playing with duplo and lego – S built a pyramid amongst other things, and both girls enjoyed both sizes, the kids k’nex also made an appearance and the marble run.

SB read a book about 5 brilliant scientists from scholastics great black heroes set, and was partcularly taken by how many things you can use peanuts for, and wants to make peanut soap. recipes please!! She also did some singapore maths [having done on line CIMT yesterday – sarah, do i need to send you money [how much] and address??], french on education city – leading to a discussion on whether it counted as french or education city – chose to tick education city on timetable!

we read a story about st nicholas, the st nick bit from while the bear sleeps, and have slippers out in hope. Also the usual bedtime reads. Have found my 13 days of christmas as a read aloud this year. Obviously a MUCH older book – the one I had as a child!

BB and I did some more christmas stamping -v over the top coverage of the card! in the end we were playing some complicated game where the stamps were friends, having picnics etc… SB was at rainbows. Fair bit of christmas carol singing. SB reprised her solar power experiment [under desk lamp] and we talked about electrons again – she seems to have got atoms comfortable in head, and electrons moving along like newtons cradle [well, ok, its not quite, but it sort of makes the flow of current make sense!]

BB still awake. she is such a cutie – i was singing and stroking her forehead n a sleep encouraging way, so she stroked my forehead and gave me lots of kisses!

Think thats it?

we’ve done the christmas cards

totally amazing isn’t it! well, when I say done, we obviously haven’t written in them, addressed and stamped envelopes and sent them off, that will take another 2 weeks! No, we have finished the artwork. when i came home I did stamping with B then with SB and after she came back from swimming, and a final glitter fest! Sb has mostly been at the home ed sports session, and then went to the park afterwards. SO a very fit day for her today!

IMG_1832 lots of cards!

IMG_1840

When we were at home, I was going to do a piano session, but the fgirls were playing so fantastically with the bob duplo together, that I just enjoyed it with them.

Blogging in front of an open fire

Also firmly wrapped in duvet – its winter you know!

Had a fun day today, though we didn’t do what was planned – which was to go to a Christmas market. the weather earlier today was yukk and by the time it had improved we were stuck into other things.

SB quickly had done some handwriting practice this morning, and had stuck on Muzzy german by the time I went downstairs [had been playing sill games with BB in bed]. She was waiting for me to print off the next timetable – so much for it being a one week wonder. Realised this is a bad time of year to start, as it is the month of christmas ed! Might try some ‘customisation’ of the timetable.

BB‘s mind has really been duplo oriented since she got the Bob duplo for her birthday. today we made houses, fixed things and were more or less trapped by bobness! SB also enthusiastically joined in.

IMG_1646

IMG_1655

SB did some piano practice. we are going a bit slower as now she has to actually know what the note is, as the hands move slightly. so e tend to have some free play making up a tune and then some practice. She was so proud though when she played twinkle twinkle all the way through!

More bobness for the girls whilst chris and i prepared for the start of christmas card extravaganza! we have gone for potato printing plus glitter and stuff this year – early years card list, you have been warned! so much fun doing that.

IMG_1673 IMG_1672

and then MORE bob duplo for BB and I read SB about grasslands. She then did some dot to dot and a counting book with BB.

IMG_1679

the cards being sort of dry, it was time to start the glitter fest – even chris couldn’t resist the lure of glue and glitter! half are done. they are planning to stamp things inside as well, so our usual OTT ouvre!

IMG_1680

we finished with hama beading and then some little house on the prairie eating hot chestnuts. SB has read me some magic tree house, and I have read her the next chicken soup for the soul story.

IMG_1687

Advent Lights

well, so its the end of the timetable week. I took a picture of it, but we’ve then done a few extra things so need to do it again! IMG_1823

So today, excitement at getting a chocolate from an advent calendar. Even more excitement when chris’s parents came round and gave them each another one. Game playing with grandparents, then SB was going to do violin – and we found the snapped string! So she did some singapore maths 2B, and then spent ages on education city – we had a huge wobbly over telling the time, so practiced over and over again, and think she might now have got it! She also did some writing practice and then more playing before grandparents left.

BB was mostly playing with her bob the builder duplo, but she also likes making patterns with the connect 4 game, and did some playing with poisson rouge. we read books – she now reads some to me too, mostly describing the picture, but she is good at red nose readers.

We put on some xmas music and gave the playroom a good tidy whilst chris was out getting some bits and pieces. looks much better! BB did her ‘match and sort‘ drawing round shapes and numbers. she did an amazingly perfect dot to dot as well – from 1-10 in order! [think this might be a fluke...] and had some lovely strops and eye rollings.

IMG_1822

ermm, we read the first while the bear sleeps story – always nice to get back to that. SB and I did the questions and narrations for the SOTW chapter we did this week – she had remembered a lot actually from other books too. we had a french conversation, and looked at our usborne le ferme des pommiers! quite a discussion after that and also singing away in a manger on polite and friendly yous [rofl!].

BB and I baked a chocolate cake whilst SB did some colouring and then piano practice. it was a bit of a scramble then to get out of the house.

IMG_1641

SB was helping the rainbows deal out mince pies [free] at the grand light switch on in the village. She was really proud of being so helpful. The local brass band played carols, and most of the houses got their lights to go on at roughly the switch on time. we – of course – did not. on returning home i found the socket switched off. sigh. I had tried to persuade chris to walk all 10m home and check! The local car driven sleigh made an appearance with sweetie wielding FC. It was cold then, and I had totally forgotten we were supposed to be going to ‘the big house’ afterwards – though we did meet them and R and had a chat, and also the couple and children who used to be know on blog as home-dad [long since back at work!] so very nice.

IMG_1633 IMG_1636

Got home, BB into bed and SB and I made chocolate cornflake cakes before watching a to the beginners guide cosmos -about black holes etc. v exciting. I think SB enjoys them! She is now in bed and we have moved from the balloon book to chicken soup for the soul – a story for each advent day.

SB does want to continue on with the timetable.