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	<title>Petits Haricots &#187; Cooking</title>
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	<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog</link>
	<description>The life and times of  a couple of little beans......</description>
	<pubDate>Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:17:05 +0000</pubDate>
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		<title>a game of 2 halves</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2010/02/10/a-game-of-2-halves-3/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2010/02/10/a-game-of-2-halves-3/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 22:45:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Butterbean's HE]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Stringbean's HE]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[art and crafts]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[investigating]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[little languages]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[music]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[science]]></category>

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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=4268</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[chris and i stayed up a bit too late with playing online agricola with the babs last night [i won - yay!] SB also had a late bedtime, having read a book she then got scared by, so had to have time to read a more comforting book, so was v tired today!
whe we got [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>chris and i stayed up a bit too late with playing online agricola with the babs last night [i won - yay!] SB also had a late bedtime, having read a book she then got scared by, so had to have time to read a more comforting book, so was v tired today!</p>
<p>whe we got up, it was snowing - again! and quite hard, but a quick check suggested no snow at merry&#8217;s, so the science stuff was gathered and we set off. we were also the firsterers there!! actually, due to a number of circs we were 2 families down and one family up, and that worked pretty well! Did science in dribs and drabs, as it was basically setting it up and then watching what happens.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrumble/4347638192/" class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Small"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4347638192_fc04655c28_m.jpg" alt="IMG_2370" width="240" height="180" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrumble/4346900325/" class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Small"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4346900325_927b16dc73_m.jpg" alt="IMG_2380" width="180" height="240" border="0" /></a> </p>
<p>as we are on a &#8216;biology&#8217; term, and roughly looking at microbiology, today we looked at yeasts. We have done a fair bit of discussion on and off about bodies, energy sources and then lungs, oxygen and carbon dioxide, so we did a bit of a recap. there was surprise that yeast might be &#8216;alive&#8217; so this wasn&#8217;t a simple chemical reaction. that actually what was happening was the yeast would be using sugar to fuel the division into 2 [actually this is a bit of a simplification, as yeasts actually bud off rather than divide like bacteria] that they are single celled organisisms of funghi. we knew what it was used for, and i briefly touched on the krebbs cycle without naming and shaming it, saying effectively to make the energy, a gas was given off as a waste product. we had quite a talk about the various gas possibilities, but mostly settled on CO2, partly because this is something we breathe out as a waste, and partly because i had brought along some lime water to test for co2!! so we used my beautiful new erlenmeyer beakers and placed 5 spoons sugar, one heaped yeast and 250mls warm water and topped off with a balloon. soon enough this began to fill with &#8216;the gas&#8217; and then each got a chance to mix &#8216;the gas&#8217; with lime water - which rather fabulously went cloudy! and also to put a lit match into it - which v satisfactorily immed went out. so we learnt a bit about micro orgs, their needs, and waste products, and how to test for them. fab! this book suits this experiment pretty well, and we read it again earlier this week</p>
<p><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&#038;bc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;fc1=000000&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;t=petitsharicot-21&#038;o=2&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;m=amazon&#038;f=ifr&#038;md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&#038;asins=1842481223" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"> </iframe><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrumble/4346908433/" class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Small"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2791/4346908433_891b00bec8_m.jpg" alt="IMG_2392" width="180" height="240" border="0" /></a> </p>
<p>I also did some of the sampler sewing - not as well as Merry! Kty did french, the children voluntarily did some music, and Zoe was pasta and tea maker - thanks! there was no snow at merry&#8217;s, tho it did snow on and off. we got back well in time for brownies - still snow here!</p>
<p><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&#038;bc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;fc1=000000&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;t=petitsharicot-21&#038;o=2&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;m=amazon&#038;f=ifr&#038;md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&#038;asins=056352006X" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>BB had her face painted and then decided she was tired [she fell asleep in the car on the way home whilst SB and I sang along to serge - above] and watched star wars whilst i snoozed. </p>
<p>SB was at brownies making valentines biscuits and then judo. this is the game of 2 halves, as this owl has a very brusque and brisk nature, and is just one of those busy women who perhaps SB isn&#8217;t so used to. so she asked to get changed in her toilet [it was at the big house for cooking] and j agreed, but whilst she was doing it, she was called for, and couldn&#8217;t hear so then got told off. then found someone else had taken her biscuits as they looked nicer, which she had made for me. SO loads of tears. Arrgh. I know she was prob stressed, but this isn&#8217;t the first time SB has cried. And yes Sb wears her heart on her sleeve and has no thickness of skin to speak of, but i do think that this being so a bit of compassion over the taken biscuits and actually, since sb had asked to change in the loo&#8230; oh well. we had a long discussion about different folks, and that j would prob be surprised that that exchange had made sb cry&#8230; btw Merry and katy, SB says she just isn&#8217;t used to shouty ppl as we and you don&#8217;t shout! Anyway, lots and lots of hugs on return, watching magic school bus inside ralphie episode, and to bed as a happy girl again.</p>
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		<title>wednesday science madness!!</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/12/17/wednesday-science-madness/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/12/17/wednesday-science-madness/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:43:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Books]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Butterbean's HE]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Stringbean's HE]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[art and crafts]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[daubing and making]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[investigating]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[language]]></category>

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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=4096</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[before we get to today, i thought i would just like to say i went out to a restaurant both monday and tuesday! monday with chris, as girls at nanna&#8217;s so we made the most of the evening by going out to a local turkish, which was delish! tuesday was work night out at a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>before we get to today, i thought i would just like to say i went out to a restaurant both monday and tuesday! monday with chris, as girls at nanna&#8217;s so we made the most of the evening by going out to a local turkish, which was delish! tuesday was work night out at a chinese-malaysian - mucho yummy! had mock peking duck for the first time and liked it [have always steered a bit clear of the mock things!] must take chris there, it was near where the deependers live so would recommend it, tho a bit on the pricy side! mind you, the non veggies all had lobster as one of the courses, so i am guessing if i had been with chris it might have been half that price!</p>
<p>and so to wed, thought would raise christmas cheer with the science, and thinking hard for a good end of year finale, decided on crystal structure! went really well. we looked at crystals with SB&#8217;s rather fab microscope<br />
<iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&#038;bc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;fc1=000000&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;t=petitsharicot-21&#038;o=2&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;m=amazon&#038;f=ifr&#038;md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&#038;asins=B0002HLKI2" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>now, this has mixed reviews, so anyone considering one, i think digital with usb port is a fab thing, it works quickly and easily and the laptop we run it on is our oldest one. the x200 doesn&#8217;t have enough light, so i agree there, but if you see one of these going cheap, snap it up, as far more fun than something you have to look down eyepieces for! all the children were v interested in it, from the v youngest, and it was quite some time before BB declared boredom! tho i notice that when they moved to slides, she was still watching!</p>
<p>we discussed crystals, how they form, and that if i had a powerful enough microscope [they don't do toy electron microscopes yet!] we could have seen the actual crystalline structure - which we discussed! then, whilst gina did music theory we them, i prepared my ace card - we made the crystalline structures out of maltesers held with royal icing. great fun! enjoyeed thoroughly by all, and hoping that they might remember some of them [i said them till blue in face!] simple cube, face centered cube, body centred cube, hexagonal close packed. and here are some examples!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrumble/4191440100/" class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Small"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2676/4191440100_7c8e950b2a_m.jpg" alt="IMG_0143" width="180" height="240" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/scrumble/4191437132/" class="tt-flickr tt-flickr-Small"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4191437132_6a1b6626fd_m.jpg" alt="IMG_0119" width="240" height="180" border="0" /></a>  <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif' alt=':lol:' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>actually it was a busy session and v much enjoyed by all. Gina also did bells with the big&#8217;uns and clarinet with the SB. Merry continued with sewing samplers with everyone - remarkably patient with all the needle traumas! BB also remarkably patient with hers. katy did latin christmas carols [well, latin translations!] and french and also boiled sweetie window biscuits. All went down really well, lots of happy laughing kids learning lots.</p>
<p>we were not only first to arrive [as hadn't seen any morning emails!] but also first to leave, as BB wanted to go to the rainbows christmas party. she didn&#8217;t join in any game, but when we ate, a girl sat with us, and they got on well, as she was really outgoing and friendly. not sure if bb will ever go to rainbows again, but she was much happier having had this interaction. i think she is just much younger than the others - prob directly due to home educating as we don&#8217;t push the outward facing thing.</p>
<p>SB had brownies party afterwards, which apparently didn&#8217;t have enough games. we watched doctor who, a crazy long bath was had, and the day was done.</p>
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		<item>
		<title>lets try and do a decent blog!!</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/10/11/lets-try-and-do-a-decent-blog/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/10/11/lets-try-and-do-a-decent-blog/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 11 Oct 2009 18:55:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Butterbean]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Butterbean's HE]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Cooking]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Out and About]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[SB-PE]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Stringbean]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[Stringbean's HE]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[art and crafts]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[daubing and making]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[early maths skills]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[geography]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[history]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[music]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[numeracy]]></category>

		<category><![CDATA[online resources]]></category>

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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=3866</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[chris and the girls had a busy end of week whilst i was away on a lovely course at Madingley Hall in cambridge. v fab!! I got to start an new book there, which i am REALLY enjoying.

on thurs they went into town and had a bit of a shop. SB is on the lanky [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>chris and the girls had a busy end of week whilst i was away on a lovely course at Madingley Hall in cambridge. v fab!! I got to start an new book there, which i am REALLY enjoying.</p>
<p><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&#038;bc1=000000&#038;IS2=1&#038;bg1=FFFFFF&#038;fc1=000000&#038;lc1=0000FF&#038;t=petitsharicot-21&#038;o=2&#038;p=8&#038;l=as1&#038;m=amazon&#038;f=ifr&#038;md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&#038;asins=0099410680" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p>on <strong>thurs</strong> they went into town and had a bit of a shop. SB is on the lanky side, so has great difficulty in finding trousers that stay up without having to bunch lots of material up either with with elastic or belts. so they popped in to next, and a small fortune later she is really happy! BB had boot heaven at clarke&#8217;s, but SB not so fortunate, as with an E fitting there seems to be no shoes for her. the specialist shop in town seems to have closed down, so a bit more of a search is in order <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif' alt=':roll:' class='wp-smiley' /> i remember this from my childhood! They then went onto a home ed friend for a playdate before rushing back for gym.</p>
<p><strong>friday</strong>. ah yes, a home ed visit to a local orchard. a yearly event where the rather long suffering owner drives round the home ed rabble on a wagon hitched to the tractor!! i have been before, and it is excellent. he is v informative, the children get to try different apples, including new varieties and old trusted, and also see the sorting bit. he makes juices as well. SB came back with armfuls. BB had her footie lesson later on and then both happy to see me <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':smile:' class='wp-smiley' /> we have found the yoga dvd, and both girls rather cutely did it. SB and i both had a giggle reading the bagthorpe saga - our bedtime story. SB has decided she is rather good at doing trances - i v much agree, having seen her trance for over 30 mins doing one maths sum!!</p>
<p><strong>Saturday</strong>. we started with the quest seekers presentation at the library. a bit weirdly it started by a speech about how hard reading was and why most children don&#8217;t choose to do it - this may be true, but seemed an odd start to the thing. and anyway, mine love reading, and i imagine a fair number of the other questseekers do too!! BB won the questseeker raffle and got a little ball game thingy, and in the book sale i bought SB 3 of the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0689837380?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=0689837380">Spiderwick Chronicles</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=0689837380" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> for 30p each - a bargain! also persuaded someone else to buy <a href="<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0007271220?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=0007271220">Azincourt</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=0007271220" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />, which i really enjoyed. we posted some postcrossing postcards on the way home and put up our world map with the received ones.</p>
<p>SB has done a fair bit of piano practice over the last 2 weeks, so we had a &#8216;lesson&#8217; together, and she is really moving forward. i am hoping that the speed of progress when she practices might persuade some more practice!! we did some recorder duetting as well, which we both like. whilst sb did some other home ed stuff - maths and music theory -  bb and i played with her farm animals. i think i might neeed to practice at this, as i am less and less fond of playing with things! SB got out a tescos elecetric fan kit, which she put together quite happily - bit like this one <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0029WLQT6?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=B0029WLQT6">Ein-o&#8217;s Box Kit Electric Motor Electric Science</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=B0029WLQT6" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />. we then had a lovely time making cards for chloes birthday party.</p>
<p>Merry having rung, we realised to take an alternate road work free route!! and arrived second at the pool venue, in time to give a very pregnant Jax a hug! and for Big and SB to exuberantly greet each other, before all those staying at the manor arrived too. i loved the pool, a great depth baby pool for bb to manically swim in. as an aside, her swimming is really coming on - although it is still more drowning with style, the backstroke is particularly good! scarily, she actually dived in twice - eek! luckilly bellyflopping rather than smashing head on the ground. i got to chat to the babs a bit! the bigger girls were being crazy in the bigger pool, though SB, big and E were mostly playing with the floats rather than the long floaty obstacle course.</p>
<p>lovely time, i love swimming!! [though i actually didn't get to do much, mostly kept an eye on crazy bb!!]  party tea at the venue and lots of the blogring were in attendence! said hello again to michelle&#8217;s friend B, who i have met before and like v much! [she should blog you know!!] the cake cutting was a crazy moment!! back to the manor and wine and chat and relaxing until suddenly it was midnight, and we drove home to the sound of kids snoring!</p>
<p><strong>sunday</strong> [btw having to blog with left hand only bb asleep on me and sb snuggled up also, watching jungle book - hard!!] anyway, i had planned to go to west stow for a reenactment weekend, but i had an unsettled night with lots of v unsettling themed dreams so had a lie in to recover - as did SB from having a late night. bb was up early tho. so i was a bit put out to have &#8216;ruined&#8217; the day, but recovered! i discussed with the girls what fun things they wanted to do, and SB  wanted to make the viking flatbread that was in the young archaeologists magazine. could i find it anywhere??? nope!! luckilly google to the rescue. the recipe galled for buttermilk tho&#8230; so we have made our own <a href="http://www.allotment.org.uk/allotment_foods/Making_Butter_at_Home.php">butter</a> and topped up the amount of buttermillk with the first &#8216;washing&#8217;. we did do some of the butter in a jamjar for authenticity!! but the rest we did in the food processor, and is now in the freezer! SB then made the dough for the <a href="http://www.viking.no/e/life/food/e-flatbr.htm">viking shardbread</a>. we made one batch with honey, and the other with herbs, tried some each, but froze the rest to take to history group next friday and hopefully rewarmed there!! tasted delicious!! BB did some painting and stamping happily whilst we did this.</p>
<p>SB and i played bohnanza and landlock, she played castle keep with chris. i played an extremely long game of farm animals with BB. SB and i got the solar panels that we won on ebay to power a knex motor tried out, and thought what we might try and build - but didn&#8217;t! instead BB did some fimo-ing - piggies - and SB hama-ed some witches hats and we are all out of black. <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif' alt=':roll:' class='wp-smiley' /> i seem to be constantly ordering from <a href="http://www.beadmerrily.co.uk/">bead merrily</a>!! think i might save up the order though!! i used some left out and hardening hama to make eyballs, teeth and worms beads for a scary halloween necklace! [having grumped at bb for starting something months ago and then doing no more so the fimo was dodgy!! Although our present to chloe had sparked some interest from SB, we didn&#8217;t actually get round to doing watercolour painting. nor the piano, maths and ballet practice we had planned. oh well!!</p>
<p>hoping for an early bedtime for the girls, but have, unfortunately, woken bb up, so not sure when she might fall asleep again! but an early out tomorrow.</p>
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		<title>more splashing</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/07/04/more-splashing/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/07/04/more-splashing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Jul 2009 22:35:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=3496</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[today we did a lot of splashing in and out of the pool. even i went in. it wasn&#8217;t as hot as yesterday, but by the time i had hoed the veg patch, i really needed to cool down! oh, and SB cooked poached eggs for breakfast - fantastic.
last weekend apparently cousin m told sb [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>today we did a lot of splashing in and out of the pool. even i went in. it wasn&#8217;t as hot as yesterday, but by the time i had hoed the veg patch, i really needed to cool down! oh, and SB cooked poached eggs for breakfast - fantastic.</p>
<p>last weekend apparently cousin m told sb that when he does really well, he gets a mars bar. she wanted to know what the home-ed equivalent was. hmm, we said, what do you think? so she has got the timetable idea out again, and if she does 2/3 of what is on there, she gets her mars bar. some of the splashing today has therefore been the tears when we pointed out we could see she had ticked off things she hadn&#8217;t done. claims that someone else had done that were discarded. also tears of &#8216;completing&#8217; her english [section 3.1 of galore park] when i opened to find it wasn&#8217;t. it took an hour to complete it. we aren;t autonomous, but we are child led and normally we don&#8217;t have battles over what to do, and especially with wailing thrown in. but fibbing about it to me changes the goal posts. once she was done, she was all happiness and light, so it obviously wasn&#8217;t so traumatic after all. </p>
<p>things that sb did happily were: singapore maths - giggle at it suddenly becoming <a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/education/schools/box-clever-singapores-magic-formula-for-maths-success-1727053.html">newsworthy</a>!; music theory - having finally found again the <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/9679854418?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=9679854418">My First Theory Book</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=9679854418" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />! listening to me read <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0971412936?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=0971412936">The Story Of the World - the Middle Ages V 2 (Story of the World: History for the Classical Child (Paperback)): Middle Ages v. 2</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=0971412936" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> about the taking of constantinople and some french words about animals.</p>
<p>BB has also been busy HE wise. although i was tempted to &#8216;give them stuff to do&#8217; and the read a book, i felt i owed it to us all to actually interact, so grabbed a science kit for BB, and she LOVED it. it is now her kit, as too simple for sb. it is a first electric kit, and she followed the pictures rather than the written instructions, with a bit of help, and made a circuit with a light, and then a motor, which whizzed cards on it and blended the colours - more excitement. but what was so fab was her total thrill and enjoyment that she COULD do it!</p>
<p>both girls made very glittery cards for my sisters birthday at the end of the week. am a bit stalled over what to do as a present. what do you get? hmmm. flip camera? digital photo frame? john lewis vouchers [snort!] just dunno. the cards, however, will give a lasting impression - certainly to the carpets! sb in particularly spent ages getting it just how she wanted.</p>
<p>we did lots of messing in the pool though. bb is being v adventurous in that not quite swimming way. sb learnt to swim by drowning under water and then standing to breathe, and i think this is bb&#8217;s technique too. she jets under water and then stands up, breathes, and does some more. she is booked into a 2 week intensive swimming course this summer [my word!] and might be able to swim after that! i love the fact that she went on that they would have to have her somewhere shallow as she had v short legs - <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif' alt=':lol:' class='wp-smiley' /> so she does. SB is quite the water wild child, and having great fun twisting, rolling and cavorting in the water. i also got lots of cuddles. good!!</p>
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		<title>hmm, lets do some blogging</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/06/22/hmm-lets-do-some-blogging/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/06/22/hmm-lets-do-some-blogging/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:59:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>

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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=3444</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[last week i was lucky enough to swan off to a conference to lake como. we ate at good restaurants and learnt a lot in a good conference. the hotel was way out of town though, and getting back from the station, it was safest to walk along the railway tracks of the goods yard&#8230; [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>last week i was lucky enough to swan off to a conference to <a href="http://www.villaerba.it/Como_en.html">lake como</a>. we ate at <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187835-d1136554-Reviews-Joy-Como_Lake_Como_Lombardy.html">good</a> <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g187835-d1309691-Reviews-Il_Pomodorino-Como_Lake_Como_Lombardy.html">restaurants</a> and learnt a lot in a good conference. the hotel was way out of town though, and getting back from the station, it was safest to walk along the railway tracks of the goods yard&#8230;  not something you expect really to do! the only day out trip to belagio was lovely. I did, however, spend the entire conference getting more and more worried about little nanny, she had seemed to be getting better monday and tues, but by thurs things were not rosy, and on fri i knew active treatment had been withdrawn, and i just wanted to get home.</p>
<p>so having travelled all sat, i was welcomed home by a fantastic hug and cuddle from my girls. migrainous and travel sick on discussion with mum, i was encouraged [tho didn't need much] not to set straight out. so we snuggled, watched dr who, ate curry and made an early night.</p>
<p>not too quick off the mark to go out, and was rung to say i was too late after all. i feel dreadful that i didn&#8217;t re-prioritise things and see little nanny that last time to kiss her goodbye. prob silly, as she had slipped into a morphine sleep by saturday. but&#8230; so as no longer visiting, imposed on the manor borns to keep me sane.</p>
<p>we had a lovely, tho v lazy rspb walk, and have had to promise C i will do better next tine <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif' alt=':lol:' class='wp-smiley' /> the kids appeared to have fun anyway, and bb was being particularly gorgeous really. all 3 played together without any major kerfuffles throughout the evening too, and after a lovely relaxed meal we went home to pop all of us straight to bed.</p>
<p>and so today, we were going to norfolk, and then not as it was a getting documents day [i have 2 days compassionate leave] and instead going tomorrow. [later and later]. so we decided to do fun things, like baking. we all got up v late, had brekkie v late, and then sb made brownies from *her* recipe book, and bb and i made a yummy choc sponge. the girls then played with silly string until it ran out. BB wanted to read a french book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1902915380?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=1902915380">Lucy Cat at the Beach: Lucie Chat a La Plage (Lucy Cat)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=1902915380" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> falls off perch in surprise, but agreed! SB did a verbal reasoning book and then read <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1405318570?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=1405318570">It&#8217;s Elementary: Putting the Crackle into Chemistry (Dk Reference)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=1405318570" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> and wants to try and turn her urine into phosphorus now. <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif' alt=':roll:' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>more playing, and we made pictures with light reactive paper, <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000H6QSOO?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=B000H6QSOO">Sun Print Paper</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=B000H6QSOO" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />, which i remember enjoying as a child, and we did today. SB off to ballet, and BB and i did some pond dipping, and then retired to watch donald duck. on SB&#8217;s return, we made another cake from her recipe book <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1740453662?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=1740453662">Marie Claire Kitchen</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=1740453662" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> and had ken hom vietnames stew for dinner [SB's favourite dinner in fact]</p>
<p>SB and I then looked at some tiny pond bugs that i had captured with her digital microscope. slightly tricky as they kept whisking about, but she did manage to take some photos. No idea what they were. very speedy though!</p>
<p>anyway, tomorrow to norfolk. thanks everyone for your good wishes and thoughts, I have REALLY appreciated it.</p>
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		<title>A Funny Old Week</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/06/20/a-funny-old-week/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/06/20/a-funny-old-week/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 20 Jun 2009 08:26:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Daddybean</dc:creator>
		
		<category><![CDATA[Butterbean]]></category>

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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=3430</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, I guess with Helen away most of the week in Italy ata conference it was never going to be a normal week, but still. I had vagur idea that I would try to keep the week fairly empty, have a relaxed time, get some housey jobs done etc. But was not to be.
Funeral
Monday was my [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Well, I guess with Helen away most of the week in Italy ata conference it was never going to be a normal week, but still. I had vagur idea that I would try to keep the week fairly empty, have a relaxed time, get some housey jobs done etc. But was not to be.</p>
<p><strong>Funeral</strong></p>
<p>Monday was my Uncle Robert&#8217;s funeral, and we were all going.  My Dad has stopped driving now, as it is just too painful for his arm to steer the car. A tad annoying really when you onky functioning arm stops functioning properly. So I hired an MPV to take us all , plus my neice Liana down to the funeral.</p>
<p>I relalised on the Sunday, that I didn&#8217;t really have anything to wear, at least in the legwear stakes. So headed to Tesco first thing on the way to get car to find something. Ended up with a suit, which was fine, except that in the shop it just looked black/grey next to all the others. In the daylight when I  it was a more browny colour, nice enough, but not quite what I had intended. Ah well.</p>
<p>Funeral was, in the context of funerals, good. Some affecionate and moving speeches from a Son-in-law and a couple of other people who knew him well. Some proper hymns to have a good sing to (if you are going to go to church I really think you need to have some proper hymns to sing) and a few hugs and tears. SB managed fine. BB mostly sat on the floor of the pew and coloured, but she was tired, and started to complain of being hot etc. in the church. But didn&#8217;t want to go outside with Helen, but fell a sleep after a bit.</p>
<p>The coffin was wrapped in a big picture of a steam train, and the organist played the theme tune to Thomas the Tank Engine at the commital at the crematorium - get the theme here <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>He was a good man, with a strong faith. It does seem sad that after waiting years for a grandchild they probably had given up on getting, he only got to spend a couple of years with her. If you are somewhere else now Uncle Robert, I hope it is as good as you would have hoped it was.</p>
<p>After refreshments I had to take Stringbean over to Birchanger Services where I handed her over to Michelle. She was going to stay with them for 2 nights whilst she did a Sailing training course. I then headed back to my Aunts house for a bit. Took Helen to the tain station so she could go and stay in some posh hotel room at Heathrow. Eventally the remnants of the party headed back to our house, where we all went to bed pretty much straight away.</p>
<p><strong>Tuesday</strong></p>
<p>More driving about.</p>
<p>Took hire car back, did a bit of shopping, had hair cut, sat in cafe and drunk coffee, read The Gruaniad <em>without any children </em>- bliss <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> Home to find Butterbean has been spending Grandads money. Take parents and liana back to their house. stay there until time to take BB to her football class. True to form she did manage to somehow knock her head within the first 10 minutes - so ws of woith an injury having a cuddle.<br />
But did convince her to go back and do some more . She almost finished the rest, but stopped part way through the short game they have at the end. She doesn&#8217;t like this bit as she can hardly ever get the ball, and if she does it gets tackled away fro her in no time. So basically runs around a bit and then gets bored <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>Had dinner at the cafe there, a bit of TV and then bed for her. SB rang up from the Old Manor, upset becuase she had bashed her toe (a classic SB-ism) and wanted to come home. This wasn&#8217;t really that practical as they are an hours drive away and there was just me, and anyway I expected her to get over it and she did it sounds like. I guess this is something you need to learn to deal with really.</p>
<p><strong>Wednesday</strong></p>
<p>Out again. via the Park and Ride, where we met the Patch of Puddle gang on the bus, and then were reunited with SB in town. We were going to The Cloth Place, a project by Big wide Talk, the took over 2 floors of a lovely old building, that was a shop. Filled it with all sorts of cloth things - animals, vegtables, food, various props, and the kids get to use it how ever they want as long as they don&#8217;t hurt each other and repsect the stuff. I forgot the camera but borowed Michelle&#8217;s. She has been more organised than me and <a href="http://oldmanorborn.blogspot.com/2009/06/cloth-place.html">posted some piccies</a>.</p>
<p>It was great fun <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> Afterwards we had a picnic in the park, including a good strop by BB as she chose a drink, and then wanted to change it after it had all been paid for and I said no. We then went to the Archaeology museum, which I&#8217;ve not been to before. And had an interesting hour there.</p>
<p>Then back on the bus to head home, SB to brownies and general flopping abolut until dinner and bedtime.</p>
<p><strong>Thursday</strong></p>
<p>Yup out again. Kids all tired, and not wanting to get up.  Off to Tots and Nots, only really went becuase it was the 3rd and last of three sessions that SB has done on philosophy. They were finishing early as they were off to the Coth Place again. Then into the car, and the hour or so&#8217;s drive to my parents to leave them with BB. A short time there, then off again to take Sb to gym. They have started building work there and there isn&#8217;t much space on the balcony anymore so rather than be hot and squashed I popped into town, a little bit of shopping and another peaceful coffee <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>Home dinner, played a game with SB, a bit of TV and bed.</p>
<p><strong>Friday</strong></p>
<p>Not out <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>SB has commented that she gets given stuff to do while we do something else (!).  With all the other boring stuff of life that get in the way and never seem finished (housework, washing etc. etc.) I find myself ending up putting stuff off with them, so decided not to spend today tidying the house (sorry H) and spent mucho time with SB whlst BB was awayPottered about in the morning, a modicum of housework, reading and playing a game with SB, plenty of music practice. SB cooked lunch, where she learnt how to cook scrambled egg on toast. Then we spent all afternoon working on a project she has been wnting to do for the last few weeks. I won&#8217;t say what as it might give the game away for someone, but involved much sawing and nailing and gluing.</p>
<p>Once we had finished what we could, we needed to get a couple of bits, so off to the DIY shop. Then we decided to find somewhere to ahve dinner for a treat. Realised that we don&#8217;t go out in the evening much and din&#8217;t really know what was around that would have things SB might like. But found a pleasant Italian place, and a dinner with just the two of us, which was also rather pleaant.</p>
<p>Home, to SB&#8217;s bed time and me trying to blog a bit of the week, which I&#8217;ve managed just about  - shock!!</p>
<p>Shortly we are off to get BB, then this afternoon it is the carnival procession. SB is on the Brownies float and I think she might be doing a ballet display. Helen should be back homw sometime this afternoon as well <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_smile.gif' alt=':-)' class='wp-smiley' /></p>
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		<title>colourbox</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/04/02/colourbox/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/04/02/colourbox/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:45:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=3214</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[we had another fab day today, nipping on a latinetc field trip [  ] to colourbox [as arranged by our field trip organiser] despite dire warnings re parking, there actually was loads. I did park in the wrong place [the place google suggested!] but they said it was OK [i think they thought i [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>we had another fab day today, nipping on a latinetc field trip [ <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif' alt=':lol:' class='wp-smiley' /> ] to colourbox [as arranged by our field trip organiser] despite dire warnings re parking, there actually was loads. I did park in the wrong place [the place google suggested!] but they said it was OK [i think they thought i was seeing a truancy team] and we walked round in fab sunlight to struggle a bit to actually find the venue - though succeeded!</p>
<p>really enjoyed it [sorting flickr photos prob next week!] as did the girls. they both enjoyed the dark maze best! we started in a room with white spotlights that then changed to the primary light colours and these overlapped etc. I think the kids much to fascinated with shadows to be overwhelmingly bothered re light blends, but we tried! anyway, the loved it, particularly lobbing penguins around. we then moved to the dark maze. michelle and i tried to get through it first before the kids with torches, and nearly succeeded. it was absolutely entirely pitch black, and i did enjoy it. the kids also raced through, and bb was v proud when she went through on her own without torch!</p>
<p>then into the white room, and played with light boxes and prisms - my fav! making rainbows, splitting light and then bouncing it around mirrors and trying to join it back up. we adults had endless fun. to be fair the kids did too, before going back to dark maze to play a wild ghost game. def recommend it, and apparently we get a video too!</p>
<p>everyone came back to ours, which was lovely. lots of playing in the garden [must remove pirate ship before weekend!] and adult chatting. SB and chloe cleaned the garden furniture, and then in true apprentice style [DOH! I missed it tonight!!] realised they hadn&#8217;t agreed a price structure in advance. cleverly they tried to get chris to sign without reading a document - but failed, canvassed adults on the appropriate price, and i agreed to pay them double what i thought the job was worth, and half what they thought! a good lesson!! eventually just kirsty and kids who are staying over. Kirsty laughed at me lots as i cleaned [and moaned about it!] the kitchen cabinets and then sorted and cleaned the pantry. i really am not a cleaner. when i do it, i go all mazportico, and concentrate on a minutiae rather than a global pic too!! well, you have all seen my house [i think!] so i guess you are not expecting miracles!!</p>
<p>SB had brownies then judo and BB, m and a all did some fossils with air drying clay [i shew them my fossil collection!!] v late bedtimes, and i have made a v plain and simple veggie pasta bake for the weekend</p>
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		<title>space, the final frontier&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/03/31/space-the-final-frontier/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/03/31/space-the-final-frontier/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:21:27 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=3206</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[we went to Leicester space centre today to have a look around. the journey wasn&#8217;t too bad, and loads of parking. what&#8217;s more we could swap our tickets into a year pass and therefore go back again! We ate at their tiny cafe -rather lovely broccoli soup. Going in i was a bit nervous of [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>we went to Leicester space centre today to have a look around. the journey wasn&#8217;t too bad, and loads of parking. what&#8217;s more we could swap our tickets into a year pass and therefore go back again! We ate at their tiny cafe -rather lovely broccoli soup. Going in i was a bit nervous of the number of school parties, but they were easily absorbed. we loved it! there were lots of interactive bits big displays and sound bite info - so easily accessible for SB and BB. I loved the visuals in the planets bit. SB says she loved it all, and BB loved the shop!! the becoming an astronaut bit was good, and the job i was given was&#8230; medic!! rofl. We all enjoyed the star show visuals [though def aimed for key stage 2 rather than me!] and enjoyed seeing the rockets and satellites. It was a v visual museum that encouraged exploration and talking about things, and we are keen to go back.</p>
<p>leaving on the later side to get back, we weren&#8217;t sure that we would make it to SB&#8217;s swimming. luckilly we were just a few moments late, and got to see how much she has improved since I last went. her strokes are all strong and recognisable now, though the butterfly is a bit shaky [i never ever got the hang of it] and her diving was more of a jump/fall! but most impressed.</p>
<p>so finally back home, and i got the choc eggs out to add another layer [they apparently need 4 for best effect] and girls are alternating milk/white [BB] and plain/white [SB]. BB had a few books read, and then we did an eino kit on optics. might need more sun for the pinhole effect!</p>
<p>finally some sylvanians and bed in disgrace for sb when i found the alphabet written in pencil on  marble fireplace. TBH wasn&#8217;t aware she could write the alphabet out. BB helped me clean, and squirted window cleaner in my eye. i appear to still be able to see.</p>
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		<title>definitely awake!</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/03/09/definitely-awake/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/03/09/definitely-awake/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 09 Mar 2009 16:46:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=3095</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[we have had a busy and productive day here chez haricot. i had today off work - yippee!! and having worked the weekend, decided to use it well - ie stay at home. really i should have gone into town and done some fairly urgent banking stuff, but don&#8217;t know where the forms are  [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>we have had a busy and productive day here chez haricot. i had today off work - yippee!! and having worked the weekend, decided to use it well - ie stay at home. really i should have gone into town and done some fairly urgent banking stuff, but don&#8217;t know where the forms are <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif' alt=':roll:' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>SO we thought we would start with a bit of normals. SB keen to show me she had moved onto the next piano piece [i am trying to play this v cool - cf violin!] and she has played it v nicely. BB was a tad jealous, so brought me her maffs to do - so we did that, and SB went onto <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/190298482X?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=190298482X">Junior English Book 1</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=190298482X" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> [we are doing this in tiny bites so on 1.5! but we are at least considering things]. I suggested that for the galore park, that although i am unbothered by her spelling elsewhere, she might want to use the dictionary to spell things for this [cue wails as couldn't find circus]. bb and i did jigsaws and then a marble run and sb did some maths - see we have been productive! then we had lunch <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif' alt=':lol:' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>both girls wanted to do some science, but &#8216;on their own&#8217; and bb chose to investigate magnets and sb an eino burglar alarm that she has done before. after this they fancied craft. BB chose air drying clay and initially made more fossils. SB looked at a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1902915488?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=1902915488">Middle Ages Activity Book (Crafty History)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=1902915488" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /><br />
and chose to play 3 mens merrels. we decided it was a fun game, so she has made a board and counters out of air drying clay too. then they have both spent ages sticking jewels into air drying clay as middle ages treasures!!</p>
<p>Now BB is watching magic school bus and SB is at ballet. plan to make some scones when chris comes back with cheese. actually chris been gone a while - might have forgotten and gone into hayloft. hayloft currently has a dead animal aroma [something of a concern] so he is investigating!<br />
<em><br />
<strong>edited to complete</strong>! we made cheese scones - yummy - as planning to visit science museum wed unless things go pear shaped! BB did a short nice recorder practice and then a v long hideous one, so banned to the stairs!! SB grumpilly did 5 mins recorder practice, and then decided to make up music for me to copy, and then made up some more etc etc so did about 40 mins in the end!! i love the fact she is so unthinkingly confident about making it up, and also often modal rather than modern tonal. much reading - she is working through the roald dahl books she happily got for her birthday.</p>
<p>BB was particularly spectacularly &#8216;not tired&#8217; at tea tonight and after screaming and shrieking in the pantry for about 10 minutes while we all pretended she didn&#8217;t exist, came back and let me feed her before falling asleep at the table - so not tired! tho she woke up and pretended she had been pretending and was again not tired, so we got the whole rigmarole 2ce!</em></p>
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		<title>party week!</title>
		<link>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/02/24/party-week/</link>
		<comments>http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/2009/02/24/party-week/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 24 Feb 2009 00:53:13 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>HHaricot</dc:creator>
		
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		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/?p=3032</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[this week does seem a bit busy! there are 3 family birthdays on sequential days, one of which also pancake day, and then a friendly family party at the weekend. we are also having visitors tues and wed - so v sociable. i think i need sociable at the moment. a glass of wine and [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>this week does seem a bit busy! there are 3 family birthdays on sequential days, one of which also pancake day, and then a friendly family party at the weekend. we are also having visitors tues and wed - so v sociable. i think i need sociable at the moment. a glass of wine and some opportunity to be not me as it were!!</p>
<p>good news is that the GP has now agreed that i am high risk, and is initially requesting an appt at the geneticists re the various familial breast ca genes, and also, if no joy, would support a request for a bilateral mastectomy - though sounds scarily drastic, so would want to make sure i ponder this rather than knee jerk. A bit weird, because the only thing i think of when i think of a bilat mastectomy is that i couldn&#8217;t breastfeed again, and i really enjoyed breastfeeding. <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif' alt=':roll:' class='wp-smiley' /> as this is not really likely to be an issue! it was the nice [male] GP rather than the annoying female one that assumes everything is my fault because i am fat!!</p>
<p>hmm, the girls were busy whilst i was at work. SB did some piano and some handwriting, as well as make a fimo present for chris. bB, well, bB&#8217;d!! when i got home, BB and chris went out for cycling practice and SB and i looked at her eggsperiment. v weird!! the egg lost its shell and felt quite unnerving. we then looked at a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/158476211X?ie=UTF8&#038;tag=petitsharicot-21&#038;linkCode=as2&#038;camp=1634&#038;creative=19450&#038;creativeASIN=158476211X">Rainforest Adventure (Code Master)</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=petitsharicot-21&#038;l=as2&#038;o=2&#038;a=158476211X" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> book she has loved in the past, and she really loved it again!! we worked out the code again - i surprised myself by remembering it though <img src='http://petitsharicots.org.uk/weblog/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_lol.gif' alt=':lol:' class='wp-smiley' /> </p>
<p>when BB came back, we decided to see whether our shell-less egg would bounce, unfortunately it went splat!! i think great experiments are remembered by the failures!! anyway, we put the remaining no-shell egg in water and have seen it gradually swell up. so proven that the shell is the waterproof bit.</p>
<p>hmm, I went to gp [see before] Sb and BB cycled off to ballet for SB and park playing for bb and I made SB&#8217;s cake. the girls were a bit wild on return, and didn&#8217;t manage to settle infront of that salmon documentary. BB ended the day spectacularly with the amazingest tantrum so far of her life wrt to going to bed. she was still tantrumming about being not tired when she fell asleep&#8230; horrible. todays sb game was uno.</p>
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