DIY/ house renovation

Chris’s parents have been here tday to look after the girls whilst i was at work and he was working on the window. s we have had the heatng n. t is still on! and it is lovely. must switch off tomorrow though.

Sb has bee very good, and has done her singapore maths, and her getty and dubay - finally started book C - woohoo. She has read lots to the - scored easy impressing marks! Nana French read one of the explorer books back - about polar expeditions.

When I got home we did some violin and piano practice too - SB was supremely confident about playing to them. Def proud Mummy moment - twinkle twinkle on the violin and haydn was a happy man on the piano.

Lots of game playing also - both girls keen to tell me all the games they had played. BB bamboozled nana with her playing who’s who, but i was actuall surprised at how well BB had the concept and what to ask for.

Watched some downloads, and a fab junior jackanory about the sorcerer f samarkhand - don’t know about the girls, but I was spell bound.

BB fell asleep, SB finished her magic tree house book, and we did some ‘proper sewing‘ [her phrase!] . Nice start to what is going to be a frantic week [in part because I've left my submission of evidence of learning to the last minute for work]. Chris has done a god job on the window today to. smiley faces all round.

so, having had B educationally polishing the staircase yesterday and picking fruit and veg, today she became the kitchen maid and the dairy maid.

She wanted to make some bread rolls, so she did this, with minimal help from me as i was busy helping BB make shortbread cookies [yummy]. So having got the dough proving, we decided to make our own butter to go with the rolls. Added several coins in the hope that it would be quicker to do, and it was! SB read the dairy section on a farm through time and a few other pages.

We then had a lunch pause with number jacks and mama mirabelle fix - i think we are watching downloads too often. hard when BB can put them on. we minimised TV by having it in a different room. I a kinda hoping its a phase in winter as not out so much.

SO we went outside for most of the afternoon. doing an autumnal glue picture mostly scattered poppy seeds = which they both loved doing. chris was doing more fixing of the window. Both girls were very interested in the whole business. General playing too.

SB did some piano practice,means a lot to me, but on GBDF ad ACE she has got to Haydn was a happy man - a tune often sung in our family. BB bounced and did lego. We ate the yummy rolls. We got a free book where did the river go, and SB enjoyed reading that whilst BB and I played catch. The pages were in order of clues by maths at the bottom she enjoyed the challenge.

SB and BB then had some lovely play together with dolls house and animals whilst made dinner, and then I took BB to bed whilst SB did some jump ahead.

Lovely day. tomorrow SB wants to make cheese!!

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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].

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!

 
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.

i was going to go to the inland waterways festival, as that looked fun, but it was hot, and BB needs a bit more attention. SO we stayed in, and tried to get a working pattern that incorporates 2-ness.The girls watched some edutainment DVD’d whilst i napped - chris’ll know what! [edits to add - gorillas, and also read why are people different]

When I got up, SB migrated to the ‘puter to do jump ahead, which she enjoys, and I read and cuddled BB, hoping some one 2 one would set the tone for a happy day ahead - rofl.

BB and SB both wanted to make ice lollies, so we managed to find enough bits to do that, and I also got SB to make up a tray of ice colours [paint mixed in water]. bemused, she did it, and all went in the freezer.

Since it was a nice day, I got out the cheap tent that i had got from the tesco sale a while back, and BB and I put it up. She was very impressed with it, and happily pottered inside doing some happy maize, whilst i went between her and SB trouble shooting.

SB joined her, and they were playing so happily that i took the opportunity of digging up some potatoes. Got very stung by the nettles, and fingers still twitching a bit from that. obviously when I was at very grubbiest there was a wail about tent ownership, so we all read books together taking turns. mostly apple tree farm for BB, and stories from around the world for SB.

Decided that it was obviously lunchtime! SB and BB agreed on Muzzy German as an acceptable compromise on video, and watched the complete second level while I made home grown spuds, beans and carrots with sausages for them, and chris and i home grown spuds, beans aubergines and onion fritatta for us. yummy. SB ate hers whilst finishing watching the programme.

Both had had a mood boost at this point, and SB did some more jump ahead and BB pottered in the tent. the paints were frozen, and both girls liked the idea of cool painting in the sun, so we did that very pleasantly and co-operatively - hooray.

the girls then had some sweetie letters [from little nanny] that then kept them engaged for ages longer as they had made games out of them, families of colours, letters and then shops. I fed our fish, BB cycled and then SB read me the why were the pyramids built. She then harvested loads of beans and tomatoes, which I must do something with once this blog written.

I cooked a bean [surprise!] pea, sweetcorn and lentil curry for tea, with an additional home grown aubergine and paneer curry for us - yummy. The girls watched a magic school bus episode while i did this, as CHris showering, and it seemed they might settle- they did.

BB fell asleep after tea, SB watched tots tv, read some magic tree house, and is now in bed - maybe asleep?

chris has spent all day hard at work cleaning the big arch window and getting some of the paint off it. it needs new putty and repainting with linseed based paint. will hopefully be then watertight. some bricks also need the lime mortar repointed - we know someone for advice there ;¬)

Well, couldn’t really think of a title!

Started the day with Chris taking BB for her 2 year check [fine] and then toddler gym at the leisure centre. She loves it! SB did her 2A maths in the conservatory whilst I potted up the final cucurbits, aubergines and peppers.. She was doing hundreds, tens and units. Raced through it until she got to the bit where she had to write them out longhand. SB then helped pot up some final toms to take to people.

BB returned and also sowed some seeds - calendula and sunflowers.We had tea and home made cookies snack. We went on to violin practice afterwards - starting frere jaques on A. Unfortunately, having moved to new size violin, SB has lost totally a sensible bow hold, and the violin is slipping to the front. I am torn between making a big deal about it and putting her off completely, or letting her slip into bad habits to put her off later! Trying to steer middle road!

Unfortunately, BB wanted to ‘do dielin’ at the same time, and because I was tuning SB’s violin at the time rather than paying her attention, she decided to repeated whack SB with her bow. Sigh. SO violin removed from wailing BB, and she was marched to library with Chris to pick up some reserved books. one of these books was about Victorian houses and their maintenance. I was rather gutted to find that the paper in the halls under the dado - now drawn on and torn in one significant place by BB - is prob original. It survives 150 years until BB! The damp from the arch window threatens it as well. We must sort that out this year. aarrgh.

Anyway, SB read some more magic tree house, and I am about to take delivery of some more books. they are really good - recommendation here! they have a 6-8 year old type of story, flexible lexicon and reading difficulty spot on for her.

Lots of playing outside as well - colder today, but both girls twiddling around on their bikes. found chris had put bricks holding environmesh directly on top of my florence fennel, and I have no more seeds. humph!

SB designed a craft activity for BB - she was really excited about it. They put glue lines on card and then glittered them. As you can imagine, glitter EVERYWHERE! But they both enjoyed doing it, and SB was very proud to be showing BB what to do, and enjoying doing it together - a proud mummy moment for me too. This is the great advantage of home ed.

More outside playing and then SB had her ballet lesson. BB and I played snap [sort of!] and read a few books, then took over the curry chris had been making. On SB’s return, we did another science experiment - this time making something appear to roll uphill, as well as a discussion on gravity and what might be really happening. When I got these books from the book people, I didn’t like them, but actually, we are quite liking the forces one. the experiments are simplistic and short and easily done.

After tea, SB played with the leappad whilst i flickred. britannia and bed.

SO lets gloss over a rather long night and get on with the day. Started in style with SB being sick - she was rather interested to note the brown bits were her pitta bread. Hmm. She is complaining a bit of tummy ache, but the amount of screeching and bouncing that has gone on today belies her claim for special treatment because she is not feeling well…

We have had a jiggle about of things in the playroom - and a second hand table takes the place of the cute little one, as this limits BB’s chances of ruining whatever SB is doing. So we started the day propery by playing UNO on it, a bit of beading and then SB got out her leappad and the phonics set. Whilst we did this, BB has got the hang of sitting and pushing along with her feet on her pushalong, so careered around the house - quite deadly to ankles!

We then started making her plaster of paris box, that she chose herself [ok, eith some slight direction] from Tesco yesterday. She was very good at mixing and making sure it wasn’t spilled everywhere, and with the pouring, so we filled the mold and removed when set. It should be dry tomorrow to paint.

A lot of legoing went on, and SB made a castle - well, she also made an alien and a tower, but BB got them! It looked a bit like the tower of london, so we discussed traitors and elizabeth the first in a low key way.

Since I’d got the lego out to incorporate BB into the game, they then moved into some wierd imagination of SB’s game where shewas queen, and BB either a dog or a servant, and she threw things and BB brought them back - which she did, but much giggling between them - so great to watch - even if abandoned lego coating the floor in its usual lethal way!

We then had a singing session - and BB is getting the hang of actions, and is particularly good at wind the bobbin up. in fact, she often asks for this song by gentle raaring and doing the winding action - very cute. I then read 3 of the barefoot book of animal tales - SB had particularly wanted a snake story, and the one in that is a good one. Because I was then voiceless without a cup of tea, she did some explode the code - only lesson 11 and the first book is finished - well done SB!

Chris stuck up the coathook for the kiddicoats, and Sb and BB were an adoring audience whilst I removed the lego minefield and took the opportunity to hoover - not that the carpet looked any nicer when finished. I need an Adymachine!

As soon as BB saw her coat she was quite clear it was time to go out, so she got kitted up and went for a pootle in the backgarden with Chris whilst me and SB opened the trial extension of education city and she did some more of the year one english - which she is enjoying. I would prob pay for it despite finances if you could just choose 2 years rather than one. Can’t remember the home-educators deal either?

Anyway, both children been in wild mode since just before tea, and having a bath now as I need peace and quiet - though monitor is on, and I’m trying to blog quickly to be done before SB gets down. I do enjoy this home-ed lark. Just wish i did more of it.

or so it seemed, with both girls at the lower end of their volume control.

I had refound the jump ahead toddler [with hopsalot] which SB used to adore, so she must have spent at least 2 hours over the course of the day engrossed in it. It is nice and simple for her now, and she was doing it without any input and feeling very confident about the ease she did these things.

We also raced trhough 6 pages of singapore maths - again nothing we haven’t done in different forms many times, as adding to number less than 10 - can be done in head or on fingers. Good consolidation of skills, and again she felt really confident there. It involved some writing, and she gamely tried to figure out how to spell all the numbers - rofl! I did help her as she is newly interested in writing, so want her to feel equally positive about that too. She did ten on her own.

We had a brief look at DK eyewitness world atlas - she was interested in the Africa section. Its for adults though, and having not looked at it before, I couldn’t really find what i wanted to, but still a passing interest. We went on to view pretty much all the mini films!

She briefly helped Chris look at the blocked drains - yuck! An then we did the dig out the dinosaur she had got as Xmas pressie - good fun. this one was one you then joined the bones together of. of course they aren’t joining, so are glued and hoping for the best! It came with pictures of 6 dinosaurs, so as we dug it out we looked for the things that would help us identify ours. SB a bit upset ours wasn’t the tyrannosaurus!

What else? well, colouring, making up songs, singing, playing with the toys BB got for Xmas! playing with Sindy’s - the usual stuff really. lots of books - but she chose jason and the argonauts as here greek myths. Only a few minor whinges. We continued the evening games theme, with Chris and SB playing the pipe game [round the bend from elc] whilst I cooked a moroccan influenced root veg stew with couscous.

BB today has had a lot of attention due to SB self sufficiency! We have stacked and demolished cups. doen the cylinder and sphere in the shapesorters, and then tried to ram everything else through those holes! We have played with the click clack caterpillar and the noisy footsteps, chase, bouncing songs and action songs. A fair bit of chase, and sticking stuff in the mouth just as mummy lunges to remove it [sigh!] She has been most intrigued by SB on the computer - and very keen to get a look in. Was enthralled by suasage rolls [veggie] and enjoyed peeling off the puff pastry to get at the sausage. not so impressed by the amazingly bubbly bath though.

Didn’t quite manage to finish this blog in bath time, so have special dispensation [from me!] to finish with a glass of wine whilst the girls have some fruit. Jax’s fault, as she *made* me do an extra blog [rofl!] Might add to it after pondering.

Oh, and I finally managed to order the veg seed - hooray! Sb and I looked at the catalogues together.

oh and barefoot has a sale, and while the bear sleeps is 3.99 I have been so pleased with this book - it tells various winter tales and traditions from various cultures

why does beautiful list not translate into all items ticked??

Also, why can’t I take beautiful tree pictures - have put my meagre offerings on flickr, but just can’t get the focus right- so you’ll just have to see the tree after you have drunk about 2l of mulled wine! Gives an impression anyway - sulk sulk. If any do come out good in the next week, at least I can substitute!

Anyway, mince pie muffins not done yet Heather, but in the lakeland muffin book - and easily vegan too!

Have done - sausage rolls, peppermint creams and dahl, and sokaing the fruit for dundee cake. Chris didn’t do the shopping today, but having a delivery ? I think he organised it anyway? on Monday.

Good news, that SB finally back into her bedroom - woohoo - with new early Xmas pressie of fabulous bunk a la Portico! And speaking of the Portico, BB wearing a rather snazzy Portico dress - so today obviously a homage day [rofl!]. Oh, did being a contact mean that the list could be viewed in big?? Anyway, room in pink and lilac- surprise! However, bit of a shock in that she wanted a yellow stripe, so there it is. Will flickr at some point.

The spare bathroom now has a single bed all made up in it ready for Little Nanny and the spare room already sorted for my parents. I obviosuly haven’t done any of the furniture removals or lifting due to massively annoying and still v painful broken arm! Chris’s parents came round after he rang them [whilst I was asleep]

SB painted some glass baubles today and put the on the tree, and did 2 more vases we found as pressies, as well as helping with the baking. Other than that, she was mostly helping with the room restoration upstairs.
Oh, forgot that we ate pomegranates and discusse persephone in the underworld, and that in the bunkbed wrapping we played egyptian mummies in a sarcophagus. otherwise mostly christmas caroled!

Gave me lots of time to play with BB in a seriously one to one fashion. We got about 4 hours nearly uninterupted - apart from me doing aside tasks, like soaking the split peas and cokoing their tea. It was really great. Though I did miss SB’s noise!

Just watched the video of restoration - argh - how awful to let house fall aprt. Probably worse as I have a few misgivings about this one - ie the windows and conservatory desperately need some tlc, and we have a small roof leak! But we painted BB’s room. Finances though…

Anyway, glad you all enjoyed the list - what do you think I have missed off it??

tomorrow :-
print labels for jams/chutneys and wrap as mini hampers.
SB finish the 2 vases,
18 more early years HE cards [though we have sent to everyone we know, and thanks to those we have received],
fudge and choc truffles,
dundee cake
potato and cauli curry - yep you know the one!
When SB in bed, wrap her pressies.
Find the heat thingies for the dining room table,
remove boxes from dining room and living room to squirrel away somewhere.
go to Christingle
breathe!!!!

less than a week before 17 people come to stay - what was I thinking of!

l feel issue ridden, but not a good time.
BB still dread-ful with purulent eyes.
-*also helping me to typ++e ++++++++a+t th+e- moment - mainly the plus sign, you will have noticed.
lots of sleeping and milk.

SB did 4 pages explode the code with nanny, lots of sindy playing. drove me wild with her bouncing on the spacehopper - only suppose to be done in corridor, but knocked my arm. bowled bb over and final straw my much needed cup of tea. and with it my patience,
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ [bb again]
cue totalmayhem and appaling cheekiness and strops. finally settled with sitting beside me quietly for 3 mins, doing an errand [getting bb's cardi], a hug and some tears. she was an angel for the resr of the day. odd. need to get this under control, as cheekiness horrid.

lots of book reading [mostly reading books, included ulysses, a+--nd caught mum to giggle at goriness. She learnt it in latin!], lego and the spent over an hour on a maths cdrom dad brought. we aLso did come german

dad nearly finished pink bedroom, and chris has managed to help a bit.

my arm killing me, if anything worse as had to keep BB ok, as unwell she is not into mummy substitutes.
+

We have done a fair amount of life and discussion home ed, but not a lot of bloggable! SB been interested in the history behind fireworks night - particularly as it follows on from Elizabethan stuff. She has been writing lots of things - with me or chris spelling the words for her, and is very excited that she has some ringbinder files - for the photocopy for writing, latin and ‘things’ as she put it. She’s also making up lots of stories and songs - both for herself and for me and BB. She has been to ballet - and continues to enjoy it.

We have been lighting our fire in the evening - SB very much enjoys our ‘ancient fire’ and is now keen to tell everyone how to make it and keep it going. i’m sitting here with candlelight and the fire in a very warm room. have just watched the gunpowder plot [whilst blogging] - very enjoyable. The light is on in the conservatory - so it looks quite magical. the vine leaves are loosing the chlorophyll, but back to the veins - so very pretty. must photo.

BB can now stand up unaided, and today did her first step - woohoo!!! crash landed against Chris’s leg. I am so happy to have seen it rather than be told about it. She is an armful of delight. I think her and SB are enjoying playing together - which is nice.

Tonight, seeing both my daughters laugh, giggle, cuddle and tickle [ok and strop!] i just wanted to blog again how lucky we are, and the joy they bring to Chris and I, who just over 5 years ago thought we may never have children. I think its something in those trusting, happy eyes that does it.

We have lots to do this weekend - not sure how we will get through. The dafodil bulbs, garlic and shallots need planting, and ideally the broad beans need to be sown. We should make the xmas cake and the grape jam, and possibly the onion chutney. i’d like to go swimming as well.

At some point, I would like to repaint SB’s bedroom [since we've got the paint] and put up new bunk. Also Mum bought paint to cover the lurid bathroom - so would like to do that too. the rest of the Ivy and the wisteria need trimming. We need to write wills, put BB’s baby bond somewhere [can't believe we haven't done either of those]. And at some point to some Home Ed!! Where shall I find the time?

Oh dear, dozed off on the sofa, now I’ve woken up I of course don’t feel ready to go to bed. So might as well do the blogging I meant to do earlier.

Beautiful sunny morning, both the girls were up with us before Helen had to head off to work, sadly for another 24 hours shift, see you in the morning love Stringbean was keen to do ’some making’ and keen to raid the craft cupboard. But agreed with my suggestion of breakfast first. So yet another bowl of Cocopops (she will need to go cold turkey when this box is finished) was consumed.

SB then launched into a pianting, cutting and sticking fest. Doing some painting in one of her colouring books, making another ‘robot’ out of an old egg box, and i’m not sure what else exactly as I was giving BB her breakkie, getting her changed etc. She was a bit disappointed to have put some purple glue on top , to be told that it would turn clear once it dried. She has got a lot better at at concieving a plan of action and carrying it out, she had described most of what she was going to do to make a robot before she started.

This seemed to take up the first part of the morning until BB went for her nap by 10am. Resisting the temptation to stay on the bed and listen to R4, I returned to SB and made coffee, she moved onto an old issue of one of the BBC kiddies magazines which she worked her way through, we read all the stories, the spot the differences, and various puzzzles, and then made the Dora game that was in part of it. Though we never got round to playing it.

BB woke up and while I got her and played with her a bit SB took herself off to the playroom and spent ages again playing with the Connect 4 making patterns witht he pieces. Then we tidied up the kitchen bit and had lunch. SB was very good at feeding BB her lunch while I got ours ready.

After lunch we headed into the garden, though it was so hot we decided it was best moslty just to flop. SB helped me concrete in the base for the whirlygig washing line (at last). By then we needed a nice cold drink, so cold iced drinks for us, while BB enjoyed playing and sucking on ice cubes. Had meant to shift the heaps of greenery left over from work at the weekend but decide to sit in the shade and read a few books , and play games with BB instead.

Ahh, BB calls, time for bed I guess, we did have good mathsy workbook session before bedtime though.

And on the family front??

Well, SB and BB are really good at playing [most of the time!] SB likes to feed BB, hold and hug her. today we got out the little tykes climbing frame and SB had great fun sitting feeding BB at the top, and then sliding down with her on her knees. [see flikr]

BB rolling and wriggling to get around, and is really good at spotting what might be food! Lovely laugh and giggle, and is such a merry contented baby - I could write a book on my perfect technique!
SB on the whole been great too, keen to play, interact, leading with what she wants to do. Not too much fuss on the tidying up! She is high maintenance to keep happs, and I do worry still that BB therefore gets less of a lookin. It prob is common for second children, but I wish I could just have more time!

Chris been looking at leaking roof - up massively high ladder. SB disappointed that she couldn’t get up there with him. Thought it rather jolly when he took the hosepipe up to see if he could replicate leak conditions [not]. We are debating a bookcase purchase at the mo. We haven’t got the money, so i am tempted to cc it, so I can get the books out [see what debt does to me!] but chris trying to be more sensible.

i have had fun with my girls - SB stayed up till 10pm yesterday playing, so I feel although worked the weekend, I have not been ‘absent’. yet another on call tomorrow though. Cooking risotto, drinking limoncino and blogging - a bad combination!

i decided while outside eating dinner looking at it. when i’m panicking over money and wondering what we have done, i am going to go outside and look at it. the back view *is* my dream home, no wonder we overextended to buy it.

Anyway, BB is a happy girl. she has been plying with those press and ghastly woofy tunes play type toys today. mesmerising! Also while in bath did first roll from tummy back to back - a surprise for her! She lies on my lap like a little cherub form rubenesque school! we would make a very rubenesque mother and child!

SB had her stagecoach show today. it was all very lowkey - as anticipated for a group of mostly 4 year olds. i though SB concentrated remarkably well, and her overacting building sandcastle and pretend cry as sea washed it away drew laughs. I was proud!! [also low key].

At home we played shops - gradually i am using money with real values as i think we use switch too often! We also made our own pompoms to turn into a chick. attention span didnt quite last, so i finished. A bit of piano playing and object hide and seek.

the day brightened though, so we went out intio the garden and dug up more potatoes and picked more beans - yummy. SB raced around the garden, and even rode bike without stabilisers [i think the like a bike a like was instrumental there]. We played tag, and i was hampered by BB in my arms, particularly when my trousers fell down - luckilly no cameras! SB also had great fun climbing and swinging on the tp frame.

the weather was so nice we ate our curry sitting on the lawn. BB had peas and swede instead, as dont fancy her having tummy ache!

OH, earlier in the day SB wrote my sisters birthday card. She is getting quite into writing so nearly did sonlight order for getty and dubay but couldn’t find cc. Also hadn’t clicked from mudpud. on that note, cant find my link to sarah’s science experiments in a box??

chris and i have come up with an order of housedisasters to be sorted - roof leak being at number one spot!!

edit - omg 2.30. how did it get to that time??

at last!
she does seem to have a very low sleep requirement. She had a good day playing today, and had fun bashing keys on baby toy to make a tune the hit herself with it!

chris took the girls swimming, which they enjoyed.will try and go reg on a sun early morn as well. SB keen on idea of lessons, but as monthly we seem to be spending more than i got for a full year as a student I think we may have to pass. [just done budget, and we are def on that trendy asset rich cash poor thing. ho hum!]. they both enjoyed it. SB also had fun with the baby toys and investigated new webland issue

When I escaped home, me ‘n SB hama’d a bit, read some phonics, podded beans ate tea and cuddled up with bedtime stories [ i fell asleep first]. since then i have budgeted [where is gorgeous alvin when you need him?], whizzed around blog ring, and played with BB - as she last slept pre teatime]. She has finally zedded out.

chris has put shelving in what will be craft cupboard, so hopefully can make headway in creating order out of chaos.

And so it needed to be, as first opportunity to play with SB for me since I left Kessie. only got home from work at half 10 and ravenous, but after that went for quality SB time, as get more interaction with BB in the evenings.

Started with playing all together, with me n SB stacking up cups for BB to knock down, and putting toys in them for her to find. BB is such a sweetheart, and her face is all aglow with excitement in these combined games with SB, who it is quite clear she hero worships. [what a long sentence]

BB carried on while SB and I started doing some hama aboriginal dreamtime style piccies. Actually SB not bad, though attention span compromised, so moved on to playing copy each others patterns and sorting out the colours. Particularly including counting, adding and spatial relationship skills. Kept us both happy!

we spent alot of the afternoon playing in the sandpit, burying our dinosaur fossil and then hiding it around the garden.
Sb also put on shows for us to watch. We then dug up potatoes and picked broad beans for tea, but actually had pasta - LOL. Oh well, there for tomorrow. Unfortunately the potato tops have blight, and the whole veg patch weed city. Not done a good job.

Actually whilst on house update, roof leaking, bath taps dodgy, showers not working, 100 year old grapevine dying etc etc. sigh massively!

After tea we read the 10p book from the hospital friends stall on rivers and water. very nice. It also had a picture off newt eggs on oxygenator plants. we of course know that now from last years experiment of what are these eggs, and what will they become [well 2 goldfish and 2 newts].

BB hasn’t been ignored, and has been doing lots of standing practice and manipulating objects. also some tummy shuffling. She is such a bundle of happiness. 3rd tooth nearly through.

little nanny walking with special zimmer, and the girls visited her for a long time yesterday - did nanny the power of good I think. the other ladies also cooed over my girls. SB took in the usbourne pocket science book of why we are ill for little nanny, so she would understand 0 bless. other ed moment sith chris [in case he doesn't blog] were stagecoach yesterday final rehearsal, and my fav, SB asking if the world slowed down spinning in summer so the days were longer. we need a globe I think!

I really would like to organise and arrange our home ed better again [still autonomous, but with the ideas etc ready] however, with the house in chaos and me always at work, I am worried that we are never going to do it as we would like. Early days yet I guess.

oh, and Chris P, 2 ways to my heart, food and calling my child gorgeous! Thankyou.

TBH, at the moment I can’t believe socialisation is thought of as an issue in HE. I guess whe all SB’s friends go to school it may be less manic.

Description of events
This morning we madly tidied the house as Chris’s Aunt and Uncle droppng in. SBis getting quite good at tidying up and helping, so thats def [domestic science] covered! We did some more writing her name on the thankyou letters,[writing] and then made her friend B a birthday card. [art] [B is the one on the right in the picture a few posts down, one of SB's best friends]. She drew a very creditable person, and I was impressed at how much better she is getting at representing people.

When the doorbell went, I thought it was the rellies, 2 hours early, but instead it was a friend popping by with her 2 little stars. I think I have blogged them before? Anyway, S1 slightly younger than SB, and S2 approaching 2. They get on v well, though there was a bit of a fracas over the pushchair for the dollies, and i had to do a rapid removal of felt tips!! A cup of tea and a chat and they went back to Wakefield. Got a nice photo of the 4 kids though.

Rellies arrived bang on time [while Chris blogging in fact, and I thought he was changing BB's nappy!!]. A nice natter and some late presents for the girls. SB much taken with the usbourne princess activities. We enjoyed parsnip and apple soup with crusty rolls together. Chris and SB had to leave precipitously due to B’s party. [socialisation] BB and I entertained guests till departure. I had hoped to have a bit of free-ish time, but read an article in Thurs Guardian which made me howl, so woke up BB for a cuddle!

SB returned with the obligatory party bag, and it contained a dice game. We played it together till bitter end, each having 2 counters. She didn’t try to cheat on the throws, didn’t mind going backwards, and didn’t mind that I won. She counts so well, that it was only when I read in the nursery prospectus that the early learning goal is to count to 10 that I thought anything of it. [numeracy,board games]. Anyway, this is the first time that we have played a board game as equals, so gets huge bit on blog!!

SB and I had a look at the DK world explorer, and she did seem to enjoy that one, particularly the games. She now happily says her north south east west from a get your boat to the treasure one. [geography, IT] That also works so science one only is duff. Actually she must have enjoyed it as she went back to it after her bath cos I hadn’t shut it down.

Other than that we have done a fair bit of playing, tickling etc. Not such a whiney day either. After bath, Chris gave her 2 tops to put on, so she insisted on putting a leg in each arm, and pulling up over bot [she has got small bot] When she then got the bottoms, she decided they could go on her head to keep the pretend rabbit ears warm lol!

BB is improving on the sitting front, and can sit on a squishy cushion for a bit without listing over! obviously aided by big bot and big nappies. She thinks this is hilarious! Still loving her play gym. At 17 weeks she is starting to show interest in the food we are eating - to no avail though, I intend introducing solids as near 6 months as poss!

todays summary - well, i actually felt a bit pressured by all the stuff to fit in, and would rather it wasn’t another birthday party day tomorrow! its quite late on, and the far side of Leeds, so SB will no doubt fall asleep in car on route home, and then be up half the night. Oh, I am being ungracious. It is nice for her to have such a social whirl, as she really is a v sociable girl, and thats one of the things I am desperately keen to maintain.

Renewable energy etc
my other bit of thinking has been around how to make this listed building as energy efficient as poss, and todays guardian magazine had a bit on that kind of thing. Firstly insulate roof to the hilt. chris doesn’t get on well with fibreglass, so we have been thinking of alternatives, and wool here gets a mention. Other optins are flax, or blown cellulose[treated newspaper]. SOme of the windows are secondary glazed, and some not, so it would be worth looking into that as well. I’ve also always fancied a wind generator or solar voltaic cells. Dunster of the BedZed project has a website with lowcost [relatively] products, we have alway fancied the self build, but couldn’t face it with new job, new baby etc - I know, cowardly!!. I think when we have a bit of money again, we might have a bit of a chat to the listed buildings inspector about what we could get away with! it is a shame that we can’t convert the conservatory into a full house height one though, cos I’ve always wanted one of those.