Category Archives: Dance/drama

monday just gets busier

Posted on November 19, 2007 by | 4 comments

during the day, SB did maths and piano practice, and the girls had their room re jigged. SB in particlar made lots of icosohedrons with the polyhedrons . I think I might have to print off the various platonic solids so that I can remember their names, and SB learn for the first time!! BB made houses and tunnels and tents – not bad![chris might expand on day, but doubt it!]

When I got back, we did some more polyhedrons. BB and i read apple tree farm, and she did lots of counting. Then – drum roll please – SB and I FINISHED SOTW!!! well, the first book anyway. The roman empire has declined and fallen! SHe wanted to do some more latin, have no idea where the minimus book is, so found the usborne first latin [or whatever its called too lazy to check!] and said hello, how are you. Chris liked being the domine – ahem!!!

SB went to ballet, returned briefly and then went on to swimming – how chaotically busy. its the new class, and there were only 4 in it today, right down at the deep end, so lots of attention each. Chris said she was excellent. BB and I played with the jigsaws and counting games, and then some more traintracking whilst I made a thai thing for tea – which i cooled down for the girls with some left over leek and potato soup from yesterday- worked well. oh, I must say at this point, SB says Marcus makes better leek and potato soup as Chris’s was to leeky!!!

BB off to bed after a numberjack hit, and SB and I then wrapped up her presents for BB, and finished her card. [OK, I have just finished it, as SB got ‘worn out with cross stitching‘ , but the design was all hers, and she did do it valiantly.] So she decided to make chocolate [dairy free] truffles to put in the party bags for wed. SO we had fun doing that, and agreed we made a very good team!

SB is reading to me the next magic tree house now at bedtime – lunchtime with lions, and I read another chapter of 21 balloons, which we both giggled over. [and yes, a maggie , hamilton and the ferocious beast]

SO now wondering whether to do a BB blogpost or read new book!!!

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Posted in Butterbean's HE, Cooking, Dance/drama, early maths skills, General, geography, history, language, literacy, music, numeracy, pre reading, SB-PE, Stringbean's HE

walking and cycling

Posted on November 11, 2007 by | 3 comments

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

and off we go

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

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

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

I think I am now a bit partial to sewing

Posted on October 29, 2007 by | 2 comments

said SB when BB gone to bed. I would quite like to try the doll kit [from Vix and M some time ago]. OK. I get out my sewing and the doll kit, we decide to start easy with the waistcoat and she is away. no stabbing incidents. We are slightly disagreeing on what some f the clothes might be, so if anyone done this, could they comment on whether the red bits make dungarees, and whether the yellow flower is a skirt for the yellow and red top bit? Anyway, a very happy hour.

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Other than that, whilst I was at work a massive tifying fest. i rescued the little angel dress knitted by aunty phyllis [little nanny's sister] from the bin pile.

Angel in our garden

Sb has done lots of webland, some handwriting, read usborne first elizabeth 1 and looked at quicklinks and decided that the dolphins at daybreak is a totally fantastic book and read the lot. Also been to ballet.

BB and I have baked choc cupcakes, she has been a total pickle otherwise. hmm!!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, Dance/drama, General, history, literacy, photos, Stringbean's HE, writing

Madly Socialising

Posted on October 18, 2007 by | 5 comments

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Have flickred and addede the odd photo

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Dance/drama, General, history, language, literacy, science, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

Aargh Blogging

Posted on October 16, 2007 by | 2 comments

Chris has loads of half written posts that need finishing!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Posted in art and crafts, Blogging, Butterbean, Cooking, Dance/drama, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, Out and About, SB-PE, socialisation, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE, writing

BB Baking

Posted on September 25, 2007 by | Leave a comment

BB really enjoys baking. it is our secret treat when SB at ballet on Monday. this time she wanted to make biscuits

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SB and I did piano and violin before we ate the yummy biscuits. Earlier in the day they both enjoyed the cuisinaire rods – SB doing areas, and BB patterns.

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both also made fab cards for their cousin E’s 4th birthday.

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no idea what they have done today as  was to late home.

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, Dance/drama, General, music, numeracy, Stringbean's HE, writing

Titanic

Posted on September 18, 2007 by | 5 comments

bit out of sequence so am going to alter timestamp ;)

Anyway yesterday was home-ed trip to titanic display at a local museum, and I was very wobbly about it! Chris goes to the groups, and although I’ve been a couple of times to that groups events, not really enough to particularly feel that I ‘belong’, whereas I do with the other group – possibly becuase I see a number of the families there for other reasons too.

Anyway, wobbliness aside, we set off early, got there on time, and had a good look round. SB had told BB that they could buy something from the shop, so she was a bit like a stuck record – sorry. They enjoyed all the colouring, and looked cute dressed up. Perhaps BB looked more like oliver twist than titanic! SB really enjoyed the drama, and BB also joined in. Another family from the village was there [there are 3 that home-ed here!]

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Extras appearing in the titanic IMG_9378

Afterwards we had a bit of a debacle in the shop as they didn’t take cards, so winnowed the purchases! Both got a dinosaur to paint. We then nipped to the carpark, but i saw that clarks was empty so thought i might get some shoes. SB has the wrong size feet apparently for clarks shoes!! BB has some, but i am worried that they were fitted wrong/ hurriedly. SB was so disappointed we went to H and M to buy non-tarty leggings, and ended up with 2 legging outfits – which she was really happy with. I also bought some leggings from evans, so all set up we were back to car.

There we found T and her child in distress having been looking for their car all this time. We waited with them whilst a carpark attendant whizzed about and found it – thank goodness, as we were making ‘if it has been stolen’ arrangements. Popped into Merry’s to drop of Amelies doll, and home just in time to greet my Mum arriving, and send SB off to swimming.

BB enjoyed painting her dinosaur and making a carrot cake, and we all did some more tidying and chatting – looking up weird relatives to boot!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, Dance/drama, General, history, literacy, SB-PE, socialisation, Stringbean's HE, writing

Planning ahead

Posted on September 17, 2007 by | 17 comments

I love thinking about the Muddlepuddle Winter camp. SB and Chris will have their birthdays there this time, and apparently Babs is being inundated with forms [if the camps list of senders is to be believed!] I imagine at this rate it will be full in a fortnight!

SB went to sports session this morning, and I did some tidying, and set off some oven dried toms - they are STILL oven drying! Merry and girls arrived before chris back, but did at least feed them swiftly, even if the main attraction of SB was still missing.

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Lots of girls playing happily sounds, and then SB off to ballet, so Merry got to enjoy magic schoolbus for her girls. Jan/Jonathan – Chris can’t find many, where did you get yours from?? SB back, and a great clothes swap about. I find it offputting to see so many SB’s running about – as of course they wear SB’s clothes, and I usually see them and think SB before brain processes! Amelie is so like SB to cuddle as well.

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Merry and I had a good gossip, and a play with the pentomino based games. I love them! might buy one for my Nan for Xmas actually, I think she would enjoy the solitaire one. [so don’t sell out and not replace Merry! Can’t find it on your site yet Merry, otherwise would link. BB had great fun playing with a mouse in a corridor game – which I am sure Merry might supply the link to too!

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Girls wound down having a chippy tea watching magic school bus. SB now watching Nina and the neurons – arrgh we still haven’t done any SOTW, music practice or anything today!! But we have had fun. oh, and we have nearly finished that window mosaic now.

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, Dance/drama, General, photos, SB-PE, science, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

Mosquitos

Posted on September 10, 2007 by | 4 comments

I am soooo fed up with them. Having a pond a bad idea – though the fish lovely, and BB always pretending to be a frog on a ‘leappad’. Aaarghh [scratches everywhere!]

Whilst I’ve been at work, there has been painting, a bit of maths and writing, lots of reading, DS-ing and ballet restarted.

On returning SB has done some violin practice – wailed hugely about doing it, and then was v pernicketty about getting it right beofre carrying on, so did way longer than I suggested – all v happily.

Make your own pizza for tea. Listening to french CD about colours. SB is now ds-ing rather than any joint activity, so I am feeling loose endish! BB asleep.

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Posted in art and crafts, Dance/drama, General, literacy, music, numeracy, writing

Abbalicious

Posted on September 3, 2007 by | 3 comments

when I got home from work I was treated to an Abba dance display from both my girls. we will have to start u-tubing again. SB is getting a good wiggle, and was being v inventive with moves. BB was half a move behind, often trying to mimic big sis. lovely.

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Earlier in the day they had been mostly tidying their bedroom! SB also read all the Quentin Blake bookset we got from the book people ages ago. she is turning into a real little bookworm. well, with 2 keen parents, I guess there is a good gene for head-in-a-book.

SB has done a minute bit of maths about measuring in cm and m. Also a single page of getty and dubay B for hand writing. [these were the requested somethings!!]

When I got home, Sb and I did some violin practice together, she did a bit of webland, and was very grumpy because she couldn’t spot what was wrong with the picture! I read to BB, and Sb and BB played cafe before watching a short bit of a magic school bus before tea.

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Feeling boring at work and at home, with no sparkle. prob just from such a tough weekend sapping all vitality, but hope to improve!

edited to add. rather amusingly, when I got home chris went out ot buy some veg – i thought to avoid yet another bean meal but we had beans anyway! he then rang me as he had credit card and no PIN, so I had to scurry round the house to find the bit of paper with it written on. SB thought this weirdest of all, as he needed a number? we considered how many number combinations it would be before daddy guessed right, and her head was spinning v quickly!

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Posted in Butterbean, Dance/drama, General, literacy, music, numeracy, writing