Category Archives: literacy

very tired!

Posted on July 2, 2007 by | 2 comments

well, i guess it’s poetic justice that I worked this weekend following kessingland, and its been the busiest weekend I’ve worked for ages. In all daytime and called all night. So today I decided to leave slightly early from work and have a short nap. 30 mins later, SB woke me up as they were back home.

it was sports session this morning – must ask Chris whether SB tried the older group? She loves the sports sessions, and BB also likes the careering around she gets to do with Daddy. After it, they went back to the deep end’s new abode. Chris texted this to me, but i must have been at a superlatively busy moment and missed it! Anyway, they had a lovely time, BB was frightened by a cat – we have 2!

both girls did some colouring with chalks on black card to start with – very lovely. SB did do some firework pictures – nothing like being topical! bit of a tussle over BB purposefully squiggling over SB’s picture.
We inspected the garden – i didn’t get to see it at the weekend. french and runner beans shooting up, and some flowers on the runner beans. the broad beans had loads to harvest – so we did that, as did the mangetout. the girls ate them in thier playhouse. still more strawberries and also our weird not quite plum tree – as yet unidentified, but prob if i could be bothered would be! has some ripe fruit that the girls ate. Sweetcorn looking most unhappy – far to wet and miserable for them. things in the greenhouse on the whole happy – toms romping away and some ripening fruits. BB could only be persuaded that the grapes weren’t ripe by eating one.
SB happily did some singapore maths – adding hundred tens and units, whilst BB and I podded broad beans for tea and read books. BB fell asleep on my lap eating dinner – so whisked up to bed, and we’re hoping she will stay asleep.

Sb and I read our birds book from the DK animal series – part of our book people order. She also read the penguin lifecycle book as we read the inroduction and she chose penguins. We followed this up with a bit of david attenborough and his flying with birds [or whatever!] first episode.

Thinking home-eddy thoughts, in part brought on by hearing a girl shout at her mother IN FRENCH!! what a skill. must start thinking more seriously about approaching modern languages and poss latin. [whether i do remains to be seen. hoping that the possible local jolie ronde group may get set up in the location of the possible leader's home as v conveniently located!!]

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Posted in art and crafts, Books, Butterbean, gardening, General, literacy, numeracy, Out and About, SB-PE, science, Stringbean's HE

OK, so kessie weather worsening

Posted on June 20, 2007 by | 3 comments

aargh, but I will still have great fun, SB and BB won’t notice. the pool is good!

SO into work this morning, reasonably smoothly, but 1.5 hours longer there than planned. Met up with chris and the girls in town, and he had picked up my new glasses. I put them on and SB immediately laughed, told me I looked silly. Apparently they are too noticeable and go perrr-chinggg at you. sigh. that was good for the ego. Have been wearing them all day to get use to them. After lunch in town we left chris shopping and came home.

We did violin practice.SB has cold feet over playing the violin at kessie, and it is prob too wet anyway! so she will prob make up a dance. we did lots of playing outside and made up an adventure course – great fun for both. in breaks, I read some more SoTW – augustus caesar, and also some of our emperor book. SB read me a life cycle of rabbits book. She also did some maths and reading whatever took her fancy.

I did some weeding, planted spare beans in the gaps. the girls helped me with watering – always good for a laugh!!Actually SB very responsible at it, BB watered weeds, SB’s feet etc etc! I think we may have glutted ourselves on strawberries! and also bought cherries today.

Chris was sorting out camping stuff – yes we will bring poles! and girls aslo helped him and pottered about in the hayloft. what else? oh yes, BB and Imade some nice sausage rolls. I think that is it.

difficult day anticipated at work tomorrow. will def have wine at kessie!!

weather

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Posted in Butterbean, Cooking, gardening, General, history, literacy, music, numeracy, SB-PE, science

under the shade of a ‘cooliar’ tree

Posted on June 17, 2007 by | Leave a comment

which is one of the many phrases from songs that BB likes to string together. At the moment she likes to tag different songs together. [in fact she is doing that at the mo - 22:43!]

Well, BB woke up v early, so we had a singing session whilst chris tried to stay asleep. eventually chris admitted to being awake, so BB made him get up, and I finished an Iain Banks book [inversions] until SB rousted me out.

Today was an outside day. Amazingly it didn’t rain. [how english of me!!] So we got out pool, our new camping table – obviously you can’t home-ed without a table! And our gazebo – perfect. SO we hama-ed. I’ve done another sort of dreamtime hama – when I put it on flickr, you can guess the story if you’re feeling bored. Also the girls splashed and raced about. SB also kept confetti-ing me with grass seeds, so I have itched all day.

SB did some maths – she insists on doing it all in her head rather than writing it out. fair enough. i just ask her to write it in columns if she gets it wrong – which she did once. though she did take 15 mins to do the first addition [looking at birds, BB, my hama design, discussing how biro's work - you get the picture!] She says she prefers subtraction. BB did some kids k’nex and fell asleep at lunchtime.

We did some SOTW – julius caesar attacking britain, falling for cleopatra and getting murdered. SB enjoyed this, and we looked at other books around things – celts, cleopatra etc. BB woke up, so more playing and then planted out the rest of our cucurbits – squash, pumpkins and courgettes. they are desperate and very late. the girls helped – bb putting the rooster in the hole, and SB the plant. i had to dig all the holes mind you! We picked a bowl of strawbs in the morning, and a huge bowl in the afternoon – far to many to eat raw! bit of garden maintenance whilst the girls did the picking.

Discussed all sorts of trivia – she has a good memory for things when she fancies it. Just a nice family day – and how i have needed it. SB is so loving and caring. even when she is being teethgrindingly flighty she is so precious to me. The girls had a wild bath and SB soaped BB’s hair – cue major wails. Much fussing to get BB to consent to me washing it out!

We made strawberry tart and strawberry milkshake for pud – yummy!! SB went to bed and read me stories – I have to say WOW for her reading now. she often forgets to read out loud, and the pages flip over quickly.

BB has now gone to bed – way later!! I have read her stories, she has watched baby einstein neptune – she likes the fish and she has bossed me around – a lot!! She is just so gorgeous, and such a strong will!!

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Posted in Butterbean, Cooking, gardening, General, geography, history, literacy, numeracy, science, writing

Natural history museum

Posted on June 16, 2007 by | Leave a comment

we went yesterday and it was fab. a full 12 hours out so we were exhausted on return! It did make the journey in easier in that we could swap to tube before the main London station which then took us to south ken. We had brekkie of cheese scones on the train, and a runabout when we got there.

SB chose the young explorers monster pack – which is the dinosaur one. I didn’t think it would take that much time, but it really captured her imagination. I thought there could have been a bit more, but it was free! There was a bag in it with 3 clues in it to identify your specimen. SB was so methodical that she had carefully scoured so well on this that we knew which specimen it was from clue 1, so it was a bit disappointing for us that clues 2 and 3 were the same one. However, we did expand it a bit! i loved her spottisorus [her spelling].

Chris took BB for a run around the whole museum in the end. She did come back and invented her own spider dinosaur! We had our packed lunch and made our way back, looking at the marine fossils, primates and then Chris took BB for a run in the garden outside, and SB and I went to the main dinosaur bit – which she really loved, espec the T-rex. We all joined up in the human biology segment. BB loved listening to the toddler talk and randomly pushing buttons, where SB tried a bit more! I don’t think we quite did enough homework to keep BB interested though, so Chris ended up not seeing much of the museum, and me not much of BB. we can work on that for another time. Chris and I were worn out, so had restorative coffee. we left the museum at 4pm!!

We caught a bus from Hyde Park to Trafalgar square and SB was desperate to climb a lion. We said she had to do it unaided, and she had a damn good try! We went to an Italian just of leicester square for a cheap dinner before heading off home. BB totally charmed the waiters there by scampering about, and giggling.
Such a great day. loads of conversations with Sb about allsorts [including congestion charges and car sharing which she was most taken by!] She def wants to go to the science museum and the earth bit if the natural history, an open top bus ride, the london eye [you get the drift] and would like to live in cenral london!! [no smallholding then!!]

great time out. we did take photos, but you may have noticed we are well behind on flickring again – oops.

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, geography, history, literacy, numeracy, Out and About, science

the most unrelaxing time off work.

Posted on June 14, 2007 by | 3 comments

partly because there are a couple of issues that mean i can’t actually switch off and rest from. but they are also difficult to do anything about. I prefer omnipotence than this worrying and dithering!

And because there were a variety of tasks to tick!

Anyway, Mon and Tues were good. I think – in retrospect – that I will never book anything dentisty in!

Wed a bit of a stress, as we made an unplanned visit to chris’s parents on the wed, to see his uncle, aunt, cousin with husband and baby [the teeny tiny one born earlier in the year]. Unfortunately Chris’ uncle has bowel cancer, and not presently suitable for operation. He is having chemo, and had a dreadful reaction the firs time. Yesterday he was tired, and not his full fettle, but certainly better than we were anticipating. [lots of prepping SB]. Baby A is gorgeous and very smiley and laid back [aargh I feel broody!] SB and BB adored her and helped bring her things. BB was amazingly gentle and gorgeous. I say amazingly, as she stabbed SB purposefully with scissors before we had left home! [scissor privileges most def withdrawn] ANyway, a family day. But I had to do dentist dash in the middle – and obviously dentist not so close to Chris’s parents! My Daa had also arrived before we left – so seemed a bit odd to hello-goodbye. He was on his way to a golf match, which got cancelled whilst he was here, so he trimmed our topiary – good dad!

last night though I had loads of unsettled dreams and woke up with work palpitations and too little sleep. SB did lots of reading to Dad and some singapore maths. he was trying to teach her to catch a ball. like Monster, I think she has inherited a non-schools sports gene pool. i was v good at swimmer [hey, I was a lot thinner!]. She does seem to be good at gymn type stuff too. Must follow that one day, but she is keen on joining trampolining club, so think that should do!

Then in afternoon we went into town to have eyes checked. I went in with SB, who confidently said she was home-ed so no whiteboard [when asked] but that she was good at using the computer and could read! The optician was good too, but when SB talked about pupils and could say which bit they were and seemed interested, the optician explained what she was doing at every step, what they might find. Coolest is the new machine for taking pictures of the retina – no more ophthalmoscope! BB was in there with us in totally charming mode. Both girls stayed oK, whilst chris and I dithered over glasses. You know, I look no great shakes, and glasses don’t add much. I have no style talent, so actually in front of everyone having to try the things on and look like I care – which I do of course, but I don’t actually have any ability here!! Oh well, chose an unlikely pair anyway.

we also went to milletts and BB investigated everything whilst chris pondered. Eventually we left, and it was tipping it down. Got back in time for SB to go to ballet, and BB and i made choc cookies and cheese scones. Lots more reading and some DS-ing and both girls now tucked up.

We must have early night.

oh, and the other bit of crapness was we were supposed to go and visit little nanny this week and drop off aunty margaret’s birthday pressie for next week. except little nanny is with aunty margaret this week. her pressie not that transportable. We were doing other things this weekend, but chris has apologised for our absence [I believe, if not, I apologise for our absence] as I have to see little nanny whilst Aunty M drops her off. its been ages since we visited, we can’t go till after kessingland. my life and diary are a mess!!

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

Me and my smelly shoes

Posted on June 12, 2007 by | 2 comments

well, me and Sb got some not-quite-crocs from ebay. very cheap unfortunately the seller had a problem with knowing colours, as we were supposed to have lime green and pink respectively, but she just focused on the pink! I can live with pink feet I guess!

Anyway, an early start as SB reading at the library [see, public speaking at 6!] she read a Clifford book, a couple of dog poems and a kipper book. i liked her way of getting the children to take turns with the flaps, and BB her little helper. She then did a sticking material onto cut out dogs craft. The session is obviously for under 5′s!!

We did some singapore maths 2A – finally we get to do adding up and carrying in columns! i breath a sigh of relief at this. SB though good at doing it in her head with the tens and units, but columns help with the hundreds. The only real difficulty is with doing 5 and 2 variably back to front, it can be difficult seeing what her answer is!!

BB did lots of colouring in and cutting, and playing games with the pencils being people. She has also just got keen on ‘galloping’ either with the hobby horse or broom! She also helps SB’s maths by shouting out random numbers. [not welcomed!!]

We played outside, picked some broad beans and mangetout – the girls ate the mangetout directly, the broad beans for tea! Lots of fun with watershooters for the girls – chris got a bit carried away [surprise suprise] so I was drenched. Though was nice after boiling alove in the greenhouse.

SB had swimming, and I watched in the gallery. she is a bit of a flibberdygibbert! the coach kept an eye on her, as she was doing duck dives as often as anything else! WIll try and at least get front crawl pinned down on holiday. And mushroom floats, as SB thinks the idea is to curl up in a ball, and then fling out as wildly as poss!

When we came back she did some jump ahead 1 CD – which she finds nice and easy, so a fun thing . And we did some violin practice, with me playing it with her a bit – mostly to try and pin down the timing. She was a bit freaked by this, so haven’t tried a canon yet! I think she has done really well to get so far,but not sure it will be up for a canon with Joe, but she is keen to go ahead. Back to positives though, we only really started practicing the violin vaguely seriously when Sarah suggested a duet, so I think to be playing a recognisable tune with a reasonable bow hold, though varying violin hold and enjoying it is a real achievement.

erm, more reading to each other, playing games and tidying up. ’bout it.

oh, and its the new crocs-a-likes that have a weird smell!!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, history, literacy, music, numeracy, SB-PE

I should be in Cancun

Posted on June 11, 2007 by | 3 comments

the local carnival here continues on apace. this eve we had the local band playing in village centre and a raffle. SB was the proud winner of a box of chocs – chosen by her after considerable time!!

i went to work this am and then home. SB had done some maths and we did some violin, loads of reading/ jigsaws etc. Some colouring and writing. BB read books, did magic painting and bit people – lovely!! more strawbs harvested. I am sure chris will mention the milkshake.

Anyway, I should be in Cancun. but decided i really couldn’t face it [even though I would have enjoyed it once there] and it was expensive!!! so converted study leave into annual leave.

oh, I bought some goats milk, and we all liked it. SB is quite keen on the idea of a small farm. chris isn’t!!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, literacy, music, numeracy, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE, writing

cycling and roasties

Posted on June 10, 2007 by | 3 comments

my migraine abating now – having fair ruined the weekend!

Anyway, sadly without me, chris and the girls did the village carnival cycle ride, and SB did 10 miles! good going – with some stops at the official drink stops etc where she chatted to anyone who would listen. She was the youngest single cycler – someone younger on a tagalong. Chris pulled BB in the trailer. . He found out that our village has a power station in it!!!!!!!! Apparently at a landfill point in the old gravel pits. hmmm.

IMG_6578 IMG_6584 IMG_6586 IMG_6575

We went to chris’s parents for lunch – hence roasties. The girls enjoyed playing in the mini stream and waterfall they have had built. Relaxed nattering, and finally home. SB has practiced her violin and done a lot of reading and baked cupcakes. Also a fair amount of nintendogs – BB also rather keen on nintendogs!

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Posted in General, history, literacy, music, SB-PE, Stringbean

Shall we gloss?

Posted on June 9, 2007 by | Leave a comment

I had a combination of migraine, non-perfect outcome at work [my fault], feeling crap and blue.

so i compounded it by being so? unavailable for my girls that BB was biting me whenever she wanted attention. sigh. I did improve in the afternoon. Just.

SB did violin, lots of reading, made a lovely card and went to the kids carnival party. BBbit me lots, we did lego, reading, jigsaws.

both girls helped me with picking peapods [though i didn't get to eat any!] BB stuffed herself with strawbs [ and we have loads!!!] they also enjoyed scattering rooster pellets and watering.

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, gardening, General, literacy, music, socialisation, Stringbean

rice pudding and strawberries.

Posted on June 6, 2007 by | 3 comments

Apart from madly thinking about various deadlines at work, I have had a gresat time.

SB is getting there with frere jaques – half speed though! hmmm for kessie! Hope Joe will be forgiving.

Girls did lots of playing – shops, families etc. also lots of playing with the book people boxes. In fact the boxes were prob the most looked at bit of the book people order! SB did get stuck straight into the poetry collection – she has athing for poetry at the moment. She is planning to recite a poem at Kessingland. its true that some of the books are more ‘future books’ – some diana wynne jones for me [rofl! i loved her charmed life as a girl] and the roman mysteries collection. But the DK animals collection really lovely, and the where on earth – so we had a look at those.

We also looked at SOTW again – its been ages, but Julius caesar – SB quite good on this from the horrible histories CD! Also continued with primary maths [i do think i prefer it to MPaH]
The strawberries in the title, well, we have LOADS ripe now, so our little birds were out picking them! At least i did get 4 this time. And I made rice puding with BB – yummy!

BB did lots of colouring and magic painting – which she is becoming very careful about. SB did colouring and made this sun catcher from beadmerrily. well i thought it was beadmerrily but I can’t find it!! Shame, because its lovely, and SB really enjoyed it!

forgot to say that we gave SB her DS today, she has been saving up beautifully and will now put that money towards a trampoline! Thankyou very much to Claire for her generosity. We have nintendogged until i went crazy!!!

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Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, gardening, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy