Category Archives: literacy

…happy days

actually had some sleep last night!!

poor SB has a dreadful cough at night – nost so bad during the day though.

So, what did we do? well, i tried not to do too much TBH and have a chilled day, once the planned multi kid activities no longer required.

So what have we done on our chill day? Well we started with a bit of playing about. SB did some more hama, built towers and castles with various bricks. She then did all but 2 remaining pages and the test in explode the code 1 – woohoo!

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BB poddled about – a bit grisley TBH so some permafeeding, but also read books, played with the alphabug and danced to its music. BB can make a stack of 7 bricks on her own, and has a special grumpy face for when they fall over with the 8th. SB did help her make a really huge tower though.
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After lunch we went ouside and planted 2 more of the fruit trees. Lovely weather. SB running about and climbing and trampolining. Its good to get out into the fresh air.

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When SB got cold we went in and she had a hot choc and bounces around the house on a spacehopper before doing some rainbows on the hama heart. we had a chat about how to do them, and decided i would do one side how she wanted, and then she could copy it. BB also did some hama and some hitting the spacebar on cbeebies. can anyone recommend any other sites where spacebar hitting is all that is required?

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We finished with a tidyup, read an usbourne lift the flap nature book and why does my tummy rumble. for once we didn’t play a game before bed as it crept up on us. However, lots of fun and cuddles and tickles through the day with both my girls – good enough for me.

And then I had insomnia – sigh

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!
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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

Still chocolate/wine deficient!

And another poor night from the little beans…

So Chris got up with them this morning. SB used her puff up paints on a T-shirt bought for the job. Must get thankyou’s done and out. She did only get them on real birthday not party though! Then to the library for story time and some cutting and sticking whilst I got a few tasks sorted at home.

Chaos as the beans returned and i did the readingnew library books stint! I think a my little pony annual followed by spongebob was way beyond the call of duty though! BB fell asleep, so we decided it was games time. SB chose walk the plank and the around the world game . She then wanted to do some knitting. I honestly looked at the instructions very closely in the galt first knitting box, and I honestly did not understand a single word! You what? was the best term. SO we had a go at the french knitting, and although she could do this, a few times round and it got a bit boring. So a go at explode the code – she really wasn’t in the mood, but we persevered for a bit and then gave up. Instead we organised the seed potatoes for chitting. We got the Thompson and morgan favourite half dozen, sarpo axona and a trial one.

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After this I was so grumpy i couldn’t bear to think before the room tidyed and hoovered, so thats what we did! and then all played happy street – which although SB growing out of, BB growing into. SB then went off to swimming lessons – which she loves.

Me and BB had a great time with an uniterrupted hour! We played with the happy street, the hammer shape sorter for a bit, some chase. SHe loved having a bang and a crash on the piano – MUST do some music with SB. With her books, she was saying boo on opening the flasp – how cute! And she has really mastered the backwards bottom/sit-on-lap thing! We then played with the little pony fuzzy felt that karen B doesn’t want to be sent on. She really enjoyed it, and concentrated for a long toddler time. We also had lots of cuddles and snuggles and general rousting about today, which was good.

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i posted my johari, but not my nohari – motly cos so few people did it – though thankyou to those that did. 100% say I am unhappy. I am not erally sure how to sort that out either. Its like my daily emotions are over a pool of unhappiness. there are some obvious things that are getting me down, and others i blame. I’m not sure whether i am right or just labelling things. I can’t quite work out how to sort things without upsetting applecarts or potentially worsening things either. Sigh. I am hoping this is a ‘this too will pass’ thing, and as I get more confident in my role at work, and far less stressed [it is dificult to be more stressed TBH] that at least i wont carry that around with me all the time, and will then enjoy home more. Hmmmm

An out and about day.

Well, we did have a late start. both beans were up, but we prents had seen too much of them in the night. So SB started with cbeebies on TV and cbeebies on ‘puter. Chris had drawn an outline of the flower bed on an old slate roof tile. SB was entrigued, so spent quite a while drawing a house with chalks on one. She pointed out at some lenght it was an old time picture – due to the slate and chalks! BB had a go too.

We did have a good look at the science experiment from yesterday – the flowers, and we were all pleased with that. We didn’t manage to get dressed in time to pop in on home dad though, as they had gone out, and then it was too close to lunch. Instead SB and i looked at the Usbourne flip flap castles, and the 1001 things to spot book. We also did the next page of her active readers book.

After lunch, we went to Chris’s parents. they had the electricians around, which was unfortunate as that meant we were all in the kitchen – though TBH, this is where we often are anyway! SB made a william morris box and then did a painting for Chris’s parents. She had wanted to do another science experiment today with Nana, so I brought along the usbourne air experiments, and they built a convection snake. It was rather large to work really well, but was at least convincing. She then relaxed in front of cbeebies some more. I think the disturbed night had everyone worn out!

Later in the week Chris is going back for their old dining room table that we can put in the playroom. This means SB [and me] will be able to do jigsaws/games without BB rampaging through and totally destroying them. This will be good, as we have to sneak in things like that when she is asleep.

i am feeling grumbly – and since I am hols, there is no good reason to be feeling this way. Maybe I am wine or chocolate deficient?

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The Weekend

Some additions by Chris – 12.50 am

Friday was mudpud. Chris may add a bit, but it was maps and things. I think they had a good time!

Yep we had a good time, though my activity with symbols etc. didn’t get used much, but the jigsaws got done. Unusally for MP there was no gluing and sticking, which must be a first. SB did Merry’s co-ordinates thing, played with Amelie, Fran and Maddy loads with the playdough. They were making some wonderful playdough biscuits which kept increasing in price, to somethign like a zillion squillions or something. she didn’t do Tammy’s comapss making as Fran was goign to show her she said but they didn’t get around to it. so of course once in the car we had a big fuss about this :roll:

Stopped of at Tesco’s on the way home for so food, and looked for some cheap games, but nothign much left . Looked also for soem tops for SB, but unimpressed, found a couple of cheap fleece tops and a long ans short sleeved top she liked – but most were horrible – these funny things which look like you got about three layers on, with all sorts of various straps over the shoulders – and other fashionable (I suppose) sorts of styles. It’s just not the sort of thing we would like to dress SB in anyway – somehow it just doesn’t seem appropriate, and anyway, I think she’d fidn them annoying, and we’d have arms through all sorts of holes.

Bit of late to bed as SB wanted to wait up for Helen to come home, but she was home much too late (past 11pm) so once we got back She painted a card for Sam and couple of pictures. took me ages before I could convince her to have her dinner. By the time I had them both in bed it was about all I could do to flop out in a heap.

Saturday was Sam’s party. SB had a lovely time, and particularly enjoyed the snakes and lizards, though not so impressed by the spiders. She would like to see them again. would we dare do it for a mudpud friday??

She was late mostly due to me, [Chris – :roll: – they didn’t come back until about 5 minutes before my ‘very last minute to leave – SB did comment on how short the party was..] as I took a bunch of flowers to ‘homedad’ and wife [though he isn't homedad any more!] as they had had a rather unexpected and rapid homebirth! Fantastic says I – she is not quite so sure!! Anyway, baby fit and well, but diff to prise SB away. Earlier still she had looked at the new webland, and done some education city science. We also redid the Bicarb volcano experiment, this time with blue colouring

Me ‘n BB went to have a lovely afternoon with a work colleague [my boss!] and her family, and also another work colleague and wife. It was really nice. BB was a charm, pootling about and smiling at everyone. When SB arrive after Sam’s party she went straight to the park with 2 of Suzanne’s children, and they had a blast. We didn’t actually get that long at the playground as they carried on walking up to then rivertalked about locks Her princess party dress not quite what was best for the park! Indeed not it was very cold she only had socks on and no hat and gloves, but she managed ok – got hat and scarf donated by another grownup. Suzanne had cooked a lovely meal for both parents and children – so fantastic for all. Her youngest introduced SB to the concept of a happy meal, after she had misidentified nearly everything – to his complete bewilderment!

When we got back, SB and I played snakes and ladders, and I read her 3 Brittannia stories. We did skip a saints one, as she is bored of saints! [actually, they are rather saint heavy at this historical moment!]

Sunday. I had thought we would look at some snakes/lizard books, but we didn’t! Trying to get memory in order here! Failed. Anyway, we did a lot of tidying up, as the house looked like an utter bombiste. organised one of the bookshelves and the games cupboard as well. So not soooo awful!

We did some face painting. I painted SB as a piggy [her request] and she painted me as a princess [mine!] BB was forcibly painted by SB as a clown – but only red cheeks and a yellow line on forehead. Moved onto doing the coloured water/white flower science experiment. SB did some explode the code 1 – nearly at the end! i played with BB, reading her her most favourite book – thats not my monster!

Most of the afternoon was spent in the garden. We are very late getting inour fruit trees, and hope they will be ok. Anyway, clearing the bed and playing with the girls – hopefully got some nice snaps too! SB wanted to help, but the forking over was a bit difficult. when we plant should be better. Otherwise she mostly played imaginative games on the climbing frame and hide and seek [with me]. BB is very good now at that little tykes cube frame/slide. She also showed enthusiasm for getting up onto the TP one – argh! She was quite happy on the little rocking horse too. Both BB and SB played football!!!

we did some singapore maths 1A on ordinal numbers and the ‘teens’ Although SB proficient at counting in the teens, we haven’t really looked at the hundreds and tens thing for a bit, so I think this was a section that could do with some practice.

Finally SB painted her ladybird flying thingy from her party bag – rather cool Tammy! and BB, shattered by the fresh air had a long munch and a nap – bang in the wrong place for teatime etc etc. Both girls have been asleep so far, so lets hope they stay that way. Lat 2 nights BB has been in bed with us, so snack-attack city, and SB also joining us. Could do with a good night!

SO a good day al round – and I am on annual leave next week. A lot to fit in – Chris parents want him to move furniture, so a visit there. SB’s birthday money bruning a hole in her pocket – so need to shop. I would like to visit little nanny if poss. And I actually would like to have a relaxing time for some of it!!

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Totally devoted to you

hmm, well glad to come home from work yesterday as certainly earnt my keep. Nice that SB still awake when i got home. Nicer still that BB didn’t wake up all night.

So to today, SB started the day with an early CBeebies fix. BB and me had a roistering marmalisation session in the bed. She bounding all over me to make sure I was fully awake, having a good tickle and giggle – a good way to wake up!

So, we started off with breakfast and reading baba yaga and the new zealand story form usbornes stories from around the world. brekkie over and some messing about with lego for both the girls.

SB keen to do the final tesco science tube thing I bought a while back, so we settled down to that. She likes ‘speriments. First we did was the best. We put 15 coppers in a bowl and tipped salt on top [it said sprinkle, SB somewhat enthusiastic] and the cover completely with vinegar. it has to be the absolutely quickest way to get coins clean. I hope someone is doing the chemical equations int heir head, cos they’re not given in the bumpf -which would be a negative. Afer 20 mins add shiny iron nail and watch it copper plate. [except we left it a bit longer, and other reactions seemed to happen]. we did the volcano one a number of times, a number of different surface tension experiments. This had great easy experiments, but no real explanations.

SB then did some explode the code whilst i settled BB off to sleep. We had a bit of a treat in sarnies from the bakery accross from us – yummy! After that SB started on her sewing a foam bag kit she got for birthday. She got the hang instantly – considering we have never done swing before, and it was soon ready for the key ingredient – sticking!

BB woke up while she did this, so we had a good play, lots with the cooker, lego and she’s really attached to the ‘thats not my monster’ book from the library, so we read it alot. She is very good at shouting mummy and Daddy, a reasonable bye bye and ook. When SB’s sticking got far too interesting, we went and watched Chris pruning the grape [rather late]. BB thought the leaves dropping were rather lovely, and had a great poddle about. SB finished her sticking – it is certainly a decorative bag, so also came into the conservatory to help with the pruning.

After a bit of a fuss, she did some of the msising writing bits in the explode the code, and whizzed through some singapore maths 1a simple addition and subtraction. I think she has grasped this so well that we shall just nip on to the next section on ordinal numbers, not doing any of the practice unless we hit a bit that takes some thinking about. in our mental maths mess about, we are doing multiplying in 2, 3 and 5 [though not to great numbers, 2 and 3 to 12, and 5 to 20] and also sharing numbers 12 and less in 2,3,4. So I think we should try and get the two areas nearer together! SB has decided she wants to be on the same books as Maddy, so they can do it togeether [does this sound like homeschooling to anyone?]
She remembered we hadn’t done 2 of the experiments, so we did those, and then after she went on and on about a website we used to do, I realised it was education city, so got a trial and she got stuck in. I read BB more books, and she moved my finger over all the textured bits – cute! She also had a great play with the hammer it shape sorter. My fingers have recovered!

by dinner time, we were all tired. TBH, I could have done with a restful day, but really enjoyed being full on and there, as with recent jaunts have felt more part time than normal. Since we missed pancake day yesterday, we did it today. Sb had sundae day, as she doesn’t like pancakes – possibly more sprinkles than icecream though! We vaguely did the religion. BB ate anything offered.

After her bath, I had promised SB a game, and she chose 3D snakes and ladders [fantastic!] Unfortunately I won fairly instantly having gone up the long ladder, so we had a rematch and I lost. Angelina ballerina stories and a Winnie the pooh CD and all was quiet! Chris settles BB with a bottle when I read SB stories, so alternate nights BB sleeps without a night feed – a bit wierd for me I must say, but she is happy, so I guess weaning has begun.

oh, and aaarrrghhh to the apprentice. I think even I could have done a better job

Getting back into the swing.

Short and sweet here I think.

Other than breakfast etc. don’t think anything much happened before heading out to the library. As ever? handing the books is wasn’t straight forward. Some of the books om SB’s card that we took out last week weren’t appearing on her list of books out – though they were down as being on loan.? We have another book which has gone AWOL in the house and we’ve run out of renewal-ability. So that had to be marked down as ‘lost’ except it isn’t they call it something else and we get another 3 months to find it without fines racking up. Sigh….

A bit of story time, a bit of colourign and sticking, making a pancake in a frying pan, as ever we were the last to finish as SB can’t be dragged away from? bit of sticking easily. Then again she is the oldest by? a long way now of course, all her same age? compatriots are in school I assume.

Home, followed by putting coats on again to go back as we left the craft work behind…… luckilly it is about a minutes walk away.

Home, rapidly gave BB some food, otherwise she tends to want/need? a sleep around 12, falls asleep and misses lunch. So she had? nibble of bread and cheese and then fell asleep in her highchair. So me and SB lunched and I read the aforesaid Mr Men books, with pauses for? quick gander at the Grauniad ‘I’ve read two, i’m just having? little rest and drink of coffee….’

Rough order of play for rest of day was some Maths ‘Match and Sort’. I wonder how long we will keep referring to it as that ? – ‘Match and Sort was the first ‘workbooky’ thing she did many moons ago (and loved). It was easy stuff for her really, just addition within 10? – tiem to move her one a bit, her subtraction is ok, might try a bit of simple multiplication seeing as she was sort of thingking about that in the car the other day. SB watching a DVD for a bit a German cartoon series called ‘Little Hippo’ – in German, BB coming into the garden with me for she pottering around, me ditto a bit, taking some piccies of her. Finshed pruning the Wisteria. Sat in the conservatory for ,little bit once we got cold, thinking that vine must be pruned pronto before it starts into growth again – maybe tomorrow. A bit more ‘work’ from SB – Expode the Code. did one of her simople crafty things from her birthday A pre-swim snack time, swmming lesson for SB, home, chips for tea, ready for bed, BB asleep, Helen home just in time before SB due to go, so she got? bit longer up.

Helen on call, had? very long day and home late, so off to bed at? sensible time. Me not so sensible….

I liked this photo though – even though it’s not quite focussed on the right place.

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‘Ahh, cute baby’

Which was a couple of 11-12 yo girls at the HE group exclaimed when Butterbean was being her best cute self – of course they were right and we know that? – but it’s nice to hear others say it :-)

Anyway, yesterday, as part of our get out and meet more local home edders and try out some more group things me and the girls went to anothe CHEF group. This time one of the monthly group gatherings? – basically like Mudpud but slighty more organised, and some with bigger children. SB slept in like the proverbial log, I had to pretty much drag her out of bed at 9 am so as to have? chance of leaving on time. Just about managed it.Theme was on the heart, and so there were a number of heart related activities, which we did some of. Made heart biscuits, measured heart rate before and after exercise, some heart shaped little basket things, and of course? a fair bit of milling about by children. M, one of the girsl on or Botanic gardens trip recently who is almost exactly the same age as SB, and who? played together all the time pretty much? was there, so they did some more bonding. There was a bring and share lunch which was nice, and i managed to over some my normal reticence at such things and actually talk to a few grownups.? BB is? a little bit of hard work at times as she heads off in al directions, and has? habit of dashing through doors once they are opened, but moslty poddle about draggin one or two large hoops with her. There was a plan to go with M and coupleof others to the park afterwards, but it was rather cold and rainy, so we poped round M’s house. Within about 2 minutes they were in the princess/ballerina outfits – a kindred spirit here it seems. Grownups drank tea and chatted of course, BB poddled happily. Sadly due to some sort of problem with our mobile network me and Helen didn’t manage to snyc.

Can’t really remember much else after we headed home.Girls spent some time playing with Helen while I got tea etc. ISTR SB spent ages on a Jump Ahead CD on the ‘pute. Other than SB took ages to get to sleep (10.30 or later) – which she doesn’t actually seem to like.’ I don’t like being? nightowl’ she wailed at me at one point.

So of course, seeing as we had no hurry this morning, she was awake at 6 am, though managed to avoided getting up until almost the normal time (about 6.45) so instead of a little time to drink a cup of tea in peace, I was playing a game with SB. Been a bit of? strained day at times really, SB got tired later, I was very tired as well, so patches of grumpiness, and with helen not home until turned 6pm, a long day. Breakfast was a plaver – didn’t want an offred boiled egg until I had cooked BB one, when suddenly it was desirable. When i’d done here one, she picked up plate, egg cup is? bit wobbly, and egg end up splat on the floor. so by the time I’d done another one it seemed to have been boiling eggs all morning. Tiem between then and goign out to library disppeared in hanging up washing, sorting out? some clothes, getting dressed, finding books etc.? as ever, being round the corner we always get there just? a bit late… So story time, bit of colouring and sticking etc. then home for a slightly early lunch to catch BB before she fell asleep in her highchair. Much reading of library books, including SB doing some of it. Watched? bit of video she bought second hand from the library (costs the same as renting one and we don’t get fined when we forget it’s only? a weeks loan….) It was Paddington Bear, but not the TV series ones, something else, and not so good. Odd mix of characters with UK and US accents. Though it seemed to be? set in the UK.

Went outside in the garden for? bit even though bit cold and damp. BB bundled up in her waterproof suit seemed happy? pottering about- realised she was foraging bits of bread for the bits from the lawn and eating them. SB wasn’t really dressed warm enough and didn’t last so long. Once back inside she was flaggin and rather wailey. so we sat down with hot chocolate and biccies. both of us were a biot grumpy at this point and so wasn’t a warm and cuddly as it might have been. We did get out Explode the code and Miquon maths but it didn’t happen some how, what with one thing and another for some of the time we just snuggled up for a nice cuddle..

Then before we knew it was time to get ready for her swimming lesson. We can now watch them if we want. Which is good, but not as relaxing as it might be as BB needs attending – not the sort of area where she can poddle about so much, so I plied her with flapjack. But nice to SB doing her stuff.? Various exercises aimed at them learning breast stoke it would seem, or as SB calls it ‘Big’s Stroke’ (of Making it Up fame) from when she saw her doing it at Muddlepuddle Camp at Kessingland last year.

Came home to a chip supper, while I foraged at the local chip emporium SB turned into? pirate (though at one point in a bus???) . When we went up for the bath we had to leave the lights off and she peered into the distance with her cardboard roll telescope. SB went to sleep fine, but SB had been sleep in the car on the way back and so was resistant until past 10 pm.

I was goign to go bed early (as in before 11) but I haven’t? – surprise – but I am going now. A text from Merry is offering us the opportunity to get messing with some PVA tomorrow – intriguing :-)
Shutter fingers are getting twitchy here, but I’ve bought? secondhand one from Ebay, so normal service should be resumed soon

A Yorkshire weekend

i have to mention that I cried going past Leeds in both directions. SO still homesick then! the bit of the A1 round there I know like back of hand, so even though they had changed the road!!! I still felt the tug at the signs. particularly the A64 [which for a year i trotted up and down commuting to York]

Hmm!

On the way home we stopped at Aunty Margarets, which was wonderful. As old readers of this blog may remember, she used to come round on a fortnightly basis when we were in Leeds, and i have missed her. So we spent the weekend there. Bit of a later arrival than expected due to the pernicketyness of the youth hostel manager.

SO nice evening, with BB showing off her walking and talking and general being adorable skills [she was under the weather at christmas]. SB got out Aunty Margarets collection of books and made her read loads. She also liked Aunty M’s rather ancient maths shape things [now called polyhedrons in the brightminds catalogue]. She was very good at manipulating them and making shapes. good, as we have bought some! We got to drink wine[surprise] and chill! As we were all sharing a room, the amount of sleep we got was silmilar to at Melrose – approaching 0!

Saturday was a beautiful weather day. Just absolutely perfect for taking great shots at the West Yorkshire Sculpture Park. Or would have been if we had a camera – aaarghh!!! The light was perfect, as was the landscape. Oh well, Alison linked to some rather nice ones on flickr in the comments below! We are just not made for lack of camera. SB decided to work out which was her favourite. She was taken by the various Henry moore statues , the access sculpture trail, and in fact lots of the sculptures. She was also rather taken by the tree climbing opportunities. She got quite high in one tree, and was persuaded to come down as I was getting nervous. on the ground she tripped over a tree root… BB also enjoyed poddling about the place – taking ages obviously! Both of them had a good walk in the beautiful sun. Maybe Aunty Margaret will have a few photos for us!

in the evening, fed up with Aunty Margaret’s toys, she was allowed to open a birthday present early, as Merry had given it to us. She loved the pink geomags – thankyou Merry! [can't think why you chose pink - rofl] and immediately managed to make a pyramid, cube and diamond and then various shapes I am going to have to look up! So the lollipop phase is over then.

Another night of less sleep than required and we were off home. An uneventful journey, except stopping at the most unfortunate travel stop in the world! There was not veggie food in the moto cafe bit as they stop serving lunch at 3 and bring out differnt stuff, and it was quarter past 2 so she didn’t want to cook and waste any!, and at the little chef the oven didn’t work, so basically only breakfast. So thats what we had!

At home we unpacked, looked at a couple of blogs, SB played a lot of the year 1 jump ahead and BB just pottered about. SB is calling her chickpea at the moment, but I guess it is too late to change her name!
End of a lovely week!

When can it be bedtime?

Well, we did the experiment at lunchtime, and have just reviewed the results after tea. rather unsurprisingly, vinegar, diet coke and brown sauce made the shiniest coins. red wine made one of the [a canadian one] shiny, and the other [english] not. milk and bicarb made no difference. So we went back to teeth and looking after them.

which will make the coins the shiniest?IMG 3299

In the afternoon, SB did another heart sticker thing for valentines day and rather a lot of jump ahead maths. We had a peer at the crystal experiment. The stones are still floating, and very little on them, but obviously a nice crystal growing on a preciptate on the bottom! So will be a success ater all.
reviewing crystal experiment IMG 3245

I took my eye off the banana loaf, so it is a bit overdone – not too dreadful though! She and chris picked up her library books from the library, and so we had a readathon! The afternoon was finished with her ballet class, and she and chris cycled there and back on the tandem.

of course massive wailing to actually get her out of the house on time. How is it that my teeth can grit so hard, and yet i manage to get words out? i am trying not to shout with frustration, but am aware that both of us need to perhaps work a bit on our tone not sounding so violent as well! It would help if she could, for once, just do something without lots of i’m justs, walking off, and sundry other delaying tactics. She does actually want to go though. i think the fact that we had yet another broken nights sleep doesn’t help any of us really.

BB has done lots of dolly loving – i’m sure she is nearly saying baby. Also playing with this metal car she has taken a fancy too – and doing a brr kind of sound with it. She has also dived head first off the sofa. Didn’t cry though – is that more worrying?? oh, and lots of dance mat moves! i like the twirl around [in slo mo] move she now has too.

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Both girls ate the stirfry nicely – well done particularly for SB as she’s not keen on peppers, cashews or courgettes, and they were all included, though I made sure she mostly had brocolli and tofu. And before that, she had tidied her bedroom as well. So she really is a helpful girl, just at her own pace not ours!

There is wailing upstairs at the bath. So i’ve had ooh, 9 mins on my own!! Other plus of the day, was my argument with Catipol1 about bank chrages, whih they took off – after a concerted discussion with someone more senior.

These are just some other photos I liked
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