Category Archives: Stringbean’s HE

Miquon rules

Or at least seems to in our house. Got home from work to find maths type books - singapore and miquon liberally scattered over the floor, a magazine from nanna f as well, where she had written out a crossword, and filled in lots of puzzles.

I think SB going through a very dynamic autonomous era at the present, and really diving into learning spontaneously. Oddly, it makes me feel even more disorganised that I haven’t got things at my fingertips for her. Writing and maths are the flavour to savour, though a lot of read aloud history and stories going on. The usborne farm series are proving to be a bit of a hit, with SB just quoting the first page. Certainly a lot of processing is happening.

Through ebay got lots of books coming through in a steady stream, so looked at the usborne through the ages homes and houses, and also barefoot animal stories from around the world [4 of] which we do a fair bit of talking around – geography, beliefs etc. Am trying to have a rest a bit on beliefs, as noticed when swimming that SB said of the life guard to herself ‘she has a cross, she must be a christian’ and felt that this was seeming a bit labelling, and don’t want her to think she has to attatch a label to herself. Sticking to gods and goddesses as plurality therefore, and mostly ancient. Science also a bit of a back burner – Chris has loads of Krampf experiments tucked away, and I really need to get a resource box organised so that we can experiment like mad [sb likes!]

After tea she was again desperate to do some miquon with the cuisinaire rods [which for a year I wondered why I bought them, and now I know!] and was not keen to go to bed until she’d finished a page… and another one!

I used to read the autonomous ‘trust to the process’ type posts, and panic and have deep suspicions, but I see it in action, and it is working. However, I am a queen of listmakers, and somewhere high on the anal retentiveness scale [a former boss recurrently threatened to list me for an anal stretch], so I think Chris and I need to come to agreement on recording the broad brushes of home ed, and perhaps develop my ideas for a broad brush story arc for things such as history, with points for incorporating geography along the way.

Basically trying to predict tangents to go down, and facillitating the resources rather than ‘today we are looking at france’ type arrangements! lso with the piano in another room, we are forgetting about it [like the tv] so I want some kind of game that we draw cards for activities [games, music, crafts, experiments as well as a few readers/workbooks] and then do them [cheating allowed so actually get one she wants to do!] at those lulls, so that it again sparks off using some of the hidden away resources.

Also Chris needs to BLOG! After all, this is his blog [and the flikr is his account too, that I seem to have overtaken. born to organise, thas me!]. cos when she is 5, i want to start some way of recording what we do as we do it with comments on the other things you notice – like increased attention span, and processing info thoughts etc. Like Jan, so that if ever we become known to PTB [and this area strong on that, so anticipate it will be near instantaneous] we can at least be confident in our body of evidence – even if we decline to show it.

Other ponderings, I think i’ve swapped my desires from an eglu to a swallow now where is that fairy godmother???

Simple Sunday

Had contemplated going to Norfolk today, but instead we are going next Wed.

got up – reluctantly! And immediately had to build specific lego house – the client was a particularly demanding one! Some relief came when we went swimming. SB still doing the drowning dog stroke – but I am working on confidence to try other things! She is very confident at launching of the side – nearly a sitting dive to be honest, and then carrying on swimming. She also likes to do dolphin ducks under and over. BB also loves the water, and kicks and splashes wildly, with careful preparation she can float on her back – but for a few seconds only, as she then tries to turn over and sinks.

On the way home we picked up some more fresh plums, sweetcorn and runner beans from various stalls on the road. Talked with the somewhere in 80′s no doubt plum lady about the village and changes, and my desire for an orchard. She says I can walk the children round it whenever I like [5 acres]. I know, and orchard and chickens – must have watched the good life once too often. [partic if you look at our veg bed photos on flikr - oops, but has been productive, despite the weeds]

More lego, and then we decided to read the castle flip book and make our own – which we did. A minor contretemps as SB had spotted a roman house kit from DK which i will put aside for a couple of years, and really wanted to build that instead. Anyway, a lovely castle from loo rolls was made and painted [crafts]. I was pleased to have done it, as going through old photos, we seemed to do a lot of arts and crafts, and this really has slowed down a lot – due to lack of planning by me I suspect.

Some story reading – including Ulysses by Usborne, and the she helped me make pasta bake for tea – so some to freeze again for little Nanny. SB has got over courgettes now, as it contained those and fennel, red peppers alll chopped but visible. Still whizzed the mushrooms and onions though. Also pine nuts and olives. yummy!

Chris putting SB to bed, as I’ve got to do this major talk for work [still!], and BB burbling at my feet. Chris has done some slashing to the overgrowth in the veg beds this afternoon – good man.

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Ah, lovely day.

We didn’t try and do a lot, but had a great time together – it is just so nice to relax with my girls.

Lots of ebay stuff came this morning, and I am trying to send some of it back – a trouser suit for work – with a skirt?? and a pair of trousers whose zipper is missing?? Not received a reply yet. Also some DK stuff for SB – pyramids, and an oxford children’s middle ages history book [preparing ahead]. The postie said she specially came to ours first this morning!

This must have got SB in the mood, as we started by letterland reading, and when she went downstairs and I tried on clothes, she got out various match and sort books – miquon maths, singapore earlibird 2A and my pals are here primary 1a, the jigsaw sticker books and some ladybird work books, and flitted betweent htem. HOWEVER, THE THING THAT ABSOLUTELY FIXATED HER TODAY WAS THE CUISINAIRE RODS. SHe made pattern after pattern with them, totally grasps there relationship with each other. In total hours must have been spent in absorbed fascination with square patterning. [have put some of them on flikr]. We also did some playing with the globe – and she is very taken with the word antipodean!

She was very good helping me to make dinner, including going outside and helping dig up some potatoes. The sweetcorn are really coming on – ? ripe enough to eat next week. She insisted that we pick some more elderberries to make some more juice for the jelly – so will set some more off whilst awaiting jamjars. The dinner is one of the simplest yet very yummy – 2 packets of lindamcartney sausages, 2 tins chilli beans and some onion, with layered potato on top with mustard. In oven for 1 hour roughly. SB likes the onion whizzled up, and I pop in some whizzled mushrooms as well. Spare for little nanny.

BB has been walking/shuffling sideways alot, doing that magic movement thing across rooms, and pulling herself up. She is really practising waving, and enjoys SB’s musical percussion set. She definiately is more keen on finger foods that the feeding her things. Today is her 9 month milestone!

Finally, after tea, a bit of magic. SB noticed a hot air balloon out of the window, so we looked and thought there may be 2, so we went into the garden – there were 14! Have taken some piccies of them over the church – sish I had a good camera with a good zoom though, as ours not good enough for this! We enjoyed scooting about garden and house to get the best view, and watching them going up and down.

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Catch up – Home ed

Well, its about time I wrote something a bit educational. Sb very good at reading and asking loads of quesitons – so no probs there. Also had an ebay frenzy and books and maps keeping us occupied [and bigly clothes for me]. The cheap globe from tesco a hit. I seem to be addicted to DK eyewitness books though. SB doing lots of drawing, and some maths workbooks regularly, reading lots of things together – with her spelling and saying the simple words. Lots of outdoors when the weather OK. I think we are mostly doing imaginative play though at the moment – dressing up and acting out. SB also very interested in family albums, and getting an idea of historical timeline through family. We didn’t get to finish the jelly, as some jamjars on order from Lakeland. MUST buy postcards this weekend!

BB is definitely into being bipedal. She can shuffle around – mostly backwards to her extreme annoyance. She has started waving her hands – which is v cute. SB adores her – also v cute. even if there is the odd greenish hue around.

My Dad visited on wed, which was very nice. Both he and Chris think I put too much up on flikr so can’t see wood for trees. I don’t care! it is my backup photos, and there is room. I will cut down for the albums. Antway, dad brought me lots of cousin Anne’s geneology things, as I am going to be the keeper. Haven’t looked, as i think I often try to pretend she is still alive, as we only saw each other a couple of times a year. Brief moment there. Anyway BB enjoyed eating Dad’s icecream. Sb shew him everything she can do!!

I am germinating a curriculum plan in freestyle mode for CHris and SB, so need laminator and time, and then they can do dip and dives, with things semi organised – SB not good if no instant gratification!

Anyway, think that is it. loads of piccies on flikr to back it up!

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A portrait.

I thought this was great.

Stringbean spent quite a while carefully doing this. It is portrait of Butterbean, I love the spidery feet. The greeny/yellow bit is here high chair, she evn went into the kitchen to check the colour. she asked me to do the toybox for her, shame it doesn’t look any better really…..

Wedding Anniversary

another one!!

BB has her third tooth and has had fun scraping and chomping with it. She loves her food and finger food – very good at peeling skins of plums etc in her mouth and spitting out.

She is also nearly crawling. ‘cos she has been so fond of standing, i assumed that like SB she wouldn’t bother much with crawling, but no. She can get into all 4′s and stretch to reach, and then sits again, getting close though.

Also she puts her arms up for carries and hugs, loves SB, is enjoying the rocking horse and is very inquisitive about pretty much everything in her path. I love her.

Came home via tescos and in their sale was a globe and junior swingball, so got both. SB has played with both alot this eve, so good buy! She is now asleep, and so, apparently is Chris. This househusbanding wears him out. I am going to wake him, as can’t bear to look at lots of rooms in house. I will start with the disaster that is this room.

Apologies for absence – edited

Woke up with crashing migraine again – something tells me they may be slightly related to my stress levels at the mo!!

A fair number of drugs later, and surfaced gone 11, so since Chris had forgotten to buy tickets for the festival before we went to Copenhagen, and didn’t fancy taking girlies on own as also pooped, we missed it. Would have texted anyone, but we hadn’t been sensible enough to swap numbers. I am sure it was great, and really will do it another year.

Instead, we went for a lazy swim instead for lunchtime, SB still doing drowning dog impression, but is very experimental in the water. She was jumping off floats and starting to approximate a dive – to be more like the ones in copenhagen. She loves the water, has no fear of going under and coming up spluttering. BB also a water girl, kicking wildly, and reaching for toys. We really should have done the waterbaby thing, as she is the type.

After lunch we found my sindy hourse, so re-enacted rapunzel and made up various barbie on horse stories [def drama!]. Some webland, lots of rupert bear annual and general playing with things. Laid back as I still am not feeling particularly perky. BB entertained herself very well with all SB’s toys, bottom shuffling around the room.

Did manage to make a nice curry though, with 2 portions to spare for Little Nanny. Beans both asleep [nice and early for a change!] so I am having melon vodka to go nicely with the drugs, and will look around for work stuff, as Monday is an early start day. Also have lots to discuss with colleagues as fired with ideas from conference, so had better organise some of them!

oh, forgot to say that as I can sing the swan lake music, SB has me teaching her the moves – ROFL!! that girl needs proper ballet lessons.

edir – Have made a page of acquisitions when money trickles in – eyes to big for purse syndrome!! Any extra suggestions [codes and cheapest places of course!] welcomed

How late?

The day just seems to have whizzed past, SB only went to bed at 9ish, and I’ve been messing about with the copenhagen flikr pics some more.

i rang Little Nanny and she is getting a bit better. her neighbour cooked her dinner and watched her eat it, and until end of next week, social services has a lady coming in daily for an hour to help a bit. My dad visits midweek, and my aunt the week after [and hopefully us for a day, so getting cooking!]

When we got up, SB decided we should make icecream, and was very put out we couldn’t, so settled on jam [well, jelly] so picked elderberries and added some frozen redcurrents. had assorted beasties to look at then in bugbox – mostly ladybirds and spiders. We played walk the plank, followed by a grizzle session. SB then read a book – no kidding! a starter one with simple repeats, and I did take over as she was worn out, but def sound and say. [cue trumpets]

Having worn ourselves out, she watched toy story 2 and german sesame street whilst I flikred. This segued nicely into german reminder phrases while Chris pruned the grapevine. We then set up the second drain for the jelly to go overnight and hama-ed. I read some of the usborne stories from around the world - we look at the map on the front, and chose india and denmark. Some leappad maths and phonics and thats the education!

BB still happiest when standing, and appears to be in paradise if standing and SB playing peeboo from behind the sofa. Got to eat some runner beans from garden [she likes]

My ears still playing up from flights though. Otherwise all well here [mostly, as SB has back-at-home-itis, but only mildly] Yes, as a confirmed photoholic I did take photos, and they are still on the camera!

Copenhagen part 2

I was reasonably dilligent at conference, so feel OK about that [a few bits I couldn't face as so esoteric, and a few so marketing oriented, hackles raised on reading program!].

Chris will prob comment on the majority of the time! The other thing I had time for was a nip to the museum of history, with childrens museum attached. I got to do prehistory and the children’s bit, and they then carried on without me. Nicely set out museum, and SB good at them, as long as at her pace, and she chooses what to look at – but we are allowed to comment! In the children’s section there were also clothes of the period to dress in and a viking ship – which she liked, and a mediaeval wall building display – very much liked!

SB says favourite thing the little mermaid – and statues and fountains in the main. we have def done too much greek myths and legends, as she saw a nude and decided it was the mother and baby goddess as you could see the nipples. hmm. Whilst away we have done lot of book reading – both stories and history [viking and egyptian, though she had wanted indian] looked at maps – SB now very clear on what maps are, what they show and how to use them. She had her own map to use, and enjoyed showing people where she had been on it, and how to get to places. We also looked for landmarks as we went around – particularly the interesting towers or coloured houses so that we could always find our way.

edited – Forgot to say that on the walk around copenhagen on tues, after Netto, we were at great park with dragon based childrens activity area – which SB rather liked – can you tell where I am with photos?

before we caught the plane today we had a final walk up the watersedge, and SB had a great time playing with a small kindergarten group and their rather fun and jolly carers. Language no barrier.

safely home – at least we didn’t fly BA. Got an ear prob throwing me out from the flights that I can;t shift though. will rampage around blogring, but perhaps not have time to comment as photos to do as well!

charter celebrations

Huntingdon celebrated 800 years of charter this weekend with the full reenactment thing. So we popped along today.

we expected thre to be a lot of traffic, and not sure about the carparking availability either, so were very early. chris nipped to buy a picnic whilst me ‘n the beans played at the swings [indeed SB's favourite swings!]

We went in and were really impressed by the breadth and depth of the re-enactment [loads of photos on flikr, even when heavily pruned!]. Sb was really caught up in it, asking questions of some of the re-enactors – she particularly liked the felting, musical instruments and bone beads makers. There were also 3 arenas with back to back displays, fights and re-enactments to watch – we watched longbow vs early guns, [so now I know why gunpowder took over, even though useless in comparison for 200 years!], falconry [SB and chris participated] A play set in mediaeval times, and the best of all- jousting! SB not so keen on the loud bangs, but BB slept through.

If anyone can tell me the name of the pegged, stringed bowed triangular saracen instrument ? beginning with s, I would be greatful!

We finished off with icecream. I asked SB what were the best things – icecream [naturally] and the jousting.

We were all exhausted at the end, it was a long hot day, with lots of interest. No chairs, so must remember to take camping chair to next weekend, as hips kill me with too much cross leggedness. i am also sunburnt again – the girls aren’t. SB fell asleep in the car, and hasn’t yet woken up. BB still funny about breastfeedng today – lots of minute snack attacks driving me up the wall. Also not really eaten much solids, and a bit fractious.

SB talking in her sleep, and has just clearly said there is smoke going in my eye. My yes are also stinking, as unaccustomed to all pervasive smoke! SB now awake, and watching me make our diary. hmm, unlikely to sleep again before midnight. oops.

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Edited – Hmm, 2 red nose readers, usborne who were the first people, we are now at the 1001 things to spot [usborne history]. We are really doing well on history today!