Category Archives: socialisation

Oh for some sleep!

Posted on March 12, 2007 by HHaricot | 11 comments

v difficult to get up and go to work, but did so. [though had a mad phoner on my mobile while I was there - i think it might have been Josie! I put it on silent - rofl] The beans did a bit of maths, not sure what else and then went to the playbarn to meet with a friend. they had a lovely time

When I came home, Chris was reading the tree of life [about evolution] well, SB read half of it and he finished when she got tired. Its a really nice book actually – the evolutionists answer to a creation story. I would recommend it. They then all looked at places on google earth – my parents are off to Syria, which started the search.

We did some violin practice – both of them. SB has a stiff bow arm, so am doing various weird waving excercises as well, being a swan, wrist sighing etc etc.

We read some more of the science encyclopaedia all about atoms [woosh over her head I think, but she liked looking at the pictures - especially the rutherford model]. We looked at the worm world again, they seem to be fine, and pulling the leaves down their burrows. Other than that mostly played dolls and loved me! [the ed is all bitesized if you were wondering how it all got fitted in!]

They also helped Chris make a pineapple upside down cake [BB only ate the pineapple!] All very noisy and wild. Early bed for all of us.

oh, a late update! we have played around the world board game [draw] and connect 4 – and SB truly beat me [rather than a tactical lose] for 1 game out of 3! Hooray. More britannia and ORT reading for bedtime stories, and she is now listening to Horrible Histories CD [so I might tick history!]

11 Comments

Posted in Books, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, Out and About, socialisation

The Disappeared

Posted on March 9, 2007 by HHaricot | 3 comments

That’s what I feel like as a working mother at the moment. Rather similar blog over at Jax’s as well. I have worked solidly since SB’s party day and am consequently well and truly knackered. All the days have been exceptionally long, and there has been some exceptionally stressful moments. I have had brief views of my children – so brief that I am not sure that they know who I am – but have [as is my style] been as manically interactive as possible – thus making me more shattered, but marginally less guilty.

SO today – my day off – where am I? In work of course. But did eventually leave – hopefully with a bit of a job plan thrashed out, and we hot footed it to Merry’s. SB was delighted to see the last part of her birthday present – the very delectable new member of our famly – a corolle doll lea. Merry had to buy them in 2′s so there is one more to go on the website, and if I were you, and you’re in the market for a trilingual talking and utterly adorable dol [it is too!] then I would be the one to buy the matching pair [even if BB and all Merry's children think they should be the proud mother!].

I coo-ed over the other dolls in the range, and we lost the children to protracted mums and dads, and other games.

We were going to do science, but both Merry and I have had tough working week and both feeling the need to r and r, so the children played. [fran did french though]. BB and Josie were adorable together, and playing more and more. The cake SB and I made yesterday before bed was scoffed quickly [i said I had used my time to the max!]. BB is such a jumping girl at the moment, and does lovely ‘kiffs’ and cuddles. The older children fimo-ed as well – but we left SB’s there, and she forgot to bring home her camera – sigh!! Hopefully we will be reunited in Hunstanton.

Back and more doll playing, SB is delighted with it, and played beautifully with BB being the big sister and helping – aw it is just so lovely that they play so nicely together – this is a real home ed achievment. And then we did playing in the dark with a glow stick, and more head over heels frenzy!

Bedtime for SB was with the new doll, and we read some more Britannia, and she read to me the usborne robots book [saw Merry's Alexander the great usborne book, so very tempted when finances next allow]. I feel much more whole for a day at home, spring has sprung [always improves the mood] Kessingland organised. Now just to make sure i have a life! Yippee for the weekend [le weekend of course]

3 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, General, history, literacy, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

Rainbow Birthday

Posted on February 27, 2007 by Daddybean | 3 comments

As Helen has blogged below, SB went to a HE friends birthday party on Saturday (also 6 and very much SB’s best friend there). Rather than an indoor party, they had procession around the local park, with people wearing as much rainbowy coloured stuff as they could, singing songs , making noise etc. The girl of honour was transported round in a homemade sedan chair.

Ended with time in playground, a coconut shy (went on forever given the poor throwing accuracy of young kids) which was popular, fish and chips and cake. We sung ‘When we Were Two Little Boys‘ a couple of times, which always brings a bit of tear to my eye. I was often sung it from as far back as I remember as a kid by my Auntie Ethel,? before Rolf Harris did it.

3 Comments

Posted in Out and About, photos, socialisation, Stringbean

Ah, peace!

Posted on February 14, 2007 by HHaricot | 11 comments

Only temporary, SB and BB getting ready for bed, so more like distant screeching rather than the in ear variety! Those looking at the piccie below will realise we have had company!

So, we got up, did a bit of tidying [though as I did it, i wondered why, knowing that with 6 girls the floor would have secondary carpeting soon enough!] We made a dairy free choc/banana loaf and got that baking [yummy!] and SB started some more subtractions to get a handle on how to do it.

Merry and girls arrived, SB much put out that she had to finish sums – there were only 4!! But was told that Merry’s girls had all done their’s. So they finally got playing, and mostly dressed up and played being children??? Had lunch and then the playhouse was up so a roust about outside. I love the playhouse, and made by family of someone that posts on uk parents newsgroup. Now we just need a trellis and a white picket fence around it! Little House in the Big Garden. We need to get new swings for the tp frame though, as now the final swing has broken – sigh.

merry – bless her – had bought LOADS of craft things round for the girls to do. Including floam – which I have never used before, and has a weird texture. It was really good to use as a joiner between pompoms, polystyrene balls, mini sticks etc. so we did some playing, and then the children joined us [rofl!]

[ returning some time later, as have been playing lego with SB, then reading about mediaeval towns, and then she red me a blue red nose reader!]

not sure how quickly floam dries though! then merry had some foam sew it yourself bags. SB made a start, but then finished half of it when Merry and crew had gone home. She found it very simple to do, and was very happy with it. I think I am all linked out now!!!!

The cake was demolished to the last crumb, and more playing ensued. BB and Josie were cute, BB did NOT demonstrate well her potty trained ness! The other girls ran about, outside and in. The wendy house was a hit. We grown ups chatted and did some home ed discussion. Merry said that I had lots of craft kits!!!!!!

Very nice day, thankyou for visiting and having a wendy-house opening ceremony photo!

11 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Cooking, General, history, literacy, numeracy, online resources, socialisation

Christening the playhouse

Posted on February 14, 2007 by Daddybean | 8 comments

The playhouse was delivered today, Merry’s girls ensured it got a good testing out It is rather lovely.

Thanks to my parents for buying it and to Mark from Windmill Crafts who supplied it.

8 Comments

Posted in Butterbean, photos, socialisation, Stringbean

Melrose – better late than never!

Posted on February 8, 2007 by HHaricot | Leave a comment

But will be quick.

Easy drive on sun, and arrived in time for a rapturous welcome of SB from E, and jacket pots! Said hello to lots of new people and tried to file names correctly with offspring!

Children got stuck in straight away. SB to bed v late!

Mon, the children set up clubs [or in SB's case, a fun cluub]. SLight panic on my part that she would be disappointed, but Alexia’s eldest took care of that, and we all went to the park to play and have races. Maddy did a brilliant play called the most unlucky [? or stupid?] pirate – well acted.

I then spent the rest of the afternoon cooking – I had very able sous chefs, adn the chopping done in no time. We had a resources and bring and buy fayre. I just managed to pack explode the code, MPH maths and story of the world – as my most blogged resources. meant to take stuff to sell, but packed in too much of a hurry. I did like the singing science – oh what was it called!!! all about monotremes!

The next day there was again much playing, and we went swimming. we had meant to go in the morning, but Sarah ascertained the pool was closed. K and B were there, Sarah and J were there, Joanna and Shannon and Jade were there, so lots of splashing around. SB learnt how to dive underwater and retrieve weighted seals. We returned in time for K’s birthday party. They liked the socks game, and K’s battleships game too. Oh, Kay’s enchillada’s were yummy.

Wed was dynamic earth, shall I or shan’t I blog that Barbara made us crash on the way? even with that, we got there first as she got lost. home ed time rules, and we still had a space workshop and then a look round the museum. At the space workshop we touched a meteorite older than earth. SB def enjoyed the class type scenario. SB enjoyed the museum as a whole far more this time, and BB managed. We bought 2 tiny fossils in the shop. Stayed to chat and then drove back for lovely dinner [I like this being catered for]

Thurs we went to Melrose Abbey. SB and BB needed a break, and the company was great. We were given a show about clowns and acrobats as well. SB impressed me by spending birthday money on papo knights rather than pink stuff, and a thimble for my mum.

friday we even left on time, driving to Jax’s via friends in Leeds.

In all a lovely melrose, meeting lots of new people, children playing well [though BB and S had some 'mine' wars] The DS-ing adults brought a smile, and Merry’s landlock game is ace. We all enjoyed fimo and hama. Hope to see loads of you and more at Kessingland!

see, that was v quick!

Going back a bit further – the weekend!

Posted on February 6, 2007 by HHaricot | 6 comments

Friday post Melrose we went to stay with Jax and Tim. Mainly because they had purchased a teapot on our behalf, so we felt suitably beholden!! [well, ok, they are good company too] A delighted SB and Big played castles with each other until they were bundled into bath and bed. this time they slept! We adults had a Chinese and a modicum of wine!

On our way there we had stopped with friends in Leeds [S and T and baby W [nearly 2]] which was lovely. we had been reprimanded on blog about failing to visit last year, so thought we should make sure we did, and were well rewarded with good company, babies playing and tea from a teapot. rather foolishly, we drove home via our leeds house and I cried. SB recognised Molly and Terry net door’s house, but not ours. my lovely shed was still there. sob sob.

So to Saturday, and luckilly we were going to the wedding in stages, so Jax’s lot could have mayhem getting ready in the morning, and us over lunchtime. My lovely top didn’t fit, and I didn’t like the other one, so I was rather boringly dressed! Since tim put a few piccies on his ‘pute at lunchtime, i had a look at Kirsty being ravishing, and James looking quite sedate [for a change] lovely. We all enjoyed meeting up with lots of old friends, some we had just parted from, but some not seen for ages. The children turned into a pack instantly and lots of games went on – mostly of the running about variety! plentiful good food [always important!] and a fantastic ceilidh, luckilly for Kirsty there were lots of home educators to dance and cause consternation for the caller [i am thinking particularly of Ros's man-stomp impression, and Nic doing a saturday night fever routine - priceless] We mostly made it up TBH, and half the time she forgot to call. The children had a wail of a time [sometimes literally].

Went back to jax and Tim’s with K’s satnav. hmm, it only kicked in after 20 mins, when we had eventually found the motorway – not best impressed! children fell into bed in nanoseconds, and we adults didn’t – ho hum!

Still, we breakfasted early, said goodbye to the teapot and satnavved all the way to K’s for a 6 year old’s party. i was majorly impressed and amazed by the stash of crafts. BB fell in love with the big mouses [guinea pigs!] and fish, and we hardly saw the girls. We adults chatted, and there was a lovely local home educator there with her 3.

SO an easy drive home. Apparently claire from the monkey house saw chris at a service station – should have said hello! And we saw the beautiful moon. SB very excited because when she chose to play the ‘mists of time’ game it did get all misty. chris less impressed by her magic skills.

I will add photos btw – chris is being ruthless [roofless?] with them at the moment.

6 Comments

Posted in Butterbean, Dance/drama, General, Out and About, socialisation

going back in time – Monday

Posted on February 6, 2007 by HHaricot | 5 comments

aargh to be back at work after not enough sleep!!

got there and steadily through the morning a mega migraine snuck up. when I had nearly ‘been unwell’ on a poor love, i thought I’d not hang on into the afternoon. Sat in the car and cried about driving it home. it is a shame that when I got home I parked on the drive though!

Swigged loads of tablets and gradually improved. Came home and SB was telling me about local group sports and doing some education city. We then read a body book together [BB was asleep] and I was rather proud that she still knows the femur, humerus and pelvis names, and a good stab at veins, arteries and circulation. BB awoke so we all made a marble run for a bit [design and technology] with SB and I making it for BB to put marbles down. We then looked at castles…

Chris’s parents came round on their way back from the shops and to hear about our hols. SB and Nana painted a paint a piggybank [well felt tip it] which I have also seen in other home-educators houses, so obviously a popular Xmas pressie! Must take a piccie.

tea, stories and bed. I went to bed at same time as SB, and she read the giant one of the ORT flawlessly [applause!]

Nic, in spite of your gentle mocking, I have decided to continue with bolding! SO star trek! Might even change categories to slot them into national curriculum too, just in case… [must discuss with chris]

5 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, General, literacy, numeracy, SB-PE, science, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

Getting back to normal.

Posted on January 3, 2007 by Daddybean | Leave a comment

With Helen being off all the week before xmas, and only having two days at work last week and then the Bank Holiday it seems like we’ve al been at home for a long time we’ve had together, which has been good. So yesterday we started getting back to normal, in a fairly gentle way. Starting off with SB having a much needed bit of sleep catch up and not getting up until past 10.30 am. -Not sure exactly as she’d come down stairs before 11 and the TV had been left on, so she’d sidled into there and was watching Toms Midnight Garden on the TV

It did mean that I had a nice time playing with BB, with the animals, lego, books, playdoh and stuff. as well as exciting things like sorting out washing. Got SB moving when i mentioned the Library and she realised it was ‘Bic-bic day’ – they have a fund raising stall on the first Tues of the month – with drinks, biscuits etc. So we went round to the library, had biccies, coffee, chatted about xmas, the girls did their usual we are cute and lovely thing, and even got some books just before it closed

Home to lunch with Littletoe show, and then enforce nap tiem for BB – she just isn’t making it through. So I basically give her an enforced cuddle on the bed until she gives up making? big fuss about it and falls asleep. Seemed to work ok though. She was asleep by 1.30, we got her up before 3 and she went to sleep ok at about 8.30, which was rather better.

SB sat and spent ages looking at her library books, then me and SB did a fair bit of reading of them. She did a bit My Pals are Here, felt ages since we had done any so did it in gentle-ish sort of way. There was bit of something happening when BB got up, but I forget what exactly. Made a pasta bake for tea and then we sat down with tea/hot choc and toasted teacakes (BB – ‘I need choc-choc cup’) to watch the rest of Toms Midnight Garden. Then? a bit of tidying up before dinner. One of the targets for this year is to be tidier in general through the day, worked ok yesterday, kitchen ended the day pretty tidy, playroom was tidy (the main chaos areas).

Need to have a bit of think about where we are going with/approaching HE though. SB mentioned Education City again, so time to sign up to that I think.
Visitors due any minute now (M and family, a girl from a local HE group, almost the same age as Sb, and they hit it off from the first meeting) so time to be organized – at least the lunch soup is cooking

Happy New Year

Posted on January 1, 2007 by Daddybean | 5 comments

Merry, Max and the girls came over to share New Years Eve with us, which was lovely.

I gave the children a not quite cooked dinner, the girls have run around doing all that girly play stuff, parents have chatted, drunk (plenty of Baileys…). Butterbean saw in the New Year (she came to bed with the grownups at 2.45 am…) We initiated their girls into party poppers, Merry initiated BB into the delights of the DS. Joise entertained her parents in the middle of the night. We had panckaes for brunch.

We all had great time. Heres to spending time with good friends