Petits Haricots

adults and older kids – does depend on their game play!

adults and middlies!

all the family!

lovely sunny day today, but after being so adventurous yesterday, we decided to be a bit more homebound! I am a home girl, and I like days at home!! Also, I had promised SB the prev evening a game, so i got up to find settlers of catan!

oh, and while i am there, doesn’t this look like a cutie board game starter for BB

so, although the adult settlers isn’t really a 2 player game, it is fine with SB actually. we took 2 hours, and she won! I do no ‘letting her win’ but am not particularly ruthless either – i will exploit holes left, but not plan a campaign as it were. anyway, we both enjoyed the game, BB comforted with robin hood disney on tv. and suddenly it was lunchtime! so not one of those days to reel off lists!!

after lunch i got out the soap making kit and together we spent all afternoon happily making various soaps. SB was particularly adventurous with hers, and they look great. BB’s are highly perfumed and highly coloured, and mine are slightly less!! but my hands smell fab after all of that.

we messed about in the garden, did some colouring in of various little book thingies to make stained glass for the window, and then the girls did lots and lots of sylvanianing.

today, against all the advice from weather warnings, we decided to go to a nature reserve – you know, to the OUTSIDE!. actually, we didn’t do that straight away, because the sun was shining, so we didn’t feel at all urgent – despite weather warnings! instead we played some games, read some stories, had a snuggle, pottered a bit, tickled a bit and had some lunch – to fuel us for the OUTSIDE.

we went to welney swan festival having read that, i think it was a bit oversold! As we drove there, the heavens opened and we wondered whether we weren’t being slightly mad!! but as we got there the rain eased, if not the wind, and bundled in heaps of clothes we raced into the visitors centre! we ahd not been there before, and it is v typical fenland! it has a small museum room about the fens, and a bit about the old fen lifestyle, which we had a wander about. the rain holding off we walked to the main hide – which is fabulous btw! and had a good look at swans and ducks. rain still holding off we went on one of the walks, peering from lots of little hides. we had some pepping up food and drink in one of them. the weather being v blustery, we were the only ones walking! unfortunately the rain absolutely tipped it down with an icy near sleet feel, so we raced back, with BB being the most vocally unhappy about the whole thing! [very vocally unhappy] both did some drawing, both watched the swan feeding, and BB charmed all the surrounding elderly ppl [ there were quite a few] by declaring she had seen a heron from the hide, and ‘loving’ a variety of the birds in the book she was looking at with chris. there was an artist in residence there, and we admired his work, but didn’t win it in the raffle.

so we went back to the visitors centre and to the arts bit. we didn’t see the help make a papier mache swan anywhere, but i guess due to the v v low number of visitors, it may have been quietly shelved. both girls made a willow swan, a silhouette swan picture and decorated a kitchen roll tube. kind of odd!! however, the pond room they did it in was utterly fab. [look at the photos] and they were both happy. Chris and i perked up with visiting the cafe – well stocked, and tea and cake [or mocha and cake for me] gave us enough energy to cope with ‘the shop’. SB came in under budget, and BB over, but told SB she can have a bit more budget at the montezuma exhibition when she goes there with chris. so all round perk!

back home, listening to our island story and the naughty kings charles!!

watched a bit of life in the freezer and bedtime!

BB is going through a rough patch at the moment. she has never been one of the most quiet and docile children, actually that isn’t quite true, she was a v sweet and charming baby! recently, however, she has struggled more with mood and keeping her tempter. we have had absolutely enormous temper tantrums with kicking, wailing, screaming and full force anger. This is pretty hard on all of us, including her. She really struggles to regain her composure, and is undeniably upset by it all, and i or we perhaps, are finding it really hard to parent sensibly this mercurial child who is otherwise adorable and funny and loving.

Anyway, things that happen without me! they went to a home ed group yesterday, with philosophy group – or as SB currently spelling it – flosfy, and she got some clarinet in with Gina, which she is really loving. my mum gave her a few breathing exercises to do, and suggested she did some of her practice lying on the floor, and experimented with mouth positions etc, and it all seems to have worked for her. She had gym, and BB blew off footie. in fact BB not fancying groups much at all at the moment, so prob going to stop rainbows and footie. [i'm a bit worried really, but i think that she gets enough outside play at various home ed things, and obviously just isn't ready for that sort of thing currently, but TBH, i always thought i would be most worried about SB, more soulful/heart totally on sleeve kind of girl]hmm!! anyway, various bits of home ed done. the loads of usborne look inside… books have been read by both girls, SB done ‘normals’ type things, and even BB some. this eve, when i returned from work, SB, BB and i looked at various optics things and the eye we have and had a fun time with that. they are both keen to dissect one now!

so, hmmmmm i think

well, we have been action packed!! my parents arrived on thurs, and celebrated this fact with arriving whilst chris out using their key and promptly breaking it in the door – thus chris having to break in later on when he got home gave plenty of teasing opportunities!! i was home way too late unfortunately for fireworks, so we delayed it

obviously i worked the next day, but plenty of grandparent grandchild interaction went on. aurals, clarinet and piano for SB, and mayhem for BB!! dad did some garden clear up! it was all drizzly when i got home, so fireworks delayed again, instead game playing and giggling before bedtime!

So sat was a home day – yay!! tBH, i don’t really know what we did with most of saturday? thinks!! i think we chatted, had a great family day! some golf with dad for sb, park for both the girls, and the fireworks in the eve yep, def a good day. i love seeing my parents.

Sun we went to Duxford for remembrance sunday. it is free admission [a bonus] and also thought we would do a bit of background to the whole remembrance thing. Lots of time playing and looking at the exhibits in air space. we observed the silence – even BB! and it was quite something really as the whole area stopped still for those 2 mins. then back to making exhibits do exiting things whilst BB made a poppy craft. somewhat thrillingly, dad pointed out he had flown 6 of the planes in there, and the CAA one white and red near the back rather a lot of times! SB and I liked the idea that planes dad flew are in a museum [ranks with little nanny's dad's wheels he made for a cart are in gressenhall]. Dad talked a lot about planes and history – prob more than SB had brain space for, but fascinating. Dad has always been passionate about planes! and then we went to restore with a cup of tea and refreshments at the mess. i have never been in the land warfare hall, and we thought this might kind of be appropriate, so walked up there and had a good look around. Mum doing the commentary, as Dad had elected to go to Hangars 2 and 5 and do ‘real talk’ to anyone there restoring things. My grandads hero was Monty. [churchill was a bit of a bete noir] and there is a big display about him, and his caravans. so mum discussed all this in context, and Sb and i watched a film about the d-day landings. BB was too tired by now, so chris and she went to sit and munch somewhere. they have a bike like grandad rode – he was a dispatch rider in the war [and as passionate about bikes as dad is on planes] and so mum discussed this. the next section i think is what made SB have a sudden thought about war, as we stepped into a recreation of a shelled and fighting german street, including shell hole with burnt out pram. I needed a bit of light relief after that! so we discussed the need for peace and equity etc etc.

walking back to meet up with everyone, SB and mum had a silly walking competition, and SB an ice lolly [though it was freezing] for exemplary behaviour. She bought a fab parachute man in the shop to play with gravity with. fab until the 3rd throw from stairs at home, where one seam came apart. grrrr at the crapness of some toys. will either resew or trek to duxford to complain. she was most upset. i did buy her a book whilst in shop

she quizzed me and mum about it all the way home. we were relieved to not be in the car with BB who was utterly appalling in the shop. so bad that the whole shop stopped to look at us it seemed. her piercing screeching of nooooo nooooooo noooooo certainly made a few ppl look at their babies in horror that they may turn into this monstrosity. TBH i think she was overtired, overhot in the shop and with no reserves, but you can’t really broadcast this apology when she looks like the spoilt brat from hell. ho hum.

anyway, some melt downs later at home, she ‘watched something’ to restore equilibrium, whilst SB, Mum and I played ticket to ride v happily – SB won. i need to make 2 fimo black carriages though. [must remember!]. another lovely dinner from chris [my fav i think], lovely eve with parents and the weekend done. i felt whole and rejuvenated, and it nearly lasted this mon at work…

those following our ticklist saga may not be surprised to know that it is gradually not being so fervently completed, though as bb gets a chupa chup from last week, and sb doesn’t, there may be some renewal of effort!!

honestly, it is hard enough work doing everything, but then when you get to the end of day, i need an extra hour to fit in the blogging and the on line socialising with the wider HE network!

Well, a brief summary! Monday I spent a vast amount of my time at the dentist, and a brief foray to GP as well, meaning off work, and i just do not like to be off work. makes me feel uneasy, let alone the chaos it causes there. but i just couldn’t think through the tooth pain. anyway dentist fitted me in [thanks!] and xrayed and found… nothing!! aargh!! the worst toothache of my life and nothing, i was assuming abscess/root canal etc etc! so we had a chat, and she took out the filling on the tooth [the one that took ages and ages to get right] and popped in a temporary dressing and stuff. it seems to be not as painful, but i am worried about all the refilling malarky. so whilst at home, we did some piano, story of the world, read about the relevant explorers for our time period in

which is a great book – i think kirsty first got it?? did some french and i generally ate co-codamol as if there were no tomorrow! BB did the french and the explorers bit too, and also some before the code stuff. it would really help if she knew her alphabet. i think the time has come to make a concerted go at this!! [sorry, i am just so not autonomous for reading!] i am sure she would be happier reading, as she loves ‘reading’ books. hmmm! BB still under the weather though.

tues i was well enough for work – phew!! chris and the girls went to the library in the morning – something they always enjoy – coming back with stacks of books. SB mostly with puzzle books this time. Then in the pm they went to a home ed meet more aimed at early primary, as it is nice to do something more aimed at BB. She was still feeling ‘fragile’ so not sure she joined in much, but SB – as prob oldest there – had a fab time! swimming for them both. in the eve i practiced setting fire to chemicals.

And wed was latinetc, when i let 4 year olds upwards set fire to chemicals! we did it outside, we had v long spills, they were v v clued up about chemical safety, and actually they are really good at concentrating! we looked at diff colour flames they produce. the older group got more scientific words thrown in for good measure. the older group also got to make anhydrous copper sulphate. it worked really well, as they had plenty of space, so no jostling and elbowing, they all got to do everything – so smiles all round, and no child had any damage at the end!! BB also did french, littlies music and sampler sewing, and SB did Latin, big music theory [forgot clarinet - aargh!] and sampler sewing. She felt she didn’t have enough playing time with Maddy though. i did love how they all played much better since the day was more structured – a v inclusive game! Josie had a happy birthday moment as well. SHe and BB are still quite mummy centred, but both did go off to their groups reasonably happily!

On the way there and back we listened to some more serge – at BB’s request, and she did some reading at home, and then fell asleep on my lap when i read to her this fab book

SB did galore park english [chapter 4 at last!!], then recorder – and we did some duetting together – slightly difficult with arm around BB asleep, but we managed! She then did galore park science on fossils. more reading together from this

with a lovely one about a blind man and a hunter, that SB discussed more. SHe is such a crazy mix of a child, all arms, legs and noise, but when she sits beside you on the sofa, all thoughtful and explorative. BB blew off rainbows – and actually had fallen asleep just before we would have needed to leave, chris made apologies [hopefully] on dropping sb at brownies, and then she had judo. BB awoke to play a farm game with me, and then watch beauty and the beast – which sb returned to. bedtime for the girls [i am reading sb animal ark book whilst awaiting the next bagthorpe book, and chris is reading

which i quite wanted to! so i will have to read it myself when they are finished!!] this reminds me of the bit in beauty and the beast when SB looked at the enormous book filled library and said it would be ‘heaven’ to have one of those. that’s our girl!!

this is what we did on sun! unfortunately, i did wake up thinking that i might be dying, the tooth nigglish hurt had turned into a tsunami of pain. wasn’t quite sure of the up and down of world, so heavily self medicated with everything we had in the cabinet, slept until 10 mins before we were due to leave – that is my excuse for the fact that only later on in the day did i notice that the top was burgundyish and the bottom brown! oh well!! [have done worse].

We got to park fairly close – woohoo! and children didn’t moan TOO much about having the window down while it rained… They were happy listening to salut serge. i was a bit doubtful about this french purchase, but both girls join in happily, and for bb to spontaneously join in [when its not katy, as apparently only katy can do french - though yes, i know she does it far better!!] has to be a good resource!

it also seems to be the cheapest i have ever seen it currently!! Anyway, we parked really close and went in and got organised. SB was keen to show bb where everything was from holiday orchestra. Our first session was percussion, which we all really loved – would def recommend! so we bashed rhythms with a v good group leader. All the group leaders were good in their own way, but he had class control without you noticing it off to a really fab T! we have a pic of him, as SB and chris recognise him – I don’t. we overran that session, and then moved onto a short cake break before making our own instrument. another fab session!! After lots of careful thought, SB made a combined percussion and stringed instrument, i only suggested how to close off some of the opening so that bigger sound. She was v happy. i assisted BB – in lacky role! i didn’t always get it right, and she was still fragile, but luckilly we pulled it together, and we have a rattling and shaking drum she is happy with. phew!

At lunch it became clear that BB was not so much fragile as not quite well. a quick conflab – we had only 1 car and SB desperate for her gamelan session – saw me take first bB watch, colouring in and drinking plenty of fluids, whilst SB was introduced to the wind section. All the sessions were fully booked, and i was feeling bad, when overheard a parent tell her daughter they would ask if any gaps so i oftered ours, and the girl was so excited and happy i let her be BB. I had arranged the sessions before gina introduced SB to the clarinet to see what might take her fancy as an alternative to violin, currently we know it is clarinet! she still enjoyed it! actually, if i had know how low the bar was for performance skills, i would have popped her in with performance woodwind with the recorder [hadn't thought of recorder!] instead. BB was fine until i left her to go with SB to gamelan, when she was v shrieky momentarily. Sb loved playing the gamelan, and as there were a couple of dropouts, i and a couple of other parents jumped at the chance of joining in too!! me and the dad I sat next to were WAY excited! the musician running it was slightly afeard for the safety of some of the gamelan instruments, as some of the children were younger than i thought they were supposed to be. But it went really well, and the kids each played 3 diff instruments, and us adults 2. [we got to go 2,3,2,3,2,1,2,6 - i should have videoed a bit!]

We went back to join chris and then went in for the concert. it was a good concert, but actually we should have left as BB fell asleep in my arms all hot an bothered, and SB was pooped too. live and learn! would really recommend it to anyone next year. entirely worth the money!! home with more serge, i doped up again as feeling totally dreadful, and i have no idea what happened the rest of the evening?

actually, i am thinking really that it was the weekend of the tooth, but that makes more of a negative title! the weekend had some pros and cons! pros were i had a v long shift on fri, but it was one of those that you really feel you make a difference, so all though had its really diff, rough moments, it has lifted me up again on the benefits of doing what i do!

Sat we had an eventful day planned. SB to astronomy, and then meeting up with the manor borns for rspb, then something halloweeny. didn’t quite happen like that! SB wanted to buy bits of costume, so whilst i was still dozing, she and chris blew the astronomy to shop! [shades of the future??]. i got up and BB and i harvested the pumpkins, played with monsterrabs and the carved the pumpkins. i say ‘we’ carved, but actually i was doing as ordered, as BB doesn’t like getting her hands dirty i then made the cupful of flesh [i didn't bother to scrape much] into pumpkin scones, which were rather yummity. we read a book together, played with dinosaurs and settled to snuggle when SB and chris returned. by then, i had had texts from marcus saying michelle was still in bed v unwell, and since bb was being fragile – not ill, but prone to wailing and being tired and awkward – thought it better to call off, rather than have michelle struggle round with migraine whilst bb shrieked – not a good combo! shame tho, as had been *really* looking forward to a nice rspb walk to blow away cobwebs and shuffle through leaves!

so i did all the carving pumpkins etc again with SB! i had got a craft for them to do as well if they wanted, but no, they were happy playing their own games, and i got to enjoy hearing shrieks of laughter! tho BB did need a snooze mid afternoon – fairly unheard of! came for a cuddle and dropped off!

We were, as custom dictates, late setting off tricking and treating. i have read loads elsewhere of a not quite comfortable relationship with halloween here in the uk, and until 2 years ago would have entirely agreed. however, our village seems to do halloween extraordinarily well! there are some houses that have really great fun with displays, some excellent pumpkin carvers and also just lots of sweetie stops and lots of smiles. there are loads of parents taking children round, meeting, chatting, admiring costumes. all the kids are polite, saying thanks for sweets, happy halloween, remarking on decorations, and sb was being lovely to all the little children handing out the sweets. it just seems to be a v relaxed laid back, gentle thing here. and the no pumpkin/halloween dec = no calling is v well followed. also no tricks. i no longer have the heart to disapprove of the americanism!

SO we initially had 2 devils – the girls always choose their costumes. SB had – as usually- gone to the max! so she had a lovely felt wrap cloak, that looked a bit saxon, especially with her black and red striped leggings! red t and made up face. BB just had horns and trident [although she owns red clothes, they weren't the ones she wanted to wear], never put on the cloak after it was made, 5 paces later lost the horns and 1 street later lost the trident… we had fun, but bb flagging seriously early and chris peeled off and took her home – where she happily handed out treats when our pumpkins lit. SB had enough when her basket full!! so we returned and had tea infront of Dr who [and his daughter]

early bed as family music day the next day [i am going to pause blogging as trying to have nights nearish midnight rather than way after

lest we forget – chris not having blogged yet! the girls went to a sewage works trip last week, that was fab!
mon and tues were fairly laid back days i think? tues eve i joined the girls in the pool after they swam and we had much fun. bb v clearly getting better and better. absolutely confident as long as she can touch the bottom.
wed an extended latin etc. sb had clarinet prac with gina – thanks, enjoyed the group latin, and both girls made fab little pincushions – thanks merry. think the science went well, we did simple replacement reactions, with copper sulphate and then popping in either a nail, iron filings, magnesium ribbon or aluminium foil. was rather fun, and came back over time to see how were getting on. the smaller group did acids, and had to clean my coppers with tom ketchup/vinegar/coke +/- salt after a guessing game. tom ketchup was best wehn on own, but adding salt made everything much better, so we reflected on our enamel on teeth after chips with ketchup, vinegar and salt!! a good play in the field with the parachute, and then peeling off of ppl.

we met up with chris to have a meal at frankie and bennies and then watched UP. it was a really great film, i [as usual] blubbed most of the way through it, the girls were entranced and def worth seeing.

today girls are at c’s parents having fun, and chris has been finishing sorting out the frazzled wiring in the kitchen.