Not made your bed yet?

Posted on October 26, 2007 by | 2 comments

Now this is the sort of important news we like:
Don’t make that bed – it’s bad for you :-) 

2 Comments

Posted in Daft Stuff, General

relaxes on the sofa

Posted on October 24, 2007 by | 5 comments

woke up with an appalling migraine. bugger. supposed to be driving off to Michelle’s [a reasonable drive]. swigs loads of tablets, gets chris to text, finally feels vaguely human and off we trot.

we had a fab day. shame merry couldn’t join because of Josie being unwell – hope she is soon entirely perky, and the bug doesn’t go round the family.

SB, Chloe and BB all played together beautifully all day. No contretemps at all. even with BB – ok, so there was 2 or 3 pouty moments with B, but that was it. I loved playing labyrinth, and will have to look out for it – what a great board game. I was the only loser. Girls did lots of imaginitive play, and also choreographed a dance show for us.

IMG_0289

I remembered to take pictures of their hama window display, and when I flickr I will put here, as i think all similar windows should have one.

amazing hama windows amazing hama window

Michelle and I chattered, more or less uninterrupted- until the labyrinth game, which we played too [aren't I relieved it was Michelle who knocked all the tiles over not BB!!], and so it was very late we left. She was far too soft on Chris, as I have brought back a cake – though he had popped to bakery anyway and bought one! The window is finished on the filling in front, so now for some new glass and putty.

Will add photos at some point!

IMG_0294

5 Comments

Posted in General, Out and About, socialisation

Sad news

Posted on October 23, 2007 by | 16 comments

My Godfather died, he never regained consciousness properly, didn’t recognise anyway in the moments he was not sedated. Had he come round, here were huge queries over the neurological problems he might have, Aah have a beer for him, as he was a good beer man. [on the right]
CNV00014

16 Comments

Posted in General

Guilty Pleasures!

Posted on October 22, 2007 by | 2 comments

Chris’s parents have been here tday to look after the girls whilst i was at work and he was working on the window. s we have had the heatng n. t is still on! and it is lovely. must switch off tomorrow though.

Sb has bee very good, and has done her singapore maths, and her getty and dubay – finally started book C – woohoo. She has read lots to the – scored easy impressing marks! Nana French read one of the explorer books back – about polar expeditions.

When I got home we did some violin and piano practice too – SB was supremely confident about playing to them. Def proud Mummy moment – twinkle twinkle on the violin and haydn was a happy man on the piano.

Lots of game playing also – both girls keen to tell me all the games they had played. BB bamboozled nana with her playing who’s who, but i was actuall surprised at how well BB had the concept and what to ask for.

Watched some downloads, and a fab junior jackanory about the sorcerer f samarkhand – don’t know about the girls, but I was spell bound.

BB fell asleep, SB finished her magic tree house book, and we did some ‘proper sewing‘ [her phrase!] . Nice start to what is going to be a frantic week [in part because I've left my submission of evidence of learning to the last minute for work]. Chris has done a god job on the window today to. smiley faces all round.

2 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, DIY/ house renovation, General, history, literacy, music, numeracy, writing

cosmic supply and polyanna

Posted on October 21, 2007 by | 6 comments

today i was a bit low on patience. The girls were a bit low on tolerance. Various people comment [IRL] that this blog always sounds good – the spin i put on there. i guess thats because I want to remember with rose spectacles, I know the usual tensions were there, so I don’t necessarily need to go into them. for posterity, however, a fairly standard exchange

BB – wail cry, want to watch numberjacks. i haven’t watched for ages

me- lets read a book or play a game

SB – I want to play a game

me – after you’ve finished your maths

BB – no, its my game, I’m bouncing

SB – BB bouncing on me – wail wail

Me – BB stop bouncing on SB, SB do your maths up the table, on the sofa or in the dining room, not spreadeagled on the floor where BB wants to bounce

SB and BB – wail, its not fair

[BB scratches SB to make her move ]

SB force 10 wails, BB SCRATCHES ME

Me – SB, on the sofa NOW. I asked you to move, you have stayed on the floor to annoy her. BB off the bouncer and say sorry to S – NO? then to the stairs

[bounce bounce bounce , BB goes, comes back and says sorry, peace restored, until next time!]

Does that help?

Anyway, great wailing choruses apart, SB did maths, handwriting, much computer gaming. We read about the first landing on the moon. BB bounced, read books, played with dolls house, starfalled [she is v good on starfall].

We all just about did a jigsaw of America together – BB wanted to do it, less than impressed with SB helping, though we did manage to do it toether without too much stress in the end. We all bailed outside, where a bit more personal space enabled us all to be happier people.

the cosmic supply bit is that chris wheeled out our old broken washing machine, and 1 mins later there was a knock and an enquiry to take it away. Fantastic – someone can fix it or sell it for parts, and we don’t have to go to the tip.

i made a particularly yummy chilli bean soup/stew [it was halfway between - rofl] for tea. we all wolfed it down. We finished watching Adam Hart Davis looking at the cosmos: a beginners guide.

6 Comments

Posted in Butterbean, Cooking, General, history, literacy, music, numeracy, science, Stringbean's HE, writing

home maid

Posted on October 20, 2007 by | 2 comments

so, having had B educationally polishing the staircase yesterday and picking fruit and veg, today she became the kitchen maid and the dairy maid.

She wanted to make some bread rolls, so she did this, with minimal help from me as i was busy helping BB make shortbread cookies [yummy]. So having got the dough proving, we decided to make our own butter to go with the rolls. Added several coins in the hope that it would be quicker to do, and it was! SB read the dairy section on a farm through time and a few other pages.

Shaker shaker butter maker bread dough vs cookie dough

We then had a lunch pause with number jacks and mama mirabelle fix – i think we are watching downloads too often. hard when BB can put them on. we minimised TV by having it in a different room. I a kinda hoping its a phase in winter as not out so much.

SO we went outside for most of the afternoon. doing an autumnal glue picture mostly scattered poppy seeds = which they both loved doing. chris was doing more fixing of the window. Both girls were very interested in the whole business. General playing too.

IMG_0229 IMG_0226

IMG_0244_edited-1 IMG_0241

SB did some piano practice,means a lot to me, but on GBDF ad ACE she has got to Haydn was a happy man – a tune often sung in our family. BB bounced and did lego. We ate the yummy rolls. We got a free book where did the river go, and SB enjoyed reading that whilst BB and I played catch. The pages were in order of clues by maths at the bottom she enjoyed the challenge.

IMG_0257 IMG_0260

SB and BB then had some lovely play together with dolls house and animals whilst made dinner, and then I took BB to bed whilst SB did some jump ahead.

IMG_0262 IMG_0265

Lovely day. tomorrow SB wants to make cheese!!

2 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Cooking, DIY/ house renovation, General, history, literacy, music, photos

First Fire

Posted on October 19, 2007 by | 2 comments

Of the year, though a couple of evenings it would have been nice. As yet not had heating on except the occasional visitor – ie little Nanny!

Today wasn’t as planned, as I anticipated going to Flag Fen. however, both irls having a lot of fun together all morning playing imaginative games upstairs, so decided to let live. Of couse they couldn’t do the same at all pm! SB and BB read Merry’s catalogues, and ticked pretty much everything in it. Hmm! SB quite clued up that she will get v little of what ticked, so I pointed out, that she should tick her MOST favourites only else we will just choose – thats fine apparently.

She did education city whilst BB and I played with the lego and read books. SB then joined in, but her and BB were in a #not quite matching mode, so we all went outside to let off steam. SB and BB harvested all the pears [about 12 - should count!] apples and beans. Racing around duly done!

IMG_0168 Under gardener - picking beans

SB then did some piano practice – very nicely. she particularly enjoys the piano. After that, we played at being housemaids, and beeswaxed the wood panelling on the stairs. Well, SB helped put it on, but removing was a bit like hard graft, so I did that – looks better for it though.

Polishing

Much general play – mostly with the castle, then watched really wild show downloaded whilst eating cinnamon toasts – mmm lovely! SB and I looked at a maps book [briefly!] before we went to bake cakes – banana choc and cinnamon loaf. Hasn’t risen as much as normal, so no doubt missed something or other out. tastes fine though! SB drooled over the fimo we bought from Merry – particularly the translucent orange one for doing pumpkins!

Hmm, just been looking at earthships [thanks Dani and Gill] . What a fantastic idea. Up for that really – and so much better in a village/community setting. Anyway, back to blogging

ermm. oh, yes, we then watched some mama mirabelle, BB got her numberjacks fix, SB and I had a very long cuddle and snuggle, I read apple tree farm books to BB, Sb practiced ballet moves. Oh, and nearly forgot, she did some violin practice too. in the end I had to be fairly insistent that we finish it, as she had done half an hour, and was getting stressed out by accidentally playing 2 strings at once occasionally. I am wondering if she is too much of a perfectionist for the violin?
After tea, we played continuo. A rather great thinking game, and SB won! She has read me some magic tree house, and is now reading a felicity wishes book in bed.

IMG_0188

2 Comments

Posted in Butterbean, Cooking, DIY/ house renovation, gardening, General, geography, IT, literacy, music, science

Madly Socialising

Posted on October 18, 2007 by | 5 comments

Somewhat late in blogging myself! pots and kettles from Chris!

Wed we went to the first Latinetc group meeting. A few local home ed families are getting together to look at minimus Latin, and SB was interested . Crafts and science extras also. We were late – surprise! Katy took the children though to say SB sum, listen to some myths and legends and play a roman based game , i think, cos I was mostly playing with BB and chatting with the other mums – one of whom was cooking yummy soup.

IMG_0096

Children then ran around for a bit to blow off some steam, and then I pretended to be Nina of the neurons, and we thought about how we found out about the world, about our 5 senses and then concentrated on taste. I had brought various things to taste, and incorporated some of Katy’s. Unfortunately, I missed taking a pic of K with a huge amount of coffee granules in his mouth priceless! We chatted about the different things we taste, and why they may have been important, and that sweet and salty were our favourites.

IMG_0107

Lunch – yummy soup, SB had 4 helpings!! then children careering around the garden, BB playing with plasticine and adults gently chatting. A phone call from Chris reminded me about rainbows, and we just made it. We also came back early to watch SB proudly walk the rainbow path – she loves it!

IMG_0124 IMG_0126

Today I initially had to go into work. The we zoomed off to Merry’s. I didn’t spend quite as much as I thought! Though have only actually paid for part of the order, and am going to add to it – so should keep mouth shut. Oh, and Mondeo racked up a £700 service bill, and still has to have a slipping clutch done on top.

Anyway, off to Merry’s and girls had a great time playing and putting on a show. Merry and I got to talk – nearly peacefully on occasion, but BB threw a lovely sulk – to everyone’s amusement. Both girls much taken by the press hama kits

IMG_0134-1IMG_0143-1

home and both girls asleep. Chris has sorted out the electricity circuit prob we had – took most of the day unfortunately, as out big window is stripped and exposed to elements.

Have flickred and addede the odd photo

5 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Dance/drama, General, history, language, literacy, science, socialisation, Stringbean's HE

Aargh Blogging

Posted on October 16, 2007 by | 2 comments

Chris has loads of half written posts that need finishing!

I obviously worked a lot last week, but also tried to do as much as poss at home – playing games with SB after BB in bed a consistently good thing, and we have felted and hama-ed.

Errm, keeping going with violin, and she did some spontaneous piano practice tody – woohoo! musical instruments are gradually tuning in her brain too – she is much better at singing a tune, so hopefully wont be as tone deaf as Chris.
Maths and handwriting regularly done, we are nearing the end of first story of the world. DO I think she remembers it – not a lot, but hopefully setting the scene as it were! Quite a bit of crafting and arting. Read about pompeii -buried alive, and ring of fire from sonlight. and also the leap ahead volcano, and read through a volcano book. More playing with the ello and ds. Jump ahead and zoombinis on ‘puter, and watching various natural history progs. SB reading loads – fairy books, felicity ewishes, horrid henry and anything she can get her hands on.
girls and chris swimming at the weekend – we’re trying to get back into the habit of going on a sunday as BB loves it

Girls and chris went to see oliver twist yesterday – SB found it too scary, and had difficulty getting to sleep. we talked about our visit to gressenhall, and the rellies that were born there, but she was still unhappy – doesn’t want to learn about victorians! then playing with firends and shoe buying. SB eventually got some felicity wishes boots. they sparkle along the side!
IMG_0079

SB is rather frighteningly gaining a waist and indefinably ‘older’. PANIC!!

BB is also getting small girlish. She counts and pretends to read alot. SHe is great at switiching on her ‘puter, finding the kids downloads and choosing one to watch – scary! Her drawing and painting is very careful,, often with a story to it, that she chats or sings along with. BB excellent at singing. I think she may well have inherited my perfect pitch. She is also getting careful with hama beading. Her vocab is excellent – prob due to having SB as an older sister. Still well into her numberjacks addiction!

My Mum seems to be OK post surgery – phew. Unfortunately found today that my godfather has been admitted to my local tertiary hospital neuro unit and not at all well. intubated and ventilated for th last 5 days – so I would appreciate any positive thoughts.

hmmm, there have been loads of things I thought I should blog from both girls – can’t remember them for toffee!! Hopefully chris will [subtle nudge!!]

2 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Blogging, Butterbean, Cooking, Dance/drama, General, geography, history, literacy, music, numeracy, Out and About, SB-PE, socialisation, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE, writing

visitors

Posted on October 10, 2007 by | 2 comments

we were supposed to meet up for a day in the woods, but the weather looked grim, i had had a not brill nigh and still have migraine, so visitors came to ours. they were laden with games, so a HUGE game fest went on and we had a great time. didn’t take many photos as chatting and playing!

IMG_0018

prior to their arrival, SB was racing through her maths book, did some more decorating of Mum’s get well card. BB and I baked some cookies too. She has also read ring of fire, to go with our vaguely volcano vaguely roman feel to the week!

2 Comments

Posted in art and crafts, Butterbean, Cooking, General, numeracy, socialisation, Stringbean