Petits Haricots

i am working – honest!

Posted on May 12, 2006 by HHaricot | 4 comments

I am writing a presentation for next week, which i am really worried about. I have had a hugely busy week, and collapsed into bed at the same time as the girls, except wed – apprentice night! I didn’t even have family wednesday, as on a? course in London. It was an extremely good course, even if it did cost me 525 – sigh, but was very tiring on eyes and posture as essentially practically based and lots of looking at screens . I thought of both Sarah and ChrisP at one point as I was playing on a computer simulation of what I want to do, using these rather remarkably well shaped manipulators attatched to the computer box. you could learn to do it for real to – the machine is only 25000 euros! major work issues as yet still unresolved though, and gloom deepening.
When I have been at home, I have been doing high level interaction with my girls – well as much as I can for an extremely knackered, still insomniacal mummy! [or maniacal perhaps?]

I have read loads to SB – she has really got into the DK illustrated family encyclopaedia, and just works her way from cover to cover. We did do R for reproduction as well. [sort of!] but actually it shew me how much she does remember from when we have seen the subjects before. And that she really is knowledge inquisitive. She has also gradually got the hang of giving me a potted history run down of the day she has had – demonstrating the swimming moves, and the ballet moves. though are they really called sautees? [as I just see potatoes!!]

BB extremely good at shrieking mummeeeee. is doing acrobatic breastfeeding – an advance that I am not actually overly joyous about. She sings a lot of the time, often doing the actions. sometimes the tunes are recognisable, and sometimes the actions give them away. She also loves book reading.

Both girls have enjoyed the good weather though. I came home from work today to find evidence of outdoor home-ed. The swings are a hit, and BB is great at climbing as well as trampolining and rocking horse. She aslo loves the little cosy coupe car.

Both girls are making a fuss about me working. BB grips me as if to never let me go, and shrieks when I move – though Chris says she settles quickly when I’m gone. SB just tells me its Daddy’s turn to work. She does realise one of us has to work though. if only I could afford to drop to 3 days…

i have decided though that i have been getting too stressed about life and work. SO i am going to try and carpe diem for a bit, and see if the stabilises me again. I just wish I didn’t have arm lng to do lists at home and work.

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Posted in General

Sporty Monday

Posted on May 8, 2006 by Daddybean | 2 comments

A local HE group is having a monthly ‘sports’ session, we didn’t go last month as SB was ill but made it this time. Though a 9.30 start and a 40 min journey meant getting going in the morning. BB helped by getting me up before 6 am

Basically it is a ‘teacher’ doing various games etc. using balls, hoops, skittles etc. and lost of running about. SB enjoyed it, BB kept wanting to join in – running and chasing games are her favourites. Though SB also wanted to join in the older session (nominally 7yo, but some were younger i think) afterwards as well as she liked the look of the netball. Spent another hour afterwards while she played with various children and I drank tea, chatted etc. You know the score. Someone we’ve met a few times is moving from their house to buy a boat (with a ‘little bit of?? land attached’ ) sound that was interesting to chat about.

Their headed up your way Merry, so will likley appear at local stuff there.

Headed off eventually. Rain put paid to vague ideas I had of? bit of? walk somewhere. We headed of homewards, via a bit of shopping . Looking for? wholefood shop, since we don’t have? a decent one in the nearer towns (H&B is not a decent wholefood shop…. In fact it seems to be all pills and potions moslty nowadays). anyway, found a different one than the one I was looking for, so stocked up on a few things, and? nice bit of halva for an evening treat. SB entertained/or was enterntained, i’m not sure which, by the man up packing various boxes of stock as she peered at what he had and nattered away. I over heard her counting up in 2′s as well. It was a rather wholesome wholefood shop, which was rather nice, not haveing been in one sicne we moved house really. I took the oppurtunity to peruse the rack of green/right on publications that they had and was left feeling somewhat? unfaithful to? a former self as I was for? moment or two back? 15-20 years ago (that long), shopping in wholesome shops, persuing similar magazines. I used to be? a pretty strict vegan, among other things, which has gone by the way side, that former self did try to care about things, even? if as is the way of things it was naive at times. I’m not sure the current self really does care much any more.

Still raingin, som popped into a cafe, for a ‘pretty cheap, but shouldn’y have really’ lunch (but the plan of something sat on the grass was out due to rain), and Beans were getting hungry. SB wooed the counter staff buy asking for? a straw in the most polite-est way possible. Then via a chinese grocers for some noodles. Spent some time just persuing the various options as this was new experince for SB as opposed to the standard Sharwoods ones from the supermarket. she then just went around the shop going, what’s this what’s that at the various interesting things in jars and tins and packages. I resisted the urge to buy various interesting things.

Then home to playing, Mummy home from work time, and dinner.? Stir fry with the aforesaid noodles, we also had? a bit of Arame with it(it’s a dried Japanse seaweed in case you wondered). SB was intrigued when she relaised it was proper seawed, not the fried cabbage called seaweed that chinese retaurants do. She gamley tried some at dinner time as well. She professed not to like it – but it’s not really at it’s best eaten by itself, but she was munching in with vegetables a bit later, she just didn’t want to be seen liking it

Before bed we watched another epsiode of the DVD of the ‘Life of Mammals’ (it was meant to be half, but I dozed off…).? SB has really got into all these sort of things since she watched the recent Planet Earth series so we are working our way through various ones. Have watched some of the Blue Planet as well – from which she has remembered among othe things that the Blue Whale is the biggest animal that ever lived, and also that there are lots of recently discovered things deep in the ocean, also is very taken with the idea that there might be somethign even bigger lurking in the depths.

Then a quick ‘Thomas’? story (the originals – not the modern pap) for bedtime

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Posted in Books, Butterbean, Out and About, Ponderings, SB-PE, science, socialisation, Stringbean, Stringbean's HE

Insomniacs R us

Posted on May 7, 2006 by HHaricot | 3 comments

I am just not sleeping at the moment, my brain just can’t stop whirring – either redoing the budget over and over again incase some miracle happens and we balance, or imagining how I can walk away from my job without total disaster befalling.

I does mean that so far I have read 4 of the 6 books Jax lent me last weekend!

Unfortunately, just as I thought i was ready to slip away into sleep – approx 5am – BB woke up. at 7 I passed her on to Chris so I could have a nap, and then slept the morning – so also angry with myself for missing out on precious family time.

Whilst I snoozed, SB had more fun with the circuits, and made a radio – which she was very proud to show me. The instructions and set really are very easy to use. We have mainly played all sorts of things all day. Lego, imagination, running about etc etc. She has also done a lot of cbeebies, and BB done a lot of jumping on me.

going to hope for better sleep luck tonight

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Posted in General

quick blog

Posted on May 6, 2006 by HHaricot | 1 comment

as so much else to do.

Umm, SB listened to little toe a lot today. We did quite a bit of reading together – loads of the usborne children’s encyclopaedia, a picturepaedia about dinosaurs and a scholastic book about constellations as well as lots of reading books and fairy tales. She didn’t do any explode the code today, having excelled an done 7 pages yesterday. She did do some singapore maths 1A, and is getting the hang of adding and crossing over a ten [and similarly subtracting] – though the occasional 7-1 is 5 and stuck to rigidly is a bit head-banging!

The key thing she wanted to do was some electricity experiments. Before xmas, [aka before budget!] I did a brghtminds order including one of those brainbox jkits, which we decided to keep until next xmas. We changed our minds and did it today. She very quickly got good at circuits, loved the flying disc fan, and understood in a basic way about electricity and current, the way it flowed around the circuit – enough to realise that the light emiting diode didn’t work as it was put in the wrong way round [it has an arrow] So lots of fun there.

Whilst finishing the maths in the garden, BB and I had a romp and play. ruined by the most eniormous hideous poo ever – as she was nappy free it fell on the grass, but i did then have to carry her, emergency wipe down and then emergency sink bath! At least it wasn’t indoors, as she had been nappy free all day. Other than that, BB and I also read books, we did a lot of run and chase. She’s getting good at drawing too – well, in a reliable pen to paper kind of way rather than a monet! We were trying copying shapes, and she had a stab at a circle before wild scribbling took over. She was desperate to do electric circuits too. She has done lots of climbing up and over everyhting she can. Lots of fun with balloons as well.

All in all, lots of fun today – though BB has been quite grizzley on and off, and the yukky orange poo persuaded me that perhaps she had some virus or other, so she got some nurofen. SB doesn’t like to be left out, so the odd wail there too, but quickly sorted. She has done some lovely playing with BB, even when pinched and hit – and BB gave her a lovely slimy mouth open kiss in return!

will add photos

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Posted in Butterbean, General, geography, history, numeracy, photos, science, Stringbean's HE

Enjoying more sun.

Posted on May 6, 2006 by Daddybean | 2 comments

Both girls were still alseep when Helen left for work, which is unsual, but it didn’t last for long. Butterbean was soon up and causing havoc. SB soon got up as well, but she stayed upstairs for? while playing with the Happy Street which has been out on her floor all week sicne the party last weekend.

When she came down the first thing she wanted to do was ice the carrot cake we made on tuesday.? So she produced yet another tastefully decorated cake…

She was going to do a rainbow cake at one point. Whilst this was all going on BB spent sometime standing on a chair playing witht he cutlery and reorganising the contents. Outside for a bit, to hang up some washing . BB likes to help with this now, it’s a shame that she driops half the things on the ground when giving them to me. But she doesn’t like it if she seems me takign the stuff, she shouts at me very loud (she does? alot of shouting at the moment – whenever she wants something, something is wrong etc., it’s all a bit tiresome TBH). Pottered around for? bit looking at things, then back indoors. Girls leggoed for? bit while I did something or other, tidied breakfast things, more washjing on etc. I expect.

Back outside again, sat and read for bit whilst we ate some fruit, girls ran about, played on swings etc.. Strawberry plants were delivered today and the bit of ground they are goign in needed a bit of sorting, so I got on with that, SB sat and did some of the Singapore Maths, Thinking Skills 1A book, moslty adding up up to 20. They had some problems where you had one number and the answer, and had to find the missing number. She was complaing about this, so I showed her? how to take away the number from the answer to get the missing number. BB moslty clambered about on her climbing frame.

Then lunch, after which BB fell asleep in her seat.

Me and SB went back outside, finshed doing the bed for the Strawberries, SB moslty played around the garden doing one game or another. She seems to be really just enjoying the warm weather and being able to be running about in it. Had a bit of a conversation about what a weed is,? why we sometimes grow ‘weeds’ and other times don’t want them.. By which time it was time to get up BB who was still asleep.

So sat and cuddled? sleepy baby, whilst reading somemore to SB, looking at some books again on space stuff. . Tiem to get dinner ready, whilst I was doing that, SB did some more Explode the Code. Made? a bit of? fuss at first then got into it, and then did loads, about 7 pages I think as she decided she wants to catch Sam up, who is on the next book (book 3). So she did that until dinner time.

Over dinner we listened to more Little Toe Radio Show, she is funy, such a visual 21st century child. She likes to listen to it with ‘patterns’ (visualisations from the player ) and sits thee staring at the computer screen wayching the pattern BB is so good at picking up on Helen’s voice. She was in the bath when Helen came home, but still heard here voice down stairs and started shouting and saying ‘Ma Ma’ and pointing She was very cute this evening mimicing Helen doing ‘Woo, Woo, Woo’ sounds with her hand over here mouth

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Posted in Books, Butterbean, Cooking, gardening, literacy, numeracy, photos, science, Stringbean, writing

Phew! What a scorcher :-)

Posted on May 4, 2006 by Daddybean | Leave a comment

Well it was relativley here today, really hot day. Which had SB complaining when I made her take a fleece out with us when we went out this morning. SB part did jigsaw over breakfast. Went to a local HE group meeting today. Theme was Africa, with some Africa inspired crafty things.

As usual it was down to line getting us out of the door, but we got there in time.

SB made a necklace, with beads made from rolled up sheets of paper glued together ,

she then spent quite sometime making a painted on ‘leather’ picture which we put into a frame (hers is on the left)

Though she did need assitance, in particular with the frame. They were very effective.

She then did a little bit of weaving with reeds/rushes:

By the end of that it was time to have some lunch, which this time I was more organised with – though BB at some point had found someone half eaten pitta bread and helped herself to that While all this was goign on, when not nicking others food BB poddled about, did bit of drawing, and kept trying to disappearr into the great blue yonder.

After the group we went down to the playground with soem others, SB complained of it being hot – it was. BB kept trying to climb up the climbing frames, and we bumped into the biggest three girls from the Puddle being given some relief from the stresses of house moving by Aunty Kate. SB was pleased as she got an Icecream out of it from AK

Home, SB rather dozey, read ‘Where’s Wally ‘ to her, out to ballet lesson, back home, dinner, tears, when somehow I had BB on my lap, arm round her, cup of tea in other hand, she somehow lurched back over my arm, I couldn’t catch her and she hit her head hard on the door behind big egg on her head but otherwise ok. not the best end to the day.

Sunny Day

Posted on May 3, 2006 by HHaricot | 1 comment

SO we have been out in the garden pretty much all of it. However, before we went out, SB did some jigsaws and watched Cbeebies, followed by 4 pages of explode the code. She still isn’t sure of the st sounds. I read loads of books to BB. We also played vets and cats – at least I got to be the vet!
BB initiated the great going out, by insisting that we put on her snowsuit – rofl! I did let her wear it for a bit, but gradually both children stripped down to their birthday suit, and suntan lotion was applied for the first time this year. BB immediately had a blotchy face reaction. It is sainsbury’s hypoallergenic – must remember not to buy that again! Much climbing up th climbing frame an swinging on the swings ensued! After the great strip off, there was a sandcastle building? and general sprinkling sand everywhere game.
Elinor decided to chant in a very loud voice the Kings and Queens of England – she remebered a few! I was most impressed about how much she spilled out about Elizabeth 1 and Henry 8, and worked out if there was a Henry 8, there needed to be 1-7 as well! Also a spontaneous lesson in gravity, as SB said the gravity to was too great on the chair to climb the tree as she couldn’t lift her legs! So we did some gravity experiments and discussed gravity on the moon.

We did some SIngapore 1B sitting out in the sun. SB raced through as it was on less and more, and this was covered by the exeter maths ages ago.

BB is being a bit screechy every time I walk away. I think I am allowed an invisible rope of 2m. She of course can do what she likes! I had lots of cuddles and climbing games. And it is nice to devote loads of attention to her, as I sometimes worry I devote most to SB. BB is such a cute thing though.

Sb and I read a magic bus book, and now off to bed. Will do phoitos when I come down!

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Posted in Butterbean, General, history, literacy, numeracy, photos, science, writing

I am midnight – apparently. I certainly stay up late!

Posted on May 1, 2006 by HHaricot | 1 comment

You Are Midnight

You are more than a little eccentric, and you’re apt to keep very unusual habits. Whether you’re a nightowl, living in a commune, or taking a vow of silence – you like to experiment with your lifestyle. Expressing your individuality is important to you, and you often lie awake in bed thinking about the world and your place in it. You enjoy staying home, but that doesn’t mean you’re a hermit. You also appreciate quality time with family and close friends.

What Time Of Day Are You?

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Posted in Daft Stuff, General

our ‘typical home-ed day’ Photo Meme 2006

Posted on May 1, 2006 by HHaricot | 3 comments

somewhat late, and I didn’t get started with the camera quite at the begining, but hey ho, that is probably what my typical day is! Obviously, this wasn’t entirely a typical day, as it was bank hols and both parents at home. Full photos on flickr.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Little Nanny!
Started with SB and BB playing with the happy street at too early o clock, and then by the eime I got up, SB had moved onto Sindy’s and BB was rarring about. I fed her and she settled down to playing with the bricks.

So, 10:00 and SB starts with explode the code – 4 pages. SHe’s quite good at doing this mostly on her own. I did need to remind her that there is a double l at the end of words such as sell and spell etc. Also, it took a while to convince her that there was a st sound and how it was made.

So that was 10 mintues – I happen to know because thats when she decided to play nursery with BB, who was being the baby in the baby room. BB took it all in good part, and I do like seeing SB playing games specifically with BB, rather than just moaning when BB ruins things.

11 -ish, and we did some maths. SB chose to do some from the miquon book – something that I find more dificult, as I have to sit there with the instructors guide to work out what we are supposed to be doing. mostly counting and adding, as we do it so rarely she is on ‘easy’ pages.

12-ish BB had an early lunch and fell asleep. Chris and SB looked at rocks and minerals with enchanted learning, moving on to the cretaceous period – and quite a bit of discussion on extinction and then to continental drift on the ‘puter. SB then looked at the new webland.I went out and did a spot of gardening, coming in for lunch – by which time BB had woken up and had a second lunch! 13-ish!

14:00 I read to BB, and SB did lots of dot to dotting – going up to 50, and then looked at a thomas the tank book. She then disappeared to her bedroom to play some more with sindy’s

15:30 We all got ready and went out to the park and stayed there until nearly 17:00. SB loves the park, and clambered happily about. BB did lots of climbing practice – antother Know No Fear daughter! So we took lots of pictures of BB, as its the first time she has had all this fun. Although heart in my mouth, was proud of her climbing skills!

when we got back, SB played with the ballerina candleholders and various kinder egg bits for a while. TBH, I have no idea what we did then! BB drew on herself.

18:00 ish teatime -in which SB was trying to remember all the countries she had heard of – second one was indonesia!, then tidyup and pyjamas on 19:00 we watched the deep on DVD and the 20:00 bedtime stories and finally sleep!

Other photo-meme days for this year can be found here, here, here, here and here [so far!]

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Posted in Blogging, Butterbean, gardening, General, geography, IT, literacy, numeracy, SB-PE, writing