tears before bedtime – edited

It has been one of those days. I think all this socialisation and frenetic living is getting to all of us – time for some r and r!! Not helped by BB’s return to sleeping nightmare!

Initial Hama-ing. SB wanted to use the circle to do a face of BB – which she did really nicely, and started a new flower. A struggle over going to stagecoach – she definitely doesn’t want to go any more, and even the promise of a Christmas show isn’t wuite doing it. We will notify them she won’t be coming back next term. While she is there, she does seem to enjoy it, and goes off quite happily. For one reason or another, we are missing quite a few though anyway. We also have found the messing up of the weekend a bit of a pain.

This afternoon she has dissolved easily into tears. SHe has wanted to play with me non stop, but if I break one of her unspoken rule games she is heartbroken and sobs dreadfully. All very difficult, as I do also want to play with BB. When BB qwent to sleep, we did a shortlived word game with the boggle dice [she spelled cat and dog, and me bird, and then she did seeds] I then wrote a word without saying the letters I was looking for, so a standoff and it was put away. We had a nice game of dominos, and then I turned a corner without permission – game over! We read quite a few books though – the skeleton hiccups one she actually read quite a few of the words before she realised, and then abrubtly stopped. SHe has also done some colouring.

The other activity- mainly to give myself some headspace – was baking carrot cake – which we have done, wone to eat and one to freeze. At least that was enjoyed and tear free. the results were very nice too. Not so easy with dinner, as a cry when she realsied the spaghetti i had cooked weren’t tinned ones – sigh. She ate it all though. Some home grown grapes for pud. At present I am breathing[!!] as Daddy does bath before I do the stories.

I did get to have a short bit of BB only time – which is always nice. She is such a smiler. We were playing with the stacking cups, and a 4 high stacker toy. She enjoys this. Today she did the stacker toy herself!!! She was most impressed, particularly that I clapped, so did it lots more – until I went for the camera that is! Sb had been in the garden with Chris, but it rained, so she came back. we then did singing with actions for BB – wind the bobbin, twinkle twinkle etc.

It is clear that SB loves BB, but she can be so rough with her. I think as BB gets more mobile, she gets more of a threat as well -IYSWIM. Not that SB will be putting it in those terms, but I do have limited BB alone time [ i am trying for perhaps 2 x 15 mins slots - shouldn't be too hard??]. Hmmm – thinking cap!

Anyway, getting the call for stories, so a good thing I have blogged quickly!

edited: she wasn’t quite up for bed. so we looked at the DK pop out body book a bit, and discussed the spinal column and spinal cord mostly. then read roald dahl’s revolting rhymes – which are an unusual take n the standard fairy tales.

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Thankyou Tim

Handholder

You go out of your way to build bridges with people of different views and beliefs and have quite a few religious friends. You believe in the essential goodness of people , which means you?re always looking for common ground even if that entails compromises. You would defend Salman Rushdie?s right to criticise Islam but you?re sorry he attacked it so viciously, just as you feel uncomfortable with some of the more outspoken and unkind views of religion in the pages of this magazine.

You prefer the inclusive approach of writers like Zadie Smith or the radical Christian values of Edward Said. Don?t fall into the same trap as super?na?ve Lib Dem MP Jenny Tonge who declared it was okay for clerics like Yusuf al?Qaradawi to justify their monstrous prejudices as a legitimate interpretation of the Koran: a perfect example of how the will to understand can mean the sacrifice of fundamental principles. Sometimes, you just have to hold out for what you know is right even if it hurts someone?s feelings.

What kind of humanist are you? Click here to find out.

moderating

I’m going to have to add the word shoes!! we have been blitzed with shoe spam???? what is going on out there, as the amount of dud comments is exponentially increasing?

i apologise in advance. if you find something moderated, point it out and i will search and reinstate

and relax

What a busy but fun week we’ve had!
Also a busy one at work, and due to bursts of creativity there, I now have lots of evening work to do for presentations/business plans.Also off on a union course on negotiation skills from sun in swindon, so weekend feels shortened.

got home late from work to an enthusiastic hello from SB. She then danced for me, talked to me and we made an elephant together. I then read her half the ‘my very first bible’ so all read out! She was excited by the egyptian bits, as told me they weren’t kings but pharoahs, and was happy discussing clothes/houses – so a bit of a detour. She had a later bedtime as it is so nice to snuggle and catch up.

A play also with BB – as well as a huge feed. She stood unsupported for very brief moment and was very excited. She loves investigating, and is showing awareness of language other than her name.

I feel despondent that I will ever return to a decent work life balance though. I just keep hitting brick walls.

A beany Bean.

Nursery day.

Kirsty and gang still here this morning, so didn’t plan on trying to get SB out until they had gone. In the end no worries as she was sleeping like a log still at 8.30 – a bit of sleep catching up. Young Bartholomews had had breakfast by then, so went up to get BB changed/up (she was awake) and rouse SB. They were impressively on target to leave at 9 am so she just got little play in before they left. After that there was bit of faffing while she woke up a bit more, missed them a bit, we read acouple of books then breakfast, dressed and on our way.I came home and was domestic, washing, in and out and hung up, clearing ‘Disaster zone 1′ – aka the kitchen (well a bit anyway), then straight into ‘Disaster Zone 2′ aka SB’s bedroom. If it doesn’t get done styraight away, it ends up just languishing in a mess for too long. So matresess back on beds, back in spare room etc (as psrt of the futile attempt at them sharing the one room the matresses all ended up on the floor), pillows/duvets relocated, spare room ready for the next visitors.

At this point had one of those ‘oh dear I’m getting old and sensible’ moments. When I find myself thinking what a good thing it is to have the room ready so people can just turn up, as opposed to scurrying around as they wait to go to bed finding the least manky sheet and duvet cover. I don’t mind it being a sensible idea, but part of me minds me being pleased that I’ve done so……..

showed SB’s carpet what the daylight looks like again, and reminded the toyboxes of their function in life, Grrred at the kids for gettting out some of the too small/too big clothes from the cupboard, then mixing them up again and leaving them on the floor . Must fit new cutrain track and new curtain to her windows and make plans for repainting the room – it is such a dreadful colour – a horrible insipid, institutional murky apricoty.peachy type colour. Her old room was realy nice (though I say so my self :-) ) and felt like her room. This still feels like we’ve just sort of put the stuff in their and plonked it down, needs decorating, a bit of organising, more things on the wall, her mobiles etc. back up. not much need for debate on the colours though……..

also managed to excavate at the bits of embedded biscuits (thanks J and SB :-) ) from the playrooms ‘most impractical carpet you can almost imagine for playroonm’ carpet. It’s one of these sisal, or other natural fibre type things- and has ridged surface texture – which is bugger to clean, esp. wet stuff that gets squidged into it – and of course some of Bonnets Bakers best….. It’s also awful to sit or kneel on – luckily we have rug in the middle.

Continuing later with my domesticity, I got dinner prepared before I went off to get the girls and dropped SB at her ballet lesson, popped back home to have cuppa and play with chucklemeister peacefully for a bit, before pedalling back down the road to get SB, a bit of play in the playground, then home to finsih getting tea ready – SB top, tailing and peeling carrots all by herself, and slicing the cabbage, and H managed to get home in time to enjoy it with us :-)

a fair while later, after SB bedtime, BB had awaken and was not interested in sleep. while we watched the Elizabeth 1st program on Channel 4 she chcukled and babbled her way around the room – she has almost lost the lopsided crawl and is getting much more proficient at proper crawling. Sat with Helen tried to climb up the back of the sofa and bounced madly up and down, laughing away, she is such supremely happy and cheerful baby, now she slumbers contentedly :-)

So much for early bedtimes here. I’m off.

grafitti

SB has marked her cupboards in case therer shoud be any doubt in BB’s mind whose things are in there. oops.

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oh and latest blogbumping photos have been added below

Guinness on the mend.

IMG 8874 edited-1

Guinness – aka ‘Demon Cat’ (look at the picture larger, check out the eyes.), shows off his bald patch from his op. Had his stitches out today, walking pretty well, little bit of limp. But he can’t run yet, if he tries it, three legs work and the last one can’t keep up, rather comical.

october blogbumping

has been rather grand!
we have kirsty and co staying, and merry and co round for the day.

it was nice to get in from work to a houseful yesterday. Kirsty’s 2 and SB were demonstrating nicely one of the reasons we bought the house – it is a fantastic place for children to run around madly shrieking!! They played together, watched shrek and investigated the house together. unsurprisingly very late bedtime. foolishly i’d said we read 1 book for each – andthey all chose long ones. kirsty giggled as i started to paraphrase! not that they then fell asleep……… We got in a good natter before my eyes refused to stay open anyway. I did check out the sonlight manuals though.

Today they all demanded we bake so i checked ingredients and recipe. SOme nice drawing occurred while we adults had a cup of tea! they then ran around indoors and out like loons while I tidied some of the disaster from yesterday! once the floor was visible, it was quite clear that happy street should be done, and the 3 worked nicely to get the track to go around the mat – even with BB ‘helping’!

Kirsty here! Helen forgot to add in the huge conversation she and Marcus had about hearts and discussing the different parts of it using her freebie heart model she got ages ago. We must get one of those! This was started by looking at a big body book so loads of discussion there too. Marcus was beign very brave I must say, talking to both Helen and Chris like they were normal people (which of course they are lol!) and not like he normally talks to adults! He’s getting better!

oops edit no 2 – forgot to also add that on asking for a paracetamol for a headache Chris supplied me with 2 double strength cocodomal (sp?) which resulted in me being stoned for the whole day!! erm, oops!

When Merry and co arrived, Fran settled down to read numerous books to SB [what a great idea!], before they got more adventurous. the littlies demolished the happy street of course. While we grownups discussed sonlight, usborne and brownie-style badges for bloggers. was a great natter.

Chris edit – Whilst those adults nattered. This adult was in the kitchen organising lunches for the hoards. Much uproar was caused over instant needs for Pitta Bread ! there should be some sort of rule that all children will eat baked beans….

Children went outside and climbing framed and sandpitted [great!] when started to look overly excited we went to plan B which was drawing in the conservatory – some great pictures done. Included discussion on growing grapes, why they have pips, the solar system and order of planets.

When Merry went we had pasta tea, and the children counted to 10 in all known languages. Chris read some of our pre-loved ladybird books – greek legends and dinosaurs. They all did a lot of counting and adding, and some shops playing. I insisted only one book read to nigt, but they still spread it out by doing a full home-ed thing by discussing each page – counting, spotting differences etc etc. sigh!! Still awake. Anyway we actually did a lot of autonomous home ed.

now, have flickred, so may do a badge whilst drinking wine!

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ok, better late than never!

Check out your Physics.

I should really be blogging about today and Kirsty’s arrival etc. But I’m going to bed. (in short, we had nice morning, library, sun etc. K and gang arrived, ran around outside and in, with LOTS of screaming, children did not all manage to get to sleep in the same room were moslty still on the go at 10.30. Only one glass of Archers Aqua stuff (odd stuff, bit like peachy, alochoklic lemonade…) was consumed, obviously pacing herself – she’s got two bottles ;-)

So I leave you with the latest quiz from the BBC, this one on Physics.

Luckily, to save on any embarassment for me I did get 10/10, though I had a wobble on one question when I had bit of mental blank.

Quandary

‘Sun is shining in the sky…’

It’s lovely October day, I should be inside doing some (more) tidying, pending arrival of the Barthlomews

But………