Petits Haricots

today was lighting up day where we live, and our house hosts some of the lighting so always exciting. SInce we live rurally and no megabucks, the lights are plugged into our sockets! we used to have to buy the xmas tree too, but now the lights committee buy that so we belted out xmas carols eating mince pies, including bb being happy to go with other kids to sing away in a manger. SB was helping the guides hand out the words. It was pretty chilly! father christmas handed out sweets – always a success!

was a bit hard for me tho, as as evening began I had some huge muscle spasm thing going on [i presume] which has only settled down as day ended. not been doing anything crazy, so not sure what would set it off, but couldn’t do a good singing breath.

earlier in the day, the girls and I took an idea from Zoes blog to make christmas cards. we used watercolours and then biro and SB and I got stuck in straight away, but BB had a bit of crisis before deciding how and what she wanted to do. Due to the aforementioned pain I possibly wasn;t as calm and helpful as i could have been, but we spent a lovely couple of hours coming out with these

I know,I should have chosen 1 or 2 of them, but i love them all

even earlier in the day, DH and BB took alfie to MIL’s for a weeks holiday in a toasty warm house! warm baths and 2 lights aside, alfie is still not partic active, tho will eat after his bath, so maybe such a toastie house will make him forget all bout hibernating! I hennaed SB’s hair – something i haven’t really done to myself since SB v young, brought back a smell of my youth! so her hair is lovely and glossy with red tones to it

finally, end of week summary – BBhas left gym, she should find it fun, but doesn’t really, so no more! SB nd BB had last arts award, not clear why it isn’t running to me, sure there is a good reason? shame really, as have had a lot of exposure to differnt techniques. SB finished her animation, and BB did a lovely linocut. thurs SB had a spymasters session with guides, which she really enjoyed. SHe has done a pretty good bookwork week too all things considered.

minor panic that we haven;t bought xmas pressies etc yet – eek! oh well

the last ‘proper’ wodensmeet of this year.

WE had an early start as went to the ice rink [yes. again!] for 9am. we were the only people on the rink and i went on this time, but mostly ice-stood girls liked having the freedom of all that space. SB and BB love ice skating really, and wish closer to a rink for a regular skate. The deependers joined us, having got stuck in traffic, so more fun :).

we went on to zoes and were the last to arrive everyone was zentangling baubles, so the girls got going too. we grown ups giggled and chatted in festive mood whilst they did this, and then split into science and poetry.

poetry was comparing 2 poems where you had a right and wrong choice [i think] and then drawing something of an illustration. SB threw hers away as she didn’t like it. BB drew a dragon attackign a castle

science was a bit of a leap, and we discussed with the kids and grownups before organising, as it involved them pricking their fingers to get a drop of blood. i brought along some local anaesthetic gel, the blood kits [bought, sterile including sterile pricker, sterets etc] for blood group testing, and then we also made a blood film, fixing with isopropranolol and staining with eosin and haemotoxylin as i didn’t have methylene blue. all but 2 did do it, and they were v excited to see their blood groups, and even more so to look at their own blood under a microscope. for the H and S out there, everything sterile, done properly and disposed of safely .

after that my phone battery died, and i hope to ‘borrow’ someone elses flickr pics when she puts them up . I think we ended up microscoping on a high . we certainly managed to stain well and see both red and white blood cells. talked about the things in blood and how they worked, and also talked about blood groups and transfusion. Perhaps we had some erroneous results due to technique? but still .

we had lunch and then after lunch SB and E did lots of recorder together – sounding v good, and SB had a clarinet prac with EM – thankyou – as still ‘between teachers’ merry had brought christmassy material and the girls all made baubles or a christmas hat. BB designed her bauble base on the xmas decs I have bought from the happy potters, friends of ours.

finally ending with a singsong of xmas carols and a practice on the bells. Lovely day, thankyou

Em popped back to ours so SB and E could play the gluck with me accompanying, and Em the middle section. it sounded beautiful [tho i made a number of mistakes!] and we might play at christmas camp caberet

or baking and skating

thursday had multisports and fri was wild place i think for the girls, putting woodchips down.

sat started as a nice family weekend, doing different things in the same room, bit of maths for SB, reading for BB and lego, some work and finishing secret santa for me , BB has been also playing a lot of creationary that she got for her birthday. SB and I did some sweet making fr xmas, BB made shortbread for camp all lovely and convivial. Sb finally gave bb her present of reindeer headband – bb v happy

After lunch we went to see madagascar 3 at the cinema, which we all really enjoyed, and thought a brilliant end to the series finished the eve watching masterchef on the iplayer and an early night

sunday was a good music practice day, with sb doing piano and clarinet and bb cello. i sorted out a bit nmore of the xmas music as well. we went out in the pm to ice skate at a garden centre and met G and E there we had a fab time, G and I drinkig coffee and chatting, and DH and the kids skating around. was a lovely day, and they were v happy to have friends there as well. had a hot choc and cake to warm up afterwards as well

we wandered into the fish section and bought some high fin platys and a bristlenose plec for the near-empty tank. though when we got home, we found that our 2 remaining platys had had a single baby, so maybe that tank wont remain too empty! watched merlin and then bedtime. A lovely relaxing weekend

monday the girls had a bookwork day, and both fairly industrious, and tues less so but they did get to go skating again this time with a different set of friends. both my girls wish we were candaian as our candain family live v near west edmonton mall, and they would love to be able to iceskate so often. . watched david Attenborough reviewing the last 60 years one night and alvin and the chipmunk the squeakwel the next night [argh!]

well, that was lots to cover really! BB and small were up early in the morning on roblox, Big and SB really struggled to get up at all! i think all our friends joining us also had a difficult day to be up and out too, so a later start and plenty of tea and coffee needed . we also gave Alfie a warm bath and he now has 2 warm lights, as we think he is trying to hibernate, as not eating and not moving. [he is still alive tho! and we did get him to do a bit of walking around and nibbled a tomato after the warm bath. will repeat most of the week]

being the sitting resident, I had my first variation on a theme, and I had chose the Moghul emperors. Before Kids, in what seems like a different life, i went to india on a ‘golden triangle’ self made journey on trains, and saw Taj Mahal and Fatepur Sikri, the red fort at Delhi etc and it was a perfect way to learn about SHah Jehan. Unfortunately, I couldn’t affor to whisk away us all today, so instead tried to infect everyone with my enthusiasm for that piece of history. not sure if successful, but hopefully they all retained something from that . Anyway, my first variation was using glass paints on tiles to recreate a marble tile that could have conceivably been used in the taj mahal we discussed symmetry, the lack of pictorial representation of people or animals, the use of jewel colours, tesselating and simpcity vs complexity. then set off. SOme followed the brief and pictures i had found, some used their own interpretations, and some were unique . All were done with care, attention and discussion of the source. I enjoyed it

Whilst I was doing that, Zoe was in the kitchen making gingerbread men and swedish apple cake for St Martin’s day – as the food component, nd also related to the 30 years war. both tasted utterly, utterly delicious.

K was with me in the conservatory, and making zen gardens from salt and glass pebbles and tealights, and talking about space and gardens in Japan. SInce these gardens are so transitory, I only managed to catch 2 before all puffled up!

After that Jax discussed Japan and the closing off to foreigners – something she is interested in in history too, and provided a map of japan

I have to say, BB did a lot of flying of her new remote control helicopter!!

After lunch, zoes st martins candles didn’t freeze, so we will do that next time Katy talked about the Manchu – we all fancied the hobbies of jumping on a camel from behind, or archery on ice! I did the second variation on taj mahal tiles, this time using star cutters and fimo on our white tiles. Think these also went well. Most kids liked the glow in the dark best tho!

so my family’s 2 different styles here.

overall a lovely day with friends and some crafting and learning, and lots of laughing and giggling . we finished the day with birthday cd of flying monsters, and then BB fell asleep whilst SB at Judo, and then some playing of birthday creationary by BB whilst SB watched masterchef the professionals

oh, and loved this pic of zoes

If DH was blogging, he would perhaps say the girls had a stay at home day on Mon, and did some bookwork for a change having slept in for most of the morning recovering from the party weekend.
Tuesday was an out and about day, with pottery in the morning with a local potter who also home educates. both girls really enhoy this. I am hoping to see some end results or some pictures at some point! then in the afternoon SB had animation. she has really enjoyed this on the whole. unfortunately tho this time there wasn’t enough time for each child to do the computer work needed so her’s is left to do and it wasn’t so interesting, hopefully they will finish at arts award. swimming for both girls and then when I came home, some present opening – woohoo!! Happy real birthday BB BB was ecstatic about everything but particularly skateboard and remote control helicopter. opening the presents with one of her friends watching on skype was a bit weird! guess that is how the modern world is going!
we watched her present of alvin and the ‘chickmunks’ with jax and co, who arrived to stay the night before history.

I hmmed and hawed a bit, but knew she would love it. Her initial guest list was v sparse – boys only! so we suggested that she thought a bit and added people she would like to see, and the list padded out such that we had the magical 16 . Friday DH spent making the cake – lego style – and tidying up for all the people staying over. BB then spent sat morning decorating it

saturday dawned, i had hair and nails done by sb

cupcakes made, sausage rolls made, food in order ready to go and people arriving for once we were ‘on top’ of the party so could chat and offer tea etc kids then went off to nerf battle – which i think wasn’t quite as exciting as laser quest fromthe sound ofit, but exactly what bb had wanted . siblings stayed here with the adults, most played, afish decorated cakes beautifully . we became a p[izza factory for a while whilst chatting and all was ready .
Party tea was readilly scoffed, we just fitted 20 kids around the table with some squeezing up pizza, crisps, choc fingers, cupcakes, icecream and jelly were the mainstay. tho bb did have some oranges, i think she was the only one! Party cake well received too . BB love ALL her presents, they were all brilliantly chosen with her in mind thankyou.

we adults then got on with chatting and gossiping and giggling etc until we realised kids should have been in bed AGES ago, and rushed them all into sleeping bags etc and they giggled for a few hours more :).
Next day dawned, but i slept through. got up and got set in making pancakes – a tradition, and yes, it was brekkie 2 and at lunchtime, but i had cunningly laid out brekkie 1 before going to bed apart from milk – so hostess point please . The deependers were pleased to drop in on their way back from church and share breakfast too .
some went home, and some for a walk round the lake to feed ducks and enjoy sunshine before setting off.

A great weekend with friends, thankyou
oh, and as a little epilogue, her friend S had been too shy to go to the party, and instead came round sun eve – so happiness all around

as we approach BB’s birthday, anniversary of blog, joining the home ed community etc I have been thinking of how differently i approached mothering second time round. relaxed, more confident, willing to take the path of least resistance and loving it rather than worrying it. BB for her birthday has a photo book, which she hopes that she will use to be able to control her emotions and calm down. She got it early, and it seems possible that it might help on early use. SB thought the book a fab idea, and although hers cant be all baby photos as she was predigital for 2 years she is looking forward to it. Both books start with a newborn

here i am, exhausted, proud, hppy, slightly nervous! a really crap pregnancy and not the most ideal birth, but we did it! She is the most beautiful baby I have ever seen. I am a bit overwhelmed. only able to have photo with me when tidied up and back on the postnatal ward.

here i am, nearly 4 years on for number 2. I am more confident, more ‘in control’ happy to birth in a pool, mostly naked and welcome my second confident that i haven’t as yet managed to destroy number 1! tho not always been the best. better pregnancy, far better birth. here we are, a few seconds after birth

I wonder how birth order and my different starts and approaches have affected the girls. I am very blessed by my gorgeous, and different daughters and so glad to have had the joy of motherhood.

before I blog the day, I just want to reiterate how lucky I am to have the friends I do. We are a very disparate bunch, brought together by home education and an inability to just follow the crowd. We have shared history, hopefully shared tomorrows, but also a shared understanding of each other. And today, when out of the blue discussing future xmases i remembered my last with little nanny, i was comforted by the friends around me. thankyou. and apart from that blue moment we have laughing, giggling, gossiping. We are different, unique, strongwilled and make a good group.

SO having said that! SB didn’t start with us, bless her she had her traintracks fitted and joined nearer lunchtime

we started with the kids doing zentangle hands, I missed taking the group shot – tho zoe did on her blog but i did get BB’s, which i thought she had done well. they then did sketch tuesday, something beginning with n – so maddy did nothing – grin BB did a nut, having had a strop that acorn didn’t begin with a n. ah well

then merry did remembrance poetry comparing 2 different styles of war poem – sb was quite thoughtful about this on our dirve home so clearly very valued by her. BB was also v happy to have done it though not as thoughtful as asleep! and i did microscopes. i have one more microscoping to do. because they ahve to wait to use it etc, even though groups of 4 and 5, i can see it isn’t holding the attention quite as much, and i do have to help focus and show so can’t do too much talking at the same time. so perhaps not ideal, but maddy and r are clearly v taken by microscopes, and looked at all the preprepared slides i brought of human organs as well. BB is keener than sb too. today we scraped off a bit of cheek cells, stained only with haemotoxylin, as i couldn’t find the eosin! and then looked under the fab microscope. we could clearly see the different cells, shapes and increased nucleus to cytoplasm ration, we discussed the comparison with our onion cells from before. i really love microscopes! by the end of this session, as long as i had mostly focused, quite a few of the kids were having there own go at fine tuning the focus, and we only broke a few coverslips! I love the microscope, and love seeing the nuclei appear – it is a bit of magic

we had lunch in between the swapping over of groups – scrumptious delumptious soup that zoe had made – carrot and courgette. really delicious . then, as we are gearing up for xmas camp we practiced singing some carols an xmas songs we me hamming up the piano part! fun! and then lots of crazy outdoor playing. SB had to have some medicine for her teeth, and BB for her wrist, which is still hurting . Then merry did the last fimo and jar craft in her series, which this time had a black covering over the whole jar and cutting out shapes and replacing with translucent fimo – v beautiful, I hadn’t thought of using the translucent like that.

finished with some bells practice and then since BB too sore to do judo we stayed for tea – a yummy curry, thanks em

the weather was fantastic, and really we should have done an out and about day, but it is remembramce sunday and SB was the guides flag/colour bearer. the village ceremony is alwyas well attended with a brass band service in the church. DH went with her this time, as BB prefered to remain at home.

WHilst they were out, we decided that we would craft she had wanted to play her new cello, but her wrist is far to hurting still and indeed it is bruised and tender the suspicious me wonders whether after all she has chipped or something a bone after all [tho i did look at xrays too. Choices were gardening, baking, crafting, lego, reading or k’nex. [she couldn't think of anything to do, the the roblox hours rules do seem to be having a postive outcome on her ability to think of something else to do] . where was i? oh yes, we crafted, and made fimo snakes to turninto charm necklaces as party favours for her birthday. she struggled with hurt hand to roll the fimo, so we had a production line, i softened it, rolled it, and she twisted the snake shape

SB and DH returned, and she finished off part B of her secret santa and then started a craft kit that she has had for a bit! Those that read the blog a lot know we heart djeco and this is a glittery kit and she happily did one. WHilst she did this, BB gave Alfie a bath, fed him lunch and he happily wandered about the conservatory in the warm.

SB and i then made dinner, she mostly made it with me facilitating and she made a lovely cheese and onion pie with roast potatoes and parsnips, and DH added some red cabbage . i have given up with pre cooking the pastry cases, and determined i don’t mind soggy bottoms [tho sb was chuntering about this ] and it was utterly delicious tho she did have to pop over to the onestop for double cream wearing her pj’s a pinny and a coat! [she got changed out of her guides smarts into pj's!]. both girls made some jam tarts with the spare pastry. SB also did some piano prac, and BB did crazy stunt dives onto cushions – at one point i thought we were in imminent danger of a broken neck so calmed the stunts down!

finished the day with merlin on the iplayer and then bedtime stories. lovely weekend

we are going on holiday with a group of friends in december, something we have done now for a number of years. it is always fun, and always worth doing and one of the traditions is secret santa, we all have one person to get an under £3, second hand, repurposed or home made gift for. Each year I have loved making the gifts, trying to think what might suit that person, their character, their hobbies etc. I must admit to always enjoying the giving most due to all the fun with the thinking and the making and the hoping! However, I have always received secret santas with great joy, knowing that they were all fashioned, refashioned etc with love and friendship. I wear my winter scarf every year the kids also secret santa, and this can sometimes be a mixed bag! so when i think we have been more ‘adventuresome’ than our talents, we have added chocolate coins! As the girls have got older, their talents are greater, and this year I am v impressed.

BB came up with her idea first, and we other 2 may have sorted ours out as well- DH is always an individual and last minute! SO we all sat together crafting in a not defined on here way happily. I am impressed with the girls thoughts, efforts and desired looks. Feeling i should get on with mine to, but missing an ‘ingredient’ so will start later in the week when have had a chance But of course, i can’t show anything on here, it would give the whole game away

having got so much crafty stuff out of the not quite so doomy room [thanks dh] we then also did assorted other crafting and ideas, but I can show you BB’s cat and owl

SB has nearly finished hers, BB has done half of it, I have started… However, SB and I also did a piano prac. all this music theory and then an out and about week means she has forgotten everything! never mind! hopefylly next week will be a bit more practisy and booky

i have had about 5 bites today [still hard to tell with so many covering me] and have a flea lamp thing as recommended plugged in. Being hopeful really

we finished off the day with watching snow white and the huntsman which we all enjoyed. the ending – the v v v end bit – was a bit odd and an anticlimax to finish the film on.