Sam loves lego bionicles and love nothing better than to make his own versions. Here are three of his latest.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Finally finished Grandpa!!
After an unprecedented three months Sam has finally finished the jedi star fighter with hyperbooster ring that grandpa and grandma gave him for xmas. It was the ring that held him up as it was very complicated but with a little daddy help it all came together.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Back in the saddle again..
and it is good to be back. I had to take a short blogging break due to the lack of a computer. My laptop came to a sad end after a glass of wine merged with the keyboard. Thankfully it was covered under the household insurance and I am now the proud owner of a fujitus siemens amilo. I have only had if half a day but apart from the fact that it is running vista it seems okay. All food and drink are banned from the immediate area as are drooling dogs! When rogue sees food he drools more than niagra falls in full flow.
The last couple weeks have been full of the usual kind of stuff-school work ,seeing friends, home ed group, drooling dogs and dsing. Both Sam and I went through a my sims phase, it is so addictive! Now we have both made it to level 4 we have cooled off it a bit, he is currently in warhammer mode and I am embarking on spring cleaning. M is working this weekend and I plan to blitz all of our clothes closets and if I am feeling really brave sam and I may tackle his room. He has run out of space to display his lego creations so an overhaul is in order.
The last couple weeks have been full of the usual kind of stuff-school work ,seeing friends, home ed group, drooling dogs and dsing. Both Sam and I went through a my sims phase, it is so addictive! Now we have both made it to level 4 we have cooled off it a bit, he is currently in warhammer mode and I am embarking on spring cleaning. M is working this weekend and I plan to blitz all of our clothes closets and if I am feeling really brave sam and I may tackle his room. He has run out of space to display his lego creations so an overhaul is in order.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Math made fun
Sam received a ds for his birthday and he has been glued to it ever since. His fav game is star wars but two days I finally managed to get him to play brain training. He is now hooked and will willingly play the math training exercises! This can't be the same boy who thinks the whole subject was created just to make his life a misery. He wants to get his brain age down below 80 and I am sure that after a few days playing he will be able to. He doesn't look on it as doing math though and is actually keen to do the adding and subtracting. A huge thank you to the inventor of the game-now if I can just get him off of it long enough so that I can get my brain age down!!
The week started off in a very relaxing fashion I spent sunday with the girls (my antenatal class friends) at eden hall day spa to celebrate two 40th bdays and the fact that we have been friends for 8 years now. I had never been to a day spa before so didn't know to expect. It was absolute heaven, I can't remember when I have spent such a relaxed and chilled day. We did a few exercise classes, had a very yummy lunch and lounged by the pool and in the saunas. It was great to catch up with the girls, none of us could quite believe that it has been 7 years since we all sat uncomfortable and pregnant in jesca's living room. M and Sam seemed to have survived the day without me okay, think they spent the day working on their warhammer board and mouching around.
The week started off in a very relaxing fashion I spent sunday with the girls (my antenatal class friends) at eden hall day spa to celebrate two 40th bdays and the fact that we have been friends for 8 years now. I had never been to a day spa before so didn't know to expect. It was absolute heaven, I can't remember when I have spent such a relaxed and chilled day. We did a few exercise classes, had a very yummy lunch and lounged by the pool and in the saunas. It was great to catch up with the girls, none of us could quite believe that it has been 7 years since we all sat uncomfortable and pregnant in jesca's living room. M and Sam seemed to have survived the day without me okay, think they spent the day working on their warhammer board and mouching around.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Separate but equally fun vacations
We are all back now having enjoyed two very different vacations. As you can see from the pics below M when to the arctic circle while sam and I went to florida. M went skiing with friends from work and by all accounts had a wonderful time. The photos show an amazing landscape and the stories he has to tell are very entertaining. He saw the northern lights which was quite a spectacle. He has said that the skiing was the best that he has ever experienced. This was very rugged skiing, they would ski up the mountain, often in virgin snow so that they could ski back down. It was very hard work by all accounts and M has the bruises to prove it!
Sam and I on the other hand had a much less taxing vacation in holt florida visiting my dad and stepmom. Holt is up in the panhandle, near pensacola, this part of florida is jokingly called lower alabama as it has a lot more in common with that state than it does central and southern florida. It is very rural and every second car was a pick up! Most of the houses are brick which you don't see in the rest of florida. In someways it reminded me very much of north carolina. It was wonderful to see dad and amy as we haven't seen them in almost two years. Sam was thrilled at getting to stay with grandpa and grandma for a week and when we weren't out doing things he and dad had fun just doing guy things like walking the dogs and messing with stuff. Dad had a bday party and invited my stepsister and her family as well as family friends whom I had not seen since we were all stationed in germany together. My childhood friends shawnee and tina were there and looked much like I remembered them, except that we are all now grown up! Tina has a 7 year old son, parker and he and sam had a ball. Together with sam's cousin hayden (5), the three were inseparable and spent the afternoon tumbling about like puppies. It was so nice to catch up with shawnee and tina, seems like just yesterday we were in grade school together. Sam really took to shanwee when he learned that she is a manager at target! His first words were "Can you get me a discount?"!! Thankfully she saw the funny side. Auntie C was able to come up and it was so good to see her and to catch up properly. She was only able to stay the weekend as she had to get back to work so it was a short but sweet visit.
Our week with dad went by very quickly-we went out on his friend joe's boat and were lucky enough to see dolphins, we went to the air force museum at eglin airforce base and the naval air museum at pensacola. The naval air museum was fantastic-fully of lots of shiny planes and fun things to do. If you ever get up to pensacola it is well worth a visit-www.navalaviationmuseum.org. We also did a bit of retail therapy-including three trips to target! If they ever open a store over here we will go bankrupt. Between target and the outlet mall sam and I managed to spend all of our bday money and have some nice things to show for it. He spent most of on lego (big shock I know) and games for his new DS lite. I bought some jewellery, clothes and books. Overall though the best part of the trip was being able to spend time with dad and amy-sam and I both enjoyed that the most. Thank you guys for a wonderful visit-we love you!!!
Sam and I on the other hand had a much less taxing vacation in holt florida visiting my dad and stepmom. Holt is up in the panhandle, near pensacola, this part of florida is jokingly called lower alabama as it has a lot more in common with that state than it does central and southern florida. It is very rural and every second car was a pick up! Most of the houses are brick which you don't see in the rest of florida. In someways it reminded me very much of north carolina. It was wonderful to see dad and amy as we haven't seen them in almost two years. Sam was thrilled at getting to stay with grandpa and grandma for a week and when we weren't out doing things he and dad had fun just doing guy things like walking the dogs and messing with stuff. Dad had a bday party and invited my stepsister and her family as well as family friends whom I had not seen since we were all stationed in germany together. My childhood friends shawnee and tina were there and looked much like I remembered them, except that we are all now grown up! Tina has a 7 year old son, parker and he and sam had a ball. Together with sam's cousin hayden (5), the three were inseparable and spent the afternoon tumbling about like puppies. It was so nice to catch up with shawnee and tina, seems like just yesterday we were in grade school together. Sam really took to shanwee when he learned that she is a manager at target! His first words were "Can you get me a discount?"!! Thankfully she saw the funny side. Auntie C was able to come up and it was so good to see her and to catch up properly. She was only able to stay the weekend as she had to get back to work so it was a short but sweet visit.
Our week with dad went by very quickly-we went out on his friend joe's boat and were lucky enough to see dolphins, we went to the air force museum at eglin airforce base and the naval air museum at pensacola. The naval air museum was fantastic-fully of lots of shiny planes and fun things to do. If you ever get up to pensacola it is well worth a visit-www.navalaviationmuseum.org. We also did a bit of retail therapy-including three trips to target! If they ever open a store over here we will go bankrupt. Between target and the outlet mall sam and I managed to spend all of our bday money and have some nice things to show for it. He spent most of on lego (big shock I know) and games for his new DS lite. I bought some jewellery, clothes and books. Overall though the best part of the trip was being able to spend time with dad and amy-sam and I both enjoyed that the most. Thank you guys for a wonderful visit-we love you!!!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
A very yummy birthday cake!
My little boy is now a grown up 7 year old and celebrated the day with a very yummy ice cream cake!
Taking the first bite!
The boys dived for the chocolate covered strawberries as soon as sam blew out the candles!
Hanging out with the blue angles
If you are ever in the panhandle do not miss the naval air museum, it is fantastic. It is fully of lots of pretty shiny planes, an Imax theater, a cool restaurant and what's more entry is free. Dad, Sam and I had a fun morning here but could easily have spent all day.
A boy's best friend
Dad's friend Joe took us out on his boat and sam and zeke the puppy were inseparable. Could be something to do with the fact that he kept feeding him corn chips!
Fresh tracks
This is what the mountain looked like after they all came down. M's tracks are on the right.
Amazing view
Just one of the amazing views that M saw on his trip. He had to ski up the mountain to see this, then skied back down to catch the boat back to the lodge.
Off out on an adventure
M is just back from his skiing trip to the arctic circle and he had a ball. He went with a group of friends from work and they stayed in a brand new lodge near Tromso in Norway. Each day a boat took them out to ski up and then down the nearby mountains. He was lucky enough to see the northern lights. He has said it was the best skiing he has ever experienced.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Posing at the Medici fountain
This was one of our last stops-amazingly that balloon made it all the way home.
Degas' Dancer
We did a whistle stop our of the Musee D'Orsay mainly to see the art deco rooms which of course where closed! Sam enjoyed seeing this young lady though.
A very rogue like pose
This is just what rogue looks like when he is attacking one of his stuffed animals!
Hanging out with the ancients
We made second more leisurely trip to the Louvre on our second day, mainly to see the Code of Hamurabi but as luck would have it it had been taken away for a special exhibition that wasn't yet open. We had to make due with these cool reliefs from the palace of Sargon.
looking impish again
Our second day started with a trip to Les Invalides where we saw Napoleon's tomb and tons and tons of armour and weapons. None of us had been before and it was well worth the visit, especially if you have a little boy who is into swords and spears and knights.
Medieval beauty
A very atmospheric shot taken by M, you would never know the place was teaming with people.
Stately Stained Glass
This is the main chapel at Sainte Chapelle, an amazing medieval church very close to Notre Dame.
The parents as taken by sam
Here we are after a very long day sightseeing-we had just finished our first trip to the Louvre and were off in search of dinner. We had been up since 4am which is why both M and I look shattered. Sam was still full of energy at this point! Must be something to do with all the chocolate I kept giving him.
Ready to leap
You would never know that just moments before he complained of being tired and needing to sit down for a rest!
Looking very impish
Here is Sam full of energy after a quick trip round the Louvre. Not sure which he enjoyed more, wandering in the museum or leaping on the pillars outside!
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Introducing his beaver pack to warhammer
Last night Sam completed his hobby badge by giving a short talk on warhammer to his beaver pack. He had spent a lot of time in the morning working on his presentation and even gave V & C a run through when they came over. I was very proud of him for standing up and talking so well to the group, he seemed so grown up!
Now how do I make hydrogen?
M and Sam have had lots of fun recently learning about the periodic table. Using marbles, fingers and the periodic chart, sam has learned about various elements and their isotopes and how to make them.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Sam's latest Craze..
is top gear. Ever since we discovered BBCiplayer and I showed him a clip of top gear he has been hooked. It is a sad day in our house if there is not a new episode to watch!! M and I enjoy watching it too and I think sam's fav bits are the cars as most of the humor goes over his head. Thank goodness we don't have a tv because there is a new channel called Dave that seems to show top gear almost non stop! Poor V knows all the words to every episode now as her dh and ds watch it all weekend!!
We have been very busy since my last post-visiting friends, home ed group, playing warhammer and delivering phone books. Formal school work has happened this week but there has also been lots of practical work-counting, writing and organising. Sam has been a huge help to V and I in delivering 549 phonebooks. He has been in charge of making sure we had enough books for each street and marking them off as they were delivered. He was such a big help and very patient! The nice sunny weather helped to make the job easier, not sure it would have been as much fun in the pouring rain!!
The theme for home ed group this week was china an chinese new year and I think everyone had fun. Between the three of us, V, C and I there were tons of activities for the children to and everyone had lots to take away with them at the end of the session. The biggest hits were the homemade kites, dragon headresses and the great wall made of sugar cubes. Children love making things from sugar cubes and suprisingly eat very few of the cubes while constructing!! I think that if we could fit them into every session the children wouldn't mind. The moms might thought as the mortar that holds them together (icing sugar and egg whites) is a pain to clean off the tables. The theme of the next session is toys and games and I am pretty sure that I won't be able to work them into that.
We are on a paris countdown here and are all very excited. We have drawn up a short list of places that we want to visit so that we don't miss anything out on our flying visit. I keep hoping that being the the glamorous setting of paris will help me to forget what a big birthday I have coming up. I can't possibly be as old as it says on my passport, I still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up!
We have been very busy since my last post-visiting friends, home ed group, playing warhammer and delivering phone books. Formal school work has happened this week but there has also been lots of practical work-counting, writing and organising. Sam has been a huge help to V and I in delivering 549 phonebooks. He has been in charge of making sure we had enough books for each street and marking them off as they were delivered. He was such a big help and very patient! The nice sunny weather helped to make the job easier, not sure it would have been as much fun in the pouring rain!!
The theme for home ed group this week was china an chinese new year and I think everyone had fun. Between the three of us, V, C and I there were tons of activities for the children to and everyone had lots to take away with them at the end of the session. The biggest hits were the homemade kites, dragon headresses and the great wall made of sugar cubes. Children love making things from sugar cubes and suprisingly eat very few of the cubes while constructing!! I think that if we could fit them into every session the children wouldn't mind. The moms might thought as the mortar that holds them together (icing sugar and egg whites) is a pain to clean off the tables. The theme of the next session is toys and games and I am pretty sure that I won't be able to work them into that.
We are on a paris countdown here and are all very excited. We have drawn up a short list of places that we want to visit so that we don't miss anything out on our flying visit. I keep hoping that being the the glamorous setting of paris will help me to forget what a big birthday I have coming up. I can't possibly be as old as it says on my passport, I still haven't figured out what I want to be when I grow up!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Happy Feburary!
Last week was a busy week here and it is hard to believe that is feb already. The week started off with our first syston home ed group of the year. Our theme was Winter and it was a very busy session. We had 19 families and about 35 children! Needless to say it was a very loud session, especially as a majority of the children were boys of between 4-8. One of the activities was to make a rain gauge out of 2L soda bottles, most of the boys however thought it was much more fun to use them as swords and light sabres. Despite all the sword play there was lots of concentrating and lots of learning going on and I think everyone had fun.
The rest of the week passed in a blurr-two trips into the city centre, one to do mystery jobs and the other so that sam could play warhammer. Despite not being an official game day he managed to find someone to play and beat them. I am not sure it was really a fair match though as the other boy was outnumbered two to one. In the end he conceded the match as sam had killed most of his army.
Sam and M had their first science lesson-M is teaching him all about the periodic table and the various elements. They used marbles to represent the protons, electrons and ions. Sam really enjoyed it had came away saying what great teacher daddy was and how much fun he made the lesson. They had their second lesson today and I think just as much fun was had. Today they looked at states of matter and hydrogen atoms I think.
This week promises to be even busier than last with visits to friends, birthday parties and lots of bits and pieces going on. I don't mind though as very soon the three of us will be drinking champagne as the eurostar whisks us to paris (okay sam won't be drinking champagne-he will have to settle for sparkling apple juice). I am being thoroughly spoilt this year as we are going to paris for two nights to celebrate my very big birthday. Maybe it won't seem so bad that way. I certainly don't feel old enough to be the number that I am about to be.
The rest of the week passed in a blurr-two trips into the city centre, one to do mystery jobs and the other so that sam could play warhammer. Despite not being an official game day he managed to find someone to play and beat them. I am not sure it was really a fair match though as the other boy was outnumbered two to one. In the end he conceded the match as sam had killed most of his army.
Sam and M had their first science lesson-M is teaching him all about the periodic table and the various elements. They used marbles to represent the protons, electrons and ions. Sam really enjoyed it had came away saying what great teacher daddy was and how much fun he made the lesson. They had their second lesson today and I think just as much fun was had. Today they looked at states of matter and hydrogen atoms I think.
This week promises to be even busier than last with visits to friends, birthday parties and lots of bits and pieces going on. I don't mind though as very soon the three of us will be drinking champagne as the eurostar whisks us to paris (okay sam won't be drinking champagne-he will have to settle for sparkling apple juice). I am being thoroughly spoilt this year as we are going to paris for two nights to celebrate my very big birthday. Maybe it won't seem so bad that way. I certainly don't feel old enough to be the number that I am about to be.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Two for the price of one!
Sam lost not one but two teeth on saturday and now has 4 gaps!! Just hope the bottom front ones don't go anytime soon or he won't have any teeth in the front.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Late nights, late mornings
have been the order of the day around here this week. Sam has decided that despite going to bed at a resonable hour he is going to keep himself awake until we come up to bed so that he can have extra snuggles. The only redeeming thing about this plan is that in order to pass the time he has been reading to himself-something that hasn't happened in ages. At first he was reading outloud to himself but now he is reading in his head-yipee! Maybe we have turned a corner and he will start reading for pleasure again. As a consequence of these late nights my early bird is turning into a stay in bed! I had to wake him up at 9am yesterday morning, an precedented event in this house. While I don't like him getting up so late it is nice to have a little time to myself in the mornings. Although I am always the first up and I not really a morning person and take a while to come to my senses.
The big discovery of the week has been bbc iplayer. As you know we don't have a tv and lately sam has started to wonder about things like blue peter and top gear. With a little bit of searching discovered bbc iplayer which allows us to watch bbc programmes on line and as long as we don't watch them as they are being broadcast we don't need a tv license-yippee! This week he has discovered Blue Peter, MI High, Top Gear (a big hit with him and M), Dog Borstall and Timewatch. We watched a really interesting programme on early jousting tournamets which resulted in him making grand plans to create a lance and learn to ride so that he can joust-you can imagine my response. This discovery is not going to turn us into telly addicts but is nice to know it is there to add a little variety to our day.
Sam is extraordinarily excited at the moment as he is going to spend the whole day tomorrow with his friend D. D and his parents are picking him up about 9:30 and then droping him off late afternoon. He is beside himself thinking of all the fun things that they are going to get up to. M and I are looking forward to a little parent time and are going get in a little retail therapy-more browsing than buying but it will be nice to look without a bored young man in tow.
We have had great fun this week with the periodic table-M is going to start teaching sam science on a tuesday morning and next week they are starting with the periodic table. Someone in the 50s set it to music (the tune of a mondern major general by gilbert & sullivan) so we have been learning that. We are up to line four and sam thinks it is the funniest thing out!
The big discovery of the week has been bbc iplayer. As you know we don't have a tv and lately sam has started to wonder about things like blue peter and top gear. With a little bit of searching discovered bbc iplayer which allows us to watch bbc programmes on line and as long as we don't watch them as they are being broadcast we don't need a tv license-yippee! This week he has discovered Blue Peter, MI High, Top Gear (a big hit with him and M), Dog Borstall and Timewatch. We watched a really interesting programme on early jousting tournamets which resulted in him making grand plans to create a lance and learn to ride so that he can joust-you can imagine my response. This discovery is not going to turn us into telly addicts but is nice to know it is there to add a little variety to our day.
Sam is extraordinarily excited at the moment as he is going to spend the whole day tomorrow with his friend D. D and his parents are picking him up about 9:30 and then droping him off late afternoon. He is beside himself thinking of all the fun things that they are going to get up to. M and I are looking forward to a little parent time and are going get in a little retail therapy-more browsing than buying but it will be nice to look without a bored young man in tow.
We have had great fun this week with the periodic table-M is going to start teaching sam science on a tuesday morning and next week they are starting with the periodic table. Someone in the 50s set it to music (the tune of a mondern major general by gilbert & sullivan) so we have been learning that. We are up to line four and sam thinks it is the funniest thing out!
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Hard at work
Our friend C organized a session on the body at Wollaton Hall for our home ed group. The children all had lots of fun and the session was interesting and engaging. This is sam drawing an animal bone, not sure which one.
The completed batmobile
This is the fabled batmobile that took sam almost a week to put together. It was fiendishly complicated and the pieces took over the dining room table. I am very proud of him for sticking with it and finishing it, it look amazing!
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Happy Birthday!!!
A very big happy birthday to my dear M! Hope you have a wonderful day!! As he has the day off we plan to go to a Japanese restaurant for lunch-we are all looking forward to it, especially Sam who is convinced that we ought to take the dogs as they are japanese. Somehow I don't think they will be very welcome, Rogue does not have the best table manners.
We had a lovely bday lunch with M's parents at the weekend.It was nice to catch up with them and Sam really enjoyed playing warhammer with daddy and grandad while I cooked. He beat them but I am not sure that he was playing by the rules! As usual the dogs were overjoyed to see nana and grandad, in fact, I am not sure who gets more excited when the car pulls up, them or sam! Miko and Rogue were pawing at the window and rogue was whining like crazy until they came in the door. Mid afternoon we took them out for a walk to get rogue a new halti has he has seriously outgrown his old one.
We had a lovely bday lunch with M's parents at the weekend.It was nice to catch up with them and Sam really enjoyed playing warhammer with daddy and grandad while I cooked. He beat them but I am not sure that he was playing by the rules! As usual the dogs were overjoyed to see nana and grandad, in fact, I am not sure who gets more excited when the car pulls up, them or sam! Miko and Rogue were pawing at the window and rogue was whining like crazy until they came in the door. Mid afternoon we took them out for a walk to get rogue a new halti has he has seriously outgrown his old one.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Cover your ears..
Sam has just started to learn to play the recorder and also has plans for the guitar!! He has become interested in music lately and in tidying up his room rediscovered the recorder my in laws gave him a couple of christmases ago that combined with the usborne first recorder tunes book I just happened to have made him want to learn to play. We are also starting to read music and he is fascinated with the idea that you could use music notes to write secret codes. His playing is improving but is still very challenging to listen to! I think I have my old flute up in the loft so will go on a search this weekend. We could play a duet-heaven help M and the neighbors!!
It has been a slow start back to school work, he is still working through his xmas lego and would much rather be doing that. I think the batmobile is finally nearing completion and when it is done it is going up out of the way so it can't be broken, talk about a labor of love! It is for ages 10-12 and it has really challenged sam, something I thought was impossible when it comes to lego.
M was off wednesday afternoon so we went bowling. We all had fun but got beaten by a certain young man. It wasn't fair really as he was using the ball roll instead of rolling the ball himself. We played two games and he got strikes in both, complete with victory dance after each! Next time no ball roll for him! I did manage a couple of spares but also lots of gutter balls, guess I won't be on the olympic team.
It has been a slow start back to school work, he is still working through his xmas lego and would much rather be doing that. I think the batmobile is finally nearing completion and when it is done it is going up out of the way so it can't be broken, talk about a labor of love! It is for ages 10-12 and it has really challenged sam, something I thought was impossible when it comes to lego.
M was off wednesday afternoon so we went bowling. We all had fun but got beaten by a certain young man. It wasn't fair really as he was using the ball roll instead of rolling the ball himself. We played two games and he got strikes in both, complete with victory dance after each! Next time no ball roll for him! I did manage a couple of spares but also lots of gutter balls, guess I won't be on the olympic team.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Don't Blink!
This weekend we went to a Doctor Who exhibit at the National Space Centre in Leicester. They had monsters and costumes from several of the past series and we all enjoyed wandering around. It was a small exhibit but worth seeing especially as we used our tesco vouchers to get into the Space Centre.
Is the Doctor in?
We were all hoping that the doctor would come out and invite us on an adventure, sadly he wasn't home.
Exterminate
This bit was really cool, it moves around until it finds someone who is not worthy and exterminates them (not really of course!!)
Frank
RIP Frank. Our Oscar named frank died this weekend, he was very old for a fish and was a very interesting member of the family. He will be greatly missed.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Happy New Year!!
Just wanted to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous 2008!!! We are seeing the new year in quietly with a family movie marathon. M doesn't have to work tomorrow so we are going to try and make it up to midnight. We just finished tomb raider 2 and are now on to one of the star wars epics-not sure which number but it is the one in the snow with luke, leah and han. Provided we are all still awake I think night at the museum is next.
I don't do new years resolutions so I am not going to make a long list of promises here that I know I won't keep. Instead, I am going to do my best to make 2008 a happy and fun year for us. With aims that broad I should have a fighting chance at succeeding.
Apart from a few blips it has been a good year, there have been some losses but we have also gained-a new dog, a new home ed group and lots of new friends. I hope we are able to say the same at the end of 2008 ( all except the new dog thing! Three dogs would be way too many).
However you choose to celebrate tonight have a wonderful time and best wishes for a wonderful 2008!!
I don't do new years resolutions so I am not going to make a long list of promises here that I know I won't keep. Instead, I am going to do my best to make 2008 a happy and fun year for us. With aims that broad I should have a fighting chance at succeeding.
Apart from a few blips it has been a good year, there have been some losses but we have also gained-a new dog, a new home ed group and lots of new friends. I hope we are able to say the same at the end of 2008 ( all except the new dog thing! Three dogs would be way too many).
However you choose to celebrate tonight have a wonderful time and best wishes for a wonderful 2008!!
puppy cousins
And you thought our dogs were big! My stepsister and niece with dad's afghan hounds, abe and j.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Lego, lego everywhere..
It has been lego mad here in the last few days. Sam has been busy building the bat cave as well as star wars lego and he isn't done yet. I think tomorrow he is tackling the batmobile. It has been a lovely christmas week, lots of lovely presents, lots of family and friends and lots (perhaps too much food and drink).
Christmas and Boxing day were lovely, xmas day it was just the three of us and boxing day M's parents came up. Christmas day started at a fairly decent 7 am with the first wave of presents, followed by breakfast, dog walking and more presents. Thanks to St. Mary and St. Martha the goose was cooked to perfection (or perfection for me) and we all ate so well that we forgot about the xmas pudding! Santa was very good to us all, especially me-I received beautiful jewellery from M as well as nice smellies from sam and the doggies. Sam was blessed with lots of lego and warhammer as well as games and cds. Santa brought M an iphone and he has spent most of this week learning to drive it. The pups received a bumper pack of toys and treats, most of the toys were shredded within a matter of hours!!!
Boxing day M's parents came up and we had a second christmas, this time with beef.It was a very jolly day and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did.
We managed to see golden compass and were bitterly disapointed. Having both read the book and listened to the audio book we all felt that the movie did not live up the original story. I think if you saw the movie without having read the book it would probably be a good fantasy adventure but if you have read the book prepare to be disapointed.
This weekend saw the launch of sam's new radio controlled boat (thank you nan and grandad!)It sails really well and both boys had fun, despite having to retrive it from the reeds several times. Unfortunately we were so busy having fun that we didn't get any pics! Next time I promise.
Saturday we went to lunch at sam's friend J's house. It was a very nice way to spend the afternoon. All the adults had a good natter while the boys played, mainly on J's new Wii. Sam had a go at boxing and he was sweating by the end of it. M had a go too and I am not sure who enjoyed it more. I have a feeling that "I want a Wii" is now going to be a constant refrain in our house now.
Christmas and Boxing day were lovely, xmas day it was just the three of us and boxing day M's parents came up. Christmas day started at a fairly decent 7 am with the first wave of presents, followed by breakfast, dog walking and more presents. Thanks to St. Mary and St. Martha the goose was cooked to perfection (or perfection for me) and we all ate so well that we forgot about the xmas pudding! Santa was very good to us all, especially me-I received beautiful jewellery from M as well as nice smellies from sam and the doggies. Sam was blessed with lots of lego and warhammer as well as games and cds. Santa brought M an iphone and he has spent most of this week learning to drive it. The pups received a bumper pack of toys and treats, most of the toys were shredded within a matter of hours!!!
Boxing day M's parents came up and we had a second christmas, this time with beef.It was a very jolly day and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves as much as I did.
We managed to see golden compass and were bitterly disapointed. Having both read the book and listened to the audio book we all felt that the movie did not live up the original story. I think if you saw the movie without having read the book it would probably be a good fantasy adventure but if you have read the book prepare to be disapointed.
This weekend saw the launch of sam's new radio controlled boat (thank you nan and grandad!)It sails really well and both boys had fun, despite having to retrive it from the reeds several times. Unfortunately we were so busy having fun that we didn't get any pics! Next time I promise.
Saturday we went to lunch at sam's friend J's house. It was a very nice way to spend the afternoon. All the adults had a good natter while the boys played, mainly on J's new Wii. Sam had a go at boxing and he was sweating by the end of it. M had a go too and I am not sure who enjoyed it more. I have a feeling that "I want a Wii" is now going to be a constant refrain in our house now.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
tuckered out
Miko as taken by daddy on his new iphone. The dogs had a hard day playing and waiting for sam to drop goose from the table.
warhammer!
Sam was pleased to find that santa brought him two warhammer sets. He and M have now assembled them both and no doubt will paint them in the comming days.
One for daddy
Here is daddy opening his present from the dogs. It was a magnifying lamp for painting his warhammer figures.
merry christmas pups!
Santa didn't forget the doggies, here is sam presenting miko with their bumper pack of toys. Unfortunately all of the fluffy toys are now shredded and the squeekers from the squeekie toys are long gone. They had a good time though, playing with everything.
wow!
The theme of the morning was definately lego. Sam was in heaven and will be putting things together for days to come.
Monday, December 24, 2007
It goes there dad
Sam and M putting together lego from Nan. We met Nan and Auntie S on saturday for a pre-xmas lunch. It was lovely to see them.
The boys and girls together for xmas
We met up with the boys for our annual xmas party on friday and we all had a blast. It was lovely to see everyone and catch up on all the news. We couldn't believe that it has been 7 years since we first met at our antenatal class, time really does fly.
The stockings are hung..
well almost! The boy and the dogs have hung their stockings but we grown ups are lagging a bit behind. Apart from picking up the goose and a couple of things that I couldn't find at tesco yesterday we are done. The boys very kindly accompanied me shopping yesterday, we took a divide and conquer attitude-I split the list into 4 and we each took two parts. M and sam did a fantastic job with their half and we got everything done in record time. The store was almost empty when we arrived but by the time we left it was heaving. Today we plan to spend cooking and relaxing and with any luck we will get to our annual xmas movie. We are all keen to see Golden Compass provided daddy isn't kept too late at work. He is supposed to work late but we are hoping that the list will be short and quiet and he can sneak away.
In case I don't get time to blog later hope you all have a wonderful christmas and that santa is good to you all!!!!!!
In case I don't get time to blog later hope you all have a wonderful christmas and that santa is good to you all!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Gap Boy..Again!
Sam has now lost his third tooth, well not so much lost as daddy assisted extraction. He wiggled it to the point of dropping out and when it wouldn't budge he had M pull it out. This all happened at the bowling alley while waiting for the beaver bowling night to begin. He ran off excitedly to show all his friends his new gap. Despite being told that the tooth fairy was extremely busy and may not be able to manage a hot wheel car but may bring a pound instead he was still bitterly disapointed when he found said pound under his pillow. Our first errand of the day was to wilkinson so he could buy a car!
It has been a jam packed week, starting with a bday party on sunday followed by home ed xmas party and beaver bowling on monday, costco yesterday and the movies today. Tomorrow we are doing more baking and then friday we are meeting up with the boys for our annual xmas get together. By the time tuesday finally comes we are going to be shattered.
Today we went to see Enchanted. I have to confess that I was surprised that he wanted to see it as a) it is disney and b) it involves princesses, I think the clip where the prince stabs a bus and the bus driver tells him off was what sold it. We both really enjoyed the movie, though I did have to explain a lot of the references to older movies like sleeping beauty and cinderella. It was really funny and of course, had a happy ending. A thumbs up from both of us.
Am feeling very pleased with myself because for the first time ever all the present are bought, all the cards are sent and most of the food is organised. All we have left to do is decorate and start the food that can be done ahead of time. We have decided to have goose this year for a change and I am looking forward to the challenge. I have vowed not to do it what I did to the turkey last year, ie turn it to dust. This year it will probably go the other way and be under done! At least this year we have rogue and he will help with any leftovers.
It has been a jam packed week, starting with a bday party on sunday followed by home ed xmas party and beaver bowling on monday, costco yesterday and the movies today. Tomorrow we are doing more baking and then friday we are meeting up with the boys for our annual xmas get together. By the time tuesday finally comes we are going to be shattered.
Today we went to see Enchanted. I have to confess that I was surprised that he wanted to see it as a) it is disney and b) it involves princesses, I think the clip where the prince stabs a bus and the bus driver tells him off was what sold it. We both really enjoyed the movie, though I did have to explain a lot of the references to older movies like sleeping beauty and cinderella. It was really funny and of course, had a happy ending. A thumbs up from both of us.
Am feeling very pleased with myself because for the first time ever all the present are bought, all the cards are sent and most of the food is organised. All we have left to do is decorate and start the food that can be done ahead of time. We have decided to have goose this year for a change and I am looking forward to the challenge. I have vowed not to do it what I did to the turkey last year, ie turn it to dust. This year it will probably go the other way and be under done! At least this year we have rogue and he will help with any leftovers.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Getting there...slowly
the only bad thing about xmas shopping on line is the waiting! Everything is now ordered and am just waiting for it all to either be delivered here or to its recipients. I just hope that everything arrives in time and that I have not placed too much faith in the postal service!!
We have had a very snotty week as both sam and I have colds. Yesterday we spent sunuggled on the sofa watching dvds and napping. Today we made it to french but sam's snuffles are getting worse so not sure what the weekend will hold. At least we are getting all our bugs out of the way before xmas, there is nothing worse than feeling under the weather on xmas day.
Not so much formal schooling this week, though we are now up to date on our raddish project and sam has started Singapore Math 3A which is designed for third graders. He is taking it all in his stride and hasn't batted an eyelid at progessing to the thousands column.
We spent last weekend at M's parents to help his mother celebrate her birthday. We had a lovely time and they were gracious enough to not mind that the dogs covered their kitchen floor in mud! It rained all weekend and everytime the dogs came in they were covered in mud. We got to see my sil, bil and my nephews. It was lovely to catch up with them as we hadn't seen them since september. One of the hits of the weekend was watching everyone play on the pedalo that I got from my friend C who has a great website: www.thewoodentoycompany.com. Everyone had fun attempting to stay balanced and all of the boys were great. Will post a few photos once I have downloaded them.
Managed to persuade sam to watch high school musical 2 and surprise, surprise he enjoyed it! I expected lots of protesting as it doesn't involve super heros and saving the world but he really liked it. He went to bed trying to create the perfect musical with our dogs! Not sure how muscial Rogue is but Miko is very chatty! He even asked if we could rent the first high school musical. If only high school had really been like high school musical I would have had a lot more fun, then again maybe not I would have been too concerned about my gpa to let my hair down.
We have had a very snotty week as both sam and I have colds. Yesterday we spent sunuggled on the sofa watching dvds and napping. Today we made it to french but sam's snuffles are getting worse so not sure what the weekend will hold. At least we are getting all our bugs out of the way before xmas, there is nothing worse than feeling under the weather on xmas day.
Not so much formal schooling this week, though we are now up to date on our raddish project and sam has started Singapore Math 3A which is designed for third graders. He is taking it all in his stride and hasn't batted an eyelid at progessing to the thousands column.
We spent last weekend at M's parents to help his mother celebrate her birthday. We had a lovely time and they were gracious enough to not mind that the dogs covered their kitchen floor in mud! It rained all weekend and everytime the dogs came in they were covered in mud. We got to see my sil, bil and my nephews. It was lovely to catch up with them as we hadn't seen them since september. One of the hits of the weekend was watching everyone play on the pedalo that I got from my friend C who has a great website: www.thewoodentoycompany.com. Everyone had fun attempting to stay balanced and all of the boys were great. Will post a few photos once I have downloaded them.
Managed to persuade sam to watch high school musical 2 and surprise, surprise he enjoyed it! I expected lots of protesting as it doesn't involve super heros and saving the world but he really liked it. He went to bed trying to create the perfect musical with our dogs! Not sure how muscial Rogue is but Miko is very chatty! He even asked if we could rent the first high school musical. If only high school had really been like high school musical I would have had a lot more fun, then again maybe not I would have been too concerned about my gpa to let my hair down.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
So what is your penguin called?
Sam's latest obession is Club Penguin,(www.clubpeguin.com) it is a huge craze among his age group and everyone we know seems to be playing. It is a online game, where you are a penguin and you play games to earn coins to decorate your igloo, buy pets called puffles, buy clothes and generally hang out. Sam is completely penguin mad and has spent all his computer time the last few days playing games to earn enough money to upgrade his igloo. Apparently he and his 4 puffles were too crowded so they have now gone upmarket and have a split level igloo. His next purchase is disco flooring! At first I was a little wary of him playing an online community game for fear of who might be lurking out there but it is very safe. He only goes on the ultra safe server where they can only say set phrases and it is heavily moderated. Users are reminded everytime they log in to never give out personal details to anyone. He really enjoys the games and if nothing else it has taught him a little about the value of saving up. While saving up the 4600 coins necessary for the new igloo he had to forgo the temptation of getting yet another puffle! It is nice to see him enjoy a game that does not involve world conquest for a change!
Home ed group on monday was chaotic but fun. Our theme was holiday celebrations and it was one big make and do fest. All the children came away covered in glitter and tissue paper, all except sam who spent most of his time making fimo creations.
Yesterday we had an outing to the botanical gardens, it had been arranged by one of the moms in our group and we did a special christmas activity trail. The children got to investigate the plants and foods that go into making christmas. Sam's fav part, you will be surprise to learn was getting to eat chocolate. We saw a coco plant and the children learned about chocolate production and got to sample some! It was a fun morning out and it gave us a chance to meet some new families.
Today I have had a poorly boy on my hands. I got up extra early to do transcribing work and it wasn't long before he came padding down. He hadn't been down long when he threw up for the first time. He has subsequently spent the rest of the day snuggled either in bed or on the sofa. We watched Miracle on 34th Street to get us into the holiday mood and to take his mind off of being poorly. I hope he perks up tomorrow it, it is not nice seeing him poorly. The dogs were very understanding and spent most of the day snuggled up with him.
The xmas gifts have started arriving thick and fast and I have almost done all the children on my list, if only the grown ups were so easy to buy for! I hope everyone likes what we have chosen, sam has put a lot of thought and care into choosing everything.
Home ed group on monday was chaotic but fun. Our theme was holiday celebrations and it was one big make and do fest. All the children came away covered in glitter and tissue paper, all except sam who spent most of his time making fimo creations.
Yesterday we had an outing to the botanical gardens, it had been arranged by one of the moms in our group and we did a special christmas activity trail. The children got to investigate the plants and foods that go into making christmas. Sam's fav part, you will be surprise to learn was getting to eat chocolate. We saw a coco plant and the children learned about chocolate production and got to sample some! It was a fun morning out and it gave us a chance to meet some new families.
Today I have had a poorly boy on my hands. I got up extra early to do transcribing work and it wasn't long before he came padding down. He hadn't been down long when he threw up for the first time. He has subsequently spent the rest of the day snuggled either in bed or on the sofa. We watched Miracle on 34th Street to get us into the holiday mood and to take his mind off of being poorly. I hope he perks up tomorrow it, it is not nice seeing him poorly. The dogs were very understanding and spent most of the day snuggled up with him.
The xmas gifts have started arriving thick and fast and I have almost done all the children on my list, if only the grown ups were so easy to buy for! I hope everyone likes what we have chosen, sam has put a lot of thought and care into choosing everything.
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