Today was sam's third day of tennis and while the novelty is wearing off slightly he is still enjoying it. He is so eager and keen to try but he still only managed to get it over the net once today. It hasn't discouraged him though, he still marches up when it is his turn full of confince. I am a bit disapointed that the instructors have not been more hands on. This is a beginners class, not once have they been shown how to hold a racket or swing properly. I have tried my best to show my but has many of you out there know my tennis abilities are severely lacking. We had a go when we got home with a tennis ball and the rackets from his swing ball set and I think he is starting to catch on. I am very proud that he hasn't given up (because I know that I would have) and that he is still keen to joing a tennis club and do it on a regular basis. I have emailed the local tennis club about classes and hopefully they will have a spot for him.
He has really enjoyed the activies we have done through the council so will be on the look out for them at half term and the xmas break. We haven't gotten to know anyone new but at least he has had the opportunity to play lots of sports and meet a few new faces.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Sunday, August 20, 2006
Sportsman of the week..
goes to young sam who has now played cricket, rugby, badminton and golf with tennis to come next week. Not to mention is weekly swimming lesson. So far he has enjoyed badminton the best, which surprised me as I thought he would really like ruby. I think he was put off by the fact it was tag rugby and he couldn't just go around tackling people at will. Once he has finished tennis next week we have said that he can choose one other activity (other than swimming) to do on a weekly basis. We have managed to find swimming lessons, though not sadly at the pool he is currently at. There the waiting list is about a year long! He will have to wear a swimming cap at these new lessons which he is not that keen on but he has no choice.
The week disapeared in a haze of sporting activities and thunderstorms. Managed to get caught in the bad one on thursday as we went into the sports hall for cricket. When we left two hours later my jeans were still soaking wet! Friday we went back to pborough for the dentist and to get the car serviced-luckily both had reasonable out comes. Managed to meet up with two of the boys which was delightful. Sam played for all he was worth and was on such a high that he didn't stop nattering the whole way home. With any luck we should be seeing all the boys at the beginning of sept before they go back to school.
A quiet weekend-we popped into the city centre yesterday to look for fil's bday present. Spent some time wandering aroundthe lanes-could be a very dangerous place to go shopping! lots of lovely stores-so mustn't go there without a sam escort. He is my voice of reason and will say "mummy you are not supposed to buy anything remember" So young and so wise. The boys bought an airfix model of the stealth bomber and spent the evening putting it together. I think all they have to do now is paint it.
Just pottered today-had a very lazy start to the day with a magic school bus marathon on dvd while we all snuggled under the duvet.
Busy week next week with tennis 4 out of the 5 days. It is in the afternoon though so no rushing out the door at the crack of dawn thankfully. Plan to spend the morning doing normals and the afternoon wearing sam out. sounds like a good combination.
The week disapeared in a haze of sporting activities and thunderstorms. Managed to get caught in the bad one on thursday as we went into the sports hall for cricket. When we left two hours later my jeans were still soaking wet! Friday we went back to pborough for the dentist and to get the car serviced-luckily both had reasonable out comes. Managed to meet up with two of the boys which was delightful. Sam played for all he was worth and was on such a high that he didn't stop nattering the whole way home. With any luck we should be seeing all the boys at the beginning of sept before they go back to school.
A quiet weekend-we popped into the city centre yesterday to look for fil's bday present. Spent some time wandering aroundthe lanes-could be a very dangerous place to go shopping! lots of lovely stores-so mustn't go there without a sam escort. He is my voice of reason and will say "mummy you are not supposed to buy anything remember" So young and so wise. The boys bought an airfix model of the stealth bomber and spent the evening putting it together. I think all they have to do now is paint it.
Just pottered today-had a very lazy start to the day with a magic school bus marathon on dvd while we all snuggled under the duvet.
Busy week next week with tennis 4 out of the 5 days. It is in the afternoon though so no rushing out the door at the crack of dawn thankfully. Plan to spend the morning doing normals and the afternoon wearing sam out. sounds like a good combination.
Tagged by Merry
1. One home schooling book you have enjoyed. Any of john holt's books. They really made me stop and think about the way children learn and the education system.
2. One resource you wouldn't be without: The Internet without a doubt.
3. One resource you wish you hadn't bought: Easy-Muzzy. To expensive, too dull and not at all fun.
4. One reasource you enjoyed last year: Young Scientist Club. A firm favorite with us all.
5. One resource you will be using next year: sonlight core 1.
6. One resouce you would like to buy: The entire inventory of amazon! Would like to buy a proper microscope and the set of minimus story books.
7. One resouce you wish exsisted: Friend in a box. For those times when sam is desparate to play with someone and I am not good enough.
8. One catalogue you like reading: Sonlight and Rainbow Resouces
9. One website you use: Google! We goole whenever we have a question we can't answer-which is a lot!
I tag:
Chris/Helen
Elaine
Jax
2. One resource you wouldn't be without: The Internet without a doubt.
3. One resource you wish you hadn't bought: Easy-Muzzy. To expensive, too dull and not at all fun.
4. One reasource you enjoyed last year: Young Scientist Club. A firm favorite with us all.
5. One resource you will be using next year: sonlight core 1.
6. One resouce you would like to buy: The entire inventory of amazon! Would like to buy a proper microscope and the set of minimus story books.
7. One resouce you wish exsisted: Friend in a box. For those times when sam is desparate to play with someone and I am not good enough.
8. One catalogue you like reading: Sonlight and Rainbow Resouces
9. One website you use: Google! We goole whenever we have a question we can't answer-which is a lot!
I tag:
Chris/Helen
Elaine
Jax
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
All round sportsman
that's my boy-or maybe not. Today he went to a tag rugby session and from where I sat it looked like he was having fun but when I asked him afterword if he had enjoyed himself he wasn't sure. I think he enjoyed the running around and the throwing and catching the ball, what I think he can't get his head around is being part of a team. He played well with the other boys and wasn't shy or subduded, he just hasn't grasped the concept of working together for a common goal-at least not in this context. We do team work at home all the time-but not in a sports context. Maybe the whole competitive thing is throwing him-he wants the ball and to do the running and doesn't quite get that he is there to help the other members of his team not work against them. I know it will come in time. Tomorrow is cricket so it will be interesting to see if he is starting to develop a bit more of a team spirit. Next week is tennis so it will be interesting to see which he prefers-team sports or solitary ones.
The last few days have been nice-way back on saturday my friend M and her family came to spend the day with us. The children spent their time alternating between lego and playmobil while the grown ups got to have a good gossip and I got lots of cuddles with my goddaughter. We had a wonderful time with them, we just wished that they were closer so we could see more of them. Despite only being in touch sporadically over the last 15 years we seem to have been able to pick up right where we left off which is so nice. I hope that sam is able to keep up with all his friends in the years to come as good friends are so important in life.
Tuesday we met my sil and nephews in pborough for some quality play time at activity world-everyone including the grown ups were well pooped by the time we left! After leaving them we met up with Fiona and her children at the maize maze near oundle. it was so tricky!! Even with a map I was afraid that we were going to have to set up camp there for the night! thanks to fiona's good map reading we managed to make it out. It was really good fun and there is one by the same designer near to leicester so i think we will have to have a family trip there soon. I will send the boys in while I settle down with a good book. should be worth at least an hour of mommy time!
Can't remember if I posted that our new books from sonlight have arrived. Sam was so excited you would have thought it was xmas. The read alouds and science books look great as does everything really. He will be working at a first grade level for most things, except for sciecne where we are already up to second grade. Can't believe how fast our first official year has flown by. We have accomplished just about everything that we set out to do and hopefully have had fun along the way. Today we finished 1st grade science, so it is just as well that the books arrived when they did.
The last few days have been nice-way back on saturday my friend M and her family came to spend the day with us. The children spent their time alternating between lego and playmobil while the grown ups got to have a good gossip and I got lots of cuddles with my goddaughter. We had a wonderful time with them, we just wished that they were closer so we could see more of them. Despite only being in touch sporadically over the last 15 years we seem to have been able to pick up right where we left off which is so nice. I hope that sam is able to keep up with all his friends in the years to come as good friends are so important in life.
Tuesday we met my sil and nephews in pborough for some quality play time at activity world-everyone including the grown ups were well pooped by the time we left! After leaving them we met up with Fiona and her children at the maize maze near oundle. it was so tricky!! Even with a map I was afraid that we were going to have to set up camp there for the night! thanks to fiona's good map reading we managed to make it out. It was really good fun and there is one by the same designer near to leicester so i think we will have to have a family trip there soon. I will send the boys in while I settle down with a good book. should be worth at least an hour of mommy time!
Can't remember if I posted that our new books from sonlight have arrived. Sam was so excited you would have thought it was xmas. The read alouds and science books look great as does everything really. He will be working at a first grade level for most things, except for sciecne where we are already up to second grade. Can't believe how fast our first official year has flown by. We have accomplished just about everything that we set out to do and hopefully have had fun along the way. Today we finished 1st grade science, so it is just as well that the books arrived when they did.
Friday, August 11, 2006
Out of the mouth of babes..
We went to pborough this afternoon for a mudpud picnic. It was great to see everyone and to meet a new family-they have a 6 yo son so sam was delighted. While in the park we ran into three other people we knew and in the end several of the mudpud children ended up playing cricket with sam's friend peter and his familly. What made it so nice was that we were in a place that we know and love with friends we know and care about-everything and everyone was familiar. It felt comfortable and relaxed. On the way home sam said exactly what i was thinking "It was like old times mommy" and it was. We love our new home and our new life here but we are sorely missing our friends and all our old familiar places. It isn't as if we saw our friends everyday or even every week but the idea that they were only a few minutes away was a comfort. We could ring someone up for an impromptu play where as now it involves lots of planning and a full day out. I know that in time things will be as familiar and comfortable here I don't think I realised though just how hard a process it was going to be. I should have, we lived in pborough for 13 years, these friends and familiarity did not happen over night.
All in all it has been a good week. Sam has enjoyed the two badminton classes and doesn't appear to have inherited by lack of coordination! He is all excited about cricket and rugby next week-though I imagine that he will be disapointed when he learns that it is tag rugby rather than full body tackling.
I think that his reading confidence is growing. He has always loved books but now he is actually starting to read them to himself rather than just looking at the pictures. He called down night before last to let me know that he had read a book all by himself. It was a ladybird-peter and jane book and I was amazed. Although he can read harder things and he does during our daily reading sessions he doesn't usually read to himself. Tonight he volunteered to read me some Dick and Jane stories (the american version of peter and jane)-he even went and got the book! As his confidence grows hopefully he will start to pick up more challenging things-things I know that he is capable of but wouldn't try on his own.
Tomorrow is the big day-H &F are comming and we are both excited. Playmobil world is awaiting their arrival, though it may need a few last minute adjustments as a tornado swept through there is morning. You will all be relieved to here though that the cats, rabbits and mice are okay as they drove off on the bus to go and shelter in the recycle truck! Hope the weather is better tomorrow.
All in all it has been a good week. Sam has enjoyed the two badminton classes and doesn't appear to have inherited by lack of coordination! He is all excited about cricket and rugby next week-though I imagine that he will be disapointed when he learns that it is tag rugby rather than full body tackling.
I think that his reading confidence is growing. He has always loved books but now he is actually starting to read them to himself rather than just looking at the pictures. He called down night before last to let me know that he had read a book all by himself. It was a ladybird-peter and jane book and I was amazed. Although he can read harder things and he does during our daily reading sessions he doesn't usually read to himself. Tonight he volunteered to read me some Dick and Jane stories (the american version of peter and jane)-he even went and got the book! As his confidence grows hopefully he will start to pick up more challenging things-things I know that he is capable of but wouldn't try on his own.
Tomorrow is the big day-H &F are comming and we are both excited. Playmobil world is awaiting their arrival, though it may need a few last minute adjustments as a tornado swept through there is morning. You will all be relieved to here though that the cats, rabbits and mice are okay as they drove off on the bus to go and shelter in the recycle truck! Hope the weather is better tomorrow.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Fore!
The golf session went well today-there were probably about 15 children between 5-7 and sam fit right in. He was a little shy at first but once he had been there a little while he blossomed. I sat in the car and read so that I was there if he needed me but not involved so that he could enjoy the experience on his own. He came back buzzing with excitement saying how much fun he had had even though his team had not won. They split the children into two teams and had them play various hitting and relay games with child size clubs and balls. Hopefully this means he will be just as ease tomorrow at badminton. I may be evil mommy and once he is settled in sneak off for a run.
After golf we came home for lunch then headed out for Ashby de la Zouch castle. It is only about half an hour away and it was our first trip. Sam had a ball exploring the ruins and running back and forth down the secret passage way. He asked lots of interesting questions, and is taken with my sad past time of spot the ancient graffitti. he was scouring the walls for the writings of the tourists of yore. We were excited to find one dated as early as 1703, only about 60 years after the castle was destroyed in the civil war. I know it is a sad hobby but I got hooked on it when visiting ancient monuments in the med and egypt.
English Heritage ( who run the site) are currently undertaking a small archaeological excavation to understand the gardens better. Sam was excited to see real archaeologist at work (what am I, chopped liver-he has seen me dig in the garden) and I had to explain everything they were doing. He was very disapointed that they wouldn't let him help-he was keen to get out there with his trowel or better yet pickaxe. The finds weren't very spectacular but then you wouldn't expect much in the garden area. In anycase they weren't looking for finds but rather to understand the layout of the now vanished gardens better. I must look to see if there is a local fieldwork group that allows children to participate. I don't think that he can join the young archaeologist club until he is a bit older.
Another game of monopoly after dinner tonight-he is becoming quite a monopoly fiend. He won tonight and took way too much pleasure in beating me. Tomorrow night victory will be mine!
After golf we came home for lunch then headed out for Ashby de la Zouch castle. It is only about half an hour away and it was our first trip. Sam had a ball exploring the ruins and running back and forth down the secret passage way. He asked lots of interesting questions, and is taken with my sad past time of spot the ancient graffitti. he was scouring the walls for the writings of the tourists of yore. We were excited to find one dated as early as 1703, only about 60 years after the castle was destroyed in the civil war. I know it is a sad hobby but I got hooked on it when visiting ancient monuments in the med and egypt.
English Heritage ( who run the site) are currently undertaking a small archaeological excavation to understand the gardens better. Sam was excited to see real archaeologist at work (what am I, chopped liver-he has seen me dig in the garden) and I had to explain everything they were doing. He was very disapointed that they wouldn't let him help-he was keen to get out there with his trowel or better yet pickaxe. The finds weren't very spectacular but then you wouldn't expect much in the garden area. In anycase they weren't looking for finds but rather to understand the layout of the now vanished gardens better. I must look to see if there is a local fieldwork group that allows children to participate. I don't think that he can join the young archaeologist club until he is a bit older.
Another game of monopoly after dinner tonight-he is becoming quite a monopoly fiend. He won tonight and took way too much pleasure in beating me. Tomorrow night victory will be mine!
Monday, August 07, 2006
Sportsman Sam
Sam is all geared up for this week of sporting activity-tomorrow golf, followed by badminton and then his weekly swimming lesson. I don't know who is going to be more pooped at the end of the week-him or me! We have had endless discussions today about golf-had to look up lots because my knowledge is very limited. Hope he enjoys it tomorrow and hope that it is well run. Our experience of things run by the local council (except the swimming lessons) hasn't been good.
The weekend seemed to fly by-saturday was chores and then M went off to an ITU bbq. Sunday M's parents and grandmother came up for a visit. It was Nan's first trip to the house and I think she liked it-apart from all the stairs! It was lovely to see them all and sam was in his element. He was given a hot wheels set and a piece of star wars lego, both of which kept him occupied for the rest of the day (and today even!). M headed out later in the day for a two day course somewhere up north. It was a long drive by all accounts but he arrived safely. Sam and I are now on our own until tuesday night, so you can guess whose bed he is sleeping in! Between all the fluffers and books I don't think he has left me any room.
A peaceful start to the day-he is insistent that we reconstruct all his playmobil sets so that when his friends H & F come at the weekend they are all ready to play with. Last week we resurected the airport, today it was the turn of the barn. Thank goodness that I saved the instructions. By the time we are done his room is going to out playmobil the playmobil section of John Lewis. He insisted on putting up the barn in front of Orlando's tank so that he could see all the animals. Just hope that he doesn't decided to make a break for freedom so that he can eat them. Don't think a playmobil mouse is as tasty as a real one.
Following our visit to planet playmobil we did normals. Added a few sticker books and pictoral crosswords to liven things up a bit. I think sam enjoyed the crossword once he got the hang of it. Have printed off another one for him tomorrow.
Was very proud of myself today as I managed to drive into the city centre and park at the huge multistory car park without either getting lost, having a panic attack or yelling. Did two mystery jobs and explored the sale at ELC. Got a few pressies for the pressie drawer and even managed to buy Sam a couple of xmas presents without him noticing. Sam spent most of the evening studying the new ELC catalogue and revising his xmas list and making new plans on what to save up for after he has finished saving up for his lego dino attack helicopter. He is finally learning that he needs to save up for things he wants. I think that we are going to have to expand his chore list so that he can earn a little more than he currently does. Not sure what the going rate for allowance is for 5 year olds-anyone have any suggestions?
The weekend seemed to fly by-saturday was chores and then M went off to an ITU bbq. Sunday M's parents and grandmother came up for a visit. It was Nan's first trip to the house and I think she liked it-apart from all the stairs! It was lovely to see them all and sam was in his element. He was given a hot wheels set and a piece of star wars lego, both of which kept him occupied for the rest of the day (and today even!). M headed out later in the day for a two day course somewhere up north. It was a long drive by all accounts but he arrived safely. Sam and I are now on our own until tuesday night, so you can guess whose bed he is sleeping in! Between all the fluffers and books I don't think he has left me any room.
A peaceful start to the day-he is insistent that we reconstruct all his playmobil sets so that when his friends H & F come at the weekend they are all ready to play with. Last week we resurected the airport, today it was the turn of the barn. Thank goodness that I saved the instructions. By the time we are done his room is going to out playmobil the playmobil section of John Lewis. He insisted on putting up the barn in front of Orlando's tank so that he could see all the animals. Just hope that he doesn't decided to make a break for freedom so that he can eat them. Don't think a playmobil mouse is as tasty as a real one.
Following our visit to planet playmobil we did normals. Added a few sticker books and pictoral crosswords to liven things up a bit. I think sam enjoyed the crossword once he got the hang of it. Have printed off another one for him tomorrow.
Was very proud of myself today as I managed to drive into the city centre and park at the huge multistory car park without either getting lost, having a panic attack or yelling. Did two mystery jobs and explored the sale at ELC. Got a few pressies for the pressie drawer and even managed to buy Sam a couple of xmas presents without him noticing. Sam spent most of the evening studying the new ELC catalogue and revising his xmas list and making new plans on what to save up for after he has finished saving up for his lego dino attack helicopter. He is finally learning that he needs to save up for things he wants. I think that we are going to have to expand his chore list so that he can earn a little more than he currently does. Not sure what the going rate for allowance is for 5 year olds-anyone have any suggestions?
Sunday, August 06, 2006
three generations
M's mum and dad and grandmother came up today. It was lovely to see them, I hope that they enjoyed the day as much as we did. This is sam with M's dad and his mother.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Nice way to end the week..
The week started off very slowly, with normals and errands to run. It finished on a high note, however, with a visit to Snibston Discovery Park yesterday and a play date with the puddles today.
My friend Louisa spent the day with us yesterday so we took ourselves off to Snibston Discovery Park which we have been meaning to visit ever since we moved over here. It was an old coal works which the council has turned into a hands on science museum. Sam had lots of fun doing all the experiments but the best thing from his point of view was the huge playground with lots of waterplay. He spent most of the afternoon with a group of children making floods and watching plastic boats get washed away. He was so wet that by the time we left he was stripped down to just his shorts. After the park we headed to Donnington Le Heath with is a restored medieval manor house which is also owned by the council. It is isn't big but it has been very well restored and we enjoyed our visit. Sam spend ages questioning one of the rangers about the garden and the types of butterflies and moths that were to be found there. Am beginning to think that that boy is going to give david attenborough a run for his money.
Today we spent with the merry and the girls and it was so nice to see them. Sam was overjoyed to have someone to play with-especially 4 someones! they all played together really well and merry and I got to have a good natter. We are both looking forward to seeing them again next week at the mudpud picnic.
A quiet saturday but busy sunday as M's parents and grandmother are coming up. We are really looking forward to seeing them, sam especially can't wait to show off orlando. hopefully he will come out from under his water dish so everyone can see how cute he is.
Have finally got the Leicester EO schedule so hope to go along to something of theirs very soon. Next week is quite busy as sam has golf, badminton and swimming. Good thing Merry just lent me a good book because it looks as if I will get a chance to get lots of reading done. I suspect that parents will be enouraged not to stay and watch but I very much doubt that sam will look favorably on being left somewhere where he doesn't know a soul. Hopefully we will both make a new friend or two.
My friend Louisa spent the day with us yesterday so we took ourselves off to Snibston Discovery Park which we have been meaning to visit ever since we moved over here. It was an old coal works which the council has turned into a hands on science museum. Sam had lots of fun doing all the experiments but the best thing from his point of view was the huge playground with lots of waterplay. He spent most of the afternoon with a group of children making floods and watching plastic boats get washed away. He was so wet that by the time we left he was stripped down to just his shorts. After the park we headed to Donnington Le Heath with is a restored medieval manor house which is also owned by the council. It is isn't big but it has been very well restored and we enjoyed our visit. Sam spend ages questioning one of the rangers about the garden and the types of butterflies and moths that were to be found there. Am beginning to think that that boy is going to give david attenborough a run for his money.
Today we spent with the merry and the girls and it was so nice to see them. Sam was overjoyed to have someone to play with-especially 4 someones! they all played together really well and merry and I got to have a good natter. We are both looking forward to seeing them again next week at the mudpud picnic.
A quiet saturday but busy sunday as M's parents and grandmother are coming up. We are really looking forward to seeing them, sam especially can't wait to show off orlando. hopefully he will come out from under his water dish so everyone can see how cute he is.
Have finally got the Leicester EO schedule so hope to go along to something of theirs very soon. Next week is quite busy as sam has golf, badminton and swimming. Good thing Merry just lent me a good book because it looks as if I will get a chance to get lots of reading done. I suspect that parents will be enouraged not to stay and watch but I very much doubt that sam will look favorably on being left somewhere where he doesn't know a soul. Hopefully we will both make a new friend or two.
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