Help! I have heard so much secret 7 and famous 5 over the last few days that I am in danger of starting to speak like them. We have spent a lot of time in the car the last few days and the story cds of choice (sam's not mine!) have been "three cheers for the secret 7" and "the 5 on billycock hill". The stories themselves are good but it is the language that drives me mad. They are so rude to people they don't like and don't hesitate to tell people to "shut up" and other such friendly phrases. I appreciate that this is a lot better than some of the things that children come out with these days but it is still not very nice. Sam loves the stories because the adventures are so exciting but even he agrees that the secret 7 are very mean to one of the character's little sister. Actually come to think of it there is a lot of rudeness in Enid Blyton's books, wonder why?
Anyway, despite missing M very much sam and I have had a nice couple of days-as evidenced by the photos. After droping M off at coventry airfield (don't think it is big enough to be called an airport) we visited Kenilworth Castle and then an air museum. I think sam enjoyed both equally but the castle was much more my thing. Sam took great delight in taking lots of photos-most of which turned out really well. He is getting to be quite a good photographer.
Monday was the big day...Legoland!! Both traffic and weather were kind to us (at least for most of the day) and we managed to spend nearly the whole day there. My friend Melanie and her youngest D (my goddaughter) met us and it was lovely to be able to spend time with them. Sam loved legoland and despite going on most of the rides, the thing he liked most was miniland. He loved following the trains, boats and cars as they moved round the various countries. I think that he could have easily spent most of the day in that part of the park. We did all the rides that he wanted to do, with minimum fuss. The lines were very short so we were able to get lots done. He had to visit each gift shop before deciding to part with his hard earned cash but in the end decided that three little things were better than one big thing-quite sensible if you ask me. The drive home seemed to take forever but was brigtened up by seeing a double rainbow.
Today we went to visit my friend Louisa and her family and sam had a glorious day playing with dogs and stomping around the countryside. It was a lovely visit and the weather was perfect for spending most of the day out of doors. We went sloe and blackberry picking so will be spending tomorrow making sloe gin and blackberry crumble. Sam had a ball playing with panda and magic the dogs and I am not sure who was more exhausted when we left him or them! We have spent this evening becomming totally addicted to the computer game Zoo Tycoon. We picked it up for 99p at sainsburys over the weekend and gave it a trial run tonight. What a fun game! Who knew that running a zoo could be so much fun and so educational! Not only did we have to learn about animals and there habitats but we also had to think about the finance of running our zoo-which we weren't too good at. When we ended the game we were in debt-but the zoo was fantastic.
A quiet day tomorrow I think and then off to coventry in the evening to pick up M.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Monday, September 25, 2006
In a hurry to get to the gift shop
Our last stop of the day was the gift shop and here he is in a hurry to get there. He spend ages trying to decide what to spend his money on and in the end decided on three small things rather than one big thing.
captain sam
This is sam steering the boat on the boating school ride. Between the two of us we managed to end up going the wrong way on the one way system and had to be turned around by one of the legoland crew.
Saturday, September 23, 2006
Thursday, September 21, 2006
Just call me Steffi
My new racket arrived yesterday (thank you ebay! Only £1.30) and you will be amazed to learn that my game has not improved. Guess a swish new (to me anyway)racket does not automatically play better. Still, Sam and I had fun-and he is improving which is the whole point of the excercise. The courts are always completely empty when we go, it is like having our own private court. The benefits of home ed!! I am sure that if we were to go on a weekend they would be packed.
More normals and david attenborough the last two days. While watching yesterday's dvd Sam suddenly remarked that david attenborough looked very similar to the grandfather in jurassic park. Talk about powers of observation-even knowing that david and richard attenborough are brothers I struggle to find the resemblance-he made a connection between them and didn't even know that they were related. He was interested to learn that the brothers spent quite a bit of time here in leicester as their father was dean of the university.
The weather has been so glorious the last two days that we have spent our afternoons outdoors. Today we played some long complicated game involving invisible pteradons, the gang from scooby doo and two hot wheels cars. I love it that he is developing a good imagination-even if it does involve dangerous reptiles and goofy teenagers.
Today was the award ceremony at the library for all those children who completed the summer reading scheme. Sam was chuffed with his certificate but even more pleased with his spy pen. It is one of those ones where you write the message in one color ink -which appears to be invisible, then when you rub over it with the other side of the pen your message magically appears. He has spent all evening writing out messages to me.
A quiet morning tomorrow and then french in the afternoon. If it is nice again we may try and fit in a game of tennis on our way home.
More normals and david attenborough the last two days. While watching yesterday's dvd Sam suddenly remarked that david attenborough looked very similar to the grandfather in jurassic park. Talk about powers of observation-even knowing that david and richard attenborough are brothers I struggle to find the resemblance-he made a connection between them and didn't even know that they were related. He was interested to learn that the brothers spent quite a bit of time here in leicester as their father was dean of the university.
The weather has been so glorious the last two days that we have spent our afternoons outdoors. Today we played some long complicated game involving invisible pteradons, the gang from scooby doo and two hot wheels cars. I love it that he is developing a good imagination-even if it does involve dangerous reptiles and goofy teenagers.
Today was the award ceremony at the library for all those children who completed the summer reading scheme. Sam was chuffed with his certificate but even more pleased with his spy pen. It is one of those ones where you write the message in one color ink -which appears to be invisible, then when you rub over it with the other side of the pen your message magically appears. He has spent all evening writing out messages to me.
A quiet morning tomorrow and then french in the afternoon. If it is nice again we may try and fit in a game of tennis on our way home.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Too much of a good thing..
I should be grateful that sam is starting to embrace reading, that he feels confident to try his hand at reading most anything and when he does try he is usually right. I am not that happy however, because he has discovered that he can read-on his own-two children's joke books that we have recently acquired. I thought that I would read a couple of jokes a week to him and that would be that.. Oh no!! He spent all of yesterday following me reading out joke after joke, I wouldn't have minded so much but they jokes were truely unfunny. I am happy that it least it did not contain knock knock jokes as after reading a few real ones he goes on to make up his own and then insists on telling it over and over again! It wouldn't be so bad if he would vary the punch line but he doesn't. All joking aside I am a very proud mommy that he can read his own joke books, even if the jokes aren't that funny and some of them don't make sense. He is gaining in confidence everyday and I am sure that it won't be long until he is on to books with funnier jokes. He loves telling the jokes and M and I make sure that we laugh at every single one. I feel like we have crossed our first major hurdle. My next major one is to get him to love numbers and math. It is such an important part of everyday life and I don't want him to grow up numberphobic.
We had a fairly laid back weekend and didn't really do anything of note. We spent most of yesterday out in the backyard as the weather was so nice. We played lots of games and then went on to junk modeling to build a race course for sam's hotwheels. I even managed to sit and read for a while. I just finished Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky and it was fantastic. I can not recommend it highly enough. It is about life in occupied france and what makes it more captivating is that it was written without the benefit of hindsight. The author lived through the first part of the occupation and had great plans for a novel on the scale of war and peace but unfortuantely was sent to the camps and died there. It is about people getting on with life despite what was going on around them and the author had the chance to finish the book I am sure that it would have been even more unputdownable.
We had a fairly laid back weekend and didn't really do anything of note. We spent most of yesterday out in the backyard as the weather was so nice. We played lots of games and then went on to junk modeling to build a race course for sam's hotwheels. I even managed to sit and read for a while. I just finished Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky and it was fantastic. I can not recommend it highly enough. It is about life in occupied france and what makes it more captivating is that it was written without the benefit of hindsight. The author lived through the first part of the occupation and had great plans for a novel on the scale of war and peace but unfortuantely was sent to the camps and died there. It is about people getting on with life despite what was going on around them and the author had the chance to finish the book I am sure that it would have been even more unputdownable.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Into the groove
We have certainly gotten back into the habit of a more structured approach to our day-hence the lack of blogging. We are busy all morning and early afternoon with school type stuff and then playing or out for the rest of the day. Sam certainly seems happier to be doing stuff and there have been no tears over math lately. ( shouldn't have written that should I? now there are bound to be tears on monday!) His reading is coming on in leaps and bounds as his his general comprehension. He will now drop facts into conversation-things that we may have covered days before or not at all and he has picked them up on his own. He seems to have boundless energy at the moment so am trying to keep him active in the afternoons. We played tennis on monday-he is definately improving, though the same can't be said for me. We hope to fit in a trip to the pool tomorrow and he has tennis lessons on sunday morning so it should be a pretty active weekend.
We have had two playdates this week L and M who live in the next village and V and I who live right around the corner. I is a bit younger than Sam but the two got on really well and it is nice to know that we have friends within walking distance. Sam and M and tons of fun when we went round there to play and L and I got to catch up on what had been happening all summer. Haven't yet made it to the local home ed group, forces keep conspiring against us. We will make it there though this side of halloween.
We have been collecting the David Attenborough DVDs in the paper this week and sam has been mesmorized. We all have learned so much and been so entertained that we are considering getting the box set of all the series for xmas. By the way it is only 100 days until xmas so time to start panicing about the shopping. Have already bought sam two things but that is all I have done so far.
We have had two playdates this week L and M who live in the next village and V and I who live right around the corner. I is a bit younger than Sam but the two got on really well and it is nice to know that we have friends within walking distance. Sam and M and tons of fun when we went round there to play and L and I got to catch up on what had been happening all summer. Haven't yet made it to the local home ed group, forces keep conspiring against us. We will make it there though this side of halloween.
We have been collecting the David Attenborough DVDs in the paper this week and sam has been mesmorized. We all have learned so much and been so entertained that we are considering getting the box set of all the series for xmas. By the way it is only 100 days until xmas so time to start panicing about the shopping. Have already bought sam two things but that is all I have done so far.
Monday, September 11, 2006
Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Pretty good week so far..
All in all it has been a pretty good week so far. We are back on track with normals thanks to a new updated timetable-that offers lots of science and make and do for sam and written work to satisfy me. He had lots of fun with latin this morning-we had to make up sentences describing people we knew. thankfully they were all nice descriptive words-like clever and pretty. He really enjoys languages and math-he must have a very ordered mind.
There have been three highlights of the week for the young master-the first was receiving a treckker microscope from my aunt. It is a hand held field microscope and is very cool. He has spent the last few days collecting things to look at. The website is www.looksmall.co.uk. I can really recomend the microscope-just don't take it out on a walk if you are in a hurry to get somewhere-chances are your journey will take twice as long!!
The second exciting thing from sam's pov was the grand openning of starbucks in the shopping center that is 5 minutes walk from us. It openned on monday and he insisted that we be there at 8, just incase they were giving away free muffins. He didn't have to twist my arm too hard it has to be said. While they weren't giving away free muffins we did get our whole order free (including a bag of ground coffee and a newspaper) because the chip and pin machines weren't working yet!!! The manager was very apologetic and insisted on giving us the order. What a way to start a monday!
The day only got better too as the third highlight of the week was getting together with all the boys. As usual it was complete bedlam but a good time was had by all. We haven't seem much of them over the summer and now I don't expect we will get to see anyone until half term. A is the exception to this as he is now home educated much to sam's delight.
Yesterday was sam's first swimming lesson of the term. He has to wear a yellow swimming cap which pleases him not at all but I expect he will soon get used to it. He seemed to enjoy himself and I chatted to one of the other moms so it looks promising.
There have been three highlights of the week for the young master-the first was receiving a treckker microscope from my aunt. It is a hand held field microscope and is very cool. He has spent the last few days collecting things to look at. The website is www.looksmall.co.uk. I can really recomend the microscope-just don't take it out on a walk if you are in a hurry to get somewhere-chances are your journey will take twice as long!!
The second exciting thing from sam's pov was the grand openning of starbucks in the shopping center that is 5 minutes walk from us. It openned on monday and he insisted that we be there at 8, just incase they were giving away free muffins. He didn't have to twist my arm too hard it has to be said. While they weren't giving away free muffins we did get our whole order free (including a bag of ground coffee and a newspaper) because the chip and pin machines weren't working yet!!! The manager was very apologetic and insisted on giving us the order. What a way to start a monday!
The day only got better too as the third highlight of the week was getting together with all the boys. As usual it was complete bedlam but a good time was had by all. We haven't seem much of them over the summer and now I don't expect we will get to see anyone until half term. A is the exception to this as he is now home educated much to sam's delight.
Yesterday was sam's first swimming lesson of the term. He has to wear a yellow swimming cap which pleases him not at all but I expect he will soon get used to it. He seemed to enjoy himself and I chatted to one of the other moms so it looks promising.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Low key..
that about sums up our weekend. M was on nights so sam and I pottered while he slept and then we had a family trip to the pool.
Saturday and and I ventured out in the wind and rain to sign him up for tennis lessons. We went to one of the local clubs who was having an open day. He starts on sunday and his coach is the same man he had earlier in the summer. The lessons will be indoors thank goodness but are at 9am on sundays! Oh well, at least starbucks will be open he finishes and we can do up there for a sunday morning treat. We also joined our local tennis club so that we can go along and practice while everyone else is at work and school. Even managed to find myself a racket on ebay for only £1.31!! he is very keen to get going and can't wait for his first lesson.
This morning we organised all our school books and now I feel almost ready to start the new school year. I also did lots of planning for craft activities and art projects so short of finding all the supplies we are pretty much there. It is so nice to have the books in some sort of order, they were just dumped on the shelves when we moved in and not organised. Just hope that I am able to make this year fun for him, it disheartens me when he says he doesn't like doing this or that because I feel that I have failed. He needs to learn but above all I want him to enjoy himself while he is doing it. I console myself with the thought that at least he is having more fun here than if he were at school.
All of his lessons, swimming, tennis and french start this week so it should be a good chance for us both to start making more local friends. I also have the schedule for the local home ed group so we will go along to an event very soon. the french class is run by the local home ed group so that will be a good start to getting to know the local scene.
Saturday and and I ventured out in the wind and rain to sign him up for tennis lessons. We went to one of the local clubs who was having an open day. He starts on sunday and his coach is the same man he had earlier in the summer. The lessons will be indoors thank goodness but are at 9am on sundays! Oh well, at least starbucks will be open he finishes and we can do up there for a sunday morning treat. We also joined our local tennis club so that we can go along and practice while everyone else is at work and school. Even managed to find myself a racket on ebay for only £1.31!! he is very keen to get going and can't wait for his first lesson.
This morning we organised all our school books and now I feel almost ready to start the new school year. I also did lots of planning for craft activities and art projects so short of finding all the supplies we are pretty much there. It is so nice to have the books in some sort of order, they were just dumped on the shelves when we moved in and not organised. Just hope that I am able to make this year fun for him, it disheartens me when he says he doesn't like doing this or that because I feel that I have failed. He needs to learn but above all I want him to enjoy himself while he is doing it. I console myself with the thought that at least he is having more fun here than if he were at school.
All of his lessons, swimming, tennis and french start this week so it should be a good chance for us both to start making more local friends. I also have the schedule for the local home ed group so we will go along to an event very soon. the french class is run by the local home ed group so that will be a good start to getting to know the local scene.
Friday, September 01, 2006
Books
Thank you Elle at Ellesfuntimes for tagging me-sorry it has taken me so long to post.
ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE: The FountainHead by Ayn Rand. I read it my senior year in high school and it helped me to make sense of the world around me.
ONE BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ MORE THAN ONCE: a Traveller in Time by Allison Uttely-one of my all time favorite books, I love the romance of it and I would love to be able to travel in time like the main character.
TWO BOOKS YOU’D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and an omibus edition of all the paddington books by michael bond. Bewteen the two of them I would have all the reading material I need.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH: The growing pains of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend. I laughed all the way from Boston to Florida by train while reading this.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY: My Best Friend's Girl. Not many books make me cry but this one made me tear up in places.
ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN: Harry Potter
ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN: Can't think of any-every book has its merrit even it you don't believe in its message.
ONE BOOK THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING: The Man of my dreams by Curtis Sittenfield. Really good so far-I can really relate to the main characters college experience.
ONE BOOK YOU HAVE BEEN MEANING TO READ: Suite Francais
FIVE PEOPLE YOU TAG:
MK
Merry
Helen
Fiona
ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE: The FountainHead by Ayn Rand. I read it my senior year in high school and it helped me to make sense of the world around me.
ONE BOOK THAT YOU’VE READ MORE THAN ONCE: a Traveller in Time by Allison Uttely-one of my all time favorite books, I love the romance of it and I would love to be able to travel in time like the main character.
TWO BOOKS YOU’D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and an omibus edition of all the paddington books by michael bond. Bewteen the two of them I would have all the reading material I need.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH: The growing pains of Adrian Mole by Sue Townsend. I laughed all the way from Boston to Florida by train while reading this.
ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY: My Best Friend's Girl. Not many books make me cry but this one made me tear up in places.
ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN: Harry Potter
ONE BOOK YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN: Can't think of any-every book has its merrit even it you don't believe in its message.
ONE BOOK THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY READING: The Man of my dreams by Curtis Sittenfield. Really good so far-I can really relate to the main characters college experience.
ONE BOOK YOU HAVE BEEN MEANING TO READ: Suite Francais
FIVE PEOPLE YOU TAG:
MK
Merry
Helen
Fiona
sam cubed
Not only do we have one new neighbor with a son called sam but now we have two!! That brings the total of boys named sam to 3 in oliver close. Not bad considering that there are only 7 children in to total here. One sam is 9 and lives in the house attached to ours, the other lives in the big house at the end and looks as if he is about 17/18. My sam is over the moon with sam next door and sam next door for his part seems very happy to play with my sam despite their age difference. They have been in and out of the two houses all week and sam falls into bed exhausted each night with all the bike riding and soccer they have been playing. It is such a novelty to have a playmate living next door-sam is so delighted. For my part I have had some time to me while they have been playing-managed to start a new knitting project and do paper work all in the middle of the day. My sam can't understand why sam next door wants to go to school and thinks he should stay home and be home educated so they can play together.
A bit of a non descript week-we did normals, we sorted things out for the new school year, we explored leicester and we spent time with M. Have been in a funk most of the week-it is the end of summer blues. The nice weather has just about gone and it is time to turn my attention to more serious matters other than having fun and exploring. We are pretty sorted for the new school year-just have to sort out all the crafty bits for the first month.
We expect to have a low key weekend as M is on nights but hope to get out to the local tennis club who are having an open day tomorrow. Sam is very keen to join and as they haven't answered any of my emails this seems the perfect chance to find out more about them.
A bit of a non descript week-we did normals, we sorted things out for the new school year, we explored leicester and we spent time with M. Have been in a funk most of the week-it is the end of summer blues. The nice weather has just about gone and it is time to turn my attention to more serious matters other than having fun and exploring. We are pretty sorted for the new school year-just have to sort out all the crafty bits for the first month.
We expect to have a low key weekend as M is on nights but hope to get out to the local tennis club who are having an open day tomorrow. Sam is very keen to join and as they haven't answered any of my emails this seems the perfect chance to find out more about them.
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