A spooky hello to you all. We have had a fun day learning about the origins of halloween and watching clips of haunted houses on www.historychannel.com. The halloween discussion led to lots of other discussions about new religions and cultures adopting the celebrations of older traditions and making them their own. This then led to a discussion about the roman empire and the catholic church. All in all an interesting dashing around history. Did you know that trick or treating is originally english? On all hallows eve people would bake cakes and give them to the poor who would go door to door and offer to pray for the dead of the family in return for food. They really shouldn't give us americans a hard time about it then, since it was their own invention-we just expanded on it.
A quiet day yesterday, lots of normals and me feeling sorry for myself due to the sniffles. Miko had two walks and sam next door came over after school and the boys played with sam's new dino attack lego. Why with boys does it always come down to fighting and war?? When I tried to get them to have the dinos be nice and create a nice habitat for them they both looked at me like I was mad. Oh for the peaceful days of barbies!
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Monday, October 30, 2006
usborne christmas order
I have decided to have a cyber usborne party in the run up to christmas. If you would like a books for giving leaflet or full catalogue please let me know. You can also see the full range of books at www.usbornebooks.co.uk. I am offering 10% off all orders and will deliver/post out the books when they arrive. I will be placing the order on November 27th so if you want anything please let me know by then. If you need any info please don't hesitate to ask.
Quick catch up
sorry about about the lack of blogging. last week ended up being busier than I thought it was going to be and fell into bed shattered each night with out giving blogging a second thought. We saw lots of friends last week, which was lovely and went on lots of long walks with Miko. She is into chewing everything at the moment, nothing is safe, including bannisters! She and sam are getting on better now-provided she doesn't touch his fluffy toys or his lego. M's parents came up on saturday and we spent a nice day with them. They had a good holiday and came bearing lego for sam and lovely pressies for M and I as well. He is still working on putting it all together. He has done very well with it, considering it is all aimed at 8+ and has put it all together on the whole by himself.
We are all suffering a bit with colds so will try and have a quiet week this week, not sure if we will achieve it or not.
We are all suffering a bit with colds so will try and have a quiet week this week, not sure if we will achieve it or not.
Monday, October 23, 2006
Tuckered Out..
just about describes all of us ( except the cats of course). We had so much fun on M's week off that we are all knackered. We did trips out just about everyday as well as taking Miko on long walks. I think M went back to work today for a rest! Yesterday the boys planted a butterfly garden and bless him sam spent most of the day checking the plants for insect visitors. I tried to explain we probably wouldn't get any residents until the spring but he is undeterred and intends to check the plants every day. Hope we get a few winter visitor, don't know how he is going to wait until spring!
Today was back to school for us so while the rest of the children in the neigborhood were celebrating half term, evil mommy made sam do normals. He didn't mind too much though and quickly settled into work. We are taking it easy this week as we have a few playdates with school friends. M came with us to puppy class tonight and we all had fun. Miko had so much fun that she didn't want to leave! She tried to run back into the hall as we were putting her in the car. She is now sacked out in the kitchen, too pooped to lift a paw. She is a lot calmer tonight-the diwali fireworks the last few nights have really spooked her. She refused to even go out in the garden last night once it got dark. I don't know how she did it but she managed to make it through the night without a single puddle. She and the cats have reached an understanding, they won't swat her if she doesn't try and play with them. They are all quite relaxed about each other and Gizmo is currently asleep only a few feet away from her.
Sam is very good with her and loves taking her out for walks. The only problem is I am not sure who is walking who!
Today was back to school for us so while the rest of the children in the neigborhood were celebrating half term, evil mommy made sam do normals. He didn't mind too much though and quickly settled into work. We are taking it easy this week as we have a few playdates with school friends. M came with us to puppy class tonight and we all had fun. Miko had so much fun that she didn't want to leave! She tried to run back into the hall as we were putting her in the car. She is now sacked out in the kitchen, too pooped to lift a paw. She is a lot calmer tonight-the diwali fireworks the last few nights have really spooked her. She refused to even go out in the garden last night once it got dark. I don't know how she did it but she managed to make it through the night without a single puddle. She and the cats have reached an understanding, they won't swat her if she doesn't try and play with them. They are all quite relaxed about each other and Gizmo is currently asleep only a few feet away from her.
Sam is very good with her and loves taking her out for walks. The only problem is I am not sure who is walking who!
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Brilliant Birmingham
Today we went to Birmingham to visit the sealife center. Birmingham is only about 50 miles away but with traffic and the wrong post-code in the tom-tom it took us almost 2 hours to get there. It was well worth the trip though as the aquarium was great. They made good use of the space they had and had lots of interesting creatures to look at. It didn't quite come up to the standard of the monterey bay aquarium but then I don't think that anywere can. We had a really enjoyable time there and had lunch in a great place next to the grand union canal. It was called the Handmade burger co. and the burgers were almost as good as homemade. It was a real find and we will definately be back on our next trip to birmingham. We didn't get to wander around too much as we had to get home to Miko. It looks like a great place to explore so we will be going back.
By the time we got back it was late afternoon, just time for a walk, then dinner, some Blue Planet and bed for the monster. He had quite a milestone today. On our walk we went down to the paper shop so that he could get this month's issue of the HotWheels magazine. They wouldn't allow Miko in the store though, and rather than leave him outsite with her I said that he could go in on his own. I could see him the whole time so I knew he would be safe. He had complete confidence in his mission and soon emerged triumphant with the magazine. I was so proud. He is such a fantastic child.
By the time we got back it was late afternoon, just time for a walk, then dinner, some Blue Planet and bed for the monster. He had quite a milestone today. On our walk we went down to the paper shop so that he could get this month's issue of the HotWheels magazine. They wouldn't allow Miko in the store though, and rather than leave him outsite with her I said that he could go in on his own. I could see him the whole time so I knew he would be safe. He had complete confidence in his mission and soon emerged triumphant with the magazine. I was so proud. He is such a fantastic child.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
family fun...
is what we have been having the last few days. M has been off since saturday and still has the rest of the the week off so we have been taking advantage of the nice weather by having lots of family days out. We have hit all the major local parks and few that aren't local. Having Miko has really helped us to get out and enjoy the beautiful country around us. Miko has gone everywhere with us and when she wasn't allowed in somewhere she slept in the car. She is almost better in the car than she is in her crate.
Today we ended up at burghley house and had a lovely wander in the grounds. The deer roam free and we were treated to lots of close encounters with them. Miko went crazy and thought that they were potential playmates-or possibly dinner! We ran into J and her boys which was a nice surprise. We helped them to gather chestnuts before heading home.
Yesterday we went to the coventry air museum ( the one sam and I visited while M was away). The boys had a ball and I had fun trying to convince Miko that rabbit droppings are not a new snack food. She is very good in new situations and meeting new people and didn't bat an eyelid at all the big planes and strange people. The boys bought an airfix model of the new Typhoon fighter which should keep them busy all winter.
Tomorrow we are off to the sea life center in birminghamm san is very excited. It should be a fun day out. Thursday morning we are going to a free screening of cars so the next few days should be pretty action packed.
We haven't done any normals so far this week but with all our field trips I think that he is still getting and education. We start back to work on monday, with science though, so he shouldn't mind too much.
Today we ended up at burghley house and had a lovely wander in the grounds. The deer roam free and we were treated to lots of close encounters with them. Miko went crazy and thought that they were potential playmates-or possibly dinner! We ran into J and her boys which was a nice surprise. We helped them to gather chestnuts before heading home.
Yesterday we went to the coventry air museum ( the one sam and I visited while M was away). The boys had a ball and I had fun trying to convince Miko that rabbit droppings are not a new snack food. She is very good in new situations and meeting new people and didn't bat an eyelid at all the big planes and strange people. The boys bought an airfix model of the new Typhoon fighter which should keep them busy all winter.
Tomorrow we are off to the sea life center in birminghamm san is very excited. It should be a fun day out. Thursday morning we are going to a free screening of cars so the next few days should be pretty action packed.
We haven't done any normals so far this week but with all our field trips I think that he is still getting and education. We start back to work on monday, with science though, so he shouldn't mind too much.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Settling in
We are all settling in to life with a puppy and are getting fitter for it! Two walks a day are tiring out both puppy and sam. He actually slept until 8am today, a record in our house! Miko seems to be adjusting to us but can be a bit standoffish. I think she would prefer to lie the garden on her own than cuddle us. From what I could see of her life at the breeders, the puppies were left to their own devices and spent lots of time going in and out to the back yard. We are working really hard to make her into a member of the family and I think she is responding. She spent ages today playing up in sam's room with us. She started puppy classes last night and she and sam had a ball. She made lots of friends and can now pretty much sit on command. Not bad for one evening. Sam was over the moon because not only did he get to help with the training but he also got to pet all the puppies in the class. He has now decided that he wants a house full of puppies and is going to save all his money to his end....HELP!!!
We have had lots of fun so far this week with art and history. We painted our own fresco (pics to follow). It was fun mixing the plaster and then seeing which type of paint worked best. The water paints were easier to use, so we did most of the painting with them. Sam chose the theme-it is a greek trimarine ship, off to do battle at troy. Don't you just love home education.
Today we braved the Boden Clearance sale at the local football ground-talk about a yummy mummy bun fight. Never have I seen women go so loopy at a sale and that includes nct nearly new sales. Women were filling basket after basket-the prices were good but they weren't that good. There was nothing at all left in sam's size and I couldn't even get near the women's clothes to have a good look. If I go next year I go early and I go alone.
We had a lovely day on saturday with M's parents. They came up to spend the day and we went to bradgate park. What a fantastic place!! Can't believe that it has taken us 6 months to get there. Lots of romantic ruins, deer and fantastic scenery. We will definately be going back there.
We have had lots of fun so far this week with art and history. We painted our own fresco (pics to follow). It was fun mixing the plaster and then seeing which type of paint worked best. The water paints were easier to use, so we did most of the painting with them. Sam chose the theme-it is a greek trimarine ship, off to do battle at troy. Don't you just love home education.
Today we braved the Boden Clearance sale at the local football ground-talk about a yummy mummy bun fight. Never have I seen women go so loopy at a sale and that includes nct nearly new sales. Women were filling basket after basket-the prices were good but they weren't that good. There was nothing at all left in sam's size and I couldn't even get near the women's clothes to have a good look. If I go next year I go early and I go alone.
We had a lovely day on saturday with M's parents. They came up to spend the day and we went to bradgate park. What a fantastic place!! Can't believe that it has taken us 6 months to get there. Lots of romantic ruins, deer and fantastic scenery. We will definately be going back there.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Puppy Love
It is official, despite the occasional accident and bad breath we all love Miko. She has now mastered both up and down on the stairs and can sort of walk on a leash. She went for 3 walks today to help her (and us practice). Sam is delighted with her and can't wait until they are both experienced enough for him to be able to walk her on the leash. I let him walk her within the courtyard but not out on the sidewalk. He thinks she is lots of fun and despite the rain has been happy to walk her and play with her outside. She and the cats are still wary of one another but she hasn't chased them and they in turn haven't swatted her so there must be some sort of understanding going on.
Sam thinks normals are much more fun with Miko around and insists that she snuggle up with us for read alouds. He is disapointed that she is not very good at math though! He made her watch Cats and Dogs with him the other night but I don't think that she was too impressed, she wasn't that fussed with Scooby Doo either which sam couldn't understand. I think that he is going to go through his entire DVD collection until he finds something she likes. As long as I don't have to sit through them all I don't mind.
Sam thinks normals are much more fun with Miko around and insists that she snuggle up with us for read alouds. He is disapointed that she is not very good at math though! He made her watch Cats and Dogs with him the other night but I don't think that she was too impressed, she wasn't that fussed with Scooby Doo either which sam couldn't understand. I think that he is going to go through his entire DVD collection until he finds something she likes. As long as I don't have to sit through them all I don't mind.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
An addition to the family
As you can see from the photos below our family has expanded to include another girl, albeit a canine one. Her name is Miko and she is a 14 week old japanese Akita. We got her from the japanese akita welfare trust as her breeder could no longer care for her. She is absolutely adorable and everyone (except possibly the cats is in love with her. Sam is beside himself to have a dog and M beamed from ear to ear when he saw her. I think she is adorble and look forward to the challenge of training her. We have decided that she is not going to be exclusively home educated-dog trainig is so out of my realm of experience that we are going to puppy classes. Our first one is monday night-maybe by then she might have learnt her name! Her big accomplishment of the day today was to master going up stairs. Going down them is proving somewhat trickier.
The rest of last week passed in a blur. M got home safely and had a good trip. We had fairly quiet days at the end of the week and a low key weekend. For most of the weekend I had two sons called sam as sam from next door decided that our house was the place to be. My sam was of course delighted and they were busy hatching plans for extended sleepovers. thankfully they are all for an unspecified time in the future.
We did very little seat work last week as we were busy on lots of field trips. Yesterday, despite driving 200 miles round trip to pick up Miko we managed to do all our work. Today Miko helped us with school work which delighed sam. She has agreed to teach him japanese and he in turn is going to teach her how to write the word dog. sounds like a great arrangement to me.
The rest of last week passed in a blur. M got home safely and had a good trip. We had fairly quiet days at the end of the week and a low key weekend. For most of the weekend I had two sons called sam as sam from next door decided that our house was the place to be. My sam was of course delighted and they were busy hatching plans for extended sleepovers. thankfully they are all for an unspecified time in the future.
We did very little seat work last week as we were busy on lots of field trips. Yesterday, despite driving 200 miles round trip to pick up Miko we managed to do all our work. Today Miko helped us with school work which delighed sam. She has agreed to teach him japanese and he in turn is going to teach her how to write the word dog. sounds like a great arrangement to me.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
