and this time I will try not to make so many mistakes!! An uneventful few days, monday M arrived home from his camping trip very soggy but having had a good time. His tent will probably take days to try in the garage. Just mooched really, managed to take the dogs out between showers which helped to calm them down a little. Don't know who was bouncing off the walls more during all the rain, sam or the dogs!
Despite the fact that it is half term we are doing school work, mean mom that I am. I figure that he gets lots of time off as a matter of course and we don't need to set aside a whole week to do nothing. Having said that we are taking it easy and spent most of the morning reading to each other. I think his reading is very good and he is starting to slow down a bit so that he doesn't miss words out as much or add extra ones in as often. We have started the next stage of his math text, 2b which is I think second grade level. To give him a bit a of a break we are starting at the back with graphs and will go back to adding, times tables etc when we have finished that.
Sadly M could not get the time off so we won't be going to paris. Just have to hope that he comes back this way again soon.
Not a lot planned for the rest of the week, though we may be going out the V & I tomorrow to see some of the hidden gems around leicester. All depends on the weather as I don't fancy sightseeing in the rain, wimp that I am.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Duvet Day..
today is a duvet day if ever I saw one. It is dark and miserable outside, just right for going back to bed and reading and watching old movies. Unfortunately the dogs and sam don't argree as they are all bouncing off the walls ready to start the day (it only 6:30am as I write this). Today we have a fun day of cleaning and sorting out the playroom. We are hoping to locate sam's bike helmet as he is currently borrowing mine and it is a touch too big for him. Wish I could figure out a way to include the dogs in the whole cleaning the house event as they are the ones responsible for most of the dirt on the walls,floor and skirting boards!!
The rest of the week passed in a blurr of school work, seeing friends and catching tadpoles. Due to his schedule M was home quite a bit during the day each day which was nice. We managed a few nice family walks. The most recent one was to acquire more family members in the form of tadpoles! Sam has been begging for ages to go tadpoling and we finally gave in. We set up an old fish tank in the back yard and then trotted off to watermead. Half an hour later we emerged with a 2 ltr bottle of tapoles. M and sam spent ages installing them in their new home while the dogs tried to help. Everyone is enthralled with them, especially the two sams who will stand over the tank for ages discussing the activities in the tank. They have even named them, though how they can tell them apart I am sure I don't know. Once they have matured we intend to take them back to watermead, though sam is convinced that our local petshop will take them as payment for the terapin he has been begging for. (so not giving in to that request!!) I have tried to explain that they are only interested in exotic tree frogs but he won't believe me. We need to go in there today to get dog food and I fully expect that he will try and sweet talk his fav sales girl into buying the frogs.
Yesterday we went down to visit m's grandmother and aunt and then his parents. We had nice visits and were thoroughly spoilt by everyone we saw. Sam and the pups were shattered when we got home and everyone flopped straight into bed. Sam made a beeline for M's old lego at nana and grandad's and he and grandad spent a pleasant time putting together the lego train tracks. Lego is such a fantastic invention, I don't know what sam would do without it! he is very brand loyal though and will not even look a megablocks. In fact we had a long conversation in the car about mega blocks vs. lego and the nature of competition and market share and target audiences, all heavy topics for 8pm on a saturday evening! Who knew that my marketing qualification would come in handy as a stay at home mom!
Did another happy dance on thursday when the tickets for the concert arrived. Am saving the really big one for when we find out if we are really going. M still doesn't know if he can get the time off so am not getting too excited until we know. Fingers crossed that he can as it would be so much fun to go, not only that but I could pick up some more french barbapapa books for sam as he is really taken by them.
The rest of the week passed in a blurr of school work, seeing friends and catching tadpoles. Due to his schedule M was home quite a bit during the day each day which was nice. We managed a few nice family walks. The most recent one was to acquire more family members in the form of tadpoles! Sam has been begging for ages to go tadpoling and we finally gave in. We set up an old fish tank in the back yard and then trotted off to watermead. Half an hour later we emerged with a 2 ltr bottle of tapoles. M and sam spent ages installing them in their new home while the dogs tried to help. Everyone is enthralled with them, especially the two sams who will stand over the tank for ages discussing the activities in the tank. They have even named them, though how they can tell them apart I am sure I don't know. Once they have matured we intend to take them back to watermead, though sam is convinced that our local petshop will take them as payment for the terapin he has been begging for. (so not giving in to that request!!) I have tried to explain that they are only interested in exotic tree frogs but he won't believe me. We need to go in there today to get dog food and I fully expect that he will try and sweet talk his fav sales girl into buying the frogs.
Yesterday we went down to visit m's grandmother and aunt and then his parents. We had nice visits and were thoroughly spoilt by everyone we saw. Sam and the pups were shattered when we got home and everyone flopped straight into bed. Sam made a beeline for M's old lego at nana and grandad's and he and grandad spent a pleasant time putting together the lego train tracks. Lego is such a fantastic invention, I don't know what sam would do without it! he is very brand loyal though and will not even look a megablocks. In fact we had a long conversation in the car about mega blocks vs. lego and the nature of competition and market share and target audiences, all heavy topics for 8pm on a saturday evening! Who knew that my marketing qualification would come in handy as a stay at home mom!
Did another happy dance on thursday when the tickets for the concert arrived. Am saving the really big one for when we find out if we are really going. M still doesn't know if he can get the time off so am not getting too excited until we know. Fingers crossed that he can as it would be so much fun to go, not only that but I could pick up some more french barbapapa books for sam as he is really taken by them.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
3, 2, 1 blast off......
yesterday was home ed group and our theme was space (thank you sam!). V brought lots of cool craft things for the children to do including making flying saucers and planet pics and we did the sciency bit. The things that the children enjoyed most were the fizzy rockets and recreating the storms on jupiter. There are some great pics of the rockets in action which I will post tomorrow. The children also enjoyed the space ice cream (thank you dad!) and all the space toys and the planets game (thank you nana and grandad). It was a small group but I think everyone enjoyed themselves and hopefully everyone is looking forward to the next installment of space in a fortnight.
M had today off so after a brief session of lessons we went out and about. First stop was the camping store to get supplies for M's trip this weekend and then to starbucks. Rogue especially enjoyed starbucks as he managed to grab half of m's sandwich!! We then headed out to a garden center that V recommended for veggies for the veggie garden. We got corn, beans, peppers and nasturshums and then spent the rest of the afternoon planting them. This evening has been a Dr. Who marathon as we managegd to get two more dvds from the library. Sam loves the show and is not in the least bit frightened. I suspect that tomorrow evening will be more of the same.
I did a little happy dance today as there is the slight chance that M and I may be going to see jimmy buffett in paris in two weeks. I managed to get tickets but now we need to see if he can get the time off. Fingers crossed that he does as it would be so cool not only to see jimmy but to see him in paris. Not sure if I should wear the grass skirt or not though.... I suspect paris is not ready for a almost forty parrothead in a grass skirt and a crop top.
M had today off so after a brief session of lessons we went out and about. First stop was the camping store to get supplies for M's trip this weekend and then to starbucks. Rogue especially enjoyed starbucks as he managed to grab half of m's sandwich!! We then headed out to a garden center that V recommended for veggies for the veggie garden. We got corn, beans, peppers and nasturshums and then spent the rest of the afternoon planting them. This evening has been a Dr. Who marathon as we managegd to get two more dvds from the library. Sam loves the show and is not in the least bit frightened. I suspect that tomorrow evening will be more of the same.
I did a little happy dance today as there is the slight chance that M and I may be going to see jimmy buffett in paris in two weeks. I managed to get tickets but now we need to see if he can get the time off. Fingers crossed that he does as it would be so cool not only to see jimmy but to see him in paris. Not sure if I should wear the grass skirt or not though.... I suspect paris is not ready for a almost forty parrothead in a grass skirt and a crop top.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
green fingered..
or should that be brown??? We have spent most of the weekend in the garden trying to whip it back into shape! The boys did most of the hard work like digging and planting while I was in charge of filling up the new composter, mowing and taking charge of the dogs. M and sam worked very hard and the garden is looking great. They planted the veggies and fruit that they have grown from seed (zuchinni and pumpkins) and dug a new bed in the front yard. We should have a nice crop of fruit and veg later in the year-blueberries, apples. plums, toms,raspberries,blackcurrents, pumpkins and zuchinni. The dogs were very keen to help, especially Miko who loves to dig holes. Rogue was far more interested in the compost/manure we were putting on the beds.
Friday I had several proud mommy moments, so please excuse me if I brag. The first was when I realised that while I was in the shower sam was reading tintin to rogue. He was doing really well and was explaining everything to rogue as he went along. The second was when the mail arrived and we received rogue's certificate and ribbon for passing his puppy class. He did really well at class but his teacher didn't seem to like him so I was surprised that he passed. We showed him his ribbon and he immediately tried to eat it-that's my boy!! later in the day we were doing french, reading sam's new french barbapapa books when he announced that he wanted to read in french to me. He tried very hard to sound out all the words and did a great job. I helped him out a tad but he was very keen and did really well, especially considering that he has never tried to read french before. He really enjoys the barbapapa books and has already earmarked the ones we need to get next!
Friday I had several proud mommy moments, so please excuse me if I brag. The first was when I realised that while I was in the shower sam was reading tintin to rogue. He was doing really well and was explaining everything to rogue as he went along. The second was when the mail arrived and we received rogue's certificate and ribbon for passing his puppy class. He did really well at class but his teacher didn't seem to like him so I was surprised that he passed. We showed him his ribbon and he immediately tried to eat it-that's my boy!! later in the day we were doing french, reading sam's new french barbapapa books when he announced that he wanted to read in french to me. He tried very hard to sound out all the words and did a great job. I helped him out a tad but he was very keen and did really well, especially considering that he has never tried to read french before. He really enjoys the barbapapa books and has already earmarked the ones we need to get next!
Thursday, May 17, 2007
a little time travelling..
this week we have seen the future-it is nano technology and visited the past in ancient egypt, not bad considering it is only thursday! Wednesday saw us in nottingham visiting the Nano Technology fair with some of our friend from french as well as other home ed families from the area. It was hosted by nottingham university and it was very slick and very professional but lacked one essential thing..a concise and easy to understand definition of nano techology. There were lots of examples of how it helps us and what it will do for us in the future but not even the well produced and child friendly film could give us a simple explanation. In the end sam summed it up by saying, "small things helping big things". Which given my limited understanding of the field seemed a pretty good way to explain it. We enjoyed the event and it was fun meeting up with our friends despite all the rain!!
Today we went up to Derby to attend an ancient egypt session run by one of the home ed groups up there. They had a curator from the derby city museum come to talk to the children and he was a very good speaker. Even sam listened with a minimum of wiggling. After the talk there were craft activities and then the obligatory game of tag. No matter where wer are or what group we are attending it always seems to end in a game of tag or chase. We didn't know a soul at the group but that didn'ty matter to sam who wasted no time in making friends and then joining in with their game. They seemed a nice group and we would probably go back, my only hesitation was the cost. The session was £7 which seemed an awful lot given the simplicty of the craft actitives on offer. Perhaps the hall costs are high, not sure. Think they are going to do a viking session which would fit in well with our trip to norway.
Monday was the second session of our home ed group and we had two new families. The theme was spring again and the worm farm when down well as did the wind power experiment. The children dipped ping pong balls into paint and then blew them across a sheet of lining paper to replicate the wind. Think we used half of V's baby wipes cleaning all the paint off the floor! We had fun and I hope the others did too. Next session we are doing space ( three guess as to who suggested that!) and have found a great DK book with lots of experiments for us to try. Good thing we are doing two sessions on space as there will be plenty to keep us busy.
Today we went up to Derby to attend an ancient egypt session run by one of the home ed groups up there. They had a curator from the derby city museum come to talk to the children and he was a very good speaker. Even sam listened with a minimum of wiggling. After the talk there were craft activities and then the obligatory game of tag. No matter where wer are or what group we are attending it always seems to end in a game of tag or chase. We didn't know a soul at the group but that didn'ty matter to sam who wasted no time in making friends and then joining in with their game. They seemed a nice group and we would probably go back, my only hesitation was the cost. The session was £7 which seemed an awful lot given the simplicty of the craft actitives on offer. Perhaps the hall costs are high, not sure. Think they are going to do a viking session which would fit in well with our trip to norway.
Monday was the second session of our home ed group and we had two new families. The theme was spring again and the worm farm when down well as did the wind power experiment. The children dipped ping pong balls into paint and then blew them across a sheet of lining paper to replicate the wind. Think we used half of V's baby wipes cleaning all the paint off the floor! We had fun and I hope the others did too. Next session we are doing space ( three guess as to who suggested that!) and have found a great DK book with lots of experiments for us to try. Good thing we are doing two sessions on space as there will be plenty to keep us busy.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
we do like to be beside the seaside
Our wanderings today took us to the north norfolk coast, here the boys and miko are on cromer beach. We had lots of fun despite the showery weather and sam was most upset that we didn't stop to make sand castles. Rogue really like the water and had endless fun chasing waves. Miko on the otherhand stayed as far way as she could from the water.
A blustery beach
Despite the iffy weather sam had a blast at the beach. He was soaked by the time we left but didn't mind at all. He jump in the waves, skipped stones and generally ran around like a loon. He and M discovered a cuttle fish, meramaids purse and several crab skeletons.
Rogue attempts to drink the ocean
Rogue had a ball at the beach and spent the whole time chasing waves and digging for buried treasure. Luckily enough I had my wellies on as he kept dragging me into the sea.
Now where does this go?
Concentrating on putting swamp beast back together, luckily we still had the instructions.
hot wheels bridge the generation gap
Sam and Nate reconstructing Swamp Beast. I think that left to their own devices they would have spent the rest of the afternoon playing hot wheels.
king of aqua raiders
Sam and his collection of lego aqua raiders. He put them all together himself without any help. He really is king of lego in this house.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Nate the Great
Today we had the pleasure of spending the day with my cousin nate who together with his wife and her grandmother are spending a week in london. We had originally planned to go down to london but they decided to come up to sunny leicester to see something of the countryside. See the countryside we did but mainly through the winsdshield wippers of the car! We had a great day planned-pub lunch, walking in bradgate with the pups and generally catching up. We did the pub lunch, we did the catching up but the walk in bradgate was shorter and soggier than planned. We had only been there about 20 minutes when the heavens opened. We soldiered on for a little while but it wasn't long before we had to admit defeat. We drove around for a little while then headed back hear to dry off. Sam and Nate spend hours putting together hot wheels games and playing them, I am not sure who was more excited when they finally got swamp beast back together-sam or nate!! I think they would still be up there now if nate hadn't had to go back to london tonight. As a special treat we ordered a gourmet meal for dinner-fish and chips!! Don't laugh-you don't really get fish and chips back home so this was a real treat. We really had a ball spending the day with Nate and the dogs adored him, especially Miko. On the way back from the station sam asked several tme why nate didn't live closer and could we move near him!!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Catch up again...
my level of blogging is dismal these days, sorry. The evenings have been filled with frantic knitting in an effort to finish my current project before the recipient is born. She is due on June 16th so please keep fingers crossed for a safe delivery.I am almost there, having sewed it all together it didn't seem quite big enough so am franticly doing more squares for another row. Have got the backing and the stuffing so it is all ready to assemble. It has been fun doing the blanket but am looking forward to the next project which is a scarf for auntie c.
Not much of note has happend over the last week, lots of little things all designed to either annoy or delight. The microwave and iron both died and the dog sat on the laptop and bent the screen. The first two items have been replaced but the laptop is still working-for now. On the delight front, sam has finally learned to ride his bike without training wheels-yipee!!!! He has gotten the hang of it fairly quickly, helped I am sure by encouraging words from S next door. Despite my kind words of encouragement sam was still very unsure until S said a few nice things, after that he was king of the bike. Guess my little boy is growing up when he listens to his friends over me! He and S have been playing a lot lately, mainly complicated games involving hot wheels cars and setting up show rooms, race tracks and garages. They get so absorbed in what they are doing, it is so cute to watch. Their chatter drives me insane though, now I know why my mom would never stay in the room when I played barbie with my friends!!! The other delight is that my cousin and his wife are visiting from CA and tomorrow they are coming up to see us. It is his first trip to england and from what he has said he seems to be enjoying it. Our plan tomorrow (weather permitting of course) is to show them how lovely the countryside is with a country pub and a stately home or two thrown in for good measure. They are keen to get out and walk around so hopefully it won't be pouring with rain. I seriously doubt that they brought their wellies!! Not to mention that Rogue seems to have decided that he doesn't do walks in the rain. He will jump into a pond no problem but walking in the rain does not seem to be on his agenda.
Schoolwise we are cracking on with first grade and have just ordered the second grade curriculum from sonlight. Apparently the us post office is doing away with m-bag surface mail soon so to get free postage using this service we had to order now. The books all look so good, sam and I can't wait for the m-bag to arrive. We have also ordered the next part of story of the world so will be starting on the byzantine empire, vikings and anglo saxons soon. Will try to time the viking bit so it coincides with our norway trip. Can't wait until we get to the saxon bit, will have to dust off my old text books. If he is really bored I could even subject him to my gradute thesis.
Rogue's last puppy class is this week and we just hope he graduates! he has been very good in class but the teacher seems a bit biased against akitas so she may not pass him. he has done everything asked and hasn't attacked any classmates so hopefully she will be kind.
Not much of note has happend over the last week, lots of little things all designed to either annoy or delight. The microwave and iron both died and the dog sat on the laptop and bent the screen. The first two items have been replaced but the laptop is still working-for now. On the delight front, sam has finally learned to ride his bike without training wheels-yipee!!!! He has gotten the hang of it fairly quickly, helped I am sure by encouraging words from S next door. Despite my kind words of encouragement sam was still very unsure until S said a few nice things, after that he was king of the bike. Guess my little boy is growing up when he listens to his friends over me! He and S have been playing a lot lately, mainly complicated games involving hot wheels cars and setting up show rooms, race tracks and garages. They get so absorbed in what they are doing, it is so cute to watch. Their chatter drives me insane though, now I know why my mom would never stay in the room when I played barbie with my friends!!! The other delight is that my cousin and his wife are visiting from CA and tomorrow they are coming up to see us. It is his first trip to england and from what he has said he seems to be enjoying it. Our plan tomorrow (weather permitting of course) is to show them how lovely the countryside is with a country pub and a stately home or two thrown in for good measure. They are keen to get out and walk around so hopefully it won't be pouring with rain. I seriously doubt that they brought their wellies!! Not to mention that Rogue seems to have decided that he doesn't do walks in the rain. He will jump into a pond no problem but walking in the rain does not seem to be on his agenda.
Schoolwise we are cracking on with first grade and have just ordered the second grade curriculum from sonlight. Apparently the us post office is doing away with m-bag surface mail soon so to get free postage using this service we had to order now. The books all look so good, sam and I can't wait for the m-bag to arrive. We have also ordered the next part of story of the world so will be starting on the byzantine empire, vikings and anglo saxons soon. Will try to time the viking bit so it coincides with our norway trip. Can't wait until we get to the saxon bit, will have to dust off my old text books. If he is really bored I could even subject him to my gradute thesis.
Rogue's last puppy class is this week and we just hope he graduates! he has been very good in class but the teacher seems a bit biased against akitas so she may not pass him. he has done everything asked and hasn't attacked any classmates so hopefully she will be kind.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
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