It is amazing how much abuse the poor gingies can take!! No holes yet!!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
playing with gingies
MK made these fantastic toys for the dogs. They haven't stopped playing with them since they arrived. WOOF, WOOF, thank you auntie mk!!!
a peaceful moment
Rogue looking very sweet and innocent. You would never suspect that he is a menace!!
sam's latest spaceship
this is the biggest spaceship that i ever built and I am very proud of it. (typed by mom as dictated by sam)
garden visitor
sam's photo of a ladybug in our garden. Being a new garden we don't get many insect visitors so he was very pleased to find this little friend.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
What a silly idea...
Had the shopping delivered yesterday ( I know it is lazy of me but as much as I love shopping I hate food shopping, especially bagging groceries) and for the first time I tried the without a bag option. This is tesco's way of being greeener. It means that instead of packing your shopping, they deliver it all in green boxes which you have to unpack item by item at your front door. When I opted for the bagless delivery I thought that they would leave the green boxes and pick them up next time they made a delivery. But oh no, I had to stand there at the front door and unpack each individual item into the hallway, thank goodness the dogs were secured behind the babygate! It took twice as long as usual to bring the shopping in and was a million times more hassle. I am all for being greener and using less bags but this really isn't the way. Leaving the boxes and collecting them next delivery would be much better, I would even be willing to pay a deposit for the boxes provided that it was refunded at some point.
Grumpy old woman rant over and on with a round of up of what we have been up to since last I blogged. The weekend was quiet as M was on nights. Sam and I pottered during the day, cleaning and taking the doggies out. This weekend has been busy so far. Yesterday was our HE group and we had 3 new families which was great. I don't feel that I really got a chance to chat to the moms though as I was so busy with the experiments. Everyone seemed to have fun and the children readily accepted the new arrivals as if they had always been with us. There were 3 more boys to swell the ranks, the girls are really out numbered at group. Everything is starting to come together and I just hope that everyone is enjoying the group as much as we are.
Today we were up and out early even for us. We had to get M to the train station for 6:30 has he had an exam in London. Spent the rest of the day doing normals and trying to stay awake! Sam was so shattered by bed time that he went without a fuss and didn't even want a shower!
Our second sonlight box arrived and it was like christmas come early. The books are so tasty that sam and I wanted to dive right in. It took all my will power to not give in, if we read them all now we won't have anything for the next school year. The selection of books is fantastic, many of them are ones that I remember fondly from my childhood-a cricket in times square and the littles especially. I can't wait until we get to read them, I am sure that sam will find them as captivating as I did.
Grumpy old woman rant over and on with a round of up of what we have been up to since last I blogged. The weekend was quiet as M was on nights. Sam and I pottered during the day, cleaning and taking the doggies out. This weekend has been busy so far. Yesterday was our HE group and we had 3 new families which was great. I don't feel that I really got a chance to chat to the moms though as I was so busy with the experiments. Everyone seemed to have fun and the children readily accepted the new arrivals as if they had always been with us. There were 3 more boys to swell the ranks, the girls are really out numbered at group. Everything is starting to come together and I just hope that everyone is enjoying the group as much as we are.
Today we were up and out early even for us. We had to get M to the train station for 6:30 has he had an exam in London. Spent the rest of the day doing normals and trying to stay awake! Sam was so shattered by bed time that he went without a fuss and didn't even want a shower!
Our second sonlight box arrived and it was like christmas come early. The books are so tasty that sam and I wanted to dive right in. It took all my will power to not give in, if we read them all now we won't have anything for the next school year. The selection of books is fantastic, many of them are ones that I remember fondly from my childhood-a cricket in times square and the littles especially. I can't wait until we get to read them, I am sure that sam will find them as captivating as I did.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Nuts about Nottingham..
We are just back from a fab day out in nottingham thanks to C who arranged a trip for the french gang to Nottingham Castle. The french gang are all the friends that we have french lessons with. In the end it was only V & I and us and C & D who were able to come. Miriam and the boys were able to come as well so it was a really boys day out. There was so much to see and do at the castle that we didn't get it all done before it was time to run for the train. There isn't much left of the medieval castle due to riots and the civil war but the mansion that is there now houses a fantastic, very child friendly museum. There are still ruins to discover in the grounds as well as caves to explore. The boys had a ball in the play park, in fact I suspect that was sam's favorite part of the day. It is definately a place we will go back to, there was so much that we didn't get time to do. Thank you C for organising the day!!!
Having been crated for a good part of the day, the dogs were delighted to see us when we got home. We took them for a long walk around watermead just managing to dodge the showers. Since coming home Rogue has been practicing his new skill of opening doors to let himself in the living room. Shame he can't do the same when he has to go out at 4 in the morning! He is actually getting better on that front and managed to hold it until 6am today-sleeping in until 6, what a treat!!
Having been crated for a good part of the day, the dogs were delighted to see us when we got home. We took them for a long walk around watermead just managing to dodge the showers. Since coming home Rogue has been practicing his new skill of opening doors to let himself in the living room. Shame he can't do the same when he has to go out at 4 in the morning! He is actually getting better on that front and managed to hold it until 6am today-sleeping in until 6, what a treat!!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
A quiet week..
This week is trundling along as per ususal. We don't have a lot on the cards other than a visit to nottingham castle on thursday and french. We are looking forward to the visit to the castle, though apparently there isn't much castle left. We are starting to get to grips with the local history and the past few weeks has seen us visiting somewhere of historical import. Nothing on the cards for next week yet but I am sure we will be able to think of something. There is so much to see if only you know where to look.
Our first sonlight box arrived, it was the non book box and had among other things Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. I am determined that sam learn how to type, I know and it is one of the most useful skills that I have. He has played it twice and seems to be enjoying it and also learning as well. As the first box has arrived that must mean that the second is not far behind. We are both looking forward to that as the readers and read alouds look really good this year. We are currently reading the Theives of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence. It is about a group of children who lived in 79ad and who solve mysteries and have adventures. Sam is hooked and would like us to sit down all day and do nothing but read. The series ties in really well with our latin studies and what we are doing with sotw at the moment. The author really knows her stuff but then she is a latin teacher, archaeologist and an american, what more can I say! I bought the first 10 books in the series from the bookpeople at an amazingly good price, I do love the book people so many good books at such fantastic prices, just as well I don't have a bigger credit limit and more bookshelves.
We have now watched all the doctor who dvds available at both local libraries and will have to travel further afield to find more. Apparently you can not do an interlibrary loan for dvds which is just plain silly. You can do it for everything else including cds and games but not dvds. Everything in the county library system should be available to all users no matter where they are. Think I feel a letter of complaint coming on.....
Our first sonlight box arrived, it was the non book box and had among other things Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing. I am determined that sam learn how to type, I know and it is one of the most useful skills that I have. He has played it twice and seems to be enjoying it and also learning as well. As the first box has arrived that must mean that the second is not far behind. We are both looking forward to that as the readers and read alouds look really good this year. We are currently reading the Theives of Ostia by Caroline Lawrence. It is about a group of children who lived in 79ad and who solve mysteries and have adventures. Sam is hooked and would like us to sit down all day and do nothing but read. The series ties in really well with our latin studies and what we are doing with sotw at the moment. The author really knows her stuff but then she is a latin teacher, archaeologist and an american, what more can I say! I bought the first 10 books in the series from the bookpeople at an amazingly good price, I do love the book people so many good books at such fantastic prices, just as well I don't have a bigger credit limit and more bookshelves.
We have now watched all the doctor who dvds available at both local libraries and will have to travel further afield to find more. Apparently you can not do an interlibrary loan for dvds which is just plain silly. You can do it for everything else including cds and games but not dvds. Everything in the county library system should be available to all users no matter where they are. Think I feel a letter of complaint coming on.....
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Catch up ..yet again..
I always seem to be playing catch up at the moment, not only on the blog but with life in general. We have had a good couple of weeks full of trips out with friends, normals and family time. We have had two trips out with V & I, one to the hidden gems of leicester and the other to Belgrave Hall, another hidden gem here in leicester. It is a beautiful Queen Anne house set in grounds about 2 miles from the house and a million light years away from the world around it. It is said to be haunted, though the boys were so lively that they were sure to have sent any ghosts into hiding. I enjoyed looking round as did V, hope the boys did too as it would be fun to carry on these history field trips.
Today C and D came over to play, V and I were supposed to come as well but were too busy baking for I's party. D is in sam's french class and the two get on like a house on fire. They had had lots of fun today and were so quiet up in sam's room that we hardly knew they were there! The dogs adored D, especially as he kept slipping them bits of his lunch.
Schoolwise everything is ticking along. Sam's reading gets better everyday and he is enjoying languages more and more. I am enjoying refreshing my language skills along side him and have finally started my latin course. I am not sure who enjoys the interactive dvd more, him or I. He is still science mad and still insisting that he hates math. C gave me the idea of making a board game to help with his times tables and he really seems to enjoy playing, if only I could get him to remember his times tables for more than 5 minutes. If only I could find some way to link them to hot wheels cars I know he would remember them!
Rogue now has a new trick, he can open doors! Not a good thing I can assure you. Came down one day to discover that he had opened the door to the middle floor and helped himself to a whole loaf of bread. That boy is ruled by his stomach. He is now out of his crate at bedtime which means that for at least part of the night we have two dogs and sometimes a boy in the bed. I think it is time to investigate a bigger bed!
Today C and D came over to play, V and I were supposed to come as well but were too busy baking for I's party. D is in sam's french class and the two get on like a house on fire. They had had lots of fun today and were so quiet up in sam's room that we hardly knew they were there! The dogs adored D, especially as he kept slipping them bits of his lunch.
Schoolwise everything is ticking along. Sam's reading gets better everyday and he is enjoying languages more and more. I am enjoying refreshing my language skills along side him and have finally started my latin course. I am not sure who enjoys the interactive dvd more, him or I. He is still science mad and still insisting that he hates math. C gave me the idea of making a board game to help with his times tables and he really seems to enjoy playing, if only I could get him to remember his times tables for more than 5 minutes. If only I could find some way to link them to hot wheels cars I know he would remember them!
Rogue now has a new trick, he can open doors! Not a good thing I can assure you. Came down one day to discover that he had opened the door to the middle floor and helped himself to a whole loaf of bread. That boy is ruled by his stomach. He is now out of his crate at bedtime which means that for at least part of the night we have two dogs and sometimes a boy in the bed. I think it is time to investigate a bigger bed!
Questions that bothered her so..
1. Why do people who volunteer in charity shops look so po faced when you go in to donate stuff. How do they know that I am not donating the family silver?
2. Why if the library system allows you to return books to any library in the county to librarians looks so grumpy when you try to do so. I returned some books to melton yesterday as we were there rather than taking them to the library where we had checked them out and the librarian scolded me!!
3. Why do shoe manufacturers only make boys shoes in black during term time? Boys need some color in their lives too.
4. Why do children and dogs never sleep in at weekends?
2. Why if the library system allows you to return books to any library in the county to librarians looks so grumpy when you try to do so. I returned some books to melton yesterday as we were there rather than taking them to the library where we had checked them out and the librarian scolded me!!
3. Why do shoe manufacturers only make boys shoes in black during term time? Boys need some color in their lives too.
4. Why do children and dogs never sleep in at weekends?
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
8 things
Thanks guys for tagging me!
The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Eight things:
1. The longest I have lived in any one place is 12 years and that was in peterborough. Funnily enough I still dont' know my way around all of it.
2. To earn money for our home ed activities I do mystery shopping and sell usborne books. Sam really likes going with me on mystery jobs,especially if they involve buying something.
3. I am a voracious reader but am much more likely to finish a book quickly if it is a library book. Guess it is something about working to a deadline!
4. I went all the way through the girl scouting movement and achieved the highest award-the gold award.
5. I never listen to music radio stations (execpt radio margaritaville!) only talk radio.
6. I have only ever met one other person with the name Tamatha.
7. I have had a variety of jobs including, sales assistant, cpr instructor, camp counsellor, tour manager for Saga, archaeologist and marketing manager.
8. I got to excavate at Sutton Hoo while in college.
I think everyone on the blog ring has already been tagged but if you are reading this and haven't been then consider yourself tagged!
The rules are simple…Each player lists 8 facts/habits about themselves. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning before those facts/habits are listed. At the end of the post, the player then tags 8 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know that they have been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Eight things:
1. The longest I have lived in any one place is 12 years and that was in peterborough. Funnily enough I still dont' know my way around all of it.
2. To earn money for our home ed activities I do mystery shopping and sell usborne books. Sam really likes going with me on mystery jobs,especially if they involve buying something.
3. I am a voracious reader but am much more likely to finish a book quickly if it is a library book. Guess it is something about working to a deadline!
4. I went all the way through the girl scouting movement and achieved the highest award-the gold award.
5. I never listen to music radio stations (execpt radio margaritaville!) only talk radio.
6. I have only ever met one other person with the name Tamatha.
7. I have had a variety of jobs including, sales assistant, cpr instructor, camp counsellor, tour manager for Saga, archaeologist and marketing manager.
8. I got to excavate at Sutton Hoo while in college.
I think everyone on the blog ring has already been tagged but if you are reading this and haven't been then consider yourself tagged!
Friday, June 08, 2007
Hidden History
Would you ever in a million years imagine that this was in the center of leicester? I would bet that many people walk by the castle area and never know it was there.
Smile!
Sam and Richard III. V and I took us on a tour of historic bits of leicester yesterday and we were amazed at what was out there. We saw some amazing buildings. Thank you V & I!
space construction
Sam's space laser made a our home ed group on monday. He then went on to make a space shuttle, a mars rover and a host of other things. I think it is safe to say that he enjoyed the session.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
As said by Sam...
Have been collecting quotes from Sam this week, here are the best.
As said to S as we were walking to the library, "Are you going to get friction or non friction books?"
"I need time away from my family" as said to me to explain why he needed to go next door and play with S.
"I like Rose better, the other girl has a funny hair cut" he answer when asked which doctor who assistant he liked best.
I am sure there were more but my mind has gone blank, it is too early to be blogging.
As the rain cleared up over the course of the week so too did our week get better. We haven't done anything special for half term this week, in fact we have managed to do school work every morning. The afternoons were spent having fun and running errands. Friday evening we went to ikea for dinner and a bit of shopping. It is so empty when you go in the evening, the only downside was that the dogs were absolutely loopy having been crated and so late in the day and did not calm down enough to go to bed until very late.
This weekend we have been in serious diy mode, putting up shelves, mirrors and a variety of other things. Sam was very helpful though I suspect that he had an alterior motive. He was keen to get done as the two doctor who dvds that I got on ebay arrived yesterday morning and he was dying to watch them. In the end the day was so busy that we didn't sit down to watch until 8pm and as it was so late he only got one episode. To say he was upset is an understatement. We tried to explain that he could have more on sunday how lucky he was as if he was watching it on normal tv he would have to wait a whole week. It seems he has forgotten about how tv stations work and is of the opinion that you can just turn on to bbc or whatever and watch what you want when you want. He was stunned to learn that it doesn'twork that way.
Today is more diy and getting things ready for home ed group tomorrow. We are carrying on the with space theme and we are doing fizzy rockets (again), as well as a variety of other fun experiments. V is bring lots of boxes etc so the children can do junk modeling rockets. Sam is very excited about this and has great plans for his rocket.
As said to S as we were walking to the library, "Are you going to get friction or non friction books?"
"I need time away from my family" as said to me to explain why he needed to go next door and play with S.
"I like Rose better, the other girl has a funny hair cut" he answer when asked which doctor who assistant he liked best.
I am sure there were more but my mind has gone blank, it is too early to be blogging.
As the rain cleared up over the course of the week so too did our week get better. We haven't done anything special for half term this week, in fact we have managed to do school work every morning. The afternoons were spent having fun and running errands. Friday evening we went to ikea for dinner and a bit of shopping. It is so empty when you go in the evening, the only downside was that the dogs were absolutely loopy having been crated and so late in the day and did not calm down enough to go to bed until very late.
This weekend we have been in serious diy mode, putting up shelves, mirrors and a variety of other things. Sam was very helpful though I suspect that he had an alterior motive. He was keen to get done as the two doctor who dvds that I got on ebay arrived yesterday morning and he was dying to watch them. In the end the day was so busy that we didn't sit down to watch until 8pm and as it was so late he only got one episode. To say he was upset is an understatement. We tried to explain that he could have more on sunday how lucky he was as if he was watching it on normal tv he would have to wait a whole week. It seems he has forgotten about how tv stations work and is of the opinion that you can just turn on to bbc or whatever and watch what you want when you want. He was stunned to learn that it doesn'twork that way.
Today is more diy and getting things ready for home ed group tomorrow. We are carrying on the with space theme and we are doing fizzy rockets (again), as well as a variety of other fun experiments. V is bring lots of boxes etc so the children can do junk modeling rockets. Sam is very excited about this and has great plans for his rocket.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
