was the mood in our house this afternoon-at least from the monster that is. For those not in the know Dave is a tv channel that seems to show car programmes like Top Gear and Fith Gear almost non-stop. From what I can see they intersperse them with intellectual quiz shows at the weekend. Regular readers will know that sam loves Top Gear so was over the moon today when after only two months I finally got around (not that i was procrastinating) to having an antena installed and we were finally able to get Dave. Matt is at work tonight so we had a Dave-fest complete with popcorn to make up for the fact that we didn't get to the movies this afternoon as planned due to the late arrival of the antena guy. Not having watched real tv over the past two years (programmes on BBCi player don't count) sam was unprepared for the amount of commercials-several times he asked why we couldn't just skip them and get back to the show! There is something to be said for watching programmes on line afterall!
Other than the excitement of getting the tv sorted out today and the dishwasher fixed tomorrow it has been pretty quiet since my last post. We have done a little bit of school type stuff everyday and on monday (a holiday here) sam and I gave the house a thorough clean while matt was at work. He was such a trooper and such a big help that not only did I let him choose the movie to watch (Revenge of the Sith again) but I also treated him to pizza. Just hope he doesn't expect the same treatment each time we do a deep clean!
I think the summer really is over-I looked out this morning and noticed that the leaves on our neighbor's tree are already starting to turn, not only that but the horse chestnuts are already starting to drop conkers. Not to complain or anything but we haven't really had summer so was hoping for a warm sept-guess that isn't going to happen so will have to start sorting out fall clothes. Just hope we have a mild winter without too much rain!!
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Andrew Cope and Lara
Another week another author! This monday went to Loughborough library to listen to a talk by Andrew Cope, the author of the Spy Dog series. He was amazing with the children and held their attention from the moment he opened his mouth. He brought with him his dog Lara who was the inspiration for the Spy Dog series and she was without a doubt the best behaved dog I have ever seen. She allowed the children to pet her and laid down quietly throughout the whole talk. He had never even thought about writing a book until getting Lara and it was seeing her silly behavor while watching a James Bond film that set his imagination going. If only our dogs would inspire me like that! ActualIy I could see Rogue and Miko as a doggie bonnie and clyde or Indiana Bones and his sidekick.
Sam really enjoyed the talk and was awed to meet Andrew and at the end and to chat to him about our dogs.
Sam really enjoyed the talk and was awed to meet Andrew and at the end and to chat to him about our dogs.
Listening intently
I was very impressed at how attentive the children were and how respectful they were of Lara and not touching her. All of the children had really good questions for Andrew and some of them knew the books so well that it was scary! Lara was amazingly well behaved, neither of our dogs would have been nearly so calm and quiet.
Meeting Andrew Cope
At the end of the talk Andrew signed book for the children. Sam was excited to speak to him and was even more thrilled when Andrew asked if he had dogs. Sam then regaled him with stories of Miko and Rogue and how they were so much naughtier than Lara.
Newest members of our zoo
Went out one morning this week to discover these guys making short work of the nastursums, they were everywhere. I don't think I have ever seen so many catepillars in one spot before. Sam put one in his bug barn and is observing it, it has now gone into a cocoon and we are waiting to see if it is a butterfly or moth.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
A taste of what we saw today..
We spent the afternoon in nottingham watching this show. It was so funny that I nearly wet myself laughing. The artemis fowl books are perfect for boys (and mums!)-www.artemisfowl.co.uk.
sam and eoin colfer
Today I took Sam and his friend Dan to see Eoin Colfer's one man show 'Faeries, Fiends and Flatulence' based on his Artemis Fowl books. If truth be told, I am not sure who was more excited, the boys or I. Sam and I have listened to all the Artemis Fowl books and I have just read the latest one in the series. They are fantastic books and work on lots of levels so that sam and I can both enjoy them. The show was hilarious, I spent the whole hour and a half laughing-I think some of it may have gone over the boys' heads as it was about the behavor of little boys-some of the observations he made could have been about sam! After the show we waited in line to get our books signed and eoin colfer very kindly posed for this pic. All in all it was a fantastic day out and sam regaled Matt with all of the stories over the dinner table.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Lots of Wii-ing but not a lot of work
We seemed to have slipped into summer vacation mode without really meaning to, this last week there has been far more playing on the wii than schoolwork going on. We have had friends over to play almost everyother day and without exception the wii was the favored play thing. The bad part is sam now thinks that he can both ski and drive based on his vast experience of playing skiing and driving games!! He has the same style for both-extreme speed and crashing where ever possible, all I can say is that if this is a taste of what is to come then Matt can teach him to drive!!!
It has been lovely seeing friends and sam and I are both more relaxed and when we have sat down to do work he has been more enthusiastic. We have sidelined our current read aloud (A little princess) in favor of the latest Artemis Fowl book-Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox. It is a fantastic story and we both really love the series. In fact we like is so much that on thursday we are going to nottingham to see the author Eoin Colfer do his stand-up routine called 'Fairies, Fiends and Flatulence', Sam is hoping for lots of flatulence!! He is also hoping to get his copy of the book signed-he is building up quite a collection of signed books and seems to enjoy meeting authors.
Apart from wii-ing and the odd bit of schoolwork all sam's attention is focused on Sept 14 as he and matt are going here-http://uk.games-workshop.com/gamesday/2008-preview/1/ and boy is he excited. A whole NEC full of warhammer and warhammer related products-he will be in 7th heaven. I have decided to stay at home so that the doggies don't have to be in the garage all day and the pups and are planning a quiet day of walking and relaxing.
It has been lovely seeing friends and sam and I are both more relaxed and when we have sat down to do work he has been more enthusiastic. We have sidelined our current read aloud (A little princess) in favor of the latest Artemis Fowl book-Artemis Fowl and the Time Paradox. It is a fantastic story and we both really love the series. In fact we like is so much that on thursday we are going to nottingham to see the author Eoin Colfer do his stand-up routine called 'Fairies, Fiends and Flatulence', Sam is hoping for lots of flatulence!! He is also hoping to get his copy of the book signed-he is building up quite a collection of signed books and seems to enjoy meeting authors.
Apart from wii-ing and the odd bit of schoolwork all sam's attention is focused on Sept 14 as he and matt are going here-http://uk.games-workshop.com/gamesday/2008-preview/1/ and boy is he excited. A whole NEC full of warhammer and warhammer related products-he will be in 7th heaven. I have decided to stay at home so that the doggies don't have to be in the garage all day and the pups and are planning a quiet day of walking and relaxing.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Our nocturnal visitor
This may look like a bundle of twigs but it is actually a hedgehog! Rogue discovered it sunday night on his last trip out before bed and I don't think he was very impressed! I quickly got him inside and called for Matt, who then got sam who was in bed but not asleep (big surprise there) and we all trooped out to have another look at our visitor. Matt put on gloves and put the little guy in the flower bed. Sam was hoping that he would be around the next morning but he had wandered off back to his home. Hopefully he will be back.
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Help, I've disapeared from the blogring..
If anyone out there on the muddlepuddle blog ring knows who is in charge and how to contact them could they please let me know! I know that I don't blog as often as I should but I would still like to be on the blogring!
Monday, August 04, 2008
Good enough to eat..
at least that is what a rogue mosquito thought of sam. He developed an allergic reaction to the bite and his left leg swelled to twice its size. We managed to see the dr the same day it got bad and he was given antibiotics and told to keep of his leg. So friday instead of going to nottingham castle with art group we spent the day at home-sam on the sofa watching dvds and me ironing. We also managed a top gear style geography lesson. Sam has decided to find out where cars come from so we spent a nice hour tracking things down on line. Did you know that the Dacia comes from Romania and that the Roman name for Romania is Dacia? History and geography all from cars, home ed doesn't get much better.
Sam's leg was much better by sat morning so we set out for a sightseeing day in lincoln. It is a beautiful city and we had great fun exploring the castle and steep hill.
Sunday we went down to see Nan, Matt's grandmother. Matt and I hadn't seen her since xmas, though sam saw her last month. It was lovely to see her and we all enjoyed lunch at a garden center so posh that it didn't seem to sell plants, unless you wanted giant acers at £4000!! We all enjoyed the day, sam and nan especially, they seem to delight in each other's company. When asked what his favorite part of the day was he replied "seeing nan", which is not something you expect from a 7 year old.
Sam's leg was much better by sat morning so we set out for a sightseeing day in lincoln. It is a beautiful city and we had great fun exploring the castle and steep hill.
Sunday we went down to see Nan, Matt's grandmother. Matt and I hadn't seen her since xmas, though sam saw her last month. It was lovely to see her and we all enjoyed lunch at a garden center so posh that it didn't seem to sell plants, unless you wanted giant acers at £4000!! We all enjoyed the day, sam and nan especially, they seem to delight in each other's company. When asked what his favorite part of the day was he replied "seeing nan", which is not something you expect from a 7 year old.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Creating lego at nan's
Today we went down to Matt's grandmother's to take her out for lunch. After a nice lunch at a very posh garden center (they were so posh they didn't seem to sell plants!!) we back to her house for a spot of lego building.
Sam and Nan
Sam and his latest lego creation with Nan. Not sure she is too happy that it is a spider!!
Lincoln cathedral from the castle
A view of the cathedral from the castle, M took this pic and it really captures the beauty of lincoln. Apparently the cathedral was used in the movie of the Da Vinci code. We had a nice day out and managed to avoid the showers.
Hanging out at Lincoln Castle
We spent yesterday at lincoln, visiting the castle and browsing on steep hill. This is sam on the ramparts.
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