Got Your Money

O, 2, is Lego tastic :)

O, 2, chose these red roses last week, they didn't look much in their packaging but they have opened out something pretty special

Roses, round two of seeds germinating and fresh bake cookies cooling. This is how we roll on a home Saturday.

Got Your Money

Yesterday, as I was settling in for my facial, the therapist asked how long I had been a member of the gym and, as we began to chat, I mentioned that I had lost 10kgs in weight since January. "I don't know what that means." She said.

She looked pretty young so I was surprised and asked if she used pounds or stones instead.

"Where you not taught using metric grams, kilograms, meters, centimeters at school?" I asked

"Probably," she said "But I wouldn't have been listening."

and there, any guilt that might have been surrounding my having an indulgent facial on a Friday morning rather than being swept along in the "end of term" fever evaporated on the spot.

She turned out to be 18 with a sought after job in a popular location..........and, in 20 or so years of having facials I have to say my skin has never looked so good as it does today! It is glowing!

Our eldest S, who is 7, and never been to school or nursery has frequently expresses surprise that people learn and are taught about things they are not interested in. She remembers facts about history because she adores history. She files it all away in boxes in brain. Even the knowledge we are examined on we quickly forget. Home education forces you to ask big questions about why you know what you know! Over time I have become very comfortable with S being interest led. In Other News At breakfast we were talking about The Daddy One's watch which needs fixing and S told us that Queen Elizabeth I wore the first watch but thought it was an odd bracelet! We had no idea!S and I walked to the library thinking we were going to collect a history book but it turned out to be a Molly Moon. Along with Jane Blonde these are two series S is really enjoying at the moment. It seemed lots happened when I was out yesterday including sunlight paper printing. I shall have to take a look and report back. S & I made these fabulous cookies this afternoon.

They were the first match on google! Her maths weighing out grams, using the 50g marks on the butter, - the recipe called for hot water on the baking powder and S remarked that it looked like a bath bomb which of course it did! - and using the kitchen aid - I see the day when she can cook without my assistance will soon come.

The Daddy One made all of O's lego cars sets (8201 x2, 8424, 9479, 9484, 8206) for him :)

Liberation

S's Latin book has been out again today - Latin really is the foundation of so much she is interested in from Plant names to spy code!

Look at the photo. Long sleeves! Because the schools have broken up those blue skies are gone! My paternal Nana would often remark that "The sun always shines on the righteous." I am beginning to think it always shines on home educators

We called into the local farmers market on the way back from the library and S chose some bubbles each for she and her brothers.

Just realised E hasn't been on the blog much today. He and I snuggled in and read "Flat Stanley and the Japanese Ninja Surprise" last night.

Scooby Doo remains very popular with the trio. A selection of "What's New Scooby Doo?" "Mystery Incorporated" "Scooby Doo, Where are you?" have been on the menu today

Lovely Day

Lovely Day

For most of today my hair has been full of pink mud! This morning I had a wonderful espa facial at the gym as a little treat to self! My skin feels amazing and is really glowing :)

Had my six week assessment session too - despite not having been to the gym in a week (The Daddy One in Texas, staying over at Grandma and Grandie's and the silly cough (that has now departed) all keeping me away) I lost 2.2kgs last week!! Woop! Woop! My new program is more challenging but in a good way! My weight is now the same as it was in July 2003 at our wedding! There are eight weeks left to run on my gym membership which feels about right. It will be right to use Fridays to do individual activities with the trio again for example.

The trio stayed home with Smart Sandals / Weed and The Daddy One then we met at Fishers Farm for lunch and: toboggan run, pedal go-karts and tree house fun.

Another glorious warm day.

Not much "home-educating" to tell you about today. To be fair I haven't looked at what went on whilst I was out this morning. A "day-off" for The Mummy One! Am just about too tackle two weeks laundry.

In Other News

S was looking at the picture on the front of the Brighton festival guide and said how it remained her of Babe Rainbow by Peter Blake at Pallant House in Chichester. I believe that is know as art appreciation in the jargon!

The Answer

The Answer

Forgot to charge my camera phone last night so no photos on the blog today. Shame as it has been another fabulous blue sky day of spring warmth. Actually what really happened was that sandwiched in bed with all three of the sleeping trio last night I decided to stay there!

Our original intention for today was to head to Fishbourne Roman Villa, although we don't usually do two "educashional" trips on the bounce the schools are off for the Easter fortnight from Friday meaning we won't gallivant so much if at all (well with handily placed industrial action and ""in-set"" days in reality some are already) but............

.......Once The Smalls realised The Daddy One would arrive home whilst we were out they weren't budging!

So we did some Victorian paper doll cut outs (from the same series as S's Roman and Regency dolls) and talked about the Victorian era.

Then, Daddy came home! With: "Design by Barbie," Lego Cars cars and Lego ninjago in his suitcase from America. As if the excitement of seeing him was not enough....

We went to Fittleworth helter skelter park after lunch so Daddy could have a jet lag siesta - S, 7, managed the climbing wall and E, 5, and I played football on the grass for ages. His passing is really improving.

It being pay day today I filled the bus with its monthly fuel meaning I joining the panic buying pre-strikers in the queue! Doh!

O ran off as we were leaving the park and headed straight into a lamp post! Bang!

S & E have gone to the allotment with The Daddy One to show him what has grown whilst he has been away.

Ooh monthly mega shop has just rung the bell...........That's I'll be me unpacking for the next little while.

Have my gym assessment tomorrow six weeks in with a program for the next six weeks. Be interested to see what I weigh as, although I did have two glasses of fizz, I have remained on form but Boy! Have I been hungry!

Straight Outta Compton

Straight Outta Compton

Is there somewhere really close to where you live or that you regularly pass on frequent journeys you make about which you often say "we really should stop and go in there?"

For me, in my London daze it was Tower Bridge. I drove over it daily for years before ever properly exploring inside.

Well, today we have been to Watts Gallery in Compton. One of the places on our 2012 check list that we travel past regularly on our way to my parents house. We set off just after lunch, and had a very pleasant couple of hours looking around. S, 7, leans far more towards Victorian art than I do and, as she is the one being home educated....... She really enjoyed the alabaster Medusa head, the bust of Apollo's wife; did some fabulous detective work matching up a dress in a cabinet to the outfit worn in a portrait on the wall and last, but by no means least, was the fabulous Losely farm ice cream :)

A kind guide gave us too children's packs which were well thought out with a wooden clipboard to lean on and containing top quality lyra coloured pencils. This activities relates to the portrait room packed with Victorian heros and asking you to complete your own hall of fame. I was flattered to be included.

E enjoyed Medusa too but he is not a fan of dark galleries, just about persuaded him to walk in further to see the large horse sculpture and he caught site of a, rather spooky looking, head of Christ with a garland of giant cocktail sticks around his head and wouldn't go any further. The fabulous thing about today was that it really didn't matter. He and I did the outside activity trial looking for the: sun dial, weather vane and pottery area whilst Grandma shadowed S (and rather enjoyed the gallery too) and O and Grandie well, they snoozed and siesta in the glorious sunshine. We are very fortunate to have such great support.

In Other News

One more sleep til The Daddy One returns home! Managing excitement is, in someways, trickier than might first appear and we have had a few temperament wobbles today.

last night S, 7, asked me what a "Snaggle tooth" was - I had no idea so we looked it up together. Then, later, when I was reading a dinosaur bit to Et there was mention of the Sussex iguana don skeleton that was found 15 or so miles from our house.

The fabulous black and red fruit 70th birthday cake in yesterday's photos is to have its candles lit a second time at a party on Saturday so it was left in Grandma's capable hands. Just before sleeping S came out of her room and said "I am too tempted by the cake, I had to come away because I was scared I was going to eat the icing bit." I was SOOO impressed. Such maturity in one so young.

Home to find the final Jane Blonde book on the door mat. That's literacy hour (or two) covered then

Another blistering blue sky March day. Bonkers weather but I'm not complaining. Might have to head to the allotment after supper. We went to another park later on yesterday. Great to have that "third summer leg" back to the day.

A Suprise 70th

A great Tuesday at Grandma and Grandie's but not before there was not enough patience to last for the whole of yesterday. As I was doing the whole solo adult bath bed thing O,2, drew in green coloured pencil on the sofa. Neither of the bigger two ever indulged in such toddler antics, fortunately the washing machine saved all but not before the hard stopping moment.

Yes, I know people are more important than things but of the whole parenting continuum which, for us, has featured full confidence in: scan free pregnancies, home births, declining vitamin K injections, not having health visitor contact, being a stay at home Mum in preference to nurseries & day care, co-sleeping this is the area where my confidence in coping is at its very lowest. I am cross and have, as yet, failed to find a way to deal with this type of event more effectively. Not my best ever bedtime.

So it goes.

Brighter tomorrows. My first wake up at 4:48am was way too early so more snooze saw us scramble to leave at 7 am. The 70th breakfast birthday party was a surprise you see and surprise parties are not really so effective without any guests! So, at 9am there were 10 for champagne breakfast. My first drink since January 9th was a glass of fizz with breakfast.

How decadent!

The trio have been fabulous today. Made gorgeous birthday cards, (O was really funny he said he needed a 7 and T from the sticker sheet not a zero!!) they sang, played playmobil, little people, mario kart on the wii, dressing up, waitresses and we went to a very cool park near G&G's called "Frimley Lodge Park" with a sand pit, community allotment and very long zip wire.

We have, as they are in flower everywhere, been talking about Magnolias today - and I learnt that they are millions of years old and evolved before bees to be pollinated by beetles. Fossiled remains provide the clues, I never imagined that there were flowers so long ago. Not just The Smalls who are learning all the time.

The first time we have been to parents since loss Belle. S, 7, has a brand new single bed of her own to sleep on tonight and is pretty excited about that. The Grandma One made the stunning cake in the photos.

We skyped with The Daddy One at lunch time and, fantastic news, he is heading home 48 hours earlier than anticipated in 48 hours time. Am drip feeding the news to The Trio who will, almost certainly, burst when they see The Daddy One. On skype today it was like the end of the railway children with "Daddy, oh my Daddy."

One Thing

One Thing

A later than usual start to the morning followed by a hilarious game at breakfast that went something like "I'd like a boyfriend who.........." S, 7, pointed out that technically E and O should be playing girlfriend but no one seemed much bothered so it remained as boy. Some of the highlights were:-

"I'd like a boyfriend who.......

....is nocturnal." (S)

....is made of lego with playmobil hair." E

....is made of ice cream" (everyone!)

..is made of sherbet necklaces." S

......that glows in the dark." E

.........who has bums on his head." (O, 2) Cheers for lowering the tone there O!

Hilarious. After breakfast there was so much contented play (and I mean contented in the real sense of the word not the bastardized GF sense) that I was able to paint my nails. Toes and fingers. It has been YEARS since that happened. S & O played with the Fisher Price little people a game spanning history and geography in several indirect ways. Play is so important.

Then we headed into nearby Horsham for a meet up at the big park with the home ed group and a whizz into town. E and I spent the whole car journey talking about how we were going to avoid a repeat performance of our disastrous park meet up at Littlehampton last Monday.

When your uber stylish Italian friend suggests you might have shrunk out of your clothes it is time for action and The Smalls were patient whilst I selected some new trousers.

and, after a bouncy start, E seemed to have calmed down then he and S had a major eruption in the dragon maze that saw a Benny Hill esqe moment of me, lost in the maze, trying to reach them.

My intuition is that this will be a family centric summer for us. Allies at home the gender divide turns the siblings into adversaries in group settings. It is just too wearing for me. Obviously The Daddy One being away is not helping but really? I am forced to reflect that had I been raised as anything other than an only child having a family of siblings would have seemed less appealing.

It seemed we had just sorted that then reports of E pushing people reach my ears. Just as I was feeling he'd sorted himself out and was sat in the shade under a tree quietly chatting with a friend, it seems he has a reputation now so, in addition to all his other size issues, he now has that to shake. Had a calming chat with my friend in the car but before I lost my temper we left.

On the drive home S read us chunks of facts from a book about planets and we talked about the relative land distances of the space between planets, on the journey back we called into the library and the allotment to water the seeds and for a play in the sand. S & E's first of 2012. There were some other allotment plot holders there. One of whom opened the gate (things like this are more helpful than they seem) and another gave us an Autumn flowering raspberry.

Belle

Belle

Love Al Green, great voice, forever entwined in my memory with meeting The Daddy One and driving a soft top Saab :)

We had a pretty neat Saturday night Grandma and Grandie sleepover watching Scooby Doo before bed and, thanks to the clock change, a decent stretch of snoozing too.

I had already decided not to gym this morning, 3 weeks on and a persistent night time cough is still plaguing me, ignoring it hasn't been working (nor has the medicine I bought on Friday who knew my first alcohol in three months would turn out to be neither cold nor crisp but cough mixture!) so I thought a few days off exercise might do the trick then, the 'phone rang, it was Grandma and Grandie's long standing next-door neighbours, with the very sad news that during the night their beautiful cat for whom they were caring had sadly died.

Very upsetting, she was a gorgeous nearly ten year old rag doll pedigree with eyes as blue as those in the acuve coloured contact lense advert.

Although she had been unwell a few months ago only yesterday she was outside in the garden sitting under the camellia. You can be thankful for no suffering and no expensive vet bills and traumatic visits but loss leaves a hole however you view it.

The Smalls have never experienced death before, in any direct way, and were very upset to see everyone else 's grief. Now, there are those that believe in surrounding children with short life expectancy pets in order to "prepare" them for death, I do not subscribe to this view. Just as I do not believe bullying in character building or that you need to learn how to do things you do not like as a child so you will be able to do them as an adult. It is my opinion that experiencing awful things makes you less able to cope with them in future not more.

S is really sad. She is a real pet and animal lover. Although Belle was something of an enigma during our visits, our general noise and motion scaring her off, as is the way of these things this only added to her elusive appeal.

So, Grandma and Grandie headed home earlier than planned and, aside from skyping with The Daddy One, we have sort of moped and been sad really watching Swallows and Amazons, S made a sign for her door, E has played cars with O and lego spies with S and we have been eating mostly. Another glorious sunny, warm, day perhaps we might have headed out but for the knowledge that all of our usual haunts will be heaving due to the weather whilst tomorrow we can have them for our own.

Warm draws the crew outdoors but our garden is not great for children. Designed and planted before we had any and separated by a small access road it demands constant vigilance. A long way from the house it is an "inside" or "outside" choice. Harder this season than before with three distinct personalities to accommodate. They want to bury cars in the border and dig up the path and add a moat meaning a constant muddy walk to and from the house. I probably should have taken them to the sand at the allotment but really just didn't feel like it.

Only six more sleeps til The Daddy One comes home. Over half way through the 14 nights I feel we have rounded the corner and are on the home straight.

"Saturday Love"

Saturday Love

Almost as soon as I hit publish yesterday our friends from Muddy Sandy Life arrived for a sleepover. They stayed from around 3pm yesterday until 12 noon today and were great company. After such a tiny amount of sleep the night before I was a little apprehensive about how it would be but, as both the most non-judgmental people we know and our longest standing consistent Sussex friends I figured it would be okay and, apart from a very tired O, 2, falling down the stairs it was great and I bagged a full nine hours kip. Result! Took everyone's mind of The Daddy One not being here at the weekend There was make-up, (including a lip liner moustache that S is still sporting!) stories and movies and sweet necklaces

In the morning we went to the local park, the girls headed off first and E and I called into the Supermercado for provisions. All the way there he was so animated making up stories for me.

At noon we skyped with The Daddy One then Grandma and Grandie arrived and, in his cool soft top car, Grandie took the biggest two swimming whilst O, Grandma and I took the, "They won't hit the top of the containers" seeds over to the greenhouse at the allotment and opened up the sandpit for the first time this year.

It has been another seriously warm day today especially considering it is March. Springing forward tonight!

"Yu Ma"

Yu-Ma

Normally when the trio return to the bus after I have been out alone my music is heckled off within seconds. Not so today. The three of them listened to the whole of this track in silence. The tune that was playing when E was born.

This new seasonal rhythm will obviously take some adjustment I fear. As we didn't use the car yesterday O missed his afternoon siesta so it was a real struggle at the end of the day. He finally caved in really early, about 6pm, which was great in that it meant the two biggest and I spent a couple of hours in bed playing chess on the tablet (really interesting to notice how they are now thinking two or three moves ahead and really developing strategies) but it did mean that at 3:24am OJP, 2, was awake and ready to jump and jump. This, added to to the fact that about 1:30am E, 5, fell out of bed (he hasn't done that in years) and I still have this stupid cough that won't go away! Argh!

Just on the computer chess thing really I think it is about time the phrase "screen time" was made redundant - it does cover a multitude of things not very adequately. The ability to undo moves has clearly speed-ed up their learning process.

You remember that blog post "Operation shift 10kg"? Well, I have. It is gone so say the scales the gym today. I wasn't hugely effective at the gym today. That 47 minutes sleep rather catching up with me but I did make good use of my 2 hours "free" time running a few errands whilst The Smalls made Fabergé eggs for Easter with Weed aka Smart Sandals. O was sad I was leaving. He has a little separation anxiety at the moment but he was fine. According to those height weight graphs probably I could loss another 6 or 7kg but certainly in the gloom of January a target of 20kg would have had me defeated before I had begun. My gym membership runs til end May so I am going to stick with it a while longer. Great to be more energetic and playful. Went, brackets fitted, on the swing today and swung really high with E. It really isn't more complex than eating less and exercising more but that is a big ask with three small people in the family and I am fortunate to have had much support in my endeavours. Whatever remains eating the children's left overs is one habit I am confident I have binned (literally) forever.

When we came home yesterday O saw The Daddy One's car in the garage and said "I think Daddy is in the house" His car has been in the garage the whole time not sure why O hasn't noticed it before and so was v sad to find he wasn't there. S was tearful at bedtime too and E, well, actions speak louder than words in his arena and he has not been making it to the loo on time again. A clear regression.

Oooh the electrician was here at 8am, to find us clearing away from a breakfast of oven baked jacket potatoes, that's how early we were up!! Anyway, nothing to report here, let's just say I flicked the wrong switch and move along. He was fab about it though. Great local electrician. It was a pain in the night as the lego room was out of action (IE dark) as was the TV because the aerial splitter is on the same circuit. But it is all sorted now and I know for next time.

S finished "Golden Spy" last night so she could move onto "Spy in the Sky" this morning. I rang the library to order in the final book in the series "Spylets Forever" but it was not in the library system so we ordered it on Amazon. We have managed to borrow and read the first seven for free so buying one is okay. Actually it is nice when you get a balance between borrowing and buying things and I would rather Jill Marshall had our cash than Jacqueline Wilson!

In Other News

In appears that The Daddy One has taken the fairies that do most of the cleaning and tidying around here to Houston with him.

After lunch we went to the park. Look at us with no coats, hats and jumpers and summer glasses even! been a really warm day today.