Life is a Highway - it’s the journey, not the destination

Barbara and tribe came for a visit today. The long day was because from the moment we woke up the kids were out the front door waiting for everyone to arrive. I thought I was impatient lol!

When they did arrive we had a lovely time chatting and looking at books (surprise!!). I even convinced myself that me not going to Melrose was the best idea… Not sure how long I’ll hold to that! I’m trying to think at least some other people will be able to make it if I don’t go and they probably will appreciate it more than me!

Kids had a great time and we even managed to get them out for some fresh air with a walk into town to get some food for tea plus a play at the park before the skies opened and peed it down!

Slight drama at bedtime as Marcus has managed to break a picture with glass in it which was in his bed (?) and then cut his toe on it. Just a little one though but gave him quite a scare.

I am so tired now though, I can’t even think straight. Must go to bed.

cos I’ve been a bit rubbish since getting back. I’m struggling to get back into any sort of routine. Monday was supposed to be hospital and group but didn’t make it to any of them since James had the only car with petrol in and I didn’t have any cash to get any. Can’t wait till payday….

So yesterday we headed out for a walk and to see if we could find any horse chestnut trees for conkers. We looked for ages on holiday and didn’t see any (but big thumbs up for me as I now know what to look for!!) and Marcus has been wanting conkers for ages. Unfortunately although we did see one it had no conkers on the ground. It’s in someones garden so the ones that do fall must’ve been picked up by local kids. We headed up to the park after that. I’m trying to make it a habit to go regularly, esp now it’s getting colder so not as easy to chuck the kids outside.

Education was in the form of books yesterday. We read Now and Then which is an usborne book (from sonlight PreK) and looks at differences between victorian times and now. Also did some more castle diary at lunch time.

Kids spent the afternoon doing the Wallace and Gromit film education cd rom. Marcus and I did the sound editing quite well and afterwards watched our W&G video.

Lots of talking about Queen Elizabeth I and Henry VIII too. My two are getting quite into them atm and they were looking at the guidebook we brought back from Hever castle last May. They so want to go to a castle with a maze in it!

Today I’ve still been a bit lax in sorting stuff out. The house is a bit of a tip and I struggle to get going when it is. They’ve managed to do stuff off their own backs though. They’ve coloured in pictures from sheets we got at Hardwick Hall the other week and cut them out. They played loads of silly games together and generally have been happy enough so I left them to it.

We did pop to the post office this morning though and on the way back found 2 conkers! Kids are so chuffed

Have done some more castle diary and read the story of Cain and Abel from the Bible which has sparked loads of questions from Marcus.

We’re off to magna later so they can let off some steam. It’s a gorgeous day so we may as well make the most of it

We had a lovely time. It was a short trip but still worth it.

The journey down was good, we’d taken the laptop so stuck a dvd on for the kids and that passed the time quite nicely. Arrived much earlier than anticipated too even though we ended up going the wrong way! The log cabin was gorgeous, even bigger than our house I reckon! We were most impressed. Stuck some baked potatoes on to cook and took the kids out to the park to let off some steam.

Thursday was lovely weather and we decided to stay onsite. Mainly because we didn’t have too much money (as normal lol!) so we played outside, swam in the pool, played at the park, rode bikes etc etc. Feel like we’ve done so much nature study, I’ve even discovered Marcus knows what a willow tree is. Pat on the back! We also watched loads of birds and squirrels from the windows of the cabin. We don’t get much wildlife in our back garden so we enjoyed this. I especially loved seeing the squirrels burying nuts which was on my OU course!

Friday it peed it down! But we decided to go out anyway as we’d planned to go to the beach. We had no idea where to go but ended up in Llanelli. As we arrived at the beach the heavens opened and the kids just wanted to get back in the car so we headed off to the supermarket and by the time we finished buying lunch there it was a bit nicer so we went back. Found some seaweed and plenty of shells. Home and swimming again. Marcus is doing well and we’re def going to try him out at swimming lessons soon. Alex is much more scared of the water but we bought her a ring and she’s much better in that. I didn’t get strangled for the whole time we were in since we bought that

Couldn’t believe it was Saturday already today so we got sorted to leave and had one last swim before lunch and a bit of an explore of Dryslwyn castle which was just down the road from where we were staying. Marcus and Alex at first really didn’t want to go as it looked so high up but once we got there they were fine. Marcus was really interested in what went on there and the history of the place. Oh and the toilets but that goes without saying

Journey home took forever it seemed but we’re back now and hopefully some pics (not all, trying to sort some from James’s phone!) can be found here. Probably not in order though. Enjoy!

will update more later. Just trying to sort out *loads* of e-mails. I forgot to go no mail on loads of groups - duh!!

I’ve decided we’re not going to go to Melrose next year. I always hate it when I get there and tbh we can’t afford it atm so I made the decision before I went away. What’s the bet I’ll regret it though…

we’re off to Wales to stay here for a few days. Hoping the weather will be ok for us.

Had a nice day today. I had printed off some hundred squares last night and Alex saw them in my hand this morning and asked if we were going to “do something”. She was so excited when I said yes, she ran to Marcus and shouted “guess what we’re doing something!!” “what?” “Counting!!!!” Cue jumping round like a loon! So we did a bit of looking at that. I wanted to introduce the concept of counting in 2’s so we coloured all the ones we’d count. Did the same with 10’s. Also played I spy then gave up to do some tidying.

Went to see Kris at lunchtime where I accidentally ended up purchasing most of her Sonlight K stuff. Must get rid of some stuff I have to actually pay for it all!! Kids had a ball playing outside, I hardly saw Alex! Marcus was being a bit clingy though.

Home and I’m torn between packing or reading my instructors guides and rearranging the shelves….

See you all soon.

for those who have been into downloading books from audible - free times book downloads. Apparantly one mentioned on this thread is an Artemis Fowl book. Thought some of you might be interested.

well not really manic as we’ve been stuck in the house waiting for my laptop to come back from HP. Which I’m pleased to report it has and it’s fixed! They’ve replaced the motherboard I think. The repair service from HP was fantastic I have to say, pity it broke in the first place, but ya know…

Oh, I’ve not update since Friday have I? Better get on with it!

On Saturday we had a fantastic trip to Hardwick Hall along with various other HE’ers. It was a lovely sunny day which contributed to it going well. We went to Stainsby Mill first which was just down the road and is a watermill. We were greeted by a very friendly staff member who told us about the site and then gave the kdis some “I spy” sheets to find stuff. That kept them busy for ooh all of 5 mins Then they took themselves outside to weigh themselves on old flour scales and to grind flour with a hand mill stone thing.

Then we headed off to the very impressive Hardwick Hall which was holding an Elizabethan day. Plenty of people dressed up and more really friendly staff. They played loads of games outside, they had giant snakes and ladders, giant connect 4 and boules. There was also some tables with activities and both my 2 made their own ruffs.

We had a good look round inside the hall too, I didn’t think my 2 would think much of it but in contrast they loved it. They raced from one excitement to the next. They recognised pictures of Elizabeth I and were fascinated by all the stuff in the hall. We had a look roudn the gardens which again were a surprising hit, but the kids did think it was a maze! Must take them somewhere with a maze Then emergency trip to the toilets and as we were on our way out we met J and her dd E who we had just met for the first time that day. They asked if we wanted to do the I spy sheet in the hall and the kids jumped at the chance so off we went round the hall again! We found most of the stuff and the kids made a new friend in E (and me with J!!). Then we took them back outside where they played Snakes and Ladders again while we sat and chatted. Lovely, lovely day.

Sunday, unfortunately is better left forgotten…

Today we did some more “normals”. Started with some JP handwriting sheets. Marcus read the words on that which iirc were ants, angry (needed bit of help with that one), apple, jam and hat. He drew pictures again to go with them All excited he was about doing it - bless!

listened to french tape - Marcus now knows the french for sweets. Why doesn’t that surprise me?

Played dominoes and read some stories - 3 billy goats gruff and Teeny Tiny plus one Aesop fable - lion and mouse.

Then I left them while I tackled the mountain of washing that needed to be done. They played with playdough and also found a ink pad (oh joy of joys!) which they made pictures with.

Lunch and more Castle Diary. It’s coming along well that. The language is above them in a lot of it I guess as it’s written as if the boy really did live back then but it’s providing nice discussion points like what “breaking their fast” means.

We also stuck a few pics in our timeline book as I would like to have this as a nice reference for them. Printed off a pic of Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, some romans, the nativity scene and Mary Queen of Scots and we stuck them in. Must remember to stcik a pic of the cover of Castle Diary on the date that’s from.

When James got home the laptop arrived (yipee!!) so we headed to the post office adn to the park. Kids are enjoying time ther and I’m trying not to fret about the state of it. We should enjoy it while the swings are still usable.

Afternoon sped by with various videos being put on. Alex helped me make some pizza.

James has managed to muck up my firefox today, dunno how he’s done it. He’s lost all my favourites and my sage feeds so I have been really rubbish at checking blogs today. I’m not going to sort it till we get back from our hols though as I might even get off my butt and do something like tidying and packing!!!

Apologies for terrible typing. I’m getting worse!!

Calling anyone who has or knows anything about Baby Annabell, could you check this for me and just tell me if this soudns like it’s the “real” thing - Baby Annabell

As far as I can see it is, but within the dolls section there is another one (but out of stock) for £40 which seems a much more realistic price. Argos price is £35, not sure about anywhere else.

Of course, I’m impatient and have already ordered it along with some outfits for Alex’s birthday but then I figured some of you guys might know!!

*edit* ignore me, just seen it on Toys’r'us for a cheap price (cheaper actually - £20) and looks the same. Ah well, with 3 for 2 and boots points I suppose it was a good deal. Plus don’t have to brave scary TRU!

Woke up late today - much better! Alex seemed better too, but both mine are a bit stuffy with colds now so I think that might have been the cause of yesterday’s high temps.

Started this morning thinking we must get back into the no telly rule. Well for the majority of the day anyway, I find it makes me feel so much better about it all. So this morning I had a quick tidy up and suggested to the kids that we make some playdough. So we did And that kept them quiet all the way until lunch time!

While having lunch we read a few pages of Castle Diary, explained what a diary was and generally discussed what was going on in the book. Seemed to enjoy it, wasn’t sure if it would be too much for my 2 as it’s a Sonlight year 2 book, but so far so good.

We got all our membership stuff from the RSPB yesterday and along with it was a rook snappy puppet type thing so after lunch we made that, the kids loved it! Looked up what a real rook looks like, which dissappointed them as it was nothing like the cartoony style of the puppet. Never mind. Marcus reconised a yellowhammer bird on the back of my book today though. It was in a poem we read last week and by chance we’ve seen lots of references to them, once at Old Moor, in a book I got last week and then today. He must be rememberign something!

Then as it was such a lovely, but windy day we decided to make my patented kites lol, they’re just a plastic bag with string tied to it! I don’t think I’ve ever made a real kite and I used to do this all the time when I was kid and loved it. So we took them to the park across the road and as predicted the kids had a whale of a time. All the high school kids who were on their lunch break wanted one too!

They had a play in the park when the school kids finally vacated it and a mammoth swing session! (as an aside, they must stagger lunch breaks round here, there are at least 3 shcools near me though all different ages. But there are people out from way before 12 till 1.45 today. Which is a bit of a pain in the backside if they’re dominating the playground which we want to go on. And yes I am too chicken to say anything!!!)

Must have spent almost an hour outside just doing that today which is great going on how cold it’s been. My 2 are so rubbish with the cold!

When we got back we read another story and poem from my Enid Blyton nature book. I like them, they’re twee, but who cares! Then James came in and wanted to work on his car. Kids wanted to see my mum and dad so we all went round there. My dad was in but did his normal and dissappeared once the kids arrived. *Rolls eyes* so I took their trikes and ride on cars to the front garden and we all played/sat out there. More fresh air points!

Home to make tea and Alex was fading a bit, her temp had got up again so we settled down, all calpol-ed up and watched my life of mammals dvd. So that sparked off more questions and interest. It was about bears, foxes, raccoons and more things.

Marcus also played his rumble in the jungle game (which I notice is still out - grr) and the Horrible science magazines have also been out loads.

Wasn’t expecting such a successful day but it seems we’ve had one. I’ve had a mini tantrum getting them up to bed, but I gave them 5 mins and went up, they were both in bed so I tucked them in and left them and all is quiet! Must have gone to sleep straigh away!

Have remembered I’m out tomorrow just in time to send James out for some petrol. I’m hoping he’s going to bring something nice back too

Alex hasn’t been feeling well today (hope yours are ok Merry?) so we’ve spent the day cuddled up on the couch. We’ve watched no end of telly, videos and dvd’s, we’ve read a huge pile of stories. Quite nice really.

Weather is awful, I’ve finally finished my book so I popped to the library just for me (bliss) to stock up. Not that I needed to lol!