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

before bed. I’m done in today. Wanted to get lots done but didn’t quite make it.

Both kids did some reading practice this morning. I managed to borrow a huge stack of the stage 3 ORT books for Marcus and he read one this morning really well. I think they may be a little easy for him, but atm I think easy is good. Get his confidence up. Alex read a red nose reader. She really likes them. It’s weird they’re kinda reading the same level of books but there is such a difference between them. Alex guesses loads, so we need to do some more work on decoding I think, but she has come on lots since she couldn’t hear the end sounds. She still sometimes reads ‘h-a-t’ as ‘haaaan’ but it’s much less these days!

The spent lots of today outside with the kids on our street but came in when they saw me testing a new game I bought them. It was Cluefinders year 3. It’s beyond them at the moment, but we can do it together. The maths is a little too advanced for them (M struggles with 4+1 sometimes - rolls eyes), but will be ok if we work at it.

The next Magic Tree House book came with the computer game and both kids are very excited about that. they really enjoyed the Titanic one. I’ve printed them off the passports from the website and they both answered the questions on the Titanic book to earn their first ’stamp’.

And now I’ve lost my momentum with the blogging so shall go to bed!

Been feeling a bit fragile lately, for lots of reasons, none very exciting though. Mainly worries about the kids education. Gets me down sometimes when I feel like we’re not progressing as well as I think we should (or even as well as others seem to which I know is bad - shouldn’t compare).

So a weekend away visiting friends was just what I needed I think. Mostly because my 2 were fairly well behaved throughout (even had some compliments on Marcus!) so of course that just made it easier to enjoy. The castle theme went down well as loads of knights and princesses (and the odd dragon) played in the garden. M isn’;t that much into dressing up but he got stuck in really well.

After a really late night and much too early morning (it felt like it anyway!) we lazed around Chris and Helen’s house, had a lovely pancake breakfast and then some of the girls brought out an electronic set. M was very interested and managed to get involved without making anyone cry (well done M!). So they built circuits and I’m sure a little education was had The most popular was a rotor blade that flew into the air, kept them quiet for ages that did

Lunch was had and we made our exits. Alex made me into a liar when I said I didn’t normally have leaving issues with my 2 if I give them enough warning. After 30 min warning, 5 min warning and time to go she was in hysterics! *rolls eyes* Never mind. M came quietly

We had a fab time, thanks for having us and enjoyed seeing everyone else.

been a while since I blogged. I’ll endeavour to do one later. Have one brewing inside my head, but not sure whether I’m going to write it or not (bit depressing).

Anyway. Does anyone who I may see at the weekend have any Oxford Reading Tree books they may be willing to lend us? I have some up to level 4 but any more than I have would not come in wrong. If not ebay here I come…

I know some people weren’t aware of it, and I think it’s a very good deal - Vue kids cinema £1.50 for each child and for every child you get one adult in free. Hope this helps some people!

A day late, but it seems Marcus has chicken pox. I think anyway. Having never had a child with it I don’t really know, but he has some spots that are a bit blistery so I think so.

But anyway, Marcus was 7 yesterday. Can’t believe it and probably never will each year! My little boy is growing up. He had a lovely day yesterday and was allowed to invite one friend to have a sleepover and go to the cinema and have McD’s so yesterday the Babs dropped off B and a good time was had by all. She then popped round with the other 2 today and they all had cake and a play. Was v nice. M got a Lego racers garage set from us which we’ve been on and off building the last 2 days and only just finished. He loves it. Also got him Mario Kart on the ds again so he is over the moon!

Supposed to be off to Meadowhall tomorrow to spend some of his money, but will have to see if he is ok, although he’s fine atm.

managed to kick Alex off the computer to tell the good news. James got the job!!!!

He managed to get the one that called him on the day of getting laid off. It’s fitting and reading (I think) electric meters, the company is in an industrial estate just behind our house so not far to go at all. He gets a company van so I get to have the car!!! yipee! And lots of scope for getting more electronic qualifications too. So a completely different direction, but hopefully one he’ll be happy with.

I should rename this blog the many adventures of James’s jobs!

So very happy today

Been off to meadowhall today in amongst the interviews to get M something from A for his birthday. Settled on a Horrid Henry joke book from WHsmith. Got a few other kids books too since it was 3 for 2 (and we were in fed up spendy kinda mood!), so kids chose one each (M got a early reading book called ‘Sinclair, wonder bear’ and A got some Rainbow Fairy writing set). I also got M some more books from Nana and Grandpops. Picked up a couple of books that looked very similar to those Magic Tree House books that Helen mentioned a while ago. Anyway I picked up the first 2 in the series, just found them on Amazon - The Secrets of Droon Series, The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet and Journey to the Volcano Palace. they look quite good, still above his reading level, but I’m trying to entice him more! Also got the 1st Horrid Henry book.

Nothing like buying books to cheer you up!

Once home the kids have played computer games and I’ve helped Alex write some letters to her friends. Will have to get some stamps tomorrow and post them. Handwriting practise at least!

Which reminds me, does anyone fancy doing a postcard swap? I know we did one ages ago and it went down really well with the kids. They both want to do one again and since they know the people we’d be sending to and getting from I reckon they’d get more out of it! Anyone up for it? Let me know and I’ll see about getting peoples addresses and distributing them.

Alex has lost her other tooth from the bottom 2.

Alex has been coming on leaps and bounds with her reading, I think I could say she is reading now. It’s always been a bit hard for her though, dunno why, but she’s well on her way now.

Marcus has been reading his joke book he got a couple of years ago and has come up with some new jokes. Wow, he’s reading for pleasure!!! Have been trying to sell him on the idea of horrid henry books since hearing Ernest was reading them. might get him one for his birthday.

I don’t feel like blogging, but if I don’t blog about it soon I never will and then I’ll look over my blog all nostalgicly (don’t think that’s a word) and wonder where it is.

I wasn’t completely up for camping this year I don’t think. It was just all proving really stressful getting ready, probably because James was coming and we had less space in the car. We really struggled to fit everything in, I think we need a roof box (or a camper, but maybe we’ll have to wait on that one). We managed to get there in good time, about 11.30am if I remember rightly, after a really good journey and managed to pitch the tent on the uneven ground. I kept getting it all wrong though and remembering stuff I’d forgotten to do!!! Kids started as they meant to go on and fell back into friendships straight away. After eading to Morrisons to get some food for lunch we settled down on the picnic mat to watch Sarah put up the folding camper - free entertainment that wasn’t Sparky! The rain came down in the afternoon/evening in such a way that we really felt it was muddlePUDDLE camp. Tried to help out Nic and Ady with their tent but it was all kind of conspiring against us!

I think the 1st and 2nd day were probably the best, because I could cope with a muddy field. I could cope with rain and wet kids (they were much more sensible this year than a couple of years ago!) but I really couldn’t cope with the stink that started to come up from the field. It was disgusting. Anyway, Sunday I think we went swimming and just dotted around being sociable. Well trying to be. We had really bad wind and rain that night again and the tent collapsed in the middle of the night which was a slight pain. I think it was due to being pitched slightly uneven.

Monday was… erm… can’t remember. Probably wet again! Was that the music workshop? Em did a fantastic job of a workshop making instruments and then managing to make it all sound musical. We all really enjoyed that one Yeah that must have been Monday as that was the day we were wondering whether to move the tent due to encroaching puddles. Went swimming again, leaving James behind this time. Remembered to wear my glasses in the pool so I could see both kids this time. Monday night again saw lots of wind and rain and the tent collapsed again. I’d had enough in the early hours and resolved to enquire about statics in the morning. I was getting tetchy and taking it out on James. I really didn’t want to have a bad week. I can cope with myself being grumpy if I’m on my own, but I find it harder with James.

So first thing on Tuesday I booked us into a chalet. they had 2 things left in the whole place so I was really pleased to get somewhere dry and only cost us an extra £25. Bargain. Spent some time on the beach that day, cacthing up on the news about Sheffield and the floods and just enjoying the warmth and dry feet feeling! Actually I’m glad I didn’t see the flood pictures while we were camping as I think I may have been a bit paranoid! Oh actually that must have been tie dying day too which was fab again.

Wednesday was Africa Alive! which was really nice but it always seems a shame the kids like the ducks more than the wild animals! Jax came back for tea and I think I spent the evening in the chalet as it was James’s turn to be sociable in the field.

Thursday we headed off to Lowestoft for a short while and spent sometime on the beach collecting stones. It was also cabaret time and both kids wanted to do something this year. Marcus decided to do jokes and Alex was going to do some too till last minute when she wanted to sing something instead. Was very proud of Marcus getting up there as he can be very shy. He’s such a different boy round people he knows. Alex was a little bit shy so I had to go up with her but well done to her for trying too. Had a lovely evening down at the tents, kids stayed down for a while till James took them back and left me round the fab campfire!

Friday morning we had to go as the chalet was only till then. Packed up in record time and headed down to the field to say goodbye but most people were still in their tents as it was a bit yucky outside. Got home in good time with no road problems.

All in all I had a good week, but it could have been much better. I like camping at these things as it’s much less hassle to let the kids go off and play while you potter around the tent doing whatever, then wander off for a chat. the days are just nicer. Maybe I’m just reminiscing about last year too much! I enjoyed catching up with people again as ever andlooking forward to teh few meet ups planned in the next 2 months.

Big thanks to all who did stuff for camp, really appreciated it!

shit fuck bugger

was meaning to come on and blog good stuff about camp and the last few days. But James has just phoned up and said he’s been laid off at work Not his fault, apparantly the bloke just can’t afford to keep him on or something. So totally gutted. Supposed to be off to dublin next week for M’s birthday but can’t now, at least flights didn’t cost us anything. ARRRGHH!!!