Important Activities- Ballet

 A momentous occasion has taken place for FI- taking her RAD Primary Exam this week and thus moving out of her class into Grade 1- a very big rite of passage as these girls seem now very grown up! It also means new uniform (very exciting), another pair of shoes and losing the little girl skirt and going to plain leotard. But she LOVES it and I am very happy with the school that we chose for her- Miss D expects an appropriate level of concentration for age, is kind but firm and they love her! The RAD syllabus uses a lovely selection of music on a broad base- from tastefully arranged nursery ryhmes/songs to classic and folk pieces- not just classic ballet music.

 A demonstration of part of the new uniform- we have been slowly accumulating this from a mix of places- with some interesting experiences enroute! Demonstrated is the character set- a flowing circular black ribboned skirt and black shoes (with suede undersides!) for Hungarian/Spanish type dancing. The move up a class has also promoted her in her contemporary dancing too- from pure tap dancing to tap and jazz (more shoes!) apparently- and apparently takes the level up again......(shes just JUST six)- but she is sooo excited.......

Collaging- photo does really do justice- more intricate than they look- a many staged picture- as things sem to be as we move forwards.
She is also making huge leapos forwardf in her reading at the moment- from taking an age to understand the th/sh/ch concept to zipping through 'ight' and magic 'e'. We are heavily into the land of Mr Pink-Whistle at the moment- good old Enid Blyton!

HE or free labour???

 Well....some children learn maths and some learn critical thinking....but how many people have brick laying on their curriculum??? He loved it- dirt, goo, power tools, permanence- at least he wont be complaining when I need to thin out this project!! And the front of the house is moving forward (we have been getting rid of concrete jungle to have proper parking spaces and then a garden)- the garden bit is heading ready for grass- we cant make up our minds whether we need topsoil or to nutrify our broken up clay and rake and go for seed. Just need the wall from us to next door doing (next door is a builder and want to do that bit himself- obviously doesnt want our free albout near it!!)

As Halloween leaves- Christmas approaches.......

Halloween

A Halloween spider from my little man- very proud! They seem to have gone a little Halloween mad this year- not sure why- maybe just a little more aware of things outside the house? So we have done Pumpkins and pumpkin bunting and mosaic pictures and mobiles and bats and colourings..... and  best of all....Halloween Camp (with Scouts/Cubs) -which all of them went to (which you are lumbered with when your parents are both the Cub leaders)- however TP thought it was marvellous and the bigger kids were fab with him- he was soooo spoiled even at the point where he was hung from a tree in his climbing harness and left to dangle!! Lots of party games and fun- a little (well actually quite a bit!) of 'candy' but not a trick or treat in sight- a few skeletons and lots of party food. Otherwise they got to have goes at Archery, Climbing and Abseiling, Black Hole Tunneling and SJ got a little go at Rifle shooting- which he was quite impressed with.
Not much sleep was had by all (including the Leaders)- 1 x vomiting cub at 0300 and most still awake at midnight on the first night and 2300 the second....
But the memories that are being laid down for all ( I look back very fondly on my Scouting/Guiding days).

October Days

 A momentous occasion for FI- being invested as a Beaver. She was VERY proud of herself- and theres just something about the 'my uniform is drowning me- cos mummy insisted on buying it sooo big' look (I know most mums get that with the school uniform thing- but I never have- for obvious reasons!). They have been out and busy working at their allotment, going on hikes and having an Italian night complete with spaghetti modelling (cooked!!)

 We have been doing a little work with SJ on his handwriting and presentation. Thus we have visited some poetry - copying out and decorating. This has proved to be very popular!! with FI getting in on the act too- so we have had poems about bats, autumn and witches.

 Last weekend evolved into having a Superhero theme since we found a "I'm a Superhero Kit" belonging to TP at the back of a cupboard- complete with his cape, wristlets and mask. Ended up spending the weekend producing further accessories for all- lots of 'flying' around the house- a little kickboxing needed to be discouraged. Then we all sat down and watched Superman III together- so deliciously dated and corny (isnt it funny watching things you grew up with, again with your adult eyes!) and the best bit I got to crochet a few squares for my blanket pile (almost halfway there with 200 squares)

Now we have moved onto Halloween activities as the outside seems to be saturated with it and we are off to Cub camp next weekend which has a Halloween theme- hence two Vampire capes and a witches outfit are currently hanging in the wardrobe....

A different kind of holiday....

 Well- off we went back to Scotland but for a very different kind of holiday. A 'chain' Holiday Park whereby we stayed half board and had a huge fun pool onsite. We planned just to spend time swimming as a family and letting the kids try out some new activities. Hence the inflatable 'Skidoos' above- that TP was technically too small for- but absolutely loved.
The half board was basic but hot and plentiful and the kids loved the luxury of selecting what they wanted and I loved the luxury of not cooking or planning menus/picturing the contents of my fridge for a week.

 We still had one day out and found a lovely Country Park near Kilmarnock where there was a farm trail and a pets corner, a small Armoury (with dressing up) and a fabulous Ford which ALL the boys of my family loved. We spent ages with this lovely horse and its donkey companions. The grass in the field was a little sparse but outside was some luxurient juicy long grass that they were delighted to hand feed from the childen- friends for life.

I think the highlight of SJs week- the Water Walkez- except he didnt feel he got a long enough go (am not sure that any length of time would have been 'long enough')- certainly something they dont get to do everyday. Also did Fencing, Handpaddlers, Archery, Football and SJ had a go on his first powered Go Kart (which he pronounced AWESOME)- a very big treat.
All in all a nice week- but am not sure we will repeat in the same way.....

Anyway back home and trying to get back into a bit of a routine- we have been reading a lot together- BeastQuest, Mr Majeika, Naughty Little Sister and soem fairy ballerina books for FI. Lots of Lego- TP is having real Eureka moments on his instruction following skills.
Have been swapping over summer to winter clothes (always a bigger job than I expect) and trying to be a little more hard hearted about what is not likely to fit next year. Trying to thin out a little ( as always it seems).....

A little silence...

Gosh- am not sure what happened- was in such a blogging routine (good) and then it slightly fell apart. A few computer glitches which seem to have made it incredibly hard to find my pictures, let alone upload them- which turned that bit into a fight followed by a general feeling that we didnt seem to be up to much- living/existing.. lots of rushing...yet seeming to stand still...piles of stuff not moving....tasks to be done hanging over me....apathy
Then a holiday... broke the routine and was a nice distraction but still didnt move things forward and a funny stretch at work- very bitty and bobby....

Anyway- might leave it there for today- have took photos off phone- so need to sort then will do a proper post tomorrow...

SJ- surviving eight years.....

 My goodness- young man- you were a shock to the system....10 months of waiting and worry about your arrival and not much planning on the 'what came next' bit!! It would appear that you have survived your uninitiated parents steep learning curve (but then most firstborns do!- somehow).

 You even survived the cloth nappies-even if you did have bad nappy days (soooo cute!!!)

 You even survived (just about) the siblings we have inflicted upon you. In fact you are pretty wonderful with little ones (even if you do make their mummies horrified- who is this boy playing with my precious child- is it possible that he is an innocent young man who is actually fascinated by babies- never!)

Soo excited about moving into cubs and going to camp. Loves lego and K'nex. Fascinated by WWII and ships. Loves stories and snuggling. Loves colouring and making models.

Happy Birthday- how time is rushing by...