We’ve had a couple of nice days; Maddy, Josie and i went up to see my nana, mum, dad, uncle, aunt and cousin on Sunday night which was a small but pleasant family gathering. It was nice to take those two to something without their louder sisters and we had a good time. I don’t get up to see my nana often enough really and must do it more.

Monday was equally enjoyable; after various bits of this and that of the “normals” we got randomly involved in patterns you make with one long line and what you can get from them. This was slightly more intentional than it looked to them as i wanted them to explore the shapes that lines crossing make and how patterns can appear out of something random. It seemed like good idea at the time and worked rather well.

If i’m honest, it worked because i did it with them. I must remember that.

Amelie said mine looked like a fat genie.

Maddy’s reminded her of countryside and map making.

Josie thought hers was a brightly coloured penguin. (Will you look at that colouring!) She did another one later and then decided to cut them all out to make a display. She was very proud.

Maddy also did one that she thought was probably a fire fish.

I’m not sure of the educational value of these but it was definitely art, some fine motor skills, and some maths (nodes, i’m thinking nodes!)

Amelie did hers while practising gym – her other leg is actually pointing to the bin but her body rather cleverly hid it!

Fran was at school, although i think she did one when she got home but she is rightly proud of this bead loom design; she drew it out and planned it on graph paper herself.