Paid the Postman

Finally got organised today and sent out our postcards for the exchange . I did labels then Pud decorated them and signed her name, and did it really well i thought – her writing is really coming on. We took them to the post office and she stuck on the stamps (with a quick chat about what stamps were) and went into the sorting room to post them. I post out my business parcels from there every night so i am good terms with the chaps who do the evening shift – they were really nice to her.

Moo went off to nursery again today – we had quite a lot of routines and stress from her again over the weekend, possibly cos i went away and came home poorly, but also i think cos she is tired and finding the change hard. I am not TOO concerned; she is clearly enjoying it and seems smiley and relaxed at home time, probably more so than she ever was after playgroup in fact – so even though its producing some downsides at home, its also producing some upsides too – so i think i shall keep going with it. Believe me, i am watching like a hawk. One lady who is particularly nice there, and who has an Aspergers son, was really nice today – she said she really “recognises” Moo and understands her – she gave me a couple of good tips for the hair twiddling and stuff that Moo does when she gets anxious. I do feel like they are on my side – i feel cautious but optimistic. Moo is utterly exhausted when she gets back but she is not going downhill fast and i was worried that might happen. I must admit it feels good to get time with Pud just 1 to 1 and know that Moo is having a good and useful time.

What with being ill yesterday i hadn’t really got my head in gear about today but as it turned out i didn’t really need to. All the girls have been virtually stuck to the box of duplo over the last few days – its been lovely to see them playing together building houses and gardens and goodness knows what with it. After Scruff went for a nap today Pud played with that and in her room for quite a while and then she came down and we made a Henry collage (and laminated it! lol!) put his family tree into our folder and found pictures of all his grandparents. We might look at castles and heraldry next week so (after a bit of a hunt and emergency post to mudpud!) we found his coat of arms and added that and the Tudor Rose to the folder too.

We’ve been trying to make dolls to dress in Tudor costume but somehow we aren’t getting the doll bit right – i might have to hunt for some cheap ones to use cos its stopping us do the bit we actually WANT to do. Still we have been hama-ing happily again, we have the dress to make, the castle to build, and loads more so i think we will be okay. This Tudor thing seems to have no end.

Today she said “Mummy – i want to learn about Kim (Miss Saigon) then Jesus, then learn to write, then learn how my body works.. then erm… then what else is there to know?” Bless….

Weyhey for Pud!!!!!!!

She has just passed her Grade 2 ice skating badge!!!! She has worked really hard for it and its been a long time coming. The enormous grin on her face and the fact that she didn’t stop grinning and hopping up and down for an hour makes me think she probably likes getting badges! rofl! So much for non co-ercive achievement!

Moo is doing really well to – nearly ready to join the grade one class now – she seems to have had one of those major jumps forward in the last week or two – I really believe in the notion that things happen in “lumps” as parts of the brain suddenly connect up. Moo has suddenly done dry at night, started talking in more complex sentences and started to play much more imaginatively – all in a very short space of time. It had begun before nursery so i don’t think its that, although she seems to be…. whats the word… invigorated i suppose, by the environment.

As for Scruff… welll… cheeky monkey she is!

PHEW

Managed to turn today around i think – this morning started off a bit stroppy and tired, which is never good. Its times like that i am really pleased we HE – i would hate to have to curtail Puds evenings by making her go to sleep, cos it is in the evenings that she really plays imaginatively. She listens to lots of story cds – especially the Barefoot ones recently – the other day she brought down the Shakespeares Tales one and said “This is Ash boy – its the source for Hamlet…. whats Hamlet? Whats a source???” Grin… so it would be quite sad to be saying “no – bed, school in the morning”

However, this morning was all a bit fraught but we eventually got out and had a good time at a new HE group (new to us anyway). They were donig Jewish new Year and we all had various cakes and sweet things, a little talk from a Jewish daddy and then they played loads of games and generally charged around for a bit. Very good for them. Its nice too as its very much their ages group – which you kind of have to see as a sign that HE is becoming popular – but i love seeing the big kids playing so happily with the little ones. Its really nice.

Girls currently off on an e-numbers buying trip with daddy- i get to go to a hen night tomorrow and apparently they are having a party in my absence (I’ll try not to be offended by that!)

Gosh…

Isn’t it amazing what you can run up with some old bits of curtain and some safety pins! (Not the child obviously.. she was a little more complex!)

Well… i shall be gonig to pick the little rascals up in a bit – boy that went quickly. I feel really recharged by the break. The house is tidy and reorganised, the washing is done, we have eaten well, relaxed in front of videos, been for walks, been book shopping, talked and generally had a really lovely time as a couple again. We needed it.

I’m ready for them to come back now. Apparently they have had a really lovely time which is good and so has everyone they stayed with – my whole family was there but me! lol!

I’ve been musing about it while i have been enjoying my freedom and decided that its not HE thats hard, its been a parent and runnig a house. If i dropped them off at school every day, life wouldn’t be easier, i would still have to do the bits i hate and am not good at, but i would also have to rush around to schools and i would know i was missing out on learning with them. I would hate that. I suppose there would be more “time” – but who wants more time for housework, really?

shhhhh….
nobody say anything…. listen to the peace and quiet…..!!!!!! Kids away then! lol!

Right – finally photos – i hate the palaver of doing these – even thoguh i like seeing them done… need to find a better way i think…
The Pomander

First we stuck the cloves in… I’m not sure they are really tightly enough packed for it to last, but it was hard work – she tried really hard with it.

Then we surrounded it with lace (old net curtain) and tied beads to it. This included a conversation on rubber bands and plastic not being available in Tudor times and what they would have had. Frankly, i am not at all sure about the cloves, so i might do a bit of looking up about spice routes and timing…
The Lavender Bag
Now this really is all her own work, including growing the lavender!

First we gathered together our bits and bobs…

Then i taught her to sew it up at the bottom…

Then we decorated it with beads to remind us of the lavender colours – its really lovely!
Haircuts and gorgeous girls!

Not so Scruff….

You took my HAIR!!!!!!!

And frankly – what a stunner! Pud under The White Lady Waterfall at Lydford Gorge.