Thursday, June 27, 2013

June stuff


Wow too much to write about and so little space to do it in one post. 

Here is a pic of the boys looking cute 

We visited thinktank for another home educator day. We had three workshops booked in. A 3D film of dolphins and sharks (right up Caden's street), Lego trucks which was ok and a workshop about materials which was in a classroom and done in a school style, we were beyond bored and left half way through. I can't tell if it was better for older kids or just that the sit down in front of the teacher, sit still and be told stuff approach is very boring! Probably both. We were lucky enough to go with Jo and kids so they got to play in te beautiful sun in the science garden after. They had a brilliant day. 
We visited leighton buzzard splash park for the first time - it was fantastic. Despite being a bit overcast. They played for hours in the water and at the playground after doing Ben ten adventures on the hammock swing. 


Caden got creative (its happening frequently) with some random object and made a creature. He actually made a hinge with blocks and Sellotape and we used the opportunity to solve some problems that came up regarding the strength of the hinge. It's great how he just makes anything he likes out of any material he gets hold of. 





We attended a pizza making workshop at pizza express in mk. It was hilarious. Miles' pizza was squished and mushed and we were quite sad that they binned it and gave him a perfect one to take home. We all had tasty margherita pizza for lunch. Caden was very chuffed with his and the certificate they were both awarded at the end. 

Yummy ;) 

We also went to mead open farm to have  a play and discovered they have some new attractions. Caden was very taken with the sky walk - for young kids, a version of the go ape treetop walk. 
Miles was not allowed so he bawled the whole time but it didn't stop Caden from making the most of it. Then afterwards they both had a big play in the digger sandpit which they also both insisted on being naked for! No one else was there which made it easier. This time miles wasnt scared of the animals. He really enjoyed looking at them. 

More to follow... 










Woburn safari park

We visited woburn safari park today. It is a great day out with a 'safari' section, a drive through safari with lots of humongous herbivores and colossal carnivores.  


Here is Caden with his 'free' binoculars which he was over the moon about. If you buy an all inclusive ticket for a child you get a free ranger kit, its all thin plastic  stuff but he was really happy about it. Here today, forgotten tomorrow stuff. At least it will recycle. We were very lucky on the safari because we got extremely close to a bear, a lion (shudder- I was ready to speed off if it turned on the car, it was so big and very mean looking - i totally got the fear for a minute), a cheeky monkey climbed on our car to the boys' delight and we got really close to the giraffes and rhinos too! Amazing!

I think Caden actually had the best day of his entire life, ever! He was so happy about everything and so full of enthusiasm. Miles on the other hand wasn't allowed on the Swan boats and didnt like the sea lion show or the penguin show, he had a total meltdown and sobbed heartily for about 45 minutes because he couldn't go on the boats. He needs to wait another 6 months until he is 3. Bad luck! Here are photos of Paul and Caden enjoying Caden's 'best bit' of the day!! 




Paul paddled while Caden steered. They made a good team. 

This was the sea lion tank. caden adores sea life and is fascinated with all things aquatic so he loved watching the sea lions swim to and fro inside the huge tank. Major excitement every 30 seconds when they swam back his way again. 
Trying to feed the penguins with stones. Hmm! 

Here are some elephants we saw walking  past. 

The best bit for miles all day was chasing the poor pea hens. He shrieked with delight and toddled around frightening them off in every direction. 


Finally we saw a peacock with its feathers fully open, a lovely treat! 


Today was a Birthday present for Caden from Grandad Bill. It was a well chosen one because I can't remember another day he enjoyed so well. Paul also said it was going to be hard to top today this summer. 

Thank you Grandad Bill if you read this! From a very happy Caden and Miles (and a happy mummy and daddy!) xx

Thursday, June 6, 2013

May randoms

This was miles helping me to prepare some trout we had bought for tea. They both like handling it and miles was very accurate at placing the fish in the baking dish. 

Caden too. This is Caden pouring a little olive oil over the fish. They both enjoyed eating it. We have fish about once every two months because we enjoy it so much but don't want the pcbs and mercury from our polluted seas regularly in our food. They especially loved it when we got a whole fish and gutted it. They liked examining all the fish parts and feeling and looking at them. Particularly the mouth and eyes.
This is an action shot of the boys playing with the banana on a string. Caden wanted to make a play of Alice in wonderland and needed a moon smile (Cheshire cat) in the sky. So we tied string around a banana and hung it from the light fitting. Just out of reach.. Just. So they then forgot all about the play and had loads of fun trying to jump and leap in different ways to catch the banana. It was rather bruised by the end of the game. Clearly destined to be a smoothie ;)
Jo and I took the kids to discover another amazing playground in Aylesbury. The kids had a blast! 

Above is Freddie and miles on the most amazing swings. Both boys sat on my knee and Because there was a hill where your feet went at either side of the swing, you could get really high and still be safe. They loved it and pretended they were flying.

Below are some pictures of displays the boys have made of their toys at home. The top one is all Caden's aliens line up, then the next is a selection of different creatures he made and strategically placed around the living room. Some were really good but there are too many to show. Then miles did a little display for us of his happyland toys. He wants to do things just like his big brother,  it's very cute! 


Above is the boys doing a bit of colouring in. 


Two examples of us identifying bugs and flowers. They know a few but we are always discovering new things. 

We went to another apple store workshop. This was on learning a 'garage band' app. How to choose and play our instruments and put them together to make a track. Caden loved learning how to do it but the pace of a lesson is too slow for him, he doesn't sit patiently well so halfway through we had already cracked it and enjoyed making a song so we left halfway through. It's a bit annoying but I can't blame him really, it IS hard to sit and wait while other people are being helped and you are 5 years old.  


This was us identifying some birds that we didn't know the names of that flew into our garden. We discovered the goldfinch and we have seen quite a few since then. 


This was a massive happyland session. We built a city and they made stuff happen. I am glad we decided to keep this range after our plastic toys cull. 


This was the first day the stabilisers were taken off. He rides his balance bike well and pedals with stabilisers well, he just has to crack putting the two together now. Hopefully soon. 

Dressing up time!
This is a picture Caden drew of a pirate ship. I love how the pirates look so bloodthirsty with their swords. Nice flag too!
More tractor in the garden shenanigans.
More pictures, from top left clockwise - a pirate map, the dots are lines to follow, a portrait of the totoros from the Japanese anime cartoon they love called my neighbour totoro. The pirate ship as above and lastly a nice milesy squiggle!


More to follow...










New Beginnings

 The boys are growing. They are now 14 and 11. It's been 2 years since we escaped from Thailand and what a couple of years we have had. ...