Wednesday, December 10, 2014

November 2014 we settle into our new life

It was weird getting back from travelling in the Far East. I had spoken with the kids nearly every day, I knew they were happy but I had underestimated how much having so much time off had distanced me from mothering actually. It was quite a shock to go back to looking after their needs all the time. We settled into it after a few days. They were delighted with their gifts. Caden had asked for a shark's tooth necklace, he wears it constantly, only taking it off for the swimming baths. Miles is pictured here with his real iron, mini axe. Caden said, "I think it's made of stone", I suggested he test it for magnetism. The magnet stuck to it so we knew it was a magnetic metal, probably iron. 


We were moored in the marina for a week following a few hiccoughs with the boat when I arrived back. I felt safer there. We watched a fisherman pull in an enormous fish, he identified it as a pike, we could tell by its long nose. 



One day we went mushroom picking in the woods, we took photos of all the different ones we saw, there were loads and loads. The boys loved being explorers, hunting through the dead bracken for the next fungus discovery.  Miles took it upon himself to use his new axe on as many trees as possible. 


And chopped some rotten wood off a log, he rather enjoyed this!



They climbed about on a logpile house, we were reminded of the Gruffalo story where 'the snake came out of its woodpile house, could this be the home of the big, bad mouse?' 


Caden pulls apart the dead wood, looking for any grubs or bugs. We didn't find anything except a few spiders. 


We found the fire hydrant and just talked briefly about how that marks the spot where water can be accessed. Here is a link to more information about them. http://www.avonfire.gov.uk/our-services/fire-hydrants 


Another day the sun shone into the boat, I made the boys vegetable soup which they named 'chompy soup!' and some crusty rolls which they loved. I felt very productive on that day.


We moved the boat a few times, the boys are starting to help me with the mooring. Caden has watched me tie a few knots (I am learning all the time too) and we are really appreciating this beautiful canal and the opportunities for happiness and nature that it provides us with. The boys ran off to feed the ducks here and then were treated to about four eager seagulls attacking the ducks for the bread. They boys found this so exciting. They are paying attention to stay away from the edge of the canal all the time. 


I have taken the boys swimming a number of times and am teaching them to swim now. They already made some progress but we need to go 3-4 times a week to keep it up. It might be tricky with Christmas nearly here but as many opportunities as we can get, we will go. 

We went to the early years group, Miles is play doughing here with his friends. 


Caden and some friends made a ship here I think, they were cooperating and inventing together anyway. 


Caden, crafting with his friend. 


We put up our Christmas lights. They are battery operated ones from IKEA so we won't drain our battery on the boat at all with them. They are very pretty. Ian found a way to tie them to the handles in the boat with cable ties and now we have lovely little lights all down the galley of the boat. The boys have a lot in their bottom cabin bed which keeps the lights dim when they are reading before bed. 

The boys made snowflakes out of folding paper and cutting shapes, then unfolding the paper to reveal the pattern.  Caden and Miles both used scissors by themselves and  Caden proudly decorated his. Miles did glueing and glittering on a Christmas tree picture for me. So sweet!



We started up a minecraft gaming afternoon, the boys got very excited between them to go onto each other's games. Caden really likes a couple of the boys who go and this could be a new thing for them. Miles was the popular one here when he finally was able to get onto the world. He is really getting very good at minecraft too, he is only three, it is really amazing how quickly they pick it up. 


Us chilling out at home with a nice fire and watching a film. 





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