The first school term 2015

So, not as many photos now, there was a lot to get through. The kids started school. There is some evidence of the school work they have been doing. I should really photograph all their work and then bin most of it to save space but some of the art work I cannot bear to part with. I have two enormous art portfolio bags which I have kept Caden and Miles' art work in from since they first could pick up a pen. I have an idea we may have fun going through it when he is an accomplished professional artist as an adult :) or just whatever he is doing.

Miles had his birthday. This is all I seem to have. There are loads on my phone that I cannot seem to transfer to the laptop so this will have to be it until I get the phone/photo/laptop relationship sorted out.

They had a good Christmas, the French is coming along so much. It is astonishing! Sometimes Caden asks me what the English word for a French word is and once we read the word 'Mercredi'. I said what does it mean? He said 'Mercredi!' in a tone of, what else could you possibly be talking about, it's Mercredi of course... ! I reminded him of the word Wednesday and he looked slightly surprised and then remembered what I meant! Funny! It's hard to imagine that in the end English could be a second language for both of them!

Part deux...

It is such a shame in a way that because I haven't been blogging, I have taken less photos. We have been enjoying our lives but I have been decorating, the kids have been in school and there have also been less 'photo opportunities'. 

We have been having lots of calf babies on the farm ready for our new 2016 venture into beef farming. 

Jan's novel idea of cooking when the gas ran out once. 

Kids having lunch with their friends outside

Caden in hospital after his operation where he lost the tip of his finger. 

Me and Caden in the hospital room. Poor little dude, he really went through a lot at that time. 

Summary of the rest of 2015 - Part 1

I want to keep going now with this blog. As a kind of diary for the children as well as to remind myself of how much I do with them on those days when I feel like I am not a good enough Mum!

Caden and Miles have been in school in France since September 2015 and it is going well.... ! I really never thought I would say that. I think it has a lot to do with the home environment here and the actual school itself. In a way the circumstances are ideal for the school start here in France, more than anywhere else... I will explain.

Bella and Caden are both 7, approaching 8. They are in the same class at school. Jan and I have encouraged their friendship and they are now very close. They do almost everything together in the way that Miles and Caden used to. They are even having sleepovers in each other's rooms which is so sweet. They have spies night together and get some little privileges like staying up a bit later than the little ones because they are older and things like that.

Here are some photos of the things they were up to in May 2015

We took them to the Exideuil fete

The newborn puppies, we kept two of them. 

Marc and Miles are 6 months apart, you can tell that Miles is the youngest but they are both in the same class at school and they both like the same kinds of games. They actually get along pretty well but there are some behavioural issues that have taken a LOT of consistent parenting to make headway with, with Marc and there are a couple of other issues that I now working on with Miles as well. In general they are both doing very well and they take it in turns to play with Caden and Bella and each other. It's reassuring to see them make progress.

One really great thing about having 4 kids all the same age almost is that they all are into the same stuff. If I put Despicable Me 2 on, they all shout 'yessss!' and sit for the film together. None of this, 'its for babies' stuff! It's a real bonus!

So the kids are all doing well, they mostly get along well and the house is slowly becoming beautiful now that all the dirt and rubbish has been removed from it. It is taking time but we feel we are doing well.