Proof our days dont always go to plan!

Whew, what a day!

We had a planned trip to Hatfield House to a Tudor Living History day. I have to admit I was nervous about booking it but thought Caden would sit there with the other kids he knows while I took Miles out. I didn't really think Miles would be totally quiet. What happened is that we were slightly late. Then for about two minutes Miles was really noisy and whingey! But the room was really quiet, like an echoey church with a man dressed in tudor regale conveying interesting facts to rapt children. Argh! So we were asked to leave after interrupting his performance for the third time :/ Fair enough really, we were disturbing the peace so to speak. I was frustrated that Caden refused flatly to stay there without me, I felt that it was a waste of a very interesting workshop (or three). But there we are, I don't want to force him to stay (not that I could force Caden to do anything anyway). So feeling pretty fed up, we went off for a walk. It was beautiful Autumnal weather, nice blue sky, warm sun, slight chill to the air and we had a look at some of the shops in a courtyard. Here is Caden antagonising Miles... he has delighted in this a lot today.

We found a quaint little music shop, the boys really liked looking at the Ukuleles, there was one shaped like a watermelon but it was £70, so we didn't buy it. :) We talked about the different kind of guitars there. 

We talked a little bit about the different kinds of building structure we could find, the beams, how they provide a structural support for the roof and how they connect to the wall supports etc. Caden was very interested and a little fearful of the giant cobwebs we could see in the rafters. 

Then fortunately, to make a 3 hour round trip worthwhile (as it was all going down the pan), we found The Bloody Hollow Adventure Playground. It was Awesome! There was a mini version of Hatfield House, (Much more accessible for little ones :) Both of them scaled the ladders, walked around the turrets, Caden even tried to climb the outside, to no avail. 

The King of the Castle !! 

We found a beautiful and perfectly formed mushroom. Not identified it yet but the boys liked looking it over. We also cracked open an acorn to see what the Oak Nut looks like, the bit that the squirrels eat. We were surprised to find it looks like the nuts we eat (though we talked about how these ones make us sick). This got us onto talking again about different kinds of trees and seeds. Caden really enjoys identifying plants, trees and animals/insects. Ill have to make sure I keep up with him ;)

They really loved the seesaw, they are both nearly the same weight now so it works very well for them! 

Being pushed around on their 'skylander ship' called Warnado's Tornado! 

Looking a bit glum on the swings though they were enjoying it really, honest! 

Cadey and me! 

They did some excellent artwork this morning. Caden drew this which represents the Seasonal changes to a tree. I have written in blue the labels he told me to add. The first is a Tree in winter, no leaves, just brown branches, Then Spring, Then Summer, Then Autumn with brown leaves. Really fab little drawing and totally under his own steam. He also wrote his own name very well I thought, again, I had zero input into this, he just did it. Very cool! 

Then, encouraged, he drew these two...

This is a rainforest with a (from left to right) flying lion (for the assonance I guess), a gazelle (good likeness isnt it), a monkey (in the tree) and a gorilla (right most, in the tree). There is a forest fire and he has made good use of colour to show the different tones in the fire. 

Sadly this one came out sideways, you'll have to tilt your head. It is an ocean with a happy whale, a shark chasing a fish and a seagull and a dolphin jumping out of the sea, and some seaweed. Loving the happy faces. 

Even though the Hatfield House planned day, didnt go to plan. I have now very firmly got it set in mind that these sort of organised events wont work for us in the forseeable future so I will save my pennies and considerable efforts. Better to stay local, have more energy and do things they will enjoy and thus learn more from.