Water Fights and Stary Nights

At the weekend we started the celebrations for William's 8th birthday.

His actual birthday was on Sunday but Josh was out most of the day at Celebration Surrey event where SAVVY where performing.

That's Josh on the far left of the picture - shades on of course!

Actually it was so very hot - being the hottest day that we'd had of this warm weather - that they came home from the event earlier than we had expected.

We invited some friends over and we had a bring and share kind of birthday meal for William.

On Monday morning we packed everything up and went over to my Mum's. She's got a big garden - and isn't on a water meter like us - so William was able to have a water fight for his birthday! He'd got lots of water pistols for his birthday - which is what he'd wanted - and we told everyone to bring a change of clothes.

A friend lent us their 12ft paddling pool too which we filled up for the kids to play in.

Photos to follow soon, but suffice to say a good (wet!) time seemed to be had by all.

William seemed to like his cake - he'd asked for a Tardis Cake.. between the heat and trying to stack up slices of gluten free cake, the thing didn't want to stand up, so our Tardis was post-crash-landing in Amy Pond's garden!



Josh and Jonathan used to be with Scallywags but, though Josh had some castings and one job out of them, we didn't feel they were right for us. We've had conditional offers for both the boys now from Chilli Kids so this week we sorted out professional photographs to send for their portfolios.

I know I'm biased, but... I think they are gorgeous!







This week Josh got to go with SAVVY to the Globe Theatre to see the performance of Midsummer Night's Dream (which he is performing in next week).

It sounds like, despite the standing, they all had a great time and it really helped to bring the characters to life for them all.

Roarke met Josh outside the Globe to come home with him and they got in around 11.15pm.

We moved Jonathan's bed around yesterday and took the bed guards off from the side so last night was his first night without them. Despite now being able to climb in and out of bed easily, he didn't get out of bed once we left his room after his bedtime stories, and when we went up to bed we didn't (as we'd half expected to) find him in our bed. He fell out once in the night, that was all, so all in all I think he did rather well!

Talking of doing rather well, he took only one day to get the hang of the potty, and only had a few accidents. Week two since starting potty training and we've had no accidents at all. He is even using the potty for "number twos". On top of that he's also learnt to use the toilet standing up like a big boy - and again, we've had no accidents and not even any drips on the floor! Interestingly, since we started potty training he has only used his night time pull ups three times - the rest of the nights he has been dry.

Roarke went to the specialist this week for a chat about the results that have come back from his various tests including the MRI. We were rather shocked to be told that he appears to have osteoarthritis. Bearing in mind he also has gout - which is the most painful form of arthritis - already, this was a blow. We believe in a God who heals, therefore the challenge for us now is not to focus on what is true (that he has bulging discs, bad joints etc) but to focus on The Truth - that by His stripes we have been healed (Isaiah 53:5).

These are interesting times!

This weekend we will be celebrating Roarke's birthday and we've got some friends coming over this evening. For now, I'm enjoying a rare moment of piece and quiet before everyone gets up...

Rising Stars and Purple Clumps

Well it has been a fun two weeks with an immobile toddler! Or rather, an increasingly mobile toddler...

For four days the little fellow didn't want to move anywhere or do anything. Then he realised he could sit on the floor and play. Then he realised he could drag himself around. Shortly after that he realised he could - just about - crawl. The first time he got someone to take him out into the garden he asked to go on the trampoline! Actually that was a good move because he could drag his cast around easier on the soft mat so he took to playing with his cars on there.

On Monday we went to the fracture clinic and they put a fresh cast on it. It needed it as his was black from having been dragged around, and he'd picked off most of the outer bandage!

The difference between the experts and the A&E nurse was to be expected, and the cast is the soft kind, and purple!

It is much lighter, and tighter so is less of an incumberance to him.

So much so that today he started walking again, so now we have the pitter-clump, pitter-clump of him stomping around the house.

Josh had his first paid job today, a photoshoot in Oxford. Ironically it was for an english text book for Macmillan Education! At least he didn't have to wear a school uniform.

Roarke got up with him at 5.30 this morning and they left at 6am. The shoot was from 9am until about 3pm. Late last night Roarke got a call to say he had a small role in some upcoming film which meant a costume fitting in London today! Macmillan were really cool about it and arrange shooting so that the two of them could leave mid afternoon. They got a train to London, Roarke did his fitting, then got Josh onto a train back to Bromley where he got a bus home.

Roarke has now had to get back to Oxford to pick up the car then drive home!

The things these luvvies have to do for their art

Having Samuel and William is not a good mix - even without clumping 2 year old - and they have only spent a short time together today, the result of which is that Samuel has new scars courtesy of a meltdown from William

Generally, he hasn't been too bad over the past month although we had a three or four day terrible time of it with both William and Samuel. It could have been a mixture of the moon, having had a gluten but not wheat free loaf (CODEX standard still seems to affect autistic kids), and/or having had juice from concentrate for three days. Who knows.

Tomorrow I have Jonathan's paediatrician appointment and I really REALLY hope I can get progress. I am raising the issue of reflux (no pun intended) and hoping to get some further response as to why my two year old can still scream all night in pain.

Jonathan really is chatting away non stop now, and it is fabulous - though sometimes wearing - to have a child who by two is already able to communicate so easily. Examples of speech: "mummy, something eat, rais-rais please", or going on the phone to his Nanny and as well as answering her questions, then asking "Nanny, what doing?" to show he can take part in a conversation for real! He was sitting up the table here as I typed this, and has just said "mummy, me down floor NOW!" as if to make his point :0)

On Monday it was also Roarke's birthday. We'd had a family take away on Sunday night (for the boys - "family tradition" they call it!). Roarke got a new mp3 player from us, which he was really pleased with. I'd got in croissants for breakfast (the closest I could get to breakfast in Paris for his birthday!), we had pannini for lunch (the boys had pizza), and then in the afternoon went for a lovely walk around Keston and up to look at Wilberforce's seat.

Mum offered to take the lads so that we could go out for a meal so we ventured out (in the thunderstorm!) and went to Cafe Rouge in Chislehurst - again, as close to dinner in France as I could get for the poor man! The meal was ok, but I'd rather have been in France.

A theme running through the week, as ever since we moved in, is the boiler locking out on a regular basis. British Gas have changed every part they can, everything the manufacturer says to do - and still it locks out. I think we have had hot water and shower every two to three days on average.

Talking of themes, the massive thunderstorm here last night happened whilst I was out. Driving back from Sainsburys - only 5 minutes away - the hail was so strong that all the cars pulled over for a while. Then I saw that the dip in the road ahead had flooded.... FLASHBACK! I just couldn't bring myself to drive through it - the water was over and above the headlights of the cars going through - so I drove a mile out of my way to get around to the house. Even then I drove through flooded roads for most of the way. Even the edge of our driveway was under water!

I got in to find that Jonathan was asleep - two hours earlier than usual - and William and Samuel were outside in the rain! They were having a whale of a time in the thunderstorm, doing their "flood tests" that they developed two years ago staying in Leek!

Right, I'd better go and sort them all out for bed, then stay up and wait for my biggest lad to get home

Catching Up

I see I haven't posted anything personal since Jonathan's first birthday weekend! Ooops!

We continued to have a good few days "holiday" at home. We went intro Bromley on the Monday (9th) and bought each of the boys something new to wear, then had lunch sitting outside Pret a Mange - introducing Samuel to brie and tomato sandwiches (which is now a new favourite of his!).

The we took the boys swimming ; Jonathan is somewhat aquaphobic so we hoped that it would help him. Well, he DID stop screaming after a while, but he spent the whole time clinging to my neck and refusing to let go!

We then went off to the St Pauls Cray Meadows, to meet up with Grace and the boys, and to let them play in the stream building dams.

As part of our holiday treat to ourselves, we also went and bought some paint and laminate flooring so that we could decorate the front room. Sharing with mum means we have one reception room and so far, in the two years we've been here, we hadn't got around to changing anything - the decoration was from my 81 year old grandfather (who has been dead 20 years) and my brother (who used to have the room as his living room when he lived at home).

Now we have one dark red wall, three pale almost pink walls, and a wooden floor! That kept us busy - we had to paint of an evening once Jonathan had gone to sleep and on Friday Roarke spent a marathon day laying the floor in one day.

We've also enjoyed a few meals out, had some take aways shared with Mum, and generally it was a nice week.

On Thursday Josh had the teen group, and Friday of course was my usual busy day - doing the shopping first thing, Josh going kayaking, and me and the other three boys going to the Bromley hall. There was a marquee being erected at the rugby club and a clean up going on inside the hall so we spent the three hours outside on the pitch!

Saturday was another busy day rushing around, but Sunday was nice as we went to Callum's birthday barbeque.

On Monday we went to Legoland, part of a group of home educators who booked together to get a group discount. We all had a great time, the weather stayed dry despite the warnings of sharp showers! Roarke was manoeuvred into going onto all the "wet" rides with Joshua, but I did go on the Dragon ride with him!

Jonathan has cut his eight tooth this week, but whether its that or his jabs this week, he has gone off his food (what little he has!) and only wants milk :0( Its a shame as we were starting to make progress with him. He also went 5 hours for the first time one night this week! Just the one!

Tuesday I went to the church Babyboomers meet for an hour, then back here to get ready to take the boys to Monkey Bizz. Two other families there, but I now have to pay for Jonathan who was determined to get his money's worth by wanting to be in the baby section all the time! Made conversations difficult :0(

In the evening Roarke drove myself and Mum (and baby of course) over to the British Legion Branch meeting at Thamesmead & Abbeywood. The Branch have remained disgusted that neither Dad's own branch (Petts Wood) nor Legion County or National did anything to commemorate Dad: he had held almost every position at Branch and County level, had worked selflessly for the Legion for many many years, and had served at Area level as a Standard Bearer.

So, Tuesday night, they invited us to attend and for Mum to unveil a plaque put up in the bar (Dad would be proud!) to commemorate him and all the work that he did. It was a lovely, lovely gesture from a great bunch of people. They bought us drinks, and gave Mum a huge flower arrangement too. It was nice to see some of the old faces I used to know when I was a Standard Bearer too for the Legion.

Painful, moving, but rewarding evening.

Today Roarke has taken Joshua to Blacklands Farm where two teams of HE kids are taking part in the activities there - bungee trampolining, crate challenge and archery!

We've also started signing Josh up for a number of acting agencies - must be all this TV/newspaper work having an affect on him ;0)

Facebook

Sad, I know, but I am semi hooked on Facebook.

I don't have the time to do it often, but I do it sometimes.

If you are on it, let me know! We can maybe be "friends"!

Dockyard

Yesterday we enjoyed a great trip to Chatham Historic Dockyard.

We visited the Gannet, HMS Cavalier, we didn't do the Ocelot (though many of the kids did, just not my lot), the Wooden Halls and the Police Museum.

And that is where we found the Tardis! Being bigger on the inside that the outside, we managed to fit a lot of the kids inside!

Which Children's Author Wrote You?

New quiz I came across today, for a bit of fun: find out which author would have "written you" if you were a character in a book...

Don't think I was that surprised to find out mine was Dr Zeuss..

Playlist

not that I've got too much time on my hands waiting around for Jonathan to put in an appearance,... nor that I am trying to take my mind off of the pains, but.. I've finally given into the temptation to create a playlist!

It's not finished - got a HUGE list of songs to find! But I think its already enough of a mixed bag to show you just a bit of my complex music tastes!

Word Clouds

Thanks to Lucy for this - I've made my own word cloud for this blog!

If a picture paints a thousand words..

then these photos can go some way to catching up on what's been going on here lately ;0)

Or at least, what the boys have been doing day in, day out...

We've had the twin towers, castles, secret hide outs, the Berlin Wall...

Samuel couldn't see why we couldn't leave the wall up "you can still talk over the top if you have visitors"...

They also made a point of leaving some out so that they could show their new best friend, Fiona, when she came all the way down from Sheffield, for the Orpington Workshop on Tuesday!

I'm amazed that they have lasted this long - thought they'd have all been squashed by now!

Visiting authors, arts and crafts

Ha, if I thought Saturday was an early start, Sunday was worse! First, having just remembered before going to bed to change the clocks, we realised that we didn't know if Roarke's pda (which he uses as his alarm clock) would automatically update the time or not.

You can guess what that did to my sleep; waking every hour or so to check the pda to see if it HAD changed! (it didn't). Then realising that getting up at 6.50 was - to our body clocks - 5.50... arggh!

Apart from that, Sunday is the day that I make two loaves and a set of cereal bars for my coeliac brother, which sets the framework for the day.

Today was an interesting day. In the morning we had an early visitor, when we had a "real life" author come to visit; Dave Hill, who amongst many other things writes for the Guardian, came along to spend the morning with us and educate himself about home education ;0)

He coped admirably with conducting the interview amongst interrupting aspies, persistent 4 year olds, and an 11 year old itching to get his point of view across! Oh, and Roarke, coming in every few minutes to ask a question about the baking.

Yes, I delegated the baking to him, and he and the boys made some chocolate crispie easter egg nests (they'd made some at church yesterday but couldn't eat them as they weren't gluten free), and some more of our killer shortbread.





This is so that they have some party food to take with them tomorrow, for a 5th birthday party for one of the HE children.

Sadly, it wasn't finished in time for Dave to taste any of it ;0)

Once he had gone, William reminded me that I had promised that they could "do some art". Now, regular readers know I freely admit to be terrible at craft in so much as I can't stand watching the kids make such a mess of things, so it was with a sinking heart that I cleared the table and set out the, gulp, paints...

However, William and Samuel settled down happily and had a fun time, with very little mess, and I was really proud of them (and glad I'd let them do it. Bad mum, must do it more often!).

Amongst the stuff I'd collected from someone from Freecycle, we'd discovered some packs of beads and string. All the boys then decided to make a series of necklaces and bracelets for the birthday girl tomorrow, which I thought was really sweet. All the boys put a lot of thought into theirs; William designed some eleborate necklace then promptly dropped it before it could be tied up. His second attempt just had 3 beads on it ;0)

Joshua and Samuel made some lovely designs, which I realise now I forgot to photograph before they were wrapped. Oh well!

The week so far

The week didn't get off to a particularly organised start... I was sitting at the computer at 10.40 when I opened my diary and realised I should have been somewhere else at 10.30! Fortunately, the lady I was going to see was very understanding!

We had a good chat about HE, as she is considering it for her son - who I got the chance to meet - and hopefully they will be coming along to our science workshop next week.

Tuesday we headed out to the British Library. Sally, in our group, had organised for us to take one of two workshops - one for the 3-6 and one for the 7-11 year olds. Samuel chose to go in with the younger ones, which worked brilliantly.

Why does home ed suit him? Well, we were out of the house for 6 1/2 hours, he did a one hour workshop - and learnt the meaning of one new word (categories). For him, with his semantic/pragmatic issues, that was brilliant. He learnt in a tangible, hands on way - ideal for the aspergers too - and was able to feel that he was the "cleverest" in the group. He also feels very relaxed with younger ones, and is great at caring for them.

Joshua meanwhile enjoyed being in a small group that meant he could ask questions, and answer them, without too much "turn taking"! He enjoyed showing his knowledge, and really took on board a lot of things; with his love of information and stories I was very pleased to see that he got such value out of the day.

He particularly liked the paradoxymoron painting by Patrick Hughes and was interested in finding out about the science behind it, and other such paintings.

Wednesday I was meant to be resting up, but got rather caught up in some more campaign work! In the afternoon we had some friends over for dinner, to talk about the business we are both in, which was a pleasant end to the day - and another chance for the slow cooker to shine!

I'd also started with Joshua during the day on the Spectrum 7 science book which worked well, with us studying it together. I'm not making him write down the answers to the questions, but chosing which bits to actually turn into something written/tangible. Working with him, like that, it is easy to see if he has "got it" - I don't need written evidence!

Samuel has been working on his website again. I'm very impressed with him. I taught myself html using a fantastic freeware programme called EasyHTML by ToniArts. There are, apparently, new versions of it, but I've kept the old one. I set Samuel up on it, and he is finding it really easy to use. A brilliant success.

Today, of course, the focus was THE SNOW!

Once again I was struck by the contrast between my lads in their "playground"

and the school playground on the other side of the hedge...

The boys had a great time, as it had snowed from around 4.15am until about 10.30am.

Roarke finally got fed up of my not resting, and literally forced me to go and lay on the bed, covering me up, then working on the pc in the bedroom so he could make sure I didn't get back out of bed the moment his back was turned!

To be fair to him, not only have I had a pounding headache all day, which I can't seem to shift, but also the pains have been fairly regular most evenings now for the past week. We think its just because I've been on the pc too much - not a good sitting position.

However, tomorrow, of course, is THE SCAN! I really hope and pray that we will be able to find out whether we have a boy or a girl, as I seriously want to name this child and for the family to start to get to know them. So, think of me at 10.40am tomorrow please....

Didn't We Have a Lovely Time..

the day we played in the snow! Listen out for Samuel's vehemental statement that he'd rather be home, than in school right now!

Snow Lessons

Well, hurrah, we have snow! Only about an inch and a half, but that's enough.

We woke the boys early, and told Samuel it was an early birthday present from God (ahh!). He's always wanted snow on his birthday (which is tomorrow).

Needless to say, breakfast was taken quickly!

We make quite a thing of wrapping the kids up - its not that I'm overprotective, just that I want them to be as happy for as long as possible - and we all remember that being hard, as kids, when your hands are numb and your socks wet!

So, plastic gloves (from the garages, you know the ones), then their wooly gloves, then scarves, wooly hats, hoods up on coats, coats, plastic bags on their feet (yes!) then into their boots.

They've been out there now for an hour and a half! They are at the desperate stage of looking for "new" snow that's not been touched (ah, takes me back to my youth!) and are currently getting their Dad to clean the snow of the cars for them!

Said Dad is just about to negotiate the ladder to put the aerial up!

I've made Samuel's cake (well, its in the oven) and then I've got to produce a sonic the hedgehog in 3d for the top of it... Samuel found my cake decorating books! Still, the first suggestion he had was a Wallace & Gromit cake, with both the characters sitting in armchairs... Don't think gluten free cake is up to being sculptured into chairs (and don't think Mum is capable of making characters out of icing...)

That's my challenge, anyway, for later today!

I took some lovely ironic photos, contrasting my lads in the snow:

and the poor kids off to the school over the road in it:

On the learning front, Samuel had one of his days yesterday when he just got up and decided to "learn". After he'd done his emails, he did some pacmath, then went onto a music teaching site, then did some history! All online, but all off his own initiative, which is significant. Joshua spent some time on Headline History, and did some more of his english.

In the afternoon we went to the indoor play area and the kids all had a good time with their friends, whilst we adults put the world to rights, as usual! Only down spot was me managing to get the nearside wing mirror clonked - the glass stayed intact but the casing didn't!

Eek, I've been Tagged - again!

Tagged by Lisa this time!

This is the Christmas meme - kinda late, but here goes:

Name three things:
* that you had hanging on your tree:

1) Gluten free christmas chocolates - one each, for each of the 3 lads, for every day from 22nd December (when my brother and his family came over) to New Years Day
2) New decorations that came with our new tree - first artificial tree we've bought :0(
3) at the top, our gorgeous golden angel, which Roarke and I bought when we got our first real tree all those many years ago... she's looking better than I am for the years! (must be an angel thing)

* that you’ve eaten / drunk lots of:….. xmas cake….. grape juice….. snacky things

I didn't eat or drink hardly anything! However, the family consumed:
1) 2 gf Christmas cakes
2) several batches of gf mince pies
3) and boxes of Sainsburys chicken satays, which we discovered were gluten free!

* that you said most often this Christmas:
1) I don't feel up to this
2) I'm so glad your off this Christmas (to Roarke)
3) can I run away now?...

* that you heard most often this Christmas:

1) ho ho ho, Merry Christmas (said by any of the three lads, in the style of Basil Brush, because I told them if I heard "ha ha ha, boom boom" one more time I'd disconnect the tv - permanently!)
2) Samuels cyberman voice changer
3) my Dad's voice, in my head, interjecting all the things I knew he would have said if he'd been there... :0(

* that you’ll do again next year:

1) Make gf mince pies
2) use the artificial tree
3) make the kids open one present at a time - in turns - so everyone focused on one person and their enjoyment

* that you’ll *never* do again:

1) buy a goose joint (or any such joint!) from Iceland!
2) not buy enough wrapping paper (but I say that every year)
3) put off writing any Christmas cards until its too late

* that you didn’t do this year but hope to do next year:

Can't really think. Try to enjoy Christmas, I guess

* favourite presents this year:

Just the one favourite - my slow cooker!

* that you’re glad you didn’t get for Christmas:

Anything "fun" - basically I just didn't want any presents as I didn't feel like celebrating. The family were brilliant, with just practical type of things, and two books from my Brother which were also a great idea.

Can't tag anyone - think the moment has passed!

Eek, I've been Tagged!

I've been tagged by Ellie:

Apparently, each player of this game starts with the "six weird things about you" blog post.

People who get tagged need to write their own six weird things post and state the rules clearly.

At the end of the post tag six more people and don’t forget to leave a comment on their blog to tell them they have been tagged and tell them to read your blog.

Hmm, this could be hard (not that I'm NOT weird, but working out what things to put!)

1) I know what Roarke would say is the number one weird thing - my dreams! I know pregnant ladies are expected to have odd dreams - but I always have them! they are absolutely bizzare and can be extremely hilarious. They can also sometimes be extremely "black" in nature. Can't think of a decent example (that is weird but would not make you think I was a raving nutter).

2)Have you ever seen the internet story/email that circulates about the test to find out if you are a psychopath? If not, read it here (apologies for the site, it was the first one I could find with the story on it!). Anyway, the first time we got this in an email, Roarke read it first and got a different answer. He then showed it to me - I gave me answer, and he just stared at me in horror. Scrolling to the bottom of the email, it showed that - apparently - by getting that "correct" answer, it meant I was a psychopath..

3) With my last two pregnancies, I lost weight instead of gained it! With William, courtesy of Herbalife (whose shakes were the only thing I could keep down), I was lighter the day BEFORE I had him, than I'd been the day I got pregnant!

4) According to my eldest, I'm just "weird" but - "in a nice way, Mum". I have a habit of doing daft, spontaneous things which seem to reduce my lads to helpless laughter - particularly in public. Can't think WHAT they mean..

5) As a kid, I used to get some margarine out of the tub, put it in my hand, and add sugar, then scrunch it into a ball to eat it! Well, we all lick the cake bowl (don't we?!) and that's just sugar and butter...

6) As Ellie said, some may think I'm weird because I home educate my children. And they think I'm mad to have another one!

I can't tag five people, as all the blogs I read seem to have been "got", but I have managed to find:

Angelstar
Moorville Homeschool

What Time of Day Are You?

You Are Sunrise

You enjoy living a slow, fulfilling life. You enjoy living every moment, no matter how ordinary. You are a person of reflection and meditation. You start and end every day by looking inward. Caring and giving, you enjoy making people happy. You're often cooking for friends or buying them gifts. All in all, you know how to love life for what it is - not for how it should be.

What Time Of Day Are You?

Well, I always said I was a morning person....! Thank to Liz for that!

I just can't resist these quizzes!

What Type of Homeschooler Are You?

Salvador Dali Melting clocks are not a problem in your reality. You are an unschooler. You will tolerate a textbook, but only as a last resort. Mud is your friend. You prefer hands-on everything. If your school had an anthem, it would be Dont Worry, Be Happy. Visit my blog: http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com
Take this quiz!








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Action Man Movie

The first HE project we did as a family last year, in July, was to make a movie.

I've finally got around to putting it on the 'net. It is very rough and ready! The second half of the video was shot by the boys who, erm, forgot to zoom the camera in - so you can see lots of hands/ropes etc! There is sound, so turn your speakers up...

Plan the Work and Work the Plan

That is one of the mantras in network marketing, but it really goes for anything. I guess it has been brought home to me this week.

Having made the plan - the chores lists, the daily learning time target, the meals list - over Christmas, I have spent this week working that plan. And it has worked!

Ds1 has obviously decided that, barring anything special, getting down to his learning first thing in the morning is best. He is at his sharpest, and hasn't yet been distracted by the day (or his brothers). Today he worked for an hour straight, and then a short while later asked if he could return to the computer as he wanted to do some more on the science site that he'd been on.

Ds2 struggled at first, but in the end also managed an hour (though admittedly most of that was spent on the computer).

In addition to ds1's own learning today, we also worked on the road sign flash cards that we got from the UK Department of Transport. I was very proud of him when he knew all but one of them.

We then all treated ourselves with a go on our current favourite game - a freeware star wars game I currently hold the high score!

I haven't played it that much, honestly!