Say 'no' to screens!

This is what happens when I say 'no' to screens and endure 5mins of tantrum. I love how they play creatively with Ezra's toys! Ezra helps by emptying the box of duplo onto the floor and then crawls off to play with the hoover!

Skipping

The half term holiday challenge was set when we arrived in N.I. and Lj learned what a great skipper her cousin was. Nana supplied the ropes and for the next 3 days Lj skipped from morning til evening. On day two I set her the challenge of 20 consecutive skips by the end of the week. By the end of day two her best run was 47 skips. She showed unbelievable determination and energy!!! I had witnessed her determination to succeed when the dentist said she must stop sucking her thumb and here again I marvelled at her stickability and commitment to achieve. She did take the odd minute out from skipping to draw some pictures of herself and MJ skipping!

Mud kitchen play

 Today the kids had a day off school so I encouraged them outside into the sunshine to play with Lj's new mud kitchen. It was lovely to hear them talking to each other as they planned their menu and began making some mud based dishes for their cafe. I encouraged them a little with what ingredients to use such as the fallen pine cones, flower petals and leaves. It is handy to have the water butt where they can use the tap to access water and they love to add plenty of mud and stones to the mix.

I supplied a marker and some cardboard and MJ set about making the cafe menu and price list. In his home learning time earlier in the morning we had been adding and subtracting money values. So it was great for him to practise this in a different setting although I did think £10 for his banana smoothie was a little pricey so he reduced it to £5.

Lj mixing up a concoction of mud, pine cones, leaves and water...yum!!!

And finally me, enjoying the outdoor cafe environment, free wifi and a bowl of homemade banana soup!

Everyday Creating #09

It has been awhile since we last played with our hamma beads but as Lj got a new princess set for her birthday we brought them all out again. MJ made these really cool cards. You have to have and show a 'tree' pass to be allowed entry into his bedroom. He is really into setting up a club and has started a minecraft club at school...I think it has come from his love of 'The Secret Seven' stories.

A cushion for Lj

Settling in for the evening I was about to open the novel I'm enjoying at the moment, 'The J. M. Barrie Ladies' Swimming Society', when I thought I would have a quick look on Pinterest first. Two hours later I still haven't opened my book but have completed a little project inspired by what I saw on Pinterest!

Lj paid me a visit from her bed mid way through cushion making and has now taken her new friend/cushion off to sleep beside her! I would love to sneak in and take a photo of the two of them in bed together but am afraid I will disturb her and have her up again.

London with little ones #5 Museum of Childhood

Inspired by one of Lj's favourite bedtime stories, 'Maisy goes to the Museum' we went to the Museum of Childhood, London today. I knew it was a good place for kids but I hadn't remembered it to be as great as it was today. Perhaps my children are at the right stages to enjoy it.

We caught the train to Liverpool Street and the No. 8 bus from Bishopsgate to Bethnal Green. Now that MJ is 5 he can no longer travel for free and I did question whether it was worth making the trip when I was purchasing our ticket. Knowing I had a packed lunch in my bag and the entry to the museum is free we bought our ticket and boarded the train.

 This photo was not taken today...today the weather was grey and wet!



After a quick coffee and snack (actually we ate most of our lunch!) we got down to some serious play.

 Lj spent a long time on this touch screen computer, selecting toys and watching how they work. Clearly it was intuitive as I didn't have to help her at all.

MJ spent a long time watching the Hornby trains moving round the large track.

There were so many interactive things for the children to play with. Dressing up as a fireman and playing on the fire engine, dressing up as a Victorian Cook and making dinner in the kitchen, sensory play, a puppet theatre, dolls houses of all shapes and sizes, Duplo, they even got socks and boots off for a play in the sand pit accompanied by the sound of waves lapping on a beach!

We took part in the special activities based on the story 'The Nutcracker'. Listening to the story being told and making our own Nutcracker!

We listened and MJ danced to 'Jingle Bell Rock'!

 MJ and I played a game of Snake and Ladders.

The favourite toy of the day was the Rocking Horses...worth queueing twice for!

We easily spent 5 fun filled hrs playing...I think a record stay for us at a museum.

Tonight before bedtime we listened again to the story of the 'Nutcracker' and to Tchaikovsky's, 'Nutcracker Suite' which interestingly MJ recognised from our Children's Classics CD.

Tomorrow, I hope we have time and energy to make some puppets and MJ has already said he will build the theatre!

 Finally a few tips if you decide to visit...

:: Buggies can be left in the foyer (we left coats too)...it will be one of many.
:: If you have a packed lunch you can take it downstairs in the Clore Room, where there is also drinking water available.
:: Check out 'what's on' when you arrive and ask if there are activities suited to the age of your child. We followed the 'Retro trail' and there are Montessori back packs available.
:: The cafe food looks lovely...I had a tasty Latte for £2.35
:: For sunny days, there is a green park next door if the kids need anymore of a run around!

 A tired Lj on the return leg of our journey...she fell asleep shortly after this photo was taken!

10 Ways to play in October

 

I can't not do a post on this recent discovery.

Last week I dreaded the couple of hours between dinner and waiting for M to call to say he was on the train and we could go to the station to pick him up. The kids were tired and ratty...and so was I. We bickered and I was at a lose as to what to do, other that let them watch TV. This week I discovered Pinterest (my new fav way to spend (waste) a little time). It has inspired me in many ways but one which I put into action straight away is from the blog, Let's explore. I printed of the monthly play sheet for October and pinned it up in our play room. Now when we are feeling tired and uninspired MJ will point at the sheet and ask if we could do something on there. It is funny how he is never so keen on my suggestions of what we should play and to be honest I am generally not so keen to play what he chooses... so this sheet is perfect, we just read through them and choose an activity. 

Last night we set up a Post Office, we wrote letters and postcards, put them in envelopes, weighed them, put stamps on, posted them and delivered them and then got all our Postman Pat books out and had a read.

Tonight we did hand and feet printing. The activity on the sheet was to trace our hands and feet but MJ thought we should use paint...I'm not sure what came over me (I don't enjoy mess in the house!) but I thought, why not?! So we locked ourselves in the bathroom (the one I cleaned earlier today...how foolish!) with paper, paint, tray, towels and bare hands and feet. Now we have enough printed paper to wallpaper a small room and I'm wondering what creative thing I can do with them!

I should really take photos of our play but to be honest we get so absorbed in the activity that I don't want to go and get the camera.

I'm already saving the cardboard tubes so we can complete activity No. 4!

I wonder what we will get up to tomorrow!

Saturday morning

 Just another Saturday morning but this time I thought I would capture it!

6am- Lj wakes and calls out. I lift her out of her cot and she gets in beside us, along with baby doll and teddy. She informs us she needs breakfast, I'm not surprised as she barely touched dinner last night. I ask her to wait til MJ wakes.

6.15am- MJ joins us in bed. Meanwhile, Lj has her pjs and nappy off. I decide there is no more chance of sleep and get up to get breakfast started.

6.15am til 8am- We do breakfast, dressing, tidying...

M surveys his garden and veg, mentally preparing what needs to be done today.

MJ builds a tower and then a church out of plastic cups and sellotape.

LJ builds a tower to copy MJ

and I manage a couple of rows on my elf hat while keeping an eye on the tower building!

8am- It is boots or sandals on and we are off to the allotment to dig potatoes, pick raspberries, collect courgettes and pull runner beans, MJ on his bike, Lj and I on my bike and M with his wheelbarrow!

Just another Saturday morning...how did you spend yours?

Two wheels

 After one year of fighting with stabilisers/training wheels and not really getting anywhere we decided to remove his pedals. Once his pedals were out of the way he was free to learn how to balance, scooting himself along using his feet. Two weeks later we put the pedals back on and he was riding straight away. NB if you want to teach your child to ride a bike either get them a balance bike before you buy a normal bike or use the cheaper option of removing the pedals on your normal bike.

I feel so proud of him and my aim of getting him to ride his bike before he went back to school has been achieved!

Of course Lj needed a photo taken of her on her scooter too!

Fishing net fun

It's amazing the delight and excitement a £2 fishing net can bring. We have been to the lake three times in a week and not caught a thing but the desire has not waned. He is determined we will catch a fish one of these days. I need to do some research to find out what it is possible to catch in a fishing net and where would be best to do it. Mean while I hold onto his waist band while he stretches further and further out over the water to draw in that unwitting fish!

Happy Birthday Lj

Today we celebrated Lj's 2nd birthday.

Mummy gets a quick cuddle before the fun begins.

Opening presents with a very excited expression on her face. MJ stays close waiting for an opportunity to help and watched by Nanna and Grandad (on the motorway).

Trying out the new items in their market stall, which has now doubled in size!

 I want to encourage generous spirits within my children so I feel it is important for them to give each other gifts on their birthdays. I don't mind if they make something or buy something as long as they have thought about what the one they are buying for might like. MJ and I found this little dress in the charity shop and we agreed it would be a nice present for Lj. He had fun wrapping it, putting a bow on and making her a card.

A helping hand from big brother to blow out the candles.

MJ and I designed and made the cake together. Lj loves to watch 'in the night garden' and she also loves to pick daisies when we are out walking so we decided on that theme. I have not used pre coloured icing before and thought I would be able to blend them like paints but it didn't produce the colours I wanted therefore Upsy Daisy is not quite the right colours and I felt a bit disappointed with the outcome. But at least everyone recognised her as 'Upsy Daisy'!

Here she goes again

This girl...she never ceases to surprise me, challenge me and make me smile...oh and baby doll is in there too, of course!

Sticker lady

I'm not sure I really need to say anything about these photos...it is fairly clear that my daughter has a slight obsession with stickers!!!

The boy who refused to have his face painted

  Until very recently MJ would always refuse to have his face painted. Then one day I thought perhaps if I bought a set he might allow me to paint his face. It turned out that he still refused until I offered that he paint mine. Since then, he can't seem to have enough of it and we are having a great time. I love painting him and he loves having it done. This week we were a monster, pudsey bear for his school charity day and a pirate. Who knows what he will want to be tomorrow, but I look forward to it already!!! LJ is unable to sit still long enough but we have managed a heart and butterfly on her hand!

A bargain filled month

I'm sure I have mentioned my local charity shop on here before. Our house is full of things we have purchased there and everything we no longer use finds itself there. Over the last few weeks we have found some interesting, useful and fun things to buy.

A 201k Singer...I watched a lady drop it off and knew that although I don't need another sewing machine I just couldn't pass it by. To my eye it is the most beautiful thing. This picture doesn't do it justice. Last night I read online a bit more about the 201k Singer and it turns out my £10 purchase was a huge bargain...not that I will ever want to sell it on.

6 metal Thomas and Friends engines... On a Friday when we pick MJ up from school he gets his pocket money and can choose to save it, spend it in the charity shop or in the sweet shop. His £1 pocket money went far in the charity shop today! The engines are very well worn but as M loves to paint warhammer models he is thinking of repainting them...I don't think MJ had noticed how worn they are!

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly rhyme book...This is a curious rhyme which always intrigued me as a child. I was delighted to find this book which is so beautifully illustrated. It turns out that MJ and Lj are also equally thrilled with this 25p purchase.

Large word cards...MJ is reading! I thought to help him along I would like word cards. I fondly remember my word tin from primary school...the tins were perfect for storing our words and were used again and again. I wonder what the tins originally held! I also wonder if this is where my love of storage boxes began! Before I ordered some word cards for MJ online I found this set which looked like it had never been opened. Now as he learns a new word we find it in the pack and stick it to his wardrobe door. It is so exciting to watch him learn to read.

And finally...a little girls buggy! I had planned to get Lj a baby buggy for Christmas but why spend £10 on a new one when we could spend £2, save on landfill and support a charity all at the same time...the only issue is I couldn't resist letting her have a play straight away and I'm not sure I have the heart to put it away til Christmas.

So would you agree...we live beside the best charity shop...ever!