The Antidote

50

Doesn't a month pass quickly?  It has been a very busy month for us. 

Oscar was chosen to do a poem recital along with some other little boys in his class, they have been working together with a  workshop leader from the Royal Opera House and plan to go there to do a recording of it.  The recital was breathtaking, such small little boys both appreciating and embracing the arts and using language way beyond their years.  It was astounding what these lads could come up with when their learning came from a different angle - thank you soo much to the very cool Lea Cornthwaite who completely captured the imagination of our boys.

We had a very relaxing Easter holiday in Somerset.  Shopping in Bath, food and drink with the lovliest of friends and a trip from the Easter bunny.

My Boy also celebrated a BIG birthday.  Can I really continue to call someone who is half a century old, My Boy?  With his floppy hair and cheeky grin - yes I can!  I am amazed this handsome chap is 50, when it seems a heartbeat ago that we were celebrating his 40th in Mexico, with plans of starting a family.

We celebrated with our lovely friends and unrighteous amounts of cocktails.  And a coffee and walnut cake.

And now there is still a week of the school holidays left.  We have a little fun planned, and I do hope to drop in a little more often.

Mummy Message

Having spent the night at work inking up the feet of tiny premature babes, and putting little footprints into cards for new mummies who cannot be quite as close to their little ones as they would like (I love my job).....

How lovely to come home to a bacon sandwich, potted primulas, chocolates this and this, and a gorgeous message from my boy.

Happy Mothers Day.

Guess Who

The Children love Book Character day.  This morning I spotted, Snape, Red Riding Hood, Pippi Longstocking, The Invisible Man, The Cat in the Hat and many others.  I couldn't resist when I saw this pink and white candy stripe cotton jersey in the fabric shop.  The pattern is a Simplicity nightie, and it is such soft jersey that we intend to recycle this costume as a nightie - probably tonight.  I will happily reassure myself that if you can guess Ivy's costume, then my sewing skills MUST be improving!

They've Gone

Smart new uniforms, shiny new shoes, lunchboxes packed and labels sewn.  They have gone.  My little summer companions marched off independently and confidently to where they feel comfortable and happy with dear friends and kind teachers and I miss them.

I felt unbalanced walking home from school without a little hand to steady me.  I shall keep myself busy the next couple of days.  I have planned lunch with friends today, shopping with my mum and sister tomorrow.  I also have a quilt to piece, a cushion to sew and a blanket to edge and I miss them.

Summer Hallmarks

Three hallmarks of summer 2009:

Tattoos - if you stand still long enough, you are likely to have a temporary tattoo slapped on you.  Friends,Parents, Grand Parents, Great Grand Parents, there are NO exceptions.  Tattoos are mostly skulls and cross bones, things have been very piratey round here of late, and occasionally upside down!

Friendship Bracelets - these range from Oscar's bits of string tied round a wrist to elaborate beaded creations designed by Ivy and her little friends.  Some of them have been on for six weeks, am I wrong to fuss about the germs these may harbour?

Quest Seekers - I know these library summer reading schemes have been going for at least 25 years, as I remember doing them when I was Ivy's age.  This summer my two have completely embraced it.  It is really quite genius - it encourages reading throughout the long summer break and provides us with plenty of visits to the library, then the park and who couldn't use a nice (free) activity to keep the little ones amused?

This Week I Am..

Admiring my fuscia..

and my Freesia, which I grew from bulbs all by myself!

Grateful for my weekly greenhouse parcel from my lovely father-in-law.

Picking out red and pink smarties ONLY for fairy cake decorations.

Watching Ivy camouflage into our garden.

Paddling.

Crocheting with mostly grey (love grey)..

and wondering what on earth to do with this?! I though it would be a giant granny blanket, but it is sooo mishapen!

Planning summer adventures.

Frequenting the beach and being completely unable to wait for Friday when the Babies break up from school.

Sorry this post is a little picturey, I seem to be a bit snap happy at the moment x

 

 

Play Time

It doesn't seem to matter how old my children are, or how sophisticated their tastes become, they love nothing more than playing with good old fashion play dough. 

 

We haven't made any play dough in ages, so prompted by this post, we got the mixing bowls out at the weekend.  Oscar took charge of the stirring and Ivy got stuck in with the colouring of the dough..

it took two days to clean up her hands.

Then the fun began.  Homemade dough is so much nicer than the bought stuff, mainly because it doesn't have that awful smell.  Also it feels wonderful to play with when it is freshly made and still warm.

 

 

The Babies have had their play dough cutters and rollers and those funny little arms and legs for about five years, they are very precious with their toys and look after them well.  I think this little play dough reminder is going to be very useful over the long summer holidays.

Indoors

Thank you so much for your sweet comments yesterday, you are so kind.  I am feeling a wee bit better today, that is to say my throbbing headache has gone and I just have the chills and aches.

I feel terribly sorry for the babies, this is their half term and I have not managed to get them out anywhere yet.

They are little poppets though and are keeping themselves very happy.  Oscar is obsessed with those learning type of books, and Ivy is very happy to oblige as his teacher.

Ivy bought this home from Brownies to finish, and (in my rather biased opinion) is making a rather fine job of it!  She is using pastel fabric crayons to decorate it.  They are usually very busy with tennis, ballet, swimming and being outside with the dog, all of this indoors stuff is a bit of a novelty - I think they are enjoying comics and games and art and reading. 

Hopefully I will make it to the park or beach by the end of the week.