Looking back and home and away.

I noticed a couple of days ago that 'blog', as it's known in our house, is fast approaching 20 000 views, so that prompted me to look back at what I've written over the past two and half years or so.  So far I've re-read chronologically from the start until the end of August 2012 and it's brought back some lovely memories.  It really is fantastic to have such a good record of what we've done in terms of home education and just generally.  It's reminded me, yet again, that things tend to go in cycles of lulls, when I eventually get a bit stressed that we're not doing enough, and times when what the girls are learning is obvious and we are much more active.  If you have been considering keeping a blog, whether just for yourself and your family or to share with others, please do!

Last week we had a couple of days seeing friends, first visiting friends on Tuesday, then at home on Wednesday.  We hadn't seen our friends E, C, L & J for a month, but it seems like much longer as usually we see them most weeks.  We had a lovely afternoon, although M sometimes struggles with C not wanting to play.  C is the same age as K, but sometimes seems somewhat older in some ways, and although she does sometimes, she's not always up for playing 'imagination games', which is usually still M's favourite thing to do.  Despite some moaning from various children, E & I decided that it would be good to go out for a walk and some fresh air.  Once we were out things were generally better and we did pick some blackberries at K & M's insistence, despite having no container to carry them in, so we had to use our hands!  There were enough to make a very nice blackberry & apple crumble the next day.

On Wednesday, we had A and J here for the day.  All four girls played together happily the whole day with an extended game which involved walkie talkies that A & J had brought with them.  After an early tea, S, their mum came round while I took K to swimming (M not being allowed to swim for another fortnight). 

Thursday the girls and I headed to Granny & Big Grandad's, where K & M were booked on to a sewing workshop in the local haberdashery.  While they were there, I went to see my Grandad which was quite eventful as we had words about various things, which has been a long time coming.  The girls went to a workshop last year and enjoyed it, so were keen to go again this year.  I was a bit concerned at how M would manage, given her broken wrist, but she didn't want me to stay and it was fine.  They made bunting, so it was all machine sewing straight lines, so she didn't need to twist her hand, which is the one thing she really can't do at the moment!  K didn't quite finish hers, so I need to get my sewing machine out for her to do so at home before I'm allowed to see it.

M's bunting.

On Friday Granny, M & I had a game of scrabble, then the girls and I went for a wander down the town, where the girls bought sweets from the old fashioned sweet shop.  We went out for lunch with Granny, Big Grandad (who is recovering well from open heart surgery - a bypass and valve repair) and Uncle Mike before going to visit Great Grandma before heading home.

That's not brought 'blog' quite up to date, but it's long past time I should be in bed, so more tomorrow.