Multi generational swinging

Sunny play

After a few days of rain we've had a lovely sunny day today. The front of the house gets lots of morning sun and so we annoyed the dog by playing in the front room and disturbing his sun worship. He chases the sun around the room all morning making sure he gets the best spot to warm himself - well his head anyway, the rest of him is often in shadow.

We played with a bandage taking turns at being doctor and patient. And then it became a rope to rescue a sea turtle (yep octonauts again) and then a doll got mummified. It was fun.

In praise of cheese breadsticks and egg sandwiches

Long journeys call for survival planning when you have small children. Kallo cheese breadsticks are a must in our car. Matthew likes to keep his behind his ear... *I hope nobody takes a photo is the wrong thing to say when your wife is bored*. Also in our kit are CDs with Paddington, Peter Rabbit and Hairy Maclary amongst others. We were helped along by a Cadbury promotion at the services where I won a bar of chocolate (not that I saw any of it). And of course timing it so at least one child sleeps can help - err yeah need more work on that one. Anyway it was all worth it to go and see our lovely friends and their new baby.

The main draw at the park today were the sheep (and the sheep poo).

But there was a fair bit of hanging around too.

Apparently there was a big storm coming so we had to get in the car quick which meant I had to get off the big swing that I was lying on and drive them home. Imagination is a great thing... sometimes.

The best thighs in the world

She really does have the best baby thighs. And was very happy to spend most of the morning upside down (or climbing on the worktop).

Then of course there are the demands for me to lie down so I can be climbed on - this turns into a family event and I often get my nose licked by the dog too as obviously the only reason to get on the floor is to play with him...

Yep this rubbery nose (minus the houmous).

A new window

So after nearly 18 months I have finally updated the window in the front room. I could just fix the thing that holds the voile on but so many people now find our house by 'the window' that I figure we may as well just go with it.

I've worked out an easy way to 'do' crafting with children - get some chocolates and put them on the table (Celebrations or other things they have to unwrap work best). Small people are distracted by the shiny shiny chocolate and you get to cut leaves out on your own. I had help of course cos the chocolates don't last long but it was a head start.

The last window had sticky-back-plastic (fablon) to hold everything together but this time I just went with glue. We'll see how good an idea that was when it comes to changing the window... I used watered down 'school glue' (it had gone a bit lumpy so I used the stick blender to mix it - wash things like this straight away so the glue doesn't dry or it'll take forever to get it clean) and just painted it on the window and then over any leaves that were still sticking up. It dries clear but you can see here where there were still some white bits. I might get some kite paper which is slightly thicker and more robust for doing more windows but the tissue paper was fine for this.

My children are not blessed with lots of hair in their early years. Isabel has some lovely curls and swirls though.

It's been cold here this week but the sun was lovely today so I asked Isaac which park he wanted to go to and off we went to Steeple Aston.

I'm currently in the middle of Frocktober (an attempt to wear a skirt or dress every day for a month - there are various of these things on facebook and other social media and I might do Dressember too but we'll see when we get there). I mostly wear tunics and have worn them with jeans a few times but I'm trying to vary what's on my legs but still stay warm (it's still a work in progress). I take a photograph every day and mostly it's in the hall mirror but I spotted a good place to put the camera and play around with the self timer a bit. "Sorry kids I can't play with you I'm having too much fun...". I hurt my ankle a bit though on one jump - still it could have been worse I could have fallen off the zip slide or something (it's only a matter of time before I injure myself on the play equipment).

When we got home all the glue had dried. I like how it looks but realise I've now set myself up to change it once autumn finishes - I'm not saying in which year though!

Any time the front door gets opened to pop something in a bin or get the post or anything there is a mass escape. Getting two children and one Labrador back into the house can be a circus and they have a habit of coming in and then going out again. They love being out the front of the house and watching the world go by (and looking wistfully at the park).

Upside down & round her finger

The lovely Kerry makes the odd suggestion to Isaac when she sees him, like how about you hang from your legs... oh ok he says. I didn't manage to get him with his arms down but he can now do it and get back up again. He's not mastered a cart wheel yet - where's the fun in doing things on the ground?

Never to be outdone Isabel perfects her 'sving'

Before getting the dog's full attention by taking charge of the flinger.

Wave of Light

October 15th is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day across the world. We would like to invite you to take part in the global 'Wave of Light'. Simply light a candle at 7pm and leave it burning for at least 1 hour to join us in remembering all babies that have died during pregnancy, at, during or after birth.
This can be done individually or in a group, at home or in a communal space. Wherever you do this, you will be joining a global wave of light in memory of all the babies who lit up our lives for such a short time.
www.babyloss-awareness.org

It's educational dontcha know

I am very happy that Isaac didn't go to school in September - he is only just 4 and the thought of him being in school 5 days a week would not suit him at all - but there are times when I feel like we should be doing something 'EDUCATIONAL'. I know deep down that it will be pointless and contrived and a waste of time (and often money) as he is learning lots by being interested in the things he's interested in and is not shy about asking questions or saying what he wants to do. But anyway I try every now and then...

So today we made a DIY lava lamp - oil, water, glitter, food colouring and an effervescent tablet (I used alka seltzer as that what they used on the blog I got the idea from but I don't see why a fizzy vitamin C tablet wouldn't work).

There were lots of bubbles. It was very pretty. It held their interest for about 3 seconds...

I quite liked it though.

Up a tree

I was trying to put the slings away after this week's slingmeet but as soon as Isabel saw me fold the first one she was insistent on 'back'. So up she went in a ruck on my back which with her size and just a size 2 wrap was err interesting. Not to mention the naked bum. Naked children are slippery which isn't great when you don't have much wrap. As she got lower and lower down my back but refused to get down the only option was to put a longer wrap over the top - so much for putting them away! When she did eventually allow me to put her down she then played peek a boo for ages. Her giggle is the loveliest sounds.

We're still no wiser as to what was making her ill or how to get medicine into her but she seems ok now. She's feisty and demanding and keeps grabbing my hand and saying 'umon' (come on) as she leads me to the book chair or out into the garden. She's only happy if she has my full attention. Not easy for me or for Isaac.

Oh and the new phrases of the week are 'mine' and 'do it' (as in I'm going to do and no I won't accept any help no matter how well meaning so butt out mummy). It's been a trying week.

The battle to get clothes on two children is the hardest part of the day but eventually we made it out of the door to go to the park. Both were dressed top and bottom and had shoes on - it's nothing short of a miracle. Both shed their shoes at various stages in the park but hey we had them with us so that counts.

Isaac can now climb to the very top of the big climbing frame. He's aiming to stand on the top pointy bit. I'm glad he can't yet do it...

A nest was built out of branches and bark.

And then two birds laid eggs.

One lot of trees were climbed.

We said hello to the many squirrels that were in the park (and the cat who was in the playground).

There were lots and lots and lots of squirrels busy burying conkers, acorns and other morsels.

Whilst Isabel and I were still talking to small furry creatures Isaac was up the climbing tree. He's discovered Bob the Builder this week (I've been Wendy for most of the week and the dog is Pilchard - the dog is blissfully unaware of his blue cat alter ego) and so had many workshops up the tree instead of Octopods (from Octonauts).

As usual the dog was on hand when pizza was being made - and in the wrong place when flour was being cleaned up.