Busy making things

A while ago i went in search of a pattern that would turn my old long-sleeve t-shirts in to funky patterned leggings for Lani. In doing so i stubbled across a blog written by a lady who does some really fun crafts with her daughters. For example making paper out of loo roll (which is on my list for next summer)!

Also on her blog was a post about Kanzashi Tsumami, a traditional Japanese craft which uses small squares of silk to make flowers. The flowers adorn hairpins and hair pieces for Geiko (geisha) and Maiko. How i love Japan and thier traditional crafts! I have tried my hand at Kumihimo and a few others. So when i saw Kanzashi i thought 'I'm going to try that!'

A few months later i remembered the flowers and i found a few items of the kids clothes that i was getting rid of that would work for having a go.

They are 1" squares, i seriously underestimated the difficulty of of the craft!! I made one flower, it took me about 2 hours, and it's not great.

After i realised that i need something to cover the middle so i got out a 2mm crochet needle and made a mini circle and stitched in a few beads (my first time doing that too). I skipped a step in the flower making - i haven't used a base.

I have a list of things to get from the craft store at the weekend. Then I can make some more in the evenings.

I then decided that it could be fun for the kids, so i got out some food dye and paper towels. I had made some flowers with baby wipes and let them 'paint' them with the food dye (24 hours later and they still aren't dry). They used the rest of the food dye on the kitchen roll, we left them over night, and they weren't dry; so i stuck them in the tumble drier to dry them. Then i spent an hour this morning making 4 flowers.

Our coloured paper towels, they were Red, Blue and Purple, but the colours in the purple seem to have seperated creating the pale blue and rose colours:

Twenty 4 1/2" squares, sorted into piles of 5, I mixed up the colours so the flowers had some strong colours and some with less colour:

Flower petals folded and on the tread to make into a flower shape.

Three finished flowers.

I found some pipe cleaners poked them though the centers and bent them in the appropriate places:

Still plugging away

So we didn't get either of the houses as we were second on both. The first house had no more floor space than we do in our flat...so in the end we were kind of glad to not get it. The second house was brilliant, the garden was huge! The 3rd bedroom was quite small but the rest of the house was a very good size. But sadly we were 2nd again. But with 3 houses and basically 3 bidders off the list that could mean we will be first this time round (we have skipped a week of bidding also). We have bid on a house which has solid fuel (eg coal) heating, the garden is in the region of 100ft, there is a small school within walking distance. So we are just waiting to see if we get a phone call on Thursday.

I am refusing to think too much about it until we are 1st. Even then only if the house is suitable, there is no point in accepting a house that is going to be too small in a few years; we've waited almost 6 years a few months is nothing!

We have done the uniform shopping only school shoes left to do. Just over a week till he goes back. I'm going to feel very evil if he ends up back for only a couple of weeks but it can't be helped.

August

This is probably going to end up a rambling meandering sort of post - but aren't they all?

We've had some success at house bidding, we have two house viewings for next week. We are second on one house (reasonable size house, HUGE garden: 50+m) and another one but we don't know what position we are (Large house, ok sized garden: 15m). I'm happy to be viewing them but trying not to get carried away. If we are second on both then we may not get either. So we shall see.

Kayne and Lani had a sleep over at grandma's house last night. It's very wierd to be able to go out alone and not have to worry about time and what they are doing. I really blitz the rooms. Threw away 2 bin bags of esentually junk; puzzles with bits missing, paper, broken bits of toys, junk that the kids want to keep. We removed the rug from the living room; we just started to put things in order so it's easier when we move. My next job is to box up our ornaments becuase there are tons of them and we need to get rid of the display cupboard.

I think its funny how i'm alot calmer and productive when things are cleaner. I often look at particular places in the flat and think "where do i start?!" and then don't bother - which is wrong but.

Sadly Chocolate Milk died, in his sleep on Monday night. He was 3 1/2 which is a good age for a rat. Kayne was a bit upset. Lani said "oh no, Comet (never called him Chocolate) missing!" after we took the cage down.

We have had some fun days with friends and Grandma. Zoo, tramplining, park ...lots of pretend play and mostly nice playing between them. Lani has been teething so has not been particually forgiving, and ends up like a bear with a sore head sometimes; which is understandable.

I have read masses of books in the past couple of months. Reading is an expensive habit.

On not moving

We have bid a couple of houses in the past two months. We have been in the "first 5" on those occasions but obviously not #1 otherwise we would be moving. It's very frustrating to feel that it is so close yet not actually being able to do anything. We are at the mercy of the system. Also there are other things that make it hard to have to deal with, we will have to change schools and it's hard to know whether to tell the teachers at his current school/look at other schools etc. We have no idea where we will be so we can't say to a school 'Well, we may be moving into the area sometime from now until....well until we move'.

It's switch day today and Kayne's class was split between two classes. I saw a mum i talk to most mornings, i asked 'Is A in Mrs. H's class?', she replied 'Yes, but you may not be here in Sept'... Huh? Well we may be here still, so .... , I'm thinking she spoke without thinking but 'ouch'.

June already!

Today life stands like this:

Kayne is 5
Lani is 2 1/2

We have a nephew Alexander who is 2 months.

Everything is going ok, Kayne is finishing his Reception year and Lani is getting louder and more opinionated; she is somewhat potty trained - she gets too distrated sometimes and wee's anywhere.

We just put in a bid for a house in Hungerford, but with 33 other bids I don't think we are likely to get it. I can't wait for a garden to play in, to grow things in and for the kids to explore. For a house that will be organised and for our things to have a real place and not just somewhere to store it. This flat feels like a holding place to me, i can't wait for a real home.

I've read a huge number of books, both for me and to Kayne. Its interesting, i didn't think he would take much of the story in but sometimes he relays the story back to me and i realise he is actually taking it in.

Snowing in February

So here we are in February and it's snowing. Christmas was good and fun, then we've done birthdays so we find ourselves here.

Life is merrily going about its way. Lani is now 2, sleeping well in her bed, and off of formula. Inching closer every day towards potty training....eek! Kayne is... well..... himself, reading well, still adores maths and computers. He is obessed with Gogo's and has possibly close to 100, i'm cringing on the fact that there is a 3rd series coming out soon and he hasn't got all of the first 2 sets yet - which is his plan.

DIYness.

Somehow my housy/craft side made it's way to the forefront so i've done this x2:

Nice clean and tidy, no more pencil marks, no more juice/jelly stains.

On Saturday we went to Ikea for the first time ever. We took my parents and Marks dad, and left teh kids with marks mum. We bought a bunk bed + one matteress, and we bought several Trofast items so we could have some sort of order/uniformness with the kids (abundance of) toys. we also switched rooms with them so they have the somewhat bigger room. We still have ample space in our room so it's all good.

They now have enough space to get toys out, lay train tracks, play legos etc in the room and not all over the living room. We got a white board easel for them too. we've stuck all thier stars up over the ceiling which Kayne really likes.

I'm still not 100% happy about Kayne being in a bunk bed but so far he's been really good about it. He's used one before when we were on holiday. He has been going on about his 'high bed' for ages and he was shaking with excitement when he came home and saw it. He is being careful and counting the steps down (one, two, three, floor!) and going slowly.

Lani is in the bottom bunk, Saturday she slept very little in general because she is poorly, but most of it was in the bed. Tonight she has just gone straight down in it with no problems!! She has also slept alot today,so she is definiatly feeling quite unwell.

Hayling Island

We went to the beach today, we picked a great day today. Picniced in the car, then went for a long walk. Lani wanted to go in the sea but it was too chilly. Kayne and I rode a roller coaster, i'm not sure he liked it much.
Picture montage;

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Farewell little friend

I have to put sad news; we had to have Smoke put to sleep on Friday. Such a sweet boy. He was always tiny and breathed fast, but in a small space of time he went really downhill. The vet said he had pneumonia, that we could have antibiotics but it would just prolong the inevitable. We haven't told Kayne yet...we don't know how to. Comet and Milk seem a bit depressed... poor guys.

Farewell little friend...

What colour walls should we have?

After having kids I have learnt one thing that is very important (well many, but this one is relevent) ; Do not leave writing implements laying around.
Upon coming home yesterday Kayne informs me that M had got a 'team point' at school. Cue me spending a good 30 mins making team point sheets. Kayne gave people team points - me for washing, daddy for shopping, Lani for 'good talking'. They are now stuck to the living room wall. We put away the pens and things, they start playing with dinosaurs.
After sticking them up I went to sort out some washing. 10 minutes later i hear arguing, as i go into the living they are both stood on the sofa and i see they are fighting over a pencil. Kayne says 'Mummy! I was trying to help Lani put eyes on her faces but she won't let me!!' *sigh* Now she has forced our hand at decorating the living room. There is a meter of pencil wall art above our sofa! We also have the wonderful challenge of trying to pick a colour, i'm not going to attemp wallpaper becausei don't trust any of the walls to be straight or reasonable to hang paper on.
So i go and put some dinner on and then i open the kiddie gate and a few moments later Lani comes wandering to find me. She holds her hand out to me and says 'Oh no, look, blue!' sure enough she hand is completely blue, so are her arms and face, then she says 'oh memma (mummy) look, bear-bear blue'. So obviously one pen didn't go back and i have a teddy to wash again.

Intelligent lyrics.

On of my favourite genres of music is Hiphop/rap, but not the rubbish that some people are coming out with. I like the intelligent lyrics, the artists who have crafted their music and lyrics. I like when it tells a story and describes a scene to me. I love Will Smiths song 'Willow is a player' for this reason; it's great if you understand who Willow is. Another artist that Leo introduced to me is Dan le Sac and Scoobious Pip, his lyrics are just phenomenal so well written, preformed and intelligent. I am struggling to pick which song to link to... so instead i'll link to a review.
Another person who gives us interesting honest lyrics is Tupac Shakur. The subjects he chose to talk about were strong and he did them well. I hate the use of swear words in music as i think it is completely unnescessary but with this genre you can't really escape it it seems.
And Eminem but we could be here for weeks over that guy.

Reading lyrics...

So, again i find myself questioning one of my decisions. Such is the nature of parenting i believe. I know that Kayne is gaining skills and finding joy in being at school but i am not. Truth is i miss him, I feel a bit like we've just lost something important; though i'm not sure what it is. When i fell pregnant with him i vowed i wouldn't put him in childcare so i could work, i felt it was a bit pointless having a child to be away from them 9 hours a day (though i understand people have to do this to survive). Now it feels odd that i have broken my vow because it's normal for kids to go to school. I thought hard about homeschooling but i worry about being good enough.
I guess in a week or so i will feel better. I know that it is good for him, he has friends, is happy, and is alot more confident than a few months ago. Also homeschooling is our back up plan - just in case.

I have been fiddling on Kayne and Lani's webpage, adding info etc. listening to media player. I rediscovered some of the songs i love in Dutch. After searching for songteksten i realised i can read it kinda ok. I mean obviously my vocab is like a toddlers but I can get the jist of a line if i understand a few words. Maybe it's because song lyrics are quite patterned and the words aren't that different through out a song. I find it interesting that i can (somewhat) read in another language yet i can't really speak it, nor can i understand a few simple sentences spoken by a native and i'd also have trouble writing anything because i struggle with learning the grammar.
But even still i love the band; Bløf, and the hiphop artist; Brainpower and a few others. I found this song today Engel voor één dag / An angel for a day. It's a beautiful song. My friend sent me this a while ago Omarm me / Embrace me, it literally made me breathless. The guy has the most amazing voice.
I just thought that maybe i find the reading easiest because i have strong reading skills - i read ALOT. I know why my speaking/writing is poor - i won't do it unless i know it's right. I realised also that i can sing the songs perfectly in my head... not that anyone would like to hear me sing out loud!
A while ago we found a great site for learning Japanese. I thought it was good because they explained why certain expressions are used in certain situations, also they went on to explain the Japanese 'pitch accent', e.g. the pitch variations within each word...which meant i felt i was getting it right more often.
Can you tell i am thinking about too much? I think i'm going to feed music through the T.V tomorrow and fill Lani's head with random songs in foreign languages. I think she needs more signs, she learnt 3 today; happy, sad and coat. She impressed me by using sad appropriately on person in a book who looked sad. I can't remember Kayne ever doing that.

School Day 4

We are on day 4 of school and everything so far is going great. Kayne had a little wig out on Friday because daddy did his shoe straps up too tight. We got his feet measures on Saturday and he's now a 8F, so a half size in 6 months? and we got a choice of 1 shoe...
On the way home on saturday Kayne started to count in 2s up to 30, then tried 5s but got a bit confused with it. On Sunday after going to Grandad's 60th party, he tried 3s and got to 21. He told me Mrs. J told him how to do it.
Everyone got reading books on Monday i felt a bit emotional at the fact the he wasn't the only one to have a book, is that wierd? I looked the book up (as you do) and discovered it was for a reading age of 7.5 - 8!! I think they may have tested his reading age again. The last test we did said that he was about that so it feels nice to have it kind of confirmed. Today's 'book' was actually a play, which he didn't find that interesting. I spent more time explaining everything than listening to him read. I'm sure some of it went over his head. He got stuck on words that were not phonetical - 'concentration'.
He also got a 'sound book'. I had to laugh as he not only knows all the basic phonic sounds but he knows what order they come in in the Jolly Phonics scheme.

Lani is ok, she misses Kayne when he is at school. I tried to go to a toddler group but it's not on for another couple of weeks.

1st Day Back

Kayne started his first day of reception. He was hyper from the moment he got up, literally galloping all over the flat and could not sit still.

We walked over to school, waited for a while until we went in. A tense moment when Max wasn't there yet but Kayne looked on the group list and said 'Oh Max is in my group - i just read his name up there'.
He just went off and tried to find a place in the circle, came running back and said he couldn't find one. I helped him find one and then that was it, Lani and i went home and read a ton of books snuggled up on the sofa.

When we went out to buy a few bits at Waitrose, Lani started yelling 'Ayne where are do? find oo'. So sweet!

Lani and i drew and read more books and she had a nap.

When we picked him up he said 'oh mummy i was so worried because you didn't come back and get me'. I said 'well i'm getting you now aren't i?' , he said 'oh yeah!'
He said they played letter snap, he made a fan from some card, and they did something with numbers. I laughed when he showed me the sheet. It had blank squares on the end of a row of pictures. He had turnt them into sums by putting a number in the box, then an equals and the answer! (adding the pics and the number he added on the end) ... Can't turn him away from maths!!

Lani smothered him when we got home. She missed him alot.

So the 1st was a good day but he has a habit of being fine for a week or two then it goes down hill, so we shall see.

Back to school

It's back to school on Thursday. I'm trying to stay relaxed about it but honestly, i'm not. I am having trouble sleeping, or if i get to sleep - i have trouble staying asleep. I feel a bit stupid ... period. I don't know why i am so worried about it, well i do but i shouldn't be. Last term was good, he had fun, they recognised his needs and challenged approapriatly. Why do i feel like something is going to go horribly wrong this term?
Maybe it's to do with what he has learnt this holiday. His reading is much improved from when they tested it and his maths is just super. I hate how school never tell you anything straight. I want to know where he is not 'he has completed foundation stage maths', ok but does that mean he is on par with YR1? I know it sounds pedantic but i want to know/gage where he is so i can be prepared for/to deal him.
What am i doing letting him learn this stuff? Although it's not like i can make him unlearn it! I think i'm going to have aplace in my mind that reads 'He can learn what he likes, if you don't like it -screw society i'll teach him at him!' Seems a bit drastic but it is going to be my / If all else fails / motto.
All the previous half-terms and holidays since this time last year have been horrible. This summer has been nice, he's been happier, busier and more relaxed than he was before. This summer has given back the little boy i lost when he went to Winchcombe.

Sigh breath and let it go.

Last Thursday we went school uniform shopping with Grandma. I found 2 pairs of P.Js for Kayne for £5 in M&S, i was impressed. His current ones are becoming too small, meaning he is finially out growing his 2-3yr sized ones! I managed to buy all his uniform in age 4 which is a first. the trousers will need to be taken up though.

At the weekend we went to Nannies house. Lani refused to eat anything other than scotch eggs. She is a complete meat-eater at the moment. I'm not too worried about nutrients as she still has formula. But it's infuriating sometimes and embarrasing when she finds something she doesn't want on her plate and preceeds to *throw it* somewhere away from her.

Sunday we bought a new bookcase and put all of our books on it. Surprisingly there was a free shelf and so we put all the board books on it for Lani.

On Monday mum came over and we went to town. I bought some new books to read to Kayne at bed time. I haven't bought any bedtime books for a long time. Mum bought us some too. We bought a few for Lani - ones with out tabs or flaps that she can rip out.

Bank holiday

The end of the bank holiday weekend...
We didn't do alot this weekend. Saturday we went to Grandma's, Kayne practised on his bike, he is getting better at peddling it - but he is a long way off having his stablisers off. He comments on every child on a 2 wheel bike he sees.They both had fun at the park.
Sunday we went to Reading. We went to Hobby Craft. I bought some colouring books for myself. I love colouring in, i find it relaxing. I like when you've finished something and it looks good. We bought Kayne some Hama beads. We got some glow in the dark ones for when we decorate thier room. Kayne chose a UFO mobile. He had a good go at it but he struggled with the size of the beads. I've noticed more and more this holiday that he seems to have trouble with fine-motor. We also found some great adult puzzles so we bought 2 for us. We bought Kayne a 300 piece Horrible Histories' castle puzzle, Kayne and I have been doing it together. After we went into Toys'R'Us, Kayne, Mark and I oogled the Lego. we let Lani pick something and she wanted some 'Littlest Petshop' frogs (surprise surprise!). We noted that Schleich do knights and things - we are mentally doing some xmas shopping.
Today we nipped to town because i wanted to get some colouring pencils and water colour pencils. The kids played in the park on the way back. Lani insisting on going really high and fast in the swing. Kayne managed to traverse the cargo net bridge without falling in.
This evening Mark has gone to Ninjutsu/Taijutsu again. I hope he isn't as battered when he comes back as he was last week. But if he likes it then thats ok with me.
I think we have decided to go to the Saturday of the NAGC weekend - i just need to find our check book. We have also been putting together some ideas about how to organise the flat.

Our week...

Last Tuesday we had a nice but wet day at Cotswold Wildlife park. Kayne enjoyed looking at all the Reptiles finding out what they eat etc. Lani liked the penguins - she tried climbing over the wall. She also enjoyed the puddles.

The rest of the week we didn't do too much; got Lani some milk, went to the park. Kayne played 'knights' most of the week. We all read lots of board books. We watched some Olympics, Kayne has been trying to watch the boxing, and i won't let him which makes him want to watch it more.

The weekend whizzed by again, we went to Mum's and Sunday we had a lazy day.

On Monday Kayne, Lani and I sorted out all the toys and tidied up. We switched toys around they played trains most of the day. Kayne and I drew and read some stories.
On Tuesday we met Hannah and Sophie at the library, Kayne spoke so much! I was shocked. He had lots of fun and on the way home announced that 'Max, Ruby and Sophie are my best friends'. I enjoyed thier yogurt pot 'play'. He has spent the past few days pretending to call Hannah and arranging to meet them again.
On Wednesday we went to Tesco's, and Next. Tesco's for arty things and Next for some clothes for Lani, she grows so much we had to buy some clothes in 2-3 yr size! At grandmas we did some drawing, Kayne made a felt puppet, and the painted. Although in general more paint went on them than the paper. Kayne made him self a gorgeous shade of blue. It was interesting - i've noticed that he gets worried and then gets upset about things like glue, paint, water mud, sand but then once it's on him he abandons himself to it. The only thing it doesn't seem to work for is swimming but maybe i will take him soon and see if this new confidence will help out in this area.

On Thursday we met a friend i haven't seen for a long time. It was nice to talk and catch up. I watched the rhythm gymnastics which i love. Kayne said again that he wants to do gymnastics so i'm definatly going to find him a class to try.

A nice day.

We went tot he park again this morning. They both had a good time, Lani on the swing, Kayne using his stop watch to time himself running across the park.

Whilst Lani was napping, Kayne saw an advert for 'The Sword and the stone', he said 'thats about King Arthur can we buy it?'. Then he switched the T.V off (!) and put his play sword in the sofa and put his foot up for leverage and pulled it out saying 'I'm the King!'

This evening i took him to Tae-kwon-do for a trial session. He really enjoyed it. He is the youngest one, but also the smallest one by atleast a head! He wants to go next week but also mentioned gymnastics.I'm not sure if i will enroll him yet, he has one more free session but i think i'll see about a trail of gymnastics somewhere. I also want him to do some swimming lesson, but i don't want to over load him.

Cotswold Wildlife Park

We went to Costwold Wildlife Park today, in the rain. We had fun even though we got soaked. Kayne decided he liked the train ride the best. He enjoyed the Reptile house alot particually the Rhinoceros Iguana and the insects. I think that we may go to a butterfly farm as he is raving about butterflies at the moment. Lani really loved the penguins, rabbits and cockrels. She shocked me with a few new signs i didn't know she knew, rabbit, pig and chicken (eg flapping her arms), i think she has been watching Something Special with out me!

Lani also enjoyed all the puddles. She did a few things that made grandma and I shocked;
I said 'Lani, do you want to take the frog home?' and she said 'no'. Which doesn't sound like much but she hasn't ever answered a yes/no question correctly before.
She also kept looking at the shelves in the shop and saying 'spider, spider!' and we couldn't work out what she meant. In the end grandma bought her the big soft tree frog. In the car on the way home she was holding the frog, looking at it's feet, and said 'hand, spider'. I think to her the frogs feet looked like spiders.