There's a bunny in the garden. He or she is so cute and loves nibbling our lawn (probably because it is organic and full of extras other than just grass). Springy loves seeing her bunny friend but if we go out he goes off into the undergrowth. When I hang out the washing I can hear him so he doesn't seem to be running off too far.
I need to mow the lawn and trim the hedgerow a little before they get too unruly.
We've still got a small crop of blueberries appearing everyday. We love Elsa Beskow's 'Peter In Blueberry Land'. I love stories that tie in to our life.
Sunday, 26 August 2007
A day at the beach
Yesterday we spent a gorgeous afternoon out at the beach. The weather was super - it was a bit cold but Springy was able to swim using a 'noodle' around her waist. There was a small shoal of sea bass in the shallows, along with school bass (smaller). Springy was happy when a 3-month old labrador puppy turned up - it was Amber's first time at the sea and she didn't want to go in. Springy tried tempting her in with a pretend treat in her hand but the waves lapping at Amber's paws were a bit too much.
My husband felt a lot better by being in the water. On the way there and on the way back we listened to ELO's 'Mr Blue Sky' which is such a cheerful song. It's Springy's favourite song at the moment.
My husband felt a lot better by being in the water. On the way there and on the way back we listened to ELO's 'Mr Blue Sky' which is such a cheerful song. It's Springy's favourite song at the moment.
Sunday, 19 August 2007
Tooth fairies
Well Springy's wobbly tooth finally fell out. Today was rather traumatic for her because it bled a bit this morning and had become even more wobbly overnight (apparently her tongue has not been listening to the instruction not to wobble!). She's had that particular tooth for 5 years exactly so it's the oldest one of her deciduous teeth.
I was relieved that it fell out when it did because I told her that if it fell out in the night then it would more likely end up with the Poo Fairy than one of the Tooth Fairies. I'm hoping that the fairies realise that she has a tooth awaiting inspection - we asked them to come but I'm not sure that they will be along tonight.
I was relieved that it fell out when it did because I told her that if it fell out in the night then it would more likely end up with the Poo Fairy than one of the Tooth Fairies. I'm hoping that the fairies realise that she has a tooth awaiting inspection - we asked them to come but I'm not sure that they will be along tonight.
Saturday, 18 August 2007
Finn Family Moomintroll
The story we are telling at the moment is Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson. If I was better at arts and crafts I'd make felt versions of the illustrations because they are so cute but for now they will stay 2-d in the book and 3-d in our minds. Springy listens to the story but only for a short while so I'm guaging whether to stop reading them to her and just read them again to myself for now (I'm wondering whether they are more of a 6/7-year old thing?).
Tap-A-Shape
I'm still not able to afford a wooden toolkit at the moment but we got a tap-a-shape set today. It's bits of wood, tacks, a hammer and a corkboard and it has really met Springy's needs - she was totally absorbed for an hour creating pictures this afternoon (despite the rest of the day not being totally balanced). We did (as in she did it but I suggested) a boat scene, a hot air balloon scene and she created a dog with his bowl of food herself.
It's similar to this one:
http://www.elc.co.uk/toy-34426
but ours was priced at under £5.
It's similar to this one:
http://www.elc.co.uk/toy-34426
but ours was priced at under £5.
Transitions
Well the three days (well half hours on each day) are over and it will now be in September until swimming starts again. It's gone colder and the leaves are starting to tint. I need to remember that when clouds "look like rocks and towers, then you can be sure of heavy showers" because I left some washing out and when we got back it was wetter than when I hung it up to dry.
Springy didn't have enough of a physical day to day and near bedtime was getting very bouncy. We had a slow morning without doing much and an afternoon spent in the car getting bits and pieces and none of that suited Springy at all. She really needed a good climb in the playground. I think so many children are labelled "naughty" when in fact they are just sending messages that their needs have not been met. Yesterday we had a child who did beanbag games, had stories, went to the playground and was eating some fresh picked cherry tomatoes - bedtime was easy. Today we didn't do those things and bedtime was not so easy (it would have been worse if I hadn't recognised that it was not "naughtiness").
I'm in a state of transition at the moment and so is Springy. My daughter has stopped breastfeeding in the last few weeks (we got to 5 years and 7 months) and I can see lots of changes from the infant/toddler and 4-year old kindergarten aged child to the now almost 6 years, just at the end of kindergarten. The breastmilk has pretty much dried up - I'm not sad or happy about that, it just is, but I'm glad that it was something that worked for both of us and that it stopped without any trauma. We've now got 1 wobbly tooth and I am aware that arm length is reaching over the head to the ear. When we were swimming the other day I could see the difference between her and the 3-year old that was there, in terms of physical features of the face, limb length etc. I'm still unable to ascertain how she is walking on the feet (I get it in theory but the visual isn't being processed properly). We've got a reader and writer on our hands and it's so tempting to go academic on it but I see other signs of her not being there (as opposed to ready - it's more of a there and then, a place and time).
I've learned so much from holistic understandings of childhood such as Waldorf, Enki and all the parents who are ahead of me on the learning curve. I feel such a deep sense of awareness (although there is still a lot to learn and sometimes I am baffled or end up reading something over and again without it being absorbed) for my child.
Anyway, going back to autumn, there seem to be apple trees everywhere. I keep noticing roadside apple trees, branches overhanging paths etc and they're not ripe yet. I can't wait to go apple picking ... and that goes back to education. You can see the apples, you know where the trees are, but if you pick those apples early they just won't be ready, even though part of you is raring to go. You might be able to stew them but they just won't work as well as how they would be if you just wait that little bit longer. This last bit of kindergarten requires a lot of patience - you've not got one thing or another but you can't go back (well you can if they decide to have a tantrum and then you get your toddler back) and you can't go forward because you're not the apple on the tree.
Springy didn't have enough of a physical day to day and near bedtime was getting very bouncy. We had a slow morning without doing much and an afternoon spent in the car getting bits and pieces and none of that suited Springy at all. She really needed a good climb in the playground. I think so many children are labelled "naughty" when in fact they are just sending messages that their needs have not been met. Yesterday we had a child who did beanbag games, had stories, went to the playground and was eating some fresh picked cherry tomatoes - bedtime was easy. Today we didn't do those things and bedtime was not so easy (it would have been worse if I hadn't recognised that it was not "naughtiness").
I'm in a state of transition at the moment and so is Springy. My daughter has stopped breastfeeding in the last few weeks (we got to 5 years and 7 months) and I can see lots of changes from the infant/toddler and 4-year old kindergarten aged child to the now almost 6 years, just at the end of kindergarten. The breastmilk has pretty much dried up - I'm not sad or happy about that, it just is, but I'm glad that it was something that worked for both of us and that it stopped without any trauma. We've now got 1 wobbly tooth and I am aware that arm length is reaching over the head to the ear. When we were swimming the other day I could see the difference between her and the 3-year old that was there, in terms of physical features of the face, limb length etc. I'm still unable to ascertain how she is walking on the feet (I get it in theory but the visual isn't being processed properly). We've got a reader and writer on our hands and it's so tempting to go academic on it but I see other signs of her not being there (as opposed to ready - it's more of a there and then, a place and time).
I've learned so much from holistic understandings of childhood such as Waldorf, Enki and all the parents who are ahead of me on the learning curve. I feel such a deep sense of awareness (although there is still a lot to learn and sometimes I am baffled or end up reading something over and again without it being absorbed) for my child.
Anyway, going back to autumn, there seem to be apple trees everywhere. I keep noticing roadside apple trees, branches overhanging paths etc and they're not ripe yet. I can't wait to go apple picking ... and that goes back to education. You can see the apples, you know where the trees are, but if you pick those apples early they just won't be ready, even though part of you is raring to go. You might be able to stew them but they just won't work as well as how they would be if you just wait that little bit longer. This last bit of kindergarten requires a lot of patience - you've not got one thing or another but you can't go back (well you can if they decide to have a tantrum and then you get your toddler back) and you can't go forward because you're not the apple on the tree.
Tuesday, 14 August 2007
Alpacas and dancing
Just had a brilliant weekend with my parents arriving as a surprise.
On Sunday am we went to see some alpacas. Baby ones were due but had not arrived so instead we met with the three boys. They are such gorgeous and curious creatures. We got sniffed at and they come up so close that you end up nose to nose with them. Springy was so happy to see them.
Later we went to a dancing workshop thing complete with live band playing behind.
Three days this week are summer swimming days (well half hours). Springy is doing so well with her swimming lessons and really enjoys and has confidence in the water, although she's not quite swimming just yet.
On Sunday am we went to see some alpacas. Baby ones were due but had not arrived so instead we met with the three boys. They are such gorgeous and curious creatures. We got sniffed at and they come up so close that you end up nose to nose with them. Springy was so happy to see them.
Later we went to a dancing workshop thing complete with live band playing behind.
Three days this week are summer swimming days (well half hours). Springy is doing so well with her swimming lessons and really enjoys and has confidence in the water, although she's not quite swimming just yet.
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