September: Camping

Straight after moving into the caravan it was time for our annual Home Ed camp and this year it couldn't have been wetter. After over a week of sleeping on blow up mattress already the smalls, Thea and I gave up and went back to the caravan beds the first night but surrounded by friends Orion stayed the course and we were back each morning. 

This year seemed to be the camp of clay for Gabe and he spent hours making things. 

The teens played large amounts of giant chess.

These two cemented their friendship.

And as always, the best part of all... night fires with marshmallows for the kids and a bottle of wine for the adults. 

I love the way they sleep. 

We emptied the whole tent around her without her so much as fluttering an eyelid... 

August: Birthday Boy

Gabe loves to be out in the forest so the day before his birthday we met with friends at our favourite stream for a paddle, swing and play. 

It's the perfect place for older ones to wander off together, smaller ones to play nearby and mum's to finish sentences for a change!

After Thea's rehearsal of the Percy Jackson musical at the Mayflower Southampton on Gabe's birthday it was off to an all you can eat Chinese buffet. 

 

Between the mural, the lit up ships cargo luggage boxes and these silly kids, I adore these photos. 

A helicopter over head making it harder than usual to get everyone looking the same direction.

A morning treasure hunt and a candle lit 11 to make up for the birthday ring being in storage. 

This kid, he's just so sweet. 

A walk (dig) in the sand dunes to get some fresh air. 

And then off to the funfair. 

June

Gosh June was full! It was a strange one because we got hit by some kind of virus that literally had each one of us (apart from Orion as usual) wiped out exhausted for two weeks in total. Gratefully it was one at a time but coming out of that, it felt like we'd lost a huge amount of our home ed summer (the part with the nice weather but without the tourists or school kids everywhere).  

The biggest event of June was the First Position dance school show. I genuinely have not seen talent nor choreography like that in a long time. It didn't feel like a 'dance school show', I would happily have paid to see it whether my kids were performing or not. 

I'm so proud of my big two, with everything they've had on their plates this last year, they have both excelled in so many areas and shown so much grit and determination to go after what they want for their futures. They are two inspiring individuals. 

For the smalls it was more playdates with friends in the forest, 

a Jubilee funfair, 

and a sunday alone at preschool while the owners were away on holiday and were happy to have someone come and check on the chickens.

The first Mr Whippy ice cream of the season. 

Thea had her induction with The Mayflower theatre for this summer's production of Percy Jackson which she got a part in. As a treat for the cast and parents, they were taken to a performance of Singing In The Rain. A show I wouldn't have paid to see but I was so grateful we got the opportunity and even had an intimate Q&A session afterwards with the principals. 

My gorgeous boy who was repurposing the trampoline now that it is broken. 

A boy and his best friend.

The same expression times three!

Outdoor theatre is our yearly tradition and it was so nice to go with just the older ones to an evening comedy production of Twelfth Night by the amazing Handlebards. 

Orion was very proud of himself for being given an award for 'most improved' at his conditioning and fitness class at dance. He's worked so hard and trains at home for 5 hours a day, so he more than deserves it. 

It sounds silly but window shopping with these four in the dolls aisle at a toy shop gives me so much joy. It's so nice that the big two still feel young enough and that the younger two get to share a love of dolls with them. 

And Orion's most exciting moment of the month... being fitted for his first pointe shoes!