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... 

Moss Week!

Another wet Monday afternoon in the forest, this time hunting for moss in all its forms and trying to discover if it really is reliable for navigation!

And then a soggy walk with a little friend and showing her all the mushroom knowledge gained the week before. 

A very funny game of hid and seek with all the dog walkers who hadn't realised they were playing. 

This was actually a very surprising experiment to see if one of it's old fashioned uses could hold up to its modern rival. It was amazingly absorbent but not quite as good as the nappy. 

They had a great time making a mini terrarium. 

And then at the end of the week, I remembered that it was Diwali so out came our books and we played with our coloured sand making rangoli designs. 

 

2020 Half a Month In

I'm going to attempt to keep up with our lives as best I can this year, so the aim is to be here every two weeks, more if I can.

So much of the last two weeks has been about these two and their crazy cuteness! Gabe got a slime master kit for Christmas, so naturally they've been up to mischief with that together...

There's been plenty of baking too, and lots more cooking in general planned now that Gabe has started compiling the "Just Add Magic' cookbook. 

Orion and I learnt a new stitch in crochet, so I've started a new blanket for her 'little bed' for which she wanted to 'help' me put the skeins into balls. 

He's been missing forest school so started his own in the garden with Ayla. 

Who was very cross he got to have the 'chocolate soup'...

Tom has been taking them out for their nighttime walks again, literally come rain (storm) or shine and often both on scooters so Gabe can practice his scooter dancing. 

We just had to go and see Cats now that Thea is all about musical theatre, and to be honest I was just too curious!! Its everything both good and bad that I've heard but regardless, it's definitely not to be missed!

Lessons started back, much to everyone's relief and Ayla is back in the umpire chair at tennis!

The art group is easily one of the highlights of the month. The group of 12 teens and tweens have such a good time and have gelled so well it's been brilliant, I'm so glad I offer them that additional hang out time after each session to just hang out together. 

My gorgeous science kids received their first CREST award and we've got a quarter of the next one done all ready.

And of course, it was Tom's birthday which began in bed with cards and gifts...

and swiftly move to cake.

Thea got her very well deserved first Trinity music exam in vocals which was actually so much harder than any exam she has done before, and we are all amazingly proud of her.