Changing Weather!

Monday was my birthday and it was wet, had planned to go out for a walk, especially as the weather was nice and sunny at the weekend but it rained most of Monday, so change of plan. I know we do do wet walks but not today, instead, I had a lovely long phone call with my Aunt, followed by storied with L and then watched some TV with both girls. My family know me so well and have a nice selection of new books to read and another season of Blue Bloods to watch.

In the afternoon we spent some time doing some science, L was interested in M's science and what categorising meant, we've been looking at classification and the binomial system. So we talked about why we categorise things / put groups of things together like all her socks in one draw, T-shirts together etc. Or how the supermarket puts all the fruit together, then the veg, meat etc and can you imagine how confusing it would be if you went shopping and your first aisle you had oranges, then bread rolls, ice cream, the next isle apples, meat and magazines and it was regularly changed. Shopping would take a long time, it would be confusing and stressful, highlighted this week by our main supermarket we use, having a change around. So we organise  to make our lives easier, so our brain isn't overloaded and scientist do the same for similar reasons. We then played an old party game, collect 10 to 20 random objects on a tray, spend a minute looking at them, remove tray and try and remember what was on the tray. Great fun was had and we ended up playing this game several times. after the first go, we looked again at the tray and I talked about how they can link objects by use, colour, subject, or tell a story with them to try and remember them. So you could do utensils, food, toys, or a story, one day the rabbit saw 2 trees and orange and an apple tree, she used scissors to get them and shared them with the sheep and the horse, doesn't work for everyone but that works for me.

So L learnt about what and why we categorise and making links for ideas on what to put together, while having fun. M thought deeper about how and why we organise, plus ways we can revise though making links, as well as going back over the classifications system, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species. I was taught and it always stuck with me was the mnemonic King, Philip, Came, Over, For, Great, Sex, my Mum would not of approved of that, there was one I came across later about kings and chess but that has never stuck the same, not sure why though!!

Tuesday we had our home ed park meet up and the morning it looked like it would be rained of, it wasn't but went prepared with waterproofs etc, turned into a very hot sunny afternoon, that none of us parents were ready for!! Wednesday it has alternated by either raining or sun but after getting the washing in twice, gave up and left it to dry indoors but did manage a nice walk, looking at man made and natural objects. L tonight has said that she hasn't done any work this week its all been fun and games, must be doing something right.

The weekend was busy, on Saturday M has dance first thing and we do a food shop, pop to the library and butchers as needed, home, quick lunch before one of us takes her to drama. This week hubby did the gymnastics run and as it was so nice, L went with him and they had a lovely walk and I got to sort out all the toy baskets. Now M has been looking at different dance lessons and struggling to find a school locally that we can get to that do what she wants, or doesn't clash with her gymnastics. Anyway I found a theatre arts school that did some dance, musical theatre and drama, convinced her to try a drama lesson on top of a dance class. The classes have a maximum of 6 so thought she wouldn't be overwhelmed etc, try out was last Saturday, She came out saying she didn't like the dance but enjoyed the drama, second lesson this week and she came out with a big smile on her face. On the first week the teacher picked up on the speech issues and gave her some tips for trying to compensate for it, seems very understanding and enthusiastic. Hoping the drama will give her more confidence in talking and dealing with people. She is happy chatting with friends and neighbours but struggles more with strangers, so I am looking ahead for college and work, so confidence building is a good thing. So while she is in the 45 minute class, I get to sit in an empty canteen, with no distractions and read and/or lesson plan, rather perfect use of time.

Sunday saw us up the allotment, picking the last of the apple, some raspberries, peas and some of the carrots, this year the carrots have done amazingly well and surprisingly all rather straight!! No I haven't dug out a trench and put in decent soil and yes our soil is very stony but this we have started using the no dig theory to the allotment, so compost is scattered over the top of the soil and covered for the winter, leaving nature to do its work, will have to see if we keep producing straightish carrots!

Pears are looking good but not ready yet.

Its all change for O he has decided to go back to college and do an access course in biology with chemistry, it has been a bit of a bumpy year for him this year and nothing has gone to plan,loosing his spleen and spending  time in ICU has knocked him. Though he still likes the gym work, and might finish his personal training course, the close shave with death and stuck with a zero hour contract job, has changed his view. When he was younger he always wanted to be a vet but due to health reasons mainly allergies it wasn't going to be feasible, so gym instructor/personal trainer was second choice. He decided very last minute to apply for uni, doing a foundation course in biology but for the first time ever I said no he wasn't going, it was too rushed for a major decision and huge amount of debt and he hadn't even looked at the uni. So after much debate he choose a local college and is enjoying it so far, so we will be looking at unis later in the year and saving towards it as well! I am a lot happier, though I don't mind last minute changes etc but this just felt to much of a major one to rush, this way he will have time to check out the different unis etc.

On a crafting front, the dress with the neckline I stretched is still sitting in the sewing basket but have picked up my cross stitch and started working on that again, can't wait to do a bit more and add in some outline so the detail is clearer. Knitting have finished back of baby jumper and made a good start on the front, joining Kat for Unraveled Wednesday