Snow Again!

We had snow and then more snow!! Was not expecting it to snow again, even though the weather forecast said it would, I mean how many times do you see snow predicted and it never appears! So Tuesday we decided even though it was freezing to head to the park for our normal get together, especially as we had a couple of new families joining us. About 10 minutes after we arrived it snowed, as in heavily snowed, what a great way for everyone to get to know each other while playing in the snow, happy days. We came home and warmed up,  then L decided it was time for round 2 of playing in the garden, lots of ice to explore, she loved the way the sun made it sparkly.

The rabbits actually ventured into the garden this time and didn't seem to be too bothered with it, compared to their last time of 3 hops out and then back hiding in their cage.

L had decided to take her toy dog to the park, he got rather wet and muddy in the snow, so she asked if we could wash him like a real puppy when we got home, luckily puppy looks like new now she's been washed. sigh of relieve from me as its one of L's favourites.

It snowed more, which meant very happy excited children, I have never been so glad that my husband had holiday left over from last year and had booked the end of this week of, especially as he was supposed to be on call. I know it means one of his colleagues had to do it but they all live a lot nearer work than we do, so less chance of getting stranded. Anyway we headed of to the park and woods, to make snow angels and make snowballs. The snow wasn't the right type to make snowmen with but according to L it was heavenly.

Blackbird braving the cold to find the food we had scattered for the birds. We have been looking at the different flight patterns of birds and how they turn, hoover etc.

I had brought some flowers to start our spring display, didn't get much further, will leave it for next week when we have more spring like weather, hopefully.

Hyacinths are looking and smelling great.

L is enjoying the map work to go with our project on Egypt, I had printed out and laminated these ancient Egyptian mythology card to use as I read the ancient myths to her, she loves that sort of thing. The website also has landmarks, Greek and Roman gods too, so think I will be printing out those too. We've been watching various you tube films about the Nile and the tours around the landmarks of Egypt, must admit I was surprised at how much she was interested in the different sites, the size and variation of the monuments and statues.

I have finished her jumper just in time for the cold weather, she loves it and would if been allowed worn it too bed!

The owl is still a work in progress and have L has chosen Rosebuds for her other jumper, we have chosen a lovely pale blue in a cotton mix, have cast on but that is about it. Have found out that 4 people I know and can knit for are all expecting baby girls this year, oh there are way too many cute baby patterns out there but if you have a favourite please do share your pattern with me :) So at the moment working on using up some of my stash and knitting some little Tegan hats, ok they aren't going to make a huge dent in my stash but fun to make. In the meantime I bought M some Disney books, the story of how the evil character ended up that way, she enjoyed the Fairest Of All and asked for more, luckily they are all on offer in the local supermarket at the moment. I've just started to read Fairest of All and can see why she enjoyed it, its an interesting,enjoyable read, that ties in with the Disney film Snow White. Have also picked up tales with twist, what if Sleeping Beauty didn't wake up when the Prince kissed her. Joining Frontier Dreams

Rainbows and Snowdrops

We have had a lovely week, very mixed weather wise, but fun. I am sure we have alternated between bright, sunny days and overcast, rainy days, might be wrong but that'show it feels. We've managed a walk everyday, which is great, went out for a puddle walk but had disappointed children as there were no good size puddle to jump in. They did find some nice sticks and I mentioned that some of the small puddles might be fairy puddles, cue, no longer disappointed children, imagination came into play and lots of fun had deciding on what the fairies might be called and when they might come out to splash in the puddles. Came home to a beautiful rainbow, realised after getting the photo, we also caught a good reflection of the sitting room light!

On Tuesday we had a lovely walk to the library, we now have a book on Egyptian myths to read, then round to the park and spotted all the snow drops coming up. A local community group over the last couple of years have done a mass planting of snowdrops, daffodils and crocus, they are lovely to see all coming up and makes the area so pretty.

More local news and doing a happy dance, though we try and keep our waste to the minimum recycling is great and from this week onward, we can now recycle yogurt pots, fruit punnets, meat trays and tetra packs, in our kerbside collection, yay!

Last weekend M had her drama exam, she was very nervous about it and relieved when it was all over and done with, said she mucked up one bit but managed to keep going. Fast forward to this weeks lesson, as we were driving over to it, she was saying she was so glad she had done it, even if she didn't get a good mark, she felt really great going in and doing her pieces. Put a big smile on my face, the drama is all about having fun and building her confidence, she's now talking about the next lot of LAMDA exams, wow!

L has spent a little of her Christmas gift money and bought a little lego set, loved the fact she spotted the set, worked out that the label meant it was reduced and what the price is, didn't feel I could say no to her. I have always encouraged the children to look at the prices, how much things cost and when they are older, what works out cheaper, for budgeting purposes and why we buy certain products etc

Apparently on Wednesday it was Storm the husky puppy's birthday, out came the play dough to make birthday cake, candle was a small crayon. Don't ask how many times happy birthday was sung because the puppy kept blowing out the candle too soon, lots of giggles had!

L had been asking what we had used before pens and pencils and I mentioned feather, she found one and wanted to give it a try, she decided she wanted to use it with paint, so didn't get a chance to cut it and use ink but she loved it.

Bread roll making ready for lunch.

L finished her animal sticker book and I had saved the sheets of partially used stickers and being half term had my older minded children for the day and they happily used them and drew scenes to go with them.

Lots of painting

Knitting, back, front and 1 1/2 sleeves made, there is no pressure from L at all, honest. I have been looking at journals, note booking, saw some lovely books but it was done as 3 year diary and a question a day, which isn't me. Then came across the Handbook For Mums from the Thinking Tree, L has a work book journal and enjoys dipping in and out of it, love it, mixture of colouring, books to read, thoughts for the day, films you have read, to do lists, how do you feel etc, plenty of variety, so think I will enjoy it.

The "free gift" with Lets Knit magazine this month is the wool to make this rather cute owl, those that know L, will know her love of birds and in particular owls, so one for her.

Linking up with Frontier Dreams for Crafting On

Magnetic Sand

Having fun with the magnetic sand and geometric solids, sort of linked to ancient Egypt as there is a pyramid, maths and  constructing.

It wasn't long before my older children decided to join L, the magnetic sand is rather fun to play with, it holds it shape well and therefore is great to build with.

Enjoying a game of around the world, L loves maps, so this game is perfect, throw in various extra comments, like take a sled ride go on 3 spaces, to fuel her interest and need to learn more.

New recipe tried this week, sweet potato tangine, I loved it, rest of the family not so keen, will have to try it out on the minded children and see what they make of it but it reheats nicely and freezes well, so I am happy with that.

Finally managed to get a photo of our new visitor, this black cap has been darting in and out the garden so quickly its been hard to id him but perseverance paid of and Friday morning managed to get a non blurry, complete bird photo.

We have a pair of long tailed tits that visit regularly, again not managed a full photo but least you can just make out the two of them.

I came across an article on mistletoe and its benefits to the habitat it is in, that one study showed that if mistletoe is removed from a woodland  then 20% of species richness was lost and a 1/4 of the woodland birds were lost too.

Fun with magnets, there properties, what is magnetic and what is not and making a compass.

Making magnets float.

Homemade compass and had fun disrupting the compass by placing magnets near to the bowl.

Made a huge amount of progress on L's jumper, back and front knitted and started on a sleeve, honestly there is no pressure from L at all to get it finished quickly!!

We are slowly stripping the paper from the hallway and stairs, as an incentive to get it finished we have finally narrowed down the colour selection,  now just seeing what they are like in the different lights. Which this weekend we have overcast, rain, snow and sunshine, so doing well, the snow hasn't settled but this is the 3rd time this week that we have had some flakes of snow,much to the excitement and then disappointment of the children.

Linking up with Nicole at Frontier Dreams