Raising our Spirited Family: 2010

Saturday, 20 November 2010

Finlay nicking cereals(by Cory)

A picture of Finlay nicking cereals

On holiday we got some special yummy cereals and whilst we were inside a friends house across the road finlay staid at the caravan, and when I came inside with my new camera I quickly turned it on and took this photo. (post by Cory)

Monday, 28 June 2010

wales holiday

Smiley chimney pot spotted by Cory on the way down to the river in Corris

Eve and Connor having an afternoon nap.

Cory at Summers house flying down the hill. This kept the children entertained for days. They would try to stop but sometimes crash at the bottom, or worse end up in a trough of water.

Look at this duck that I caught. Eve looks worried!

Finlay perfecting his tree climbing abilities.

corys Foxton Locks photos

These are Corys favourite photos from his trip to foxton locks.

first harvest

this is our first harvest, swiss chard and a strawberry.

allotment june

Cory climbed the plum tree to take a picture of our allotment.

Wednesday, 12 May 2010

A scary bunch

Just found this picture from last Halloween.

Connors scout parade

Cory taking photos of Connor on his St Georges day parade.

Connor enjoyed marching around the city carrying the flag but his arms hurt the next day.

Broken leg

One week ago Horatio broke his back leg. We put him out in the morning into his run and in the afternoon his leg was broken. We called the vet and expected that he would be put to sleep. We all said goodbye and me and Cory took him to the vet. The vet said to keep him in a small area and gave us some pain killers for him. The other children were delighted to have him back. (You can see his broken back leg in the photo above)

Science

Every week the children do science with their friends. Cory, Hannah and Fin do baby science and then Connor and Cory do science aimed at the older ones. In this picture Hannah Sophie, Harry and Cory are learning about the heart.

Sunday, 2 May 2010

Sketch tuesday- bubbles

We found a lovely website that has a different project to sketch every tuesday.You send in your pictures which are then put in a slideshow. This weeks theme was bubbles. Heres Corys picture. He remembered a nature program we watched ages ago about the spider who lives on the surface of the water and collect air bubbles that they floats about the surface of the water in.
the link for sketch Tuesday is
http://harmonyartmom.blogspot.com/p/what-is-sketch-tuesday.html

Our allotment plan

we did an allotment plan using the software growveg.com. We have the shed at the top that we bought of ebay. then tyres with flowers around a seating area. On the right hand side are tyres that we have planted strawberries, spinach, garlic and a primrose that I got for mothers day.
On the left we have the childrens play area with slide and sandpit. WE have also made a den and planted beans to grow up it.
Next comes a large permanent bed which we plan to grow permanent plants in but this year we have planted the early potatoes in and we have covered this bed in half rotted compost from our kitchen and guinea pig waste.
Next comes 6 raised beds that surround where we plan to make a herb spiral. We placed cardboard on these beds and have dug out about half the paths, placing mud on top . The plan is to put weed suppressant membrane down and then put woodchip down.
Next comes the polytunnel, we have purchased the frame from ebay and we'll probably get the cover in the autumn.
In front of the polytunnel we plan to make it look cottage garden like, mixing flowers and veg.
At the front compost on the right and parking on the left.
All down the left hand side are the fruit trees and we plan to make this side like a forest garden with fruit bushes, and herbs.

mothers day present

On mothers day we went to view and choose our new allotment. Its wonderful we have lots of fully grown fruit trees. We have been down there several times a week. The plot was previously very overgrown, so the allotment society plowed it before we took it on. We read lots of permaculture articles that said that soil does not like to be bare and nature will respond by covering the soil with weeds to protect the soil microbes. Also by ploughing the weeds will be cut into small pieces that will create more weeds than was originally there. We covered what we can in cardboard and laid straw, pallets etc to weigh the cardboard down.

Friday, 5 March 2010

Teddy bear songs

Next week we are going on a teddy bears picnic. So we found the following songs to learn

Teddy Bears Picnic

If you go down to the woods today,
You're sure of a big surprise.
If you go down to the woods today,
You'd better go in disguise.
For every bear that ever there was
Will gather there for certain because
Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

Picnic time for teddy bears;
The little teddy bears are having a lovely time today.
Watch us catch them unawares,
And see them picnic on their holiday.
See them gaily gad about.
They love to play and shout,
They never have any cares.
At six o'clock their mummies and daddies
Will take them home to bed
Because they're tired little teddy bears.

Bears are sleeping,

Sung to: Brother John

Bears are sleeping,
Bears are sleeping,
In their lairs.
In their lairs.

Soon it will be springtime,
Soon it will be spring time,
Wake up, bears!
Wake up, bears!

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear

Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, turn around,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, touch the ground,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, reach up high
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, wink one eye,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, slap your knees,
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, sit down please.

yum yum

Yum,yum

Flapjack and Cookies

I like to let Connor and Cory cook for themselves. So that they learn to be able to follow a recipe through by themselves. They also have to watch out for the younger children waiting to taste or help with anything..

Post office

"How much to post this parcel?"

Today the younger ones played post offices, with scales and used parcel envelopes. The parcels were weighed to find out the cost of postage and then delivered to the persons bed. Uncle Daniel called in and the children were delighted to have a real customer.

scones

Children shouting "Sconesssss"

Baking scones

On Monday Damion took Connor and Cory went to Warhammer world in Nottingham. The rest of us made scones. We made one bowl with raisins and one with out. They had a great time but made a huge mess. It was lovely to cook with Eve as I normally cook with the other children when she is asleep.

Sunday, 28 February 2010

Damion gluing warhammer

Cory got a box of Lizardmen. Damion has been busy helping gluing and painting with the boys.

Warhammer High Elves

For christmas Connor got a large box of Warhammer high elves. These need glueing together and painting.Most days Connor has been busy with this new hobby.

Horatio, Biscuit and Snowflake

A few weeks ago we had three new pets join our family. Finlay chose this guinea pig which was oringinaly called bit, short for little bit. He renamed her snowflake.

Here is Hannah with the other girl guinea pig called Biscuit.

Cory chose the boy called Horatio as his pet.

The girls live in a separate cage too the boy. As the girls are about two years old it would be dangerous for them to get pregnant. If guinea pigs have not had babies by the time they are one year old their pelvis becomes fused and then they can't give birth.

We have borrowed books from the library and we have been reading all about the best way to look after them. We found it is good for their digestion for 80% of their food to be hay. Also that Guinea pigs are the only rodent not to be able to make its own vitamin c so it is important that they have veg high in vitamin c every day. A good diet consists of a cup of chopped up veg and fruit a day for each guinea pig. We went to the market so that the children could chose and buy fresh vegetables for them.