tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23045758249920993242024-03-05T21:15:37.252-08:00Littlefoot's Little Learnerslittlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-74642649854086477912015-09-17T05:07:00.001-07:002015-09-17T07:13:02.299-07:00Packing list...<div>Our holiday is coming up super fast, so today I got the kids to think about want they want to take in their hand luggage. I printed two packing lists from ActivityVillage.co.uk for their travel journals; one as a kind of wishlist, and one that they can fill in with what they are actually taking.</div><div><br></div><div><font color="#000000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTG4jKgNrQbDz-86gZVlmjstiXd_W0317UX-gfPY7x2C4Bv6f_1v6STzhuu38yElmiVeWvNfgdmQJJCnx31Y09m5dzoZZKBrVQHRxXJ1_Sbw_RPkip5OGKpJQOYvHnINMDnIWp3w8iK1p/s640/blogger-image-186515606.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTG4jKgNrQbDz-86gZVlmjstiXd_W0317UX-gfPY7x2C4Bv6f_1v6STzhuu38yElmiVeWvNfgdmQJJCnx31Y09m5dzoZZKBrVQHRxXJ1_Sbw_RPkip5OGKpJQOYvHnINMDnIWp3w8iK1p/s640/blogger-image-186515606.jpg"></a></font></div><div><br></div><div>Here's Wiyots, I like that he wants to take his comb and fishpaste for his hair! hehehe</div><div><br></div><div><font color="#000000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0Ui8oqUQ_-whKw5XynyEQF8R913GEnh5tx6dVjUjxNTWDjbntmBS0xbg8ielxlGynSN16pYgRpDcjVpS_jQVAcmhiZ8xLIstjqN1dTEwGK3irF2rKjtkBSNr3GZ5hd1igA1qcgTrW0Ym/s640/blogger-image--1284833889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU0Ui8oqUQ_-whKw5XynyEQF8R913GEnh5tx6dVjUjxNTWDjbntmBS0xbg8ielxlGynSN16pYgRpDcjVpS_jQVAcmhiZ8xLIstjqN1dTEwGK3irF2rKjtkBSNr3GZ5hd1igA1qcgTrW0Ym/s640/blogger-image--1284833889.jpg"></a></font></div><div><br></div><div>And here's Shoshone's, think she really enjoyed figuring out how to spell the things on her list.</div><div><br></div><div>Shoshone's gone off to play with her old pal trixi the trunki, but Wiyot has got out his Dragonology book and is currently deciphering a message written in runes. :)</div><div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaghvGPbfhnPUbinjPfmGeBWZhQ_sQbQaQtFKTzo8rj1xCAPh5qwjyIOZSFjAFiNqT7qDbn_SAot9w-lxbYqMrnGvi3Vk9QJ0oG6L9K8Y-UR9vH4_qIMuv1OmaWkACwO08HSKQS4_NGMU_/s640/blogger-image--1567187115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaghvGPbfhnPUbinjPfmGeBWZhQ_sQbQaQtFKTzo8rj1xCAPh5qwjyIOZSFjAFiNqT7qDbn_SAot9w-lxbYqMrnGvi3Vk9QJ0oG6L9K8Y-UR9vH4_qIMuv1OmaWkACwO08HSKQS4_NGMU_/s640/blogger-image--1567187115.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">He's enjoying working out the secret message, but finding it a challenge when one rune could be one of two letters. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeqqIQ7wgvergv-nnlrotfa-4iHkoH-UQ3TPZF-gMW9zD9HDP5QDP7pnVjf_Fg2TPMzM9y4bhkQYXD-7Nq-nVA6ugzFvhjJiOz7AIVap-GJPape_1emOdBZKldZbhXiWs_SaW7_fp55_Y/s640/blogger-image-840109787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDeqqIQ7wgvergv-nnlrotfa-4iHkoH-UQ3TPZF-gMW9zD9HDP5QDP7pnVjf_Fg2TPMzM9y4bhkQYXD-7Nq-nVA6ugzFvhjJiOz7AIVap-GJPape_1emOdBZKldZbhXiWs_SaW7_fp55_Y/s640/blogger-image-840109787.jpg"></a></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCaPuDDIOEkdWyHWXqUe1xNuDwtmvfYw3EVwXf0FutwUC_sme6QhSzVhE5HyGXP5qoQnH-wv-qiTDyuwzBLT7cU6U6wfzwpbaUh3FzE1AR0M0sCAvRe2jOPGCjYMvHwmAU1_Bg_SNX059/s640/blogger-image-1964098983.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOCaPuDDIOEkdWyHWXqUe1xNuDwtmvfYw3EVwXf0FutwUC_sme6QhSzVhE5HyGXP5qoQnH-wv-qiTDyuwzBLT7cU6U6wfzwpbaUh3FzE1AR0M0sCAvRe2jOPGCjYMvHwmAU1_Bg_SNX059/s640/blogger-image-1964098983.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here Shoshone has found a tape measure and is practicing counting to 150. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Below are some of the pages I have printed for their travel journals.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxr10FZSpA0gABX7HHTKjrcNfdYx37CecwXkpCTo1K8WpWPCyDBIKzHnGv7J1yy2rgA8bhMT4WPzB_ImFIYCCiDpNhlr9OJCnpgOQ2eflFABuoyQi0E5cL1UV9iiP8oVZUFL0scdcJTOy/s640/blogger-image--1978051280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDxr10FZSpA0gABX7HHTKjrcNfdYx37CecwXkpCTo1K8WpWPCyDBIKzHnGv7J1yy2rgA8bhMT4WPzB_ImFIYCCiDpNhlr9OJCnpgOQ2eflFABuoyQi0E5cL1UV9iiP8oVZUFL0scdcJTOy/s640/blogger-image--1978051280.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">I love this Mickey Mouse one, was very tempted to print out a set for myself! Who knows, if the kids don't use theirs, I might nab them anyway! :)</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUnaniZCytIczdDAQcls8lSvpQn9UIJjuWpqlzPowlNVKWQ5RYOAQMkFb_wSS1xi7UXoGbpbreQQmL2BFCMNCO7V3M1rRH1QoYhmD66_pqkj8H1CykGUchwHdH5esP9RftMnJcHgMvh8l/s640/blogger-image-1556898269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAUnaniZCytIczdDAQcls8lSvpQn9UIJjuWpqlzPowlNVKWQ5RYOAQMkFb_wSS1xi7UXoGbpbreQQmL2BFCMNCO7V3M1rRH1QoYhmD66_pqkj8H1CykGUchwHdH5esP9RftMnJcHgMvh8l/s640/blogger-image-1556898269.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">And some of the others. I decided to print a variety and let them choose a page depending on their mood. Some have spaces with lines for you to write, others empty boxes so you can draw or write, and some a combination of both. I think I'm also going to put in an envelope to hold tickets or other things they might want to keep. Also thought I could use card as a cover and as somewhere they can stick down any stickers they might get. :)</div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-12342826212772886492015-09-11T08:09:00.001-07:002015-09-11T08:43:54.832-07:00Secret ColoursToday we should have been going to our weekly sports group. However, instead we have been traped inside waiting for a delivery... *sigh*<div><br></div><div>Wiyot has been keeping himself busy with his new passion for all things dinosaur, which is all because we watched Jurassic Park the other day... and people criticise kids watching TV ;) Today he has made his own dino scene out of card board. Complete with incoming asteroid, as well as a seperate dino inards piece for when the T-Rex catches one of the other dinosaurs! :/</div><div><br></div><div><font color="#000000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLjmRzDntoYLrs_3O7wSqPdGj3uXyOlBXDuO_spsagkgoTXVARzV6nHKxvQCm-L0SmZ8SbaAJyM5GIPcilQmDAZVs0-6sH3smHOuSfZdQAof6kCOx6k5u3AAiL2lmxxrww5IITRYapYRb/s640/blogger-image--1885146337.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinLjmRzDntoYLrs_3O7wSqPdGj3uXyOlBXDuO_spsagkgoTXVARzV6nHKxvQCm-L0SmZ8SbaAJyM5GIPcilQmDAZVs0-6sH3smHOuSfZdQAof6kCOx6k5u3AAiL2lmxxrww5IITRYapYRb/s640/blogger-image--1885146337.jpg"></a></font></div><div><br></div><div>Here he is colouring in the scene. In the background you can see Shoshone has built various scenes with the Jenga blocks. :)</div><div><br></div><div><font color="#000000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQ4nGl4khEGG-lgt5AEBWNVIGxiybF6JLYm_69oTEVO9uw9vr3Ch0UKn1EV_wB4vxtE-_bWzm9NtcaujRq2Ir-uuBZlpaeUoKVk8yfBPD7G9JsEPbxT02V8v_RTAmkhRageqXDhBOVZHO/s640/blogger-image-1085353949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBQ4nGl4khEGG-lgt5AEBWNVIGxiybF6JLYm_69oTEVO9uw9vr3Ch0UKn1EV_wB4vxtE-_bWzm9NtcaujRq2Ir-uuBZlpaeUoKVk8yfBPD7G9JsEPbxT02V8v_RTAmkhRageqXDhBOVZHO/s640/blogger-image-1085353949.jpg"></a></font></div><div><br></div><div>And the finished scene. :)</div><div><br></div><div>He also got out his experiment book and chose an experiment to do. Today we did secret colours. Very simple, but good fun. All you need is some filter paper, coloured water based markers, and water. </div><div><br></div><div>I dicided to print out some science experiment worksheets I found online. Wiyot loves all things science, so thought it might be a good time to begin introducing him to the scientific method. :)</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSXKeZbhMDeimaAJn7QJGNbhKR3CGzAT7EzsZWw7ldPPRxlMcvKQ6_nRjEYbYFWz52QNocoCC3eZGaAvcQBMsUS9TIOAzfczBQFSekPQOLd6D7_ffbP9xeBJuq8UOh-5eDPmL7OwfoZ2m/s640/blogger-image--1562584153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSXKeZbhMDeimaAJn7QJGNbhKR3CGzAT7EzsZWw7ldPPRxlMcvKQ6_nRjEYbYFWz52QNocoCC3eZGaAvcQBMsUS9TIOAzfczBQFSekPQOLd6D7_ffbP9xeBJuq8UOh-5eDPmL7OwfoZ2m/s640/blogger-image--1562584153.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Here they have numbered their papers and are colouring a dot in the centre.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zGv_zodud4LdjO4fwsNJ2Ik_SD96lPyllOfwVNF4TwQVj8pmNju8uVH3EveVed84r-eOHrgtSjVvxYJACnzN3omd_4d8-0OV4lEIbzb98x7OnIEyCGp6I0aqaRd5nQM7XeEkfM7-zxKm/s640/blogger-image-1101398845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-zGv_zodud4LdjO4fwsNJ2Ik_SD96lPyllOfwVNF4TwQVj8pmNju8uVH3EveVed84r-eOHrgtSjVvxYJACnzN3omd_4d8-0OV4lEIbzb98x7OnIEyCGp6I0aqaRd5nQM7XeEkfM7-zxKm/s640/blogger-image-1101398845.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">These are the colours Wiyot chose. We did four at first and then hunted dow extra black markers to see the difference. </div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDTWxJxMDmBp5eKBTSOxSN6nBgL8DT41Rposipmahu0tSNiRwYuOAP-0BBkzd9su0ERQ3UJBj596lR7Z4nBg5sHjeRws7CDVjkF5Q6q06Tp702xLnpk9EbA0TQRAeJ8Gjrx6EnMg0gzfg/s640/blogger-image-579954839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyDTWxJxMDmBp5eKBTSOxSN6nBgL8DT41Rposipmahu0tSNiRwYuOAP-0BBkzd9su0ERQ3UJBj596lR7Z4nBg5sHjeRws7CDVjkF5Q6q06Tp702xLnpk9EbA0TQRAeJ8Gjrx6EnMg0gzfg/s640/blogger-image-579954839.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wiyots results. The two extra black markers hadn't finished doing their thing yet.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wWTuN9D6gX-4OGeq2fHgWjt5fyAd-9o9WzWSGrDilxgRFOx7iheFEhhX9YO7QWkk8P7qLjIIAjj23FAx6d4Nlgxv3jR0153eXeED5kX2ps8oGKTjIL06vxFY1T4nBA0HPiKOLBklZdgC/s640/blogger-image--132184610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wWTuN9D6gX-4OGeq2fHgWjt5fyAd-9o9WzWSGrDilxgRFOx7iheFEhhX9YO7QWkk8P7qLjIIAjj23FAx6d4Nlgxv3jR0153eXeED5kX2ps8oGKTjIL06vxFY1T4nBA0HPiKOLBklZdgC/s640/blogger-image--132184610.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Shoshone's colours (sorry its upside down, I will try to rotate it when I get on the PC)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bjfmdaQHseD3Nv8BaKmpA1VGdtTwxQAoIO-fjRh3prZx2XhEZrMlOqWaWgtWsn7qPg20Gj5cF6Qe2BYkGQ61oGvD_LUbyy-misP-5Qab7xVl4BLLNZ4C-P8A5yIS4rnzeADJg7w_1QFN/s640/blogger-image--1262621261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1bjfmdaQHseD3Nv8BaKmpA1VGdtTwxQAoIO-fjRh3prZx2XhEZrMlOqWaWgtWsn7qPg20Gj5cF6Qe2BYkGQ61oGvD_LUbyy-misP-5Qab7xVl4BLLNZ4C-P8A5yIS4rnzeADJg7w_1QFN/s640/blogger-image--1262621261.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Shoshone dripping water onto her alternative black marker. :)</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gBGhHkLMM9AfvbNWbK3CdNlBwTevLOJ8HD-iXL0MgN7rq8FuksoDM1VNPW-5zZ7fu8RwbsTEYHM3mv7oS-819GJ0qGeDoIiA3besy7D_67Qru8YuCMU1lTnBh6vlh_4PEfp_-RtagIvb/s640/blogger-image-996118382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5gBGhHkLMM9AfvbNWbK3CdNlBwTevLOJ8HD-iXL0MgN7rq8FuksoDM1VNPW-5zZ7fu8RwbsTEYHM3mv7oS-819GJ0qGeDoIiA3besy7D_67Qru8YuCMU1lTnBh6vlh_4PEfp_-RtagIvb/s640/blogger-image-996118382.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Wiyots finished paper, the filters just need sticking down. He's drawn his various made up characters around the boarder.</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAY80NCuzVFNdE5ZLeqKpKoBBoXsv0ksAhhoJJ-EeWGIpFR1wGWSfSX5LLh2luW1GK-Jg1Vrf-5X6D-c2RC31QoIJyC4G-nki5LNyRO4VeOj8SW2OpXkwvDpH-LtSaaFu0y-R6vNRC9V6/s640/blogger-image--220139103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJAY80NCuzVFNdE5ZLeqKpKoBBoXsv0ksAhhoJJ-EeWGIpFR1wGWSfSX5LLh2luW1GK-Jg1Vrf-5X6D-c2RC31QoIJyC4G-nki5LNyRO4VeOj8SW2OpXkwvDpH-LtSaaFu0y-R6vNRC9V6/s640/blogger-image--220139103.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Shoshone's results, she still needs to do the writing bits. Drawing in the margins is apparently way more fun! :) Shoshone has drawn the Team Titans characters. :)</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-60765161578882022082015-09-09T10:05:00.001-07:002015-09-09T10:08:50.973-07:00Learning about USAWe are off to Walt Disney World in just a few weeks time! WOOHOO!! I... I mean, the <i>kids</i> are super excited! <div><br></div><div>I had been searching the inter webs looking for travel journels for them to complete while we are away. However, I also found some Country activity sheets at activityvillage.com that I thought would be good. </div><div><br></div><div>Some of the questions were a bit tough for the kids to answer, specifically:</div><div><br></div><div><i>What is the climate in the USA?</i></div><div><i>What is the terrain in the USA? </i></div><div><br></div><div><b>"All of them!" π </b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>Other bits were easier though, like what is the currency, language, who is the leader, what foods do they eat, etc...</div><div><br></div><div>I'll have to post more pics later. But here's a few I took already. π</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFV9HhUUUicXaTrHhvo8f4c66J891T29BLArEE4fEV3yDiqutTukuo8h3ChHfIcFiKrEtr5m2kZNEfKyjGIETjRsJYTKyLHRsHaKwcAuqA8HIPsdE1eu_4Hlp1_6GJQL-uXLjoRjtq9_b/s640/blogger-image--1998069128.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFV9HhUUUicXaTrHhvo8f4c66J891T29BLArEE4fEV3yDiqutTukuo8h3ChHfIcFiKrEtr5m2kZNEfKyjGIETjRsJYTKyLHRsHaKwcAuqA8HIPsdE1eu_4Hlp1_6GJQL-uXLjoRjtq9_b/s640/blogger-image--1998069128.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPn1j_2upXFiEQKwz2uvdk9hRg5NTInNE_VZsv4mIcjVDY4HW4b6o84sOc77e31CH3OdH0FJzHR36CtvamL70Uey4rTH4L8LM4FQl0coRbloQfsG5FTHvGv8GFmu-vjoRRyO1lECfyUSDU/s640/blogger-image--2003307464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPn1j_2upXFiEQKwz2uvdk9hRg5NTInNE_VZsv4mIcjVDY4HW4b6o84sOc77e31CH3OdH0FJzHR36CtvamL70Uey4rTH4L8LM4FQl0coRbloQfsG5FTHvGv8GFmu-vjoRRyO1lECfyUSDU/s640/blogger-image--2003307464.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0afmu0c6HWaY31u_Et8q4BQc2z8fNrFK8Re4JfRXGRZohzQGjLHx1JSCrBIUm7KtHum9Awvu7NcDIf4hfkZIriqQ592HgzEyDN9vOP-DWpU6bWku8igepmAPTbzQA7twef39htgBEfGCD/s640/blogger-image--1801993133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0afmu0c6HWaY31u_Et8q4BQc2z8fNrFK8Re4JfRXGRZohzQGjLHx1JSCrBIUm7KtHum9Awvu7NcDIf4hfkZIriqQ592HgzEyDN9vOP-DWpU6bWku8igepmAPTbzQA7twef39htgBEfGCD/s640/blogger-image--1801993133.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Love Wiyot's picture of Barack Obama! π</div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-83522077762452007752015-09-09T09:37:00.001-07:002015-09-09T09:39:40.820-07:00Not back to school...<div><br></div>Over the last week, my news feed has been full of the obligatory "back to school" pictures. So this year, for the first time, we decided to do our own NOT back to school pics. :)<div><br></div><div>(As it's been a while since I've posted on here, you may notice the kids have grown quite a bit!)</div><div><br></div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQHnsGruQW5hIq0CLhqQmwRu-kZwpQLFlfqb4aW7En_NHpom9oXg-vH0Tqjcq2hlupLI52yE81BxXe_AN6Wl1GAXC0-t725ba6UgDqHt3BprCtrC1uNhfPdT9n4LIPaECZSjNeD7oGpeE/s640/blogger-image--282142024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioQHnsGruQW5hIq0CLhqQmwRu-kZwpQLFlfqb4aW7En_NHpom9oXg-vH0Tqjcq2hlupLI52yE81BxXe_AN6Wl1GAXC0-t725ba6UgDqHt3BprCtrC1uNhfPdT9n4LIPaECZSjNeD7oGpeE/s640/blogger-image--282142024.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Obviously had to do the standing by the wall/door as is standard procedure! :)</div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p38S3fnE5Lw_fzjL5i9-_nG8t1TaFZ7HE7dhUpUH1pIFk02tfTIrYw84Vr6afk-b9gq028CJe9GvRgxSKp0wDKN58yhfTedyFbijYMQvJhPZyZRxzLM3ftkq-7iFwyu_V1ODaFWX4fwG/s640/blogger-image-610778573.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6p38S3fnE5Lw_fzjL5i9-_nG8t1TaFZ7HE7dhUpUH1pIFk02tfTIrYw84Vr6afk-b9gq028CJe9GvRgxSKp0wDKN58yhfTedyFbijYMQvJhPZyZRxzLM3ftkq-7iFwyu_V1ODaFWX4fwG/s640/blogger-image-610778573.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">This is them, before I so rudely interrupted them for a photo. Wiyot was doing an observational drawing of me... I let him finish first of course! :)</div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-14987712512600468492011-09-20T18:06:00.000-07:002011-09-22T09:37:04.462-07:00Wowza!<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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I think I said on one of my recent posts that Wiyot has suddenly exploded with activity. So as before I felt the easiest option would be to photograph some of my favourite bits to share with you. Yesterday he wrote some lovely messages on our scrabble board, unfortunately I wasn't really having a good day and forgot to capture them on camera to share with you. :( Thankfully I've generally been more on the ball!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0qhfclbAM5ayK69IGLOG5Qo5N8sAuXF3fz_GHhUjp-ZQOl7FIAlT9CZrwIv44pUHMTw9yxS5nvICs3VNRdlCYOv9TXfzhlG6Q9IlULRNwENifoEd4GPde0Gh8lrOM-4Qf0sieIvxc0G1/s1600/IMG_1485.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW0qhfclbAM5ayK69IGLOG5Qo5N8sAuXF3fz_GHhUjp-ZQOl7FIAlT9CZrwIv44pUHMTw9yxS5nvICs3VNRdlCYOv9TXfzhlG6Q9IlULRNwENifoEd4GPde0Gh8lrOM-4Qf0sieIvxc0G1/s400/IMG_1485.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sonic & Minnie, plus Daddy & Mommy asleep underneath.<br />
Daddy has one eye open! lol</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfndeSzgNsxsUlGk4iVOp4LXzJbldMA_Q8fMx1UASHYzGVHbwhv9rLrXZsbUjTgdbNLtkvt5Aql1gKT3hDYJshvHs8g4BTOJqdHeCRDnn2-qPIz_ac_peAAPc3NwbjUUqkvvTR1rhcux7/s1600/IMG_1502.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLfndeSzgNsxsUlGk4iVOp4LXzJbldMA_Q8fMx1UASHYzGVHbwhv9rLrXZsbUjTgdbNLtkvt5Aql1gKT3hDYJshvHs8g4BTOJqdHeCRDnn2-qPIz_ac_peAAPc3NwbjUUqkvvTR1rhcux7/s400/IMG_1502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy & Sonic, complete with his green eyes and red shoes.<br />
The detail is increasing in his drawings :)</td></tr>
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If you look at these you can see that his writing technique has already improved. Again he did all of these without any input from me, the letters are becoming clearer, generally facing in the right direction and also the spelling is getting slightly better. It's amazing to witness him literally teaching himself! :')</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUvTtVyfaglK48fpAfgn0hMzShmvnEA6s1z0p2BG7HpGHGHmJmoCZQLMBgR3ViJiYknLOVpF2ICOmVdI1_ocrFqM7R38RTTixuVs8GbcEiQUQM3bbuFU0c2jHuvZ5KZJkRDoIu8m4mymc/s1600/IMG_1505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaUvTtVyfaglK48fpAfgn0hMzShmvnEA6s1z0p2BG7HpGHGHmJmoCZQLMBgR3ViJiYknLOVpF2ICOmVdI1_ocrFqM7R38RTTixuVs8GbcEiQUQM3bbuFU0c2jHuvZ5KZJkRDoIu8m4mymc/s320/IMG_1505.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjBc5Fld70b5mhoIHk8DJddfDZfdSHFrB9b2AB-2xwXutAMJWEdaADzZWLBXYUP0O8squ3_ThlHMcvrF7Ohzbh3eFj_bBt5uIqQHnqcjaHR6jX_dtkfyRSBrvpextakh5lvSBSGPICMGF/s1600/IMG_1507.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSjBc5Fld70b5mhoIHk8DJddfDZfdSHFrB9b2AB-2xwXutAMJWEdaADzZWLBXYUP0O8squ3_ThlHMcvrF7Ohzbh3eFj_bBt5uIqQHnqcjaHR6jX_dtkfyRSBrvpextakh5lvSBSGPICMGF/s320/IMG_1507.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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For those of you who aren't fluent in Wiyot-ese the last one says "and I Luv eevu" - and I love Eva (his aunty)<br />
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A message for Daddy:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I no les pla fitng aftu dinu<br />I know lets play fighting after dinner.</td></tr>
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On the above message he attempted to correct a mistake by scribbling it out and putting a cross under it! Not sure where he's got that from?<br />
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A couple of cute little drawings:<br />
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The first pic is Wall.E and Eve (with her arm gun out) and the second is Darth Vader. I love the detail of Darth's mask :)<br />
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On September 9th Wiyot found an activity book in our bedroom. One of the ones you get at restaurants to entertain the kids... Well straight away he got out his crayons and completed all the exercises in the book. Seeing how much he enjoyed it, we tried to find him some more to do. Unfortunately the shops seem to have a fairly poor sellection these days... or we're looking in the wrong place? We did however find <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rainy-Day-Fun/dp/1845311213">this fantastic book</a> in WHSmiths. Here's some of the pages that he completed on September 10th:</div>
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All of the colouring pages are colour by numbers. Not great for creativity, but it is refreshing to see the lovely colourful pictures... you know not just RED! lol</div>
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The dot-to-dots and other activities where what we were really after. Unfortunately there was only these:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGHJAfjpSC4qzqV78ikTAXJEj9dLmLkMefos4ESfZRq8ltAHw_CcsYy9zypTIu29af2gGW5aQIfV13Wp7kSgBY79WhV_9W6hHsDNj6mDyRejEfnb9u3-MTPf8eIx37TN6d9U3Pb8oAedu/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzGHJAfjpSC4qzqV78ikTAXJEj9dLmLkMefos4ESfZRq8ltAHw_CcsYy9zypTIu29af2gGW5aQIfV13Wp7kSgBY79WhV_9W6hHsDNj6mDyRejEfnb9u3-MTPf8eIx37TN6d9U3Pb8oAedu/s200/IMG_1515.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoAMwv5xyiqL2JVfqtZmpG8lpwZMIMlyVHsaiu7ipAhd-8zkxi3zynYfyaVhKUSYXy7IbxDCU_LDtFcju4QNrYkLnCOzQCwuksf7CzClyb7bnZzUhU1N4uYpa8vk44P-IkuzhaT97jKNj/s1600/IMG_1513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQoAMwv5xyiqL2JVfqtZmpG8lpwZMIMlyVHsaiu7ipAhd-8zkxi3zynYfyaVhKUSYXy7IbxDCU_LDtFcju4QNrYkLnCOzQCwuksf7CzClyb7bnZzUhU1N4uYpa8vk44P-IkuzhaT97jKNj/s200/IMG_1513.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10TGTIW9jvdruc2rq4gpVyuFAlonSLvXXIOd5XEUduLn4__yfhxxHBjBqtSbv9kN0CifVG9QkcSxzhJ5xC_XqYpVoucsNt_Z4GTN1cp3b8gVHnfbwOK1BKgaRwNTNHBMARSZB0kN7UlPE/s1600/IMG_1516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh10TGTIW9jvdruc2rq4gpVyuFAlonSLvXXIOd5XEUduLn4__yfhxxHBjBqtSbv9kN0CifVG9QkcSxzhJ5xC_XqYpVoucsNt_Z4GTN1cp3b8gVHnfbwOK1BKgaRwNTNHBMARSZB0kN7UlPE/s400/IMG_1516.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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There are so many different activities, bellow are two he decided to do:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1kPgRbfHc3gpDruqUxm6jkF9kpAS9E1YM_yJtGR46Jnt3xgYBaQQKQ9zFlF5RUmjsU6xT8ISPhyphenhypheni_QJEbB98vdsW-qadVmtG4zazZyA9XbC7DXavtkVeIL9MbUwiWx3PkgjmOTkauHe3/s1600/IMG_1518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI1kPgRbfHc3gpDruqUxm6jkF9kpAS9E1YM_yJtGR46Jnt3xgYBaQQKQ9zFlF5RUmjsU6xT8ISPhyphenhypheni_QJEbB98vdsW-qadVmtG4zazZyA9XbC7DXavtkVeIL9MbUwiWx3PkgjmOTkauHe3/s200/IMG_1518.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ivWeSFCbIQAZgPdv_DK9-enT2uVHE59RBCBjeaNj-gInxtxS7cagIJm8qsT1U34Rp_fRsYih88Od2vs3dqmKKmOarhzOV7fp3bDNSWwIfJ220R0HQpLR_VSop4zsE96fjrbdw25PpLNC/s1600/IMG_1522.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ivWeSFCbIQAZgPdv_DK9-enT2uVHE59RBCBjeaNj-gInxtxS7cagIJm8qsT1U34Rp_fRsYih88Od2vs3dqmKKmOarhzOV7fp3bDNSWwIfJ220R0HQpLR_VSop4zsE96fjrbdw25PpLNC/s200/IMG_1522.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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Drawing the ingredients on the pizza and filling in the missing letters. I was really impressed by the letter one, I didn't think he would do that one... It looked much better before he scribbled over it! Loving the zzZZ's for the "sleepy" person though! lol</div>
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As well as all of the above, there are many other things to make and do. The only one we have done so far is the cat mask:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3FJemfKPp3T1IxGoHUVhBo3h5pyVQKXjP3zOYslKQy7hU33Z5XwgBq_Lcodf-KjQmReDwEBzJgJ_1JRAL9i-LdCys_7qrGNkqhFhoY5iJcTxZAIHz3vXPnWeNa0dDbesy_WpjuNrqIXh/s1600/IMG_1528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir3FJemfKPp3T1IxGoHUVhBo3h5pyVQKXjP3zOYslKQy7hU33Z5XwgBq_Lcodf-KjQmReDwEBzJgJ_1JRAL9i-LdCys_7qrGNkqhFhoY5iJcTxZAIHz3vXPnWeNa0dDbesy_WpjuNrqIXh/s400/IMG_1528.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shone's been watching Cinderella and so Wiyot wanted to<br />make a <a href="http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Lucifer">'Lucifer'</a> mask</td></tr>
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At this point it had already had a thorough playing with, so the fluffy nose is looking a little shaggy! He calls it his cat beard.</div>
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And finally, some little bits from today!</div>
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A message for me:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN2dAEgksKs-a3gxWe9vcbfXfaQODSDjTcw1NO05BD5tvo8Z-Ibt3nyu89AFbS4cZ5JGfnaFcHeSFvobTRYaqi8vf9SPTb7RutI1oMcupMMw6CjrHAjn4TtYAYI1LnuP0Ue2_Eq0t8HIc/s1600/IMG_1530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSN2dAEgksKs-a3gxWe9vcbfXfaQODSDjTcw1NO05BD5tvo8Z-Ibt3nyu89AFbS4cZ5JGfnaFcHeSFvobTRYaqi8vf9SPTb7RutI1oMcupMMw6CjrHAjn4TtYAYI1LnuP0Ue2_Eq0t8HIc/s400/IMG_1530.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mumeey I am Hgreey soE les go get froot<br />Mummy I am hungry so lets go get fruit</td></tr>
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Followed by:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MN2TDn3jVCV9MwndgadWr3h534RbGbYP9n27tzVb6U0K4gKoISwob1UZ8Nb7nBdwqxhUfBRQu1pdJI8p0aI_R6JBQYj1VWIw_VCxFU9jST0NKLd_Ss1mKWGh7dSp7I4pe3LAdyUVdLw3/s1600/IMG_1531.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2MN2TDn3jVCV9MwndgadWr3h534RbGbYP9n27tzVb6U0K4gKoISwob1UZ8Nb7nBdwqxhUfBRQu1pdJI8p0aI_R6JBQYj1VWIw_VCxFU9jST0NKLd_Ss1mKWGh7dSp7I4pe3LAdyUVdLw3/s320/IMG_1531.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure you can work this one out!</td></tr>
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A pretty detailed drawing:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLTDVlbgmy5g6peeREFhrmZqqLMp1D-lj9wC-Fi1tVkwtiGiikXmvjj8spQjU-S-qJab1I3Iz8PcgXs150zLXNVrgQz4q-JvSN7Qlva8YEi4yi65yGoOe3ybx2eBoWizaYKujK32ouQq7/s1600/IMG_1532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKLTDVlbgmy5g6peeREFhrmZqqLMp1D-lj9wC-Fi1tVkwtiGiikXmvjj8spQjU-S-qJab1I3Iz8PcgXs150zLXNVrgQz4q-JvSN7Qlva8YEi4yi65yGoOe3ybx2eBoWizaYKujK32ouQq7/s320/IMG_1532.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall.E <br />
He tried to write his name on his belly too,<br />
Wolee</td></tr>
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And some construction work:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszGTbe0qOJ5ODGfUddV_mPiKjOKa8hPLU9dPaNaPu1RLtHjfdBNaAHTvlhHq_43iqcKUI7pOc975noN4dySJXzw03yUQAqR7juG4RaVePS_FtFa_y6tDEYwYCD-6NxOeiwejCrkYKF7vc/s1600/IMG_1538.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiszGTbe0qOJ5ODGfUddV_mPiKjOKa8hPLU9dPaNaPu1RLtHjfdBNaAHTvlhHq_43iqcKUI7pOc975noN4dySJXzw03yUQAqR7juG4RaVePS_FtFa_y6tDEYwYCD-6NxOeiwejCrkYKF7vc/s320/IMG_1538.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Building his Thomas Duplo train set</td></tr>
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He built the entire set all by himself, including station (above), water tower, windmill, signal box and a tipper thing (I don't know what its called!). Again I forgot to take a picture... :(</div>
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I didn't want to leave out our littlest learner! Here's Shone showing me some of her latest works of art and holding them up to be photographed:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9TqAM5b1zStObJvVBmbEGJUFxaMAQ-y6_DyVPEh2M8gADXGzncIX620MsM8yWM1OzxNSigYaNg5CKUeoRE_tln2RLe4jIE1BqvzoPIqe78rEJ4IIuSvvZKDyUytc1ALhx9SPYl003Wio/s1600/IMG_1541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT9TqAM5b1zStObJvVBmbEGJUFxaMAQ-y6_DyVPEh2M8gADXGzncIX620MsM8yWM1OzxNSigYaNg5CKUeoRE_tln2RLe4jIE1BqvzoPIqe78rEJ4IIuSvvZKDyUytc1ALhx9SPYl003Wio/s320/IMG_1541.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt2kGaHsMrib69BR4imlFZFQi8Qsep8VZ2rOpCPvLNROT7KukA2JqOLnzj1kvfsMnGGkTYxQhan1ArJodhsX-JQDwjnBgS06MU3D2loH1rqBO4p4vTAy0C8vXZEQmH0sUjn6SXDD7fFIx/s1600/IMG_1542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLt2kGaHsMrib69BR4imlFZFQi8Qsep8VZ2rOpCPvLNROT7KukA2JqOLnzj1kvfsMnGGkTYxQhan1ArJodhsX-JQDwjnBgS06MU3D2loH1rqBO4p4vTAy0C8vXZEQmH0sUjn6SXDD7fFIx/s320/IMG_1542.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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She liked the new coloured papers I bought and was matching the crayons to the paper colour! Bless :D<br />
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He's also been doing a lot of reading over the past couple of weeks. So much so that he has pretty much read all of the books in the library... at his reading level of course! I think we may have to venture to one of the other libraries to see if they have a different selection!<br />
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On September 9th (this day was pretty much the beginning of the learning spurt!) we went to the library to get some new reading books for him. In the car on the way home he said the most wonderful thing:<br />
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<b>"Mommy!</b></div>
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<b>When I've finished these books, can we go back to the library</b></div>
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<b> and get some more?"</b></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">:')</span></div>
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Very Happy Mommy!</div>
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littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-12716542349528883852011-09-12T18:06:00.000-07:002011-09-20T18:28:09.620-07:00September 12th<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeJvGSNZ5nWCU7cF0Mu4A1AY0hxRzF22JGTJGVZAb_7DP9jZtjGKa4gkuFtZlifg8bulbAZc-0KtCFh-kTrZ6reh3NOmXSCGk5jmUCQyXR8hM6X6-pbcW_9QBHROS7iuwOAtp8bChKeJx/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigeJvGSNZ5nWCU7cF0Mu4A1AY0hxRzF22JGTJGVZAb_7DP9jZtjGKa4gkuFtZlifg8bulbAZc-0KtCFh-kTrZ6reh3NOmXSCGk5jmUCQyXR8hM6X6-pbcW_9QBHROS7iuwOAtp8bChKeJx/s320/01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Have you noticed the moon tonight?</span></div>
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Tonight is the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival">Mid-Autumn Moon Festival</a>, when the moon is said to be at it's brightest and, for one night only, perfectly round. </div>
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This year we decided to go all out celebrating the festival. Out came my <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0152019839/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=madebylittlef-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0152019839%22%3EMoonbeams,%20Dumplings%20and%20Dragon%20Boats:%20A%20Treasury%20of%20Chinese%20Holiday%20Tales%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=2&a=0152019839%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Chinese festival book</a> and I decided what we were going to do.</div>
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The main activity is eating moon cakes... which we will get to later! The book also mentioned that families get together and watch shadow puppets telling the story of Chang'e and Houyi... I don't know whether thats true, but it seemed like a great project to do with the kids! There were directions in the book, but we decided to do it our own way! :D<br />
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1. Get a largish box and remove any tape so that it is open at both top and bottom. The larger the box the bigger your theatre will be, meaning you can do larger more detailed puppets and also you can fit more characters onto the screen at a time... assuming you can hold them all!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWZ94s2CWVED1g1Mo5SQxuvL5vyL1Ws9DVRp9E4Cbl4idkoM_5q45WxA3-b6wzQcJqCoMuwtC4uV-Q8LvtXnioZTC3I0LgwRnTu3dS-Y4_6Atrt7tfTrEjdbtMV6KXcYP-xmynNra56uG/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioWZ94s2CWVED1g1Mo5SQxuvL5vyL1Ws9DVRp9E4Cbl4idkoM_5q45WxA3-b6wzQcJqCoMuwtC4uV-Q8LvtXnioZTC3I0LgwRnTu3dS-Y4_6Atrt7tfTrEjdbtMV6KXcYP-xmynNra56uG/s400/03.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's ours.</td></tr>
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2. Cut one of the large sides off the box.</div>
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3. Cut a window in the other large side. remember to leave at least an inch or two to support the rest of the box! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzloHdh2rOtIJPFhaGTa6VnszAO7gbis2avPwpBfgTkeGE8J6JlXRrCNCCXcVoO2eBKANrUlhH_MxJL0QZeSnWVS1l23REroJo6oHyganMs-xY0_JnSaVrRzlEVUPJeQleM4IrLqAgnFc/s1600/06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKzloHdh2rOtIJPFhaGTa6VnszAO7gbis2avPwpBfgTkeGE8J6JlXRrCNCCXcVoO2eBKANrUlhH_MxJL0QZeSnWVS1l23REroJo6oHyganMs-xY0_JnSaVrRzlEVUPJeQleM4IrLqAgnFc/s400/06.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The box with the removed pieces.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq0xHCJiLpjWrkNRhVCyzioHpKm2Sq0lfdpC2XyHWIWSuRTEwzw7U0pen-fZsrN7Ud9mPOmeJnrC1STgLWxflLZF9sUsgkYKCF8_aMNYmU7UDLzrpEy29mU_y6U3W9N7a2JQ8x9sjUfAi/s1600/07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSq0xHCJiLpjWrkNRhVCyzioHpKm2Sq0lfdpC2XyHWIWSuRTEwzw7U0pen-fZsrN7Ud9mPOmeJnrC1STgLWxflLZF9sUsgkYKCF8_aMNYmU7UDLzrpEy29mU_y6U3W9N7a2JQ8x9sjUfAi/s400/07.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NB: This is "back stage" where the puppeteers will be!</td></tr>
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4. Cover the window and your shadow theatre is complete! I used fabric from an old bed sheet, but you could also use paper.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8tI-r6msiLXaMSAjI9UrdOFqfDKFsRqtI_pVsDmDKz-ToewyxIHxlzl9ZN4HWCeOg_7cyw7Wp_ch71VnMLqd-0FOoYBYzCyugaAbrFLExyL2gqG9024HljzbAvkNzE9fpMbWNcAfig0x/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8tI-r6msiLXaMSAjI9UrdOFqfDKFsRqtI_pVsDmDKz-ToewyxIHxlzl9ZN4HWCeOg_7cyw7Wp_ch71VnMLqd-0FOoYBYzCyugaAbrFLExyL2gqG9024HljzbAvkNzE9fpMbWNcAfig0x/s400/13.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I stuck the fabric on with sticky tape.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDsRKSv52OnCk_v5FpI2DvndQVVnokj7aruZ8H5N61McA__Q8PjKLYno_4v-7XuZwXEgeD9nMlbLQVobZIY22Ys-rGrK1w6uHveJEnrphgbpYigH0FSrjWCXadMtTItK3Q0XKl_AZGkHW/s1600/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDsRKSv52OnCk_v5FpI2DvndQVVnokj7aruZ8H5N61McA__Q8PjKLYno_4v-7XuZwXEgeD9nMlbLQVobZIY22Ys-rGrK1w6uHveJEnrphgbpYigH0FSrjWCXadMtTItK3Q0XKl_AZGkHW/s400/15.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The front of the finished theatre. <br />
Shone's dolly was performing at the back! lol</td></tr>
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I'm hoping that at some point we will decorate the theatre, even if that just means painting it black! I chose to use fabric as it is obviously more flexible, meaning it is less likely to get ripped! I was also thinking it would be easier to remove when we're ready to refurbish the thea-e-tarrr! (said with a posh English accent! lol)</div>
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Next up was the puppets!</div>
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1. Draw your puppet design on a piece of paper,<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>Wiyot decided to do a dragon. This is just a template so it doesn't need to be too detailed.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKluEoWJBSiMepVWBw3Cg7ZXd-B0gMjoaPAaywA9hlODT6enyhx2n2gP7q8u17CLJKIWxIsF52VQ6Q8HgLk9YZtrbromXHiRFzuBXJzjsRgTwIly4YI_0bWwkARfArKDqq6qF4B5REfXx-/s1600/04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKluEoWJBSiMepVWBw3Cg7ZXd-B0gMjoaPAaywA9hlODT6enyhx2n2gP7q8u17CLJKIWxIsF52VQ6Q8HgLk9YZtrbromXHiRFzuBXJzjsRgTwIly4YI_0bWwkARfArKDqq6qF4B5REfXx-/s400/04.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wiyot demonstrating his ambidextrous tendencies!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjounzBUnJKiAkHXoNN2KrcCv8WEZgoeFiJZnBndYji8tmlZXxc6MtmuyovwpadJKT3_r9xX0Gx9e-51sytvkXlquC-NMXH44Tvpp-VZfuy-VH8yNWQ9tpBXvkpPq-MNdV7ITC8Vk8WdQQ3/s1600/05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjounzBUnJKiAkHXoNN2KrcCv8WEZgoeFiJZnBndYji8tmlZXxc6MtmuyovwpadJKT3_r9xX0Gx9e-51sytvkXlquC-NMXH44Tvpp-VZfuy-VH8yNWQ9tpBXvkpPq-MNdV7ITC8Vk8WdQQ3/s400/05.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You only need to draw an outline, Wiyot got a little carried away!</td></tr>
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2. Carefully cut around the outline of your drawing.</div>
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3. Decide if there are any parts you would like to be moveable and cut those sections off. For the dragon, which had now become Toothless from <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00352LWF2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=madebylittlef-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00352LWF2%22%3EHow%20To%20Train%20Your%20Dragon%20[DVD]%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=2&a=B00352LWF2%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">How To Train Your Dragon</a>, we decided the wings should be the moving parts.</div>
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4. Lay the pieces on thick paper or card and trace around the edges. Remember to add extra where the movable parts will be connected to the main body. I added about 1.5cm.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr20LRTx3Lkyz4mObLqOSVs_MsM1JOdDHTQnG9caezjniMdV554H4tuzr7F2rqIkGlNLQR_FQJgdJDreo_dCEc20YD_mt3MUP3F-N28UNVQayCyogOqQBaVHtc93Xr0tbVTsO-ieFY3tyS/s1600/09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr20LRTx3Lkyz4mObLqOSVs_MsM1JOdDHTQnG9caezjniMdV554H4tuzr7F2rqIkGlNLQR_FQJgdJDreo_dCEc20YD_mt3MUP3F-N28UNVQayCyogOqQBaVHtc93Xr0tbVTsO-ieFY3tyS/s400/09.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can just about make out the extra card at the edge of the wings.</td></tr>
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As you can see above, I forgot to cut out the eyes and mouth on the template, so I got Wiyot to draw them straight onto the card. You can very intricate designs by cutting into the card, check out this <a href="http://blog.ninapaley.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/shadow_puppet_designs0001.jpg">image</a> to get an idea of what I mean. Not something Wiyot could do yet, but great for older learners. You can also create more joints to the puppet to make the movements more realistic. For example, a human puppet could have a joint at the shoulder, elbow and wrist, a rod attached to the hand would then be able to control the movements of the arm. This <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xkEFkwPZkak&feature=related">youtube</a> clip will give you an idea of what I mean!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w9yL84SYjimzcgWzH0Yyy-kCSyCtbC0dfuBnvYmZO2r3yE9HHjZyf36WM2MtilbZWVQ6cMPh-JQ4qvlSPZGyHqxiOGjOea71bN-xObZYFT9Dwl_qwhFsxtDmsu93zIgw0PlDC-Q7x5N_/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3w9yL84SYjimzcgWzH0Yyy-kCSyCtbC0dfuBnvYmZO2r3yE9HHjZyf36WM2MtilbZWVQ6cMPh-JQ4qvlSPZGyHqxiOGjOea71bN-xObZYFT9Dwl_qwhFsxtDmsu93zIgw0PlDC-Q7x5N_/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to cut out</td></tr>
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5. Carefully cut out each of the puppet parts. I used scissors for the larger areas and a craft knife for the details. Wiyot hasn't had much cutting practice yet, which is why I did this myself! Also the card we used was pretty thick and so fairly difficult to cut.</div>
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6. Now you re-attatch the movable parts. Piece a hole through the pieces you are joining and secure with a split pin/brad.</div>
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<i>BONUS: </i>To add some colour to our puppet, we covered the eye and mouth holes with sweet wrappers. I'm pretty sure coloured tissue would also work, but I haven't tried it myself!</div>
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7. Attach rods to the back to allow you to control the puppet. The only thing that I could find (around the house) was bendy straws! They worked pretty well, not too dangerous for little ones, and also you can change the angle on them to help you control the puppet. The drawback being that they are not very strong, so not good for a larger (heavier) puppet. Also they are not very long, resulting in puppeteer-hand shadows if you are not extremely careful!</div>
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The finished puppet:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZRzvuFMOtXfYbWn4eJdxBT2fERBX1mmp2KiiV1XC_5yZnIs0mT2aJE97PQzNa9BBFJIwpORxM8awk_Q78VsBOI9qRihORql7qa8k9uIN7unS5gqCx9h1Sa6CT7knUCVHYyD7iZux0PDF/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ZRzvuFMOtXfYbWn4eJdxBT2fERBX1mmp2KiiV1XC_5yZnIs0mT2aJE97PQzNa9BBFJIwpORxM8awk_Q78VsBOI9qRihORql7qa8k9uIN7unS5gqCx9h1Sa6CT7knUCVHYyD7iZux0PDF/s400/02.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
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From the back</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgju3lMTIakqapQ0ExNGkXuL7g5G7lXD91b8HDvobtmEitJzfA32kZMuZdnNMQGEahe81f8e5Ramj_qdCASk6OsWgl-09yYyjPbok3jvl2epbqnpwpEHzJpt-AqkDQ7Ynl36gsdpVUZrAx5/s1600/22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgju3lMTIakqapQ0ExNGkXuL7g5G7lXD91b8HDvobtmEitJzfA32kZMuZdnNMQGEahe81f8e5Ramj_qdCASk6OsWgl-09yYyjPbok3jvl2epbqnpwpEHzJpt-AqkDQ7Ynl36gsdpVUZrAx5/s400/22.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And from the front</td></tr>
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NB, you can use whatever colour card you like and can also decorate the puppets. The shaddow will still be black though! lol</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-I1qA4AxGkAuxN7rbKZXRCSk-5YuGQEngd81_8h4bZ6mVBHedI0zraTWrI9_uGKlNFPQsVAfqNaJi5tXAJErEbo7QOZCNkv6x-IEYLVsSl6_b8ihtnv903W6s3dRPjf8gxcPJwDhIhPl/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_-I1qA4AxGkAuxN7rbKZXRCSk-5YuGQEngd81_8h4bZ6mVBHedI0zraTWrI9_uGKlNFPQsVAfqNaJi5tXAJErEbo7QOZCNkv6x-IEYLVsSl6_b8ihtnv903W6s3dRPjf8gxcPJwDhIhPl/s400/14.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peek-a-boo!</td></tr>
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And now, in his debut performance...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjySiXPsqnax-WbnHHl0jlhfXPHFrCRH0uDelvnRkc-Pw5KQXpXIPl9W-1n0LprXhc_YPNzqR0P4e6NY9k4vVK0EcUzfR6VPkx5gVKiHjxQqARSdHfLy-XMAm01zxGrv4kat4idH_kbXg/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjySiXPsqnax-WbnHHl0jlhfXPHFrCRH0uDelvnRkc-Pw5KQXpXIPl9W-1n0LprXhc_YPNzqR0P4e6NY9k4vVK0EcUzfR6VPkx5gVKiHjxQqARSdHfLy-XMAm01zxGrv4kat4idH_kbXg/s400/12.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty cool, eh?</td></tr>
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Oh yeah, you also need some sort of light to create the shadows, a multi positional desk lamp is good for this. I used my <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/90154371">solar power one from Ikea</a>. (Also comes in handy for knitting/reading in the car at night.... not while driving obviously!)</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLpfxkAezzNJ4VGiWerpeVk6oEVeLamZcvvCMFkzCnNfyeM1dyi7DbZfUOH9pB2kqMOerIEMEJRWx9GG4U2CRTUcjb5hyKDrG9U_LFUuVkrodycbhIjmiesRC7GaDYYsIQY2M8VkdiUfQ/s1600/11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVLpfxkAezzNJ4VGiWerpeVk6oEVeLamZcvvCMFkzCnNfyeM1dyi7DbZfUOH9pB2kqMOerIEMEJRWx9GG4U2CRTUcjb5hyKDrG9U_LFUuVkrodycbhIjmiesRC7GaDYYsIQY2M8VkdiUfQ/s400/11.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Behind the scenes!</td></tr>
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The kids loved it! Wiyot spent ages acting out scenes with Toothless, making Shone roll with laughter! :D They then held various toys up to see what their shadows looked like, the dinosaur figures were a big hit! I think its going to be pretty versatile too, we can make props and scenery as well as all different characters. The kids can then act out their favourite stories, or create their own tales. I'm thinking it will be great for halloween too!</div>
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Lanterns are also popular for the moon festival. They are used as decorations, children carry them hanging on long poles and also sky lanterns are released. I really wanted to do the sky lanterns, but I left it a little late to order them (I wanted to get the more environmentally friendly biodegradable one's) so we just made decorative paper ones instead. </div>
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The ones we made were from a kit I got free. The card is pre-cut and scored, plus all different colours of tissue are provided. They are very quick and easy to make, but look really pretty.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLDdYwETnlkxPk-s9ELN7xZRCRmHJo03W_KS_jc0Pv4K8HQGxbrpISebIkqj5VRNSCa_jinqhN_3xdCR6tjFdQBlfS916XCK9OnphBxGQ-QA0hLSoRZN9CTXt7bCc7xGn6kRIdGN8qymq/s1600/21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLDdYwETnlkxPk-s9ELN7xZRCRmHJo03W_KS_jc0Pv4K8HQGxbrpISebIkqj5VRNSCa_jinqhN_3xdCR6tjFdQBlfS916XCK9OnphBxGQ-QA0hLSoRZN9CTXt7bCc7xGn6kRIdGN8qymq/s400/21.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shone sticking down her tissue</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy giving Wiyot a hand</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very proud of her creation</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKqDiI8z-Rkd6ujVP6J0WMu45vw_QCvXbxMpI4oVXSD1zNVHJ0Ohj1SwwZ6SzCFH-YwizrY6o1DThjDnz3GkoQCaa0971jwKW5Kx8HA6cmcp2XD-mz2mSiw5M-JRlt1ulF0qfOQYfErEH/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKqDiI8z-Rkd6ujVP6J0WMu45vw_QCvXbxMpI4oVXSD1zNVHJ0Ohj1SwwZ6SzCFH-YwizrY6o1DThjDnz3GkoQCaa0971jwKW5Kx8HA6cmcp2XD-mz2mSiw5M-JRlt1ulF0qfOQYfErEH/s400/18.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No surprises in Wiyots colour choice!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretty! :)</td></tr>
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I lit them with <a href="http://www.festive-lights.com/battery-lights/12-led-indoor-battery-operated-tea-lights-rechargeable-white-base.html?utm_source=gbase&utm_medium=se&utm_campaign=gb">rechargeable tea lights</a>... less of a fire hazard!<br />
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And to finish, what moon festival would be complete without a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mooncake">mooncake</a> and a cup of tea!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNdPGKezzPTsk4RQ4O83ZuCUuBIFri3dUB1TSvwXrhKenoFcSjlN1NM-LuHjt5aYTjrt8qLkd7-VO2Ok-AQtoEKHSLLgTAWQiQTTwo3TAWEh0ms0LZfDSpdVWb6fEpOcF4aPnawMss5M3/s1600/IMG_1459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNdPGKezzPTsk4RQ4O83ZuCUuBIFri3dUB1TSvwXrhKenoFcSjlN1NM-LuHjt5aYTjrt8qLkd7-VO2Ok-AQtoEKHSLLgTAWQiQTTwo3TAWEh0ms0LZfDSpdVWb6fEpOcF4aPnawMss5M3/s320/IMG_1459.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lotus seed paste with two yokes</td></tr>
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I'm pretty sure this is the first time Wiyot and Shone have tried mooncakes...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say, "Mooncakes!"</td></tr>
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Lets just say they weren't what they were expecting! Danny and I enjoyed them anyway!</div>
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Sorry about the rather looooong post!</div>
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Thanks for reading! xx</div>
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littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-34795864696835929832011-09-10T14:52:00.000-07:002011-09-10T14:52:26.919-07:00September 8th<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Bloomin' 'eck! Wiyots been a right little busy boy these last few days! I was going to combine the last three days until I realised that the post would probably take a day to read. lol I don't know where all this activity has come from, but I suddenly find myself running to keep up. Don't get me wrong, I am far from complaining... It is amazing! <3</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So for Thursday he started the day with a little colouring:</div></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYZio0T-m4rJaC1VN9Y2a4xka8uwF0Ms_7-UUaH7qNekJ4gvWaW8nTTr5IJmxyiPlXM9WrfaAAHOrYQLBm6O6EaOk18VHl_lMP-ObO-kWjtpexAEaGRcEkcPyhEjb_kGsXl2PvZ-SyP_R/s1600/IMG_1373.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOYZio0T-m4rJaC1VN9Y2a4xka8uwF0Ms_7-UUaH7qNekJ4gvWaW8nTTr5IJmxyiPlXM9WrfaAAHOrYQLBm6O6EaOk18VHl_lMP-ObO-kWjtpexAEaGRcEkcPyhEjb_kGsXl2PvZ-SyP_R/s400/IMG_1373.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Postman Pat Colouring Book.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>I know some people probably hate colouring books as it doesn't allow for much creativity... I agree in some ways, but for Wiyot it seems a great way for him to practice his pen skills. I think I've mentioned before, but it is a real pleasure to see that his colour choices have moved on from red... red hair, red shoes, red trousers, etc... I don't know whether you can make it out, but he has also added a little spider and a sun shinning through the window. Bless!<br />
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Here's some follow ups of the "I luv yoo mum" picture:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaw3qZb5TmZ2TD55TUlclPlf9rBDenR4kHujIuEuBqjHFyx7bqylZ68MvoKCqlJCW2J_j7W0eoP999IJ-aTmLQHXB7dtf-oFL39IoNfRFRSk8Z3mOTV_o-83CxYLlGz9d0sl5QwBW2V-m/s1600/IMG_1407.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZaw3qZb5TmZ2TD55TUlclPlf9rBDenR4kHujIuEuBqjHFyx7bqylZ68MvoKCqlJCW2J_j7W0eoP999IJ-aTmLQHXB7dtf-oFL39IoNfRFRSk8Z3mOTV_o-83CxYLlGz9d0sl5QwBW2V-m/s400/IMG_1407.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DAD i -------- Luv yoo</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>The blue character is Wiyot (as Sonic the Hedgehog) Daddy has a unhappy face as he is smelling some stinky shoes apparently! lol. Oh and the line between the I and Luv represents Sonic running really fast!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GJw0vwePe6b_Fmj3Op1RIOMSujyQ7L8spEdt6Did6xbBLcDjQcrQvHlMSvVz8Eyx-lN3Rp74sL5zpZfWFYi_0BAkWwW5SwGq-8QjRkEcjVXTRvLCghWtq4vAWhW5VbT2q5Pue-j0FGh7/s1600/IMG_1408.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5GJw0vwePe6b_Fmj3Op1RIOMSujyQ7L8spEdt6Did6xbBLcDjQcrQvHlMSvVz8Eyx-lN3Rp74sL5zpZfWFYi_0BAkWwW5SwGq-8QjRkEcjVXTRvLCghWtq4vAWhW5VbT2q5Pue-j0FGh7/s400/IMG_1408.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I Luv Shonee</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Shone is on the left with the brown and black hair (her hair is slightly lighter than Wiyots) and he is on the right. The dotty line represents Shone running around the lounge, which is what she was doing while he was drawing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Straight after breakfast Wiyot got out his <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00134O7QU/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=madebylittlef-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=B00134O7QU%22%3ELeapFrog%20Tag%20Reading%20System%20(Green)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=2&a=B00134O7QU%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">LeapFrog Tag</a> system. He spent the next however long going through 3 of his books cover to cover, even doing the exercises included in the back. I really need to link the pen thing up to the internet so I can get the rewards for him!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For the afternoon I had some cooking planned for us. I asked him if he wanted to help me in the kitchen, but he initially refused. Thinking he'd just done a pretty hardcore session with his books I decided to leave him playing with his Lego. A few days ago I found a recipe for <a href="http://almostbourdain.blogspot.com/2011/01/mantou-chinese-steamed-buns.html">steamed buns (mantou)</a> and couldn't wait to try it. I began making them myself and soon found I had a little helper! Mainly I think because I called him into the kitchen to see the yeast producing bubbles.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I forgot to take photos of the early stages, but this is pretty much were Wiyot joined in (plus I was lazy and mixed the dough in my food processor!)</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6NBVh8YRIy4sDX1IttFV9JyBAVdRtdtkpxqniJv5bu6AxwU4L5nYgGl7uqGnvSjDIKGZaDDBfHvQHafxMx3ZrPuSi5S22RvekHNslfkKyxc3zavru1EhCOGEBYLRifiQBo1MTXHi8Rfc/s1600/IMG_1348.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6NBVh8YRIy4sDX1IttFV9JyBAVdRtdtkpxqniJv5bu6AxwU4L5nYgGl7uqGnvSjDIKGZaDDBfHvQHafxMx3ZrPuSi5S22RvekHNslfkKyxc3zavru1EhCOGEBYLRifiQBo1MTXHi8Rfc/s400/IMG_1348.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rolling out the dough</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wiyot loved the texture of the dough, it was lovely and soft and also still warm from the water we dissolved the yeast in.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoXRl_EKnrOqMFxROQ3_OzU6IVMBE40AST-7AsavGsE6fQCCps2d5IYwuoQNi7KFt4ChWAfK7dEIwiWOkAGGK9f1xDWr9dgxJVcI4TIgPgr63NQhPEz5Sw0xgXxunk3KvY0KKZLJDyHrH/s1600/IMG_1349.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHoXRl_EKnrOqMFxROQ3_OzU6IVMBE40AST-7AsavGsE6fQCCps2d5IYwuoQNi7KFt4ChWAfK7dEIwiWOkAGGK9f1xDWr9dgxJVcI4TIgPgr63NQhPEz5Sw0xgXxunk3KvY0KKZLJDyHrH/s400/IMG_1349.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The second rolling out and getting ready to brush with water.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The recipe was quite specific on the size you should roll your dough out to... A great opportunity to get the tape measure out and do some measuring! BONUS! :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAoadcieoATNwZR4saeHHgHziABYWqXpKWYJEfwbLoikJBrZnWTegOGdQQlqK7isiJSFAPy0w7w2_qaxJHYj-ZDuKuqcGd5kvvlDU7KkdYgd-bJ6gN3b_7wgcrkDoumE5a8CwjXj1vjlR/s1600/IMG_1350.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAoadcieoATNwZR4saeHHgHziABYWqXpKWYJEfwbLoikJBrZnWTegOGdQQlqK7isiJSFAPy0w7w2_qaxJHYj-ZDuKuqcGd5kvvlDU7KkdYgd-bJ6gN3b_7wgcrkDoumE5a8CwjXj1vjlR/s400/IMG_1350.JPG" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Wiyot enjoyed cutting the baking paper squares for the buns to sit on and I even let him use the 'big knife' to cut the rolled dough into separate buns. I think he did a pretty good job, don't you?</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVZWIIFE1RnLolj_bInXDK6RqqK57h92AEAd_gT1ijYNOvPktPuOqLvpNDztSSZIhfitrXhDV-jXS-jMIGHV4MY4rK6zgTT0XaP8SG3flPpUQBehDT9JTC3xWUbgYF0wFL7LKerwRoHsa/s1600/IMG_1352.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVZWIIFE1RnLolj_bInXDK6RqqK57h92AEAd_gT1ijYNOvPktPuOqLvpNDztSSZIhfitrXhDV-jXS-jMIGHV4MY4rK6zgTT0XaP8SG3flPpUQBehDT9JTC3xWUbgYF0wFL7LKerwRoHsa/s400/IMG_1352.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rising in the steamer.</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ahM-7ObWp53sDMjtPY4hFzwfHwHMaLAqjIYOV2rrx93_-xPv0s665uHbwKAasfU_YX7z9trdv_cgKDSFcbXxlhk4w3kcRuSNJ1L7Y4EtM5qbIuRtpYH0ezmTsX4ZIbczJk7HE9D4ijXy/s1600/IMG_1354.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-ahM-7ObWp53sDMjtPY4hFzwfHwHMaLAqjIYOV2rrx93_-xPv0s665uHbwKAasfU_YX7z9trdv_cgKDSFcbXxlhk4w3kcRuSNJ1L7Y4EtM5qbIuRtpYH0ezmTsX4ZIbczJk7HE9D4ijXy/s400/IMG_1354.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Excited and slightly floury :D</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtGA91QdZZ0r1-6OCSMvx705zYtpHVuANJ9-gnMKfB6DP81EK2Tmrr7MkPscm6uXF15fBKb0kjAAwGRFPeN2qyQgOMIksORlUpQpxlg7l_UB_TPJ0kZJHlFSC7JS7uTNde3YXJNLEC7nn/s1600/IMG_1355.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtGA91QdZZ0r1-6OCSMvx705zYtpHVuANJ9-gnMKfB6DP81EK2Tmrr7MkPscm6uXF15fBKb0kjAAwGRFPeN2qyQgOMIksORlUpQpxlg7l_UB_TPJ0kZJHlFSC7JS7uTNde3YXJNLEC7nn/s400/IMG_1355.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the steaming begin!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxqYZHc4iqNRWmUSZND_bhh4mE0hBl809qtiv7pNPMpqc-lskTKwN2LFoOKz38u9EDv2turZHddG1MFkDuDQfcRtG58KvLazVtpbzDzV-9nQW191DcQZqzjecwgK6caOoY7QKQahNATxd/s1600/IMG_1356.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxqYZHc4iqNRWmUSZND_bhh4mE0hBl809qtiv7pNPMpqc-lskTKwN2LFoOKz38u9EDv2turZHddG1MFkDuDQfcRtG58KvLazVtpbzDzV-9nQW191DcQZqzjecwgK6caOoY7QKQahNATxd/s400/IMG_1356.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All done...</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuM-EzGkilN0tTxQSKeL2nQUMB7MbsBoFRISdmBC-SdosnaWOg1z20FLov3LHwVxgIUJCvB3fbP0VdtWhk13lQP7kO_JHoh5K1AB-Rxl0QDMcjGA7V7YR8k-Mz0vL74hBjPvqr49uJ0lS/s1600/IMG_1358.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuM-EzGkilN0tTxQSKeL2nQUMB7MbsBoFRISdmBC-SdosnaWOg1z20FLov3LHwVxgIUJCvB3fbP0VdtWhk13lQP7kO_JHoh5K1AB-Rxl0QDMcjGA7V7YR8k-Mz0vL74hBjPvqr49uJ0lS/s400/IMG_1358.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">and ready to eat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDKnaacxhL7tA9NGqgD0CQJDNCSjqruKeeMhZW4yeT_PHgsbRGPK02SockyfBmQNkMxE6FTwbaxNaalqDIQwTLaz8iDkyzvkU3w21lDoIN05lPPaQ1agkHuH6LQUuE1-ouCbYDI5E13Py/s1600/IMG_1359.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDKnaacxhL7tA9NGqgD0CQJDNCSjqruKeeMhZW4yeT_PHgsbRGPK02SockyfBmQNkMxE6FTwbaxNaalqDIQwTLaz8iDkyzvkU3w21lDoIN05lPPaQ1agkHuH6LQUuE1-ouCbYDI5E13Py/s400/IMG_1359.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">:9</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I had to change the recipe slightly to the one I linked to. I used 400g of plain flour and 100g of corn flour (I didn't realise I was short of the plain flour until it was too late!) and added some milk as well as water (I read <a href="http://en.christinesrecipes.com/2011/01/steamed-pork-buns.html">here</a> that is helps to make the dough whiter... Not sure it worked, guess I'll have to try again without milk to compare! ;D) The buns tasted really good, pretty authentic I thought. The kids ate 3 each and wanted more... I guess they liked them too! lol! I did find the texture slightly heavier than commercial buns, could be the recipe alterations though.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Lastly, a little message written on our scrabble board:<br />
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<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYmN79AcyI7apSu89jWqD20OlliBjwyIvjDg4saBLb-Tf1K5DdVDEztsUdv1rKfToTBBZ-pij9zWva5lE3o-t6f3f4tk6QSfuq9rQW4kCukbZT3d47BxH1d8muQtibjROvp-KFYUBMvLF/s1600/IMG_1369.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzYmN79AcyI7apSu89jWqD20OlliBjwyIvjDg4saBLb-Tf1K5DdVDEztsUdv1rKfToTBBZ-pij9zWva5lE3o-t6f3f4tk6QSfuq9rQW4kCukbZT3d47BxH1d8muQtibjROvp-KFYUBMvLF/s400/IMG_1369.JPG" /></a> <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">DOO YOO THINK SANTA WIL GET THE LIZ A BA - Do you think Santa will get the lightsaber?<br />
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Lets just say he's looking forward to Christmas this year! lol</div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"></div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-35317835418111676442011-09-07T16:10:00.000-07:002011-09-07T16:10:48.372-07:00Sept 7th<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">First of all, sorry for the unimaginative title... But at least it gets to the point! Hopefully I'll get a bit more creative as time goes on!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today was Wiyots first(ish) <a href="http://www.icfds.org/Default.aspx?alias=www.icfds.org/nottinghamsouth">Brazilian Soccer</a> class... He did go to two in July, but this was the first one proper one set up for our local home ed community. A big thank you to the mom(s) who took the time to set it up! Wiyot seemed to really enjoy it, as did most of the other kids, saying straight away that he wanted to come again. I'm not exactly sure how he got on, the weather wasn't great today so the session was held inside. This meant it was hard to really watch, but from what I could see he was doing ok and for the most part listening to the coach... Wiyot has a tendency to do what he wants, rather than what someone else wants him to do!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After Wiyots class there was a second class for the older kids. Some of the families have children in both groups, so we decided to stay at the centre, playing and reading with the other children in his group and also the older ones when they had finished.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While playing outside Wiyot picked a flower for me, later when we got home he drew a picture of it:</div></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AGpq65QqJgwkq8Ku9pSZTHGAzIJ3iSb7FPd6VpObU9MqnZvdktSvJiGC1szUY42cvxs4r72m-7SwVd_RyTUxrpQnyGKJHjy_6gkoRyZGCdyUnLRX_Z8_o0W4J0T_kimbYNaSWJyintPc/s1600/IMG_1335.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AGpq65QqJgwkq8Ku9pSZTHGAzIJ3iSb7FPd6VpObU9MqnZvdktSvJiGC1szUY42cvxs4r72m-7SwVd_RyTUxrpQnyGKJHjy_6gkoRyZGCdyUnLRX_Z8_o0W4J0T_kimbYNaSWJyintPc/s400/IMG_1335.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">His flower has a smiley face, around it he wrote, "doo yoo lik flowus" - do you like flowers :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I forgot to add these on yesterdays post, so thought I'd add them here:</div></div><br />
<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwe-AyMYxLZP1EGRM3_uoF6SWG3E_C2Uccs-TnOU2NBx3iCQXE7jNvNTpoYZDw2vVOsQLxfxaaLReyeeX3xutXhtW423oCCq0uesy3OxrZOfk5WCAtduwTJkewPz90QAfPmXTxUkEETsZ/s1600/IMG_1336.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwe-AyMYxLZP1EGRM3_uoF6SWG3E_C2Uccs-TnOU2NBx3iCQXE7jNvNTpoYZDw2vVOsQLxfxaaLReyeeX3xutXhtW423oCCq0uesy3OxrZOfk5WCAtduwTJkewPz90QAfPmXTxUkEETsZ/s400/IMG_1336.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I'm sure you can work this one out!</td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">He drew this for me last Friday evening, a picture of Wiyot and me with "I Luv yoo mum" - I love you mum underneath. I was so impressed as it was the very first time he had written anything independently. I was doing the washing up when he announced he was going to draw me a picture. Lets just say I was blown away when he came back with this! Even gave himself black hair and me brown :)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">A couple of weeks ago while shopping at Tesco, Wiyot spotted a <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Grievous-Electronic-Lightsaber/dp/B003JQLPEW">General Grievous Lightsaber</a>. Immediately it became item number 1 on his ever expanding Christmas list! After telling him that he needed to write a letter to Santa he got out his paper and crayons and wrote, "I wont a jen..." repeatedly before giving up and asking for help.</div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UE8IjMWLbUE8pGpuOy4zNsEM5Gl6JabW_k1RaFQfFFBpK-hOLhA-ekoPzh80FBF2bsf2yRuM-QG_WZvlwTGyN8AAcuf3VleI57czUauTM0GgsmnJ1l6lqV8cQPiu6C0o2_3QqFUKxOaP/s1600/IMG_1337.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3UE8IjMWLbUE8pGpuOy4zNsEM5Gl6JabW_k1RaFQfFFBpK-hOLhA-ekoPzh80FBF2bsf2yRuM-QG_WZvlwTGyN8AAcuf3VleI57czUauTM0GgsmnJ1l6lqV8cQPiu6C0o2_3QqFUKxOaP/s400/IMG_1337.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I realise now (with the benefit of Google) I spelt Grievous wrong... </td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">He copied my sentence and then added some monkey stamps and sound effects, I hope you can make them out! They include zooOOOM, Owch and voom, I think he got them from reading the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1848563345/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=madebylittlef-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=1848563345%22%3EStar%20Wars:%20Wind%20Raiders%20of%20Taloraan%20v.%203:%20The%20Clone%20Wars%20(Star%20Wars%20Clone%20Wars)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=2&a=1848563345%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Star Wars: The Clone Wars</a> graphic novels from the library.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">He's looking forward to doing the real letter to Santa now, I told him he could decorate it with Christmas stamps and draw pictures of the toys he wants :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today he also read <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198387016/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=madebylittlef-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0198387016%22%3ERead%20Write%20Inc.%20Home%20Phonics:%20In%20the%20bath:%20Book%203E%20(Read%20Write%20Inc%20Phonics%203e)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=2&a=0198387016%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">In the bath</a> - Book 3E again no problems. He is even beginning to add emotion to the words while he is reading... Does that make sense? What I mean is, he is sounding less like a robot! lol</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well that's all for today! xx</div></div><div style="clear: both; text-align: CENTER;"></div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-19094741722082370222011-09-06T15:41:00.000-07:002011-09-07T09:38:53.051-07:00Sept 5th, 6th and other stuff...<div style="margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;">
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Well, I said I was going to try to blog more often, so here goes! </div>
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As I mentioned in my previous post, this is Wiyots first 'official' home ed week. Bit of a slow start so far, but plans for the rest of the week. So far he has read three books to me:</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0749672951/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=madebylittlef-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0749672951%22%3ERunny%20Honey%20(Tadpoles)%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=2&a=0749672951%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Runny Honey</a> - Tadpoles (for newly independent readers)</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198462530/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=madebylittlef-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0198462530%22%3ERead%20Write%20Inc.%20Phonics:%20Green%20Set%201%20B/W%20Storybooks:%20Mixed%20Pack%20of%2010%20books%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=2&a=0198462530%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">The Spell</a> - Set 1 Story 4</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0198462530/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=madebylittlef-21&linkCode=as2&camp=1634&creative=19450&creativeASIN=0198462530%22%3ERead%20Write%20Inc.%20Phonics:%20Green%20Set%201%20B/W%20Storybooks:%20Mixed%20Pack%20of%2010%20books%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.co.uk/e/ir?t=&l=as2&o=2&a=0198462530%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Black Hat Bob</a> - Set 1 Story 5</div>
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He read them all really well, needing very little help from me. He's also been pointing various things out from around the house and reading them to me; "Not so scary halloween party," on the side of a candy bag on our dinning table and "The Little Black Dress" the name of the book I have been making a dress from.</div>
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I think the best thing about all of this for me, is that I haven't asked him to do any of it. He just goes to the books on the sideboard, chooses one and asks if he can read me a story. :D</div>
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I still need to work on our living space so that there are more educational things that can be 'stumbled upon!' It's definitely getting there though. We have made a few purchases recently which have been greatly received. Firstly our blackboard from Ikea, which I posted about before, a <a href="http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Kids-Room/Desks-and-Chairs/Classic-Deluxe-Table-with-2-Chairs(0069882)">table and chair set</a> from Toys r us and various new art materials, including some twistable wax crayons that I had been after for a while! </div>
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Because I don't have much else to share as yet, I thought I'd share some of the stuff we've been up to over the summer holidays!</div>
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Heres one of Wiyots blackboard doodles that I liked:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEDKHpjIXQLsoz_n44ExzbxJ94rtJ6dlYD6jLwZmAdVkV592P0ML6iImglUeiwxTXalfvQYfjTE1X8tlTa7gcHz2I6whF3s8YQV18USdOuXOHNQiVzrSFc8QjSRTqOrCJ0OxlcDpiPiaC/s1600/2011_07_27_002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioEDKHpjIXQLsoz_n44ExzbxJ94rtJ6dlYD6jLwZmAdVkV592P0ML6iImglUeiwxTXalfvQYfjTE1X8tlTa7gcHz2I6whF3s8YQV18USdOuXOHNQiVzrSFc8QjSRTqOrCJ0OxlcDpiPiaC/s400/2011_07_27_002.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spyro the Dragon</td></tr>
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Something I've had for a while, but recently decided to get out an extra set of magnetic letters:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhLeNYspXvWfjCd_vbDRC9djLGfNoSlqU83ckcP1GznG_Kqd6CktgKZXRbESmp87Q9UdDe81C9wx829066NPxm2vrlnekNX2AQwSw1uWYRuHQJ1FBBwqyivC7sLMGUGmCg018OkWmc6OD/s1600/2011_08_11_002.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKhLeNYspXvWfjCd_vbDRC9djLGfNoSlqU83ckcP1GznG_Kqd6CktgKZXRbESmp87Q9UdDe81C9wx829066NPxm2vrlnekNX2AQwSw1uWYRuHQJ1FBBwqyivC7sLMGUGmCg018OkWmc6OD/s400/2011_08_11_002.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I MIS MIKE MAWS - I miss Mickey Mouse</td></tr>
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He loves to write little messages to me on the fridge while I am doing the washing :) He uses phonetic spellings, something I only recently read about, since allowing him to spell this way, he has become much more open to reading and writing!<br />
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A mask colouring book from Nanny Sue:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU_rdl851aZgAZ5TyvwSxibprzCLPe1xj3hpnR64iisHe54jpezbWT40SBxtYrCUqFKmAcMYHGs1BDXxHI7AEz3a9MOjqTSJTfr1Nv5wrFIOOf7lP-Zw3zGCmc2OpFCvJ0NW4fRqxOt77/s1600/IMG_1010.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIU_rdl851aZgAZ5TyvwSxibprzCLPe1xj3hpnR64iisHe54jpezbWT40SBxtYrCUqFKmAcMYHGs1BDXxHI7AEz3a9MOjqTSJTfr1Nv5wrFIOOf7lP-Zw3zGCmc2OpFCvJ0NW4fRqxOt77/s400/IMG_1010.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Good Knight</td></tr>
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wiyot has never shown much patience in colouring, but these masks have really turned things round. For the first time he has made an effort to colour inside the lines, fill in all the space... and use a colour other than red! lol<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_2bl43_lwG5uDNSvKFgzq_GJLkDfhNJcJO65uEFvFtZrzAstIetDOdLnaigINsTtMVrH7DKkcOvEobEza0Idbz2YduTX2r4k1vHyhN1pSyoHFUBQGP2giqQ82-K4TijafxD6MX_qqqA7/s1600/IMG_1011.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ_2bl43_lwG5uDNSvKFgzq_GJLkDfhNJcJO65uEFvFtZrzAstIetDOdLnaigINsTtMVrH7DKkcOvEobEza0Idbz2YduTX2r4k1vHyhN1pSyoHFUBQGP2giqQ82-K4TijafxD6MX_qqqA7/s400/IMG_1011.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shone hasn't grasped colouring in yet. But how cute is she!</td></tr>
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The blackboard, masks and letters have bought so much confidence, Wiyot went on a drawing spree and named the characters as he stuck them on the fridge: (hope you can make them out!)<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHSlKu4tNgTua6lKhYrYruHAsE3TgLUHATp9ajij51__d5huLKflfTbdPgczrzuGRltBTxb7l8KoFOiI_Xow4iJEFHkZBTVuHdfCKJ7UUhDw8XwDVruCwzixX1KWUhylCyT71c6hzLvVk/s1600/IMG_0957.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUHSlKu4tNgTua6lKhYrYruHAsE3TgLUHATp9ajij51__d5huLKflfTbdPgczrzuGRltBTxb7l8KoFOiI_Xow4iJEFHkZBTVuHdfCKJ7UUhDw8XwDVruCwzixX1KWUhylCyT71c6hzLvVk/s400/IMG_0957.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SONIK D HEJHOG - Sonic the Hedgehog</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWt_zBx3oMQetqA2spUEPazll0jiNMK8QGj6U9BoNPZ7cUa3otH6QLwMAiliME_wBgtRrt3eQ4vZw166-eJgQMyhKPUbMDL226dXEkR75sBZxoBP6vio-pKROLhmnlGaYL3PZz2L3TUm_/s1600/IMG_0958.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaWt_zBx3oMQetqA2spUEPazll0jiNMK8QGj6U9BoNPZ7cUa3otH6QLwMAiliME_wBgtRrt3eQ4vZw166-eJgQMyhKPUbMDL226dXEkR75sBZxoBP6vio-pKROLhmnlGaYL3PZz2L3TUm_/s400/IMG_0958.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SPIDUMAN - Spiderman</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RTd0a9xA91JBtGk1VGnzFg3qPB_Ym1RdMj1OBjGgtJiOihOh4Q40CbV3M3R8l89QllLUo9Rt9XDsu1BdAMtVNoFLOxZF3mCD9PA4Zvl009j2kICF-Vi4B3ntZQNdtO6opcFIARwx9jKi/s1600/IMG_0959.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1RTd0a9xA91JBtGk1VGnzFg3qPB_Ym1RdMj1OBjGgtJiOihOh4Q40CbV3M3R8l89QllLUo9Rt9XDsu1BdAMtVNoFLOxZF3mCD9PA4Zvl009j2kICF-Vi4B3ntZQNdtO6opcFIARwx9jKi/s400/IMG_0959.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MIKE MAWS - Mickey Mouse</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkUvZ-xgQq75O95YtsqFsDk1r2DtgSvjB5ytkQ2_8YKj96QTUyX0URVnypLi3bQRtFbpK4YzwLk9A56BgjD3cgQyYdz0ZJJBRsvfm-hdHz07C-d_C5WwRLuu2NNxHl9JielVzSuvnKpyj/s1600/IMG_0960.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilkUvZ-xgQq75O95YtsqFsDk1r2DtgSvjB5ytkQ2_8YKj96QTUyX0URVnypLi3bQRtFbpK4YzwLk9A56BgjD3cgQyYdz0ZJJBRsvfm-hdHz07C-d_C5WwRLuu2NNxHl9JielVzSuvnKpyj/s400/IMG_0960.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No room on the fridge for Zurg!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuP562hrOQ98NO_JmWQ4ROA0RyBEsiULKB_cZrHLCiZNNxgHZ80o74mAOUQlpvb61Zx0KQGE4Ki_upB41HMRlI6KcfFbBdVFMSE4y-n756-59mDComFK6g4UkMJA5qQT0X5L5dKaD2Thr/s1600/IMG_0962.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzuP562hrOQ98NO_JmWQ4ROA0RyBEsiULKB_cZrHLCiZNNxgHZ80o74mAOUQlpvb61Zx0KQGE4Ki_upB41HMRlI6KcfFbBdVFMSE4y-n756-59mDComFK6g4UkMJA5qQT0X5L5dKaD2Thr/s400/IMG_0962.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Shoshone doing a bit of colouring</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VivqAhEbXBCkI0sETx8xD_8xsVhXFcOk_Luz0mB9d6bD8ouH7dyhQN8yqM__1WUrjQpOh-0bdSzOIxcqF7dIYtbkD1KGaqfiFtlBMDOW2y792TwYfFGH8m1HGK30As2gIboBSvlba8PZ/s1600/IMG_0964.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5VivqAhEbXBCkI0sETx8xD_8xsVhXFcOk_Luz0mB9d6bD8ouH7dyhQN8yqM__1WUrjQpOh-0bdSzOIxcqF7dIYtbkD1KGaqfiFtlBMDOW2y792TwYfFGH8m1HGK30As2gIboBSvlba8PZ/s400/IMG_0964.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She holds her crayons really well!</td></tr>
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Inspired by <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzrSsyCLRuVqadXlKc81ltG4RMgMx2xRpmSYT1iLM27NgbrJqWrjy2zFLhjmbIsC-_LZdPvou0f7xvcKJ8sHszH6GA2X1wFfiy3tRPopj-nbwWx01qb2bNt9ART6W8YE-tqpnNfHPhX5n/s1600/IMG_1041.JPG">mommy's new hair</a>, Wiyot got out his Incredibles suit and colouring book:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3oRHeET8U5-gVdeFZc36KW_63MSpSFnUBY4pkJCxaSeZJZNLJpGD3bz4C6qsFIK7UThXEKc3J7YWwiEognL8sitgA92k_k_dCUMLEfdCpBPmmS8r6r1-8IQQGB_wkGTRt2J2-rDhyphenhyphenrf7/s1600/2011_08_22_006.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB3oRHeET8U5-gVdeFZc36KW_63MSpSFnUBY4pkJCxaSeZJZNLJpGD3bz4C6qsFIK7UThXEKc3J7YWwiEognL8sitgA92k_k_dCUMLEfdCpBPmmS8r6r1-8IQQGB_wkGTRt2J2-rDhyphenhyphenrf7/s400/2011_08_22_006.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More colouring.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRMVAaPICPLw3qruchQYU4thUD5mKTHGQeIY0pUDaMxyK0Dkj52V80Sfea8wjHWBDeyTXY_oS1HUbqIrdPf3qC_2V0OuqiCrGd-O4CW39aNJtX_cMIGNpRyk2-hVLgiD6TbpgSJgf_vST/s1600/2011_08_22_009.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkRMVAaPICPLw3qruchQYU4thUD5mKTHGQeIY0pUDaMxyK0Dkj52V80Sfea8wjHWBDeyTXY_oS1HUbqIrdPf3qC_2V0OuqiCrGd-O4CW39aNJtX_cMIGNpRyk2-hVLgiD6TbpgSJgf_vST/s400/2011_08_22_009.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very proud of his FIRST completed picture.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWMAbAdXjFU917WxDmnCv8-q2I_0_W_akbYpD4ZPr530wou2egn6kjitm-9zzAYlN-CfylJyvitN-RqqV55vvS4dqjVfl0Evzy6lYOG4UTDSrkF5O-Xbr_SLAyQchyOPrFaL55KMMqgAA/s1600/2011_08_22_010.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaWMAbAdXjFU917WxDmnCv8-q2I_0_W_akbYpD4ZPr530wou2egn6kjitm-9zzAYlN-CfylJyvitN-RqqV55vvS4dqjVfl0Evzy6lYOG4UTDSrkF5O-Xbr_SLAyQchyOPrFaL55KMMqgAA/s400/2011_08_22_010.JPG" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So proud, vastly improved from previous attempts!</td></tr>
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Well that's all for now, I'll be posting again soon!</div>
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xx</div>
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littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-11161247015352685202011-09-06T05:53:00.000-07:002011-09-06T05:53:52.859-07:00Compulsory School Age!<div>
Here in the UK children don't become 'compulsory school age' until the term following their 5th birthday. <br />
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #999999;">I wonder how many parents actually know that fact? I'm betting not many!</span></i><br />
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Wiyot turned 5 in July, so this week is officialy the beginning of our home education journery... I guess we just ignore the past 5 years of exploration and learning! lol ;)<br />
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My hope for this blog is that I'll keep a record of our daily/weekly activities, which I can use should the LA ever come knocking, but mostly so we can keep track of the progress we have made.<br />
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And so... May the education commence!<br />
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xx</div>
littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-77676624495761145002011-07-29T10:30:00.000-07:002011-07-29T10:30:05.321-07:00Planning... sort of...Last week most of the schools in the UK broke up for summer. Ironically this is the time that Wiyot has started showing an interest in writing!<br />
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Recently I've been reading various books and articles on the internet, mainly about the Montessori method of education. One of the results of this is that I am trying to create a better learning environment for the kids. This basically means I'm gradually moving all the toys up to the kids bedrooms, as well as evicting some of my craft stuff, to make room for more educational stuff.<br />
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I'm hoping this will result in them choosing to do educational stuff, rather than me trying to instigate it. When I try to get Wiyot to do something it rarely goes smoothly, he becomes very resistant and usually doesn't do anywhere near as well as I know he can. This results in us both getting very frustrated and me occasionally loosing my temper, which is obviously very upsetting for us both.<br />
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I REALLY, TRUELY believe that learning should be something that you want to do and you enjoy.<br />
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I guess its natural, but I frequently find myself having a crisis of confidence, wondering if I'm doing the right thing by them... If I'd sent him to school in January, I wonder if he would be doing better with his reading and writing... But then I know I shouldn't compare him to schooled children, as I know he has knowledge in areas that wouldn't be pursued in school for some time... As you can probably see, my mind is going round in circles!<br />
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I guess its only natural, as a parent all you want is the best for your child...<br />
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<b>Back onto the positive side of things!</b><br />
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</b><br />
As part of the improved environment, I decided to buy a double sided blackboard/whiteboard easel type thing from <a href="http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50021076">Ikea</a>.<br />
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One of the biggest area's of resistance for Wiyot has always been with writing/drawing based activities. I don't know why... even when he was little he showed no interest in playing with crayons, other than pretending they were cars or aeroplanes or something. Recently when he says he wants to draw, he will get the crayons and paper out scribble over the paper, draw a few lines and a cross, roll it up and declare it a treasure map. Don't get me wrong, I value all his attempts and do think the whole idea is quite creative, but I know that when he puts his mind to it he can draw and write very nicely.<br />
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So anyway I have bought the easel, and as I said at the beginning of the post, so far it seems to be working wonders!!!! :D<br />
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I'm hoping it will last!!!<br />
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I'm trying to keep the montessori stuff in mind... I should state that I AM IN NO WAY CLAIMING TO BE USING OFFICIAL MONTESSORI METHODS, simply that the methods are inspirational and providing me with a new way of approaching things. I hope that makes sense?! So basically I am trying my absolute best to make everything really fun, like a new game, with no expectations and no feelings of failure.<br />
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Yesterday I began writing messages to him on the board using purely phonetic spellings, allowing him to easily read the words. For example:<br />
<blockquote>"Wot shud wee hav too eet?" <i>(what should we have to eat)</i></blockquote>Then I drew a circle for a plate and asked him if he could draw what we could have. He thought this was great fun and laughing drew a few lines in the circle.<br />
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Me, "Hmm, I wonder what that is? Can you write it on the board?"<br />
Wiyot, "I guess I can try..." he writes on the board telling me each letter:<br />
<blockquote>"pasd" <i>(pasta)</i></blockquote> I responded drawing a :9 and asking him to write what sort of pasta he wanted.<br />
<blockquote>"red"</blockquote>was the answer and I wrote:<br />
<blockquote>"tomartoe" with a picture of a tomato</blockquote>Again lots of laughter and a very happy little boy!<br />
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Later, as I was washing the dishes he came into the kitchen and said he wanted to write me a message on the fridge.<br />
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Here's what he wrote:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0Clklwrx2r2k4WswT7P7nnER9Vbxg2XDxtL9IZLz8N3JItqPJVN8tGG8DaIPaDWx3Gupt66yqUlwcz6qjWXW0pBPiM0w169qusEoSw7Ma4wGWev-XP9qa36D1gkboKfrnpURIzpiFOPB/s1600/IMG_0805.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0Clklwrx2r2k4WswT7P7nnER9Vbxg2XDxtL9IZLz8N3JItqPJVN8tGG8DaIPaDWx3Gupt66yqUlwcz6qjWXW0pBPiM0w169qusEoSw7Ma4wGWev-XP9qa36D1gkboKfrnpURIzpiFOPB/s400/IMG_0805.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MOMY DYOOW WOTOOW BATH US NAW!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Translated, "Mommy do you want to bath us now!"<br />
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Has struggling for letters and had to improvise... Q's became o's and an upside-down f became a t. Also the i was turned to become an exclamation mark... apparently he was shouting to me :D<br />
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I was so pleased with him and even better, he was over the moon with himself! He declared he no longer needs to speak to me, he can just write me messages! lollittlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-19413081457059339402011-03-23T16:10:00.000-07:002011-03-23T16:10:52.970-07:00Coughing like crazy!So yesterday Wiyot started complaining that his mouth was tickling...<br />
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I had no idea what that was supposed to mean! However, today (and throughout last night) all he has done is cough :(<br />
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Poor little fella sounds awful. Really wheezy and short of breath... He should be going to gymnastics on Friday, somehow I can't see it happening!<br />
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As I was getting him ready for bed, I mentioned that I would book an appointment at the doctors for him in the morning. I wasn't expecting him to suddenly burst into tears! Evidence that he's still traumatised from our trip to the A&E on our holiday to Florida.<br />
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For those of you that don't know the story, last year we went on holiday to Disney World, and Wiyot came back with a rather unfortunate souvenir. On our third day there he tripped over in the villa we were renting and cut his head open on the coffee table. Luckily, there was no fractures, concussion, infections, swelling, or even bruising! However, he did have a gaping hole in his head that looked rather like a third eye, allowing you to see through to his skull... Nice! I'll spare you all the grisly photo's in case you're eating while you're reading!<br />
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An ambulance ride, seven stitches and a week of antibiotics later... Wiyot has a lovely bright pink scar on his forehead, reminiscent of Harry Potter. I knew I should have bought him the accessories from Universal!<br />
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Well anyway, as you can imagine, it was not exactly a pleasant experience for the little fella! I guess I'll be finding out tomorrow just how big the doctor phobia is :/<br />
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Not much home ed-ing today, although I have been using the time to do some research. I've been trying to find some Montessori books that are available at our library. I've also been constructing word lists to help Wiyot with his reading. At the moment focusing on the vowel sounds of ay, ee, igh, ow and the two oo's (eg look and zoo). He know's them on our speed sound cards, but as of yet, hasn't got any books to put the sounds into practice.<br />
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As I was looking for word lists, I found a rhyming word exercise and realised I already have cards made up to do this exercise. It was basically a number of different pictures and you have to match up the ones that rhyme. As soon as Wiyot is feeling up to it I think I'll get him to give it a go.<br />
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For anyone that might be interested (as well as me if I lose my other list :/), here are the words that I chose to include in my lists:<br />
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<b><u>Words with 'ay'</u></b><br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Day</li>
<li>Play</li>
<li>Stay</li>
<li>May</li>
<li>Say</li>
<li>Way</li>
<li>Lay</li>
<li>Bay</li>
<li>Hay</li>
<li>Pay</li>
<li>Away</li>
<li>Clay</li>
<li>Gray</li>
<li>Tray</li>
<li>Spray</li>
<li>Sway</li>
<li>Crayon</li>
<li>Holiday</li>
</ul><br />
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<b><u>Words with 'ee'</u></b><br />
<b><u><br />
</u></b><br />
<br />
<ul><li>Bee</li>
<li>See</li>
<li>Been</li>
<li>Deep</li>
<li>Feed</li>
<li>Heel</li>
<li>Keep</li>
<li>Meet</li>
<li>Seed</li>
<li>Tree</li>
<li>Week</li>
<li>Cheek</li>
<li>Green</li>
<li>Sheep</li>
<li>Queen</li>
<li>Sleep</li>
<li>Sweet</li>
<li>Teeth</li>
<li>Sixteen</li>
<li>Street</li>
<li>Between</li>
</ul><div><b><u>Words with 'igh'</u></b></div><div><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div><ul><li>High</li>
<li>Sigh</li>
<li>Fight</li>
<li>Light</li>
<li>Might</li>
<li>Night</li>
<li>Right</li>
<li>Sight</li>
<li>Thigh</li>
</ul><div><b><u>Words with 'ow'</u></b></div></div><div><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div><ul><li>Low</li>
<li>Tow</li>
<li>Mow</li>
<li>Row</li>
<li>Own</li>
<li>Slow</li>
<li>Blow</li>
<li>Snow</li>
<li>Yellow</li>
<li>Bow</li>
<li>Bowl</li>
<li>Elbow</li>
<li>Show</li>
<li>Grow</li>
<li>Crow</li>
</ul><div><b><u>Words with 'oo' (short u)</u></b></div></div><div><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><div><ul><li>Good</li>
<li>Hood</li>
<li>Wood</li>
<li>Book</li>
<li>Look</li>
<li>Cook</li>
<li>Hook</li>
<li>Woof</li>
<li>Foot</li>
<li>Wool</li>
</ul><div><b><u>Words with 'oo' (long u)</u></b></div><div><b><u><br />
</u></b></div><ul><li>Poo</li>
<li>Zoo</li>
<li>Boo</li>
<li>Igloo</li>
<li>Shoo</li>
<li>Moo</li>
<li>Food</li>
<li>Mood</li>
<li>Roof</li>
<li>Hoof</li>
<li>Boom</li>
<li>Bloom</li>
<li>Broom</li>
<li>Room</li>
<li>Zoom</li>
<li>Cool</li>
<li>Pool</li>
<li>Tool</li>
<li>Balloon</li>
<li>Moon</li>
<li>Spoon</li>
<li>Hoop</li>
<li>Loop</li>
<li>Boot</li>
</ul><div>Well that's all for now folks!</div></div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-24330022039770435072011-03-22T16:06:00.000-07:002011-03-22T16:06:50.196-07:00Cruising<div style="text-align: justify;">No we're not on vacation... although the new Disney cruise ship does look very appealing!! Rather, we are cruising through our days in a fairly autonomous fashion at the moment...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Funny, in the past I thought I'd follow more of a structured approach to learning. The temperament that Wiyot has though, definitely suits the more autonomous approach. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As with anybody really, if it is something that he is interested in, he will sit and do it for hours! Otherwise he becomes very passive and defeatist. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Currently he is interested in a number of subjects; tectonic plates, volcanoes, stars and planets, dinosaurs, human anatomy and physiology, among other things! He is also really enjoying helping me in the kitchen with a variety of tasks; peeling garlic and onions, doing the washing up, measuring ingredients, making breakfast and baking :9</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Recently we joined an online maths tutor called <a href="http://www.whizz.com/">Maths Whizz</a>. He really enjoys going on there, quite often laughing while playing the maths games, such a great way to learn! Even better, at the moment I don't even have to ask him to play on it. All I do is turn on the computer and he comes over and requests to play on it :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">He's still doing well with his reading, often pointing out words when we're reading to him. Recently he has started reading to himself and requesting to read to us. Just this morning he got into bed with me and pointed out the rhyming words in one of his reading books!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another thing we did today was making our own bread :9 He read the recipe, measured out the ingredients and discussed various things with me... what the yeast smelt like (Shoshone's poo apparently!), what the dough felt like, why the dough was rising, etc... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rest of the day he spent playing with his Thomas the Tank Engine Duplo sets, running around dressed as superhero's with Shoshone, playing hide and seek, and taking apart and fixing our Guess Who board game... </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Bizarre! :D</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Feeling quite content at the moment though, was feeling fairly stressed about the whole "officialness" of it all since January... I got a book from the library on Friday called "<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Twenty-Chickens-Saddle-African-Childhood/dp/0747596565/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1300834653&sr=8-1">Twenty chickens for a saddle</a>" based on a home educating family in Botswana in the 80's and 90's. I'm only half way though at the moment, but so far am enjoying it. I think its really helping me to relax and have faith that what we are doing will work and will be for the best. I've also been watching various talks given by Ken Robinson, one called "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U&feature=related">Changing Paradigms</a>" is particularly entertaining... very thought provoking! </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well I think I've rambled enough for tonight!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over and out!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-10683724010000163112010-11-25T05:07:00.000-08:002010-11-25T05:07:21.974-08:00I'm Back!!So I've been back for a couple of weeks really, having a nose around... and have done a few posts on my other blog.<br />
<br />
Today I really wanted to post here though.<br />
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Over the past months the home ed had kind of slipped for a while... Not being of school age yet it was not so much of a big thing and we were mainly doing things if he showed an interest. For example after meeting with a local home ed group, I realised that he is intensely curious about the human body. Since that time we have spent many hours looking through my university anatomy and physiology text books... I am fairly confident he is more knowledgable about the inner workings of the body, than many much older children. I personally didn't do anything on these subjects until at least 11, for him that would be such a waist! Being able to learn about what interests him is one of the reasons I loved the idea of educating him at home.<br />
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Anyway... with January and "compulsory school age" around the corner, I figured it was about time I started back up with the daily "lessons." Not in a regular school day sense. More like, after we've finished our breakfast we spend however long doing a few bits n bobs.<br />
<br />
The amazing thing is, while he's just been enjoying himself over the last few months, the phonic sounds he learned earlier this year have settled in and he can now easily blend the sounds together to read phonic words! Wow, that was a long sentence... hope it made sense! He could sound blend before, but now he doesn't even need to think about it!<br />
<br />
To cut a long story short, it seems that things I'd prepared and bought ready for when we "officially" began, may now be redundant as he has already passed that level!<br />
<br />
I am so proud of him I can't even put it into words!<br />
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The best thing about it all is that he didn't know he could do it either! He is so proud of himself and is really enjoying being able to read the words. Consequently I can do much more with him before he gets tired or bored and actually wants to do it!<br />
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I really could not ask for more :Dlittlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-66983699994607215922010-04-02T14:43:00.000-07:002010-04-02T17:05:08.570-07:00It's a sign!Shoshone's got two more signs under her belt :-)<br />
<br />
The other day she signed bath time for the first time, which is basically rubbing your hands on your torso as if washing. And today she signed bird, supposed to be your first finger tapping your thumb in front of your face like a beak, but she did it more like "duck," which is all of your fingers instead of just the one. This one was a surprise as she just did it, commenting on the storks at the beginning of Dumbo... I know Disney again! Plus I can't remember the last time I showed her that sign!<br />
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She's getting better and better at cruising round the furniture, crosses the gap between the sofa's and goes round corners... still very slowly, but it's progress :-) And she's learning how to get down from standing, phew! Yesterday she climbed all the way to the top of the stairs, all by herself, with me behind her of course! She did it really quick though, which was pretty surprising and worrying, at that speed she could be at the top of the stairs before I even notice she's gone. MUST GET THE STAIR GATE DOWN!!!<br />
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Can't remember if I mentioned this before, and I apologise for the subject, but it's big progress... Wiyot has recently been going to the toilet all by himself. He has been doing most of it by himself for a while, but always wanted someone to go with him... make sure he didn't fall in or something?! Now he just take's himself off to the toilet, even turning the light on and off and getting tissue. He doesn't wipe by himself yet, I'd rather supervise that for now :-S On a more pleasant note, he also dresses himself too. My baby boy is growing up fast :_)littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-36732751493274205632010-03-26T11:16:00.000-07:002010-04-02T17:04:24.800-07:00Update...So thought I'd share a little bit of Shoshone's progress. She's been doing baby sign language for a while now, her first sign was milk (imagine a milking a cow action), followed by drink ("fancy a cuppa" action) and also sleep/bedtime (classic prayer like hands at the side of your face). The bedtime one was particularly impressive as I hadn't signed it to her for quite some time and then she suprised me with it by using it to tell me that her teddy bear was sleeping!!! Could not belive it, she did it a few times before I really belived she was actually signing about her toy... Wiyot used to do a few signs, but never like that!<br />
<br />
Anyway, not long after she learned the sign for more (one hand taps the back of the other) as well as eat (kind of pretending you're holding a sandwich and putting it to your mouth) but usually she just does the more sign. The latest one she has done is our own sign for "all gone." All the others are based on British Sign Language, however when Wiyot was a baby he developed his own sign for all gone and it's just stuck. Our "all gone" is like turning your palms upwards, the way you show someone you have nothing in your hands... Here's a pic of Shoshone demonstrating... think it was the first day she signed it :-)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIi6uAAIUOB1zp3dmCxAlD07d_XLDC8C1x-NmLZLreP5HRBdSTrUUpKde220HpyvL-gpIVuCQm7mrOLa2FN_tMMBhJ468C53zdjihg3QHQAP4no3mGMlk6B7IEwnXCZpHEcFHAyG_RtryD/s1600/Allgone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIi6uAAIUOB1zp3dmCxAlD07d_XLDC8C1x-NmLZLreP5HRBdSTrUUpKde220HpyvL-gpIVuCQm7mrOLa2FN_tMMBhJ468C53zdjihg3QHQAP4no3mGMlk6B7IEwnXCZpHEcFHAyG_RtryD/s320/Allgone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">All the junk behind her is some of our home education stash, lol</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Last week she started pulling herself up on the furniture, and is now crusing along, very slowly. Also caught her climbing the bottom step (time to get the second stair gate out!!) and trying to get onto the sofa, funny girl! Only problem is she loves to pull herself up, but hasn't quite got the hang of getting down :-S She just stands there fussing and shouting till I go to help her out... I've tried showing her how to do it by moving her legs or letting her drop slowly to a sitting possition, Wiyot has repeatedly demonstrated for her, but she still hasn't quite got it. Oh well, soon I hope!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Wiyot's now read two books, both Ruth Miskin one's but we've kind of tailed off for the time being... Really bad I know, cos he'll probably forget some of what he's learned... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">My problem is I struggle to find the time to do things! I don't know how other mom's do it, doing all the home ed stuff, as well as the general home owner stuff, plus anything else that they are interested in (ie I'm a crafter and am attempting to sort out the garden...). At the moment all my time seems to be taken up with just the basics. Food, cleaning, changing nappies, tidying, washing and when it's not raining while Shone naps we go into the garden... </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Blah, blah, blah... getting off subject!!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Any way thought I'd share some of Wiyot's arty creations. Here's some paintings we did a few weeks ago. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynmoIpLENsc3wn5TiVbUZ_FZDOs4tdg3_SOewxzEFG3QVWVRa1mTyiNFayQZu30yv2jF8CL_A6G0gQZk9jhgpIky2pKabE2teyBWAleeJpPjWrR36GwTpury2pqqSWUTLhAx5g0eCl9lL/s1600/Painting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" nt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgynmoIpLENsc3wn5TiVbUZ_FZDOs4tdg3_SOewxzEFG3QVWVRa1mTyiNFayQZu30yv2jF8CL_A6G0gQZk9jhgpIky2pKabE2teyBWAleeJpPjWrR36GwTpury2pqqSWUTLhAx5g0eCl9lL/s320/Painting.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The bottom two are mine, the rest Wiyots. His bumble bee in the top right was really cute, I cut the face off in this pic, I'll have to take another one.. It was going really well, nice and pretty, but he gets all carried away with the story behind the pictures he's drawing and they tend to end up looking like scribbles... With the bumble bee he decided it was raining, you can see the big fat rain drops coming down, lol.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Guess what this one is, I was so please when he told me what it was I had a little tear of joy :_)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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Mickey Mouse!!! Wicked!! The pink one is to do with another pic he was doing... His Nanna getting an X-ray (she broke her arm a few months ago and Wiyot still talks about it!), the pink dude is the Doctor.<br />
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If you got the last one, bet you wont get this one... (the yellow one)<br />
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It's Walle (from the Disney Pixar movie). Bellow Walle is Wiyot, Zurg (from Toy Story) and Daddy... I know there's a bit of a theme here... bet you couldn't tell we're Disney fans!! Walle was the first toy Wiyot bonded with and we took him to see the movie at the cinema for his birthday :-) He took the toy everywhere with him, until his head fell off... I sewed it back on, but I guess it lost it's shine after that. I can still see his sad face when he came to show me headless Walle :_(<br />
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Now for something a little different...<br />
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This one blew me away, I was cleaning the bathroom at the time and had to run to get the camera to capture this creation...<br />
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Mommy, "ooOOoo that's a nice castle!"<br />
Wiyot, "No, it's the Great Sphinx!"<br />
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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OMG, and I can totaly see it too, lol, brilliant :-D<br />
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So you might think we've moved on from Disney, but you'd be wrong... He learnt about the great sphinx from Little Einsteins on Playhouse Disney! lol.<br />
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Hmmm, that's all for now, just wanted to share these with you :-)littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-53907802269426906602010-03-09T14:34:00.000-08:002010-03-09T14:34:11.067-08:00Not been doing much lately...I have a tendency to take on so many projects that I can't possibly keep up with them all...<br />
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For the last few years I've had the desire to grow my own veg in the back garden. So as well as all my other ongoing projects I've finally made a start on this one. Think I might start another blog about my adventure... Anyway, think it will provide some good projects for Wiyot and Shoshone. Plus it will, hopefully give them more of an idea where food actually comes from.<br />
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As for the HE, Wiyot read his first book last week and did so with no trouble at all. He's also been busy painting and drawing and constructing various things with Stickle Bricks and Duplo. He's also suddenly become very independent and wants to do everything by himself. Getting dressed, brushing his teeth, helping me with the laundry, washing up the dinner plates, etc. don't know whether it's all come from a couple of the Montessori techniques that I did with him? He's been learning Cantonese with his Dad too :-)<br />
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Gotta go now, when I get chance I'll blog about the books I bought for him, as well as the Montessori one I got from the library.littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-62954394733239884062010-02-27T12:34:00.000-08:002010-02-27T13:09:06.933-08:00Math buttons<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfRUo6w6GmXl95kJy_Tz82d6VHLx3NBUvhe09Ozr0oR6gNK3GIWjw4SgXqqbc5RCQwfbCIeV7_MveuVvVWug1Hb3S2-spIxKHGMJ2XTKNGf9UMz0XvbjdRkN9rH8DqoLEe2kuphZmCb1b/s1600-h/Maths01.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443027444878868754" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfRUo6w6GmXl95kJy_Tz82d6VHLx3NBUvhe09Ozr0oR6gNK3GIWjw4SgXqqbc5RCQwfbCIeV7_MveuVvVWug1Hb3S2-spIxKHGMJ2XTKNGf9UMz0XvbjdRkN9rH8DqoLEe2kuphZmCb1b/s320/Maths01.jpg" /></a>Yesterday I decided to do a little math exercise I found <a href="http://delightinginhisrichness.blogspot.com/2010/02/lets-make-10-preschool-math.html">here</a>. We had 10 buttons, I would take x amount, Wiyot counted how many were left on the table and then had to work out how many I had in my hand. Wiyot absolutely loved it, we played for ages. He especially liked it when I either took zero buttons leaving all 10 on the table, or took all 10 leaving nothing.<br /><br />After playing for a while I decided to change it a little bit by adding our number cards that we'd made some time ago. I also made some new one's as we didn't have a zero card and needed an extra 10, I also made a + and = card. Then we did the same game but Wiyot also had to find the right numbers and make them up into a sum.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxdlOvj0OqhMzooDZlUlk0IXOU71z4AfFlRtJt24ydcUXTc1pk-vKvys5ofZXw_BLAFqaExmZaHZ-mJgnwlv2Mhvh36wtO3MysAVEuXlKItITL9yY9wjvNM5oHpyT8lmPqCjdBEFHmEh6/s1600-h/Maths02.jpg"></a><br />Wiyot enjoyed it so much I had to call an end to the game, lol.<br /><br />He then wanted to play it again in the afternoon. I decided to <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxdlOvj0OqhMzooDZlUlk0IXOU71z4AfFlRtJt24ydcUXTc1pk-vKvys5ofZXw_BLAFqaExmZaHZ-mJgnwlv2Mhvh36wtO3MysAVEuXlKItITL9yY9wjvNM5oHpyT8lmPqCjdBEFHmEh6/s1600-h/Maths02.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 240px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443027723227750610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXxdlOvj0OqhMzooDZlUlk0IXOU71z4AfFlRtJt24ydcUXTc1pk-vKvys5ofZXw_BLAFqaExmZaHZ-mJgnwlv2Mhvh36wtO3MysAVEuXlKItITL9yY9wjvNM5oHpyT8lmPqCjdBEFHmEh6/s320/Maths02.jpg" /></a><br />change the game to a Montessori exercise I found in a library book. In this one he had to count the buttons into cups. You're supposed to do it with 11 cups labeled 0-10, but I only had 6 so we had to do it in two stages... Think he enjoyed this too as he liked playing with the buttons. As a bonus we got to discuss "too many" and "too few" when he got it a little wrong... Think he was having trouble counting the larger numbers in his hand. I also asked him things like which cup had more buttons, etc.<br /><br />I made some Montessori word cards as well which he had a quick go at. He looks at the picture eg a cat and then has to work out the letters that make up the word by saying it out loud. He did most of them really well, think he struggled on "web" thought the b was a p... Will add pictures of them another day.<br /><br />I ordered some books for him the other day, they arrived while we were playing with the buttons. Am looking forward to using them next week :-)littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-41812638643269877472010-02-25T13:13:00.000-08:002010-11-24T16:16:27.412-08:00The paintings from yesterday :)As promised, here are the paintings that we did yesterday.<br />
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Here's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Wiyot's</span>, he decided he wanted a sad turtle... and also wanted it to be a bumble bee, hence the legs that look more like wings :-)<br />
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<img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442292708644300962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWypFsz-i_6SD1V3axOXd7BN3D_r-3wued_SJPRaaPEO0YxS9MDfRLGmhItcQ9pyprbRXRe2AJmZav4lGQ_a7-2AecrifJh1JbFQMayIYlgsNayLF1LMSVMswg5aM0HB9tt0p3or3S8F3n/s320/Painting01.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /><br />
And this one is mine, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">lol</span>. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Wiyots</span> crinkly water effect definitely worked better than mine.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMWZq85lJXm8O94Dhp8VdgvaM3i0hHkWnroym_ruYy7L1u6jmt56ytrpjsgqus5y_eOx3XQhPnmqW6LIbzn1LqHfZ1DFg88RM95sbtV5pugOsWTWl1fzYEFfjSTIOrIfNFliGa4URsWwF/s1600-h/Painting02.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442292714153968882" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMMWZq85lJXm8O94Dhp8VdgvaM3i0hHkWnroym_ruYy7L1u6jmt56ytrpjsgqus5y_eOx3XQhPnmqW6LIbzn1LqHfZ1DFg88RM95sbtV5pugOsWTWl1fzYEFfjSTIOrIfNFliGa4URsWwF/s320/Painting02.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a>Still haven't found the site where I got the idea from, which is a bummer as there was loads of art projects on there. If and when I find it I'll add a link. Basically we drew the turtles onto water colour paper and then painted with water colours over the top. Trying to make sure it's nice and wet, you then cover it with cling film and scrunch it about to create the pattern. We then left them to dry for about an hour before removing the wrap. <br />
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<b>EDIT: </b><i>Ok... was just perusing the blogosphere and happened across the site where I got the idea from. It was here at <a href="http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/">Art Projects for Kids</a> and is the <a href="http://www.artprojectsforkids.org/2008/01/sea-turtle-painting.html">Sea Turtle Painting</a> :)</i><br />
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And here's a little picture he drew the other day. Think it was as I was doing the breakfast, I'd given Shoshone some crayons to scribble with and, as kids do, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Wiyot</span> decided he wanted to draw too... I grabbed an old letter for him and then he did this really cute pic. I'm sad I didn't get better paper for him now :(<br />
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Anyway, it's Daddy, Mommy, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Wiyot</span> and Shoshone, in that order.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRD7sPWRET7AiO9h8suuZwyEhl5BEXPUK09t6Hs-CUwlrWkZjSVaoRPDYkPsCaJ6xtzYfoxgwB322f1FAdDYVd3LGvkri8xlY8F7gxui4n7GH3UY5dpfhiSNP0_bg-CF5TnwIU_fQ_Hmw/s1600-h/Drawing01.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5442292706103699202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRD7sPWRET7AiO9h8suuZwyEhl5BEXPUK09t6Hs-CUwlrWkZjSVaoRPDYkPsCaJ6xtzYfoxgwB322f1FAdDYVd3LGvkri8xlY8F7gxui4n7GH3UY5dpfhiSNP0_bg-CF5TnwIU_fQ_Hmw/s320/Drawing01.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 240px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
Daddy thought it was very funny that he was one of the littlest characters, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">lol</span>.<br />
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<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Wiyot</span> remembered his "or" and "air" today, woo <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">hoo</span>, as well as his tricky words and I've taught him one more "we" that was all for the education today as we were out visiting a friend.<br />
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<div></div>littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-13140372215427868402010-02-24T14:43:00.000-08:002010-02-24T14:55:42.518-08:00Much better todayI don't know why I tried doing some education with Wiyot on Monday, I knew I wasn't in the mood for it... feeling very touchy and a very short fuse, and it never helps to put him in the right mind for learning.<br /><br />Anyway, yesterday went much better. He still struggled with "or" and "air" but grasped the sound blending again, which was good. I decided to just stick to one beginning sound of "f" and changed the second sound... They weren't all real words, but I just wanted him to get the idea of blending again. Doing made up words means he can't guess either, which is good.<br /><br />Again today he got stuck on "or" and "air" but I've done spot tests throughout the day and he seems to have got them now...<br /><br />Decided to teach him a couple of tricky words today, his first ones. I chose the and you, not sure if there's meant to be a particular order you teach these, but hay ho... Think he's remembered them though, we'll see when I check again tomorrow.<br /><br />We also did some sand writing, he did really well with it. He tends to be quite resistant to writing, but had very little hesitation to writing in the salt, so that was great.<br /><br />And last but not least, we got out the paints and did a lovely turtle painting that I found on someones blog. I'll try and find a link to it and I'll post some pics when I get chance...littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-31727661728607177482010-02-22T15:25:00.000-08:002010-02-22T15:44:48.408-08:00Phonics.Did a bit of phonics with Wiyot today. Wasn't a good day for it, he wasn't in the mood and consequently didn't know some of the ones he's known for quite a while and seemed to have completely forgotten how to blend the sounds to form a word.<br /><br />Not sure how he compares to other kids his age and I know it means nothing really as all kids are different. But I think he's doing really well with it all.<br /><br />I've been using the <a href="http://www.oup.com/oxed/primary/rwi/">Ruth Miskin</a> system with him. Think we started mid January... he already knew all the letter names and most of their sounds, we've had to re-teach some of them though as we were saying them "muh" instead of "mmm" as they recommend. Makes sense really, makes it easier for the sound blending...<br /><br />Anyway, he knows all of his Set 1 Speed Sounds (m a s d t, i n p g o, c k u b, f e l h sh, r j v y w, th z ch qu x ng nk) and is now learning Set 2.<br /><br />So far he knows:<br /><br />ay: ay may I play<br />ee: ee what do you see?<br />igh: fly high<br />ow: blow the snow<br />oo: poo at the zoo<br /><em>oo</em>: look at a book<br />or: shut the door<br />air: thatβs not fair<br /><br />He was struggling with the last two today... Maybe it'll sink in during the night and he'll wake up with a more positive attitude, fingers crossed!littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2304575824992099324.post-30242438908219299732010-02-19T12:00:00.000-08:002010-02-19T12:10:45.833-08:00A new blog...Not sure how often I'll be blogging here...<br /><br />I'm hoping it will be a place for me to share our home education adventures. The kids aren't at "compulsory school age" yet, so technically they don't have to do anything formal.<br /><br />But I'm sure many of you know, home education doesn't start at 5...littlefoothttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15274259701330104106noreply@blogger.com0