Tuesday 30 September 2014

The last day of September

Yesterday I had errands to run, so we went to town in the morning.  After lunch Betsy and Meg did some crafts.  I'd bought a Mister Maker magazine, and there were some projects that Betsy wanted to do.










Meg preferred to make a collage using bits from the magazine and our stock of pom poms and shiny shapes.



Later, Fred and I played the Game of Life and Downfall (love his silly faces).




We had a lovely morning at Ashridge.  The weather was beautiful - warm and sunny.  We met up with friends at the play area.









Angela made a spiral in the wood chips.  Meg made one too.



I'd brought card and tape to make leaf crowns.  


We went further into the woods, and the kids climbed over fallen trees.  I'd also brought clay to make faces on trees.




Betsy spotted these tiny fungi.




Fred's:

Meg's:

Betsy's:

Another of Fred's:

The kids were starving, so left and went home for lunch.  The Mystery Machine was in the car park so we took a few quick photos.  Betsy was convinced it was the real thing.



In the afternoon we did some leaf rubbing, as a run through for an activity at Mohawk on Friday.  We tried using pencils, crayons and oil pastels.



Betsy finished some puzzles that she'd started yesterday.  She loves these puzzles.  It led to a short discussion about animal classification.



Fred found a butterfly in the bathroom. I took it outside, and he spent about an hour with it. He asked me to give it sugar water, and he made a little flowery enclosure for it.  I did explain that butterflies have short lives, and he got that, but he wanted to stay with it anyway.  It was really very sweet.  He has such a kind and sensitive side to him.






I think we'll wring every drop out of the warm autumn weather, and go to Legoland tomorrow.

Sunday 28 September 2014

Amazing art

We had a chilled day at home on Wednesday.  Betsy did some fairytale shrinkles that mum bought a while ago.  


Colouring them in -  

Before baking - 

And after baking. I love how the colour intensifies.


Betsy's hair has been getting very birds-nesty, and I persuaded her to let me brush it.  We did half, had a break, and then did the other half.  I took a photo to show her the difference. We both giggled!

 Meg's really into Moshi Monsters, and loves it when I help her do mission to get moshlings.  She can do some of the games on the website by herself now.


On Thursday our friend Angela hosted an art workshop.  She's a really talented artist, and she paints woodland landscapes.  Or treescapes?  Her paintings are here.  She does an annual art show, and met a a street artist called Grafeeney.  He's amazing.  He does spray paint stencils onto canvas.

Fred was fascinated by the process, and watched while someone sprayed a large canvas. He got stuck in shortly after.  Grafeeney got the kids to pick their colours, and offered advice on dark vs light shades, and suggested what order to use the colours in the get a good effect.

Fred chose to do a tiger.






He was really happy with the picture.

Betsy and Meg both chose to paint an owl.  Grafeeney helped them with the spraying.






Here are some of the artworks produced that morning:


When they ween't painting, the kids played with friends, and did some drawing in the summer house.  There were lots of families there, some of whom we hadn't seen in a while, and it was lovely to catch up.






On Friday we had a day at home.  Fred took his boat for a whizz along the canal. Meg enjoyed watching.





The weekend has been busy.  I was out most of Saturday, as my nan is still in hospital with a broken elbow. It was her birthday, so I went with mum and Tom to visit.  Betsy and Fred spent the day with Jarvis - Andy and Granny took them all to 360 Play in Milton Keynes. They had a fantastic time!  Meg spent the day with Rob, which made her very happy.

Rob took the kids to Coombe Hill this afternoon.  It's the highest point in the Chilterns and is a real beauty spot.  They've built a wilderness trail, with lots of logs and wood to clamber over.  The kids liked rolling down hills too.