Huh, so I thought I'd done a post since the new year, but obviously not.  I'm losing my grip on time I think!

Ok, so 2017 so far.  Jarvis came for a sleepover.  It was lovely to see them together again, they played and laughed and played.  He'll come for another one in February half term.

Rob's birthday was on the 5th.  We spent some time preparing the day before - making cards and cake.  He took the day off on his birthday, and we went to London Zoo.  It was an excellent day.  Really cold and bright.  

The next day we were wiped out, but summoned up enough energy to make some soap.  Betsy got a kit for Christmas.  She loved it!  Her kit came with colours and fragrance, and she really enjoyed the process. The soap base wasn't very good so I've ordered some well reviewed stuff from ebay, and we'll have a soap-making day soon.

I took the kids to see Storks at the Kids Club showing at the cinema (aka cheap tickets).  They really enjoyed it, and some bits made them laugh so much!

This week:  Fred had a hair cut.  I bought the first bunch of daffs of the year.  Betsy and Meg did some gorgeous collages.  I bought a book from my childhood to read aloud.  Rob's birthday present arrived - he used Christmas and birthday money and bought a kayak!  Super exciting.  
The kids had a shift around in bedrooms - Betsy and Meg are now sharing, Fred has his own room.  They are all happy with the change (especially Meg, she is so so so happy about it!). The Odeon had half price tickets so we went to see Moana (loved it). Swimming/diving and parkour started back again.

Yesterday I had the day off - went to London for some art and a catch up with old friends.  Rob took the kids to the dentist (all well), they ran some errands, and set up a big car track with some new pieces that just arrived.

I got all inspired while at the British Museum.  We visited on my 40th birthday, and I remember feeling irritated by the kids being a bit grumpy and hard work.  It occurred to me that this was 4 years ago.  They were so young!  7, 5 and 2.  Talk about expecting too much of them.  Anyway, I had a look at the family trails you can borrow, and they look great.  So I'm planning another visit using one of the trails.  

And it reminded me of all the other things I'd like to take them to - the Great Fire exhibition at the Museum of London,  the Science Museum, lambing at the farm nearby.  I saw an interesting exhibition advertised while walking along the river to the Tate Modern.  Adventures in Moominland at the South Bank Centre, and I've emailed them to arrange a home ed visit.

Today we had a little snow.  Yay!

Rob's taking me on a mystery overnight stay tomorrow for my birthday.  Mum's coming to babysit.  I'm very much looking forward to it!

We had a home-centric week followed by a busier week. Lots of playing - bricks, Playmobil, Roblox.  Betsy spent her birthday money on a DS 2D preloaded with Pokemon Sun, and it arrived to great excitement.  

We did make it out to swimming and parkour.  Swimming has been hit and miss this term, as the teachers have been chopping and changing.  Betsy finds it unsettling, Fred says one week it's too easy, the next week it's too hard.  Not a huge incentive to get up and out before 9am and drive 15 miles.

The next week we were out and about.  TVAP was great - we had a police visit, Fred did some electronics, Betsy and Meg made small books, and some yarn monsters.

On Tuesday it was freezing.  We met up with some friends in a playground.  It was very frosty. The kids walked through the stream and discovered snowboots are not paddle-proof.

When we got back the girls made loads more yarn monsters, while I made Christmas decorations to sell on Friday at Mohawk.

On Wednesday the canal was totally frozen, and we ran out in our PJs to have a look.

We skipped swimming - explored the ice from the pond and played Minecraft instead, but went to parkour.

The kids put out plates with water and nature bits and bobs in, and left them to freeze overnight. Fred put his plate under the trampoline, and it didn't freeze.

On Thursday it was the 1st December - yay!  Eric, Ernie and Ethel returned, along with the advent calendar with the daily cheesy jokes.

So far the elves have stayed up watching a Christmas My Little Pony movie on Netflix, unrolled toilet paper all over the living room, and played with the Sylvanian Families.

It was my mum's birthday on the 1st, and she came over.  We watched Secret Life of Pets, and we had birthday cake.  Later I looked after a neighbour's kids, and they got out Twister.  Lots of fun!

Friday was go-to-Mohawk-and-have-a-stall-at-the-Christmas-Fair day, and sell the decorations I'd made.  Instead, Betsy was sick as soon as we woke up.  So, we stayed home.  Luckily our good friends gave Mohawk a miss and came over for a few hours, cheering us up.

Later everyone played with Lego, pretty rare in this house.

Saturday was Christmas Excitement.  We went tree shopping, accompanied by Eric.

We went to a real life nativity in a nearby village, with kings on horseback, a real baby with his real parents, the local landlady as inn keeper, and real sheep farmers as the shepherds.  There was a tombola, and the kids all won prizes.  We had hot chocolate, sang Christmas carols.  I LOVED it!  

When we got home, Rob and I tidied and sorted to make room for the tree.  The kids plus 3 neighbourhood friends decorated it with much noise and excitement.  It was so lovely.  It's totally messy, colourful, disordered.  Perfect.