I hear thunder

spot the mistake

Bean took this photo

Geese in a hurry

Our first attempt at rolling down a hill

Plum enjoying a feed

What a day!We drove to Leeds Castle again today to meet fav auntie #2. We checked the weather before we went. It looked questionable but reasonable ie. cloudy, sunny and a few showers. With this in mind I packed fleeces, socks, wellies, raincoats, and spare socks, all for the boys. 


The car journey there was great. Bean got the maps out again and I showed him where we were before setting of and he directed me all along the green road to the blue road. I got warnings of every round-a-bout and bridge and it was a real eye opener into what he has been absorbing during all our previous discussions involving maps. He also said 'I want to live in Horsham, it's so fun and my children will love it.' Brilliant. Not only does he appreciate the town in which he lives, he is also considering where his children would enjoy living, very thoughtful.


It wasn't long after we arrived that Pumpkin mentioned his foot hurt. FA#3 took a look and burst out laughing. We all had a close look at his feet and discovered that he had literally two left feet! The worst part of it is that I checked the sandals on his feet before we left. He decided then that wellies would be better.


We walked up to the castle a different route today and spent more time running than observing the gardens. The gaggle of geese intrigued the boys as they were hurrying very determinedly in one direction. We talked about where they had started out from and where they were heading and why.


We went into the castle today which I don't remember going in before but FA#3 said that it has changed alot and has more to see. The boys picked up a costume spotting quiz which they loved and they really enjoyed looking at all the armoury and weaponry. I'm glad we have membership or annual tickets for these places as we do speed around them sometimes and repeat visits mean we get to see different parts on each visit.


Lunch included some fun with an inquisitive peahen (and rather cheeky, I thought.) 


FA#3 had a deadline today and we planned to have a play on the play area and then a quick wizz around the maze. FYI you cannot have a quick wizz around this maze. I went in with the boys and FA#3 sat with asleep  Plum. We got completely lost and spent half an hour wandering around, our only point of reference were the various shaped puddles!


The thunder began to roll and we could see the rain coming. The boys had already decided a train ride back was on the agenda so we headed to the pick up point. FA#3 waited for the train and I started to walk as the train is not buggy friendly. I walked the train route as it's direct but unfortunately through the open grounds. The rain game, spotting and spitting, the rain came splotting and splatting and then the rain came sideways and torrential (imagine someone throwing a bath tub of water at you.) I took temporary shelter under a canvas sheet but as the rain was blowing sideways this wasn't much use. The train stopped to collect us poor souls but as the buggy is not compatible with the train I had to walk on, although the rain had calmed a little. 


The end result was that the boys didn't need any of the spare clothing I had taken with us and I drove home with no trousers on. The rain continued on the drive home, the motorways were no faster than 30 mph and like driving through a river. When we got closer to home it became apparent that our home land was dry as a bone and hot and sunny! Wouldn't have swapped it though. Love days out with my sisters.

Home Ed @home

Today we did exactly what it says on the tin. Home Ed @home. Bean is still recovering from a horrid cold and after a very busy week he suggested a rest day. We made a list at breakfast of all the things we've been meaning to do for a while.The list consisted of: name bones of the body; pot plants; plant seeds; make soil; build a castle and make card for friends birthday party, and then Bean added hang out the laundry; do washing up; and clean the bathroom. 

castle

Bean started by building a castle. He found a smallish box in the place where we keep such items and proceed to instruct me where to draw certain lines for its different features: a moat, battlements and portcullis. He then drew in the details and then found some stickers of wild animals- birds and squirrels to stick on. He also found a queen sticker, a skeleton and a ghost. Reality and fantasy came together, as is often the case. He didn't finish it but insisted he would do so tomorrow in time for it to be wrapped. We talked through how he was going to finish it and I suggested a few timings as he wanted to paint the moat and I knew it had to be dry before we wrapped it. 


I washed up and the boys helped.

ladybird home

Plum needed a feed about now and an entire outfit change after a nappy fill. When I returned from doing this Pumpkin was excitedly relaying to me that they had built a ladybird house and a real ladybird was living in it. The boys had gathered up grass cuttings and piled them together even making an indentation for a doorway. They were most upset when the lady bird flew off. I nearly started singing, 'ladybird, ladybird, fly away home,' but I thought this might distress them even more at this point! 

Jesus dying on the cross

Bean and Pumpkin then set up shops in two enormous boxes. We played at buying and selling for a while, exchanging money and goods and adding up the cost of various items. This is the second shop Bean has set up this week (the other being a furniture shop comprising of all the dolls house furniture being very neatly displayed on the coffee table.) They found some light swords which they wanted to try out in a dark place as Plum had fallen asleep on our bed upstairs I suggested they try them out later (they wanted to test it in their room.) It was Pumpkin who suggested the boxes as 'They are dark when you shut them.' They about 10 minutes sat in their own boxes playing with their light swords.


Bean then wanted to write on the blackboard for his shop. Pumpkin made some marks and said it was a picture of Jesus dying on the cross.

And finally, just before lunch we potted some plants. Bean had seen some flowers on peoples door steps when we were on holiday and had asked it we could put some on ours. Fortunately I had some plants that needed planting somewhere so this was the perfect suggestion, brightening up our front door step at the same time, win-win!

'outdoor reared pork sausages'

Lunch was followed by a marathon TV session, which as the weather was so nice grated me a little but I had to remember that both boys have not been well this week and are still in recovery so I left them to it rather than trying to lure them away. As it happened Pumpkin fell asleep at 5.20 and didn't wake up until 7.30 the next morning.
Sausages for dinner with a label that tickled me!
Oh and just in case you were wondering we didn't get to do our bones, plant seeds, make soil or clean the bathroom. Never mind.