Who would've thought?

I spent about an hour with the boys this morning building a train track with them. Have I mentioned how I am finding Bean quite difficult of late? He really won't give on anything. If it's his idea we can't do anything else anyone wants to do, Pumpkin isn't allowed to change things or want to do something his own way, there is no give or compromise and it usually involves a lot of suggestions of possible solutions from me and a lot of shouting and tears from Bean. The most difficult part is that he gets very angry and if I'm not there when it happens it can result in Pumpkin being bashed uncontrollably by Bean usually with the nearest toy. Today it was a train thrown in the face, followed later by a piece of train track, a pen stabbed into the arm and treading on his hair (all separate incidents.) Fortunately Pumpkin is forgiving and accommodating but I need to find a way for Bean to recognise, vent and express his anger without damaging others.

We've had a real reading day. Bean read to Pumpkin this morning, the books were the first port of call at the Play and Stay session we went to and there have been multiple other reads today but all between themselves, I haven't been asked to read anything today (most unusual.)

Our trip out took us past this snail crossing the pathway. We found one in a similar location on the return home, I wonder if it is the same one?

We have also coloured and played with salt dough today as Bean wanted to know how to make dough go hard. We made the salt dough and Bean and Pumpkin made blobs and cut out shapes. I sat with them and made a few things for Father's Day. As we haven't used salt dough before I'm not sure that the boys will really understand it's potential until we have made and baked a few times.

Plum took hold of her first foods today. This is how we introduce solids to ours. She wasn't overly impressed and pulled a few lovely faces. Today's tempting morsels were apple and avocado. 

The boys ended the day as they had begun, playing with the track again and Bean thumping Pumpkin. The good thing about keeping a blog is that you can look back on a day that has appeared to be draining and tiring and grim and realise that we have had more wonderful moments than upsetting ones and that these angry outbursts have been just that... outbursts. The rest of the time has been our everyday busyness and calm. 

Surprise Surprise

The boys surprised me left, right and centre today.
Firstly the train track has started making a reappearance, this time round initiated by Pumpkin. The cars in the middle are the car park.

This was followed by a trip to Fisher's Farm where we met with friends and fellow home ed family. Surprise number two was the boys insistence that they wanted to stay out in the rain, probably because there was so many exciting things for them to do but normally one or other or both of them gets cold/ wet/ weather worn very quickly especially in the constant damp drizzle rain we were out in today. Pumpkin was in fact saturated on his lower half having jumped through numerous puddles and gone down a very wet slide, he even got a hole in his sock!

The boys are very close and tend to do everything together, even eat the same cereal for breakfast, but not today, surprise number three. Pumpkin decided he would like to do the pony ride and Bean chose to watch. Pumpkin even got on after watching the previous child (of similar age) get shaken about as the horse sneezed and ended up lying across it sideways waiting for assistance. I thought this would put him off but he rode twice.

And lastly the boys both thoroughly enjoyed the bug ride in which they get pulled around in individual carts, bumping all over the place. I honestly thought there would be tears from at least one of them especially as I didn't go on with them and they had to ride solo but they both loved it. Pumpkin was very disappointed that he couldn't ride again.
The indoor play area was our respite from the rain and thanks to our friend's children being so keen to play indoors it persuaded my two to do the same. They had a great time and are very keen to revisit.