Hectic few days....ok im a slacker!

Life has been pretty hectic round here the last few days. I have had this weeks tutorial and my tutor is pleased with how I am doing so far on my course, so I am happy about that. Kyle had a little upset with his friend this week, he went to meet him from school, when he got there his friend had already decided to go to another childs house for tea, Kyle was really upset and angry for a few days and refused to do anything other than sulk, I thought it was best to let him get over it in his own time. The boys went off to cricket last night and had a good time, although neither got picked for a match today as the colts is proving very popular this year and so many youngsters are joining up there just isnt enough games to go around.

Today has been spent in the garden, the children playing while i have read a book! I think they will be ready for bed tonight!

A bit stuck.....

Back to school this morning for Tyler and Bailey. Apparently Tyler has a non school uniform day on Friday, but he has to dress as an animal from a book....hmm its just not happening, he has stated adamntly that he will be wearing his school uniform. He hates dressing up or changing his clothes or trying anything new on. He has always been this way, school xmas plays and the like are a no go unless he is in the school uniform wearing choir! I havent figured out why he is like this, Kyle is the same, thank goodness the school that Tyler goes to now arent CofE, I had almighty trouble in the last school when it came to Mayday. They both point blank refused to do it. Kyle even went to the extent of hiding his "outfit" to which the school phoned me and reprimanded me for not sending one on for him!!! New clothes have to be sneaked into the wardrobe so that when they pull something new out I can state "oh that...its been in your wardrobe for ages!!!"

Brooke has continued her day in "The Sandhouse", in fact, her and Bailey are out there now! Have had a bit of a rough day with Kyle today, he hasnt wanted to do much of anything, eventually he did a page of maths and we talked some more about conscription into the forces continuing our WW2 theme. Other than that he has played some more AC:WW. He has gone to his friends this afternoon which hopefully will cheer him up a bit! My grandparents are round tomorrow morning and I have suggested he ask them about what force they were in, in WW2.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for an easy interesting topic for a child with little self confidence.....he hates writing, it took him ages to write one line the other day because it wasnt "perfect!"

We took a walk to the shop this afternoon to buy ice cream as it was so hot! I hope tonight won't be quite as stifling as last night...I hardly slept with the heat. I did get plenty of study done last night and I have a telephone tutorial Thursday evening so must get all my work done by then. Im hoping to fit in another hour tonight and tomorrow and Wednesday.

The Sandhouse

Today has been quiet and lovely. The weather is very warm but with next to no breeze. I thought I would put on a picture of "The Sandhouse", as thats where Brooke and Bailey have spent most of today, they love it in there and I dont have to worry about them being in the sun all day.

Brooke did a poo on the potty today. I wasnt going to potty train her yet but she keeps taking off her nappy and she knows what a potty is so I got it out and kept telling her to go on it...voila! a result (wont mention the 3 she did on the floor lol!)

The boys are still at their dad's until 4.30 this afternoon so it is still fairly quiet here. I have managed to do three washes (one of towels) and get it all dry, Ive made cherry cakes, a large chilli and homemade mushroom soup for our lunches for the next couple of days. I also cleared out the food cupboard in order to save some money on this weeks food shop by using what we already have *she hopes*.

The credit card has taken a bit of a hammering in the last month so I really want to make a dent in repaying it in the next month or two. Have some ironing to do today (yuk) mainly Tyler's and Bailey's school uniform.

There hasnt been a lot of HE this weekend, I must do some more OU study myself this evening and I have been reading the new Mark Billingham which is really good so far. I think my early night did me good as I feel better today and less tired. I shall study for about an hour tonight, tomorrow and Tuesday and have Weds night off. I have a tutorial Thursday evening.

Bailey in "The Sandhouse"

Its a beautiful day in Bognor!!

The sun has been shining here since 6am, it is a glorious day! So I put on as much washing as I could being as there is a breeze too, some is dry already.

Kyle has gone to cricket this morning, he has a match today. Tyler chose to stay with me instead of going to watch Kyle play, I think he finds spectating a bit boring.

Fed the chickens and collected their eggs and have made a yummy egg mayo for lunch, I love having my own hens, they are funny to watch and produce wonderful eggs, I couldnt eat shop bought ones now!

Last night was great, Belinda and I went to a Tapas Bar and pigged out, we had potatoes with mayonnaise, calemaras, chizorio, king prawns in garlic, gorgeous soft bread and mussels, oh and vine leaves wrapped around rice, absolutely wonderful! plenty of vodka and coke too. After gorging ourselves we went on to our local pub and had a good natter and a good laugh! I was back home by 10.30pm, but it was just enough time to feel refreshed! The kids had been good for the sitter and went to bed when told, I am really proud of them!

Tyler has been practicing his recorder this morning, he is coming along really well... he is writing the letters of the notes above the actual music, I guess it helps him.

Brooke has just learnt how to get on the swing and swing all on her own! Im a proud mum!!!

Brooke on the swing

Bailey playing with georello

This afternoon we went to B&Q and got some playsand, we havent got a sandpit so we used the little tikes playhouse instead, at least then brooke can keep out of the sun whenshe is playing in the sand!

The boys went off to their dad's to stay overnight, Kyle scored 11 runs and 2 wickets this morning!!!!

Bailey and Brooke are fast asleep now so I am off to bed for an early night!

The last few days

The boys have just left for cricket practice, their dad picked them up and is giving them tea at his flat. I must admit they look so cute in their cricket whites!!

Yesterday we had a spanish theme....we went shopping for food for a spanish lunch and kyle even tried a "leaf" as he called it (lettuce) and it is unheard of him to try anything new! We looked up on the internet the population of spain, found it in the atlas and talked about euros. wWe printed a map of spain and glued it in to a "lapbook" and Kyle made a title for it and wrote up about the info he found on population. The spanish theme continued this morning with a breakfast of breads and hot chocolate! yum!

Brooke has done plenty of colouring (mostly herself) this last few days, although I got the paints out Wednesday and Kyle and Brooke painted and generally made a mess, Kyle painted some butterflies and a rainbow.

I read both Kyle and Tyler from "100 stories of brittania" and they also read a little bit to me. Kyle is not keen on reading so it was quite nice to hear.

Tuesday I took Bailey, Brooke and Kyle to PACSO, which is a play centre for families with diabled children and their siblings. They had a whale of a time! We will be going again next week! They played giant skittles and volleyball and made animal masks. Kyle normally hates things like that but even he asked to go again!

I thought I would add in a picture of the playhouse now and a picture of the helicopter Kyle made out of K'nex:




Kyle also made a ferris wheel (which I was really impressed with!) I havent taken a picture yet though.



Im off out this evening with my friend Belinda for a quite drink at a nice pub! My lady from the sitting service is looking after the children for 3 hours...what bliss!

The LEA phone call and getting back to normal.

The LEA phoned this morning. They want to come and see me about Kyles education, he only left of the 17th May!!!! I think it is a bit soon so I am requesting an appointment about October time. I must admit feeling a little worried about what they are going to say or how they are going to be with me. I am waiting for them to call me back about the October suggestion.

Bailey went back to school today, bless him he was so excited to see his taxi driver this morning as he loves him to bits. Tyler doesnt go back until tomorrow. Yesterday I was too fragile after my night out on Saturday, so I didnt post!

Kyle played with his electronics kit yesterday afternoon, he made an alarm and a lighbulb circuit.

Ok, so I caved to "kid pressure" over the weekend and bought nintendo ds. They wanted a mario game but after the excellent things I had heard about animal crossing, i bought that instead. They havent been off it since! Even I had a go and Im not a gaming person. Its great.

Our gorgeous new mini house!

Paul arrived Thursday evening with the playhouse on the roof of his van! He spent about an hour bringing the sides and roof in to the back garden and erecting the house! It is so pretty, kind of like a log cabin, it needs about £50 thrown at it by way of new felt on the roof and patching up the door, perspex windows and a fresh coat of paint. All the children love it and have hardly been out of it since it was put up. Brooke keeping calling it "Brookies house", bless her!

Bailey totally trashed my veggies yesterday. Cu, sweetcorn and two tomato plants destroyed. At least I have saved the potatoes, beetroot, carrots and a hanging tomato plant which is doing quite well. I will have to plan better the garden for next year to keep the veggies away from Bailey. He just loves all that gooey mud and thats the problem! I must get him a sand pit so he can still have all that touchey squishy feeling with out ruining my veg!

Kyle has spent most of the week with his best friend James. He stayed at James house Wednesday night and James stayed here Thursday night. Tyler has been busying himself on the PS2 and the PC.

I am off out tonight with friends! I have a babysitter for Brooke and Bailey. Kyle and Tyler are sleeping at their dads, I am really looking forward to a good night out where the vodka is flowing!!!!!!