Normality resumes...

..well, tomorrow reality hits again as the summer holiday draws to a close. Simon is back to teaching tomorrow and Millie is back at school to face her year 11 on wednesday so the house will be quiet again. Ethan will miss his daddy as they've been joined at the hip for the last six weeks or so. Some of the old routine will soon be back in place such as Musical Mini's on a friday, MKhen coffee mornings sporadically, and Soccer for Tots starts again in a couple of weeks. Swimming never stops as he goes with Dave every weekend.

Because we've always done 'child led' home schooling it's down to me make opportunities available to spark Ethan's interest and curiosity so I shall be getting my thinking cap on over the next few weeks to see what he'd like to focus on.

Watch this space.........

Sharon xx

A little about our home schooling.....

....I promised in the 'Summer 2008' post I'd write a little about our home schooling venture. Well, it's been very successful so far. We keep a daily journal of what we do but it's amazing how much of what we do anyway with Ethan is 'educational' in some way. We tend to do anything that takes a few minutes concentration in the mornings while he's fresh. However, alot of his learning is done through play as he's still so young. That said, he already knows nearly all the alphabet phonetically and can spot letters he recognises all over the place, especially when we're in the car and he sees them on signposts. He recognises some words like his own name, mummy etc. He knows all his colours including the difference between dark/light blue etc. He can recognise amounts up to about 5 and can count by rote up to 20. He knows all the basic shapes and some more diverse ones like oval, semi circle, rectangle. He can tell you a story by memory using just the pictures in a book. He's also just starting to tell the time.

We do all the usual stuff like crafting, play doh, painting, drawing/colouring, tracing, cooking, music, making mobiles [we recently made one of the life cycle of a buttefly as we were learning about that after reading 'The Hungry Catterpillar' book]. He's just learning to use scissors. We also go to the library every other weekend. He loves working in the garden with Daddy and has succesfully grown some plants this year from seeds.

He can use a computer really well. Can use the navigation keys and play platform games when he's allowed to. He can click and drag with the mouse really accurately. I watched him on it with Si the other day and I was amazed at how much he's learnt as he only started on the PC at the beginning of the summer holidays.

Outside the home we do some educational things through MKhen such as nature walks. We recently did a fire engine visit which he loved. Alot of what's organised by MKhen he's still too young for or it's in the early evening when he's too tired, he's usually in bed by 6.30pm. Socially we do the coffee mornings at Sarah's, Messy Play in Bletchley, soft play at a local play centre and Musical Mini's on a Friday morning. We also get together with the Christian Mum's group every now and again. He does his football once a week, swims once a week with Dave [and is nearly swimming on his own]. We all go cycling regularly around the city in search of local parks to play in with Ethan on the back of Simon's bike in his little seat. Must get a photograph of him on there before he grows to big to fit in it.

As you can see it's a busy time. To be quite honest I have to be careful to make sure we spend the odd day at home as we can be out five mornings a week. I was worried that I'd not be able to fill the days but in fact the opposite is true. I had moments of doubt when we started but they've gone now as I can see that he's already far ahead of his age group and we're not pushing him at all. We will always review our decision regularly though to make sure it's still the best 'fit' for Ethan. We're doing the 'child led' approach at the moment so everything he learns are things he's asked us about or has shown an interest in - the alphabet just started because we read one Jolly Phonics book and that was it - he was hooked. I love spending every day with him - it's just such a gift. It's also amazing to see him learning things and know that it was me/us that taught him. Very, very rewarding.

I will update of any new home ed. adventures as they happen and try to be a little bit better with my photo' taking.

Hugs to all who read...

every blessing

Sharon xx

Soccer for Tots.....

As part of Milton Keynes Home Education Network [MKhen] we've been lucky enough to be able to get places for our under 5's on the Soccer for Tots scheme. It's highly subscribed to as there aren't many football teams that cater for children under 4. In all honesty it's quite expensive for what it is. However, being home edders means that we get a group discount so this summer we got Ethan signed up and Simon took him every wednesday morning. Now, I don't need to tell you all how much he loved it. Once again we had to do a weekly countdown of 'how many sleeps until we see Glen [the guy who runs Ethan's class] again!! We've managed to afford to sign up for another set of six clasees as Dave and I went halves for the next course but it's so worth it especially now the summer is nearly over as it's much harder to find outdoor activities in the winter time.

Sarah took both of these for me as she takes her little ones as well!!

Third Birthday...

Well where did all the time go?? Three already!! He anticipated his birthday this year and in the end we had to do a countdown to it as he got quite frustrated when he couldn't work out why it was taking so long to come round. When he came down and saw his presents he said and I quote "Oh wow, thank you! I am completely happy" - I nearly cried. He had a lovely day and got lots of small things mostly to do with sport it has to be said as he's still sport mad. Anything with a ball involved and he's in his element.

Birthday cuddle!!

Birthday cake!! No guys I didn't make this one, courtesy of ASDA as Ethan doesn't actually like cake very much. However, you notice it's a ball - well what else would I buy him lol??

He took this one himself, not bad but rather a cheesy grin methinks!!!

His favourite present, his crazy golf set. Now why isn't that a big surprise??

Theatre Trip - June 2008

In June we took Ethan to see his hero 'Sportacus' in the theatre production of 'Lazy Town - Live'. We didn't tell him before the day in case he was poorly or something happened to stop us going but all went well and it was a glorious summers day. When he realised where we were going I thought he was going to burst. He has worshipped Sportacus for over a year now and does all his 'moves' and goes around 'saving' and 'rescuing' allsorts of things/people/teddies etc. Very sweet. We had just the best time and I spent more time watching Ethan than I did watching the show as his face was an absolute picture. We also did McD's on the way home for a treat.

In the car just arriving at the theatre - so excited!!!!

Stood by the 'Lazy Town Live' advert just inside the doors. There's his hero behind him on the left in blue.

Sporting his new 'Sportacus' cap in the foyer before we went to find our seats. We were sat three rows from the stage in some of the best seats in the house, very lucky!!

Here he is sat in the theatre, clapping his little hands and absolutely glued to his seat. He never moved for the full 1 1/2 hours, just sat there transfixed to the spot totally amazed to see his 'hero' in the flesh.

Here he is back at home after the show dressed in the new Sportacus outfit that we bought him to prevent a huge 'let down' after the outing. He would wear it every day given the choice and has asked to sleep in it!!

Summer 2008

2008 has been an interesting year for Ethan as it was in February this year that we decided to give Home Schooling a go after a disasterous attempt to get him into pre-school. The facility itself was lovely as were the staff but we discovered that Ethan suffered from terrible separation anxiety resulting in him becoming very distressed and making himself sick within seconds if I even attempted to leave him. I stayed with him twice a week for over a term but it got no better and the staff found that even if I went to the loo that he was impossible to console. Also he wouldn't allow the staff to physically touch him making it very difficult for them to reassure or cuddle him in my [short] absence. So, after much discussion between us all including grand parents, we decided to take him out of school and give home ed. a go. It's suits us well for now and Ethan is thriving on it. I'll write more about this later.

This is him at a Home Ed. coffee morning dressed as 'Firefighter Ethan' [obviously]. They're held at my friend Sarah's house and we go often to play with her little ones.

Smart in his new shirt!!

Christmas 2007

As you can tell we're getting up to speed a little with taking photographs again. Had loads to choose from for the festive time...

Playing with play doh with everyone joining in by the look of things!!

Unwrapping something with big brother Mike who came home for Christmas and looks all grown up suddenly.

Ethan and Millie - lovely photograph!!

His little face - it was such a picture when he actually realised it was Christmas day and all those presents were for him. It was the first time he'd ever got really excited about something.

Ewwwwwww!!

Now I have no idea what was happening here but it looks to me like he's been sucking a lemon [which he wasn't]. This is first thing on Christmas morning so about 6am which is Ethan's normal time to get up but the picture is just so funny I had to include it.

General stuff..

These are just general ones taken over the last year or so.....

Er mum, these pants aren't a very good fit!! Ethan flately refused to wear pants for ages after he came out of nappies, even though I bought him some with his hero 'Sportacus' on them. This is what he did with them the day I bought them. Don't you just love kids?? [He does wear them now I have to add so sadly we can no longer call him 'The Commando Kid'.] Just for the record he was dry day and night within 24 hrs and has only ever had two accidents. Clever lad but then this is his site so I'm allowed to boast.

Just chillin'.

Cool dude! For some reason he still loves his high chair and prefers it to sitting at the table - he's nearly too big to squeeze in it though so he'll be forced to say a fond farewell to it quite soon.

Second Birthday.....

Now for whatever reason most of the photo's I took of Ethan's 2nd birthday were out of focus or he was asleep in them. However we have a few just to get a flavour - all surrounding playing with balloons - well what else are you supposed to do on your birthday??

Here he is in mid thwack of a green balloon - see it, top left-hand corner....

Er no mum, I think this is MY blue balloon.................

Has anyone seen my yellow balloon????? It's behind you!!!

After the move to MK.....

These photographs were taken not long after we moved so probably around June '07 before Ethan's 2nd birthday. I was messing around with Simon's camera and as is always the way when you're not trying I got some nice pictures.

Not sure what Ethan's trying to tell me here but I think I asked him to say 'Hi' so he's waving at the camera.

This is a real favourite of mine. Not bad when you think I took it as well. Oh well just another example of a woman's ability to multi-task eh guys??

Grrrr....... spawn of satan revisited - the little monkey lololol!!!!!

Moving on.....

At this point there's a bit of a gap in the photo's as life got a little busy with meeting Simon, moving to Milton Keynes, sorting Mike's college placement out back in Banbury and getting Millie settled into her new school.

Bob the builder, nearly walking by the look of things and look at those little pegs right through now!

First 'bucket & spade' holiday in Devon. We had the best weather of the whole summer. Ethan was a dream and really enjoyed it.

First birthday...

At the end of a long day of 'partying' we're having a cuddle and wrecking the decorations...

Just demolished a piece of birthday cake judging by the slightly grubby mouth!

The new birthday car/ride-on/rocker. An instant hit and still is two years on actually.

What's in the box - let me at it!!

Growing fast...

Oh no, we're mobile....nothing is safe anymore. [11 months]

Big brother Mike is off to an interview as, unusually, he appears to be wearing a tie. They've grown to look alot like each other.

Is anyone ever going to get me out of here or are you just going to keep waving that camera in my face??

You've heard of Brothers In Arms?? Well this is brothers in pj's......

Looking rather pink and fresh faced; he's obviously just woken up I should think!! Bless!! [10 months]

First year continued....

Fresh after a bath - what a smiler!!

Bed changing day - he thinks he's helping!!

Mr Dribble in his bouncer. He loved it though and could crush a packet of crisps or kick a foot ball whilst in it.

Christmas 2005, Ethan's first Christmas. This was what I woke up to every morning, a little face smiling at me by my bed. He used to reach out and stoke my face if I was close enough. I miss those days.....

Early days.......

Spawn of Satan - well not really but quite uncanny huh and no guys, we didn't take it on purpose. A genuine faux pas!!!

Too cute at two months... adorable!!

Look at that dimple!! He's so cheeky even at only 5 weeks old.

He got bored with me being on the PC and promptly fell asleep, one of my favourite pics. He looks so tiny.

Birthday......

Here he is alseep up on the ward - my word it was so hot in there, not a breath of air.

08.08.05 - 15.14hrs, 7lb 10oz. Just a few minutes old - first proper cuddle and a chance to get a long look at this little miracle I'd waited so long for.

I think this was my due date and, as you can see, still looking like I ate all the pies. Ethan quite liked it in there and stayed put for another ten days until a rather lovely Consultant took pity on a large, sobbing, eldery pregnant lady and made a managerial decision to evict him.