Exercise!

Speaking of exercise (the last post on the dance...), I have started jogging again.

I only ever jogged at the beginning of this year to prepare for the Round the Bays (see relevant posts). However, I did get fitter than I have been, and I quite enjoyed it. I also like the feeling of being a bit fit, rather than a bit blobby. Since the days have started getting lighter I though I'd fit in a few jogs (or brisk walks at least!!).

Now, motivation...
This is always a good question: what's going to motivate me to keep this (good habit, whatever it is) up?

I have bought a sheet of holographic smiley stickers - and when I do some exercise (like a run, or a longish walk, or DANCING!), I get to put a sticker in my diary!! Good one eh?

We'll see how this idea goes....

Family Dance at Church

Our church held a family dance last night, which we went to. They had sections of Scottish, Irish and Assyrian dancing during the evening, demonstrated then all joined in. Good fun, and quite energetic!

I had been at a playcentre meeting all day (for the federation Promotions Team, which I am Media Officer for), so I arrived late, and in street clothes and shoes. I would really have done better in a skirt and dance shoes. It was on carpet too, which isn't the best for dancing. Still, all good fun, and a fundraiser supper for the community youth group at the flats across the road too.

'This is the way the lady rides'

One of the delights of family childcare is the relationships which develop between the little kids and the rest of the family. It can be quite hard organising the school kids out the door in the mornings because they want to play with the little guys when they arrive. But, a paticularly special time is when the school kids arrive home again after 3pm. The little kids will often run down the hall, callling their names.

On the days that Grace comes, she has nearly an hour here after the other little kids have gone home. That means that she gets undivided attention, often from Sophie. A game they have been playing recently is 'this is the way the lady rides'. I couldn't resist posting this photo - it just captures the fun that they are having together.

You will also notice Grace's 'dolly' - an inseparable companion at the moment.

Katie made a birthday cake for Isla as it was her birthday yesterday. We sang "happy birthday" and then she blew out the candles - like a pro!
Isla kept singing "happy birthday" for the rest of the day.

Isla's birthday cake

And here are the children eating their cake.

cafe review

I visited St Paul's cafe today with the special interest group from my education policy paper. There are three of us in the group, plus the lecturer, and we've met at that cafe before. It's centrally located for the two group members who work in town, being downstairs from the MoE in Thorndon.

And it turns out they make great coffee! The latte is strong and comes in a mug. (No wiffily little glasses here - public servants must need a serious caffeine fix!) The long black looked good too. I haven't had any food there so can't comment.

Isla got up without having had much of a sleep today. I brought her into the office and she has been repeatedly asking to see 'photos'. So we've been looking at the blog together.

Isla has got really interested in the train set recently. Especially connecting the carriages by their magnets, and starting to connect the track. She has also been connecting other things - length of chain, peg puzzle. Evidence of a connecting schema. (Must teach her how to tie knots next!)

Harry Potter book

Well, the latest Harry Potter book came out on Saturday. I wasn't intending to buy it straight away, but we passed a bookshop... and they had copies... and I had a book voucher... (so long the rest of my weekend!).

In short, and without giving anything away, I really enjoyed it. And what happened? In summary, most of the predictions that anyone had made about what would happen in the book, actually happened. Even the ones that completely contradict each other.

Soccer

It's the first day of term now, but we have had some lovely times playing with the big kids over the holidays. (Apart from the shocking weather last week, of course!)

In a gap in the weather last week we got out to the school playground, and took some balls to kick around. Eva and Elanor spent ages on soccer. Lot of running and retrieving, and a good sleep in the afternoon too!

Turn taking has been a bit of a theme just lately, and I can see this going on for the rest of the year, with the little girls all just turning 2. The doll's buggy is a case in point.

This bike provides a great opportunity for turn taking. We only have the one bike and Isla LOVES it (and is very skillful).

Pictured was the first day that Cara had tried the bike at our place. The general scheme is that the child in possession rides to the end of the concrete strip, turns round and comes back, and then it's the other child's turn. Meanwhile, I do lots of verbal scaffolding to reassure the waiting child that they will get another go very soon.

Elanor's Confirmation

Elanor's confirmation was held yesterday at St Joseph's church, a culmination of weeks of preperation. It was a really lovely service, with both a joyful and family/chatty feel. I didn't do very well on the photos though - too far back I suppose and the lighting too general. This is a group shot as they waited for the bishop to come (from the R) and bless the children.

Annie, Jonnie and Rae came, as well as El's godmother (who was the sponsor). The confirmation was for the combined parishes of St Mary's, St Joe's and St Bernard's. St Joe's is a modern church with a really big community room for the after match function, so a good pick for the venue.

First Communion is the 3rd sacrement, and that's coming up at the end of August.

Jumping in puddles

We've had a bit of rain lately. Actually, everywhere has had a lot of rain lately!

We've also had quite a lot of talk among the Little Kids about gumboots. This started as Isla had new gumboots (which she liked to carry around, but not wear), and I got the Red Thomas gumboots that Elanor used to have back from the farm. We have had lots of mix'n'match gumbot days, with hopefully everyone getting to wear some of them some of the time.

The other day, all the girls had come with gumboots. As it had been raining, but there were gaps in the rain, it seemed appropriate to go looking for puddles - one of the more satisfying aspects to winter water play. As it happened, the puddles out the back had dried up a bit, so we had to add to them with the hose.

Splashing ranged from gentle tip-toeing to two-footed jumping. (Grace did the best jumping, but stopped every time the camera came out! Can't win 'em all.)