Fran has just spontaneously burst into joined up writing! Not quite sure where it came from, we were doing the JP pages where a few of the middle letters are joined and she suddenly said she wanted to do all letters joined up, so i showed her a couple of words and she did it, really well for a first go too! I was completely gobsmacked! Its the first time i can think of where she has launched at something “hard” like that on her own and certainly the first time she has achieved what she wanted like that. I’m so proud, i shall have to photograph her efforts later. Its pretty jerky but when i showed her how to improve on what she had tried, she tried again AND remembered! It felt like a real breakthrough moment. Plus she has just read beautifully to me from another Flying Boot Book and got the hang of division (just about.) Talk about a good half an hour.
She has her chart with stickers (the aim being to do her “box” (normals) 5 days out of 7) and she said “if i get 15 stickers can i have a treat?” I asked “like what?” fairly dubiously and she said “like going somewhere, just you and me, for a little walk?” – awwwwwww…… bless.
I’m going to look at my CM planner in a bit, i want to make sure i have 7 things a week now, plus poetry and evening story, i’ve been managing 5 easily but i want to add a bit of my own choice into it as well. I think i might start with the “Grandma’s Attic” books – i was going to use MMM but its a bit like Enid Blyton and i don’t think i can stand twee-ness twice in one evening!
You know, its been a really nice week, low key, no fireworks or manic projects but enjoyable. Maddy likes her “work”, Ammi has had loads of attention from me, Maddy too, Fran is getting so much better at trying things. I think my planner and my “do something with each child” things work well for me; although i’ve actually done NONE of the things i set aside for this week, i have done other things instead, so either i’m better at 1-2-1 than i thought, or its helped me identify times to make the most of. Certainly the house is messier so i must have done less housework!!!!
I’ve had my “official birthday” today – loads of lovely pressies, a beautiful jumper from Fran, Queen cds, chocolates, a necklace, bath stuff and a delicious pair of slippers. I’m a barefoot person through and through but this house is cold and a combination of that and sitting still feeding Josie a lot has given me childblains. (Ugh, its always that nasty, fat, slothful girl in school stories that has chilblains isn’t it!) So the slippers are great. I’ve been given breakfast in bed, a long peaceful bath, a lie in, lunch and dinner and a completely scrumptious chocolate cake!
Max took the big two swimming, Ammi and i played RR Toddler, listened to the Jungle Boogie cd and had stories, then there has been loads of Fuzzy Felt and Geomag play too. Oh yes, of course they had to dress up in dancing clothes and boogie to Queen too – essential! Its been a lovely day. I can probably live with becoming 31 tomorrow thanks to it!
