Study and work

So this essay is slowly coming along. Picking my way through the questions I need to ask and sussing out a sensible order for the essay. Currently I am struggling as I can't remember how many words it needs to be and what else I need to put in it - I have to oput in references and that sounds like hard work. Anyone know the harvard referencing system??

Today I have had a million of fun with the dancing children. We did ballet, tap, national and modern as well as some musical theatre. When we are done and dusted at the end of the 3 weeks I think we shall show the mums. :)

And I may have got some work doing maternity cover in the new year! Hurrah!

Busy again!

Today I have been a busy bunny. Carbooting this morning that in turn raised funds to make Daisy a Tutu for her birthday party next sunday. She has chosen the fabrics. They are 'interesting!' I will post a picture when it is finished hopefully!

She has chosen pinky-bluey-purples... hmmm Daisy... Classy!

Left overs will be turned into party bags!

Also today I have done my tax credits final statement for last year, thought about how to sort the kids room out, and got a note book for my course. Getting there.

I have also signed up to Campnanowrimo (i think!!) on the encouragement of my sister in law. We shall see how far I get before I fail!!!

Trying to get more organised.

I have a secret. I am not an organised person.

I do TRY. But I tend to fall off the wagon. And justify the chaos in the rest of my house by the spotlessness of one room - it makes it tidy neutral don't you know? Like being carbon neutral but on a smaller housework based scale. I am sorting through boxes of 5 or 6 yr old paperwork and shredding what is rubbish. I am sorting through teaching stuff and am almost ready to file my tax return!! (that's the organised bit!
On the other hand I still have a massive pile of laundry.


You win some, you lose some!

Other plans for today is half an hour on my essay, finding stuff to carboot or freecycle, and cutting out the shorts fabric. :)

Writing questions

I am currently writing questions for a questionnaire but I am finding it tricky. How to pose them so they are simple yet non condescending! And also relevant to the questioned!

This is a pic from it!

My essay is about men who dance en pointe - feed back please internet peeps - what do you think of this picture? and if you have a dance related background.

The smallest boy

Has started to pretend he is a baby, at just over 2 yrs old I catch him lying on his back peddling his feet in the air saying goo goo. It's very cute but slightly ridiculous too! He also really loves pretending to me the mum - carrying a doll around and rocking it and chatting to it.

He is getting very grown up - he likes to make his own decisions about what he eats at tea time, and with what he wants to play with. He is so much fun!

Today I am off to teach ballet to tiddley toddlers for a bit, then this afternoon I am planning on taking the kids to ride on the little train at Exbury Gardens in the New Forest - S was involved in the Ghost Train at Halloween with his Scouts group and we got sent a free family ticket. :) It's beautiful garden full of rhodedendrons and blue bells and beauty.

I shall go there to avoid my housework.... and instead of doing my own gardening!

Now to go make the kids breakfast - cereal or pancakes??

Glorious Monday

The best kind of Monday mornings are the sunny and glorious ones when you have very little to do! Hurrah!

Number 4

is a funny child - he has just snuck into the garden with a box of cereal and filled up a bowl he took with him with rice crispies. He's already had breakfast mind you...

It's a peaceful morning here - Nanny and Grandad have taken 2 and 3 to their church for sunday school. I like this for two reasons! 1 - I get quiet time with Noo and S, and 2 - they have a small elderly congregation and it helps the kids realise that they need to respect these people and tone down the noise! I am not religious at all but I do like the feeling of community that the church offers.

Today I shall mostly be trying to get a spot more gardening done followed by more laundy, and writing a questionaire for research for an essay I have to write over the summer. I may post it here for responses!

Feeling quite like things are being achieved, have got more laundry done in the last 2 days then in the previous 2 weeks! (that may be a slight exageration!)

We're busy doing nothing...

....working the whole day through...

Finding loads of things to do today. N is busy potty training. D is busy chatting - I am convinced she thinks if she stops then she'll lose the ability, T is busy helping, and S is busy doing errands and being aspergery. I have been busy in the laundry room, the kitchen and the garden. Taken a whole bunch of stuff to the tip. Might try and take more later. Nanny and Grandad came by with the garden table they have given us. So Grandma and I tidied the deck in the garden and made space. It's looking much better out there. though we then had to do some weeding as the rest looked so atrocious in comparison!

G is busy asleep as his flight was today! They got 3 hrs sleep and a 6am lobby call! Awesome.

Now time to find dinner food I think. :) And this evening will be surrounded by homework, show (that I'm not doing HONESTLY) planning, paperwork for teaching, or sewing.... or Wine....

Summer!

Today the summer starts and I thought some how my small and wonderful peeps would have magically discovered the art of having a lie in.

They didn't. What's with that???

Mr Grey is currently away with a band that he has worked for before - I'm not convinced they are his fav peeps - as of Thursday afternoon he had no idea of flight or terminal - was assured it was one of 5 at Heathrow... And he has no idea when he is returning. Could be today or tomorrow. AMAZING. At least when he's out with G he has all his info well in advance. We have flights for gigs in mid August here already. How hard is it to organise? The festival they are at is called 'Hell's Pleasure' and sounds awful!

I have been off on a rock and roll jaunt with him but ended up ironing.... not quite what you plan for a debauched weekend, traipsing through mud, ironing, and running up and down hills and the M1. But my navigation skills were excellent, my driving was excellent and the food was great!

Today will mostly be filled with sorting more old paper work out and trying to shift some STUFF. Like my old Phil and Teds pushchair - N doesn't need it any more. :(

Time to move away from the computer - no.3 and no.4 are flumped on the sofa and demanding feeding. Lovely boys!

SEN

Today i have started the process to appeal the LEA here regarding the statement I need for my son to access a decent education.

Today was a good day.

Today has been a lot of fun.

It's involved gold paint, folk dancing to live music and brilliant news!

The gold paint is on the wall in the kitchen, himself is decorating. It's all good!! Photos when it's done.

Then I went folk dancing with the over 50's - was fun - and quite hard work. The band and caller were excellent. The dances were varying, we started with a circassian circle, when through a couple of long ways sets and I finished up with a nice waltz. Made me want to dance more! I might have to try and find a regency dance group to join!

The good news is re D's school. They are expanding from a 2 form entry infant to a 3 form entry primary school and we found out today that our yr 1 children will be able to stay on in the new build school! Hurrah!

Midnight Mission

The machine that eats the road has been out side of my house for several days at night eating the road and spewing it into a lorry. This is a pain in the proverbial but needs to be done - and better when there is no traffic and the road isn't closed for weeks!
Last night was Saturday night and I was woken up at around half one by noisy yoofs, who in their infinate wisedom decided that the most brilliant fun would be to move the road cones surrounding a large pile of bitumen into the middle of the road.
When I was convinced they had gone I snuck out and moved them back again!
Good deed done.

Trying to be organised

Today I am trying to be organised and get a bunch of work done but am some how sat here in my pajamas. How does that work?

I need to get to the football ground, then get a present for D's friend, then feed the rabble, then take them all to a party in play centre, then finish D's invites, then put the laundry away, and tidy house and EVERYTHING else!!

And the children are all super tired as they all stayed up late last night.

When am I going to find time to write my essay?????? ARGHHHHHHH>

Good Job!

I have got home seriously proud of 120 small people!

D's infant's school held their sports day today - Daddy took part in the dads race - he was first until the end when his shoes didn't grip and he went for a burton - but he didn't finish last. Think he may have a bruised ego though. :( I was proud of him! Particularly as he got up and carried on after his commando roll!

The children did an amazing job! They were wonderful! The choreography was Wayne MacGregor for the Big Dance and the children all took part and danced for their parents as the opening ceremony to Sports Day. I think there were some seriously gobsmacked people around, and I once again have the incredible feeling of luck and joy that I can do something that I really love.

Off to teach the grown ups tonight, kind or mean???????

Bah.

Today feel like it's going to be one of those days when you don't quite get anything right.

The weather sucks again and I have places to be in the rain. Firstly I want to make the teachers class at Roynon for ballet. I don't feel taxed teaching my own classes which means that I don't have to raise my personal bar or barre as the case may be. I love teaching kids and adults - they are fascinating and fun experiences and I feel completely lucky to be able to do what I do. :)

Then I want to make Sports Day at D's school - I have taught the entire infant school a piece of choreography by Wayne Macgregor and they are amazing! the youngest are 4 and the biggest ones are 7! Today they are (if the rain holds off) dancing before sports day and showing their parents! When we did a run through on Wednesday they were so brilliant.

The house is Grumpy today. Youngest son has discovered thumping people. He also discovered being sat on the step and was very unimpressed!

And finally it's S's last day at Compass today - next week we start the reintergration to mainstream school. Scary.