Saying goodbye

We have had one little boy with us for one day a week since October and now it's time to say goodbye. Although he probably doesn't understand fully, the older children do so it's important for them that we have an opportunity to celebrate our friendships, make goodbye cards and take goodbye pictures to remind us of our friends. He will also be sent the picture so he can be reminded of our special times together.

Exploring ice

We went outside on this cold sunny day and discovered that ice had formed in the plant pot holders. The children were fascinated and touched it to feel how cold and slippery it was. They enjoyed dropping the pieces and watching them first shatter and then melt in the sun. It was also fun to draw with our fingers and make water marks on the wooden decking. A lovely unexpected discovery, lots of learning!

Swinging at the Rec

Despite the VERY windy weather it's always fun to get up to the Rec and enjoy the swings. I love making the children giggle as I tickle their feet, say Boo and sing songs! It's very fresh and windy as it's quite exposed but it provides plenty of opportunity to notice the seasons and I did have to stop some leaves being eaten! Rice cakes were a much more attractive option I think.

Little feet

Anyone who knows me well knows I love shoes! Today I have 3 little boys with me ( a new boy who is only doing 1 day a week has joined us) so I couldn't resist taking a snap of their little shoes all lined up-SUPER CUTE!

From a young age I show the babies and children where to put their shoes neatly and I ask them to go and get their own shoes when we are going out, it's always a good opportunity to count, feet, shoes and toes! It's also so important for them to learn which things belong to them and also to help develop independence. But meantime while the boys nap I'll just have a moment going 'ahhhhh' over the cute little feet.

Leaving party!

One of my long term children left this week to go to school! A bittersweet week for me (sob sob), obviously I am so proud of her that she's ready and confident to go and be a big girl at school, but I'm really missing our little conversations and most of all her cuddles! For the leaving party she and I went to the shops and she chose some treats, we played Musical bumps, Musical statues, Simon says, The Bean Game and this fun game where you thread hula hoop crisps onto a string for them to eat! Very messy but SO much fun! Lots of giggling!! She has loved going to school so far and has sent us messages to say she's happy there which is brilliant. We will hopefully see her often as she doesn't live too far away, and anyway my girls adore her so they will be begging to see her!

Helping pod beans

I haven't had a huge harvest of broad beans this year as there were lots of pests and they're really better if planted in the autumn which I ran out of time to do. But we did have enough for a couple of meals. I made broad bean dip with lemon and garlic which was a big hit with carrot sticks to dip and also a bean and tomato stew which got demolished! My little boy loved podding the beans, finding the surprises inside, counting the beautiful pale green brand new beans and sorting them from the skins. Lots of skills employed here- concentrating, maths, manual dexterity as well as learning about gardening and where food comes from.

Strawberry time!

It's been an amazing year for soft fruit this year and all the children have been involved in picking them, helping to weigh them and of course eating them! We harvested 25kgs this year! Wow! I've made jam, sauce and frozen lots too so we can enjoy them for many months to come in yogurts or smoothies or cakes. Yum yum!