Never let it be said

that I don’t learn from my mistakes.

Today I have tried really hard. I have wet washing on the line (sigh) and wet washing in the machine (bigger sigh), the kitchen is trashed again, but was clean and clear before I started preparing our home cooked tea, and I shifted another bit of paperwork before we went out today.

Took the overpriced chocolate decorations back to Wilco’s (hate doing that sort of thing, but at least I did it) and spent a fraction of the amount on fun things instead (paper fasteners and cotton buds – skeletons here we come!), although I did wonder if I should be concerned that Big drooled over the maths workbooks, and was thrilled when I agreed she could have one…

Bought red felt, red checked fabric and blue checked fabric so that we can make some christmassy decorations, and managed to get most of the other bits on the shopping list that I couldn’t get yesterday due to the assistance of Small. Today I had Big to chase him every time he departed, which was often.

Past the library which bizarrely seemed to be shut (blast!) and off to Graves Park for our picnic lunch. Cut the visit short when Small started shivering – I always forget how much colder it is there for some weird reason. Shame, as he was fascinated by the animals, and Big was thrilled to be there too. Ah well, must arrange to go again soon, but togged up for the arctic next time.

Off to Lembas to discover that my nappies have been and gone 🙁 Apparently they’ll definitely be in next week though. Hm. Then we tried the library again, which was open this time, but full of school children?? Apparently they come on their way to and from swimming, so I think we’ll try to avoid Tues afternoons in future. Ever so quiet once they’d gone though, and we could get to the books.

Indulged in a bit of retail therapy – they were selling off loads of children’s reference books, hardbacks for 20p a piece. Well, it would be rude not to really 😉 I was very restrained, only bought 12 🙂

And home again, where we’ve started cutting out some Christmassy decoration shapes to sew, and Big has made a good start on her maths homework book. Turns out it has stickers in it, so she is very happy. We need to do some work on her number formation though – she gets most of them reversed. The maths itself is a walk in the park, but the reading and writing is giving her some difficulties. Will have to have a think about this – she obviously very much enjoys workbooks and worksheets, so I think I am going to have to cater to this need, and perhaps I can figure out a way that I can get to do some work as well *if* I can think of a way to entertain Small. He likes jigsaws, for about 30 seconds, then he throws the pieces round the room, he likes his trains, until the track breaks, and then he throws the pieces round the room, he likes balls (because he can throw them round the room – are you spotting the pattern yet?) Hohum.

We did have a proud mummy moment at the library with him when he went and helped himself to a book, sat down with it and turned the pages carefully one by one to look at the pictures. The teacher wanted to know how old he is – apparently her 21 month old would just shred a book if allowed access to it. Sometimes Small will too, but most of the time he wants someone to read it to him. That’s got to be a good start, hasn’t it? He’s beginning to figure out his insert jigsaw too, so I can see him getting new skills every day now.