Sun and Blue Skies.

Very exciting to wake up to lovely blue skies and sunshine this morning, (well the sun was just starting to rise), particularly when the weather forecast for this area said rain today.

First though,  I snapped these photos yesterday;

 

Playng with his cars and the rainbow tunnel

  It's not often he can play like this these days because C wants to play too; and her play usually means grabbing everything and shoving it in her mouth - much to Rye's distress.  So, it was lovely to see him playing like this.

We've had a lovely day, the sunshine set the tone.  First thing we walked down to the library for songs and afterwards popped into the Co-op for a few bits and then meandered back home.  The children played out in the garden for a while, only coming in when I reminded them there were sausage rolls for snacks.

Then lots of excited play indoors, jumping on the beanbag and rolling off together, running around and generally being noisy and boisterous.  I had erroneously thought the time out first thing and garden play would lead to quieter play indoors - alas, the sunshine simply fueled the kids, still, the sunshine also fueled up my patience quota; and if ya can't beat 'em, then join 'em lol. ;-)

And before I knew it, it was lunchtime, and then naptime for C.  Rye also fell asleep on the sofa, so I took advantage and gave the floor a good sweep - sausage roll pastry flakes were everywhere!  And then I sorted out the kitchen and made quick lasagne for tea;

Which simply is boiled penn pasta in the bottom, and then I sauted some leaks and courgettes in ghee with just pepper and salt; then added some left over plain tomatoe sauce I'd made at the end of last week, and some sweetcorn and peas and then bunged a all in one bechamel sauce over it all, simply flavoured with salt, pepper, lemon juice and thyme and then added some grated cheese on the top and popped in the oven at 180 for 25 mins to finish off.  NOM, NOM, NOM.  Served with a green salad and quick garlic bread, (thickly sliced loaf, one side toasted under the grill, otherside then smeared in garlicky butter, (I used unsalted butter, added 1/4 tsp of garlic powder, salt, pepper and a good pinch of dried thyme), and toasted under the grill until golden brown.  Lovely!

Once my charge had been picked up, I asked Rye what he'd like to do; and he said "Igsaws", First we played with the wooden ones, and then I decided to get the alphabet train jigsaw out; much to Rye's approval.  Very proud to discover he does know nearly all his letters - has a bit of trouble with "I" and "V", oh, and he sometimes mixes up "E" and "F".  Still, I just told him which letter came next and he found it and added it to the alphabet train;

Very gratifying because I was worrying slightly that I'm so occupied with my charge that I've not been spending much time with Rye practising letters and numbers etc, and the books I've been reading have been very simple, because they are ones that C chooses; and books that Rye isn't that interested in these days.
Mind, Rye has started sleeping in his own room; this is mummy initiated.  While I generally prefer to be led by Rye as much as possible, I was beginning to feel a little claustophobic, childminding 6 days a week + mummy "duties" and Rye often waking in the night to demand cuddles, was beginning to wear me out.
Ordered him a new bed - a sofa/bean bag bed; I'll get him a proper bed eventually,but I thought this would be more fun for now; and he does love it.  The sleeping in his own bedroom has meant a bedtime routine is beginning to develop.  Before, there was no real routine, Rye went to sleep whenever he conked out in my bed; sometimes that could be after 11pm, sometimes it would be earlier; and because the TV and DVD player in is my room he never wanted stories; just to watch a dvd, and being tired I succumbed.

Now he's in his own room there is the routine of him having a wash, cleaning his teeth, nighttime nappy on and pjs, then he jumps into his bed and snuggles under the duvet and I sit in the chair beside him and read a few stories.  He's really enjoying "Bringing down the Moon", at the moment, and has requested it every night so far.  Then kisses and cuddles and lights out.  At first I had to stay with him until he fell asleep; if I left before then he would cry and get really rather distressed.  I had just decided he wasn't ready for his own room; and would compromise by having his bed in my room, when last night, I left the room while he was still awake, not a murmur (I had been sat there for ages; but he kept tossing and turning, singing to himself etc, so I just got up and walked out), I was shocked, I expected him to begin yelling immediately; and if he had I'd already decided I'd just let him sleep in with me.  Tonight, he's had a bath, then went and jumped on his bed and snuggled under the duvet.  Read 3 stories, then lots of kisses and a request that he comes and wakes me up in the morning and then I said "night, night Rye, hope the Sandman brings beautiful dreams", and left. He did give a little whinge, so I stuck my head back in the door and told him I needed to pop downstairs to do the washing up and tidy round a bit; but when I go up to bed I would check in... and not a peep; and that was over an hour ago. 

And, going back to my concern that his "education" was suffering a little because of the childminding; nah, he demonstrated tonight the beauty of unschooling in action.  (Yeah, I know, I dislike the term, but it's easier to spell than automonous.. which I'm never sure if I have spelt correctly lol).  Plus in the bath he drew a face with the bath crayons :-)  I wanted to get a photo, but he'd washed if off before I could run downstairs and grab the camera. 

So nope, no concerns here.

A simple, lovely day.

This morning was delightful.  Rye half skipped, half toddled through to my room and climbed on the bed and loomed over me with a big grin on his face.  He proudly told me he'd slept in his room all night, in his own bed.  I told him how proud I was and we had lots of lovely cuddles and snuggles - even a little breastfeed and to my utter suprise there was still a touch of milk there!  Rather randomly, he also told me that my other boob looked like a cake.

Then it was time to fling the duvet back and start the day - although it wasn't done with that much exuberance; I intensely dislike getting out of bed in the morning; not matter how well (or not), I've slept.  A cosy snug bed is just too delicious to leave.  Alas needs must. 

This morning deserved pancakes.  Rye had about 6 with a touch of golddust honey on them and I had two small ones and a pile of sliced pear and apple, and gorgeous blood orange freshly squeezed juice, mmmm.
My charge arrived and looked slightly miffed that she'd missed the feast, (we were just finishing up when she arrived), although, mostly she turns her nose up at pancakes.

The spotty lurgy is clearing up nicely, spots all drying up so contagion over and even higher spirits resumed.  At 9:30am I suggested a walk; both children raced to the door.  Togged them both up and Rye enjoyed a ride around on his bike and C tottered in her new wellies.  Bit grey and murky, oh so nice to be out in the fresh, if nippy, air and both kids clearly relished stretching their limbs.

Watching the seagulls as they swooped and dived and made a unholy racket

We arrived back home in time for snack time, which the children virtually inhaled.  Nothing like a bit of fresh air and exercise to improve the apetite :-)  While they devoured my vegboxes arrived;

A mixed fruit and veg box, salad box and then yoghurt, milk, eggs, lemons and blood oranges as extras.  I have a lot of lettuce; there was a lettuce in both boxes and I have a couple bags of water cress from last week still left over and another lettuce.  LOL we'll be eating a lot of greens this week.  Maybe have a go at a green juice.  Thank goodness for my salad leaf dryer, makes quick work of drying leaves after washing them in salted water.

After snacktime, we played with the jigsaw puzzles again and I even brought out the xlyaphone and little electronic keyboard, which both kids played quite tunefully, rather than just bashing the heck out of em.  We were having so much fun with the puzzles, reading, music and singing songs that it was my rumbling tummy that gave hint lunch time was nearing.  We had some of the left over dahl and rice for lunch, including fresh bread rolls - well actually these were suppose to be Nigella's flatbreads but I'm assuming the overnight proving and use of wholemeal is why didn't turn out particularly flatbreadish, (normally, they are kinda like a thicker pitta bread).

Prettiness isn't perhaps a word to describe the look of these breads; but mmmm, very, very tasty.  Once lunch was over, naptime for C.  I barely read a page of my book before the Sandman worked his magic.  I came downstairs to discover Rye nodding off to cbeebies.  Cheerfully turned that off and pottered in the kitchen and then online while sipping a lovely hot cup of coffee, mmmm, bliss.

Tea was delicious, roasted vegetables with halloumi cheese and rosemary, with dressed salad leaves and a little more of the bread.  YUM.  Halloumi roasted is wonderfully delicious and it takes the edge off the squeakiness of the cheese.  Then it was time for the little one to go home and once she'd gone Rye requested we go outside again.  Well, how could I resist?  The murkiness of this morning had disappeared as the day wore on, until in the afternoon we had lovely bright sunshine and a brisk wind to accompany.

Loved the walk with Rye, very cold but again just lovely to be out of the house again.

Rye pointed out the moon to me - so beautiful.

We walked around sections of the estate I've not been around before.  All a muchness to be honest; and a bit claustophobic just how jampacked in the houses are and also such a waste of space too; the drives are really long but quite narrow so most people only park at the top end; but the entire stretch along the houses are either slabbed or concreted.  My drive is the same, and I lament at the loss of space frequently.  If I owned the house I'd rip it all up and reclaim the soil back, move the fence up and thus increase the size of my garden by quite a bit - especially as the small shed would  then fit on the reclaimed part.

Saying that, even if I had the cash, I wouldn't buy this house as it's too near the motorway, the houses are very small and well, I'd like a house with a bit of character if I were to buy.

Anyhow, back to our walk.  Inspite of the feeling of being enclosed in, and actually I live right on the edge of the countryside.. thing is, it's kinda blocked off by the M20, which is a shame because the countryside on my doorstep (almost), is the Downs; we had a lovely walk around and Rye thoroughly enjoyed himself and has really got the knack of the balance bike.  

When we arrived back home, he wanted to stay out in the garden for a bit, I watched him as I cleaned up the kitchen and he sat on his yellow tractor, and chattered away to the moon, waving and blowing kisses - bless him. :-)  Eventually, the cold got the better of him and he slammed back into the kitchen, decoated and wellied himself and then flung himself onto my lap and demanded cuddles. :-)

Then bath and bed.  The bed part too a wee while, but eventually after a few stories and a few renditions of the "Wheels on a Bus", he finally sighed and fell asleep. 

And now and nice hot cuppa, bliss.

New Year's Eve.

The ritual bath

 

 

With the added element of crayoned pictures on the bath and tiles.

I'm sure the sprites of the land enjoyed his scribbles.

 

Shaking bells and the tamborine banishing all negativity and chasing it out of the house!

Rye was so taken with the ritual he ran right out of the house in his socks chasing that negativity right off the property!

The alter candles lit and will be left to burn until sleeptime.

And rather appropriately the neighbours a way down the street had gone to the wee park and were letting off fireworks, so we stood in our doorway and appreciated.

A lovely New Year's Eve.

And now to try and get this excited little boy to bed so I can go downstairs and decorate the lounge for his birthday in the morning :-)

Joys.

Life is good. Sure, money is a bit of a worry at the moment, and I keep hoping each day my crb check will land on the mat - and hey presto, I'll then be registered and can start working as a childminder! Money doesn't mean much to me really, it's necessary to pay rent, food etc and it's nice to be able to buy things from charity shops and perhaps a little more spare to indulge that passion would be nice; but overall I'm not fussed by money.

I would be very happy to live in a society that bartered; the social interaction, the game, the bartering of goods made or produced to gain something else - how exciting and fulfilling.

Nonetheless, dream aside, life is joyful, not always easy; but then that is what makes the joyful parts so special and wonderful.

Completing Devonmama's dog portrait took me into the wee hours last night, as I'd declare it finished, and then end up changing something else, strengthening a shadow here, a highlight there, adjusting an angle. There were even a few changes these morning before posting. I'm not entirely happy with it but the photos I had to work from were normal photos of a beloved family pet and not really big or detailed enough for me, add to that the dog is dark brown/black, so quite a bit of artistic license going on to try and get the feel of the dog into the portrait, some personality - not entirely sure I've suceeded. :( I took a photo last night so I'll post that once Devonmama receives the portrait. Anyway, into the wee hours last night; so this morning I was especially tired.

Tractor Tom DVD this morning was my friend as Rye watched it while I tried to convince my eyelids that it really was time to open and greet the morning sun. Rye jumping on top of me was the winning argument and I reluctantly dragged myself from bed. Today was one of those days where going out wasn't just a fun activity it was absolute necessity. I knew if I stayed around the house I would end up on the sofa trying to nap, Rye would end up on top of me bouncing, running cars over my arms, head and boobs and generally getting on my nerves, until like a geyser, my blood would boil and I'd end up exploding into raging, mad eyed mama.

The beach was the right decision. Rye dug in the sand, built sandcastles, jumped on sandcastles, ran around in mad toddler style and made new friends with anyone willing to chase him and build sand castles with him. The only blight is when a little girl ran over and gave Rye a ball, a man, I'm assuming her dad, scooped her back up and took the little girl back to the area of beach they were sitting in, but left the ball. Rye appropriated the ball, the wind took said ball scuttling off across the sand, with little toddler legs galloping after and a frantic mama crying "COME BACK". Waste of time, what 2 year old is going to listen to mama when there's a bright red ball to chase? So, I had to go and collect him from the other end of the beach; thankfully, he is scared of the sea so he didn't follow the ball when it rolled into the rocky pools nearby. This mama was not best pleased, partly out of fear, he'd put a terrific amount of distance between us so quickly and if he had gone to the water I would have been too far away to stop him.

Once the ball did go near the sea he did give up his quest and begin trundling back toward me, as I strode across the sands muttering a dire threats and feeling really quite cross. I remained calm though and merely knelt down and told him that he must never run away like, stay close, the usual. Then we trudged back to where our things were at the other end of the beach.

Once home, it became obvious my little man was worn out, so bath to remove the sand from places where there shouldn't be sand, minor hysteria when I insisted on washing his hair, clean nappy, pj's, clean teeth, settle down for a breastfeed and quickly and easily off to dreamland..... all by twenty five to seven.

And of course, he's woken up. Sigh.
He's tired beyond belief, and gives the impression he's asleep until I move and then those little eyelids shoot back to reveal imploring blue eyes and the face crumbles and the wailing starts. He's doing his "I'm soo tired but I'll have a little wail to see if mummy comes running", and wow look at, before I even finished typing the sentence it's gone quiet :)

We'll see how long it lasts...