Step Inside Jamies World

Hectic few days....ok im a slacker!

2006-06-17T16:40:00.000Z

Life has been pretty hectic round here the last few days. I have had this weeks tutorial and my tutor is pleased with how I am doing so far on my course, so I am happy about that. Kyle had a little upset with his friend this week, he went to meet him from school, when he got there his friend had already decided to go to another childs house for tea, Kyle was really upset and angry for a few days and refused to do anything other than sulk, I thought it was best to let him get over it in his own time. The boys went off to cricket last night and had a good time, although neither got picked for a match today as the colts is proving very popular this year and so many youngsters are joining up there just isnt enough games to go around.

Today has been spent in the garden, the children playing while i have read a book! I think they will be ready for bed tonight!

A bit stuck.....

2006-06-12T16:27:00.000Z

Back to school this morning for Tyler and Bailey. Apparently Tyler has a non school uniform day on Friday, but he has to dress as an animal from a book....hmm its just not happening, he has stated adamntly that he will be wearing his school uniform. He hates dressing up or changing his clothes or trying anything new on. He has always been this way, school xmas plays and the like are a no go unless he is in the school uniform wearing choir! I havent figured out why he is like this, Kyle is the same, thank goodness the school that Tyler goes to now arent CofE, I had almighty trouble in the last school when it came to Mayday. They both point blank refused to do it. Kyle even went to the extent of hiding his "outfit" to which the school phoned me and reprimanded me for not sending one on for him!!! New clothes have to be sneaked into the wardrobe so that when they pull something new out I can state "oh that...its been in your wardrobe for ages!!!"

Brooke has continued her day in "The Sandhouse", in fact, her and Bailey are out there now! Have had a bit of a rough day with Kyle today, he hasnt wanted to do much of anything, eventually he did a page of maths and we talked some more about conscription into the forces continuing our WW2 theme. Other than that he has played some more AC:WW. He has gone to his friends this afternoon which hopefully will cheer him up a bit! My grandparents are round tomorrow morning and I have suggested he ask them about what force they were in, in WW2.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for an easy interesting topic for a child with little self confidence.....he hates writing, it took him ages to write one line the other day because it wasnt "perfect!"

We took a walk to the shop this afternoon to buy ice cream as it was so hot! I hope tonight won't be quite as stifling as last night...I hardly slept with the heat. I did get plenty of study done last night and I have a telephone tutorial Thursday evening so must get all my work done by then. Im hoping to fit in another hour tonight and tomorrow and Wednesday.

The Sandhouse

2006-06-11T13:24:00.000Z

Today has been quiet and lovely. The weather is very warm but with next to no breeze. I thought I would put on a picture of "The Sandhouse", as thats where Brooke and Bailey have spent most of today, they love it in there and I dont have to worry about them being in the sun all day.

Brooke did a poo on the potty today. I wasnt going to potty train her yet but she keeps taking off her nappy and she knows what a potty is so I got it out and kept telling her to go on it...voila! a result (wont mention the 3 she did on the floor lol!)

The boys are still at their dad's until 4.30 this afternoon so it is still fairly quiet here. I have managed to do three washes (one of towels) and get it all dry, Ive made cherry cakes, a large chilli and homemade mushroom soup for our lunches for the next couple of days. I also cleared out the food cupboard in order to save some money on this weeks food shop by using what we already have *she hopes*.

The credit card has taken a bit of a hammering in the last month so I really want to make a dent in repaying it in the next month or two. Have some ironing to do today (yuk) mainly Tyler's and Bailey's school uniform.

There hasnt been a lot of HE this weekend, I must do some more OU study myself this evening and I have been reading the new Mark Billingham which is really good so far. I think my early night did me good as I feel better today and less tired. I shall study for about an hour tonight, tomorrow and Tuesday and have Weds night off. I have a tutorial Thursday evening.

Bailey in "The Sandhouse"

Its a beautiful day in Bognor!!

2006-06-10T09:36:00.000Z

The sun has been shining here since 6am, it is a glorious day! So I put on as much washing as I could being as there is a breeze too, some is dry already.

Kyle has gone to cricket this morning, he has a match today. Tyler chose to stay with me instead of going to watch Kyle play, I think he finds spectating a bit boring.

Fed the chickens and collected their eggs and have made a yummy egg mayo for lunch, I love having my own hens, they are funny to watch and produce wonderful eggs, I couldnt eat shop bought ones now!

Last night was great, Belinda and I went to a Tapas Bar and pigged out, we had potatoes with mayonnaise, calemaras, chizorio, king prawns in garlic, gorgeous soft bread and mussels, oh and vine leaves wrapped around rice, absolutely wonderful! plenty of vodka and coke too. After gorging ourselves we went on to our local pub and had a good natter and a good laugh! I was back home by 10.30pm, but it was just enough time to feel refreshed! The kids had been good for the sitter and went to bed when told, I am really proud of them!

Tyler has been practicing his recorder this morning, he is coming along really well... he is writing the letters of the notes above the actual music, I guess it helps him.

Brooke has just learnt how to get on the swing and swing all on her own! Im a proud mum!!!

Brooke on the swing

Bailey playing with georello

This afternoon we went to B&Q and got some playsand, we havent got a sandpit so we used the little tikes playhouse instead, at least then brooke can keep out of the sun whenshe is playing in the sand!

The boys went off to their dad's to stay overnight, Kyle scored 11 runs and 2 wickets this morning!!!!

Bailey and Brooke are fast asleep now so I am off to bed for an early night!

The last few days

2006-06-09T14:19:00.000Z

The boys have just left for cricket practice, their dad picked them up and is giving them tea at his flat. I must admit they look so cute in their cricket whites!!

Yesterday we had a spanish theme....we went shopping for food for a spanish lunch and kyle even tried a "leaf" as he called it (lettuce) and it is unheard of him to try anything new! We looked up on the internet the population of spain, found it in the atlas and talked about euros. wWe printed a map of spain and glued it in to a "lapbook" and Kyle made a title for it and wrote up about the info he found on population. The spanish theme continued this morning with a breakfast of breads and hot chocolate! yum!

Brooke has done plenty of colouring (mostly herself) this last few days, although I got the paints out Wednesday and Kyle and Brooke painted and generally made a mess, Kyle painted some butterflies and a rainbow.

I read both Kyle and Tyler from "100 stories of brittania" and they also read a little bit to me. Kyle is not keen on reading so it was quite nice to hear.

Tuesday I took Bailey, Brooke and Kyle to PACSO, which is a play centre for families with diabled children and their siblings. They had a whale of a time! We will be going again next week! They played giant skittles and volleyball and made animal masks. Kyle normally hates things like that but even he asked to go again!

I thought I would add in a picture of the playhouse now and a picture of the helicopter Kyle made out of K'nex:

Kyle also made a ferris wheel (which I was really impressed with!) I havent taken a picture yet though.

Im off out this evening with my friend Belinda for a quite drink at a nice pub! My lady from the sitting service is looking after the children for 3 hours...what bliss!

The LEA phone call and getting back to normal.

2006-06-05T13:21:00.000Z

The LEA phoned this morning. They want to come and see me about Kyles education, he only left of the 17th May!!!! I think it is a bit soon so I am requesting an appointment about October time. I must admit feeling a little worried about what they are going to say or how they are going to be with me. I am waiting for them to call me back about the October suggestion.

Bailey went back to school today, bless him he was so excited to see his taxi driver this morning as he loves him to bits. Tyler doesnt go back until tomorrow. Yesterday I was too fragile after my night out on Saturday, so I didnt post!

Kyle played with his electronics kit yesterday afternoon, he made an alarm and a lighbulb circuit.

Ok, so I caved to "kid pressure" over the weekend and bought nintendo ds. They wanted a mario game but after the excellent things I had heard about animal crossing, i bought that instead. They havent been off it since! Even I had a go and Im not a gaming person. Its great.

Our gorgeous new mini house!

2006-06-03T06:23:00.000Z

Paul arrived Thursday evening with the playhouse on the roof of his van! He spent about an hour bringing the sides and roof in to the back garden and erecting the house! It is so pretty, kind of like a log cabin, it needs about £50 thrown at it by way of new felt on the roof and patching up the door, perspex windows and a fresh coat of paint. All the children love it and have hardly been out of it since it was put up. Brooke keeping calling it "Brookies house", bless her!

Bailey totally trashed my veggies yesterday. Cu, sweetcorn and two tomato plants destroyed. At least I have saved the potatoes, beetroot, carrots and a hanging tomato plant which is doing quite well. I will have to plan better the garden for next year to keep the veggies away from Bailey. He just loves all that gooey mud and thats the problem! I must get him a sand pit so he can still have all that touchey squishy feeling with out ruining my veg!

Kyle has spent most of the week with his best friend James. He stayed at James house Wednesday night and James stayed here Thursday night. Tyler has been busying himself on the PS2 and the PC.

I am off out tonight with friends! I have a babysitter for Brooke and Bailey. Kyle and Tyler are sleeping at their dads, I am really looking forward to a good night out where the vodka is flowing!!!!!!

Very tired today!

2006-05-31T15:07:00.000Z

Ive woken up with a bad back and very tired today, hopefully it will have gone by tomorrow and its just a 24 hour bug thing.

Paul and Mark are bringing round the playhouse this evening...I can't wait, It sounds as if it will need a good creosoting on the outside, hopefully the children will love it though!

I can't seem to get any enthusiasm up for anything today, maybe I will just leave it and do a better blog tomorrow!

Interesting observations

2006-05-30T20:34:00.000Z

Although it is half term, its amazing how my new HE mindset is carrying through to the children. The children have been busy doing all sorts today, Kyle and Tyler played on their PS2 this morning and the littlies were watching Dora in fact Brooke can count to five in spanish bless her, Bailey has been saying loads of new words today and I did a bit of reading with him from his Oxford Reading Tree series, which he loves! The older boys went off with their dad this afternoon and he took them to the dentist, while Bailey and Brooke stayed here and we pottered around in the garden and played with the hamster and other things, Bailey was playing with his Georello Jungle and Brooke and I made faces with Mr Potato Head!

This evening Tyler played with the Digicolour and Kyle and I built a windmill out of k'nex, and I was really impressed with myself! When Tyler went up to bed Kyle and I got out the puzzle of Europe and made a start on that, while watching "Beat your Body Clock" I think it was called, where one woman was trying to reverse all the damage her lifestyle had done to her body, it was really interesting and we saw what a human healthy and diseased liver looked like.

At the moment Kyle is having a turn at Digicolour trying to beat his time on the clock and Paul has popped round to watch football on my tv (Ive told him he is honoured!!! I hate football), think I might have a little browse online for a while and Im kicking him out home and Im going to bed!!!

Excellent news, Paul has been offered a wooden childrens playhouse on a building site he is working on, and he is giving it to me as his children are a little too old for one, what a wonderful addition to our garden! It is really coming along now!

A new addition!!!

2006-05-29T19:54:00.000Z

Today we bought a hamster! He has been named Harry. Original eh? Harry the hamster is now happy in his new rotastak home on our dining room dresser. The kids adore him, Tyler wrote a sign to stick up next to Harrys cage, it reads "wash your hands after touching Harry" (health and safety) the cage came with a free package which included some vitamins, bedding, sawdust, choccy drops and a book. The boys have been reading the book so they know how to handle Harry properly (reading) it took quite a bit of time to put together Harrys cage (construction) but we got there in the end! Hey, im really getting the hang of seeing education in everything they do!

Kyle was watching one of the kids channels this evening and asked me what duelling was, which was a wonderful excuse to look up on the internet and have a natter about history!

Ordered the Book of London from Amazon this evening (thanks ruth for the link) it looks great and a nice way of bringing history into the kids lives by me reading them stories from it.

Read some more articles today on autonomous education, which were really interesting, i love the idea personally, not sure quite how it would work with my kids though!

I got quite a lot of OU study done last night. Im really pleased with how I am getting through the work.

Bailey went up to bed with his huge dinosaur again this evening, he totally adores him! He has been good so far this weekend, no smearing episodes so far (touch wood) as it usually happens every evening on the school holidays. And he actually did a wee in the toilet today!!!! Momentous occasion, first time EVER!!! Maybe toilet training wont be as far away as I think although I dont like to count my chickens.

Brooke has been so funny today, she was out in the garden again, "helping" with the plants and got covered in mud (again!) bless her. She is speaking so well and really clearly now, mummys little angel!

Busy weekend!

2006-05-29T06:12:00.000Z

We had a lovely weekend. My friend Paul came round Friday evening with his youngest boy and we just sat, drank loads of tea and coffee and chatted loads and did a puzzle of Europe. We have arranged an evening out next Saturday, a whole group of us so should be a real laugh, I am really looking forward to it! Saturday afternoon Paul turned up again, this time with both his boys, so after Bailey and Brooke went to bed, we all settled down in the front room and watched Cheaper By The Dozen 2. I liked it as much as the first one, which is unusual with sequels.

Yesterday morning Paul rang to say put the kettle on he was on his way round. When he and the boys turned up they were carrying a HUGE dinosaur for bailey! They had found it in a charity shop it is massive and Bailey took it to bed with him last night it took up half the bed! Belinda turned up in the afternoon and we all got out into the garden and potted on some beetroot and lettuce. Pauls kids had great fun chasing the chickens round the garden! My other friend Mark turned up too, it was a hectic afternoon! Last night Paul turned up again, but I let him have one cup of coffee and then kicked him out so I could have a bath and I really wanted to do some OU study. I managed to do quite a bit in the end last night, the course still doesnt start until Thursday so I am getting a nice head start.

We are now officially on half term as Tyler and Bailey have broken up from school until the 6th June.

I havent got anything planned for today on this bank holiday Monday. I think a chilled day is in order! If it stays nice I will let the kids just play in the back garden while I plant some more potatoes. Must get some more compost this week.

At the moment Kyle and Bailey are still asleep but Tyler and Brooke are downstairs with me watching Gordon the Garden Gnome and playing with Kyles "experiment glasses". I know that they will be requesting breakfast any second so I better finish here!

Its going OK!!!

2006-05-25T05:55:00.000Z

Yesterday was a good day, Kyle did some spellings from an online course I found, I noticed his spelling was not great the other day. We have been looking at the words everyday this week and he got them all right yesterday...he was really pleased with himself!!! (good for self esteem!), we have been making a papier mache volcano this week, and doing exploding experiments which kyle had a fantastic time with yesterday!! he was exploding film cannisters all around the house!

Bailey hasnt settled back into school very well after his week off with chicken pox, he has been aggressive with the other children in his class, he really doesnt cope well with change.

Tyler has barely had his nose out of his suduko book all week, I bought him a large print version which he finds easier to use.

Kyle has asked if he can do some maths today (his favourite subject) he has a maths workbook we picked up from WHSmith so that will do, not sure of what maths schemes are out there for HE families so will have to check that out.

My OU study will need cracking on with this week, so I am planning on doing an hour this evening and an hour saturday evening.

The Home Front...

2006-05-21T19:02:00.000Z

Yesterday I asked Kyle to pick two things he would like to find out more about and do a project on....he chose World War Two and Planets (he is a boy...space and war it figures lol). So last night and today I have been finding activities and information on those two subjects....blimey im exhausted although it was really interesting, thats why i didnt get a chance to post yesterday.

Bailey is going back to school tomorrow, his spots are now all scabs and he is running around the house like a nutter because he is bored stiff.

The rain is still going here......

How weird......

2006-05-19T19:10:00.000Z

Today I got an email from a friend I havent seen in 5 years. She asked if I was still home educating. To explain, when Kyle was five he hated school so much and was so upset about going I withdrew him and started to teach him at home. Six months later Tyler reached "school age" and wanted to go to school, Kyle asked to go back too, so I spoke to the LEA and registered them in a different school to the one Kyle had gone to before and they have both been in school until this week. Which was why the email was so weird.....she thought I was still home educating when in fact I had only re-started this week! Anyway, we arranged for her to come and see me on Monday, she is thinking of removing her eldest who is 12 because she is suffering at school. I am really looking forward to seeing her and catching up!

I popped into town this afternoon and a friend sat for the children. I got another copy of "The very hungry caterpillar" and couldn't resist " The Gingerbread Man" Im a sucker for books! Once in a bookshop you usually wont see me for hours!

I've just read some more of Tylers romans book to him before bed, he is looking at the different types of citizens, I found it interesting as I cant even remember doing romans at school!....hang on a mo......I cant remember anything much from school!

Bailey was on top form today! I caught him pouring washing up liquid in the sink...he was covered in it! I have now hidden the bottle in the food cupboard. He can't reach it without a chair, which I will hear in an instant the second the chair scrapes along the floor like fingers down a blackboard....the perfect alarm system, *insert wicked cunning plan type laugh*

Have succummed to the subliminal advertising of famous moes tonight and am currently tucking into a ham, pineapple and meatball pizza with purple coleslaw...delish....on that note Im off!

Fun in the kitchen

2006-05-18T19:44:00.000Z

Today Kyle made chocolate mousse from his new cookery book, he was very proud of himself and is busy looking in the book for something else to cook tomorrow. I had to go to Staples today and get some new printer paper and pens, I took Kyle, Bailey and Brooke with me as Bailey is now over the worst of his chicken pox and could do with some fresh air and a bit of a runaround.

I planted my strawberry plants today, have given them a good watering and hopefully they will be happy in their new home! I also potted on some beetroot. Tomato plants are coming along and that few days of rain with some sun today has given my hanging baskets the boost they needed....I love the spring!

Typed out and printed Kyles deregistration letter today and we popped it into school on our way to Staples. Phew!

I will be making an appointment next week with our doctor. Three years ago Kyle and Tyler went for an assessment at the Child Development Centre (after Bailey was diagnosed with autism), we were told that they had some autistic tendencies and that unless it was affecting their lives to a big degree, not to push for a diagnosis. I feel with Kyle, maybe that time has come. I hate it that he is labled a "naughty child" when there could be a medical reason for the behaviours that he displays. Tyler is very similar to Kyle but has a different temperment, a very placid child, whereas Kyle is more feisty.

Im still feeling the strain of little sleep and lots of stress, although fortunately I have good friends around me, who offer fantastic moral support and a shoulder to lean on.....they are truly wonderful people.

No specific plans for tomorrow so far. Probably more cooking for Kyle. Now Bailey is feeling better I want to get him out in the garden a bit more, dependant on the weather of course.

Brooke has been very clingy today, I think she senses that my mind is elsewhere at the moment and its just her way of being close to me. When we drove back from staples this afternoon, she wound down her window and threw her books out one at a time.....unfortunately we were on a dual carriageway at the time so I couldnt stop her, or stop the car, aghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

I will have to replace "The very hungry caterpillar" which is a particular favorite of Baileys! Thank goodness it wasnt "That's not my dinosaur!" otherwise all hell would have broken loose!!!
I will have to spend lots of tomorrow just giving her cuddles and reassuring her that everything is ok.

Tyler has read more of his Romans book although he is struggling with some of the big words and the Latin names. I was thinking of getting him a mosaic kit to do as I thought he would really enjoy it. We are looking at some on ebay.

Its blowing a gale outside this evening, it almost seems autumny, assuring me that curled up in my chair with the computer balancing on my lap and a hot cuppa is totally the best place to be!

Schools out!

2006-05-17T19:27:00.000Z

Baileys spots are getting better, he is finally on the mend! I have noticed that he is gradually getting back to his normal self.

Today has been exhausting. I got a phonecall from the school at lunchtime from the head, apparently Kyle had been teased by another child repeatedly and in the end Kyle hit him. This was seen by a teacher, both the teasing and the thump! After speaking with his dad, we decided to pull him out of school this afternoon as they were on the verge of excluding him again (he only went back on Monday!!!). This evening I have typed out the deregistration letter to post to the school tomorrow. I feel an amazing sense of relief....

The boys books came from amazon today, Tools of the ancient romans for Tyler and Cooking up a storm for Kyle. I will probably get Brooke another book next week...I have my eye on a few that I think she will enjoy. I read her "HUG" this evening before she went to sleep and also read some of Tylers romans book to him.

Kyle is watching Kim Possible this evening, with brief looks through his new cookbook when the breaks come on.

I must get to the garden centre this week and get some troughs for my strawberry plants which arrived this morning.....another thing on the list to do! This evening I intend on pushing on with my OU study after a nice hot bath.......bliss!!!

What A Day!

2006-05-16T16:17:00.000Z

Bailey's chicken pox is no better today. His face is still very sore, when the doctor came out last night he said it was one of the worst cases he had seen. Bless him, he has barely moved out of the chair all day just watching tv. Poor thing was looking at his face in the mirror this morning wailing at the spots. I cant explain to him what they are or that they will go eventually. Its times like this that his autism is hard to bear.

I have spoken to Kyle again this evening about home education. After his exclusion last week I feel that it is the way forward for him. He is worried about missing his friends though. I have explained that he will still get to see them as much.

I am tired this evening, my toothache has almost gone but after the stresses of the last week or so I am feeling pretty exhausted. I think I am going to leave my OU study for this evening as I am not in the right frame of mind and an early night will do me the world of good.

Brooke made me laugh in the garden today. I planted some seed potatos in a bucket and turned my back for two minutes and she had "unplanted" them for me. Bless, I guess at two years old she doesnt quite understand gardening yet!

Tyler spent a good couple of hours on Spark Island trying to get as many points as possible so he could buy a virtual lava lamp for his virtual bedroom. At least its educational and not another kill,kill,die,die game.

Well, Im off to bed, my cold pillow is calling me!