Out and About

This week we have spent a lot of time out doors, and it  has been so lovely.

On Monday we went to a help at the farm morning which was brilliant.

Jasmin got to hold a lamb which was only a few days old.

The farm has 170 lambs so far.  Jasmin learnt that when the ewe gives birth to more than two lambs, the ewe abandons the other lambs as it only has two teats.  At the farm the abandoned  lambs are washed to get rid of its mothers scent and then they try and see if another ewe will accept it and feed it, if not they are hand reared.

After looking lambs the children helped clean out, feed and brush the rabbits and guinea pigs.

Next the children groomed a shetland pony, Jasmin loved this. I think she would have stayed there all day with the pony.

Just before they finished the children helped collect the eggs.
A perfect day for Jasminxxx

Today we went to friends for a brief play where the girls made chains with crazy loops.  Basically making bracelets etc out of different coloured rubber bands.

We then went off to Speedwell Cavern, in Castleton.  I have forgotten how lovely it is out there.

To get into speedwell cavern. You walk down  105 steps trying not to bump your head on the low ceiling and then you take a boat journey through the workings of a 200 year old lead mine.  There is a halfway house where the canal tunnel splits into two allowing boats to pass as you then enter a cathedral like cavern, with a bottomless pit.- a huge subterranean lake.  It is amazing to think that when we walk out in derbyshire we are walking above the mines.

The tour guide told us how boys as young as 8 were sent down to work in the mines, in appalling conditions, often for 12 hours at a time, there was no electricity and the candles would only burn for 3 hours at a time. This really struck a chord with Jasmin as she has friends who are 8 and to think that they would have been sent off to work at that age is just awful.

When we came out of the cave we enjoyed our picnic, Jasmin had tomato soup which she really enjoyed as you can see from her face and then we found a play park which was great fun.

 To end a fab day for Jasmin as we pulled up at home she saw one of her friends, Yasmin who came running up to Jasmin and gave her a hug and then came in for an unplanned play.  I think Jasmin will be going to bed very tired but very happyxxx

magic balloons

On Tuesday we went around to friends and made magic balloons, these are great fun to do.

Firstly, roll some of the paste into the size of a marble and then attach it to the bottom of the plastic attachment and then blow from the other end. Blowing the balloon to start off with takes a bit of practise…

The balloons also stick together quite easily and you can't separate them or else they will pop!

How do they work?

Magic balloons start off as a wet paste, until you blow and they harden as they dry. They are an interesting cross between a bubble and a latex balloon, with an end consistency similar to plastic or cling wrap. xxx

friends, pancake day, church, puppet show, Evans birthday.xxx

Jasmin has been much better this week. The weather has cheered us up and made us just want to be outside.

On Monday morning we had athletics, and then had friends home to play.  We decided to get some chips and eat them in the park, something we couldn't have done last week!  The sun was shinning it was so lovely to watch the children running and playing without being cold.

Tuesday was skating, Jasmin managed to do some turns she had been struggling with.  We also did some maths using cuisinaire rods.   They are a fab resource.

There was also a pancake party at K-Motion, lots of games:  blind fold pancake tossing, relay races, memory came, get the sweets out of the pancake mixture using chopsticks, how much juice can you squeeze out of lemons in a minute, etc lots of fun.  At the end fresh pancakes to eat..yum.

Wednesday we had piano and spent lots of time in the garden.  Tidying Jasmin's playhouse and planting bulbs.

We also decided what to give up for lent this year.  Jasmin is giving up sweets and crisps, I am giving up chocolate and alcohol, yikes!!

Thursday was gymnastics, then home to see Josh who wasn't very well.  Josh and Jasmin built some lego.

We also did our reading and spellings.  Jasmin is really wanting to learn spellings at the moment, she has a pen friend and is loving writing to her and receiving her letters back.

Friday morning Jasmin did some maths with her grandad and then played in the garden, whilst I took Josh to the doctors.  In the afternoon we went skating, she would skate everyday if possible.

In the evening we had choir, then a cuddle and story with dad who had been away all week.

Saturday, we had skating (again), followed by ballet and tap.  We then went to an amazing puppet show at our church.   The puppets are used as a visual in churches and the show was absolutely fantastic.  Jasmin came away with 3 puppets, a sign she went to the stalls with her dad!!! She went to bed very happy.

On Sunday Jasmin wrote and read out  her first prayer in church which was just lovely to hear.  When we asked  her if she would like to she said"yes but where will the Phil the vicar be?" I think she thought she was going to be doing all the prayers…

We had a lovely afternoon, at the miniature railway, celebrating Evans 7 birthday.   Happy Birthday Evan.xx   When it came to leave our car and a few others were stuck in mud, the ground hadn't quite dried out enough.  Luckily 3 men helped us get out.

A lovely weekxxx

what did we get up to with Jasmin and her spots?

Gosh it seems ages since I have posted on my blog.  Here is a small round up of what we  have been up to:

We finally found out the reason for Jasmin been so under the weather, chicken pox! bless her.  Just as we were about to go to London for the weekend.  She had them all on her scalp, in  her ears and mouth.

We tried to cancel/postpone our trip, but unfortunately the hotel wouldn't let us transfer. The doctor, said that if she felt up to it there was no reason for her not to go.  So very last minute we decided to give it ago and I am so glad we did.

Jasmin had plenty of room on the train going down so was able to spread out. She managed the journey ok.  This was followed by a taxi to the hotel.  We then went for a walk across the Millennium Bridge, and a short look around the Tate Modern which Jasmin loved and  helped take her mind off things.

on our way to the Tate Modern

A view from the Millennium Bridge

On our way to St Pauls

Daddy and Jasmin outside St Pauls

JASMINS PHOTO'S FROM THE TATE MODERN - (WELL A FEW OF THEM!!)

Jasmin loved the Picasso pictures

Very art deco

back at the hotel, hoping for a good sleepxxx

The next day, after a much better sleep we headed off to the London eye, Buckingham Palace and The Natural History Museum.  Wow…she did so well bless and loved everything we did, armed with her camera, her mind was completely taken off being itchy.

 PHOTOS FROM THE LONDON EYE

 The Natural History Museum: Taken by Jasmin

On our way back from Buckingham Palace we bumped into friends on the London Underground, which was lovely, we hadn't seen them for 4 years…we found out they were staying in the hotel next to ours, what are the chances of that happening??

Daddy and Jasmin outside Buckingham Palace.

It was great, we met them up for dinner and had a great time catching up.  Also in the restaurant there was a lady doing flamenco dancing, Jasmin couldn't wait to get up and have a go. This really tired her out and she slept all night…Yeah!!

Sunday saw a trip to Hamley's which was just amazing.  Armed with presents for her brothers we then went onto the transport museum. It was really impressive.  Lots of visuals and hands on displays, one of Jasmin's favourite places of the whole trip.

inside Hamley's

We saw this and thought of you Cordelia.xxx We will print you a clearer photo.  The shop window was amazing.

Mummuy and Jasmin on Carnaby Street.

 Our trip finished with Build a Bear, before heading back to the station for our journey homexx

We then had a very quiet week, which was needed. Jasmin met up with friends for a play on Thursday, which was lovely.

Friday, Jasmin passed her level 6 skating.  She was so happy.

Also on Friday, Jasmin took some close up photos of a frog in our pond, it was really lovely to be able to do that.

one happy frogxx

Saturday, Jasmin did her first level 7 lesson, and didn't find it too hard, so that was good.  She then went to her grandmas in the afternoon, followed by a sleep over at her nans.

Dave and I went away for the afternoon/night on Saturday without any children to Knaresborough and it was lovely.  I had spa treatments whilst Dave did some work in the bar and then we had champagne and a nice meal.  The room was amazing, what do you think?

what a bathxx

Today Jasmin finished her first piano book and got her first certificate.xx