The sun is shining!

Our first trip to Exeter

Yesterday we caught the train to Exeter to see an animation we made that had been shortlisted in an under 18's competition, part of animated exeter.

The Scarlet Flower from Suited and Booted Studios on Vimeo.

The animation 'The Scarlet Flower' was made with another two families during a two hour workshop, part of the brilliant Multicultural Family Learning Festival 2012.

Thank you to Xanne at Broadoak and the lovely team from Suited and Booted that made the animation possible and gave Emelia the chance to see her work on the big screen!

We also visited the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery. What a great place!

After that, we took a stroll to St Nicholas Priory, a great little building that was once a Tudor home. They have done a great job of 'mocking up' some of the interior so you can touch everything, much more enjoyable for children. Emelia didn't want to dress up, I did!

Both museums are really geared up for children, I can't recommend them highly enough.

We went fossil hunting :)

Bristol Museum: Your canvas

Dear Visitor,

Your canvas is here,

http://static.flickr.com/7064/6880335591_48c87e2b74.jpg

Thank you,

Bristol Museum

First proper day of half term

"This is a pond, I haven't coloured it all in because it's not full, those dots are the splashes."

We noted the question down about stamps so we could explore it later, which we did by watching good old Aunt Mabel and Pippin tell us all about post. I do love Come Outside!

We then took it turns to write this valentines poem whilst in the library.

Next on to the museum where collecting the stamps was the only thing Em was interested in.

Em asked this morning if she could go to an art or writing class, and this was the compromise. I think beavers is the way to go?

The highlights of the day for me revolved around this drawing. After showing Em I had set it as the background on the iPad, she seemed genuinely amazed at my enjoyment of her work. So much so she exclaimed "you like it that much? You're the best mummy in the world!" and jumped on me for a big cuddle! Such a small act from me to show her I enjoy and appreciate her 'work'... Surprised by the reaction, worried it means I don't show her enough, and happy to make her happy.

First proper day of half term. Done!

We are back!

We have decided to try and regularly blog again! Although Emelia wasn't keen on writing today, so I'm doing it on her behalf.

I've been thinking a lot about her education recently, and im just amazed. I have always been very interested and tried to find ways to extend her knowledge, that's not new. The way she is educated however, I have never given any great amount of thought. Maybe that's terrible? But it's the truth.

I am amazed at how much learning happens almost by accident. To take just a few examples from this weekend;

• Playing monopoly she was applying skills in subtraction and addition when working out the correct money and change required.
• Playing scrabble one sentence struck me in particular "look mummy, if I put an e on the end of hid, it changes to hide!"
• "Look, coconut trees!" she shouted excitedly when we saw sprouts growing. We went to have a closer look where she discovered their true colour. (it took me 27 years to experience the same discovery!)
• She watched me play twinkle twinkle little star on an iPad game and persisted until she could remember it herself. She repeated this at several times throughout the day, seemingly proud (and rightly so) of her new skill.
• We planted seeds and she told me that plants need water and sunlight to grow.
• We looked online at what a meteorite was and learnt together the difference between a meteoroid and a meteorite.
• Skipping to the allotment she stopped to tap on her chest and show me how fast her heart was beating, and that it was because she was moving fast.
• She used scientific vocabulary to explain she was investigating a stick with a hole in it.
• We discussed the different size of seeds we planted and questioned why the biggest went deepest in the soil.

I'm absolutely sure that this is not an exhaustive list. And maybe it doesn't even sound as amazing to people that aren't her mummy?!

I am amazed. And i am going to make sure I continue to take more notice.

The broad bean seeds we planted today.

The muddy bum she was very proud of!

The 'coconut trees'