Back to School

Charlie and I went back to school this week. Charlie is now in Yellow Class (mixed Yr1 and Yr2). She is sitting on Yellow table and her table has already earned 2 table points! The table with the most points get a prize. However the most exciting thing (in Charlie's opinion) is her 'Busy Book', which she can do her work in.

I am very busy at the moment compiling all the orders for this year. Despite all the preparation work I did last year, it still seems to be taking ages.

Blogger won't let me upload the photos from our holiday as the are too big - I had to scan them in as they were taken with a disposable camera.

Charlie birthday is rapidly approaching, party is already planned! She has also put together her birthday present list - in case anyone wants any ideas!

The Most Fantastic Holiday Ever!

We returned from our amazing holiday on Friday. It was a week of really exciting activities. We climbed up climbing towers, hiked over Dartmoor, investigated what bugs lived in different habitats, stretched our bodies more than we could have though possible and as if that wasn't enough we had a whole day on a beach building sandcastles! I will post some of our pictures when I have got them uploaded!

Swimming

It has been a very busy week this week, we have been waking up every morning at 7.15 so that we can get to the swimming pool for 8.45am. We've been cycling down to the pool which is great fun. Charlie has a trailer bike that attaches onto my own, we get lots of people doing a double take as we cycle by!

Charlie has been doing an intensive swimming course this week, half an hour every morning (including today - Saturday). Its started off slow with the children building up their confidence in the water, by the end of the week the children were putting their faces into the water.

As I can't teach Charlie to swim (as I can't swim myself) I think its really important that she goes on these sorts of things. She is very proud that she can now put her face in the water and swim using only a float.

Horse Riding Update

As promised here are the photos we took of the horses on the last day, Biscuit is on the left, Pixie is in the middle and Cookie is on the right.

Charlie has a wonderful time horse riding and has now decided that when her last remaining fish dies, she would like to get a pet horse instead of the hamster she has been dreaming of! (Some how I don't think I am willing to get a pet horse!).

Harry Potter Obsession Intensifies!

I love eBay! Why spend £40 on a Harry Potter Audio Tape when I can get it (brand new - still shrink wrapped) for £10!

As I am a mean mother who bans all TV, Playstations and Gameboys until 4pm - I do get Charlie a lot of story tapes. This morning I gave her Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (to add to her Philosophers Stone and Chamber of Secrets which she acquired the previous Christmas and Summer). This contains 12 hours! 8 Tapes! And will keep her occupied for ages, especially as she will listen to it on loop at least 6 times. At least with story tapes she is busy playing, or colouring /writing / drawing while she is listening!

We have already read the book together, and she as seen the film (several times), so the tape will increase her love of all things Harry (and yes her obsession will intensify over the Summer!).

Horse Riding

Yesterday was the first day for Charlie's horse riding course. She looked resplendent in pink (very unlike her as normally pink is the last colour of choice!). The only leggings and wellies we were able to find were hot pink - despite our trawl round the shops in the morning!

Anyway, Charlie had a wonderful time riding on Biscuit (I have included a photo of the horse - but not of Charlie on the horse! I will try and add one of those later in the week). Since returning from horse riding yesterday afternoon, Charlie has painted a picture of Biscuit and is hunting out carrots to take with us today to give to Biscuit! I think we can say horse riding is a success.

Charlie has another 2 days of horse riding (it is a 3 day course for children). Hopefully I will get some photos later in the week.

Farewell Butterflies...

We have released the butterflies - as soon as we opened the top of the cage they flew out into the garden and have gone onto pastures new. However, as promised we did take some photos before they left so you can see how beautiful they are.


Charlie now wants to get some more caterpillars! I have agreed to get some more next year, especially as we are going on holiday in a few weeks time!

I break up from school tomorrow, which means that summer finally begins in earnest! First thing on the agenda, Charlie is going horse riding on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of this week. She is very excited as horses are currently her favourite animals (second to caterpillars of course!)

Butterflies!

At long last the butterflies have all emerged from their chrysalises. We have 5 Painted Ladies fluttering around in their cage. We will be releasing them tonight.

I will add a photo on later, as I am hoping to take one when I get home.

Charlie broke up from school last Friday - she is spending the day with her friend as I am still at school until tomorrow lunchtime. Charlie is very excited about tomorrow as Christopher (her uncle) has offered to take her to the British Museum.

Everything's Changing...

Charlie is very excited today as it is 'move-up morning' at school. This is when she moves up into her new class for next year and gets to meet her new classmates and teacher. Although it is only for the morning - it is still very exciting. Charlie only as 3 days left in Reception class!

On the Caterpillar front- they are all in chrysalis stage, we will be moving them into their butterfly cage tonight.

Exciting Caterpillar News!

This morning one of the caterpillars was hanging in a J shape, by the end of the day it had turned into a chrysalis! Charlie is positive that it is Julian the caterpillar who was first. This evening we have 3 more caterpillars busying themselves on the lid of the tub, one is just about to hang into a J!

You can just about see the first chrysalis in this very grainy photo.

Hopefully by tomorrow we will have 5 chrysalis', ready to be moved into their special butterfly home for hatching!

Charlie's first post to the world!

Dear The Hole Wide World

Knock Knock
Whos there?
Tish
Tish Who?
Bless You....

Ahhh I've just got dried super glue on my arm!!! It is very funny. I am peeling it off now.

Charlie

ps: I hope you like the picture of my mum and me.


Charlie wrote the first line on her own and then got tired and dictated the rest - I know its quite surreal!

The Caterpillars

Charlie is currently growing some caterpillars. They arrived on Saturday in their own little tub with special food at the bottom. In just 5 days they have quadrupled in size! The Caterpillars have all been individually named - as there are 5 of them, they have been called Julian, Anne, Dick, George and Timmy in honour of the Famous Five (one of Charlie's favorite books!).

The Caterpillars join us for dinner every night, it is great fun to watch them wiggling about and munching on their food while we eat our dinner!

Eventually they will turn into chrysalis and will be moved into their butterfly cage. After they have hatched into Painted Lady butterflies we will release them into the garden.

The Beginning

After hearing everyone talking about 'bloggin' I have finally decided to jump on the bandwagon! I've called it Katie and Charlie's life so that my daughter Charlie (who is currently 5 and knows far to much about the internet) can post up her thoughts as well.

Well we'll see how it goes - don't expect any rocket science!