James is recovering well from his Chicken Pox Virus - only has a couple of scabby spots left.  Also he had sinusy virusy type thing on top of his two types of Pox, but he did really well - especially well as he did not have a seizure - which of course is brilliant.

I did have quite a relaxing time during the first week of his illness (apart from the worry of course, but that never stops no matter how relaxed I am) as he was just too ill to do anything, apart from watch TV, whilst cuddling into me, Mike or his brother or sister - which meant of course that I wasn't running around after him as much as I normally do - he really is like a whirlwind my little boy.

Danny has been to Rugby Camp this week, had a good time, but got sun burnt.

Becky told us a couple of weeks ago that she wanted to be Home Educated again, and after many many discussions with her about it, the decision has been made to Home Educate her again. We have accepted that she is not going back (hurrah) and so our task to start her on the way to studying for exams begins.

I do not really want to say much on here about the reasons behind her decision, as my son is still at the school, and I am not sure where I stand if I go into to much detail about the school itself, but she said in simple terms that she liked being HE'd before, she wanted to try School for a year, she has done this, and out of the two she prefers to be Home Educated, and as long as we are OK with this, this is what she would like to do.  She wants to be a Nurse, and has already researched what qualifications she needs and what she would have to do at college. 

We are happy with her decision.

Danny is actually looking forward to going back, probably because he gets to play Rugby and Football every day in the breaks with his mates.

Of course little James will continue to be Home Educated, in the laid back, unschooling, Child Led way which worked so well with my eldest two.

Have to say how well Becky did at school, and she ended up being put in the top sets for Maths and English, and exceeded her target level for most of her subjects.

Also to mention that she has grown again during the summer and is now 5ft 10 - 3 inches taller than me! 
And gorgeous.

What have we been doing:-

Got in to see Exeter Chiefs - cheap tickets for a pre-season friendly, so Mike and I took Danny and James, all for under £20.  Funny that Becky didn't want to come as well.

Next day we used up our Tesco Clubcard Reward Tokens and went to Exmoor Zoo

Weather has still been mainly grotty, but we did have a day of sunshine.  So blackberry picking in the garden,  afterwards Becky and James made Blackberry Crumble, then  a trip to the park and a splash in the pool. 



Other news

Mike has got a new job - starts in a few weeks as a Health Care Assistant - much better hours and more suited to him.

He has had this week off and has been working really hard on the house.  Now we are staying here we are tyring to do the best that we can to repair and re-decorate where necessary.

Off now to search for worksheets for Becky, look at study guides, GCSE costs etc - and so it begins again :-)

Heat Wave, Wild Birds, Football,Olympic Games,Wales, Dannys Birthday and Chickenpox (amongst other things)

The Heatwave

Which seems so long ago now - bucketing down out there now.

Spent the week in the garden - couldn't quite face the beaches as we knew how packed they would be, and we were all quite happy staying cool (ish) in our own back yard.

In the Pool

Surfing

Gardening

Dancing

Playing Cards

Also found some cool stuff on the net for James to do,  First one bubble snakes found at Roo Mag

James also made, with my help of course, well I made it as he got bored after 5 minutes - a marble maze box - just from a shoe box and straws.

Lots of lazing around in the garden, with laundry being the only housework type thing going on.

Eventually though it had to change, good for James as he had his Football session and it was a lot cooler.  He enjoyed himself, his team won 3-0 but he was peeved at not scoring a goal, despite setting them up.  He did however give away a penalty, which was saved- think he was bit over zealous lol.

The evening saw us trying to keep an injured bird alive - young thrush.  Bought it inside, fed and watered it then made a nest in a box out of toilet roll.  It survived the night, but sadly died the next day, very peacefully though.

Bloody cats.

This Week

Mikes week off, having not  booked anywhere due to us supposed to have been moving, we decided at the last minute to take a trip to Wales.

Caerphilly Castle -  It is the largest castle in Wales and the second largest in Britain

 The East Leaning Tower - It's actually a steeper angle than the more famous leaning tower in Pisa, Italy. If I recall correctly, the tower was fractured by some exploding gunpowder during the English civil wars

CwmCarn Forest Drive -

Giants Court - Various of 

sculptures from the Welsh legends book The  Mabinogion.

Land of the Tylwyth Teg - Play area with a Fairy Tale Woodland Walk

Windy Ridge - Views of

  The Brecon Beacons - no photos here, basically I was too scared to get out - it was very windy, the car was blowing a bit and we were on the edge of what felt like a very high Mountain Ridge.  So while Mike was driving slowly along telling us to look out at the lovely views, I just screamed at him to drive on - and yes, I may have swore.

Madoc’s Place - with Welsh inspired Sculptures

 

Golyfga Y Mor wit - views of Newport and the Bristol Channel

Cardiff

First of all brekky at Eds Diner - really cool American Diner in St Davids Shopping Centre.

James had great fun in the Lego Shop and spent all of his holiday money in there

We then jumped on a bus (as it was pouring with rain) and went to Cardiff Bay - to the Dr Who Experience

It was brilliant, and James got to "fly" the Tardis - and he told my Dad that we were "literally in space" bless him.

Afterwards we went and had a quick look at The Millennium Stadium, where there was an Olympic Football Game - Japan v S Africa women's.

We had a great time in Wales, but it was good get home

Land of Hope and Glory and all that.

Danny's Birthday was on the 1st, and he did exactly what he wanted - played on his XBox for most of the day.

12 years Old - taller than me already with size 10 feet

Since then James has been a bit under the weather, and all of us, but mainly Mike, having been helping with DIY and decorating around the house, and of course watching the Olympics.

James loves Usain Bolt

Yesterday Mike had an interview, and he dropped us off first to Cafe Reed at Exeter University - where my Mum is the Manager

James had great fun helping her out with little jobs

Discovered why James has been feeling unwell, he has Chicken Pox, well two types actually - the lower mild form, beginning with M which I cant remember the name of - he has very very tiny blistery spots, which he has had for a few days which is what we booked the Docs appointment for - this is the lower form.  Prior to our appointment we noticed bigger blistery spots, two on his back and one on his head, which we recognised as Chickenpox.  

He isn't feeling too bad, and he slept well last night.  Unlike the rest of us - Danny woke us up at 3am.  He got up to go to the lav when he saw a Blue Tit perched on James's Darth Moor Cardboard Cutout life size figure. It then flew into Becky's room.  Mike had to go up and try and get the bird out - you can imagine the hoo-hah it caused.  Eventually the bird flew out.

So we are housebound for a while, which isn't too bad at the moment, raining again, and also lot of Olympic events on.  Also the weather looks like it is about to change and we could have some nice garden weather to look forward to.