The calm after the storm (relaxed week after busy fun week)

This week we have had a more laid back quiet week either at home or staying close to home as possible.  For me this has been a welcoming relief after the busy active previous week we encountered. Last week felt rushed yet fun loving. Monday involved me having a visit from Anne Marie our local elective home education consultant whilst my mother took her grandson to his usual PE session. Conner has a blast at the physical fun and games session at Rochdale Leisure Centre and even Joanne who runs the sessions has said how much of a difference she has noticed in him since 12 months ago when he first started his home education journey. Conner and his grandmother Anita came home about 10 to 15 mins before Anne Marie left and because mummy Dolan had a good opportunity to chat to and show Anne Marie Conners educational and lifestyle portfolios This left a good ten mins for Conner to give Anne Marie a really good talking to do. Of course Conner was in his element talking about all his video games and showing her what workbooks he had done amongst other things.  Tuesday was one of my favorite sessions Chatterbooks which we started attending in November 2014. Over the weeks the children have read a story called: “Willy and the Wobbly house”  the children have discussed the story and done question and answer sessions as well as drawn the characters and made puppets. The children have been role playing and are currently preparing for their performance on Friday 13th March. It was a home eduxating mother Nadia who told me about Chatterbooks during one of the PE sessions and she had oragnised this to go ahead with two ladies who work for Rochdale Council Gemma and Vicki and also the kids also do fun and relaxing stuff with Linzi who works for an organisation called Enlightening. Wednesday morning Conner did reading with his nanny Anita whilst my hairdresser came round to refreshen up my hair. After lunch we got picked up by Claire who lives local to us as she was taking her two sons Luke and Josh to Wacky Warehouse, a play centre in Rawtenstall that’s above a restaurant called Old Cobblers. It was a Fayre and Square branded restaurant and it reminded me very much of our local family favorite restaurant in our home town The Harvester. It was simular in deco style and atmosphere. We also meet two new families at Wacky Warehouse. A mother called Rose and her son Rowan and another mum called Claudia and her two children who’s names I have forgotten. So many children. So many names to remember. What I enjoyed the most about the visit to Wacky Warehouse was not just observing the children having fun but for me I loved the drive through Rossendale and it’s beautiful countryside and it made me feel like I was in Emmerdale Farm.  Thursday was another busy and active day for the children. We got 3 different buses to Stamford Park located in Staylebridge just past Ashton. The journey from Rochdale to Ashton was nearly an hour and I find buses over 30 mins quite draining and boring. I much prefer train journeys as there is usually much more interesting scenery to see. We met Nic and her three children on the bus. Nic has three children aged 3 and under. Once at the park we met another mum and her baby daughter called Winter. The children mixed well together and was happy to run off doing their own thing while the adults sat down on the benches. Later on Winters mum brought a cute mini pink tent out which all the children and two babies managed to cram themselves in. Soon after we were joined by Michelle and her daughter and grandchildren as well as Sam and her two boys Luie and Dylan. After all the outdoor fun the children had it came to a point where the cold was becoming to the stage where the adults were craving a hot drink and people were peckish so we visited the lovely cafe. At the cafe Conner, Dylan and Luie seemed very interested in the glass cabinet full of Celebration cakes all nicely decorated. Think us mums were slightly nervous that the glass cabinet would end up on its sparkly shine butt cracked up into hundreds or thousand of pieces. We had to encourage the boys to love away. After the cafe visit and warm up we decided to go back outside and we went for a walk around the Dingle area. We passed water and rocks and the walk was pretty and the boys were fiesty with their stick fights. Fridays day was a day at home. We had been invited to a play centre but felt in need of a day at home. Saturday was Valentines day and we went for a family meal at you guessed it The Harvester. Myself and the husband Wayne went out the previous weekend to do the adult only night out we went to the cinema to see Jupiter Asending and had food at Frankie and Bennies. This week so far we have stayed home and focused on more formal learning mainly reading and writing.  Conner has shown alot of interest in jigsaws and board games the last few days. This morning Conner showed huge enthusiasm in helping his nanny Anita clear up leaves and branches in the garden before settling to do anything more formal. Tomorrow is a day we are looking forward to as we will be venturing out the home but not too far. We are packing some butties etc and attending the Wildlife River-tastic! The free Family Fun Day between 11am-2pm. We will get to find out more about the bugs, beasties and birds that inhabit the local River Roch. Touchstones will offer lots of free arts and crafts drop-in activities for the family to enjoy together. The Wildlife Safari walks will last around 40 mins and they take place at three different times.  11.15 am, 12.15 noon and  1.15 pm. This week has been half term for the Schoolies and that has meant no PE or Chatterbooks session this week which I am really looking forward to getting back to next week. How has your February been so far?