I cannot believe May and June have slipped by already! Since then I have managed to get a job for a term starting in September and do a fair bit of writing and juggle the children. The last two weeks of term in particular seemed to be spent almost entirely at school. Imp has turned seven and had a sports party which has to be one of the easiest we have ever arranged as the centre did the party, the meal and wore them all out, all we did was the cake and the bags. Hpops is rapidly approaching nine and I am stumped what to get her, we have ruled out a mobile phone and a TV, she had an ipod touch and laptop and so many books she has a queue! Lego is always a good option but she has a fair amount already and after spending lots of time this week going through books, clothes and toys I am reluctant to amass even more, so if anyone knows brilliant presents for a nearly nine year old do let me know. We have booked to take her to the Warner Studio tour, and I have bought her a pretty dress (thanks to the sales!) but need some bits and bobs.
We have been of late lucky with the weather and so as the holidays are now upon us we are taking day trips as and when the weather allows us. it was with some trepidation that I booked tickets for Legoland for the first week of the holiday. However we had a lovely visit and would recommend it. I have also done that horrible job of sorting out the uniform for September in the main and just have the labelling to do, that way it can all be hung up and forgotten about until then. I may still have to run the shoe shop gauntlet but not until nearer the end of the holidays. It stuck me though as Hpops tried on a black skirt and Imp his new shorts and blazer how grown up they have become, time seems to be simply slipping by so quickly.
The last couple of weeks have been fairly emotional, Imp said goodbye to his infant school in readiness for the junior and even though the buildings are on the same site and the school is becoming a primary joined up school the interactions will be less and the uniform changes and expectations go up as does the level of homework. Clubs have all been arranged for next year so my own schedule is taking shape, Monday and Friday at work with all children doing a club and tuesday-thursday lots of writing and supply work! Imp is keen to take up fencing and whilst I am not sure it is a good idea to arm him with an epee we have taken the plunge and signed him up, Pixie is beginning Spanish, again maybe not a good idea as the Imp and Pixie may be able to converse in a language Mr T and I have no knowledge of and therefore plan even more mischief than they do already!
In terms of school they have all had an outstanding year, Imp achieved a level 3 in all subjects for his end of Key Stage 1 and Hpops is still keeping up with the work. Apparently they are all well-behaved, sunny and polite at school, I am hoping to see more of these qualities at home rather than the arguing, fighting and whinging I usually get.
It strikes me as well how their eating habit change at holiday time. During term time they have three meals, a fruit snack at school and a small snack when they are picked up from school. Once they are home they seem to want to eat all the time, true they do spend a fair amount of time playing outside so may need more fuel but even so- the amount they can eat is more than me sometimes! Whilst the holidays provide a challenge in terms of entertainment and activities the new term will herald new challenges for us all. I will be working on contract so will have to ensure I am planning lessons, marking and writing reports! Hpops will have to deal with being in the same building as Imp again and Pixie will have to cope with not having her big brother about. Life could get very interesting.
