Home Ed Camping Weekend

We've just come home from a great weekend camping with home educating friends. We had a whole field to ourselves with a river running along the boundary, freedom, space and lovely company!

It was so good to get away from the stresses of everyday life and just breathe and relax for a little while.

Hannah had a lovely time once she settled down, she has been having some anxiety issues so found the first few hours quite hard, but soon got into the swing of things and relaxed enough to have a lovely time playing with her friends and swimming in the river. We were sad to come home, despite the downpour while we were packing the tent! Up until that point we had had glorious weather and two very mild nights.

Hannah and her friend from Journey Unique swimming in the river.

Dean, laid back and relaxed!

Toasting marshmallows around the campfire,

Playing by the river,

playing in the river,

Camp fire songs

(yes, Hannah is wearing sunnies - the smoke was getting in her eyes!!)

We had such a great time that we have decided to go to hesfes next year - Hannah is already very excited :-)

This Week

We have mostly been hanging out at the tennis club,

and the stables!

and Hannah has been swimming with Dean (it helps that he works at a leisure center, he gets unlimited swimming and gym time :-)).

So, a sporty kind of week, and tomorrow we are going camping with the home schooling group. Hannah is waaaaay excited!

Tennis Lessons

Hannah has discovered that she really likes to play tennis, so she is having a few individual lessons at the tennis club, as well as joining the Saturday morning squad.

Her first private lesson was yesterday, and it went really well!

Coach Terry explaining a backhand

Look at those storm clouds! It was pouring with rain, and thundering and lightening all day until about 45 mins before Hannah's session, and so humid!

It's great seeing Hannah so keen, and i'm really looking forward to being able to play together . Now, where are all those mother/daughter tournaments?

Beach Buggin' Volkswagen Show

Yesterday was the warmest, sunniest day we've had for a long time and Beach Buggin' was on in Southsea. We used to have a vw camper  (she was called Daisy), and we dream of having another one day. It's our thing, we just love them!

Be prepared for many pictures of vdub's now..............................

Hannah's favorite

My favorite

Hawaiian Shave Ice

 The show was right on the beach so Hannah had a paddle before we headed home. The water was cold, very cold!

and just for posterity, here is Daisy

and three year old Hannah asleep in daisy,

Pottery Painting

This week Hannah and her friend went to Doodle and Daub in Bosham to paint some pottery. Both girls chose the unicorns to paint and customized them in their favorite colors. They even videoed themselves for Hannah's friends you tube channel!

Both unicorns ready to be glazed and fired - Hannah's is on the right.

The finished unicorn

It's a lovely studio and both girls really enjoyed themselves there. We will definitely go back again!

Tennis Camp

Today Hannah went to the tennis club where i played ( 20+ years ago) for one of their summer kids sessions.

She was really nervous, didn't know anyone, and wanted to go home the minute we arrived. Instead though, she gave it a try and ended up having a fantastic time. The coaching was good, the coaches and children were friendly and Hannah did better than she thought she would, which gave her enough confidence to ask to go back for the next session!

Cake and Ice-cream

I found a great recipe for a super healthy ice-cream like desert which Hannah loves! So, i thought i'd share it. It's so simple, cut a banana or two into pieces and freeze it along with some berries (we used raspberries). When they are frozen throw them into the food processor with a splash or any kind of milk and whiz it up until it looks like this,

it is seriously delicious and really good for you :-)

It also makes a good breakfast apparently!

Then Hannah made cake. It was not super healthy, but it was really good. It was a rainbow sprinkle cake with chocolate butter frosting! She mixed sprinkles into the cake mixture so it is multi colored when you cut into it.

Luckily i managed a picture before it was eaten!