Wild Group

Today Hannah went to a new home schooling group called Wild Group. The group is an all day event once a week and is held in a lovely enclosed garden with a small hall and kitchen. The group is based around nature and the outdoors. For this first week the children completed a map of the gardens, and chose a 'Magic Spot' in the garden to be their own space. They will observe all the seasonal changes monthly from their spots. They had a Circle Time after lunch where they all shared something interesting from their week (Hannah told her friends all about Sydney visiting) and they finished the session by drawing a view of the gardens from their Magic Spot.

Vicki explaining the purpose of the group and giving out folders.

Excited to start.

Hannah's map of the gardens.

Amelie and Hannah filling in their maps.

The gardens.

The hall

Hannah sharing during circle time.

Drawing the view from her magic spot.

Lucy and Hannah, magic spot neighbors!

Hannah said that this was the best group she'd been to and is really looking forward to the next session!

A Visit From Old Friends

This week we have had our friends staying with us from West Virginia. We hadn't seen them for three years, ever since The Sad Farewell and Hannah was really excited to see her BFF Sydney, and I was equally excited to see Sydney's mom Angel and her new little brother James.

We've had a really fun time. We have chatted, visited Blue Reef Aquarium, Spinnaker Tower, Gunwharf Quays, we've shared meals and visited parks and playgrounds, we've hung out and caught up!

Blue Reef

Hannah, Sydney and James

Playing In The Blue Reef Sand Pit

Climbing Trees In The Park

Sydney

We watched an amazing drumming band in the shopping centre!

The girls thought they were great!

Spinnaker Tower

The view of the harbor from the top of the tower.

Hannah on the glass floor in the tower - sooooo high up!

No Fear! James, Sydney and Hannah playing on the glass floor 100 metres above the ground!

Chatting with the whole of Portsmouth laid out behind them.

Up in The Crows Nest

We've had a great few days and were sad to say goodbye, lets hope our next catch-up doesn't take three years!

Home Education Group Trip To Pizza Express!

Yesterday we joined our home schooling group on a trip to Pizza Express. The children were all invited to make their own pizzas, taste test lots of toppings and then have a pizza brunch in the sunshine. Hannah thought it was great!

Ready to cook

Hannah and Melissa choose their toppings

The Pizza Chef gives a demo.

Cheesy pizza

The best bit!!

Lunching with good friends !!

Not Back To School Picnic 2012

This week we have had our annual Not Back To School Picnic with our Portsmouth Home Education Group. Luckily it was a really hot, sunny day and the picnic was at Canoe Lake with it's playground and splash park. Lots of fun for everyone :-)

This is Elly, who did a great job organising the picnic and bringing lovely crafts for the children.

So, another year without school begins for us, our 4th official year!

Vintage Fair

Last Friday we went to the St Wilfrids Hospice Vintage Fair. Dean's ukulele band was playing and Hannah was hoping to find some 'old-fashioned' things.

 First we checked out the band - LOVE the waistcoats and hats!! They were joined by Dawns Vintage Do for a few numbers and sounded pretty good!

Then Hannah and I went vintage shopping! I bought some lovely leather gloves for me and Hannah got a 1970's Jigsaw puzzle which is a scene from a Famous Five story, and a beautiful 1970's original dolls pram. She was thrilled!!

 The band played again after lunch and took center stage this time!

 And finally, here is Hannah's dolls pram up in her room! Her favourite baby doll sleeps in it now :-)

The Circus

Yesterday Hannah's friend Coral and her grandma Chris picked us up, and Chris surprised us with tickets to the circus!! Hannah was beyond thrilled!! She has been yearning to go ever since she saw the posters at the beginning of the summer, and was soooo excited when we arrived and the surprise was revealed!

Very excited girls leaping up and down outside the box office!

You can't go to the circus without buying Candy Floss!!

I think the sugar is kicking in!

 

The show was amazing! Really professional and brilliantly entertaining. It was so hard to capture any decent shots though as there was no flash allowed, but I did my best to get a few.

This guy on the highwire has another man standing on his shoulders, and a woman on HIS shoulders!

And finally, this is Coral and Hannah with Chris. She is an amazing lady! She has been fighting cancer for almost two years now and has an amazing spirit and heart. We love her so much and it was especially lovely for the girls to make those memories with her yesterday.