Yorkshire Wildlife Park, Doncaster

I can't believe that a whole month has passed since Rosanna's 4th birthday, she's already 1/12th of the way to 5!

 Rosanna was thrilled that the birthday fairy had been in the night
and left her some birthday presents.

 With help from big sis, she tackled the pile.

After breakfast we set off on her birthday treat, 

a trip to Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

 We spent ages watching the baboons, grooming, chasing
and hanging out with family members.

 There are some brilliant enclosures, where you can
get close up to the animals.

 Most of us enjoyed seeing the Lemurs close up, 

except the birthday girl, who was terrified!

There's a great play area in the trees.

'You can't help being amazed at tigers. His magnificent striped coat shines in the sun. It's hard to believe tigers can be so fierce when they're lying calmly under the trees. Next he prowls around the edge of his cage, looking everyone up and down. What is he thinking, Are they friendly visitors or cunning poachers, plotting to destroy us?' 

By Imogen

'Laying there in the shade sleeping, but then he's up prowling around. He starts to climb up so quickly, but carefully. His tail swishing for balance. He gets to the top and looks at everyone ,shows off his teeth like he's trying to tell us,
"I am the king and you are my prey", but then he lays down and yawns and is asleep again.' By Jemima

Just about enough energy left for a go on the slides.

Back home for birthday cake.

Made by Imogen, Jemima and Nanan.

Hope all your birthday wishes come true Rosanna.

x

Happy unbirthday

A big thanks to my neighbour for this tasty birthday cake, it gave Rosanna the opportunity to have another birthday!
While looking through the dictionary we found the term 'unbirthday', and here are the entries:
(a) any day other than one's birthday
(b) an unbirthday present (coined by Lewis Caroll in through the looking-glass).

So, if it's not your birthday today have a very happy unbirthday!

The Lighthouse Keeper's Lunch

The lighthouse keeper's lunch' was the theme for Reuben's 4th birthday party.

Geoff started the party by reading 'the lighthouse keeper's lunch' by Ronda and David Armitage. It's one of Reuben's favourite bedtime stories.

If you don't know the story here's the blurb from the back of the book;

Mr Grinling the lighthouse keeper tends his light come rain or shine. Everyday, Mrs Grinling makes him a delicious lunch and sends it to the lighthouse by a special cable system. But Mr Grinling isn't the only one who enjoys tasty food: Mrs Grinling must think of a way to make sure the lighthouse keeper gets his lunch.

The party had a seaside theme;

We started with a game of pass the 'fish 'n' chips' parcel, similar to pass the parcel on every layer was a fish shaped forfeit, with a seaside theme, e.g. pretend a crab has nipped your toe!

Outside to pan for silver. I covered small stones with tin foil, mixed them with sand, shells and water. The kids had a set time to get as much silver as possible. We weighed the silver and kept a score.

Mrs Grinling had prepared a lunch of lighthouse sandwiches (Jam, cheese or Nutella!), sausages and crisps

peach surprise, iced sea biscuits and drinks and assorted fruit. Thank you Mrs Grinling!!

R&R enjoying some party food. I got Reuben dressed smartly for the party and then he put some of the girls spotty socks on

Watch out for the naughty seagulls, Bert, Tom and Fred, they'll be after your lunch!

Iced sea biscuits, decorated by Immy and Mima.

We even got seaside weather. Yes, it rained! It's been really hot all week, but just for Reuben's party it rained! So we came inside and played seaside bingo, first for a line or the four corners and then for the house!

Imogen and Jemima made a lighthouse to go in the conservatory. We also put out seaside themed toys and activities.

seaside themed playdough mats from sparklebox

Here are some of the fashions designed at the party.

It was Lily's 2nd birthday too. Enjoy your dandelion leaf cake Lily.

Reuben's lighthouse cake

No everyone managed to stay, but the rain stopped and we went outside for an easter egg hunt. And when it was just us again we went for a bluebell walk in the nearby woods.

Typical the weather was much nicer today! Which was great because the children got to do all the activities we had planned for yesterday. Here are Reuben and Rosanna hiding chicks in eggs.

Making sandcastles.

Paddling in the spot tray.

Everyone had a great time at the seaside, and we didn't get stuck in any bank holiday traffic jams!

Nature Reserve, new floors and 44th birthday celebrations.

Wednesday 6th April was Geoff's 44th birthday. Maybe birthday are less exciting the older you get, he stayed at home for new flooring to be laid in the bathroom and conservatory. But then he did get to spend the rest of the day in the garden. Here he is wearing a badge that Imogen knitted for him.

Rosanna wearing a cardigan that was crochet for Imogen. It has been worn by both Immy and then Mima, and I have never sewn buttons on it. Rosebud was very cross when she couldn't have it fastened.
First Wednesday of the month we have a home ed meeting at a local nature reserve, well at the moment we do!
Due to Government cuts we don't know how much longer this group will continue :(
In the morning session we had to look for signs of animal presence/activity.
Off in the woods to look for burrows and other signs.
The girls finds included worm casts, chewed hazelnuts and cherry stones, burrows, footprints, fur.
Identifying footprints, probably rabbits.
Reuben was very excited when he spotted Hairy Maclary's footprints in the mud.
The girls were very pleased to find this owl pellet with their friends.

After lunch, we went on a litter pick.

Trying to fish a traffic cone out of the lake.
Reuben joining in the litter pick.
Collecting empty bottles and cans from the bushes.

Then time to go home and enjoy Geoff's birthday, I think he'd had enough free time!

I love this photo of Immy and Reuben, they look so alike.
Chinese take away for tea, followed by birthday cake.
Then off for a birthday walk
And then on the way home, Reuben spotted a dinosuar in the sky!

Hairy Maclary footprints, an owl pellet, dinosaurs in the sky, what a fantastic day!