{This Week}

What a busy week.
Secret job interviews, assignments and revision, helping finish very important shoes, photographing Final Major Project pieces, keeping busy and out of the way, putting the camera on the shelf for a little while, introducing Anna and Isaac to Swithland Wood, baking a whopper of a summer fruits cheesecake, planning for decorating our bedroom (finally!) and receiving wonderful news - he got the job!! 

Packwood House

It has been a while since we last visited Packwood House in Warwickshire, and so much has changed! When we visited last, we explored the yew tree garden and the house. This time we were able to visit the lake, gardens around the house, a new kitchen garden and the woodland walk too. I can't wait until they finish their new visitors centre and cafe due this Autumn.
We made a quick trip over to Baddesley Clinton for our lunch, but came straight back to Packwood to explore some more, even though we did fight some stormy showers! Louie had so much fun he didn't want to leave!

Coombe Abbey

We weren't going to let a day forecast with rain for every hour stop us from enjoying a day out and a picnic. With special treats made, we picked up Anna and Isaac and headed to Coombe Abbey for a relaxing day out. Strolling around the park, through the woods and having a wild time on the parks.
Louie opted for the pushchair as his foot was feeling poorly again, he certainly didn't do much walking, it is still making him sad, but we had a nice time nonetheless.
And of course, the weatherman was wrong, not one spot of rain ALL DAY!

Montessori

A method of educating young children that stresses development of a child's own initiative and natural abilities, especially through practical play.         Maria Montessori

As with all alternative styles of parenting, Montessori is getting more and more common amongst families and bloggers and our parenting has naturally taken us the way of Montessori, learning practically and respectfully.

From a very young age, Louie has been given practical toys and tasks to undertake. Be it pouring from jugs with rice or water, to sorting coloured buttons or helping to sweep the floor. To me it just seems common sense to learn in such a way. Understanding has been a large part of learning for Louie, for instance, he would not say a word until he understood what it meant. This was frustrating for us when we were teaching him to count, as it took a while to get past three, and then four, only he didn't understand what the bigger numbers were. Once he understood, which took lots of demonstrating counting out beads/buttons etc, he got there! (We are now at 13 and on a roll!)

Learning as such has had so many benefits to Louie's lifestyle. He has a lot of understanding and responsibility.
Pouring activities from being small mean that he is totally competent to go to the fridge and pour himself a glass of juice. Understanding that he has made a mess (if he does!), he will get an appropriate cloth to mop it up. 

Noticing so many similarities between our lifestyle and the Montissori way, I will definitely be tracking down some more activities Louie may enjoy which will aide his learning further!

Sunny Sunday

Sundays have become such a lazy, stay at home day. The sun shone and it was a beautiful afternoon so we spent the day playing in the garden.
Painting, paddling and picking flowers for Mummy from the garden. Thankfully, Mr Bees ankle seems to be on the mend, a day of nearly perfect walking, no nap (although he did crash out before 6!) and no sadness.
Our Sunday roast was taken outside, opting for lemon roast chicken with roast vegetable couscous and homemade potato salad and all the salady trimmings.

Yesterday

Such a peaceful morning. Waking up so early, making breakfast with the little bee before heading off for his very first proper horse ride.

Louie and Rainbow had a lovely walk out, around Gorse Hill Country Park. Of course Louie adored it, spotting Old John in the not so far distance.  

The sun shone so brightly, so we headed to the park on Pappy's bike. Mr Bee played so happily on the park so I lay in the sunshine for 5 minutes peace. Disaster struck on the way home when Louie, somehow, got his foot stuck in the wheel of the bike. Properly stuck.
With his foot bent completely upside down, I panicked and called the emergency services (as I was on my own!). The ambulance lady came and called the Fire Brigade to come and cut Louie out of the bike.  So brave, Louie barely protested, let alone cried. An hour later we were on our way to the hospital in an ambulance, going for some x-rays. A few hours later we were given the all clear and allowed home. No broken bones, just a bad twist and a patch of missing skin and some bruises.