Rainbows

Rainbows! My most favourite thing to craft. It was a very special someone's first birthday and Naming Day celebrations this week. I was given the amazing honour of being asked to be her guide parent. I was thrilled at that, and wanted to make something special for her. So I set to work on these super cute stacking cups. They are from a free pattern here http://www.seriouslydaisies.com/2012/08/crochet-pattern-rainbow-nesting-bowls.html?m=1 they are pretty simple to work up, I followed the patten for the first one then sort of made them up after that.

They either squeeze snugly inside each other, 

or you can turn them over and stack them up

A little close up of the watermelon gi enjoying them

And even our puss Nemo seems to approve! 

And to be in keeping with her love of watermelons I also hooked up a pair of leg warmers, to help keep her legs snug when she is on her mamas back

The day itself was just lovely, lots of pretty watermelon themed decorations,

balloons, 

some special songs sung, poems read and of course yummy cake!

 All while the sun shone and happy memories were made :) 

So behind!

Well I haven't done very well. I really wanted to keep up to date with my posts on here so I would be able to look back on our HE journey. It's been a busy few weeks since i last posted, we've been on various exciting trips, including Cheddar Gorge and Cardiff, museums and art galleries, a spot of black smithing, fossil-identification, bike riding, celebrated Hubbys' and Bigmans' birthdays, a sweet little watermelon girls' first birthday and naming day, hosted a charity coffee morning, an unexpected nasty visit to the urgent care centre, a tummy bug, lots of new crafty ideas and creations, a vintage bus fun day, and tons of other fun stuff! I will do my best to get caught up now and then try harder to keep on top of my posts. I have some I have started and not yet finished so I will have to get everything sorted. 

Truth be told, this last week or so has been pretty hard. Squashy is not very happy for some reason and it'a been rough going. I've felt pretty down and stresse about it all, so I think blogs were pretty far from my mind. Look at that lovely photo at the top, and know even when things don't feel so easy, these three dudes are my world and have to remember they are always there with a cuddle and a giggle when I need cheering up, one lucky mama. Kicked myself up the bum and getting back on it now :) 

Fossil fun

Today we went to Wrens Nest Nature reserve in Dudley. It is a classic geological site of exceptional importance. I cannot believe that we didn't know this place was here, less than half an hour from home! It is the site of the Silurian Sea Bed, over 400 million years old! Absolutely stunning.

I think that is Momo right at the top there!

Squashy and Momo had great fun clambering up these hills, scrabbling about and hunting for fossils. 

 Not that you have to do much hunting! They are literally everywhere, almost every stone you pick up has interesting shapes, indentations, imprints and patterns. There were big ones and small ones, we were spoilt for choice what to take home!!

                                                         

The ripple beds were great fun for exploring and testing out our rock climbing abilities! 

We sat half way up on this volcanic sea bed rock to slurp our soup!

There was so much here to see that we decided to come back at the weekend with Daddy and Bigman. Momo had fun dragging them up the 'mountains' too.

 We decided to follow one of the trails this time and we went exploring round to Severn Sisters mine It is an old limestone mine, reportedly the last of its kind. There is plenty of information as you travel round the trail, telling you the history of the mine.
                                        
 Unfortunately there was a collapse in 2001 and they have filled it in temporarily now so the entrance is blocked. But it was still an amazing site to see and to imagine people coming here to work.

We carried on the rest of the trail, it was pretty long for little legs, so Momo hitched a daddy-lift some of it

 there were a lot of steps and hills through the woods so we stopped part way round for a hot cocoa break ;)

  

It was a bit chilly but the sun was peeping through the trees.

Even Daddy enjoyed it, despite us making him walk for MILES!

Wrens Nest is a beautiful place, with such an interesting history and the fossils you can find a such a bonus. There's plenty to learn and it has sparked a bit of interest for Momo. We are planning a visit to Dudley Museum to look at their fossil collections when the weather turns.  I'm rally pleased we have found it and I am sure we will be back again.  

Home Ed : day 1 Bumble Hole & Warrens Hall

                                

So today we waved Bigman back off to school, Daddy to work and that was it. Although Squashy would have been going back to start year 8 today, Momo probably would have had another week or two before starting reception, but I still decided today would be officially our first day.

We decided to jump in feet first and get straight out to a meet up. Big kids club meet every Wednesday, a club for HE over 8's which Momo would be welcome to. 

So we went to Warrens Hall nature reserve in Dudley. Squashy was happy as he met a boy there who he has spent a day playing with before the school holidays on a trip to a lido. They were like old friends, ran off chatting and playing straightaway, who says Autistic kids can't socialise?! :D And Momo was happy as they brought their dog Buddy, who has since become his new 'best friend'.

Warrens Hall is a beautiful nature Reserve, along a canal and although its lovely and green and peaceful now it was once busy industrial area around the mines. The only evidence of this now is a stunning, imposing old structure. It used to be a steam pump house, the huge tower is quite a sight!

We had fun exploring the ponds and the canal, Momo enjoyed being with the big kids, thinks he can do everything they do, and why not?!

We went and poked our heads a little way into Netherton Tunnel. It looks beautiful, and reminded me of the Island of Sodor from Thomas the Tank Engine!
                              
 It is the longest canal tunnel I have ever seen! We tried walking in a little way, but there was no lighting and it was pitch black when you moved away from the entrance, so we are going to plan another visit and bring torches!
                                    

 After that we decided we were hungry. The other families left, so we settled down next to the pump house for a picnic. While we ate I googled a bit on my phone ( love modern technology!) and researched a bit about the building. Squashy always amazes me with facts that he remembers, he knew it all! It was really interesting to find out the history of it all.

 Then Momo decided to have a go at a bit of photography.

He seems to favour the abstract view...

A cute little self portrait

A couple more of the 'unusual' 

 And then Squashy got fed up, he doesn't like having his photo taken at all.

 But I did talk him into one more to keep Momo happy :)

Then I had a bit of a play too, i really enjoy taking photos, I have recently started to play about with different angles and taking pictures of things other than my boys.

                                                
 Momo thought this looked like a face :O

 Then we went for a walk down the canal. Here the nature reserve joins Bumble Hole conservation area. I love that name! It was very pretty with lots of photo opportunities.

There is a little island in the middle of the canal that was once a toll station for the boats coming in and out carrying the materials from the mines.

They have a sweet little visitor centre with lots of information about the area, there is a little model of what It would have looked like with all the mining and industrial buildings, Momo especially liked that. And a lovely display of the cute canal art.

                                                        
It really is such a beautiful place. We were so lucky with the pleasant weather too, glorious sunshine, big fluffy clouds in a perfect blue sky. I cant fail to be happy on a day like this :)

On the way back to the car we even managed a spot of blackberry foraging to make a crumble when we get home.

I feel so so lucky to be on this journey with my two youngest boys. I would love for Bigman to join us too, but he is happy at school so I have to respect that. But I am very excited for the future and all the adventures we are going to have, people we will met and things we will learn. ONE LUCKY MAMA.