Butterfly girl

Celebration Assembly

Every morning at Susanna's school, all the kids in the school gather in the school hall for an assembly.  I'm not sure exactly what happens there on a daily basis, but I'm pretty sure there is singing, students playing instruments, and probably announcements.

On the last Friday of each month, all the parents are invited to attend what they call Celebration Assembly.  I only went once last  year because Ben had his cooking class on Friday mornings.  Fortunately this year we don't have any conflicts so I am able to attend.

This morning there were a few students playing their instruments, tallying of House points for the week, a song for all the students to sing (but only if they could read the words on the overhead projector), and announcement of the Stars of the Week and a few other awards.

After the assembly, they have coffee and tea in the school library.  Older students help to prepare and serve the refreshments to all the parents (only 15 or so parents were there.)  I think its really nice that they give these kids a chance to learn a little hospitality, and they are always so polite.

Its so fun to see how things work in the school here.  Since Susanna wasn't in school in the States before we came I can't really compare, but I'm pretty sure its very different!

Coronation Chicken, or, if I have nothing else to write about, I can always write about food

Ben's favorite thing for Brad to have for lunch at the moment is Coronation Chicken.  Every morning Ben suggests that his dad have this for lunch, and every night Ben checks to make sure he did.  Brad eats it more often than he might like so that he can truthfully tell Ben that he in fact did have Coronation Chicken for lunch.  

Until recently I had no idea what Coronation Chicken was.  I knew it was a sandwich filler and imagined it maybe had a curry flavor.  

I was right about the curry - Coronation Chicken is basically chicken salad (or chicken mayonnaise) with mild curry flavor and raisins.  Its really quite good - a nice variation on plain chicken salad, anyway.

Of course Ben refuses to eat it himself because it has raisins in it.  But he does like raisins...  

Football for girls

Sometime last year, before we moved, Susanna decided that dance class was "too much exercise" and that she would rather do soccer.  So I figured she could start that this autumn.  In Lancaster it seemed that a lot of girls played soccer, and Susanna would have been excited to join them.

Where we live now, football doesn't seem to be so popular with the girls.  There are so many options for activities, including dance, music, theatre, etc, and football just seems to be more of a boy thing.  Now there is usually a girl in Ben's football class (sometimes different ones on different weeks, but usually just one per class), and there are football clubs with girls groups.  But Ben's football school only goes up to five years (once you're five you're too old) and the football clubs start at age six.  So if you are five-years-old, what do you do?

One local football club offers after school lessons at Susanna's school, and lucky for her, it works with her schedule and one of her good friends wanted to play too.  Today was the first day.  There were 12 kids total (they said they'd take up to 60), and I think seven of them were from Year 1 (Susanna's class), and of those seven, 5 were girls.  Perfect!  

It goes for an hour right after school, but I still have to collect her from her class and get her changed before they start.  Then I have about an hour to do something with Ben (just like when she has Rainbows on Tuesdays...)  Home is too far to be worthwhile, but there really isn't anywhere else to just hang out, except Costa...  Today we went to a nearby playground with a few other younger siblings and the hour passed quickly enough.  As it gets colder (and darker) in the coming weeks, I think we'll have to find somewhere better to wait.

Susanna seemed to enjoy the class today.  She said there wasn't too much running; they mostly played little games.  There won't be any games or real competition.  Its more about learning some football skills.  I'm happy that she is finally getting to opportunity to try this sport.  We'll see where it leads...

End of the week

Another busy week has ended...  we're all ready for the weekend!  

The kids are having lots of fun with school and activities.  Ben had his first sick day (on what would have been his third day of school.)  He'd been up half the night coughing and crying, so school was out of the question.  Of course I was up half the night with him, and his dad, who could have been sleeping, was also up half the night watching Monday Night Football.  I won't write any more about that...

After two good nights of sleep (with the help of a little medication), Ben was back in school for his next scheduled day on Thursday (he missed Tuesday.)

The kids had their swim lessons, which I guess went well.  I feel like I need to plan a trip to a hotel with a pool just to see their progress!  Susanna changed classes to be with a good friend, so she was very happy about that.

Ben had football this afternoon.  He was so tired when it was time to go, but once he got in there, he was totally happy.  He loves to sit next to the coach when he gets the chance, and is very eager to show his stuff.  At the end they stamp the kids' hands with a football stamp.  Ben gets his hands stamped, then pulls up his shorts to get his legs stamped, then pulls up his shirt so they can stamp his belly!

The weather has been beautiful all week - in the 60's and no rain - the best its been since we've been here!  The forecast for the next several days is more of the same, but you never know...

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Rainbows is just for girls

Today Susanna had her first meeting of Rainbows.  Rainbows is the youngest group in Girl Guides, which is a lot like Girl Scouts.  (I'm assuming they are totally different organizations, but the next level in Girl Guides is called Brownies...) 

She was very much looking forward to it, mainly because one of her good friends from school would be there as well.  Ben was quite interested in know what Rainbows was all about, and wondered why he couldn't go too.  I had to explain that its just for girls.  Maybe when he's bigger he can do Boy Scouts.

The meeting was for one hour.  The only "thing" about it is that I have to pick her up from school at 3:15, then Rainbows starts at 4:30 and is right by her school.  So I have the hour between picking her up and dropping her off again, then the hour while she's there to do something quick with Ben and go right back.  Today we came home after school to have a snack and change.  Then during Susanna's meeting Ben and I had a Costa date.  It went okay but it just seems like too much driving around.  

I think Rainbows will be a lot of fun for her.  I have good memories of Girl Scouts from when I was young, and hope she can have the same.  I think it will be nice to be in a smaller, girls-only group, and perhaps we'll also learn a bit about this country's culture and history through the activities.

Pretty flower

Susanna found this pretty pink and purple flower growing in front of our house.  Does anyone know what it is?  (I have no idea!  To see the photo bigger, click on it.)

Second day of school, or, I dress myself now!

Application

Its that time of year already - time for Ben to apply for school!  

Kids here start school when they are four years old - like if you turn four on the last day of August, you go to school a few days later.  (Nobody holds back.)  So that means that Ben will start school next September, when he is not quite four-and-a-half.  He will be in Reception, as Susanna was last year when we first arrived.  Depending on which school he gets into, he might go half-days until April, full days from September, or not at all until at least January.

In England, each school has a "catchment area", just like in the States.  The difference is that you don't necessarily have to go to the school in your area, and even if you want to, you may not get a place.  There are three state-run primary schools in our town.  When we arrived, we were assured that only one had a place available in Reception, and that is the furthest from our house of the three.  (Its still just a little less than 3 miles.)  

Since we are not in the catchment area for that school, Ben doesn't have top priority for a place.  Having a sibling there helps, but I think anyone who lives in the catchment area who wants to go to that school would get in before Ben.

So at this point (actually by mid-November), we have to do his application, and give our top three picks for school.  Of course Susanna's school will be our first choice, followed by the closest school; third choice will be the other school in town (which is actually the most highly-regarded of the three.)  

Then all we can do is wait and see!  I'm really really hoping he gets into the same school because I have no idea how I could possibly be at two different schools on opposite ends of town at the same time everyday!

BYOB

I've finally gotten into the habit of bringing my own bags to the grocery store.  When we lived in the States, I started a small collection of re-usable bags, but hardly ever remembered to actually bring them to the store.  Here, as part of our "simple living" experience, I remember to take them most every time - I just put them in the car after I've unpacked them (no room to keep them in the house!) and if I stop at the store, there they are.  Its nice not having so many extra plastic bags to store (I felt guilty just tossing them and I don't need them for diapers anymore), and I feel like I'm helping the environment in one small way.

One store here has started charging for the basic plastic bags.  I'm not sure if that is encouraging people to bring their own...  they often have promotions where they give a nicer, re-usable plastic bag free with each order.

So, please bring your own bag!!

What did you do at school today?

This is the standard question to ask your kid after school each day.  And most of the time, very little information is actually shared.  Perhaps that is because they do so much that they can't think of anything in particular.  Also maybe because they are exhausted.

When I try to talk to Susanna about what she does at school, I mostly get the vague response, "we do a lot of work."  Last night I found out that she does in fact do a lot of work.  We had Parents' Night at school.  We sat in the classroom and listened to the teachers describe the things they do.  It sounds like a lot of time is spent sitting at their desks (two kids per table) following instructions being given to the class as a whole.  We didn't hear much about the kind of work they actually do, however.  The only thing on the wall was a collection of self-portraits.

They do have some free time during the week.  And they have P.E. twice a week, and they get some outside playtime in the morning and afternoon.  Her classroom is the smallest in the school, so there isn't much room to move around.  Last year the classroom was huge, but with young kids that is quite necessary.  The teachers this year let us know that expectations are much higher in Year 1, in terms of time spent sitting, listening to and following instructions, and being responsible for their own things.  They will also have a bit of homework each week, to get in the habit of doing homework.

So far Susanna is very happy there.  She has three very good friends in the class and is always excited to see them each day.  I'm hoping that the long days are a little easier this year since she's a bit older, but she's still little!  

I'm very happy to get the experience of a different school system.  I can't really compare it to the U.S. at this point since we hadn't yet started school there, but I do know that its quite different.    

Gardening success, or, how to get your kids to eat veggies

We finally got something to grow in our garden!  We first tried carrots, but the little plants got eaten (though after reading The Carrot Seed, I still have a sliver of hope.)  Then we tried pumpkins.  We started the seeds in little pots, watered them faithfully, then when they were big enough we planted them in the garden.  Within days, something came along and nipped the plants right off, all three of them.

Finally we got some pea seeds and planted them in a raised stone planter that was left in our garden (along with assorted other planters and bird baths and bird feeders and an old ladder and wheelbarrow...)  Its been at least a month, and we had our first harvest today.  Susanna had fun looking for ones that were ready and picking them.  Both kids thought they were delicious!

First day of school, 2nd edition

Today was Ben's first day of preschool in England.  He went to preschool last year until we moved.  I thought about putting him in school here sooner, but the time sort of flew by, and now its September again.  September is always a good time to start school, and he was definitely ready.

His school is just next door to Susanna's school, and his start time is 10 minutes after hers.  So that makes it very convenient.  I have to drive back at midday to collect him, so there is still plenty of driving around.  He was originally scheduled for two mornings - Tuesday and Thursday - but today the director offered him a place on Mondays as well, so now he has three days a week.  On Mondays he'll have the option to stay for lunch for a few extra pounds, and I plan to take advantage of having him there an extra hour.  

Ben was happy to go this morning, and happy to be there.  He still talks a lot about his old school and teacher, but I think he knew this one would be different.  His school is basically one big classroom with 28 kids per day.  The group changes from day to day depending on which day each kid goes.  I'm not sure how many teachers are there each day, but obviously quite a few.

Ben seemed to have had a good morning at school, and he came out tired.  I forgot to take my camera this morning for his first-day-of-school photo.  I took it when I went to pick him up and he was not interested in having his photo taken (that is rare!)  I will try again Monday morning, and if it works, I will post a Second-day-of-school photo!

Swim lessons

Yesterday both kids started swim lessons.  Ben goes while Susanna is at school, and Susanna goes in the late afternoon.  Both were very excited to get started.  It was a long morning for Ben, waiting until it was time to go.  

Knowing that the kids were starting swim lessons in September, we bought three new swim suits for Ben while we were in the States.  The usual boy trunk-style suits.  We also got new goggles at the suggestion of one of the swim teachers.  So, we were all set.  

The day before the first lessons, someone told me that Ben couldn't wear a trunk-style suit - boys need to have a tight-style suit.  Fortunately that friend had an extra that she was willing to lend.  Its actually cute - more like tight little shorts - not quite a Speedo.

Girls are required to wear swim caps - another surprise - fortunately they sell them at the school (the school is at the teacher's house.)  Boys wear them too once they are a bit older, so Ben doesn't need one just yet.  The swim caps they sell are pink or black with a shark design - very cool!

Lessons went well, from what I can tell.  Other than a quick glance out the window at the pool, parents aren't allow anywhere near it.  The kids go in a few minutes early to sit and watch TV while they wait for their lesson.  Then they come out at the end.  Unfortunately there isn't a community pool very close to us, but if we want to see how the kids are doing, we will have to find one.  Hopefully they will make good progress.

Big kid football

Ben started his first activity today - football (soccer).  The organization that he does classes with has two levels - one is for 2 to 3.5-year-olds, and the other is for 3.5 to 5-year-olds.  He had been doing classes with the same organization in a different location, and he was of course in the younger class.  When he started with that class, he was one of the biggest kids, but not the oldest.  At some point, all the kids anywhere near Ben in size moved up to the next class, but they said there was no room for Ben (and as a new 3-year-old, he technically wasn't big enough anyway).  So his old class was suddenly packed with what appeared to be young 2-year-olds, and Ben quickly lost interest, and hasn't gone at all since early July.  

His class this autumn is in our town (supposedly they were full last spring) and he is in the older group, even though he won't be 3-and-a-half for another month-and-a-half.  Of course he fit right in size-wise, but he did seem a little young.  Ben was the only new kid today, so the other kids had a better idea of what was going on and what to expect.  He was definitely happy to be there.  Everytime the coach asked a question like, "who is the fastest?", Ben shouted out, "me!"  Ben likes his new coach (which is good, since when I said he was going to football he started talking about his old coach) and even though there were only five other children (including one girl) there was another Benjamin.

And thankfully I didn't get any complaints from his big sister, who sat with me, looking at her library book from school and occasionally watching the action.

We're planning a quiet weekend...  Brad is on his way home tonight from Orlando, and will arrive bright and early tomorrow morning.  Next week will be our first full week of school and activities, and I think the kids will need all the rest they can get to be ready!

First day of school

Today is Susanna's first day of school.  She was definitely ready to go this morning!  We were all up in plenty of time (as usual) and both kids were eager to get dressed.  Susanna chose her new skirt for today - girls have lots of options - trousers, skirt, pinnafore (all three with the white shirt and tie) or the summer dress.  Even though they can wear the summer dress in September, the weather today isn't particularly summer-like.

When we got to the school gate, Susanna suggested that I just leave her there.  Of course I couldn't do that!  We walked into the schoolyard and found her new classroom.  All the kids lined up to walk inside the building.  Most of the parents went in with the kids to help find their hooks and hang everything up (lunch bag, gym bag, and school bag, and jackets for some - lots of stuff to deal with!)  Susanna found her hook and told me again to leave - I'm glad she feels so comfortable and happy there.

All dressed up in her new school clothes (and shoes!)

Summer holiday - last day

Today was the last day of summer holiday.  Susanna goes back to school tomorrow and will be in Year 1.  I think she is excited...  in a way, it seems like just another day - like it was only yesterday that she finished Reception.  I know she will be very happy to see all her friends in the morning.

Susanna had a playdate with a school friend today, so Ben and I had a little preview of what our days will be like, with just the two of us.  It was a quiet afternoon, a chilly, rainy day.  I would have taken him for a walk to town, but I just couldn't get motivated.  He and I will have plenty of time for fun in the days ahead.

I should be getting to bed - time to get back to the school morning routine.