Birthday?

So, me and your mum are waiting in the hospital. There's a delay in theatre so we have to wait. This happens a lot here. Twins, you're with nanny today. Grandad and grandma have come down from Wales and we just hope that they get the chance to meet the new girl before they have to head back.

We still haven't completely decided on a name. I mooted Tuesday but mum said it sounded like a Bond girls name (she said it like it was a bad thing). If we do go with something classic it will be unusual because all the other kids have random popster nonsense names like Harper Seven Beckham.

Mum is dead nervous about the op. The last one scared her silly. She will be well looked after though, and I'm glad she won't have to go through labour. (Girls, hopefully they'll have exo-wombs when you're old enough to think about families)

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Treasure at the end of the rainbow

By Danny, for Fathers Day.

Bethy the philosopher

It's been hammering down with rain all day. This news was first brought to me by Beth. She said:

"Daddy it's raining, so the sea will be deeper today."

South of our holiday

Went for a run this evening. Headed from Salcombe to Bolthead. It's only 4 miles but it took an hour. That's walking speed! That's because of the really steep hills.

Mum relaxing on hols

Down the river

Underestimating Dan

First day of our annual holiday in Salcombe and I've underestimated Dan again.

There's a boogie board in the house. Dan asks me what it is and I say something along the lines of:

"it's for taking to the seaside and splashing around in the water and stuff"

"oh" he says " I thought it was a sort of short surfboard"

That'll teach me.

Today's faves

Dan: broccoli, ants, boys trips, dragons

Beth: sweetcorn, Octonauts, cuddles with mummy, water slides

Twins pics

Fat dad

I'm a bit overweight at the minute. Dan is a super skinny little boy, and I used to look exactly like that! Trouble is, mum's a great cook and I'm too greedy. It means I need to lose about 2 stone to get in shape. With daughter 2 on the way I'm even more motivated to get fit. So, I'm running a few times a week and tracking my diet. Lose 1.3 kilos last week, which is not bad. I've convinced Auntie Maggie to join in too, but it's fair to say she has a bit more to do that me!

E-mailing our new daughter

There's a TV ad on at the moment where a new dad signs up for a Google e-mail account. He uses it to send messages to his little girl, and it becomes a journal of what they've both been up to. It's a lovely ad, and I'm sure it's made loads of people sign up to Google.
It reminded me that I set up this blog a while back, and I'm annoyed with myself that I've not really updated it. So look out, there'll be more posts soon.
The other reason your mum and I didn't go with the e-mail thing is, we still haven't decided on our little girls name yet!
We kind of want to go a little exotic, as this is our third. We don't want her to be embarrassed though. Because we like symmetry we fancy a name that starts with an A (Barry, Claire, Daniel, Elizabeth, see?). Anyway, my current fave is Eloise. That's today anyway.

Dan's school report

Name: Danny Stevens D.O.B.08.12.06 Key Person:Laura Brown
Date: Spring term 2 March/April 2011

Danny has progressed well this term, Danny has been keen to learn his high frequency words and is excellent at using is knowledge of phonic to sound out the letters. Danny has built up firm friendships this term and is always keen to participate in all activities within the pre school

Learning Goals Danny has met this term

Personal, Social and Emotional:
Danny continues to be interested, excited and motivated to learn, he is able to persist for extended periods of time at an activity of his choosing. Danny responds to significant experiences, showing a range of feelings when appropriate and shows an awareness of the boundaries set, and behavioural expectations in the setting. Danny can dress and undress independently and has a positive self image, showing he is comfortable with himself and enjoys joining in with different customs and routines.

Communication, Language and Literacy:

Danny is able hold his pencil correctly and has started forming recognisable letters; he is able to write his own name. Danny initiates conversation, attend to and takes account of what others say. Danny can hear and say the sounds in words in the order in which they occur and is learning his high frequency words rapidly. Danny uses talk to pretend imaginary situations and a wide range of language to imagine and recreate roles and experiences.

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy:

Danny can observe and use positional language and shows an interest in shape by sustained construction activity or by talking about shapes and arrangements. Danny has started to show an awareness of symmetry and can share objects into equal groups and count how many in each group. Danny recognised numeral 20 and over and can match and compare the number of objects in tow sets.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World:

Danny can explain his own knowledge and understanding, and ask appropriate questions of others, he investigates objects and materials by using all of his senses as appropriate. Danny finds out about and identifies features of living things, objects and events and observes them. Danny uses time related words in conversations and understands about the seasons of the year and regularity. Danny uses a mouse and keyboard to interact with age appropriate computer software.

Physical Development:

Danny shows some understanding that good practices with regard to exercise, eating, sleeping and hygiene can contribute to good health. Danny can move with confidence, imagination and in safety and moves with control and co ordination. Danny can simple tools to effect changes to materials and shows understanding of how to transport and store equipment safely.

Creative Development:

Danny talks about his personal intentions and what he is trying to do and responds to comments and questions, entering into dialogue about his creations. Danny creates constructions, collages, painting and drawings and experiments with different textures. Danny explores the different sounds of instruments and has begun to move rhythmically. Danny plays alongside other children who are engaged in the same theme and play co operatively as part of a group at act out narrative.

Next Steps:

To recognise the changes that happen to his body when he is active. To begin to relate addition to combining two groups of objects and link subtraction.
To extend his vocabulary, exploring the meaning and sounds of new words.

Beth's school report

Name: Beth Stevens D.O.B.08.12.06 Key Person:Laura Brown
Date: Spring term 2 March/April 2011

Beth has progressed really well this term, Beth has continued to learn, and expanding on learning words and has started to use phonics to help her sound out words. Beth has developed confidence in the Pre school and has become more focused on activities. Beth has made firm friendships in Pre school this term.

Learning Goals Beth has met this term

Personal, Social and Emotional:
Beth can operate independently within the environment and shows confidence in linking up with others for support and guidance. Beth appreciates the need for personal hygiene and has an awareness of and interest in cultural and religious differences. Beth can persist at activities of her choosing for an extended time and has an awareness and pride in self, having her own identity and abilities. Beth has awareness of the boundaries set and of the behavioural expectations in the setting.

Communication, Language and Literacy:

Beth uses a pencil and holds it effectively and has started to form recognisable letters, most of which are correctly formed. Beth knows that information can be retrieved from books and computers. Beth can initiate conversation, attend to and take account of what others say, having extended vocabulary, especially for grouping and naming. Beth is able to use talk, actions and objects to recall and relive past experiences and shows confidence to speak to others about her own wants and interests.

Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy:

Beth is able to recognise number past 20. Beth is able to share objects into equal groups and count how many in each group. Beth uses language such as ‘more’ and ‘less’ to compare numbers. Beth shows an awareness of symmetry and finds items from positional or directional language. Beth can sort familiar objects to identify their similarities and differences, making choices and justifying decisions.

Knowledge and Understanding of the World:

Beth shows an awareness of change and can explain her own understanding, and ask appropriate questions of others. Beth constructs with a purpose in mind, using a variety of resources. Beth has begun to differentiate between past and present and uses time related words in conversations. Beth notices the differences between local features in the environment and has gained an awareness of the cultures and beliefs of others. Beth is aware of the changes in seasons and the regularity of them.

Physical Development:
Beth shows understanding of the need for safety when tackling new challenges and avoids dangerous equipment and places. Beth shows some understanding good practices with regard to exercise, eating and hygiene can contribute to good health. Beth shows understanding of how to transport and store equipment safely and practice some appropriate safety measures without direct supervision.

Creative Development:
Beth talks about personal intentions, describing what she is trying to do and responds to comments and questions, entering into dialogue about their creations. Beth explores what happens when colours are mixed and chooses particular ones for a purpose. Beth can create constructions, collages, panting and drawing.

Next Steps:
To select and use activities and resources independently. To hear and say the sounds in words in the order they occur and use phonics knowledge to write simple regular words and make phonetically plausible attempts at more complex words.

Stuff Dan comes out with

His latest craze is drawing little pictures of sea monsters (though today they became sea aliens). He's sellotaped them up all over the windows. Bless.