Meg's Eggs

General 

Elliott was good today. He did get a little frantic towards the end of the day at bath time (more than normal), but in a good natured way and there were no problems. 

Activities

We had a lazy morning playing with Lego and watching Star Wars. We also popped to Tescos and Elliott was really good and didn't even look at the toys.       

After lunch (spaghetti bolognese, he eat the spaghetti and some of the meat) we drove down to Downton. After we arrived we played Kerplunk and Spiderman Guess Who with Granny and Grandpa. Then we had a roast ham tea which he ate pretty well, though left some of the ham. He was quite excitable at bath time but before bed he calmed down and read "Meg's Eggs" to Granny very nicely. 

Warwick Castle

General 

Elliott was very good today. There was one point towards the end of our castle visit when he began demanding a toy sword and shield from the gift shop that I thought might escalate, but he quickly settled for a (much) cheaper toy Knight's helmet (I didn't want to buy him too much following on from all the presents he's had for Christmas). 

Activities

Today we went to visit Warwick Castle with Andrea and her friend Sarah. When we got there (about 11am) we met up with Andrea and Sarah's friend Laura and her children Izzy (Elliott's age) and Edward (just over a year younger than Elliott) - Andrea and Sarah are Izzy's Godmothers. The first thing we did after we'd gone in (and it magically stopped raining) was to visit the Merlin "experience". This consisted of an actor mixing a pretend magic potion and talking about Merlin, magic and the dragon in a room decked out like an old kitchen followed by meeting the dragon (an animation on a television screen) in another room. Towards the end of being in the first room Elliott got a little bit scared and then in the second room, just as he'd calmed down, the dragon got me to stand up and identified me as being a goblin which upset him again (which was quite sweet). He calmed down quickly afterwards but it was surprising as the experience was very tame and not particularly loud. Anyway after this we had a look around the state rooms where there were some interesting wax word dummies. Then we saw a bird of prey display which all the children seemed fascinated by before we headed for a picnic lunch to the Conservatory.      

After lunch we walked around the grounds and Elliott and Edward chased each other and started playing together with Elliott's foam sword we'd brought with us (from his Pirate's outfit). Izzy also joined in a bit. We climbed to the top of the front of the castle and then we went in to a display of what life was like in the castle in the middle ages complete with wax works and smells. After that we all climbed to the very top of the tallest castle tower which involved lots of steps. Then we visited the Gaol which was underground and not very nice. Finally everyone (apart from me as it was only one child per adult) went to the Princess Tower to hear a story about the Snow Queen. Everyone seemed to really enjoy this when I met them afterwards but by then it was 4.30pm and time to go. Fortunately we got home quickly and Elliott was in bed by 7.30 after tea (cheese on toast) and a bath.         
To see photos of today visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliottsweekends/.

Jango Fett

General 

Elliott was very good and bath and bed time were very smooth.

Activities

After he arrived we played with some Lego quickly before bath time. He particularly liked playing with his Lego Jango Fett mini figure. 

Daddy's birthday

General 

Elliott was really good today. He said he felt better when he woke up and was more himself all day. However he chose to eat very healthily refusing biscuits, etc and only drinking water. I gave him calpol through the day as well. 

Activities

In the morning we watched Toy Story 3 and played Kerplunk. Then Granny and Grandpa came round and we opened the last presents. Elliott got a Lego Star Wars Command Tank, Lego City Aeroplane, a Lego Chima book, books about castles and how things work, Spiderman Guess Who and a Transformers swimming bag. After making some of the Lego we went to Pizza Express for lunch and Elliott had dough balls and burro pasta and ate them both until he had a clean plate.        

After lunch Granny and Grandpa left and we went home and played with Lego, played Spiderman Guess Who and watched Megamind. Then Harry and Jack Jenkins and their Mum and Dad popped in to visit to make up for yesterday and everyone went bonkers (in a good way) for a while. Bed time was very smooth and we even did some reading (Elliott read a Star Wars book and I read more of his Planes book to him).         

To see photos of today visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliottsweekends/.

Lego Star Wars X-Wing Fighter

General 

Elliott was good for all of today. However unfortunately he was poorly and spent a lot of the afternoon in bed. He was sick 3 times - it was quite mucusy sick. He didn't have a temperature but he did have a sore tummy and throat, although later in the day it was his tummy he was focused on. He did have 2 lots of Calpol at different times which seemed to help, but then maybe make him feel sick a little later. He had quite a lot of rest and some naps as well which will hopefully help.

Activities

In the morning when we got to our home we found Santa's presents and opened them. As well a the Lego Star Wars X-Wing Fighter Santa had left some Star Wars Top Trumps (it's the Christmas of Top Trumps), a Star Wars pencil case with a Star Wars stationary set and Monsters Verses Aliens DVD. We then set about making the Lego X-Wing Fighter and playing with it. At around this time Elliott began saying he felt sick so he had a nap. Granny and Grandpa then arrived just before lunch and Elliott woke up and was back in good spirits again. We all had some lunch, although he only had some plain bread (which he asked for).       

After lunch we began opening presents again and Elliott got some more Lego and some posters for his wall from me, a Lego Hero Factory sticker book and Transformers swimming bag from Andrea, Kerplunk and a swimming float from Andrea's Mum and Dad and some electronic drum sticks from my old boss. Unfortunately just at the point when he was about to start opening Granny and Grandpa's presents he deteriorated again and literally fell asleep with his head on his new swimming float. So we went to his room and watched the iPad while I sat with him. For the rest of the afternoon he was up and down and sick a few times, but also at other times seeming much better and playing with his presents. We were all due to go to Andrea's parents for tea to see Harry and Jack Jenkins but we decided it was best for Elliott to rest so I stayed at home with him. He went through about an hour before bed time where he seemed more himself so I'm hoping he'll feel better tomorrow. He slipped off to sleep with no problem.        

To see photos of today visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliottsweekends/.

Dick Whittington

General 

Elliott was good for all of today, although around lunch time he got a bit tired and complained a little, but after some quiet time he was much better again.

Activities

In the morning we had a lazy time at Granny and Grandpa's house watching some Ben 10 and playing with Star Wars toys and animal toys. We had sausage and mash for lunch.       

After lunch we went to Salisbury Playhouse to see Dick Whittington with Andrea and Granny. This was brilliant and Elliott really joined in - shouting along and singing. After the pantomime we headed back home and had a quick but smooth tea of crackers, bath and bed time after we arrived.       

To see photos of today visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliottsweekends/.

Decorating the third Christmas Tree

General 

Elliott was good for the majority of today. He did get a bit silly just before lunch after we'd arrived in Downton because he wanted to set up the high chair for baby Bella (his doll) -  but I asked him not to. However before he got too upset we came up with the compromise of having a tea party for baby Bella after lunch which he embraced.

Activities

In the morning we drove down to Downton to see Granny and Grandpa. On the way through the New Forest we passed Santa Claus on a horse drawn carriage (the horses pulling the carriage had reindeer horns on), so that was very exciting and Elliott thought it was definitely the real Father Christmas being pulled along by reindeer). After we arrived Elliott gave Granny and Grandpa their card from him and then showed Granny the toys he'd bought with him and read to her from the Star Wars books he'd brought. Then it was time for lunch and he got a little bit upset about not having a high chair set up for baby Bella (who he'd left in Downton on his last visit), but soon calmed down and ate his lunch very nicely - we had Roast Lamb.         

After lunch we had the tea party for baby Bella (Granny, Andrea, Mr Blobby, Big Teddy and me were guests). This was good fun and we played improvised pass the parcel with Star Wars music on the iPad and using his toy bag - when the music stopped whoever had the bag was able to take a toy of their choice. After this tea party Elliott then helped decorate the Christmas Tree - the third tree he'd helped decorate this year as he pointed out. He did this really well though. After all that it was time to watch some Ben 10 and have tea before bed time. He was in high spirits in general all day with all the Christmas preparations but apart from the high chair incident nothing spilled over into any moments which was brilliant.      

To see photos of today visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliottsweekends/.

Anakin Skywalker

General 

Elliott was good for most of today. After we got back from Andrea's parents house he had a moment but we avoided a full scale strop and he calmed down quickly after being left to his own devices.

Activities

In the morning we had a lazy time getting up and watched some Deadly 60. Then we went shopping with Elliott's pocket money and bought some Star Wars figures (Anakin Skywalker on his way to becoming Darth Vader and a Clone Trooper). After we got home we had pizza for lunch which he ate very quickly and nicely.       

After lunch we wrote some cards and he wrapped some presents with Andrea while I watched some football. Then we popped over to Andrea's parents where he was really good and we played some dinosaur top trumps. He was also fed quite a few biscuits which might help explain his moment later (which was based on not being the first person through the front door). After we got home we had some rolls for tea, watched some Transformers and bath and bed was smooth with some excellent reading before bed.

Carols in the Mall

General 

Elliott was very good after school today and was really sweet and friendly at work. He also got a house point for eating absolutely all his lunch today (fish finger, chips and beans). 

Activities

After school we went to work for Carols in the Mall (at Shute End Council Office). Elliott was really good and met some people from work and was friendly. He was good listening to the carols as well although after a while we decided to explore work instead anyway. After we got home we watched some of Return of the Jedi and played with Star Wars toys. 

Carols in the playground

General 

Elliott had a moment tonight while we were watching the carols because he was shouting while the choir sang, so I took him for a walk to avoid disturbing listening parents and he then became quite upset that he'd missed some of the carol singing.   

Activities

Swimming was fun this week as it was the last session so they messed around with really big floats. Then we went to the carols in the playground where he certainly enjoyed seeing Adam and Charlie and they all played football. 

Christmas decorations

General 

Elliott was a bit silly at first after school today, running off when asked not to and shouting. Apparently he had a bad day at school and had missed break and been to the office because he, Cody and Josh had been jumping up and peering over toilet cubicles while people went to the toilet. We had a talk and he calmed down and after swimming he was really good. He had sausage and mash for lunch.   

Activities

Swimming was really good this week as there were only 3 of them so he got lots of attention and was practicing swimming underwater. After we got home we helped put up the Christmas decorations with Andrea and then he did lots of reading (including his Star Wars Minifigure Encyclopedia). He got ready for bed quite early after tea and read in bed for quite a while with me. 

Anacondas

General 

Elliott was very good after school today. He seemed like he'd had a good day and had a house point in his home reading book for his reading over the weekend. He had jacket potato and cheese for lunch.   

Activities

We had quite a relaxed time after school. We played some Connect 4 on the iPad and watched an episode of Deadly 60 about anacondas and giant centipedes (that eat bats). He had cheesy baps with marmite for tea and after tea we did some more homework - writing everybody from this side's birthdays in the right box for the month of the birthday. He did really good reading again tonight as well. 

Defender

General 

Elliott was good for all of today. The only moment where he got upset was when he suffered quite a nasty scrape in football but that was understandable. It did take him a while to calm down and luckily Natalie had a plaster on hand as this seemed to make a huge difference and move him from being caught up with being upset to being able to calm down.

Activities

In the morning we went to football. it was quite a long session today with optional penalties after the session finished which Elliott wanted to join in with - so overall it was just under 2 hours. Generally he listened well and in the game he played in defence and was very disciplined in staying back - he put in lots of good tackles and passes, and even scored an impressive goal on one of his rare forays forward. After we got home we had pasta with cut up sausages in it (as well as sauce) for lunch and he ate very well again.       

After lunch we had a lazy afternoon playing with Star Wars toys and his new Transformer and watching The Smurfs movie. We also did part of his homework, which was cutting out images of balloons with the names of the month on them and sticking them on his homework paper in the right order. He was good at reading their names and pretty much knew the right order already but we practiced it. The next part is to write notable birthdays under the month images for different people's birthdays so I'll do our side tomorrow and hopefully you can do yours on Wednesday (or if you let me know what they are I can do them with him tomorrow). After homework we had tea and a smooth bed time with more excellent reading.

Switching on Downton's Christmas Tree lights

General 

Elliott was very good for all of today, although in the afternoon before we went out he became a little restless, but a change of scene helped change this.

Activities

In the morning we drove over to Salisbury where we went to see the Sladens again. Elliott, Charlie and Alice all played very nicely together and Elliott had a lot of fun. We also had a very successful and calm toy swap (Water Hazard action figure swapped with Charlie's Darth Vader action figure). After a few hours we headed to Granny and Grandpa's where we had a spaghetti bolognese lunch that he ate very nicely.       

After lunch we watched Dragons: Defenders of Berk cartoons and then played Connect 4 on the iPad with Granny. As we felt a bit restless we decided to go to Tescos where I got him some tracksuit bottoms for football and he showed Granny some ideas for presents for Christmas. On our way home we drove past lots of people walking through Downton following Santa Claus so we stopped and joined in and watched as Downton's Christmas Tree lights were switched on. We stayed for a little bit after the lights were switched on to listen to some carols and there was a brass band there as well, though we left before they started playing. After we got back we had a smooth bed time and he did some really good reading before bed.    

Baby Bella

General 

Elliott was  good after school today and when we went food shopping he had 3 "chances" before we didn't spend his pocket money on a toy at the end, and he only used up 2 and even then it was quite low level misbehaving to use those chances up. He also said he'd had a good day at school and had got a house point at school for reading.   

Activities

After school we went food shopping at Asda and he was really good. After we'd got everything off the shopping list we looked at toys and because he'd only used up 2 "chances" he bought a toy with his pocket money - a baby doll which he's called Baby Bella and who he's been looking after ever since (including putting a seatbelt on her in the car). After shopping we had tea in Asda (his request) and after we got home we played with some Lego before a good bath and bed and some very good reading again.

Deadly Pole To Pole

General 

Elliott was really good after school today. He also said he'd had a good day at school and had eaten chicken and mash for lunch.   

Activities

Swimming went well as ever. Afterwards we came home and watched Deadly Pole To Pole on CBBC which he enjoyed and told me all about a big jellyfish. After tea he read both his school books really well and then he asked me to read his book about castles to him.

Swimming report

General 

Elliott was good after school today. He said he'd had a good day at school and got 4 house points (2 for letters and sounds, 1 for good ideas and 1 for a good sentence). He also said Cody had been caught smacking his ear and he hadn't reacted or been on the board. He had a jacket potato for lunch again.   

Activities

He bought a cake from the cake stall after school and then we headed off for swimming. He did really well in swimming again and he got his report card back today. There are 12 categories and he'd got a "P" for 9 of them and a tick for the others. When he gets a "P" for all the categories then he moves up from Stage 1 to Stage 2 so considering it says it's normal to spend 3 to 4 terms on each stage I think this is brilliant. It also said that he was much more confident in the water, that he listened really well and that it would be good for him to practice kicking higher when he goes swimming. So I showed him and told him how well he was doing and asked him if he wanted to carry on, which he said yes to so I'll book him in to the same class, same time next term.

King Obi-Wan

General 

Elliott was good after school today. He said he'd been upset twice at school, but it sounded like normal playground stuff so we talked a little bit about thinking "that's happened now, being upset won't help, I'm going to think about something else". This went quite well although he did seem to lose interest (probably after we'd talked about it too many times). He had a jacket potato for lunch.   

Activities

He'd made a crown as part of his art class so he was King Obi-Wan with his (returned) lightwaver for a while which was good fun. We also played with Lego and watched some Scooby Doo. After tea he did his writing homework which is really improved in comparison to his first couple of sheets in the book (so I showed him and told him how much better it was getting). He also read "Wet Feet" (one of his school books) really well and then went to bed a little early (about 7.10pm) but he did seem tired and got up quite early this morning (6am).

Wokingham Winter Carnival

General 

Elliott was good for most of today. Unfortunately there was a bit of a melt down after football - they were all noticeably hyper at football today so I'm not sure if that contributed. Anyway when we got back to the flat he refused to get out of the car for ages and this ended with me taking away the lightsaver for the rest of the day as a consequence, which in turn led to some shouting and crying. He did calm down fairly quickly but it was a shame.

Activities

In the morning we went to football. I'm not sure if it was the cold but they all seemed to be having problems listening and there was more messing around than normal I'd say. It was still good and Elliott definitely still enjoyed himself and did some really good things (his tackling in the game was really good today and he did one brilliant pass).        

After lunch and the unfortunate moment we went to the Wokingham Winter Carnival. We started off by seeing Father Christmas like last year. He was really shy again this year and this year he got a little soft toy snowman. He asked for a Lego Star Wars X-Wing Fighter. Then we went into the town and he went on a couple of rides including the Waltzers which he insisted on and seemed to really enjoy. We also had a look at the stalls and won a little ruck sack plus some activity books and pens. Plus we bumped into Charlie, Isla and their parents and they enjoyed messing around for a while together. After we got home he did some colouring in with his new Alien activity book that he won which was really good (we put it up in the kitchen). Then it was tea followed by bath time and really good reading of one his school books again.     

To see photos of today visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliottsweekends/.

Lightsaber

General 

Elliott was very good today. There was a bit of being silly with Harry Higgins but anytime I asked him to calm down because he was doing something slightly too over the top he responded really well. He had a lot of fun with both Charlie Sladen and Harry and there was lots of giggling.

Activities

In the morning we went to the Sladens where Elliott played with Charlie Sladen (and Alice Sladen a little) really nicely. Lots of Star Wars toys and he took some toys to show Charlie too. They even did a toy swap without any drama - which was great after the last time it had gone a bit wrong. So we have a toy lightsaber at the moment. We went back to Downton for lunch of hot dogs with Granny.        

After lunch he did some baking with Granny and Andrea that went very well and we have some cakes to take to school for the Phillipines cake sale homework. I helped a little bit but also watched the Everton verses Liverpool game. Then we headed into Salisbury where we met up with Matt and Harry Higgins in Elizabeth Gardens where they both played in the park really nicely for quite a while. Then we all headed in to Salisbury to look at the Christmas lights and as we popped in to the toy shop to look around Harry's second wobbly tooth ever came out which was exciting. On the way back to the car we all had a cone of chips each which Elliott really enjoyed. After bath time he read another of his school books really well and we read about dinosaurs before bed time.     

To see photos of today visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliottsweekends/.

Star Wars music

General 

Elliott was good after school today. I spoke to Mrs Pafitt to tell her there was no rush organising our meeting (she'd been asking) and she said Elliott hadn't been on the board. They all missed out on golden time but suspect this was because they were all in home clothes so perhaps the atmosphere had been a bit more crazy than normal.    

Activities

We droe down to Downton straight after school and he was very good on the journey. We listened to a lot of Star Wars music. After we got to Downton he told Granny all about his day and had sandwiches for tea. He read really well before bed time as well - seems to be better everytime we read together.

Sharks

General 

Elliott was good after school today. I spoke to Mrs Pafitt as there was some confusion over the theatre trip money and she also told me he hadn't been on the board all week so far and she's working on deep breaths with him. It all sounds much more positive. He had sausage and mash for lunch.   

Activities

He enjoyed swimming again today and they played a kind of piggy in the middle game where different people in the class were sharks. After we got home he did his words homework and also we did some practicing of number bonding for 10. He was really good at the maths. He also read "Meet Han Solo" really well before bed (following yellow book principles) and his reading seems to have come on leaps and bounds to me.

Counting to 100

General 

Elliott was good after school today. He told me that his name was still on the board but it hadn't been underlined (it sounds like a few of them currently have their names on the board to be rubbed off when they've been really good and underlined if their being bad - that might be wrong though as didn't talk to Mrs Parfitt). He said that Mrs Rajeev had been cross with him because he, Dhilan and Harry had been playing horses indoors but that was the only time he got told off. He said he'd got a house point for his sounds reading lessons. He said he hadn't been frustrated or cross and upset - although he does have a big bruise on the centre of his back from falling off equipment which had hurt and he'd been upset straight afterwards (not surprising, though I couldn't find an incident form). Finally he said he hadn't used his Lypsyl during the day because he didn't want to be teased by Cody which is a shame, but his lips are looking better still.   

Activities

Swimming went really well again and he did kicking with his legs on his back with a shark fin float today for the first time today which was brilliant - before it's always been with a curly float. After we got home he did get a bit upset briefly about a light being turned on and waking up his teddies. However we then had tea (a bagel after he'd had jacket potato lunch) and afterwards we did some more homework and he did really well. We wrote two new sentences ("I saw smoke", there was a bonfire at Cantley Park on Sunday, and "I saw a slide"). He then counted all the way to 100 using a number chart in the homework this week which was really good. And finally he did four of the common words and could read them all. So I gave him a lot of praise after that lot. After all that we did some reading and then he went to bed and seemed quite tired.

Poppy day

General 

Elliott was good after school today. Mrs Parfitt also said he'd been good at school and there had been no melt downs or names on board. She did say he didn't focus on the afternoon sentence writing task very well, but she seemed quite happy and he'd had a house point for his reading over the weekend. In the morning I got him using his Lypsyl as well and he promised to use it during the day at school. He did say that when he used it Cody teased him that it was make up, so we talked about ignoring what Cody said and not worrying about it. On the way home he told me he had used his Lypsyl but that Cody had said again it was make up so he'd said no it wasn't and then Cody had got cross that Elliott had said he was wrong and said he'd kick Elliott. It was quite hard to really get to the bottom of and suspect they were as bad as each other, but I praised him for using his Lypsyl and we talked again about ignoring Cody (and anyone else) when they say mean things and just thinking "nevermind" unless they do something very naughty like kicking and then to tell a teacher.  

Activities

We stopped off at Sainsburys on the way home to pick up a few bits and pieces and he was very good about not getting a toy. He talked a lot about it being poppy day (we bought another poppy yesterday) and he told me they had a school meeting where they kept a silence and he thought about his Great Grandad who got shot in the eye by a tank in the second war. After we got home we did some playing and then a bit of his homework for this week which has now arrived. It's describing things he's seen in a park (plus the common words) so we talked about Cantley Park and he wrote down a couple of observations ("I saw a goal" and "I saw a park"). Plenty more to go though. We had crackers and breadsticks for tea and bath and bed time was very smooth with some good reading after his bath. He also had some hot milk before bed while I read him "Harry and the bucketful of dinosaurs".

Free kicks

General 

Elliott was really good today. He got upset twice in football, but only after the actual session had finished and we stayed behind for a bit to mess around with Charlie, Adam, etc. And both times he got upset were understandable (Tyler high-jacked his penalty turn and Adam was know it all with him in a quite a sanctimonious way when he thought a free-kick meant he got to kick it 3 times). He calmed down quickly both times and afterwards we talked about thinking "they're being naughty but nevermind I'll take some deep breaths and then get on with it". He's also been quite good at letting me put Vaseline on his sore lips over the weekend - he started off being very against the idea but now he's quite good at holding his head still and letting me put some on and I've been applying after meals.

Activities

He got up at about 7am and we had breakfast and played with cars before football. We also got his first watch out and we talked about how to tell the time - in terms of the big hand and the little hand and he started talking about which hands pointed at which numbers. He also picked up that 10 minutes is 10 times counting to 60. Football went really well, even though we were 5 minutes late and they'd already started (an unexpected road closure). He did heading and shooting really well and also did three really good passes in the game at the end.       

After lunch we watched some Sonic and then he asked to go and play football again so we went to Cantley Park and kicked a ball around for an about half an hour before playing on the play equipment there. After we got back we had a Roast Pork dinner that he ate very well - he also tried a green bean and mashed swede, though he didn't take to either, but we praised him for trying them both properly. After dinner we did lots of reading (3 school books) and he did really well with these before I read to him (he chose Planes tonight).    

Pirate swimming

General 

Elliott was mostly good today. We did have two moments where I asked him to go to his room, calm down and then apologise. The first was when he broke a pair of Halloween pumpkin glasses. This was completely accidental and would have been totally fine except he was trying to hide what had happened and blame other people (Jake - his soft toy poppy). It happened late afternoon after we'd been out so I think he was a bit tired already. We had a chat and he was only in his room briefly before he came out and apologised and I emphasised it wasn't about breaking the glasses as that was an accident it was about how he took responsibility afterwards. He was also calm throughout. The second moment was during tea. I cooked us sweet and sour chicken and cooked a blander version for him (no peppers, onion or pineapple and reduced version of sauce). I wasn't totally expecting him to like it (had fish fingers up my sleeve in case) but he started out saying he did and we called it "chicken like sweets". However after about a third of the bowl he suddenly said he didn't want anymore because he didn't like it. So I asked if it was because he was full, but he said no he still wanted crisps. He then got quite babyish about discussions. Again I asked him to go to his room and come back when he was ready to eat something healthy and that there were definitely no crisps if he hadn't eat his tea. I explained this wasn't about not liking food but how he behaved and communicated. This time he was a less calm, although there was no melt down - he was upset for a minute or so but did take deep breathes and start calming down. After about 5 minutes I went into his room and he was much happier and in fact did eat more of his original tea and he had strawberry fruit bits for pudding, with 1 crisp afterwards.

Activities

We had a lazy morning playing with Lego, reading a new Lego Chima magazine and watching CBBC (a programme about deadly animals) and Takeshi's Castle.       

After lunch we all went swimming to Coral Reef - the "pirate swimming pool". We had a lot of fun and Elliott now seems totally fine with water falling on to his head (there are lots of features at Coral Reef that mean water falls on your head at different times - like a canon on a pirate ship that fires water sporadically). We did use arm bands because  some of the pool is a bit deeper than the training pool at Carnival Pool, but we took them off when in some of the smaller pools and he was practicing swimming underwater and touching the bottom of the pool. After a shower we popped in to Sainsburys and Homebase for some shopping and then went home for tea, reading and bedtime. He read some of his Lego Chima magazine and I read The Magic Faraway Tree to him - he's chosen this as his new bedtime book.     

Ewar

General 

Elliott was good after school today. He did tell me he'd had his name on the board at school and then began by saying it was for tidying up last. However I suspected it was possibly more than that so when I asked him if Mrs Parfitt would tell me that was why if I asked her he looked sheepish and said "Daddy, I didn't tell the truth" and then explained it was for running around inside with Dhilan. I told him he was good for telling me the truth in the end and for telling me his name had been on the board. He also had some work he'd done with a house point on it (colouring in a person in different sections with different words in each section that had to match a key of colours with words in them). 

Activities

We went straight home after school today. We had a look at a new Lego Chima magazine I'd found (with free Ewar mini-figure) and read some of this. We also watched some Empire Strikes Back. he had sausages in rolls again for tea with strawberry fruit flakes for pudding and said he'd had pizza for lunch at school. Before bed we did some more reading and we read another Star Wars book together. He did pretty well, but also seemed quite tired so I didn't worry too much about the few words he wasn't getting. 

Hot dogs

General 

Elliott was good today apart from one moment when asked to put a cushion back on the sofa he at first refused before throwing in back on to the sofa. I asked him to go to his room and come back and apologise when he was ready and he did and apologised very well identifying that throwing was bad. 

Activities

Swimming went well with only 4 participants again. We had sausages in rolls for tea even though he had a veggie hot dog for lunch - he still wanted more sausages. He also did some really good reading with a school book ("Four Green Monsters") and one of his Star Wars book ("Meet Jar Jar").

Theatre of Widdershins

General 

Elliott was very good today and he did well listening to what he was told (mostly). There was a little bit of hyper-ness a few times but no major strops or upsets. We talked about "calming his brain" when he was being a little hyper (and he mentioned "training his brain" as well, which I said was good because he can do that himself).

Activities

After breakfast we played the Dinosaur top trumps card game again and he was beginning to get hundred and thousand concepts. Then we headed into Reading. We went to Reading Museum where they were running workshops to make Halloween decorations. This was good fun and we made a hanging bat decorated with glitter. He did almost all the work although I helped a bit with cutting out the bat template (not that you can tell which bits I cut and which bits he cut). After the activity we went for elevenses in the cafe and he coloured in a witch design which they gave him a chocolate creepy crawly for and stuck on their gallery wall. His colouring was pretty good and I think he was quite proud. Then we drove to TGI Fridays for lunch where he had chicken goujons, smiley face potatoes and beans and eat everything.       

After lunch we went to South Street for the Theatre of Widdershins puppet production of 3 stories - the 3 little piggies, Goldilocks and the 3 bears and the 3 billy goats gruff (bit of a 3 theme). This was really good and was a cross between really good story telling and a puppet show. Elliott really enjoyed it and was giggling all through all the stories. He was one of the older ones there but there was lots to the show for all ages and he really concentrated well throughout the hour. After the show we went home and played with the bat decoration - now named "Freddie". We also read some more of the Star Wars phonics books and he did really well recognising quite a few words without spelling them out (we looked at the list from the summer as well) - if you can write in his school book that he read 3 Star Wars books that would be great as I forgot to pick it up. We had chicken fajitas for tea and he went to bed nicely.     

To see photos of today visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/elliottsweekends/.

Peppa Pig toys

General 

Elliott was good after pick up today. 

Activities

Swimming went really well again, and there were only 4 children there so he got more attention than normal. After we got home he played with some Peppa Pig toys he'd brought home with him and then eat his pasta tea really nicely. He did fall asleep after tea though and seems quite tired. He'd also clearly had a great time with Andy during the day which is brilliant and he was really pleased Andy had got his Peppa Pig toys out of the garage.

Despicable Me 2

General 

Elliott was good for most of today. There was a strop after we got home in the afternoon and so he went for a rest in his room. When he emerged again he was in a much better mood and said sorry very nicely for not listening to what he was told.

Activities

He woke up quite early in new time unfortunately, though not surprisingly. We had a good morning playing Scaletrix,watching Match of the Day and Elliott designed a Christmas card for the school Christmas card offer. Then Harry Jenkins and his parents came to visit. After they arrived we had a big game of dinosaur top trumps. Then we all went to the Odeon in Bracknell for kid's club, which was Despicable Me 2, which everyone enjoyed a lot.     

After the cinema we went for a buffet lunch at a curry house with everyone which went really well and Elliott had some chicken tikka, rice, naan bread and tried various other things - I found if I left things to try on the side of his place but didn't make a big deal about it he would give them a go subtly when no-one was watching. After lunch we went to Andrea's parents with everyone for a bit and this is where Elliott started being a bit silly (with Harry to be fair and they were egging each other on). After we got home and he'd had some time to himself we played with some Transformers and then did some reading with one of his school books this time. He did really well and we kept concentrating on recognising words rather than spelling them out each time. He went to bed nicely though seems quite tired.