the ordinary moments

The Ordinary Moments #4 [The Elephant’s Child]

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This week we have spent a lot of time in the garden where I have a crazy forest of nasturtiums. Our butterfly friends, mainly Large Whites, have been frequent visitors leaving special presents on every leaf they can land on.Large White Butterfly

Emma is in her element. Every day we go out to spot the newly laid eggs and hunt out the caterpillars. She basically thinks they are our pets at this point. It is actually so much fun watching the whole lifecycle of a butterfly happening naturally in our garden.

Butterfly Eggs

I am desperately hoping we will find a cocoon at some point to complete the cycle. But I’m not sure when or where that might take place. The caterpillars are certainly very happy in their peppery nasturtium home currently. Do they go somewhere else for the next step though? If anyone out there knows the answer I’d be very grateful!

tiny baby caterpillars

We have of course re-read the hungry caterpillar, or recited the hungry caterpillar, at length. I’m trying to think of other fun things we can do this week caterpillar or butterfly related. I really want to keep Emma’s curiosity peaked, it’s such a good opportunity. That said Emma is always full of questions so it shouldn’t be too much of a challenge!

Big caterpillars

I keep six honest serving-men
(They taught me all I knew);
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who.
I send them over land and sea,
I send them east and west;
But after they have worked for me,
I give them all a rest.
I let them rest from nine till five,
For I am busy then,
As well as breakfast, lunch, and tea,
For they are hungry men.
But different folk have different views;
I know a person small—
She keeps ten million serving-men,
Who get no rest at all!
She sends’em abroad on her own affairs,
From the second she opens her eyes—
One million Hows, two million Wheres,
And seven million Whys!
The Elephant’s Child, Rudyard Kipling

Naomi-16

 

 

 

The Ordinary Moments 2016 #1

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This last week has been a week of two halves for me. We were still in the last throes of our holiday mindset while our normal routine was starting to creep back in.

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Vince had gone back to work over the New Year period but he had Tuesday at home which happened to be the last day before nursery started for Emma. I am determined, in our own way, to squeeze as many little adventures in as we possibly can over the next 8 months before Emma starts school. So despite the gloom and drizzle, we grabbed the most suitable clothing we could find (realised a shopping trip is in order!) and headed out to the beach in nearby Bexhill.

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It was our first time visiting this particular little stretch of local coastline. It is lovely, so pretty and peaceful, although I do want to go back in good weather when I’m sure it is even prettier but probably less peaceful! There is a lovely promenade to walk along, which I did with the pushchair while Emma tore about on the beach with daddy.

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We were not out too long as it really did start to bucket down but it was a worthwhile little trip. By the time we got home I had some pizza dough risen and ready for family pizza making. It was fun, took no time at all and made the perfect end of the day treat. As a bonus it’s a much healthier way to eat pizza and try to sneak veggies into Emma, so we’re going to make it a more regular thing.

On Wednesday life took on its more usual routine and I decided it was time to get some ‘spring cleaning’ started. My plan/hope/dream is that I will have thoroughly sorted, organised, decluttered and cleaned every room by the end of January… *ahem* Well, I will try at any rate. I started in the bathroom while Emma was at nursery and found that a baby on the move is not all that helpful! So I lined the bath with an old quilt, threw in some toys and in went Matthew. The bath will be cleaned in a nap time at some point!

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I have been doing some crochet this week too, of course! I’ll share it with you soon!

{The Ordinary Moments} is a linky I recently stumbled across on the blog Mummy Daddy Me hosted by the lovely Katie who writes there. Do pop over and have a look!

Naomi-16