Raisie Bay - Page 3 of 354 - A Family and Lifestyle Blog

My Sunday Snapshot – The Opposite side of the Picture

I often show you photos of the trees over the fence of the garden, and today they looked gorgeous under a blue sky. But, then I turned 180 degrees and took another photo to show you the opposite side of the picture.

First up, the lovely trees as they looked this morning.

They are not my trees, they line the canal that runs alongside my house. We live at the end of the street. We get lots of birds and in the evening you may even see a bat.

Then turn 180 degrees and you can see the rest of my view…..houses, a large block of flats, currently with scaffolding and even the sky was cloudy. I’m happy to say that the clouds have passed over now and we have sunshine. I’m less happy that this had brought out the neighbours and the noise is way louder and much less nicer than the bird song.

If you look at the windows you can see the trees reflected back. I know which side I prefer to look at, but it just goes to show that there are nearly always an opposite side of the picture. I long to live somewhere more isolated, with lots more trees and maybe even a beach nearby. Maybe one day.

Bank Holiday

It’s the bank holiday and half term and the weather is going to be nice for a few days at least. Graham has been out in the garden and we have a few more things to do that I’ve been dying to get done but the weather has been awful. Then on Tuesday we are having a BBQ for the kids and a couple of their friends. They don’t feel ready to go off out yet so meeting up in the garden seems a better option for now.

And just in case you read my Word of the Week post, I can confirm that my niece has given birth to a healthy little boy. My brother’s 7th grandchild.

This Weeks Word of the Week 22 – New Beginning

by Anne Sweet 6 Comments

Hello and welcome to the home of Word of the Week. A nice and simple weekly linky, with everyone welcome to pop by and share. The idea of the linky is to reflect back on your past week and share it with us. It’s great if you can sum it up in a word or phrase, hence giving us your Word of the Week. My word this week is ‘New Beginning’ and you can read more about that below.

I’m not totally strict on using just a word or phrase. But please try to stick to the theme of summing up your week. There are not too many rules with this linky, just remember to read at least another couple of posts in the link up after adding your link. I will read and comment on all posts and tweet them out for you. I also have a Pinterest board devoted to Word of the Week and I will add posts to Mix Please add the badge below to your post so that others may find us and join in. If you comment or tweet then please use the hashtag #WotW

Word of the Week is open from 6am on Friday Morning to 12 noon on Monday. Plenty of time to join in!

If you are unfamiliar with the Word of the Week linky then please feel free to ask any questions. New linkers are always welcome, we love to hear what you have been up to in the past week.

MY WORD OF THE WEEK – New Beginning

Star has finally finished school, but it’s not the end it’s a New Beginning. We have had official confirmation of her college course and she’s looking forward to a future working with animals. We live very close to a Wildlife Conservatory which we have visited many times and Star would love to end up working there. But another option is an animal rescue centre (Where we had Ash, our cat, from.) Either way, she has decided she wants to work with animals and it looks like she will get her wish.

new beginning, colourful text on coloured background

Another new beginning is Boo going back to school. After not attending school properly for over a year, she is now going to classes for half a day and after half term she will begin attending full days again. She’s happy in her new class and fingers tightly crossed it all goes well.

The Little Man has also had his official welcome to his new school which he will be starting in September. A new beginning in a new school, he’s growing up! (But he’ll always be my Little Man.)

As I write this, a close family member is in hospital about to begin a new life as a first time Mummy. How exciting, I hope it all goes really well for her and that she’s holding her little boy by the time you are reading this. (I’ll update if I get the chance!)

I’m not a lover of change, but you sometimes have to embrace new beginnings. And hey, the sun is shining!

Now it’s over to you, what word or phrase sums up your week this week?

<div align="center"><a href= "https://www.raisiebay.com" rel=”nofollow” title="Word of the Week"><img src="https://www.raisiebay.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/word-of-the-week-badge.png" alt="Word of the Week linky" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

Science School, 30 Awesome STEM experiments to try at Home

by Anne Sweet 1 Comment

I was sent this fabulous book to review, Science School, from Button Books and written by Laura Minter and Tia Williams.

science school book cover — **Pub month:** April 2021
**ISBN-13:** 9781787081062
**Author:** Laura Minter & Tia Williams
**Price:** £12.99
**Binding:** PB with flaps
**No. of pages:** 128
**Dimensions:** 275 x 215 mm
**Colour:** Full colour throughout
**Age Range:** 5-11

The Blurb

This book teaches children about the basic principles of science through 30 exciting experiments and crafts that can be done at home, using everyday objects and materials around you. Why do bubbles hold their shape? How does an electric circuit work? What makes popcorn pop? Can an egg bounce? If you thought that science could only be practised wearing white coats in a sterile laboratory, think again! A brilliant way to link the STEM/STEAM themes being taught at school back to your home in a fun and fascinating way. Perfect for budding scientists who love to ask… ‘why?’
Activities include making slime, hot ice, baking soda fizz bombs, coloured milk, making your own crystals, invisible ink, soda bottle ecosystem and many more.

My Review of Science School

This book was sent to me for the purpose of my review, I will also include affiliate links in my post which means I may earn some money if you click through and purchase something. It will cost you no extra, so thank you in advance for your support of my blog.

You can purchase the book on Amazon for £10.02 (price correct at time of publishing this post)

pages from the book showing a young boy making rainbow oobleck.

My Little Man is 10 years old and loves anything to do with science. Following in the steps of his big sister’s we have been making slime and oobleck for years. This book will take it to the next level with simple instructions and beautiful clear photos and illustrations.

After each, step by step, experiment. you are provided with an explanation of the science behind it. Did you know that Oobleck was a Non-Newtonian fluid, the harder you stir, or the more pressure you add, the thicker it becomes. The book even goes into detail why this happens. It’s a true learning experience.

pages from the book showing a young girl making a tornado in a bottle

The projects in the book are really easy to do and often are made from things that you already have in your home. This means you can get stuck in straight away and start enjoying learning all about science while making fun projects with your child.

Science School, 30 awesome STEM experiments to try at home

The book is A4 in size, paperback (With flaps) and 128 pages. Every page is full of colour photographs and detailed instructions. In total there are 30 experiments to try. The science lesson is illustrated with diagrams and there is a detailed glossary at the end of the book.

It really is a fantastic book for teaching your child science in a fun and easy way. It’s great when learning and fun go hand in hand and this book has really captured that.

I you would like to read more of my reviews of Children’s books you can check out our library tag at the top of the page, or click here.

Funny Memories Courtesy of My Kids

by Anne Sweet 7 Comments

I’ve often wrote about the funny things my kids have said and done over the years. I collect most of the memories from Facebook, but as time goes by, there are less and less to share. I’m glad I have so many of them recorded here on my blog. I’m not done just yet though, here is my latest offering of funny memories.

Christmas Time

Here’s a lovely one from the school nativity, I’m not sure about the year but as they were all at school, I’m thinking about 2014.

The nativity went well this morning although the girls swapped roles, Boo made a perfect angel with lovely flapping wings and Star was a fabulous donkey, and The Little Man was the little sheep who kept trying to escape….perhaps he got wind we were having lamb for dinner!

And a letter to Father Christmas from Boo in 2015, exactly how she wrote it.

Dear Santer,
I relly like Chrismas and it’s my favoriot time of the year and I was thinking about that if your relly real send me a letter please and put your name on the letter so I know YOUR real. I do belive in you still but is it true that when people don’t belive in you they get stupid presents and they get unapropret stuff. If this is true put true, but if not put false if the other one. I gave you the thing you needed to do. I hope you have a happy chrismas Santer and I will give you the best mint pie, drink and the best carrots because I like your raindeers,
yours senserly,
Boo 🙂

Oh and just in case you were worried, she did explain that inappropriate (unapropet) stuff were things like socks and slippers.

funny kids in their Christmas jumpers — *Christmas 2015*

Easter Time

Fast forward to Easter and it’s 2014 so the Little Man would have been almost four years old.

there’s a half eaten chocolate egg on the table and The Little Man asks ‘is it still Easter mummy?’ Yes I say, it’s Easter Monday, ‘but is it still Easter?’ he asks again, ‘yes, it’s Easter!’ He picks up the egg and stuffs it in his face. I’m just wondering what he would have done if I’d said it wasn’t Easter?

A few More Funny Kids phrases

2011

Boo’s teacher asked if Boo had to have her hearing tested. I think she’s probably told her about her visit to the Dr with an ear infection last week, or maybe it’s because I keep saying to her “Boo are you listening me or do I have to get your ears tested?” (ooops)

March 2012

we saw a lovely spotty dog by the shops today, Star said ‘oh look it’s a ‘dimension’ dog

June 2012

Boo “Mummy, can we go out somewhere after school tomorrow”
Me “where would you like to go Boo?”
Boo “Africa

Star “Mummy, you need to teach ‘Big Sister’ a lesson”
Me “why is that?”
Star “She needs to learn how to shut the door!”

2020

I was getting stressed with the kids getting ready for school this morning and The Little Man gave me a hug. He said that hugging helps decrease stress, so I said thanks and told him I felt 20% better. Then just before he left for school he gave me another hug and I told him I felt 80% better. He said ‘yeah, I know that’s 60% more just because we are going to school now’ no flies on my kid 😂😂

If your kids like maps and getting out and about while having some fun Rachel Jess has a fantastic review of a real fun map of the funniest things to do in Britain.

Lucky is My Word of the Week 21

by Anne Sweet 8 Comments

Word of the Week is open from 6am on Friday Morning to 12 noon on Monday. Plenty of time to join in!

If you are unfamiliar with the Word of the Week linky then please feel free to ask any questions. New linkers are always welcome, we love to hear what you have been up to in the past week.

MY WORD OF THE WEEK – LUCKY

This week I’m trying to turn things around a little. It’s been a tough time and although we are still having problems, I know they are never going to be easily solved. So, I go with my instincts and focus on the positive. This week I’m focusing on being lucky.

I feel lucky that today is the last day of my Star’s exams. She will have some more minor assessments next week and then school is over for her. Finally, I feel lucky that I have a child that has finished Secondary school despite all the problems caused by Covid.

Today I am going for my second Covid Vaccination. It’s been thirteen weeks since my first and I was getting worried, but then I got a call and I was lucky to get in today. My eldest son was also asked to go along for his first vaccination. This was worrying me because he really doesn’t deal very well with having to go somewhere new without me and I believed I would have difficulty getting him to go. Then he got an appointment at the same place as me, at the same time. So we can go together this afternoon. Once he has been, he should be okay to attend his second appointment alone. That has made me feel really lucky!

On Tuesday, Star had telephone interview with the college she wants to go to in September. Star is not very good on the telephone and her anxiety was awful. The man who called was really wonderful and had her chatting away to him in no time. She passed the interview and now all she needs is a reference from her teacher and the place is hers. (if she fails her GCSEs she will be given the option to do them again alongside her chosen college course.) I feel really lucky that we have this settled now, it’s such a huge weight that has been lifted. We have had a virtual tour of the college and we will take her along to see where it is before she starts. (It’s really not far away and in a lovely area.)

My eldest daughter was lucky enough to grab a new PS5 console, they are like gold dust at the moment so she had get up early and keep refreshing the website, but she did it in the end.

I also feel lucky that we have a holiday in the UK booked already for this year. We were supposed to have been going last year but they let us keep it until this year. The holiday park we are going to have even reduced the cost of our holiday. We are planning on a quiet holiday and are just looking forward to being somewhere different and near the sea. We can’t wait.