first camp of the year

We came back from Spain and headed straight out again for a weekend camp in the New Forest with a local home ed group. When packing up, we did wonder whether this was packing too much in, but we had a lovely time so were glad we went.

We camped under beautiful oak trees (which turned out to be a very good move, as the weather was sweltering) ....

Campsite activities included colouring & painting, and treasure hunts (Rob & Brodie are making a treasure map in this photo ....)

Following the clues .....

There were loads of caterpillars which kept zip-wiring down from the oak trees and were very entertaining! We think they were starting to spin their cocoons....

Off on a group walk through the forest to a stream for paddling .....

... stopping for tree trunk walking on the way ....

more wildlife ....

at the stream ......

We went to Exbury Gardens on the Sunday, as Brodie wanted to revisit the train there ...

The gardens are famous for (and packed with) azaleas & rhododendrons, and this is the perfect time to see them in bloom .....

The History Tree - this was a section of tree trunk, approximately 300 years old. It was marked with different events in British history and the history of the gardens....

Spain

We had a very relaxed week in Spain. The photos just about sum it up - lots of swimming, beach trips & sleep! We did venture up into the hills an hour away from where we were staying one day, to visit our friends Richard & Marie who have restored an old 'finca' (house) there. We had a lovely day there, although as the photos show, it was a case of another day, another swimming pool for Tess. Tess & Brodie enjoyed themselves, and picked up a few words of Spanish - from the TV, from playing with a spanish boy who lived where we were staying and from talking to people in the cafes & shops.

Funfairs, history & sewing

A trip to the funfair at Southsea ....

A snowflake that Tess made on her own out of cotton buds ....

A trip to a local education centre with our home ed group: Tess & Brodie's group looked at toys through time, including dressing up as children from past times and playing games that they would have played. Both Tess & Brodie really enjoyed this trip ..... Tess as a roman child ....

.... playing tiddlywinks .....

.... Tess as someone from the 1950s, looking at a Jack in the Box .....

..... hopscotch .....

... riding a wooden horse ....

.... space hoppers .......

.... and of course, a train .....

Tess & Rob made some scrummy scones when we had friends over for the afternoon .....

Team car wash ......

Tess did really well with a sewing kit we bought ......