July

This month has seen the kids finish off their school years. Lauryn has had an interesting time in Year 3 and has grown so much. She has learned alot about life & friendships and I hope it has made her stronger for it. She has come along way in her Numeracy challenges, and has enjoyed being part of the small group. She has really liked going Swimming with the class, and just being in the Juniors.

Katherine has had a great time in Year 1. She has a lovely group of friends that she loves spending time with, and although she has complained at times about the 'hard work' of Year 1 (this comes after the year of play she got in Reception!) she has progressed well in her reading and spelling.

Joshua has received a great report from Playgroup, his teachers are really impressed with his recent improvements and his confidence is growing and he is communicating so much with them now.

This month the girls had Sports Days, and did really well. Lauryn had a small Recorder concert during assembly that Travis & I were able to go and watch.

The beginning of July was the annual Ainsdale Show, and Lauryn, Katie & Joshua all put in some great efforts with their entries. Joshua won 1st prize for his model, and 3rd for a painting. Katherine won 1st prize for her Computer art picture of Hallie, and Lauryn won a 2nd prize for her decorated cake, 3rd for her Computer art picture of a Turtle, and a commended for her american sandwich. They were all really pleased. Travis and I were able to put in some community service, as we do every year at the Show. He helped out with the heavy work one night, and I helped the night before hanging artwork.

As soon as school broke up we have been busy, doing lots of fun things. We were able to go to the Tall Ships event in Liverpool, and watch them coming out of the River Mersey. It was a very impressive sight. Even though we had a long wait on the beach at Crosby, and it was a bit breezy, it was a lovely afternoon. That week we also had a day out to Fell Foot Park, a National Trust site on the shore of Lake Windermere. We like to kayak there, and its a good place for the kids to get some practise. Lauryn learnt to back paddle, and showed me her new thing weaving in and out of the rocks. She was alot better at it than I was. We had a fun time (Lauryn & I) in Kiwi 2, going up the river a small way, and then out onto the lake to look at the boats anchored in the water. Katherine & Joshua both got some more practise. Travis had another attempt at Rolling, but he really needs some instruction on this.

We went to the Robin Hood Festival at Edwinstowe in Sherwood Forest. It was an awesome day and a big highlight of the month for us. I had never been to Sherwood Forest before either, so I felt like a big kid myself. There was alot going on in the forest, activities, shows, small camps etc, and we walked to Major Oak, the legend has it was the secret camp of Robin Hood. It is a very impressive tree. In the clearing there was alot going on, and Lauryn & Josh did some archery, and Katherine made a Maid Marian headband, with flowers & ribbons. She really loved that. Jacob liked watching the clowns performing. We also really enjoyed the Bird of Prey Display and the Jousting Tournament, which was very entertaining.

The next day was Travis Intro to Whitewater course at Holme Pierrepont National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham. He has been looking forward to getting some proper instruction for a long time. During the morning he got very frustrated and tired as he was constantly being tipped out of his kayak. The instructor said that because its a playboat (the design on the back tip of the boat) and his weight it was sitting too low in the water and catching the current and he really didnt have a chance. In the afternoon he was given a different boat to try and despite being exhausted he did really well. As with being capsized - comes losing your paddle, something which most times they could retrieve quite quickly. While Travis was doing a run of the slalom course he entered a rapid on the wrong angle, flipped, but because he was in the run of grade 3 rapids it was as much he could do to get himself out. The instructor went after the kayak, and we thought the paddle would be a goner. Half way down the River Trent or something! I was quite anxious as I knew Trav would be since they cost a bomb! Kit is not cheap and so it was quite a worrying few moments, until we discovered a group of Firefighters who were on the course practising their rescue techniques, had caught it and pulled it out. Thanks guys! He had alot of fun, but is tired. His instructor is studying Engineering as well, so it gave them something to talk about. There were only 2 of them getting instructed so Travis did get alot of one on one help.