Jumping back in - part 2

I almost sobbed when I caught a brief glimpse of the kid's old school bus on friday;
gone are the days of waving them off at 8.35 in my slippers, before a 30 second amble back to the house.

Things couldn't be more different.

They're all at new schools, we're out the door at 7.20, and every week day I'm going to be in the car for over two hours, FOR EVER. Well that's what it feels like. The years of school runs are stretching before me.

But hey, it was our choice; and the problem with having it easy for so long was I was getting lazy. Some days I didn't leave the house. Some days I didn't see anyone apart from the kids and Beryl the bus driver.

How lucky was I getting all that time and space during the day? And no complaints about avoiding the school gate malarky either; but the more time I spent on my own, the less effort I was making to go out, anywhere. It really was next stop Hermitsville.
I also found I was getting less done at home. Things were starting to drift. It was time for a change.

So my plan is to squeeze every drop of positive out of our new daily routine. I needed a kick up the arse, and maybe this'll do it.

Totally out of the blue I got some work over the summer. Up to now I've talked a good game, then fear of failure has made me back off before things got too real. This time I didn't get the chance to wiggle out of it because it all happened so fast. Nothing very exciting, just some voice over work for a legal firm. But it's a start, I can fit into my day, and I'm in the early stages of setting up a website, which is going to be interesting for a techy biff like me. I will definitely need some help.

The other thing I'd really like to do, though does sound a bit lofty, is turn my Roll up to the Zoo posts into a kid's craft book. I haven't a clue how to go about it, but it's got to be worth a try?

Makes me laugh sometimes when I think how this blog has morphed into a glorified excuse to spend more time in charity shops, make soft toys, and fashion zoo animals out of loo rolls.

It has become a rather accurate reflection of the big kid that I am. But maybe some of it will lead somewhere? It's all stuff I love.

Anyway, lots to think about during the long school run.

Everything's a bit up in the air at the moment.

UP!

Turtles and Tortoises

Now, I had promised monkeys, but then my youngest came up with these, all by herself, and I thought they'd be perfect for our homemade zoo.

All you need is an egg box scissors, paint, a black felt tip pen and some glue.

First, cut out a few egg box cups, then push up and round the bottoms (push in and round the corners if yours are a bit square like these ones) - so they end up looking more dome shaped.

Painting time next, and don't forget to splosh some on both sides of the egg box lid, or any other spare piece of cardboard (for legs and heads)

When dry, use a felt tip to draw a pattern on the shell, and after perusing pictures online, we added some yellow and brown spots too.

All the other bits can be cut out of the painted lid - just a thin strip snipped into four for the tortoise's legs and a rounded head with a long neck.

Use nail scissors to make a slot for the neck on one side (adult supervision). Keep the scissors closed, press down and twist gently from side to side. A ball of plasticine behind the card makes this easier.  Widen the slot so your tortoise can retreat into its shell if things get too much...

For the turtle, make the legs more flipper or paddle like (draw and cut out one front and one back leg, then use these to draw the others)
Remember to make them extra long for sticking under the egg cup.

Glue the legs underneath, in the corners, and leave to dry upside down before bending into place.

We thought the penguin's pool might be a little on the chilly side for the turtles, so made them a more tropical one!

Monkeys next. Honest.