Cabin Fever

Finally managed to get the children out of the house today now that they and I am well enough. We managed an hour's gardening this morning - didnt achieve a great deal but the fresh air was lovely. They all enjoyed hacking at the lavendar and I am sure it will recover in the spring! This afternoon we took George for a walk - this treat is normally reserved for John as George pulls so much I worry he will pull me or the children over. Decided though that Tom may be old enough to try taking a bit more responsiblilty for him and he really enjoyed being in charge of the lead.
To start with George ran off with Tom dragged behind him crying until he finally gave up and let go of the lead - Sophie caught George (good old Sophie!!) and we calmed Tom down and he tried again trying to be calmer this time and reminding George not to pull - worked a bit better.

Then Sophie decided to have a try and she did brilliantly - really calm and in control so George responded the same - she even managed to let ben have a go and helped him control George. We met some nice people walking dogs and a toddler in a buggy who loved George oh and a miserable old man on a bike who nearly knocked us down and didnt even say thanks when I got everyone out of the way for him - it is a narrow country lane with no pavements and loads of dog poo on the verges so quite where he expected us to walk I don't know.

I even got a chance to have a play with the camera in preparation for my daily photos this year - all in all a great walk but the moment we got back in the bickering started again - aaaaarrrrggghhhh!

Christmas chaos!!

The chaos started on Christmas eve with the arrival of the inlaws - my mum was already here. I went into town for the last few bits and as I went at 8 got parked and finished shopping before 930 when the hoardes arrived! Sophie and I had great fun making a cookie tree she especially enjoyed dribbling the icing 'snow' - not much left now - glad I remembered to take a pic even if it is a bit blurry !
Christmas morning pics are pretty crap as I was half asleep having been awake most of the night and the night before with a vomiting Thomas :( - Santa had managed to leave 3 huge sacks of pressies with some more that wouldnt fit - Sophie and Tom did well ripping them open Ben got fed up after a while and kept going back for more as the morning went on.

Christmas lunch seemed to take forever to cook - I was really glad to have Mum's help and to be honest she did most of it as Buttercup was making me tired - at least we remembered the sprouts and sweetcorn!!

We had party poppers as well as crackers and the children had great fun with them - several streamers ended up in food and drink but it was still a laugh - we are still finding bits round the house too!


Splashy the Whale was a big hit until Sophie got tired and decided she didnt like getting squirted!

recent layouts

Done quite a few layouts recently but havent had time to share them so here they are :)
First a scraplift from Jennie - this is decorating the tree in 2005 - determined to get through the pile of older pics before the memories fade.

A recent center parcs holiday where Sophie used some fantastic wrong words - she was very annoyed when she saw this layout but I like it :)

Some photos from the summer and a trip to Wonderland a theme park for littlies but even there the rides were too high and scary for Thomas :(

Same Center Parcs trip and a huge amount of journalling explaining how much especailly the older two have come on in their swimming since starting lessons - very busy layout but tells the story and wanted to include all the photos but didnt feel they deserved loads of layouts so piled them all onto one. used glossy accents to look like water and quite pleased with the end result.

This summer exploring the garden of our holiday cottage - loving using blocks of small photos to tell a memory with photos that are not necessarily great but added together have impact.

Abd last a CZ scraplift with a funny pic of Ben - have several pics of the day but one was really enough to tell the story - pleased with this one.

HS:MS

Not great pics but at least I am uptodate - yesterday was drawer - couldnt resist Sophie's pink fairy ones :)
and today - glass - finished decorating the tree when suddenly remembered the lovely glass decs MIL bought me a few years ago that havent been out of their packaging yet as look like they would break without being touched - thought I had better risk them this year tho as they are coming for Christmas - I put them on rather than letting the children and have tried to make sure they are safe!

copycat time

Fancied starting anew collection (as we dont have enough junk in the castle!!) saw a LO by Cheryl I think where she showed off her latest snow globe and said she bought a new one every year - found this one in a local garden centre and loved it but talked myself out of the unnecessary expense then got a lovely surprise a few days later when my mum arrived at my house with one for me as a present - it plays music and the little train goes round - very kitsch but I love it!!

As if one new copied collection wasnt enough I then read about Jen's new santa hunt - and decided I too would buy a new santa every year and make it a tradition - fell in love with this wooden one when we went to see Santa at the farm shop last week - he has pride of place in the new kitchen and am looking forward to providing him with friends each year.

Christmas treats

For the last ballet class before the end of each term we are allowed to watch which is great fun - photos dont come out very well as the hall is quite dark adn the little darlings move around too much but got some great videoing - Sophie wasnt keen to go today as she is soooo tired but she eventually agreed and really seemed to enjoy herself.
Finally got the tree - we dont get it until after Ben's birthday anyway but then the house was such a pit I wouldnt let John get it until I was straight - we had great fun decorating and love the hotch potch very pink result!! - just need to get some decent pics now :)

HS:MS

Finally caught up - first was moonlight - had to wait for the moon for this one :)
Then Laces - these old boots have been without laces for so long am glad to see them happy again
Then teddy - this was Sophie's first when she was a baby - she has said she wants our new baby girl to have it - found out from the scan today that we are having another pink one :)

Playgroup nativity yesterday was lovely - Ben cooperated really well with the rehersal and I got one good picture of him and lots of lovely ones of the other children which we then sell for playgroup funds. Glad I got a picture of Ben in the rehersal as after that he refused to wear his costume then left the stage - then he wanted to sit on my lap so couldnt take any other photos either - second year running I havent had anyone on the stage for the performance!
Fantastic day today - we went to The Farmer's Cart just outside York as a playgroup outing - 26 children with mums and grannies!! to see Santa! We rode ona sleigh pulled by an orange tractor. Ben was very patient as we had to go in groups - 3 groups went and returned with pressies then the last sleigh was filling up fast - everyone got on except us there just wasnt room - Ben was really upset but the driver was lovely and assured him he'd come back for him. He came back really quickly and 2 other children decided to have an extra turn . When we got to santa instead of squashing in as a group of 10 children there were only 3 of them and it was fantastic - Santa spent ages with Ben as he knew he had been upset - Ben had a great time.




We also fed some very hungry goats and a meany bully shetland pony and had a fantastic lunch - a great day!!

HS:MS a day late

A day late so broken my resolution to keep up to date already but just couldnt think of anything yesterday. This morning opened the front door to a frosty scene but late for school - managed to snatch a minute to take a picture of the frosty windscreen though complete with temp guage reading -4 - brrrrrr - not as cold as jems and kathy I know but for us cold cold cold.

Today's prompt is moonlight - hmmm maybe later :)

My other baby is 3!!!!

Another birthday in the family - this time Big Boy Benjamin - cant believe he is 3 already - he only had one pressie from us as it was a biggie combined set of the planet protector figures from ELC - he was thrilled. Even more pleased with his pressie from Tom and Sophie tho - a scooby doo dressing up outfit that he has been wearing (without a nappy!!!) since he unwrapped it nearly 2 hours ago - oooops!
Small party yesterday with a few friends from playgroup - didnt realise 8 small children could trash a house so effectively in 2 hours - Off to the Christmas Fair at school today to man the secondhand toy stall but I am sure John will have it all tidied by the time I get back!!

Ben is loving his Scooby Doo outfit - he got some fantastic presents from family and friends - books we dont have (and we have quite a library at the castle) space related toys which are a big hit, a fridge magnet game, hungry caterpillar game, teletubby playset etc etc - now to find space to store it all before the Christmas pile!!

Proud Mummy Moment !!

From Grandma and Grandad (chosen by me but paid for by them :) ) for Tom's birthday he got an elctronics kit - he was soooo proud of himself when he made a circuit to switch on a lightbulb - something so simple which gave him - and me - such pleasure it had to be captured in a photo!