Smiler :)

Just taken Megan outside for a few photos before the school run - laid her on a white sheet on the trampoline out of George's way and she loved it really playing to the camera and smiling away - what a star :) changed to black and white as her skin is red and spotty again :( but otherwise not edited as rushing out the door.

100th post!!!!

Megan is smiling a lot these days so actually managing to get a few pictures :) not the best technically but LOVE the expression :)

And for those nagging for pics of me here's two Ben took for me using my SLR (gulp!!) yesterday.

I had fun playing with dof and Megan's feet in the garden.
Thursday was sports day at the children's school - Tom and Sophie were in the same team as they have teams with children from all classes representing different countries - mine were in Canada - they put so much effort into it - Tom got a ball in the basket and Sophie came second in the running. Their team also came top and so did their house 'Matthew'. Ben tried to join the toddlers race but they started before he was ready which caused a bit of a paddy but thankfully he got over it very quickly. Megan had a quick feed at the beginning then slept once Granny Pat had rocked the pram enough for her - and as Ben managed to find some new friends to play with I was able to leave Granny Pat looking after Megan and concentrate on getting some photos of my 2 and another girl whose mum didn't have a camera. all straight from camera as life is too hectic for editing right now :)

Photo overload!!

Just returned from a fantastic weekend at Center Parcs - went to the Sherwood Forest one to make the most of the children having Fri and Mon off school for teacher training. Granny Pat came too which was great as with 4 children another pair of hands is always needed and Meg is feeding really frequently again so I was happy to have someone to natter to. John was able to get time off work so could relax and enjoy himself too. First a couple of pics of Meg from last week - thankfully her skin has almost cleared up so I am able to take and share photos again :)

She is always content in Granny Pat's arms - shame she has to go home sometimes to recuperate from the exhaustion of being with my brood!

Sophie and Thomas have improved so much in their swimming especially in their confidence so are able to enjoy the pool so much more. Ben is frighteningly confident - fearless almost which worried John!!

Megan has started to be colicky and unsettled but is also starting to real smile and take note of who is talking to her - she slept really well - all the fresh sir helped - she couldn't go swimming as had no vacs yet but was happy to watch from the side with me feeding or having a cuddle with Granny Pat.

Being in Sherwood Forest Tom was keen to get a bow and arrow - he seemed quite a natural with it which was good as I feared he would get frustrated if he couldn't do it.

We had tea one night at the pancake house - Sophie's was called Chocolate Heaven so Ben named his Milk Heaven - appropriate for him :)

Thomas enjoyed his horrible looking blue drink - tried not to think too much what the effect of all the colourings could be - he was fine of course :)

He is loving the reaction he gets from Meg now - of all the children he is the gentlest with her and she seems quite content when she hears his voice.

Sophie enjoyed getting so close to nature - rabbits, squirrels and loads of birds.

I loved seeing this woodpecker at the nature centre - hoped to get a better photo but the hide was busy and I couldnt change view point - enjoyed seeing the birds though.

Sophie and Granny Pat had a good look, Ben stayed for and while but Thomas didnt go in he was too busy following the rubbings trail.

John enjoyed looking for fish in the various bits of water.

A fantastic weekend leaving us all exhausted but happy and with a mound of washing to be done :)

Gone fishin'

Had a great day yesterday at a children's trout fishery near Grassington - long drive to get there but through fantastic countryside with magnificent views so that wasn't too much of a problem. The children all really enjoyed the fishing and all caught fish - Ben wasnt keen to hold his but he did catch one. Thomas and Sophie had no problems posing with theirs.



Sophie had quite a conversation with hers !!

Thomas finally persuaded Ben to touch a fish.

We are eating them for lunch today - they all love fish and had some yesterday at the cafe too - good healthy weekend for a change. Sophie must be the only 5 year old who presented with a plate of rainbow trout and chips eats all the fish and leaves the chips!!

I enjoyed the fishing too but also enjoyed the opportunity to take loads of photos (for a change!!) Megan was fantastic - slept peacefully in the fresh air then had a relaxed feed while the children played at the adventure playground. We also had to have enormous icecreams - a lovely day :)

Megan

Poor Megan - her face became really sensitive at about 2 weeks but then for the last week or so it has also been infected and so sore for her - took her to the GP on Monday and have been using antibiotic cream since and it is improving a lot but she still doesn't look exactly photogenic which is really frustrating as I so want to take lots of photos of her - so have been concentrating on focusing on toys and keeping her face OOF in the background and shots of hands and feet.


Granny Pat enjoyed having a play with my SLR to help me get this shot - will have a play in photoshop to change the crop slightly and may change to black and white when I get the chance but really pleased with the initial photo - so glad mum 'gets' scrapbooking and photography too as it is great to get some baby shots with me in them as well :)

Megan is really focusing now and seems to respond to voices especially mine and Granny Pat's - we sound so alike I bet it is a bit confusing for her at times when the same voice seems to be coming from 2 directions :)