young artist!!

Thomas often doesnt get his school work finished and when he does it is full of crossing out, scribbles and mess - the ideas are there but he struggles to get them down on paper. This week they have been looking at the Funnybones books and he has had to write his own Funnybones story and make a book cover - I was amazed at what he managed to do and made sure he knew how impressed I was with his art work - Ben has asked for a copy for his wall!! sweet!

Photos and family fun!

Having fun doing another of CJ's creative photography courses - really find them good for giving me inspiration and an excuse to ask the children to let me take even more pics. Ben needed bribing with painting but had fun taking shots while he worked.


Trying to get all three to cooperate at the same time was less than easy but still got a couple of shots I enjoy even if I did miss the course deadline for uploading - the second made CJ smile :)

Went into the boys bedroom in the morning to find Sophie reading to Ben - so sweet - and Tom is now regularly doing Ben's bedtime story and really enjoying reading to him.
Ben and I did some baking - he wasn't sure about cracking the eggs and it ended up in his hair, on the walls, floor and cooker but the cakes were delicious so that is ok!

Molly obliged with a well timed yawn !

Sat in the front garden with Sophie and Meg hoping to take pics of passers by for the course - hoping maybe someone on horseback - nobody walked by :( had fun taking shots of the girls instead and some insects :)

We have been playing a lot of board games recently as the children have been unwell adn the weather pants - Splashy the Whale is a big hit !!

Ben provided the perfect excuse to sit on a bench and people watch in harrogate yesterday - I was able to get the three photos I needed for the course without looking too conspicious.

Sophie kindly posed for the candid shots - she is eating the first apple picked from her tree - the tree is called FIFI - forget-you-not!
She enjoyed holding Meg in the sling for a walk round the garden - Sophie is surprisingly strong for a 5 year old!!
At playgroup today Ben spotted his best friend who has left playgroup to go to school - they waved at each other and shouted messages from their repective playgrounds - sad :( I know Ben misses him but he is making new friends now thank goodness and really having fun at playgroup - I was Mummyhelper today and he used Megan for show and tell and delighted in telling his friends that she does 'smelly poos!!'

holiday highlights

Grandma is getting withdrawal symptoms from my lack of blogging - havent taken many pictures since we got back as life has been too hectic - so here are a few holiday highlights to keep her going :) Had planned to have some carefully edited photos to show but just not enough hours in the day so these are all - bar the last - straight from the camera - some taken by mum - ie the ones I am in or my camera is :)

Ben enjoyed borrowing my camera - he also used Sophie's so we have lots of pictures of the ground and people's bottoms - just because they are at his head height I think?? Mum took this one of him zooming in on the grass :)

A little reminder for Grandma of the ride she enjoyed so much at Paulton's park - a great day out was had by all even if she spent the rest of it looking a little green :)

The 4 rascals in the forest - took the same shot at the same spot last year so tried again including Meg - Ben didnt cooperate as well this year no matter how hard mum and I tried but we still managed to get this shot :)

Took loads of closeups of Sophie looking gorgeous.

Had great fun on a windy day at milford onsea - Mum sheltered with Meg while the rest of us braved the beach to throw stones. Tom enjoyed a game of chicken with the sea - Ben copies everything Tom does so he tried too but forgot to run from the waves and got very wet - being a photographer I took pictures rather than try to save him!

Meg having a nap at Grandma's after a tiring time watching the olympics.

Hatchet Pond (2nd visit mum :))

Tom on the rare occasion he let me take a picture without a silly face.

Sophie posing again.

Didnt manage to get any decent pictures of the girls at the wedding as was busy feeding Meg and sorting out Ben so luckily Sophie agreed to pose in the cottage garden for me.

And a couple of pictures from home - Ben being lovely with Meg.

And finally the 'ugly baby' picture - long story not worth repeating - I am really pleased with this shot and think megan is gorgeous - but I may be a little biased :)