bad photo day :(

Despite having friends to play really didn't get any decent photo opportunities today - didn't even manage HS:MS perfume as by the time chaos had settled it was dark so will that tomorrow in the light - can't have a day with no photos at all tho (not already!!) so tried and failed to take a picture of my enormous bump!! the out of focus feet really put it into perspective - not a great picture but it is a start and I hope to have better bump pictures to share as the weeks go on :)

SNOW!!!!!

Fantastic snowy day today - children didn't need any encouragement to get dressed. Prompt for 365 day challenge today is a quote by Ali Edwards ' Life is too short and too amazing to spend time worrying about imperfections' - the following photo of ben in the snow today fits that prompt for me - I had forgotten to alter the ISO on my camera so it was at 1600 and Ben closed his eyes - and yet still I love this shot! of his first time playing in the snow.

John came home for a quick play but made a hasty retreat when he realised the children were actually quite good shots and he was getting wet!

Tom got a bit thirsty - luckily he is not tempted to try any yellow snow!! only freshly falling stuff.

George had a fantastic time - running around like a lunatic ears flapping - he ate quite a bit of snow too and wasn't quite as discerning as Tom!

HS:MS is back with the prompt WHITE - plenty of white stuff around but decided to take a pic of my favourite garden ornament - a majestic lion that is finally hanging on the back wall and looks great with the virginia creeper growing round it but also looks good in the snow!

Just a few more snowy pics for Grandma!! - Ben with his eyes open this time!

And Sophie looking cute in her lovely red coat.



And finally Bloblet the Snome - although we had quite a lot of snow today there wasn't enough (or enough patience !!) to build a snowman so we built a Snow Gnome instead and Tom called in Bloblet the Snome !

Another day at home

Why do children especially boys have to make so much loud noise?? My head feels like it is going to explode. Only managed to get out of the house once today - to the garage to put out the recycling :( - had planned another nice walk with George as the sun was shining and it was a nice crisp day but at no point today was everybody dressed - they were either ill or saying in a minute so in the end I gave up. Hence today's less than inspiring pics - we did bake bread and I realise now I could have taken some lovely arty shots of the freshly baked loaf but it got hacked into and eaten before it had even cooled so not much chance of that. We bough k-nex for Ben for Christmas as his present from Grandma and Grandad - Tom already has some - Tom has rediscovered his love for it and played with it all day creating some amazing monsters.

Photo a day

As I am going to have so much free time this year (NOT!!) had decided to try to take at least one photo a day to document our lives - have also now signed up for the 365 photo and journalling challenge so hope to combine the two. Took a few photos today of Sophie and Ben painting.

The prompt for today was a quote by Charlie Chaplain - 'a day without laughter is a day wasted' well watching Ben concentrate with his tongue poked out always makes me chuckle.

And as for the 'Mr Independent' I can go to the toilet by myself and so what if you refuse to put my trousers on without my pants (Mum will understand this row!! it happens a lot) then I can manage myself - just a shame they were inside out and rolled over at the top - he looked hilarious and must have been so uncomfortable but he still insisted he wouldnt wear pants so I couldnt help him - :)

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 :)