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 :)

Natalie's wedding

It was my cousin Natalie's wedding last weekend. Once Meg had finished feeding I enjoyed taking some photos as the bride, bridesmaids etc looked beautiful. I was quite pleased with some of the photos and planned to spend some time in photoshop improving them until I saw what James had taken - his photos are just FANTASTIC and make mine snapshots in comparison http://www.jameslp.com/Blog/ - BUT - I also know why James is able to take such great photos and I cant and also I got a shot he didnt :). He didn't have 4 children to take care of at the wedding, he didnt have a baby to feed, he has a fantastic new lens, he has time to spend editing his photos, he knows what he is doing in Photoshop because he has had time to
learn ........................................................................and he also has TALENT by the bucketload. He is hoping to use photography as a new career and if the photos from this wedding are anything to go by I think he'll make a great success of it. Wonder if he does Christenings???
A few of my snaps anyway - first the bride.
The pageboys in conference.

Josie looking gorgeous.
Cute pageboy - Ben thought he was hilarious and hasn't stopped talking about him yet.
Building with Jenga bricks on the lawn.

Bride and groom walking towards the photographer.
The Herricks.

And finally the shot James cant get no matter how good he is!!!!

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I have loads of other holiday photos to share but they will have to wait as Meg has woken - again (or rather Ben has woken her :()

WHY???????

Seemed like a really good idea at the time - splatter painting outside then wsh it off in the paddling pool. Tom and Sophie didnt want to join in so I just got things ready for Ben - then they changed their minds - all joined in - got very carried away and got covered in paint!! had fun though and all the clothes are already washed and luckily all the paint came off - phew!!!

Grandparents visit

Had a brilliant weekend with the three grandparents. john bought the most enormous pool - too big to be called a paddling pool - it took all day to fill but it was soooo worth it the children and a fantastic time and Sophie could even swim it was so deep. Once the children were out and it was a bit safer the adults had a paddle too as it was so hot.




Meg had several outfits on today - this was one of my favourites.

Tom and John camped in the garden - before they went to bed they toasted marshmallows - Tom got burnt twice but was very brave. They lasted most of the night in the tent but came in around 530am as the ground was too hard!!
Meg modelling one of her many hats!

Tescos sent us a '5-a-day' chart which Sophie took very seriously for the first few days. She and Tom eat a lot of fruit anyway (Ben doesnt ) but she made a point of having her 5 different colours within about half an hour of getting up each day so she could put her stickers on the chart - the novelty has already worn off!
Meg in my favourite outfit again - made a bit of a mess of uploading the photos so they are not in the right order - ooops

Meg having a cuddle in the shade with Granny Pat.

Ben paddling in the sandpit/paddling pool - we didnt realise until we took the cover off quite how much water can get in.
Meg in her first outfit of the day - a cute little number from GAP. have just been through some more of Sophie's clothes as Meg is growing so fast (despite not gaining weight) - so many of the clothes are looking old and worn - many were secondhand for Sophie - so unfortunately I will need to shop for new stuff - what a hardship :)

The children soaked John several times over the weekend - it wasnt always safe to try to catch it on camera as I got soaked too.

Grandma and Megan.

Photos of me!!!!!

Haven't been able to get blogger to work properly recently so huge back log of photos I want to get on!! Tom finally got his good school report present after losing his remote control airplane within 20 minutes. he was much happier with a megablocks dinosaur and gargoyle that he swaps the pieces around with others in his collection - much better present.

While he was at Toysrus John bought 4 new enormous water pistols 9dont ask!!!) Sophie managed but when full of water it was just too heavy for poor Ben!

Sophie and Ben had fun painting in the garden.


We finally planted out the sunflowers the children grew from kits Grandma sent at Easter - bit late so they are pretty tiny - no prizes for tall sunflowers here this year but looks like they may get flowers and the children are happy.

Let ben and Sophie lose with my camera again - quite pleased with Sophie's results - nice to be in the pics for a change :)

Had to post this shot of Thomas - he is just so fantastic with Megan - really brings out his gentle side.