The Journey

So after what felt like an eternity we finally got here! These pictures of Hollie, whilst being very cute are very misleading. She most certainly did not sleep the whole of the journey. The first one is on the floor of the plaine. After making her all comfortable I had to pick her up, but she still slept! Thanks for the video of the kids, it was lovely to see them.

So after a quick stop off at church we arrived at Jennies new house-which is lovely! No time for a sleep-Jennie had cooked steak for dinner, yummy, then we quickly made treats for the youth fireside. Just time to get cleaned up and the kids into bed before my friend Hazel came over. It was lovley to see her and catch up. So after a long day and a lovly relaxing evening it was off to bed, only to be woken up by Hollie a few hours later as shes all wacked out with time changes! So still tired but loving it.

Thanks for the surprise mammy!

We were all upset when we had to wave Juli & Hollie off on their epic journey to Canada. To soften the blow Juli bought us all a little present and a card and hid them in the house. The kids had great fun finding it and even more fun opening it. Here is the video evidence of that. This is for Juli as she obviously couldn't be there to see them open their presents.

Back to School

I can't quite believe it's been 6 years since Emmaleigh started school! Since then I we've had a few first days!

Our latest being Anna-Belle. This wasn't her first day but as the older ones were going back she wanted to wear her uniform-typical Anna-Belle, wont wear her shoes and gets them on the wrong feet again! She was gutted when she had to come home-she couldn't understand why the "kiddies" could stay at school but she couldn't. Anyway, she's settled in now and loving it.

Last week of the Holidays

So on the last week of the holidays we finally got some half decent weather! Not wanting to waste the opportunity I took the kids off the Alnwick Gardens. I've been wanting to go there for some time but it's quite a drive and I thought it was expensive but it only ended up being £10.50 for me and the kids were 1p!

Theres this hugh pavillion which looks onto this amazing cascade of fountains. It's so beautiful.

I love the excitement on the kids faces as the fountains start, they all went a little crazy!

The kids all ran off ahead and by the time I caught up with them they were in this fountain fully dressed! Luckily they had already dumped their track suit tops and shoes on the pushchair!

Danny thought this was the best thing ever! It took all my powers of persuasion to get him out.

Anna-Belle on the other hand wasn't quite so enthralled about being soaked to the skin in cold water!

It was then off to the bamboo maze which was so much fun! I really was genuinely lost in the thing. If was fun running around with the pushchair through all the "tunnels"

I really was surprised by how much there was for the kids, so many path ways and ways to get wet. They could have ran around that place for hours!

This is the hugh tree house which is one the things I wanted to see but was actually disappointed with as it's mainly a restaurant, a nice restaurant but I thought is was going to be more for the kids.

Oh and last but not least in the gift shop we found mini Boris! There was no way I was getting out that shop without buying him. Danny was ecstatic! Helen, this is defiantly a place you will love, I'm putting it on the list for when you come visit again.

Lemon Meringue Pie

In an effort to cheer Chris up after a rotton weekend I thought I'd make him the lemon meringue pie he's been salivating over in my Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook. This is the finished product thats currently cooling in the kitchen. After licking my fingers whilst making it I can't wait-another amazing recipe from the HB. Mum I promise I'll make one for the Baptism.

The Park

The kids were going abit wild the other day so we took them over the road to the park to let off some steam. I love this park, it's just the other side of the wall opposite the house, it's lined with huge trees that block all the houses out. The bottom half has cows in it, and the best bit is when you're in it you feel like you're in the middle of the countryside. I can't believe I passed this park all the time and never went in it until we moved to this house.

Emmaleigh retrieving the ball from the cows! One particular cow gave me a shock the other night. I was sitting in the living room watching tele when I looked up and there she was, poking her head over the wall and looking straight at me. Silly thing made me jump, they don't usually come up this way. Our neighbours were saying that in the summer you can hear them mooing at night. Haven't heard them yet but I think I'll like that. Must take some pictures of they as they are beautiful looking cows.

This is one of my fav pictures of Hollie. I think this one is going on my wall.

Danny was so excited as he was able to start off by himself. He went off like a whippet right around the perimeter of the park.

Death of the highchair

At long last the highchair is no more. Hollie is now big enough to sit at the table. Yupieeeee, I think she likes it too.

Emmaleighs Birthday

Even though it was over six weeks ago I really needed to share some of the pics from Emmaleighs birthday. Our little girl is now 9! I can't belive how big she is. I have to say that this was one of the most relaxed and chilled out "parties" we have done and there has been a few. I'd got all my hair, make-up and general girlie gunk out, along with a few foot spas all set up and ready to go. All her friends came over in their pjs and dressing gowns, we made some banana & honey face packs and then just spent the evening pampering them, giving them foot massages, doing their nails, giving them facials etc. The girls LOVED it. They were doing each others hair and make-up. It really was 100% girlie time. We then had nibbles and cake and I'd made 'party bags' of bright pink flannels, bath pearls and hair bobbles. They looked great but no pic, sorry. This is Emm preparing herself for her face pack.

All gunked up with banana and honey.

Some of her friends enjoying and foot spa and pedicure.

Abbs getting in on the fun.
The girls all making their own face packs from a selection on ingredients. Some of them looked absolutely gross.
Had to put this one in of Emms friend. I just thought she looked so funny.

Anyway great party, she was a very popular girl that week-I was just exhausted.

Before and After

I know two posts in one day but I had to just quickly do this before and after. With so much to do on the house I forget how much we've done in only a few months.

Beavers and Wall

Too much has happened since our last blog that I'm not even going to try and catch up! Anyway, tonight was Daniels Promise night with Beavers. He loves going and was very excited. His friend Callum was doing his promise tonight aswell, all I can say is I hope their leaders know what they are letting themselves in for with them two there.

All lined up ready!
Making his promise

When he saw he was getting a scarf, woggle and badges!

All done and ready to come home.

The other achievement of last week was that we made a start on re-building the wall in the front garden. We had to take it down to make the drive wider as you couldn't open the car doors. Quite ironic really as the car has died and awaiting a trip to the garage. However all that time shifting stones in Bel Air has paid off as I think we've (really Chris) has done a great job.

This is about the best picture I could find of the wall before.

This is it after.

We need to do some more work on the half towards the house which I think we'll do tomorrow. I really underestimated at how long this takes but I do think it looks infinitely better than it did before, especially as neither of us has done this before. Well done Chris, really proud of you.