Before the Holidays

In the run up to the holidays I was doing alot in school. We had an Easter Egg hunt for the nursery and reception which was so much fun, although after doing it for the fourth time I was shattered. We also had the egg decorating competition. I feel sorry for my kids though as they can never win when I'm the judge. This is Abbs entry. We also had the mock wedding in that last week, getting us all in the mood for the royal wedding. It was really nice, even if it was a little cold that day. We all had to dress up in wedding attire. Abbs wore a bridemaid dress and I bought her some new sandels and hair things. She had a fab time. I was definatly ready for a break by the end of the week.

The Weekend

Wow that weekend went fast. Friday was the Mothers Day gift shop at school so I spent the morning at school busy wrapping the pressis the children had bought. I don't think I've seen the kids so excited to give their presents. Talking of Mothers day can I just say now, I think Mothers day and General Conference should be on the same day every year. I was able to have the most wonderfully relaxing Sunday, surrounded by my family watching conference. I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday.

We're finally getting the downstairs toilet plumbed in on Wednesday so I needed to get it all painted on Saturday. For some reason I thought it would be fun to get Abbs and Aimee to help me! I don't think I've ever seen white look so bright. I have to blink every time I open the door. Thankfully it wont be staying that colour, I need to give it it's top coat later.

I think Abbs was more excited about having painting clothes and a high pony tail than actually painting.

A quick trip to Asda and the shoe shop with Danny for yet another pair of shoes. A very quick tea of Chicken curry and just when I was thinking we were on the home straight and bedtime was in sight I remembered I'd promised Abs I would fix her bed, it's been a little wobbly so she's been sleeping top to tail with Hollie for about 2 weeks. I really couldn't put her off any longer so at 6.45pm on Saturday (15 mins before bedtime) I go to fix her bed. I thought it just needed tightening, at 7pm-bedtime I realized that just tightening the bolts wasn't going to work and for safety's sake the bunk beds had to come down. Chris and I then spend the next 1 1/2 hours rearranging the furniture in their bedroom.

Finally at 9pm we got the kids in bed and nearly asleep. I was shattered but at least I knew I would get a lie in in the morning.

Thanks to Fridays event at School and a very specific list for Chris I did pretty well this year, the new Hummingbird book, a very nice cast iron cassarole pan, perfume, luxury hot choc and massage oil. Being a mum is cool!

The cows are back!

How do we know when spring is here? When the cows come! When I opened the curtains the other morning they were there. I have to say they are not as pretty as last years cows but it is nice to have them back!

I think this one is the big scary mama. I'm glad there's a big strong wall between her and our house. I really do think she was staring right at me!

Bumps, bangs, burns, birthdays and teeth

Ok so on Sunday there wasn't much to write about, it had been red nose day on Friday so the kids got a non-uniform day and then Chris was sick all weekend, but what a week this week has been!

That was Aimees "red nose" as they had sold out when we went to buy them!

Lets see, Monday, other than the glourious sunshine was pretty uneventful, it seems so long ago now.

Tuesday was the day of the big announcment about the restructure at Chris's work. We were quite nervous as there was a very real possibility that he could have been made redundant. Thankfully as it turned out for him it was just his job title that changed from Senior Commercial Manager to Senior National Performance Manager for.......? That bit still needs to be decided. Of all the possible outcomes this was the best one. The first time in 3 years we don't have to say "we'll wait and see what happens with...." before making any plans. It's great!!! The sun was still shinning and Chris came with us to walk the kids to school then I walked with him to work. That was nice too, I love being able to walk everywhere.

Wednesday was school photo day-nightmare!! Trying to get all the kids out the house looking respectable is hard work. Abb wasn't well, but being the wicked mother I am sent her into nursery so she would be on the photo, only just as we got out the door she fell over and scrapped both her knees.

Bless her, I dropped her off at nursery sporting two huge plasters on her legs. It must have really hurt as she refused to walk anywhere for the rest of the week! The rest of the week has just become a real blur now. Aimee and Emmaleigh have also been in the wars. Aimee fell over at school and then I burnt her hand on the pancake pan on Friday.

Emmaleigh really hurt her leg playing in the garden, she can't remember how she did it but it looked really nasty at the time.

Danny lost his first tooth-with the help of Aimee I might add. Apparently she sneeked into his room after lights out "help" him. She hit him on the head with a book and told him that hurt more than if he let her pull it out!! As Aimee had lost a tooth just a few days before he believed her!

Thursday I went to Team Valley to pick up some garage shelving I'd bought off e-bay. I have to say that I LOVE it-how sad is that, but it has transformed the garage-I want more!

In the evening Chris and I got to go on a date to celebrate Tuesdays news. It was really nice to have some time on our own.

Friday was Anna-Belles 4th Birthday, she was so excited. We had a really nice day at home baking cakes and watching tele. This was her reaction the the crazy cat card the kids bought her. Every time she sees it she has fits of laughter.

She was still abit poorly so it was nice to have lots of snuggles.

Typically after having a beautiful week of sunshine, Saturday was abit miserable and now Hollie was ill so a family day out was off. Instead we took the kids to Smyths and Team Valley. Toy shops are always a winner!

I think the saying "you have to break eggs to make a cake" applies to our garden at the minute. All the paving slabs have now gone after I sold them for a whopping £90 on e-bay! I'm waiting for Eric to finish making my raised beds out of the decking we took up. I accuired a few old tyres so Emmaleigh has spent loads of time devising an assult course. You can just see the tyre swing that she loves!We've told the kids they can have the garden garage as a club house so they are busy making plans. That will be a project for the Easter holidays.

Ok, word to the wise, never ask a child with a lisp to say Chitty Chitty bang bang!

Beaches, building, singing and birthdays

Well I guess I should start at the beginning! We've had some really lovely weather over that last few weeks. Sunshine and clear skies but a certain chill in the air! Last Sunday as one of those days so after Church we decided to head off to Seaham to watch the waves. Now that I've discovered a quick way to get there I plan on spending more time at the beach. It was freezing so we didn't stay as long as we planned but it was good to get some fresh air!

Notice how cold it looks at the bottom of the cliffs! As the tide was in there were quite alot of fishermen there. I was quite suprised by how many actually.

As the weathers been better Eric came over this week to make our raised beds out of the decking we took up. Emmaleigh was very keen to give him a hand. Can't wait fot them to be finished so I can get planting.

Last week wasn't as hectic as it usually is but the weekend certainly made up for it. On Sat morning Chris and I had our Strengthening Marraiges workshop followed by the kids Primary activity, followed by a party for Abbs. That was a long day!

Sunday was Church but in the evening Emmaleigh and Aimmes school choir were singing at the Empire in the school choir competition. As they needed to be there early it ment that Chris and I had a very quiet afternoon. I can't remember the last time we were able to have a nap together during the day! Anyway the singing was amazing. They sang Amazing Grace and Calafornia Dreaming. We weren't suprised that they remain the winners of the primary schools, narrowly missing out to St Roberts for the overall winners. Our schools ticket allocation was up in the gods so we were all feeling a little giddy by the end of the evening.

After picking the kids up and getting home it was a very late night. Monday was Hollies birthday so there was no lie in. We just had a bit of a chill day and a birthday tea. Can't believe she's 2 already!

This morning was Abbs nursery trip to the soft play-(the same place one as Sat party) Hollie got to go too, so they had plenty of fun playing with all their friends. I have a school meeting tonight so I guess it never lets up.

World Book Day

So it's that time of year again where all the kids get to go to school dressed up as their favorite character from a book. Oh the joys, there is always a drama but they look great in the end.

This was Anna-Belles first year and loves her dressy up dog so decided to go as one of the Dalmatians from 101 Dalmatians, not the easiest of costumes to fit under a coat I might add.

Aimee decided to go as Kate, a character from a series of books she is reading at the minute. Judging by this picture they have alot in common. I think she was just loving the fact she could go to school with a muddy face.
Danny went as Danny from Danny the Champion of the World. He loves Roald Dahl and must have read this one at least five times! I think he loves the fact that it's him and his dad taking on the world. A bit like him and Chris taking on the women of the house. Pity I cut up the only pair of school trousers that aren't too short!!!!!
Oh and then there's Emmaleigh, well I think you can see who she went as. She's Harry Potter mad at the minute. When I took the braids out her hair I was actually taken aback by the likeness although I don't think this picture does it justice. I was actually quite pleased with the gown, I made it up as I went a long at nearly midnight while Chris was frantically coloring in fabric to make the tie. I truly take comfort in the fact that she will be doing the very same thing for her children at some point!
She won best costume in her class ( I didn't know it was a competition!) so she was a very happy lady that day.

Half Term and the rest!

Half term couldn't come quick enough, Chris had booked the week off and were very much in need of a lie in-well as much of one as we can get. Not having to get dressed and out the door by a certain time is even better. The week however went sooo fast. Before we knew it was Tuesday so with the sun making an appearance we decided to tackle the garden to make it a bit more kid friendly.

It was great to have the kids use the garden, in our old house they were in the garden all the time, something they haven't done in this house. Hollie really enjoyed having the freedom to run around and LOVED the trampoline.

Wednesday I couldn't move and most of the day is a blur, Thursday we went to Newcastle to meet up with some friends and let the kids burn off some energy with their friends. It's become abit of a tradition that as soon as the holidays come we send out an open invite to all parents of young children in the stake to meet up one day somewhere. Last summer we were at the beach, Beamish, parks all over the place-great fun and something to look forward to!

After this we got to go to Ikea and look at kitchens-oh and my new fav place-NEXT Homestore. It was finally open and the kids even enjoyed it, with the promise of Toys r us on the way back to the park.

Friday we made the trip to Notts for Sarahs surprise 30th birthday meal. It was good to be back home. We had a really good night and the kids loved it.

On Sat morning I took Dad for breakfast to a cafe in Newark. Actually Dad chose the place. It was this amazingly old building that Charles I used to meet his mistress in (did I get that right Dad) It was great to spend some time with Dad and you can never go wrong with a fully cooked breakfast, it's definitely one of my favourite meals. While we were having our breakfast Mum took the kids to jolly jungle-a must as far as the kids are concerned. They love that place soo much and it really tires them out. Back to grandmas for lunch and just chilled out for a bit.

We decided to head back in the afternoon as we needed to get things ready for Sunday then back to school Monday- really it was all over in a flash!

This week had been good so far. It's been cold but the we've had some lovely sunshine so we've been out in the garden again.

Enjoying the fruits of my labours, after shifting 1 1/2 tonnes of gravel I decided to buy lunch and eat it in the sun. I just want to paint the fence now!!

It was Emmaleighs turn to bring the harp home this holiday. I think I was a little more excited that she was. I have to say I've always wanted to have a piano in the house but if I had a choice I think I would have the harp. It was such a lovely sound and Emmaleigh was so good. I was genuinely surprised at how good she was. I guess we'll have to start saving up!

Garden

The first dry day of the holidays meant that it was time to cause utter devastation in the garden. Emmaleigh really got stuck in. Aimee played with her friends while saying that she was working and Daniel sat in the house the whole day with a selectionof electronic devinces. We were out all day and I don't think that he even realised that we were not in the house.

The biggest task of the day was to remove the decking outside of the conservatiory door.

A sledgehammer swing and crowbar later and it was well on its way.

Within 2 hours it was gone and the garden opened up massively.

Fun Week!

Wow what a week, Monday, other than Valentines, was parents evening. With 3 lots of teachersto see in one evening it is always abit of a logistical nightmare. This year I was lucky and managed to get appointments one after the other. I was feeling very happy with myself for getting done in 30 mins and allowing myslf some time to get ready for our romantic meal!

So how have the kids done. Well Danny teachers said he is an absolute joy and the love having him in their class. He's always well behaved and very thoughtful. He's doing really well and had speeded up with his writing. Aimees teacher said that she too was doing well. She's getting her head down and her writing is beautiful.Emmaleighs teacher is new and then has been off most of the time as he had a very nasty leg brake. Quite litterally all he said was "shes doing really well, no problems" So very pleased with the kids.

I had alot of PTA stuff on last week too so I was at the school quite a bit. Wednesday was the school disco which we have down to a fine art now. The kids were a real help actually. I was suprised at how well they behaved. We had just all got home when Chris got a call from the Elders asking if he could take them to their appointment as the car they were in had broken down. Chris then spent the rest of the evening helping them.

Friday we were at the hospital for Dannys scan. He did really well. He was so brave having his injection and then just lay very still watching Ben 10 wile they took all the pictures they needed. We just have to wait now for the doctor to get back to us now. We stopped off at Sainburys on the way back to school for "treats" He chose a MoshiMonsters magazine and hasn't stopped talking about it since!

These are just some pictures from the other week when the kids were going stir crazy in the house so I insisted Chris took them to the park to burn off some energy. I have never seen so much mud in all my life!

I love this one of Hollie.

This os the only one of Aimee smiling. She spent the whole time moaning and having a face like this!

Dannys little find!

Emmaleigh enjoying herself. She loves being outside making up adventures.