Perfect Housewife

back for a quick update.

2009-10-23T22:49:00.001-07:00

October really is a hectic month for me, so once again I am apologising for not blogging sooner, but it is not one of the important things in my life at the moment!

Let's see, we have had the 'Your Touch of Craft Autumn Workshop', which was a great success as always, although we did run out of time! Big news for next year......Amanda has booked...... DONNA DOWNEY!! yes, she will be teaching in Bury St Edmunds in April of next year and if you want your name on the list phone Amanda NOW!

I have done a little crafting, I have the gorgeous new Cath Kidston 'sew' book, which comes with everything needed to make a bag, so I made that straight away! I have also made the children pen and pencil rolls for taking on holiday.
Annie and I spent a great evening making these Autumn banners (Annie's said fall). I found this on the pink paislee blog and found the supplies on the scrapbook nook kit club, we are so please with how they turned out.........

Then Henry turned 8! Yes it really is a month of birthdays as my niece also had a birthday (the day before Henry she turned 3!)

This is a picture of Jonathan's dad Reggie holding Henry when he was a week old,
And look how tiny he is here at one day old...............
And this is my Grandad holding him at one day old.........

And this is him when he'd just been born, 8lbs 7oz's and a typical lazy boy who had to be induced!

He is still so laid back (although a worrier like his mummy) and very cheeky, he loves his cuddles, snuggles and kisses, love him so much xxx

The cake request was easy, I just had to put 'muddy' icing on top and Henry set up all his soldiers! I have to tell you that as much as I LOVE to bake, the only chocolate cake worth making is the Betty Crocker Fudge cake, so chocolaty and moist!

So with all that going on, plus work, plus cubs, dance, swimming, choir, orienteering club and guitar club, life is a whirlwind!

Lastly, managed to get together with Annie for her to take a few family snaps, love this one....

Promise I will be back

xxx

Birthdays & Anniversaries

2009-10-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

Today this little cheeky munchkin turned 4!

Just look at her four years ago, where has the time gone?

and look at Henry, how cute is he here? For the first and last time he is double Evies age now!

And tomorrow Jonathan and I celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary - again - where has the time gone?! Look how young and skinny we are.............

Jonathan has meetings in London the next couple of days so I am hopping on the train and going to join him, hopefully we will be able to see a show too!

And lastly another YTC sneak peak for this Sunday, the in Annie's gorgeous Christmas mini album

Be back soon xx

October Already!

2009-10-01T04:22:00.000-07:00

You already know how much I LOVE Autumn! and the this photo on my Ideal Home calender sums it up really - isn't it delish!
October is such a busy month for us, with both the children's birthdays, the countdown to Evie's party is on the fridge:
plus my nieces birthday, our wedding anniversary (13 years this month!) and this year Amanda and I are holding another YTC Workshop, so much to do and so little time! I have managed a little scrapping, I have done Shimelle's 'Learn Something New Everyday' class and loved it - and finished it on time!I also subscribed to Homegrown Hospitality 's 'Home for the Holiday online classes and have already made Henry some laminated cards with his friends photos and details on, I have made Evie some laminated letters for tracing over and have started a school years book for them both, I have also made this gorgeous home decor project, completely lifted from one Annie did for Scrapbook Review.

Talking of Annie we actually managed to catch up with her and Spike on Saturday night when Annie cooked an amazing Mexican meal - Mexican is my absolute favourite food. We have been trying to get together for months.

We went to Ipswich on Sunday afternoon and took the children to Christchurch Park, it's gorgeous and has a great children's play park

Evie has started dance classes: Primary Test Modern, she seems to be loving it and is desperate for me to buy her the correct outfit!

And I am holding the second 'Creative Croppers' crop on Friday 9th October and I am teaching a chipboard flip album titled 'Autumn Favorites' If you are interested in coming to crop please e-mail me, the more the merrier!

And as I mentioned before the second YTC Workshop is being held on Sunday 11th October, we do have a few spaces left and the classes are gorgeous - here's the first sneak peak of one of Suezie Howard's classes, which is a Christmas Home Decor project, I am going to be lot's of these for gifts this Christmas! Honestly, if you are not already booked hurry up and phone Amanda NOW !!!

Have a great weekend and I hope to be back with Evie's birthday photos soon!

A quick catch up with photos....

2009-09-19T12:54:00.000-07:00

life is as hectic and busy as ever, feeling quite stressed and so this is just a quick catch up with photos!

This is my amazing friend Elaine, who does not know the meaning of stressed, she tackles everything with amazing ease, including three children and a partner who works long hours as well as working herself. When I phoned last minute in desperate need of child care she quite happily took them in for a sleep over - how excited were my two!

Evie is finding five afternoons a week in nursery quite tiring!
Jonathan is away loads in September as always, so the children and I have been keeping busy, this was a trip to the Abbey Gardens last Saturday.
I suddenly remembered that I had been given a bicycle for Evie by a friend over a year ago, so I got into mum & dads loft where it was being kept and found it is now the perfect size for Evie and so much easier for her to ride than her old toddler Fifi one! She is so different from Henry and was off like a shot with no fear, so now we can all ride our bikes to school!

We had a lovely day at friends last Sunday, a delicious lunch followed by Neil taking the children out on the river - a wonderful way to spend a Sunday.

Evie came home from school this week and took the letter 'e' off the fridge:- 'Mummy, this is e for Evie' !! Bless her!

The children enjoyed picking all the apples from our little apple tree in the garden (sorry for poor photo. - How gorgeous are Evie's new boots!)

Henry has moved from Beavers up to Cubs and took his promise this week.

And last but not least, Evie has had a hair cut at last!

Life is not going to get any calmer for a month or so, I will try and keep updating as much as I can!

Thanks for dropping by xx

A big catch up

2009-09-09T11:50:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry about the lack of blogging, I have to admit I am a bit off blogging at the moment, but here I am ready to try and fill you in on the last few weeks! Firstly I have done lot's of crafting! The door stop is a fantastic cloth kits kit! and all the rest is Mosh Posh kit's, except Evies birthday invitations which I used a template for and followed some of Suezies designs.

I'm going to work backwards and start with school! Look how grown up my babies are! Both are really enjoying school/nursery. Henry has just been voted onto the school council so Jonathan & I are very proud of him!

Back to the last couple of weeks of the summer holidays, we went to Bath,

Beautiful Ross on Wye to visit Jonathans brother Philip and his mum,

Woodbridge to visit friends on their boat - fantastic fun day, the children loved crabbing!

The children and I went to Bressingham Steam park and Gardens

and we all went to Africa Alive

This is on top of trips to parks, picnics and visits to friends - no wonder the holidays went so fast!
I held the first Creative Croppers crop and class, it was a great night and thanks to all those ladies who supported me, the next one is going to be on Friday 9th October, details will be e-mailed to those on my list soon, if you want to join the list please leave me a comment or e-mail me - the more the merrier.

Also, Your Touch of Crafts Autumn Workshop is coming up quickly, Sunday 11th October with four class, a make and take, a goody bag, lunch and refreshments through out the day, £65 is a bargin - book soon, before it's too late!

I am taking Shimelles 'Learn something new everyday' class during September and loving it! I have done online classes before and not been too sure, but this one is great and I managed to get a kit which I love!

Well I promise to try harder with my blogging from now on! Thanks for bearing with me xxx

Bad, bad blogger!

2009-08-13T12:05:00.000-07:00

where has the time gone? last week was opticians, dentist, doctors.........you get the idea! Then my parents took the children to North Norfolk camping, they just got back today after a fun filled 5 nights away. Henry in particular had a fantastic time making friends and playing at the camp site, his idea of heaven!
Jonathan and I went up on Sunday and I stayed the night, few fun shots of beach and Evie's bath!

Whilst they were away I decorated Evie's room, it hasn't been done since I was pregnant with Henry 8 years ago! And with Amanda's help I managed to get the main furniture from Ikea, I am so pleased with how it turned out and she loves it!

I also spruced Henry's up and gave him a new shelving unit so he is also a happy bunny!

The next news is that I am hoping to start up a monthly crop to be held on a Friday evening in Bury, I will also do a class for anyone who is interested and the first class with be a beginners mini album, so anybody interested please either e-mail me or leave a comment and let me know which Fridays you are free during the next couple of months!

I have a sore throat tonight and am feeling tired so am off to bed.

Night, night xxx

Poorly Laptop

2009-08-04T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yup, my laptop got a 'spy worm' which will try to find your passwords and credit card numbers - both of which I have now changed - a pain, but necessary! I do have an anti-virus, but I guess these things find ways to get through.
I have done a little bit of crafting ready for when I decorate Evie's room:

Last week was pretty busy, Henry had activities at the Leisure Centre, we also went swimming and met up with friends at the park and cinema and these are my two loving their fruit (honestly, such fruit bats!)

Took this one from our first floor sitting room french windows of the children lying in the sun sucking the sweetness out of the honeysuckle - did you ever do that when you were little? I did!

And Henry went to a one day 'Joseph' workshop run by my lovely and talented friend Polly. He arrived at 9.15am with lunchbox and we arrived at 4.30pm to watch the show! It was amazing what they had achieved in one day with twenty 7-13 year olds! Henry even sang two lines of a song solo - brought tears to my eyes (in a good way!), and he played the part of the Pharaoh.

So all in all pretty busy, this week is haircuts and dentist!

Have a good week xx

Time flies when your having fun!

2009-07-26T11:48:00.000-07:00

Well, the first week of the school holidays is over already and we sure have been busy! They spent Monday at the Seaside with my mum whilst I was working then Henry spent the next four mornings at our churches holiday club - Razzamatazz Robots when he had great fun. We have also been swimming, been to a friends party and had friends over to play.

Actually on Saturday I had five children here from 10am until 5pm and I still managed to clean the whole house, wash the towels and bedding and makes meringues and ice cream ready for friends coming over for lunch today!

This is Evie dressed up for her Hawaiian party on her last day at pre-school

And this is Henry and I last Sunday at Auntie Peggy's where we went for tea to celebrate Jonathan's mum's birthday

So the Summer Bingo has not been so popular! Henry was full of it last weekend, but when he realised that it might be hard work he was not so enthralled! We will try again this week.

So I hope your holidays are going well, fingers crossed for a little more nice weather!

New starts........

2009-07-13T13:38:00.000-07:00

....but lot's of endings too! Henry is leaving year 2, this has been a fantastic year for Henry and he has grown in confidence as well as academically. He loves his teachers, especially Mrs Dalgleish,

but he is very excited to be going to Year 3. It is also a fantastic year for the school as Sebert Wood just got an 'outstanding' ofsted report and the children are having a fun day today to celebrate! He has also finished Beavers and will be starting cubs in September and has moved up a class in Swimming to Improver's 1. He seems so grown up now, I have to admit to doing a little reminiscing lately - well, look how cute he was!

Evie is finishing at pre-school and starting nursery - 5 afternoons a week, she is also very excited and looks so cute in the uniform! She has also had her very last session with Carolyn, our amazing childminder whom we have know since Henry started going to her age 2 and I can't believe that this is it! We will all miss her terribly. (photo of Evie and Carolyn to follow at a later date!)

She is also changing her swimming lessons from Sarah at the Leisure centre, who has been fantastic, to Karen at Culford - same afternoon as Henry which should make life a little easier!

Other news in the Lambert Household - Jonathan's mum is back in hospital with diverticulitis so more rushing backwards and forwards, this time to Stevenage, to visit her, so once again plans have not always gone as they should have.

I am working on finishing off the teachers gifts and making up the Summer Bingo for the children - not sure it's going to work - but worth a try!

Sorry

2009-07-07T06:57:00.000-07:00

..........for the fact that I haven't updated in over a week, things are busy as ever.

Jonathan's Dad's funeral went to plan, just small with lot's of Whisky drinking afterwards, just as Reg would have liked. Unfortunately two days later Jonathan's mum suffered from a small heart attack and spent a few nights in hospital. Whilst there they also managed to asses her dementia and it seems she has Pick disease - shrinking of the frontal and temporal anterior lobes of the brain. This has been accelerated by the stress of the last few weeks. It seems the disease makes her quite controlling (she pretends to faint when things aren't going her way) and she sees Jonathan's brother Philip as her husband/father substitute, so plays up much more when he is around. There is no cure or medication and she will get progressively worse, it's almost like Jonathan and Philip have lost both parents.

On a happier note, Henry got his school report on Friday and Jonathan and I are pleased as punch with him, he has really come on in leaps and bounds in Year 2 and really enjoyed himself, at the moment he is really excited about going up to Year 3 - let's hope that continues!

Last Friday we packed the car to the rafters and headed off to Burnham Deepdale in gorgeous North Norfolk for a weekend camping with my parents, brother and sister-in-law and niece to celebrate my Dad's 65th birthday. Apart from the rain and wind whilst putting the tents up we had amazing weather and a great time.

We spent Saturday on Brancaster Beach - look at it - stunning!

And then Saturday night at The White Horse for dinner.

I managed one last layout before I packed all my scrapping stuff away again for a while....

Also to let you know that there has been an amendment, the 'Your Touch of Craft' Autumn/Winter workshop is now on Sunday 11th October 2009 - hope to see you there!

Sara xx

Scrapping Fever!

2009-06-24T04:06:00.000-07:00

Well now I've started I just can't stop! Am loving my Mosh Posh Kit's and EVERYTHING at House of 3!

I have printed off and put together this fantastic 'countdown'. I decided not to make a birthday one, but just general and so we are now on countdown for our camping trip next weekend (10 days to go!) But it would make a great pre-birthday gift for someone.

And I love working with kits. What I especially like about Mosh Posh is how quickly the DT get the gallery up, as I love to see what they have done and get ideas - and quite often 'lift' their ideas............

The children and I had a busy weekend, Jonathan was back down in Margate on Saturday afternoon through to Sunday night, so we amused ourselves with Henry's School Summer Fayre, where Henry went into the stocks and got soaked!

Sunday we went to church, then town , then Mum's and then off to meet friends at The Cadogan Arms for a late Sunday lunch - perfect except for the fact that Jonathan wasn't there with us!

Hope you are all enjoying the sunshine

Difficult times.

2009-06-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

On Thursday 11th June, Jonathan's Dad, Reg, passed away very peacefully with his wife and two son's with him. It is a very sad time, but also a relief, as he was in a lot of pain. I cannot imagine how Jonathan is really feeling, as long as Reg has been ill and in his mid 80's, when your Dad actually dies it is so hard to imagine never being able to have a conversation with them again. He will be sorely missed, he was a wonderful character and both Jonathan and his brother Philip have inherited his fantastic sense of humour. Life hasn't been easy, as Jonathan only got home from Margate last night and I have found juggling everything here on my own under such un-predictable times pretty tough. It is such a relief to have Jonathan home.

Poor Henry has tonsillitis at the moment, so has been off school for the last couple of days, but I think he is ready to go back tomorrow!

The Sebert Wood School Fayre is this Saturday and so I have been baking Banana Loaf and Brownies ready for the cake stall, with Evies help of course!

I have been using my gorgeous May & June Mosh Posh Kits and using their gallery for inspiration:

I am also working on a House of 3 countdown project, I'll show you when it's finished!

Henry went to a friends cowboy party last Saturday - wish I'd got a photo of him all dressed up, but I did get one of the card I made....

How cute is that!

Talking of cute, look at these piccies of Evie from this morning dressed up as Stephanie from Lazytown!

Well, that's it from this week, will try and catch up again soon xx

What a week...

2009-06-11T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well it's been a very busy and un-predictable week, with more to follow!
Saturday was great, I joined the district Beaver Scouts on a trip to Hunstanton. We started at the Sealife centre........

Couldn't resist getting one of Nemo and Dory!.....
Then onto the beach, we were so lucky with the weather and the boys had a blast!

But last Thursday Jonathans dad got taken into his local hospice and we made a mad dash on Sunday to see him as he was keen to see Henry and Evie, unfortunately, before we got there, the nurses had to sedate him and he has been in a coma ever since. The children both went and said hello to him and left him pictures, and perhaps he heard them and knew they were there - who can tell? So Jonathan has stayed down with his brother and mum and they have stayed by his bedside waiting for him to pass away, he is being stubborn and is keeping them waiting. But one good (and amazing) thing is that Jonathan and his brother have been communicating and are having a laugh together when things get a bit too heavy!

So I am here keeping things together, working lot's and trying to keep the children's routine going. I couldn't have done any of it without the amazing support of my parents, especially mum who even came with me on Sunday to help with the children (mainly Evie!) on the journey.

I even managed my first scrapbook page for a long time, one I have been wanting to do with my May Mosh Posh Kit..........

Sorry, the colours on the photograph are so bright - it's not quite that vivid in real life! I have also made new cushion covers for the garden and finished my Cloth kits skirt (with a little help from mum!) So I am keeping busy!

I am hoping to spend some of the weekend in the garden as the weeds are growing again after all the rain we have - but the garden is looking very green and lovely!

Have a good weekend xxx

7 week countdown

2009-06-05T04:22:00.000-07:00

to the next school holidays, where has this year gone? My babies are growing up far too soon and in September Henry is going to be starting year 3 and Evie will be spending five afternoons a week in Nursery. But for now, it's nice to be back in the routine after the half term break.

We have been trying to spend as much time in the garden as the weather permits, and it's lovely to see everything coming into bloom.

Thanks to my friend Dawn, I have now found out about PICNIK, perfect for 'messing about' with my photos - if you haven't already tried it, give it a go!

Talking of Dawn we met up with Helen yesterday for a lovely lunch at The Cadogan Arms and had a good catch up.

I have also got on and crocheted another cushion for Evie'e bedroom, I am loving it and if you need some ideas check out Attic 24.

Lastly, quite an exciting update, the 'Your Touch of Craft Autumn Workshop' date has been confirmed, so get out your diaries and mark the 13th September down! I'll let you know more when we start booking, which will be very soon!

Things that make me happy......

2009-05-30T08:22:00.000-07:00

You all know that I am an Autumn/Winter girl at heart, that doesn't mean I don't LOVE hot weather, because I do and these first hot days are making me very happy. I love the fact that it is not hot and sticky, just lovely and sunny. I am loving going to the market (Bury has an amazing market) on a Saturday morning and picking up cornflowers and fruit......... and it is making me very happy!

This half term has been quite relaxed, Henry and I went to the cinema and saw Night at the Museum 2 - very good! And we've caught up with friends and spent time in the garden - perfect !
Yesterday we went to a friends for lunch, they have just moved into their stunning new (old) house, which is still being renovated, but is now live able! The children had a fantastic time and I love the fact that they find a swimming costume for Evie and get her changed and take her outside to play with the hose. This ends up in the mud and we have to strip them all off and very carefully carry them upstairs (without getting mud on the new carpet) to have a bath together!

And you can see how much these boys have in common!Not been doing much crafting, although made this cute card a couple of weeks back with a cupcake template.

Have this gorgeous Mosh Posh kit ready to get started on very soon........

And this is the clothkits skirt kit mum and dad gave me for my birthday.......
To be honest, crochet has taken over, thanks to Attic 24! I had really forgotten how much I love to crochet and am making a variety of cushion covers for Evie's bedroom (when I get around to decorating it) this is the first and I am very happy with it!

Have a great weekend xxx

Changing plans

2009-05-23T06:59:00.000-07:00

This year is definitely a case of 'expect the unexpected', and not necessarily in a good way! We, along with alot of other people, have had to cut down our staffs hours on a temporary basis, hopefully short term. May already seems busier - let's just wait and see! This means I am on standby to work whenever required, and when Jonathan gets a call from his brother asking him to go down and look after his parents, who are unwell, for a weekend, that's what he has to do! So once again, I call on my amazing parents to have the children whilst I get over to our shop. It is not the way we hoped to be spending the bank holiday weekend, but, at the moment, it is how it has to be.

On a happier note, Henry had a teacher training day yesterday and so he, Evie, me and my Mum headed off to Legoland with the Tesco's tickets my Mum had managed to get for us and a picnic! We had a great day, was busy and some of the queues were just too long, but the children were so well behaved and Henry came back pleased as punch with his 'Indiana Jones' style hat Nana had brought him and a new Star Wars Lego set. The hat has hardly left his head since, he even hung it on his bedhead last night!

I am so pleased it is half term, we have no real plans, but Henry has just finished his SATs - the teachers were very good at not worrying the children and just making it all into a 'competition', but he is tired now and he had a sickness bug last weekend. His best friends mum Emma had very kindly taken him to a party that they had been invited to and Henry was sick all over the floor after a few mouthfuls of food, but came home hungry and seemed fine, so I put it down to over excitement. The next day we went to friends for lunch, they live in Wisbech which is just over an hours drive form us and he was sick one minute from home, Jonathan's car still hasn't recovered! So he spent Monday with Nana (again) recovering whilst I had to go to work.

Evie is also tired after a half term of three pre-school sessions a week, we have had a couple of very bad days of tantrums and then she has fallen asleep in front of the TV at 5pm! But unfortunately keeps waking up at 3.30am and then again at 6am.

Today was great, we planned to spend the whole day in the garden, but Tina and Simon arranged an impromptu barbecue - always the best kind! They have a fantastic water centre that the children spent hours in, Simon cooked on the barbecue and we managed a water fight with poor Tina coming off worse - but at least it was her house so she could - and did - change into dry clothes! Fantastic fun was had by all!

So Jonathan is home tomorrow and we are off to friends in the afternoon, no plans for half term, but fingers crossed this weather continues.

Have a good one all

xxx

Camp Cowboys!

2009-05-13T03:09:00.000-07:00

Yup, that was us, the 'Camp Cowboys'! On Friday Henry and I eventually got to camp on the school field - it was third try lucky, but we did it, and we had so much fun! For me the huge jugfuls of Cosmopolitan Tracy made helped - mixed of course with the company of some very good friends! For Henry, staying up until 11pm, sitting on an airbed with friends, playing on his DS and eating chocolate - all at the same time, did it for him! Lisa also organised a quiz and a Treasure Hunt in the dark - of which we won both!

So this was our pennant, attached to our very cosy Kath Kidston tent...........

Here is the afore mentioned tent!

And here are our two tents next to each other with drinks and food area set out between - we were collectively known as the 'Party Tent'! Where do we get these reputations from?

and lastly, a shot of me, kindly taken by Simon. As you can see we wrapped up to keep cosy!

Onto Sunday, which was my brother birthday. He invited a few friends and family over for drinks and nibbles and luckily the weather was gorgeous so we were out on his roof deck which over looks the Abbey Gardens. This is him with Henry............

and then with the fantastic t-shirt that we got him, we often called him Danger mouse as he has the same initials, so couldn't resist - not sure he was so keen!

Daisy, Evie and Theo couldn't keep their eyes off the cake, actually, Theo couldn't keep his fingers off it - bless him!

And then a great deal of fun was had with a pink blow up sofa (can you see the Abbey Gates in the back ground - really AMAZING views)

More fun had with the sofa, that's David's legs sticking out from underneath!

And Evie with her Auntie Rox, I know it's a silly smile, but that's all I could get (from Evie - not Rox!)

And apart from that I have worked, so nothing else to report. I hope to get the sewing machine out very soon, and I have ordered this kit from Mosh Posh, so really looking forward to getting some of these pictures scrapped.

Have a good week xx

May sunshine

2009-05-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

May the 1st saw Sebert Wood doing some May Pole dancing - but without the pole! This is Henry's class...

and this is me holding Evie's hand whilst the pre-school have a go!

Another trip to Margate last weekend, we went out for a while on Monday, a little bit of shopping was done at Westcross Shopping centre and then off to Ramsgate for a bracing walk along the front, lunch at an Italian where Henry ate a most amazing seafood and bean salad with lots of mussels, prawns and squid - he really was in seventh heaven and then Jonathan took us all to Pelosi's, which is the most amazing 1950's style ice cream parlour.

The ice cream is so delicious and it is served on little silver dishes. The whole place is immaculate and the walls are covered in all the awards they have won. Anybody heading to Ramsgate I recommend you pop in and grab yourself a couple of scoops!

Henry played on his DS alot and I started some crochet - something I haven't done in a very long time and I loved it - watch this space for some pictures!
Have I told you about Evie and Claire? Claire is Evie's Uncle Philips girlfriend whom we met at Margate at Christmas and have seen alot of since when she has been visiting on the same weekends as us. Evie idolises Claire, honestly, she hardly leaves her side! And of course Claire is wonderful and plays with her loads...........

I also managed to get a shot of Henry, Evie and Jonathan with Jonathan's parents - Grandma and Grandad.
Henry and I are supposed to be camping on the school field Friday night, but the weather forecast is not looking good at the moment, I am wondering if it will be cancelled - this is the third time they have tried to organise it, so we are really keeping our fingers crossed that it is fine as it should be really good fun!

Well, gotta get on with the bookwork, ironing, shopping list etc etc!

Thanks for stopping by x

Bit and Pieces

2009-04-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday evening our friends Jon & Bev arrived for the weekend. Sunday was such a gorgeous day we went off for a walk and showed them the 'bat'

Then after a hearty beef stew we headed to town to watch Henry march in the 'St Georges Day Parade' this is one of the most important dates in a Beaver Scouts calender, after marching past the Abbey Gardens they sat through an hours service at St Marys church. Henry is used to spending most of a Sunday Service in the tower making things at Sunday School, so I was pretty impressed that he sat still through the whole service!

Bury Sixth Beaver Scouts

The rest of this week has been back to normal routine, which I have to admit I love! Although not so keen on all the book work I am having to catch up on - end of year and VAT - Yuk!

This weekend we are off to Jonathan's parents in Margate again, keep your fingers crossed for sunshine so we can spend time on the beach.

Hope you all have a great bank holiday weekend.

Like buses..........

2009-04-24T13:35:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, I don't blog for ages and then I manage twice in one week - just like buses, nothing for ages and then two come at once!
Well, I had a great birthday, the children came into bed with me and passed me all my cards one by one whilst I also had a go with the new camera lens Jonathan had given me

we then headed downstairs for chocolate pastries and orange and mango juice for breakfast...

after school run and a supermarket trip (life has to go on!) Evie and I headed to my brothers new pub, 'The Cadogan Arms' to meet up with Anna and Katie and Ashlea and Nella for lunch, it was fantastic to be able to sit outside and eat in the sunshine whilst Evie and Katie played.

Back to collect Henry from school and then to my mum and dads - they had got me a new bicycle! so I went straight out round the block to test it out, then back for some cake, with these little munchkins....

I got loads of lovely presents, cards and messages and Jonathan managed to get home to time for us to go out and have a bite to eat and then off to the cinema to see 'The Boat that Rocked' which I would highly recommend!

A great day with lot's of lovely memories

Just a reminder - Dawn Inskip is doing a demo for Amanda at Your Touch of Craft tomorrow - if you can get there pop in and see the lovely stuff she is making!

Where oh where?

2009-04-21T13:30:00.000-07:00

has the time gone? sorry this post has taken two weeks - life is stressful and hectic, but we at least got back to normal today with the first day of summer term - I love routine - I'm sure I have told you that before! Evie had her first swimming lesson without me going in with her and she was fantastic! Fingers crossed it carries on that way.

So what's been happening? well in no particular order, I took Henry to A&E last Friday morning when he managed to cut his thumb whilst chopping himself up an apple - lot's of blood and screaming and fuss, but they put steristrips on it and bandaged it well. He has to keep it dry and is very protective of it, we have an appointment with the nurse on Friday to remove the dressing and hope it has healed okay.

We spent Easter weekend back in Margate and had a few hours out, playing in parks, looking at viking ships and playing with Easter toys

When we got back home they started the eggs, these two crack me up how they just take a huge bite rather than breaking pieces off

The weather has been so good, and yesterday we went to WestStow park and met up with friends, this is Evie making sand angels! - yes the sand was everywhere!

Last week we went to Nowton Park for a fire building activity. It was good fun and we got to cook both sausages and marshmallows.

I have also been crafting! This is the dt layout I did with the Marrakesh range for Your Touch of Craft

and I managed to pack up a few projects to take to Margate to keep myself amused in the evenings! These are a selection...

Today I have labelled and organised my scrapbook shelves, they look gorgeous. It is in my spare room and we have friends coming to stay this weekend, so I am trying to get the room looking good again!

Poor Jonathan is now on his fourth trip to Margate in the same number of weeks, it was a bit last minute and as it is my birthday tomorrow he wasn't happy about it, but he got me to open my lovely presents from him before he went and he is hoping to be back in time for going out tomorrow night.

Think I have remembered everything to tell you!

Catch up sooner next time I promise

Easter Blessings

2009-04-08T13:23:00.000-07:00

Easter is my favorite holiday, I love the cooking, having my family over for a big Easter Sunday lunch and the promise of spring. Unfortunately this hasn't been the case for a while. Last year I woke up with terrible stomach pains on Easter Sunday and Jonathan ended up taking me to the out of hours doctor at the hospital, this year we have family illness and are backwards and forwards to Margate to visit Jonathan's parents. It hasn't been the best start to 2009, Jonathan said last week 'Stop the world, I want to get off' - that sums up how we are feeling, but life has to go on and we are keeping our heads down and getting on with it!
On a lighter note, Your Touch of Crafts Spring Workshop was fantastic! Suezie, Annie and Anna all taught classes and all the ladies seemed to enjoy themselves and hopefully made some new friends, although it was all on a tight schedule to get it all in!

We have been asked when the next one is and we are working on it - perhaps a summer one? Please let us know what you would like! But at the moment, Amanda is pretty busy opening a new bead shop in Norfolk - good luck Amanda xx

Well, as mentioned we have spent a few days in Margate, and had a couple of lovely afternoons on the beach collecting shells and stones, unfortunately I forgot to take my camera with me both times! Evie also managed to fall into a rock pool within the first five minutes, which meant walking back to get changed before setting off again! The children found the whole weekend quite an adventure as they got to sleep in bunk beds in their sleeping bags - in the same room as us! - Again, will get a photo this weekend when we go back. I cannot explain Jonathan's parents house to you but let's just say it totally made me appreciate my own home when I got home!

I did get these two photos, do you like the one of Evie on the DS?! She hadn't a clue what she was doing, just kept pressing buttons!

My birthday is in a couple of weeks, so I have been working on my wish list, and I thought I'd give you a few sneaks of some of the things on it....

Firstly the Nikon 50mm fs1.8mm af

Secondly my favorite perfume, unfortunately it is one that YSL only bring out every few years and I have now run out, you can occasionally find it online, fingers crossed!

and a book called 'Outstanding Mini Albums' speaks for itself really doesn't it!

I'll bring you more from my wish list next post and perhaps some beach photos if the weather stays good!

For all you easter lovers out there please check out the fantastic easter downloads available from House of 3, they are gorgeous!

Have a fantastic weekend

How strange is that??!!

2009-03-26T14:35:00.001-07:00

....is just one of the sayings that Evie has picked up from me, you can so tell she spends alot of time with me!

Saturday I took Henry, Evie and Henry's best friend James for a 'Nature Walk', we have some fantastic areas up here in the Moreton Hall Area, not all of which we have explored. So we decided to have a look around Natterers Wood, we found a sunny sheltered spot and had our first picnic of the year - bliss!, If I hadn't had the children with me I could have had a lovely doze in the sun!, but as it was we got up and found the 'giant bat' that has been created, the boys had a fantastic time running around it and we saw lots of birds and insects - was a great afternoon.

These have been making me smile all week, I think Henry planted them at Beavers last year and I just popped them out side the back door and forgot about them, so it was a pleasant surprise to find them this week and I brought them into the kitchen so I could see them every day.

Well, the other news is that Jonathan had his second knee operation on Monday, and it went very well, much better than the left knee. He is feeling okay, but mainly is bored from having to sit around the house!

Amanda and I have got everything organised and ready for Sundays workshop, cannot believe how quickly this has come around and the classes all look amazing, really looking forward to seeing you there!

Photo Heavy Post!

2009-03-17T07:30:00.000-07:00

Well, let's start with Comic Relief, school were quite conservative this year, Henry was allowed a red nose and had to take a joke to read out during golden time, and Evie was allowed to wear something red. After school she decided she really wanted to dress up, not sure what she is, she keeps saying a scarecrow- in a devils outfit??? Anyway, this is how she spent the afternoon!

Saturday morning we spent in Nowton Park, we met up with my friend Elaine and her children Molly, Alex and Harry, it was a gorgeous morning and the children had a fantastic time and really didn't want to go home at lunch time

Molly (with a catkin)

Evie

Harry and Mummy (Elaine!)

Henry showing me the mess he'd got into

Alex

Sunday we went out into town for brunch and to show Jonathan around the new shopping centre and then home to cook a late lunch for David, Rox and Daisy. I tried to get a good Easter photo of the children, but this is as good as it got as neither were in the mood to play ball (they never are together!)

I had a go a paper piecing this week for friends moving in card, really pleased with the results

and lastly a sneak peak of Annie's class she is teaching at Your Touch of Crafts Spring Workshop - isn't it pretty!

Have a good week

More of the same

2009-03-11T06:58:00.000-07:00

Evie is still being a bit of a nightmare, I had to drive home for the childminders on Monday with her screaming and only the lap belt on, since then her old car seat with the 5 point harness has been put into the boot of the car in case it happens again!

We have had a new - and controversial - shopping centre open here in Bury St Edmunds named Arc, which is mad as it has been built on the old cattle market and everyone still calls it that! I have to admit it's nice, especially to have somewhere to buy children's clothes, but it is such a shame that half the shops have moved from the town centre, making the town look very sad - not sure of the point really. Anyway, on Saturday I took Evie down to see our local RAF base march from the Abbeygates to the new centre:

Sunday, Jonathan had to work so the children and I headed off across town to my parents for lunch and we took the children out for a bike ride, Henry is slowing getting more confident without his stabilisers.

Last night we were invited to Pizza Hut for Chloe's 3rd birthday, the children had a blast although felt pretty ill after too much ice-cream and sweets!

I have been pretty busy making bits and pieces for the YTC Spring Workshop, it's all coming together and suddenly is pretty close!, how about this for a sneak peak of Anna's class -book now if you haven't already!

Reward charts and more

2009-03-05T02:11:00.000-08:00

Yup, the time has come for the reward chart, not sure if it's going to work, but anything is worth a try at the moment as Evie is testing my patience beyond belief! She is unbelievably determined and independent. This week has seen her waking before 6am, so I go in and tell her it's not morning yet and that she needs to snuggle back down to sleep until I get her at 7am - always worked before! but now as soon as I close her door she starts the very loud (and false) crying, I will not go into her as I don't want to give her what she wants, so I lay in bed getting angrier and angrier with her. She then stops and a few minutes later starts shouting me again - anyway you get the idea, so we now have a reward chart, didn't work yesterday morning, but this morning the little girl skipped one place up the garden! If you are looking for reward charts to print off try HERE.
So we had slipped a little on our mornings, I had allowed Henry to play with his Lego in the mornings when he woke early, but he now is not allowed to turn his light on until 6.30am and then it's reading only. I had also allowed the TV to be turned on before school, but now that isn't happening, Henry does a page of one of his workbooks - whilst Evie does her 'work'.

Evie and I are having a making morning, we have started with Play dough and made four different colours, which she is playing with right now and then she wants to make a carrot cake!

A few photos from Spikes surprise birthday dinner which was a couple of weeks ago (although none of the birthday boy!)

Jonathan, Annie and me!

Jonathan and Andrew, I love this picture, it captures the fun we all had, this was the first time Jonathan and Andrew had met and they got on so well - don't you love it when that happens!

Anna, Annie and me!

Weekend was good, we had friends over for dinner on Saturday evening, so I spent the morning at the market and the afternoon cooking, I started with Nigella's Union Square Cafe nuts as nibbles then I slow roasted belly pork and made Delia's red cabbage to go with it along with new potatoes and purple sprouting broccoli. Dessert was Nigellas's Syrup steamed pudding and then a selection a cheeses - fantastic! I ended up clearing up before I went to bed and so didn't get to bed until 2.30am and then got up with the children at 6.30am! Luckily Sunday was a lazy family day, we went out in the afternoon to take the children out on their bikes, Henry is starting to ride without his stabilisers (although it's slow work) and Evie got pulled along on hers - otherwise it's slow going.

I have had a chance for a tiny bit of crafting, I am so loving the House of 3 print ables and my first project is this gorgeous banner, it's hanging from my office door so you can see it as soon as you walk in the front door. I have so much on my wish list with them - it's all gorgeous!

Also going to be busy making things I can't show you ready for the YTC spring workshop!

Happy March! xx

Normality Returns - ish!

2009-02-26T01:17:00.000-08:00

I love it when the children go back to school - have I said this before? Probably!

It's not that I don't enjoy being with my children, I just so miss the routine of term time, if you haven't guessed already I am a routine kinda gal!

Well, half term was pretty busy, but I didn't get my camera out once, sometimes I just like to be part of it and not on the outside taking photos - do you know what I mean?

Anyway, we ended the week attending a fantastic suprise dinner for Annies husband Spike - was such good fun and I am so grateful for my friend Tracy babysitting for us (thanks hun xx). I am hoping that Annie will foward me on a few photos that Anna took when she get's around to sorting them out (hint, hint!)

The children get so tired by the end of the term, I took this photo of Evie on Friday 13th, I had given them early baths before tea and Evie was not wanting to leave Mummies side, so I moved her beanbag into the kitchen where I was cooking and I looked around to find she had fallen asleep - Evie does this so rarely I have to get a photo when it happens! She was not in a good mood when I had to wake her!

I have managed some crafting, anyone else found these in Matalan? They are only £15 and I love them I made one for me, for beside my desk and one for my Mum as part of her birthday present!

and I have need to make lot's of card's, this is a selection:

Amanda and I are now getting very excitied about the YTC Spring Workshop, we have had a few sneak peeks of the classes and they are fab, there are only a few places left, so if you haven't booked already, hurry up and do so!

Back soon with more photos I promise!

Half Term Madness

2009-02-17T08:15:00.000-08:00

It has carried on being non-stop in the Lambert house. Sunday we had a fantastic lunch with Richard, Elaine and the children, good food and fantastic relaxed company, perfect day! Yesterday Henry had swimming in the morning and then after lunch we went out to Sutton to see an old school friend of mine and her three children, then late afternoon we went to the opening of my brothers latest pub The Cadogan Arms in Ingham. Fantastic evening, although the children were a pain and so we had to leave earlier than we hoped!
Today we had some friends visit, Billy and Henry played and I got to meet the gorgeous Carter and catch up with Sue, Evie moaned, wined and attention seeked (this has been the pattern through the whole holidays so far!)
This afternoon Henry and I went off to see Bolt 3D only to find it had completely sold out - few tears from a very disappointed boy, but I assured him we would go back later in the week and pre-book!! So we are now off to happy hour at Pizza Hut as a consolation.
Leave you with some valentines crafting (both mine and the children's!)

Have a good half term xx

Being social!!

2009-02-11T03:12:00.000-08:00

Yes, it feels like we are having a very social February, last Friday Evie and I had lunch at Ask with about 15 others to help my lovely friend Karen celebrate her birthday........

and this is Evie enjoying herself! at the table!

Sunday Dad came round for a roast as my Mum is in Singapore with her sister. It is over 40 years since they were last there. They lived in Singapore for many years, first when they were very young and again as teenagers, here are a few pictures I have of my Mum whilst she was living there. The one when she was little was on the ship on the way there and my Nana has writtern on the back 'The windows at the back of Jane, belong to the nursery. Don't worry Mum's , I haven't dumped her there yet'

Then these next two are obviously teenage years, the head shot seems to be a professional photograph, probably from her modelling portfolio, unfortunately I don't seem to have any of the modelling photographs in my possession - yet!

Anyway, they decided it was time to go back, but were both so disappointed to see so little of the old Singapore and even worse, the food had gone downhill!

Evie and I had lunch at a friends yesterday and she has a 3 month little girl called Nella - was lovely to have a cuddle, but no, it doesn't make me want more! Evie loves it, she is such a little mummy!

and I made a mini book for Ashlea to fill with pictures of Nella as and when she wishes:

Then last night I went out for a meal with six other music with mummy friends - they are such a great group and so much fun.

This weekend continues to be social, so I hope to be back with more photos soon.

Have a great valentines xxx

Bereft....

2009-02-05T06:47:00.000-08:00

and lost, I have finished the last Twilight book :(, I tried to make them last as long as I could, but that's it and I miss them. On her blog Stephanie has explained how the incomplete manuscript for her fifth book Midnight Sun was stolen, and for a while she was too upset to contemplate completing it, but it seems she has now changed her mind. It is the story from Edwards point of view - I cannot wait, If you haven't read these books, do so now - you are missing out.

Saturday night was panto night, I know, I know, we've been already! Well this is an amateur charity one, with 12 male cast members (most of whom we know well). Henry got to sit at the front and help the dame all night, and was in charge of the water pistol, he even got on stage at the end to take a bow, and he was so pleased with himself! Was a really fun evening.

What else has been going on? Well Jonathan and I travelled up to London on Sunday and had an excellent lunch at the RAF club, we managed to get home before the snow started coming down with any force.

Monday, we had a good couple of inches of snow, I am pleased to say that Henry's school was one of the few that opened, I think it is good for the children to realise that life goes on, even if it snows a bit and that it is not an excuse to have a day off - it puts them in good stead for their working life (I am a very practical person!). I pulled the children to school on the sledge which they loved, Evie and I made half a snowman before she got too cold and on the way home from school we found a little hill for them to sledge down, which caused great excitement until Henry's school trousers got wet and he was too cold to stay out. Jonathan went off to Sudbury, the roads had been well gritted and so he had no problems.

Last night Jonathan and I went off to the Theatre with Annie, Spike and another couple of friends to see Fascinating Aida, if you ever get the chance to see these three ladies in action, go for it - they are so funny I cannot tell you. I hadn't given Annie any idea what to expect and the expression on her face was priceless!

Annie and I got together on Monday evening for a bit of valentines scrapping, we made some of these hearts from an old Papercrafts magazine:

And I also altered this box and filled it with cupcakes for a friends birthday:

And I don't think I showed you this gorgeous little mini book Annie taught a couple of weeks ago at Your Touch of Craft, I am going to make another this weekend as a gift for a friend who has just had a baby.

Well, that's it, I'm off to bed, thanks for stopping by xx

Another week..

2009-01-30T02:29:00.000-08:00

has just flown by!
The weekend was just an easy stay-at-home one, which I love. This is Evie in the shower, wearing Henry's school swim hat so that her hair didn't get wet!

and this is her doing her babies ironing whilst I stood beside her doing mine!

and, surprise, surprise here is Henry playing with his Lego. He is Lego mad and if it involves Star Wars Lego all the better! Even his favorite game on the DS is Lego Star Wars!

Jonathan was away at the beginning of the week and I decided to watch a film from my LOVE FILM rental, didn't really check to see what it was, thought it was a romantic comedy - it was PS. I Love You, oh my goodness did I cry - all the way through it! Was a fantastic film though!

Last night we picked my godson Euan up from Nursery and looked after him until his Mummy collected him at bedtime - here are the three of them having fun in the bath
and this is Euan with his much adored bunny - he was a dream to look after, and such a cutie!

Little bit busier this weekend, we are taking the children to Cambridge this weekend to see an amateur charity pantomime, which a lot of our friends are involved in - so should be fun. Then Sunday the children are off to my parents whilst Jonathan and I head off to The RAC Club in London for lunch!

Have a good week

Bits and Bob's

2009-01-23T12:06:00.000-08:00

I feel completely scrapped out now! So no more layout's to share.

Jonathan had a wedding fair to attend on Sunday so Mum and Dad and I took the children for a long walk around Ickworth, our local National Trust Park. Was a gorgeous day and the children walked for a good couple of miles, through fields of sheep, over stiles, across bridges and through the woods, really was fantastic. No photos as I didn't take my camera, sometimes I just want to enjoy being in the moment rather than thinking about photo opportunities all the time!

Evie did a spot of dressing up yesterday:

as you can see, she has her own style, fairy skirt, cowgirl jacket and summer hat!

This week Evie has taken to wanting to ride her bike or scooter to school, which firstly takes about three times as long so I have to be extra organised and secondly means me doing a lot of pushing and pulling her along! Henry has taken his scooter on these days and is fantastic on it now - has completely 'got it', but I must make the effort to get him out for some bike riding practice, although this wet weather is not helping.

And tonight Elaine cooked tea for the children (and I may have eaten a little!) These five little beans have all know each other since birth, well okay, Molly is six months younger than Henry so since Henry was six months old! They are just like family and we love them all to bit's. Now the oldest are at school we find it difficult to get together as often as we used to so these play dates are such great fun for them. Thanks Elaine!

Alex, Henry, Evie, Molly and Harry.

Well, the children are in bed, Jonathan is out and I am going to go and watch some big brother before it all comes to an end!

Oh and remember to get on and book the Your Touch of Craft Spring Work Shop asap! It's going to be a fantastic day, find all the details on their blog.

xxx

My mojo returned!

2009-01-18T11:56:00.000-08:00

well, for two days it did! I haven't scrapped any layouts for months, so I scrapped lot's of the photographs I'd been saving using all the sketches and layouts I had marked in magazines including a lift of Tracies and Annies! I so enjoyed it, but I have now run out of inspiration again!

pre-school & Birthday

2009-01-14T03:25:00.000-08:00

Yes, my baby girl started pre-school last week , hurrah you hear me cry! she has now had 3 sessions and seems to love it, she expects to go daily like her brother does to school, but for now it is just two morning sessions a week.

Jonathan's birthday was on Sunday, so whilst he was at work on Saturday we baked - coffee and walnut cake, flapjacks and chocolate birthday cake - and got all the pressies wrapped. Evie always like to help with the baking:

and we decorated some brown paper with stamps which Evie then coloured in and we used as wrapping paper!

Saturday night we went to Prezzo's in Newmarket with some very good friends, affectionately known as the '04's'. Our friend Kim celebrates his birthday on the 13th January, so he and Jonathan always celebrate together. Last year Kim celebrated a biggy and so 12 '04' friends spent the weekend at Center Parcs (which meant we could also take the children). That was a weekend to remember!

Then Sunday, along with various friends knocking on the door with cards and gifts, I asked another group of friends that we haven't seen for a couple of years to come over and share some cake, it was like old times and we were all laughing and teasing within minutes!

So that is Jonathan's birthday over and done with for another year. On Monday he went to the hospital and was given a date in April for hos next knee operation. He is most defiantly not looking forward to it, but really wants to get it over and done with asap.

I still haven't done any crafting, but this week I went through all my magazines and turned down the pages with the layouts I want to lift, so watch this space!

Baking and Birthdays

2009-01-06T06:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know I should be getting back to a sensible eating plan - ie: dieting! but I am just not ready yet! Firstly, I didn't eat too badly over the festive break, secondly, Jonathan's birthday is on Sunday which will mean another weekend of food and thirdly, I am loving cooking as much as possible out of my new Jamie Oliver cookbook!

Yesterday Evie and I decided to do some baking and made a gorgeous Bakewell Tart, I love Bake well Tart but had never attempted to make it myself before, it was really good and I will get the recipe on my recipe blog soon.

Henry had an appointment at the hospital today to get his sight checked as he complains of the board at school going blurry, but he is fine and at the moment his sight is perfect - long may it continue! Then he was off to school, his first day back - and --- Evie starts pre-school tomorrow morning - yippee, I think we both need it and I so hope she enjoys it!

At the moment she is fast asleep on the sofa upstairs, this is a rarity as she doesn't stop for long enough unless she is in bed usually!

I have decided to join Emily Falconbridge on her 52Q, check it out and let me know if you decide to join too, not sure whether to use playing cards or luggage tags yet!

Will be back with birthday piccies after the weekend.

2009 & lot's of photos!

2009-01-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve was busy, Jonathan was working and Mum had the children whilst I nipped off for a manicure, then I met mum and Dad in town with the children for lunch, we then pottered around in town for a while before heading to church for the crib service, this year Henry was a king and Evie an angel. It's a lovely service and this years performance was 'Jesus party' - we already had the book at home so knew the story quite well.

After that we were off home to sprinkle reindeer food and put the sherry and mince pie out for Father Christmas!

We had a lovely Christmas here, with Jonathan only getting the two day's off everything is always pretty rushed, but we really relaxed on Christmas day, Henry managed to wait until 6.50am before he came in our room and so we got Evie up and together went down to the sitting room to see if 'he'd' been! (which he had) Evie was SO excited, so was shaking with anticipation -this is her first Christmas she will remember.

We also managed to have Sarah, Neil and Euan over for Champagne and then get Evie down for a nap whilst I had a lovely long bath before we headed off for a late lunch at my brothers.

Lunch was excellent, but I was very controlled and didn't over eat, which felt nice! We stayed until mid evening and then got the children home to bed ready for an early start on Boxing day - we made a last minute(ish) decision to go and visit Jonathan's parents in Margate, without telling them, so we left at 8am and arrived around 10.30am only to find they were just getting up - Jonathan's brother and girlfriend were also staying and due to other issues had never met the children before, so it was a really good day.

Sunday we went to see Puss in Boots at the fantastic theatre we have here in Bury - Evie's first panto and she loved it!

New Years Eve we had nothing planned but headed into town with the children for an early evening dinner at Pizza Express which was lovely, then I have to admit I was asleep as mid night came, new year's is not my thing! And New Years Day has been spent relaxing at home for the first time in years as my Grandad always had a New Years Day party, which then my brother took over and this year my mum had one, but kept it small, so it was nice to not feel like we had to attend! Our first New Years Day doing nothing for 12 years!

I will be so pleased when normal routine returns next week, the children need it too, especially Evie, who will be starting pre-school two mornings a week this term - hurrah!

So Happy New Year to you all ! xx

It's just about here!

2008-12-23T21:22:00.000-08:00

Christmas eve (and here I am up and awake at 5.30am!) I am done except for a pile of ironing then I'm off for a manicure, lunch out and then the crib service at our church - perfect. Of course poor Jonathan will be chained to the shop all day waiting for all those drunk men to fall out of the pub and realise they still haven't brought their wives a gift yet!

Okay, let's just get Anthea out the way!:

*Lay the table

*Prepare as much as you can for the Christmas meal

*Get out all the serving dishes you will need

* prepare the after dinner coffee tray

That's it!

Because I have been pretty much up to date (and we are at my brothers on Christmas Day!) I have been busy crafting - something I never usually do this close to Christmas. I found a banner like this on Two Peas and was desperate to make one myself! Please excuse the photos, the light was awful!

Also made another of Annie's Christmas decor projects from the Scrapping Angels workshop, this time a smaller JOY one for Jonathan's parents and a mini book for Jonathan's brother whom we may meet on boxing day (he has never met the children, but that is a whole other story!)

This is a wooden Joy I got in Homebase last year and just got around to altering with Basic Grey papers:

Found this little project in December's issue of Creating Keepsakes and fell in love with the quote that had been used from The Grinch:

These star's are from a Basic Grey kit, they are definitely a bit tricky, but the finished result's I love!

Also made 5 of these little Doodlebug albums for family cracker gifts:

And made the children one of these note pad's each to go with some pencils I got them as 'table gifts'! Really pleased with the way they turned out.

We have made last minute plans to drive to Margate on Boxing Day to visit Jonathan's parents, we are quite worried about his mum's health (both his parents are in their 80's) and Jonathan and his brother are never in touch and we hope he will be there so we can break the ice a bit, they need to be talking if anything happens to their parents! Families hey! So I made a last minute Lasagne ready to take with me, the Salmon Couilibac can wait until New Years Day!

So Anthea's final countdown words are:

Finally, hang up the stockings, put the champagne on ice, relax and get ready to enjoy the celebrations!

xxx

Award!

2008-12-21T06:55:00.000-08:00

My First blog award!

The wonderfully talented and inspirational Lisa has given me this Award, it is The Marie Antoinette, A Real Person, A Real Award.In order to share this award I must:
Nominate 7 or more real PERSONS
Link to the person who gave me the award
Link to the nominees
Let the nominees know
So here are my Nominees:

*Sue

Thank you!!

All things Christmas

2008-12-18T11:48:00.000-08:00

Sunday was great, we decorated the Christmas tree first - Evie is not old enough to remember our decorations from the year before, so everything is new to her which is wonderful, we then headed off to Ickworth, our local National Trust property, to see Father Christmas, and he did not disappoint!

It was wonderful and so was he. Evie was quite nervous and didn't want to get too close, but was happy to tell him what she wanted for Christmas (a pink dummy for Tiny Tears - I think Father Christmas can manage that!). Then after hot chocolate and scones in the restaurant we headed off home for an afternoon in front of the TV watching Christmas DVDs.

Tuesday morning Henry had his Christmas performance - the Raggedy King, held at the local church. It was lovely, lot's of singing. Henry was quite disappointed to only be a cow in the stable, especially as his best friend was one of the narrators/shepherds! but he was full of smiles on the stage. I realised, for obvious reasons, that he desperately needed a wee (Henry cannot hold a wee!) so I had to dash up the side of the stage and rescue him, I'm sure the parents are really pleased to have my head going past their video screens - but I couldn't sit and watch him have an accident!

I have made reindeer food for Henry to give to his classmates

and cookies for the teachers (recipe here) and made bags to put them in from Anna's blog - I loved them so much I didn't want to give them away!

Today I have made Salmon Couilbiac for Boxing Day lunch and popped it in the freezer, so easy but so effective! So all in all I am feeling pretty sorted and calm.

We have a busy few evenings coming up, tomorrow we are out separately with various friends, Saturday is the 'work do!' and Sunday we are at friends for dinner.

Henry's last day at school is tomorrow, but unfortunately he is going to miss his Christmas party as I need to collect him after lunch and take him to an appointment at the hospital to check his hearing - so as a treat we are off to MacDonald's for tea.

Anthea's Christmas countdown:

One Week before:

*Decorate the house and Christmas tree

*Shop for any foods that you need to see or touch before buying. Leave buying fresh food as late as you can.

*If you've got a frozen turkey check how long it will take to defrost. Make a note on the calendar, so you don't forget to get it out of the freezer on time.

Deck the Halls

2008-12-12T16:42:00.000-08:00

Well, I have finished the sewing and the machine is put away and I have spent two days 'spring' cleaning the house, from top to bottom, inside and out and it feels lovely! I have a great furniture polish recipe for anyone out there with any antique or old wooden pieces of furniture, what I like about the mix is it sinks into the wood rather than coating it with a waxy residue like most sprays and cream polishes which in turn attract dust and general dirt. From Home Time by Jocasta Innes: Home made furniture Polish:

2 parts raw linseed oil

1 part white spirit

1 part malt vinegar

Mix together and shake well as you use it because it behaves like a vinaigrette with a tendency to separate. The vinegar is the cleaning agent, while the white spirit cuts out the fattiness of the linseed oil. Use sparingly, applying it with a soft rag.

So now that is done I have started to get out the Christmas decorations, I took Evie out the front of the house to see the few lights I put by the front door and the berry wreath on the door and asked what she thought - 'Lovely Mummy, and I like these raspberries' - will now always think of that as the 'raspberry wreath'. On Sunday we will decorate the tree and go and visit a Father Christmas somewhere, then snuggle down to watch a few Christmas DVDs.

I have to say that if you saw my desk at the moment, you would know I still have stuff to do, paperwork, bookwork and filing both for home and the shop, but once these are done I am really looking forward to having a go at these projects of Anna's and this banner from Two Peas.

Henry has had his Christmas lunch at school this week , where the children are invited to make a

Christmas hat to wear, this year Henry decided he wanted to go as Joseph (which Henry and I saw at the theatre at the beginning of the year and LOVED!) so he wore the head dress my mum had brought him back from Egypt!:

Then Friday was Santa Fitness Friday where they had to wear a Santa hat for Huff and Puff, we all stayed in the playground to join in - even our local PC, a couple of Santa's and Sherbet the school mascot joined in - good fun for all:

And I spent Friday without Evie (she had a few hours at mum 's) and I went to Amanda's at Your Touch of Craft to help organise their 'Spring Workshop' it's in Newmarket on Sunday 29th March 2009 if you want to book phone her on 01284 761222, then I went off to school to help set up for the Christmas Fayre.

Evie has made us laugh with a few of her little sayings. Jonathan came in from work and gave her a kiss the other day and she looked at him in his shirt and tie and said, "nice scarf Daddy" ! She mis-pronounces a few words which make us smile - swimming cosmume, smamich (sandwich) and water mountain (fountain) are favorites!

Nearly forgot to give you Anthea's two week countdown!:

*Post any last minute cards or parcels

*Buy your tree, but bring it into your house as late as possible

*Decorate your front door with a wreath

*Ice and decorate your Christmas Cake if you've made one

*Buy or collect evergreens and other foliage for Christmas decorations and arrangements

*Order non-perishable foods and have them delivered

*Order flowers to be delivered next week

Isn't Anthea's world wonderful! As we are out on Christmas Day I have not had to do much food preparation (just the pudding and cake) but I will make a Russian Fish Pie for us for Boxing day and freeze it so I don't have to do much on the day, I will post the recipe for this on my recipe blog next week.

When we were children we always arranged the decorations on the Christmas cake once mum had iced it and I am trying to recreate this tradition with my children and niece Daisy:

I have also just made some of Anthea's Mincemeat Blondie's, which are very tasty, so I will get that recipe on my recipe blog asap!

Have a great weekend xx

3 week countdown

2008-12-04T06:20:00.000-08:00

Okay, I'm going to start with Anthea's 3 week countdown:
*Post your UK parcels and cards.
*Cook and freeze sauces, desserts and vegetable dishes that can be made ahead.
*Make/buy and freeze a few 'family suppers' for the busy days before Christmas.
*Locate the nutcrackers and corkscrew - two vital gadgets that have a habit of disappearing.
*Finish your gift shopping.
*Prepare your guest room.

So, how are you all doing? Keeping up!
Well I have come down with 'the cold'. The rest of the family have had it and I thought I'd managed to avoid it, but unfortunately not, I have to admit to feeling awful as it is making my sinus's very sore - I even have ear-ache. My lovely Mum has taken Evie off my hands this afternoon and is also collecting Henry from school and giving them both tea before bringing them home tonight, love Mum! xx
I have been busy making various bits, like these fabric 'crackers', 16 of them actually, to fill with little gifts for everyone sitting around the Christmas table.

And I have made a load more of these little albums that Anna taught us at the Scrapping Angels Workshop in November. I have filled them with photos of the children and will post them off to various family members.

I am also making a patchwork quilt for Evie. I made one for Henry when he was a similar age and I have been meaning to make one for Evie for months, so with 3 weeks to go until Christmas here I am making it (mad, I know) I can't wait to get it done so that I can get the sewing machine put away.
The only trouble with doing all this is that my house is a tip! Really need to have a good clean before I start to think about putting decorations of any sort out.
Jonathan has been out and about lot's, he's in London today having a Christmas lunch with some committee or other!
We spent Sunday afternoon at the Hafermann's celebrating both Addie's birthday (which is on boxing day!) and Thanksgiving. The children were all very over excited and a bit of a nightmare, so we didn't stay late (as children's parties are Jonathan's idea of hell!) but we had some fantastic food, Annie and her friends had worked very hard. I made a cranberry upside down cake for her, the recipe of which is now on my recipe blog for you to check out.
There are a lot more craft projects I'd like to fit in before Christmas, but I am not going to push it!
The children got their December pressie on Sunday, they always get a Christmas book and/or DVD at the beginning December. Then Monday they started the advent calender. I always make sure they get a nativity calender, so they remember what advent means and this year M&S came up trumps with a nativity calender with chocolates in. I really don't agree with the whole chocolate thing, but when all Henry's friends have one, it's difficult to say no, but I do make them share it and take it turns each day to open the doors (I have Christmas jelly baby ready for the one who doesn't open the door that day!)
Catch up again soon - let me know how your Christmas countdown is going xx

4 Weeks to go!

2008-11-26T23:52:00.001-08:00

Yup, 4 weeks to go, so here is Anthea's 4 week checklist:

*Start cooking meals for the freezer - meals for the family, plus dishes for entertaining.
*If you are making mince pies, do them now and pop them into the freezer.
*Buy your Christmas cake and pudding if you are not making them.
*Get your Christmas cards written and ready to post. If you can, put the addresses on the computer and print them out on adhesive labels. Save and file and you won't have to do it again next year.
*If you're planning to do a supermarket shop online book a delivery slot - deliveries for the week before Christmas are quickly booked up.
*Do any last-minute online present shopping so there is still time to get to the shops if the gift you want is out of stock.

Well, I have to admit to feeling pretty smug! I have finished making my 160 Christmas cards and I am babysitting the gorgeous Euan on Saturday night so I am going to take them all with me and sit and write them then! I also managed to get all my addresses onto my laptop (as I lost all the ones from previous years when my laptop died earlier in the year so had to start again - uurghh!) so I print labels, which I find makes life much easier!.
Let me know how you are all getting on

xx

Back home

2008-11-25T05:22:00.000-08:00

Had a lovely few days away with Jonathan, the weather was perfect and we stayed in a very beautiful village in the Yorkshire Dales called Askrigg, I would really recommend. We visited Rippon which has an amazing Cathedral

Also had a day in Harrogate which is gorgeous. We wanted to have a coffee break in Betty's but the queue was out of the door, so we just peeped in the window! Also managed to see Quantum of Solace at the cinema. We spent the last day looking around Leyburn and Hawes then an afternoon spent watching DVDs in our room (Jonathan's knee was pretty sore and swollen by that stage!) We also went to see these beautiful falls

Saturday we woke to a very pretty sprinkling of snow and we headed down to Sheffield to visit our dear friends Jim and Pauline. We spent a great evening with them, their friends and family at their Ladies night which was great fun!

So now I am home and trying to get organised. The most important thing is to get the Christmas cards finished and written. I only have a few odd presents left to buy.

Two tips - one I read in a magazine is to set up a 'wrapping table' in your spare room so you can leave all the bits and pieces out for when needed. And secondly I was left a comment by Goosey letting me know that Fly Lady has some great tips.

Remember to check out Etsy for some amazing presents and I will be back on Thursday for another Anthea countdown!

a break!

2008-11-18T05:20:00.000-08:00

Jonathan and I are going away tomorrow for 4 nights with no children (thanks Mum & Dad - love you!) We are staying in Askrigg, North Yorkshire for the first 3 nights then finishing up in Sheffield with our dear friends Jim & Pauline on the Saturday night. Really looking forward to this break and exploring some beautiful countryside and towns.

No photos to share I'm afraid, but I have been a busy girl, out Friday night to celebrate Annie's birthday, Saturday Jonathan & I were at a Hockey club dinner as we are now the main sponsors of Sudbury Hockey Club, last night my friend Tracy had a little open house event and was selling some of her amazing jewellery creations, then tonight I am out to the theatre with some friends to see our friend Polly in 'The Merry Widow' - phew! Lot's of fun, but it will be so nice to get a break!

I hope to come back with lot's of photos to share

hugs to all xx

Crazy hair

2008-11-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

Yup, Henry's school are having a crazy hair day for Children in Need :)

Gabriella Henry

Henry, Elise, Thomas,

Alfie, Aiden and Daniel

How cute do they all look!! I even saw Mr Rice the head teacher with red hair!

Yesterday after school the children and I took a trip up to the childrens ward of our local hospital with a huge bag of books, toys and games we had 'sorted' a few weeks ago. I think it is so good for the children to realise how lucky they are. I think I got the message accross!

Well off to collect Henry from school

Six weeks.....

2008-11-12T11:38:00.000-08:00

Yup, you read right, it's six weeks until Christmas!

Okay, Anthea's 'six weeks before' list is quite a short one:

* Start buying your gifts-and wrapping them to save time later.

* Place any online orders for gifts to make the most of regular posting dates.

* Plan the theme for your dining table and buy any accessories, such as crackers.

* Check your table linen.

Another 'Anthea' update in a couple of weeks time!

I have to admit to not getting everything done off the eight week list yet, especially making the Christmas cards! Although I have wrapped one present, made the Christmas cake and pudding, so quite proud of myself for that! I have also made some very simple gift tags with labels I brought cheap at the post office !

Lot's of bits to share

2008-11-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

Well last Wednesday was the day I needed my camera and didn't have it with me! Firstly I took my niece Daisy to our Music with Mummy session and she and Evie were sooo cute together you would not believe! Lot's of cuddles, kisses and pudding stirring going on! Unfortunately I got a completely flat tyre on the way home, but a nice AA man got it sorted and luckily (as all my tyres are new) when I went to the garage they could mend the flat rather than replace it! Then on Wednesday evening I got to take the children to see some fireworks, a bit impromptu, but that's always the best way! After Henry's swimming class at Culford School we spotted the huge bonfire across the field and decided to go and join in the fun! Evie was very apprehensive at first, but loved it after the first few bangs, "those are amazing mummy" she kept saying and later told my mum that they had been 'fantastic'! I do love a good old fashioned bonfire and fireworks (especially when they start early enough for the children to enjoy) I am really not into the whole fairground thing!

The week has gone by in a blur as I have had to work a couple of extra lunchtimes at the shop and Friday Annie and I spent the whole day sorting and re-organising her scrap room, which I think, she is very happy with. It is not quite finished but still 100% better than it was!

Last night was the Etheldreda Ladies Night at Newmarket and we had a table of friends with us, alot of fun and sillyness was had by all, as you can see!:

This is such a fantastic group of friends and it's always great to dress up, eat, drink and dance!

Then today we went to town to watch the remembrance service on the Angel Hill. This always brings a tear to my eye and I have memories of laying the wreath for the girl guides when I was young in our village. We are so good at these traditions, I just love to watch and be part of it. Here in Bury we even have two helicopters that fly past at 11am, really an amazing sight.

And lastly I have been crafting again! Two baby quilts (and one more to make) a few bits for Henry's class Christmas hamper and this..... to go beside our front door!

Thanks for stopping by!

Back to normal(ish)

2008-11-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

Half term went by very quickly and was finished off with Henry going to play with his friend Thomas (and Thomas's brothers Daniel and Alfie) for some Halloween fun. Karen had decorated the house and made a fabulous spider cake and Halloween cookies, after tea they went out 'trick or treating' to a few pre-warned neighbours and then home to answer the door to any knocks! Great fun was had by all - thanks Karen!

Sunday I was off with three friends to the Scrapping Angels Christmas Workshop which I loved as always. Annie's Year in Review was pretty labour intensive, but I got it finished and love it (of course!):

Here is a peak of a few other bits we made.

Was great to catch up with Anna and Sandie again, we must try and get together more often!

The children had a fabulous day with Daddy, including lunch at Pizza Express and lot's of sweeties, cuddles and snuggling in front of DVDs - Evie keeps asking when I'm going out again!

I have managed to use up all my apples by making 3 apple pies, which are now in the freezer, the recipe is on my recipe blog now if you need it.

I have made my Christmas cake and will make the pudding this week, I have also got my cards sorted just need to get them printed and put together! Also nearly got all my address back on my lap top again ready to print the labels for the Christmas cards - phew, so much to think about.

Off to catch up on some sleep, have a great bonfire night xxx

Photos & Christmas Countdown

2008-10-29T14:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, let's start with the photos! This is a selection of photographs from our family photo shoot in the Abbey Gardens last week - told you Anna was fab! If you are interested in having any taken get in touch with her quick - before it's too late!!

Half term is going by quickly, yesterday the children went to a holiday club run at the pre-school as they were having an Egyptian day (one of Henry's favorite subjects!). I booked them in from 8am - 1.30pm and managed to bike to Annie's for her to scan some photos ready for the weekends workshop, then to the sorting office to collect a parcel and then home to do a little paperwork and housework, finally I went for a swim - a proper grown-up swim with no children hanging around my neck! I think it's the first time I have done that since before Henry was born and it felt great! When I went to pick the children up they had had a great time and Henry was not happy about having to go home.

This afternoon we dropped Evie off with Nana & Gaga and took Henry to spend his birthday money, (a big box of Star Wars Lego!) then MacDonald's and the cinema - we saw IGOR, Henry loved it but Jonathan & I thought it was really boring - Jonathan even managed a doze! It's always nice to spend a bit of time with Henry on his own though as it so rarely happens!

Anyway - to the Christmas Countdown, yup 8 weeks to go!!!

So, I am going to give you Anthea Turners 8 week check list from her new Christmas book.

* Plan your Christmas meals-make lists of all the food and drink you will need.

* Plan your Christmas entertaining-make lists of everything you'll need.

* Send out your invitations.

* Place orders for drink and food. Remember to order your Christmas meat.

* Check you've got enough cutlery, china and glasses, particularly if your entertaining. If your short of large serving dishes and bowls try to borrow from a friend before going out and buying or hiring them. Order any glasses, china or equipment you will need to hire, or try Homebase and Ikea, which can sometimes be cheaper than hiring.

* Write out your gift list. Set a budget and try and keep to it.

* If you are making your own Christmas cards, start now - if you haven't already made them.

* Plan the theme for your Christmas decorations.

* Buy wrapping paper, ribbons and trimmings if you didn't stock up in the January sales.

* Start adding a few Christmas items to your weekly shop

* If you are making them, now is the time to make your Christmas cake and pudding.

* Check last posting dates and write them on your calender. Don't forget overseas dates if you need them.

* Book Christmas and New Years taxis.

* Arrange a babysitter if you are going to need one at any time in December. They'll quickly get booked up, especially over weekends.

* Clean out the freezer-it's time to dump the mystery packages lurking in the depths. Try to use up as much food as you can to make room for your Christmas foods.

* Have a pre-Christmas turn out in the house.

Well that's it on the Christmas countdown until six weeks before, I expect you all to be so organised this Christmas! I have already had the pre-Christmas turn out as I got the children to do it before their birthdays! And I am hoping to get my Christmas Cards made in the next week (I hope!). The only thing is I lost all my addresses on my laptop when it died earlier in the year so I am slowly getting them put back on ready for printing envelopes.

I am also going to make our Christmas cake and pudding at the weekend, if you would like the recipes check out my new recipe blog!

I look forward to reading your comments and seeing any recipes you have to share!

Phew...

2008-10-24T13:18:00.000-07:00

Birthday month is now over for another year! My niece Daisy turned 2 on 20th October and we attended her family tea party last Sunday, with a fabulous 'Upsy Daisy' cake my sister-in-law had made and then my Mum took the children to her birthday party on Monday afternoon - busy, busy!

On 21st October my baby boy turned 7, where do the years go? He is still such a sweet and loving boy. He made me smile on Monday, he was desperate for me to add the tiny bit of squashed birthday cake he had brought home from Daisy's party to his lunch box, so I also added a banana muffin with his fruit and sandwich. When he came home the muffin was untouched and when I asked why, he said ' I couldn't eat it as I had two red items in my lunch box',

'sorry honey', I said ' do the teachers check up on you then?'

'no Mummy, I just knew so I didn't eat it!' - how cute is that? dear little munchkin!

We had a birthday tea of fish and chips and my parents on his birthday, then Wednesday after school Henry and his best friend James had a 'Lego Star Wars' party. Luckily James' mum Emma is fantastic at party games and being a teacher was great at keeping everything calm and under control! We even had a visit from Darth Vader - made Evie cry! It was a fabulous party enjoyed by all 30 children I hope.

So now life is getting back on track and my mind is turning to think about Christmas - 9 weeks to go, next week I am going to check out my 'Anthea Turners guide to a perfect Christmas' book and let you know what you should be doing, I might even let you know a few of my favorite Christmas recipes.

I read some great on-line present buying tips in my 'Woman and Home' magazine:

#Make a detailed list

-it's so easy to over-buy!

#Stick to a strict budget

-overspending is effortless

when money is "virtual".

#Print out or file e-receipts

and order numbers in case

you need to return goods.

#The big upside? You can

do it all at midnight while

wearing your pyjamas!

So that is where I am going to leave you, half term is this next week, so hope to have some updates for you soon.

SORRY!

2008-10-10T04:11:00.000-07:00

It has been weeks since I last updated - sorry! Life seems to have been very busy with birthday parties to plan, work to keep up with, builders in the house and Jonathan and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary on Monday!

So, let's start with Evie turning 3, how did that happen?! Can't believe it has been 3 years since we brought that little pink bundle home from the hospital, she came out in rush and has not stopped since! We had Polly come and do a 'Music with Mummy' party for Evie and eleven of her friends, thank you Polly, it was fantastic! (apart from the smoke alarms going off every few minutes in the middle of the party - think we have a faulty one!) So this is the birthday banner I made....

And this is us joining in with the singing and actions - have to thank Annie for being official party photographer!

This is gorgeous Euan, enjoying watching the other children..........

and Daisy with her favorite cousin! I had to make a Fifi cake and had a go at Bakerellas cupcake pops, which looked nothing like hers - but went down well anyway!
Evie was so shattered that evening that she decided she didn't want to open her presents until the next morning (which was her actual birthday anyway), so early on Sunday morning we were all up watching Evie open lot's of lovely gifts, including the Lazy Town Stephanie outfit from Daniel, Alfie and Thomas..........
and the Fifi outfit from Elise and Aiden (which she even wore to Sainsburys!)We made another cake for the family tea party, which Evie helped to decorate..............

So that was all fun!

We have had fantastic builders in who found and sorted out the leak we have had, think it's been there since the house was built 8 years ago! But now dealt with!

Jonathan and I enjoyed a lovely lunch out on Monday to celebrate our anniversary, we are also going to Yorkshire for a few days without the children in November which we are so looking forward to, will be a lovely break.

I am now in the process of sorting out things for Henry's Lego Star Wars party in 10 days time, he is having it joint with his best friend, which has been fantastic, as Jame's mum Emma is fab at party games! Hope to get lot's of photos to show you.

Jonathan and I had dinner at Queens College, Cambridge on Tuesday night as we were holding an auction for the Lords Taveners. Being a 'local' I have never toured around the colleges in Cambridge, just punted behind them on the backs a few times, so it was wonderful to actually walk over the mathematical bridge and step back in time, it is so beautiful and the sense of history is overwhelming. We ate in 'The Old Hall' which was stunning, we also had a fantastic meal, definitely a night to remember.

A little incident this morning that I must tell you about, Henry got a piece of Lego stuck up his nose..........yes, you read right! He was so upset, crying and shaking and very pale, bless him! So at 6.30am Henry and I were on our way to A&E, (which is only 5 minutes down the road)luckily there was no one else there and so we were seen really quickly and after a couple of attempts at 'blowing' it out the doctor had to get something behind it and pull it out! By 7.05am we were home again and he went off to school quite happily - this is one of those things that you think will never happen to you - but it did! Don't think he'll be doing that again!

Have booked my place on the Scrapping Angels Christmas Workshop - if you haven't already done so then book your place quickly! Can't wait!!

Not much to report

2008-09-22T18:11:00.000-07:00

Not much of any interest has been happening around here I'm afraid, haven't even got any photos to share with you as I went to take some at the weekend, only to find Jonathan had left it on and the battery had run out!
Last week I went to a crop at Amanda's on Tuesday night and made a good start on Evie's birthday banner, but apart from that it was just housework and getting ready for Ashlea, Tony, Kate and Julian to come over to dinner on Friday night, which was great fun! I made marinaded lamb with new carrots and runner beans and a potato and parsnip gratin followed by a Peach and Chocolate Trifle, which I wasn't very impressed with - will not be making again!
Jonathan went off early on Saturday morning for 3 days in Loughboro' at a conference and the children and I spent the day in the garden, getting stuff cut back and tidied up, my brown bin is as full as it can be. Saturday night I cleared out the garage and Sunday the garden shed, so I now have a huge pile of stuff ready for a car boot sale. Henry had a party to attend each day, this time of year gets very busy with children's parties and I have given up trying to think of original presents and now put money in an envelope - I know, I know, but all I can say is that Henry loves having his own money to spend so I hope his friends feel the same way!
Am now full of cold and cannot sleep - hence writing this at 2am!
Promise to take some photos to share asap.

Mmmmmmmm

2008-09-13T02:58:00.000-07:00

Trying to think of what has happened this week. Not a lot really, life has got back into the old routine pretty easily. It is lovely to have Jonathan at home and for him to spend time with the children and to see what they get up to. He is still in a lot of discomfort and the knee is very swollen, so he is still on the painkillers and using the crutches, but he has a hospital check up on Monday, so we will find out more then.

Camping on the school field was cancelled again Friday because of the wet weather, Henry was so looking forward to it, but they have postponed until May, so fingers crossed for some dry weather then - third time lucky!

Went out to dinner at Spike and Annie's yesterday evening, Annie cooked Mexican, which btw, I LOVE and the most amazing chocolate dessert, was such a fun evening, thanks guys xx

I have been getting on with some more scrapping. It is nice to go through the box of photos from the last 3 or 4 months and get them scrapped, I have really enjoyed it. Using the Donna Downey books means they are all a bit 'samey' but I have decided to stop worrying about it and just get on with it. Will be nice to feel I have caught up on the photo sorting at last and then I can get the sewing machine out and do some sewing.

Annie is not teaching in September at Your Touch of Craft as she is off to do the Berlin run, so Amanda has organised a crop on Tuesday evening, for those of us who need to get out and do some crafting. I am going to make a mini birthday banner for Evie.

Oh, whilst on the subject Anna at Scrapping Angels has got spaces on sale HERE for the one day Christmas Workshop - I love these day's, so please get on over there and book now, before all the places go!

Operation went well

2008-09-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

Yes, Jonathan's knee operation went well, the surgeon managed to do it all by keyhole, although he had to go in at five different places, but he did everything that needed doing. Jonathan still has a lot of pain, but has found the painkillers are keeping it manageable. He is not putting any weight on that leg at the moment and so he is using crutches and getting a dab hand at going up and down the stairs. He is already going stir crazy being at home, so all visitors are welcome!
Evie cannot seem to say crutches and calls them skrutches! - Bless her heart :)
Well Henry went back to school in the rain last week, and seems to like his teachers. He seemed very tired and grumpy after school, but I hope he will settle down into the routine soon.
Evie and I managed to get pretty wet on the school run, although she loved the puddles!
Preparations are now along the way for Evie's birthday party in October I made the invitations and got them delivered last week, also want to make a banner and then something inventive for party bags - any ideas? Please let me know!

Another layout from Donna Downey's sketches book
And my favorite layout of the moment, I so love this! Sorry about the photo quality, I couldn't wait until daylight to get a snap so the flash reflected.
Well, life really gets back to normal with swimming and clubs all back this week, and I'm off to work tomorrow to try and catch up on three weeks of book work - yuck !

Piccies, piccies and more...

2008-09-03T04:59:00.001-07:00

piccies!

Well, last week didn't turn out quite as hot as we thought, but we still went out and about. Thursday was a visit to Pettits Animal Adventure Park, great for the under 8's.......

then Friday we headed off to BeWILDerwood. We took Henry's friend James with us, as we decided Henry would have more fun with a friend, BUT ....it was sooo busy, the boy's ended up going on only half the stuff as the queues were so long for a lot of the slides and things, we didn't even get to go on the boat as the queue was so very long. It is so nicely done, but not much fun when it is so busy. I am pleased to report that since our last visit they have added a couple of new areas for the under 5's which Evie loved, just a shame parents didn't care if their boisterous over 5's were in there too - bit of a nightmare. I would defiantly recommend a visit, but wait until a PD day or similar, when it might be a bit quieter

Didn't have Jonathan about this weekend as he was at International Jewellery London in Earls Court until last night, so got together with my friend Sarah and her baby, Euan to do some walking, walked into town and back Saturday (approx 2 miles each way) - and did some shopping, then did the same walk on Sunday morning to go to church.
Henry had two parties at the weekend, both at the swimming pool, which made for one tired little boy.

He went off to school quite happily yesterday, now in Year 2. I made a teachers a gift for him to give...........

Also, been creating again, really loving the new Donna Downey Sketches book, as I love fitting more than one picture in my layouts........

and this is my take on a sketch from Pencillines this week....

and just to leave you with a picture of Evie, fairy dancing in the garden with her 'dancing skirt and shoes' on. The skirt has a big safety pin in the back as it is so big on her, it was past down from a friend and she loves it!

Oooppss!!

2008-08-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

I didn't realise how long it had been since I last posted - sorry !! Also, getting quite obsessed with facebook!

Had a lovely morning out last week with Elaine, Molly, Alex and Harry at Nowton park. Headed off to the maze (although never found the middle) and ate our picnic in the sunshine. Here are all except baby Harry.....

Then Sunday I headed off in torrential rain to Buckden for the Scrapping Angels Summer workshop, run by the lovely Anna.........

Check out this to see the fantastic photographs she takes, I have booked us in for a family photo shoot in the Autumn. Anyway, had a fantastic day, was great seeing some, by now, familiar face's and of course getting four fantastic classes done, love them all!!.....

Anyway, by the time I drove home, the sun was shining and I was feeling restless after a day spent inside, so got the family out for a late trip to the park.........

Monday, Sarah came over and she and Jonathan put the wallpaper up in our bedroom, which looks fantastic, they are a good team. So lovely to have such a luxurious bedroom, I love it.

We are going to make the most of the sun the next couple of days and are heading off to the coast tomorrow and BeWILDerwood on Friday, so I'll be back with more photos soon !

Getting my grove back

2008-08-20T08:18:00.000-07:00

After what seems like months, I have actually starting creating again!! Note cards for Sarah, layouts, an address book (from my gorgeous scrapping angels kit and lifted from Sandie's notebook) as well as birthday cards and gift bags.

Yesterday Henry had a fantastic time at Your Touch of Craft, he attended the 'door hanging class'. I have never seen so much glitter in my life ! We have been swimming today, yet I can still see it on him! I then made one for Evie and one for Daisy - I love them !!

Mum and I headed for Felixstowe one afternoon last week when the sun was shining. The children loved it (although it was quite chilly by the sea) and Evie was desperate to go in 'that swimming pool' until her toes reached the shore and she realised how cold it was! Henry spent the whole time being 'Indiana Jones' climbing on the rocks. And Mum & I sat wishing there was a beach hut for sale in just the spot we wanted for not much money (I know - keep dreaming!)

Well, off to Scrapping Angels Summer Workshop at Buckden this Sunday, I am so excited, have all the photos ordered and tom tom is set ready, will show you my creations when I return.

and more ...

2008-08-14T08:07:00.000-07:00

decorating. Well we have finished the painting part of the bedroom and are now waiting on a pro to do the gloss then we will get on with the one wall that is going to be wallpapered, it will be so lovely when it's finished !

I went out to The One Bull with Annie and Amanda last night, we had a lovely meal and sat chatting until nearly midnight - it's been a long time since we caught up and it was such a great evening.

I now have the photographs of us in the toboggans in Madeira, being spun down the hill - just look at how tight the children are hanging on ! Was great fun and had to be done!

Really been getting into Facebook lately, have found all sorts of old friends, and realised it is 20 years since I left school - omg, that cannot be!

Have made a few birthday cards, but saving myself for the Scrapping Angels Summer workshop next weekend, Anna still has a few places spare if you fancy coming - it's going to be great!

Lot's of photo's........

2008-08-10T10:16:00.001-07:00

Okay, first check out these amazing photographs of Evie with her beloved 'Bear' which is actually a bunny that she has to suck to get to sleep. Yes, he is disgusting and smells disgusting, but I promise he goes into the washing machine regularly. He only comes out of her bed when we are having a long day out in the hope she will have a nap. Anyway, back to the photographs which Anna took - honestly, if you are thinking about having some photographs taken get in touch with her, as you can see her work is awesome.

We have had a nice week, Henry had a day at a friends whilst Evie and I went to music with mummies, we had a trip out with Amanda and met Anna at Capture the Magic for a shop and gossip then onto Newmarket Heath for a picnic, which we managed just before the rain came, we also went swimming with daisy and my mum and went for a walk with Sarah, Neil and Euan where we managed to persuade Henry to have a go riding his bike without his stabilisers, as you can see Uncle Neil had to hold on, but we will get there !!

Then today we had a family day out to Banham Zoo with Sarah & Euan whilst Neil played cricket, was a lovely day out and we are all now exhausted.

No crafting this week as every spare minute has been taken up decorating our bedroom (still a long way to go!)

It's finished - gone.........

2008-08-05T00:29:00.000-07:00

I have just finished the last Harry Potter - I know, I know, I'm behind the times, but firstly I waited for the paperback and then waited until holiday to start it and now it is finished and I am feeling like I have lost a best friend. I loved this last book, what a fantastic finish.

Anyway, moving on, another busy week had flown past, birthday picnic's in the park, friends over to play, swimming and a day out to Centre Parcs with girlfriends. Sunday was nice, we popped into Cambridge to change some shoes Jonathan had brought which had split and then went into Laura Ashley as it was the last day of the sale and got some gorgeous wall paper, fabric and lamp shades, you guessed it, we have decided it is time to start on some DIY and our bedroom is first! We then went to my brothers new pub The One Bull for a roast chicken lunch and then back home to watch James Bond - what a perfect Sunday.

I have had the sewing machine out and made myself a handbag from this book

the fabric is leftover from my kitchen blinds.

I'll leave you with a picture of Evie, taken in the Abbey Gardens at Jago's 4th birthday picnic.

Home !

2008-07-30T00:06:00.000-07:00

Home and settled in at last! Madeira was lovely, beautiful Island and we were in lovely accommodation, although the 92 steps up to our apartment was a killer for poor Jonathan's knees!. The weather was warm, although quite often overcast. The picture here of Henry and Evie is taken on the second highest sea facing cliff in the world at 550m above sea level, which was a very short walk from our accommodation. (for those of you interested the highest sea facing cliff is in Norway!).

We had a fantastic day out in Funchal, had lunch with a friend and then took the mad toboggan ride down the streets with just two men holding ropes to control you - scary! And also took the cable car down, which was fantastic.

It was so lovely to get away and relax, the children were great (okay, we had the odd Evie tantrum!) and we just read and played (- lot's of crazy golf) and spent time together, which is what it is all about.

And now we are home and the weather is fantastic - hurray. Jonathan and I spent a lovely Sunday at Sudbury's cricket ground watching the Lord Taverner's celebrity eleven play Sudbury, whilst sitting in a marquee eating a three course lunch and then afternoon tea. We did a bit of celebrity spotting - Chris Tarrant, Mike Gatting and Fraser Heinz to name a few.

I have now managed to catch up on the washing - although not the ironing and am waiting for a kit to arrive from Cocoa Daisy, you know, the Ali Edwards Travel Album one, so I can get all my holiday photos scrapped!

Wow!

2008-07-17T06:25:00.001-07:00

We saw Katherine Jenkins on Saturday night at High Lodge in Thetford Forest and she was fantastic - what a voice and she is so lovely. I gave the tickets to Jonathan for his birthday back in January and without him knowing also organised for some friends to meet us there - so he was really surprised and pleased to see them, the setting is so beautiful and we all had a great evening.

Then Sunday I became a godmother to this gorgeous little munchkin,

this is Euan and the christening service was very personal and Sarah & Neil had organised a fantastic spread back at the house, what a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
This week has been spent trying to get ready for our holiday which we go on this weekend. My head is so full I cannot tell you, but I have got most of the mundane tasks done - ie: cutting the grass, filing the paperwork, cleaning the silver etc. So now to the packing, which I hate ! It's not the clothes' it's all the 'stuff' you need to take including things to keep the children amused. We are going on an HPB holiday to Madeira. Hope the weathers good, I so need the rest.

Yesterday I went to Anna's class at Your Touch of Craft and made a gorgeous mini book, just got to do the journalling, think I'll be making quite a few of them as gifts.

Everything is coming to an end,Henry had his last swimming lesson of the term last night and they are allowed to take a friend for a play session, James and Henry had a fantastic half hour in the pool. And the night before we went to Hardwick heath for a barbecue with Henry's Beavers group. He has really enjoyed Beavers since he started after Easter and already has quite a few badges.

I'll leave you with this picture of Evie, taking time out at the christening to eat strawberries !

Rain, rain, go away,

2008-07-11T09:43:00.000-07:00

I have just typed a whole long page and lost it ---- arrgghh !

Well we should have been camping on the school field tonight, but due to the weather it has been postponed until September, good job really as we have just had a thunder storm ! So I have managed to clean the house from top to bottom instead.

Off to High Lodge tomorrow night to see Katherine Jenkins, so please keep your fingers crossed for a dry evening for us. I have been busy making picnic food, smoked mackerel pate and meatloaf to go with the breads and cheeses I have brought and some tiffin and coconut ice for dessert!

Have had a great week, we headed off to Bluewater on Sunday, it was very busy as the sales had started, but we still managed a bit of shopping and a nice meal in an Italian restaurant, poor Jonathan ended up having to use his walking stick as his knees are not up to that much exercise, the plan was to stop at Ikea on the way home but we ran out of time.

Then on Tuesday Jonathan had a ................day off !! Shock, horror, it's been a long time since that has happened and it was lovely, he did the school runs with us (which Henry loved) watched Evie and I swim and then we headed into town and had lunch at The Angel, then more shopping. We came home with a nespresso coffee maker that we had been looking at for ages, we have a fantastic kitchen shop in Bury called Marchants where all the staff are so helpful. We now have a redundant Gaggia coffee maker that has joined the ever growing pile of car boot sale stuff in the garage.

I have been doing a little bit of making:

this is a cheap canvas that I have altered using a Jenni Bowlin set of calender cards and is now in my study, and this:

which is a lift of one Anna did for Easy Craft Projects, how cute is that ! It's going to go in Evie's room. Have also made some anniversary/birthday and christening cards ready for the rest of the month.

My best friends son is being christened on Sunday afternoon and I am going to be his God-mother, so exciting, hope to have some photos to share of that next week.

My lovely husband has just arrived home with some beautiful pink roses for me, so I am off to make his dinner. Have a great weekend xx

I know,

2008-07-03T12:12:00.000-07:00

I know, I thought I'd be updating this blog much more regularly than I have been, I either run out of time or go completely blank on whats been happening !

Had a good weekend,I worked on Saturday as we had a 'Pearl Day' at the shop, which was very exciting, the pearl expert brought the Tahitian necklace of the year with him and guess what? - We sold it ! as you can imagine I have a very happy husband ! On Sunday I took a car load of baby stuff to a sale and managed to earn £75 in two hours, not bad ! Still have some stuff left over, but have put the few bits of 'equipment' in the free ads, so keeping my fingers crossed I can get rid of it all. I love sorting (how many times can I say that!)

Then we had a late lunch at Mum & Dad's to celebrate Dad's birthday which was yesterday - Happy birthday Daddy xx . The weather was nice enough to spend some time playing french cricket outside and the children all love spending time together.

My brother is very busy getting everything ready for the opening of his new pub, The One Bull, the menu looks great, can't wait for it to open.

Had my friend Anna and her daughter Katie over for lunch on Tuesday, we ate in the garden and I made a Salmon & Asparagus pie and we drank Pimm's - was very civilised,

Evie tells me Katie is her 'best friend' (this changes daily)

Wednesday is Music with Mummies morning, and I love it ! I started six years ago when Henry was a baby and have know quite a few of these ladies

Since then, I never want to leave (sorry Polly you are stuck with us forever!) especially since Evie has not got a place at pre-school for next term - seems they have a very long waiting list.

Henry got his school report this week, and we are very happy with it. He seems to be interested and tries hard, he is caring and popular. He just needs to improve his concentration and not get distracted - that's our Henry, we are always saying that he lives in Loopy La La Land !

Hope to come back and update soon xx

Still busy

2008-06-25T05:02:00.000-07:00

Life seems to have been busy, we had parties at the weekend, Henry went to his friend Zain's party in Stowmarket on Saturday afternoon, then Nana had the children whilst Jonathan & I headed off to the Langran's house in Cambridge for a lovely Barbecue with a group known as the 04's!- as always seeing these friends is great fun, always so pleased that we all keep in touch and make the effort.

Sunday we made a cous cous salad I found the recipe on this website, flap jacks, snickerdoodles and lemon drizzle cake all to take to Deans 4th birthday party. Another Barbecue and a bouncy castle - great fun, only downer was that Jonathan was at a wedding fair selling his wares and couldn't join us. Was really good to catch up with Anna and her family and she managed to grab this photograph of me and the children - not easy as Evie was NOT playing ball. But I love it so much and am hoping to scrap it very soon.

Yesterday I attended a service to celebrate Maxine's life, was a wonderful uplifting service at the church which Maxine attended regularly, lots of lovely stories told about her to make us all smile and remember the fabulous and amazing person she was. And of course I cried all the way through it :(

My friend Annie is back home to America this weekend for 3 weeks, I will miss her very much - but her husband Spike is very keen for me to come over and help move her scrap room whilst she is away - how exciting is that!! I LOVE clearing out and sorting - not so sure that Annie wants me in there without her to supervise though!

No making this week, only a couple of cards, so nothing to show off.

My brother David and my sister in law Rox with my niece Daisy have all moved in to town again, they are taking on a new business venture - The One Bull pub in town, really looking forward to it opening at the end of July.

My Mum has managed to sprain her ankle and is supposed to be resting it for a few days, those of you who know her will realise how impossible it is for my mum to sit for more than a few minutes at a time!

As I said, busy, busy. Have a good Hump day

Impromptu

2008-06-19T13:06:00.000-07:00

Had the most fantastic impromptu day today, just love it when that happens. This morning was Henry's sports day, check him out and look at that tongue stuck out in concentration, just like his great Grandad! But why oh why do we have to have 'non competitive' sports day activities?

Anyway after that four of us plus a very well behaved Evie went to town for lunch at The Angel Hotel, which was delicious and even better, my friends husband treated us ! - how lovely is that.
Evie and I decided not to get a lift home but to stroll around town and then into the Abbey Gardens and a play in the park before our walk back to get Henry from school (takes about 20 minutes - all uphill, with Evie in the buggy)

The sun shone and all was okay with the world!

Some more making:

Must start writing down some of the funny things Evie is saying at the moment, she manages to annoy Henry by saying 'stop copying me' even when he is not and another is 'boring' which she totally gets from Henry. And she is always telling me to 'Be careful Mummy, mind your fingers' when I am cutting food in the kitchen. She does make us laugh.
Jonathan has spent the day at the National Association of Goldsmiths AGM which has been held at Old Trafford in Manchester -does nothing for him as he is NOT into football, but Henry was quite impressed! He should be home soon from his very long day out.
Well off to watch BB and do the ironing.

Family visits

2008-06-16T09:45:00.001-07:00

We spent Father's day in Margate visiting Jonathans parents, as you can see, the sun shone and we all enjoyed a stroll along the promenade !

Unfortunately Henry was sick about 1 minute from home, he had been complaining of a stomach ache and headache since Saturday night, luckily we caught it in a towel as we were in Jonathans new car ! So he has spent today with his Nana whilst I went to work and he is fine now - definately back to school tomorrow :)

Henry helped me to make the card

and I made him this album from a Scrapping Angels kit I brought at the retreat and have been dying to use!
Now the scrapbook stuff has been put away and I have the sewing machine out again, I made a load of these luggage labels

(thanks Annies mum for the idea!) and a one off bag which I am selling - anyone interested please leave me a comment or e-mail me.

Tragic Loss

2008-06-15T12:37:00.000-07:00

My friend Maxine died this morning after a long battle with cancer. She leaves behind a loving husband and two beautiful little girls aged 5 and 8. She was such an awesome person, always laughing and joking and touched so many peoples lives. I just feel so lucky to have know her. God bless Max.

Phew

2008-06-11T00:22:00.001-07:00

All our accounts are with our accountant at last ! I have spent the last few days getting everything up to date and filed (hate filing) and it is such a relief to have it done. Also, the first three days of the week I feel like I am running around trying to chase my tail with work, grocery shopping, washing, clubs and classes, it's always a relief when Thursday dawns - although then I have to think about the ironing and housework !!

Even with all that going on I have managed to fit in some scrapping.........

and have made a card for my father in law

and I am now off to make a little accordian album for him with some photos of his grandchildren in ! and to watch .....................Big Brother!! I know, I know, but I cannot help myself, I LOVE IT! I know your watching it too Kelz & Lou Lou - I so miss our morning chats and catch ups on the BB news - happy days :)

Creating

2008-06-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

Have been getting on with layouts from the BPS class I am taking, can't do anymore for a while as I don't have the right size photos, how annoying is that !

Visited Capture the Magic in Soham for the first time yesterday - wow, it's so fab, I will definately be going again. Was quite reserved and didn't spend too much, mainly just picked up a couple of magazines.

Today my friends Simon & Tina popped over with their daughter Elise who goes to school with Henry and whilst the children played Simon managed to sort some 'issues' out with my laptop, which means I can now use photobox again (although everytime I upload something to my basket it chucks me out !) so fantastic to have friends to call on - thanks guys xx

Let's hope the sun shines for a lovely Sunday.

Uber Organised !

2008-06-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

I am feeling very organised, have nearly finished my 'Home File'. I covered a file about 18 months ago aka Donna Downey, but then it just sat there with a few take away menus in. Then last year Jonathan brought me this Anthea Turner book and she gives instructions for a home file. I have emergency numbers, tradespeople, family contacts, car details plus lots more and I love it !!! I am available to hire if you want me to do this for you !(at a cost of course ;) )

Also made a couple of cards:

AND......Jonathan was on TV last night !! He was representing the National Association of Goldsmiths, talking about the recent spate of armed robberies in jewellers in London recently, anyone interested it was ITV London tonight.

and for dinner tonight I made 'Italian Style Pork Tenderloin'

Recipe: serves 4

2 pork tenderloin (about 500g each)

4 tsp dried fennel seeds

1tsp maldon sea salt

2tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1tsp dried chilli flakes

1 tsp brown sugar

1/2 tsp dried sage

olive oil

1. Heat the oven to 220c

2.Dry the pork fillets with a kitchen towel and place them on a baking tray. With a sharp knife, make a few slashes in each piece.

3.Make a spice paste by grinding the fennel seeds with a pestle and mortar. Combine the ground fennel with the salt, pepper, garlic, chilli flakes, sugar and sage. Add enough olive oil to make a thick spreadable paste.

4. Drizzle the paste over both the pork fillets, then drizzle each with a little more olive oil. Roast the pork in the top of the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until cooked and coloured. To test, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the meat; the juice should run clear when cooked.

5. Rest the meat in a warm place for 10 minutes then slice and serve.

Enjoy !!!

Quiet weekend

2008-06-01T12:23:00.000-07:00

Nothing much to report, had a very quiet weekend, catching up on housework, doing a little scrapping etc. We were supposed to go to Annies for dinner on Saturday night, but they have 'the bug' poor family - hope you are all okay now x So we stayed in to watch the final of Britains got Talent, bit disapointed with the result, really thought Escala should have won - could watch them for hours !

Evie seems to have cracked the potty training (don't want to speak too soon) three days of no accidents :)

Have downloaded all my May photographs from the camera, here are a few for you.... Henrys Beaver promise

My gorgeous Evie

My gorgeous niece Daisy and her

favorite cousin

Evie dressed up and ready to

go out to celebrate her Uncle

Davids birthday

and Henry enjoying lunch & sunshine

on the same day.

Oh where, oh where has that sunshine gone to???

Crazy about kits

2008-05-30T11:48:00.000-07:00

I went ahead and joined BPS crazy about kits class last night and have done my first layout(once again - awful photo, will have to try and improve!), I put the kit together with a load of my minds eye tres joile papers I had, feels so good to be using up some of my old stash. I want to get some more done but do not have the right photos printed and I cannot get photobox to work at the moment - what a nightmare !

Evie has been fantastic with the potty training today, actually had the same pair of knickers on tonight that I put on her when she got up this morning - hurrah ! Perhaps we are getting somewhere at last.

Another busy day with visits to various friends, including Daph whom I haven't seen for ages and I am so glad I popped in to see her today xx

I am really into the Sainsburys/Jamie Oliver meals for a fiver at the moment and I made the 'brilliant bacon pasta' for tea - anyone else tried these? I think they are fab !

Hugs to all xx

Busy days

2008-05-29T12:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we spent the day at the Suffolk Show, apart from the weather it was a fantastic day and we found that Henry has a knack for finding all the freebies and stickers there are available !

and after sharing a bag of candy floss, the sugar rush hit and they both ran around like loonies for the rest of the afternoon, Evie kept singing 'hop, skip, hop, skip' with these bunny ears on !

Had another busy day today, Henry wanted to go to work with Daddy and so spent the morning at the shop, helping to pass jewellery to them when they were putting the window in and then re-stocking the watch batteries etc. I had Daisy to look after this morning and then managed to catch up with Elaine and the children this afternoon.

These are a couple of the cards I made earlier in the week...........

Speed Racer

2008-05-27T12:13:00.000-07:00

This is what we have been to see at the cinema this afternoon, terrible photo I'm afraid, but this is Henry, Thomas (blinking !) Alfie and Daniel all waiting for the film to start. Very fast and colourful (and a little bit too violent for a PG - in my opinion).

Yesterday it carried on raining, so we stayed in again and had my Mum and Dad, Brother, sister in law and niece over for cake and tea, I love an excuse to bake!

And of course tomorrow is the Suffolk Show it's supposed to stay dry which will be great, I have just made up a batch of this fantastic cookie dough to bake in the morning so we have some yummies to take with us.

I haven't done any scrapping since the Scrapping Angels Retreat but I did get around to making some cards last night with some great stamps I got from Your Touch of Craft, can't share any pictures as the recipients might read this ! I am also very keen on a couple of classes online at Big Picture Scrapbooking, I'll let you know what I think and photograph the results !

Thank you for all the lovely comments left on my previous posts, it's always great to know someone is looking ! I'm now off to watch Britain's Got Talent

Wet day activities

2008-05-25T09:44:00.000-07:00

What a suprise, it's a bank holiday weekend and it's raining ! Out went our plans of the trip to the continental and flower market in town or to see the old army vehicles at Rougham, instead we snuggled down for a day at home. We have:

Made salt dough figures

and painted them !
Made orange biscuits

Built lego castles

Watched the golden compass

and I have cooked my favorite chicken and lentil curry for Jonathan and I to eat for dinner.

We did manage to get a walk in later when the rain died down, we were starting to go stir crazy ! Good luck to those going to the concert in the Abbey Gardens tonight !

I also packed away my sewing machine, I am not lucky enough to have a dedicated crafting area or room, so I use the dining room table. The sewing machine has been out for a couple of weeks and in that time I have covered six foam cusions for Sarah's dining room chairs (nearly finished hun - just the hand sewing to do) made Evie a ruck sack

and made myself a gorgeous bag from this book - I borrowed it from the library, but am now desperate for a copy, anyone who wants to buy me a pressie - this is what I want !! LOL !!

First Post !

2008-05-23T00:32:00.001-07:00

Well I've done it - started my own blog ! How weird does this feel? - Very ! I am hoping that it will be a way for me to look back and remember the everyday stuff we have done and also a fantastic way for our family and friends around the country and world to keep up with our news and photographs - here's one of Evie to start you off, looking fabulous in my shower cap !

She gave us quite a fright yesterday on the walk to school, she fell over and cried (quite normal) so I picked her up and she suddenly stopped crying and went floppy in my arms and looked like she was falling asleep, I started shouting at her and she just 'woke up' and started crying again - anyway, a quick trip to the Doctors found that she was fine, perhaps just fainted or something?

and here is my baby boy - growing up far too fast, thanks Annie for this gorgeous shot of him. We are just at the beginning of our half term week. Not too many plans as I am potting training Evie, but we are off to the Suffolk Show on Wednesday so please pray for dry weather for us !

Had a great afternoon in Nowton Park today with friends, just running around enjoying the sunshine, we have to make the most of it as the bank holiday is going to be wet - suprise, suprise !

Hope you all have a great weekend xxx