Little Christmas Pix...

Bedgebury - weekend before Christmas

Off to the Scout Christmas Party

Millie Reindeer

William Reindeer

Christmas Eve

Friday!

Woke up this morning to the sound of William and a croupy cough. The older he gets the later in the night he seems to get it. I knew he would come down with it sooner or later as he slept really badly the night before and I thought it was going to happen then but it didn't. I don't think this weather is helping matters, it is really cold and going in and out of it never seems to help. I kept him off school today so he can fully recover over the weekend as it is the school Christmas production on Monday and I don't want him to miss that.

Bill is working till really late tonight so he was able to walk the girls to nursery while William and I took Elway to the vet to be neutered! We get to pick him up shortly which will be nice. I think we are all going to have an early night today as everyone is exhausted, you can tell it is the last week of term next week.

Plans for Christmas are going well, still haven't managed to pin a day down with my cousins and nan and gramps but everything else seems to be sorted. I managed to write all my cards the other day and am just addressing them to be posted Monday. I am trying to get a hair appt this week as I really miss having highlights and have asked Bill if that can be my Christmas present. I have found a salon in town that does a 50% offer if you find them online so I am going with them.....I'll post pix once it is done!

Anyway, better go get ready to get a woozy, sore Elway, bless him.

xx

Snow!!!!

We've had snow again this year. Much earlier than last year and still I don't have sledge....much to my children's disgust and as you can imagine, all stores are sold out and if there are any they are way over priced!!! Here's a couple of pix to tide you over :-)

Firstly, the girls making snow angels on the church green.

The view outside our front door this morning, we had even more snow last night

View from Church green yesterday, who knows what it looks like today

Pink girls in the snow

Check out the snow on the fence, this is what fell just last night!!

School is still open so Bill just gone off with William and our neighbour on their sledge. It is a mile to get there so it could take a while. I am not sending the girls to nursery but think we will take them into town later so they get out and go get a Starbucks...gotta be a skinny, decaf, toffee nut latte in a red cup!!

Not getting much running in at the mo, managed 3.2 miles on sunday in freezing temps but it felt good as it was the first run after my 10k. What do you do when it snows, I can't see how I can run out there at the min, walking is pretty hard!!

x

Anyway, might have to break open the Christmas decs today and start using my lovely new Christmas cups....I'll post a picture of them later

xx

10k news

Well, I did! It took me 1 hour 15 mins and 08 seconds!!!! Really slow but I didn't walk once.

I will definitely do another one, not sure when but just need to pick up my pace now. Feel sooooo good having done it and achieved my goal but today I got to see some of the official pix and I am GUTTED. To me, I look fat, old and ridiculous. I have just started to finally feel better about how I look but man this has taken me right back!!

Never mind life goes on.

xx

10k prep!

Well, there isn't!! I did a 5 miler on thursday and then 3 miles on sunday night. Since then I have been slammed with chores, work, kids and everything else life entails. Bill is leaving to early at the minute for me to go before he leaves so I'll just have to wing it on Sunday!!

xx

Catch up!

Sorry it's been so long, time just seems to be getting away from me. Bill was away this weekend from weds to Sunday. So I am pooped. Mum and dad are in Cornwall with my sis and bro in law and Bill goes away again this Friday till Sunday too.

I am planning on doing a 5 mile run on Thurs with my buddy. We haven't run this far yet but comfortably manage 4 miles so it should be ok. We have our 10k (just over 6 miles) on 21st Nov. It seemed so far away for so long but now it is coming way to quick. The weather here at the mo is horrid, grey, cold and wet. Praying for a sunny, calm, cold day on the 21st as we are running along Brighton beach walk!

Not much else going on here, kids doing well at school. Elway is just adorable, I have never met a cat that will put up with what my children put him through but he does and actually seems to enjoy it. Planning Christmas here already. I have been Phoenixing since school went back in Sept but this is the first time we will be having Christmas here in our own home by ourselves. We can't wait. Probably going to cheat on the food though and get everything pre prepared from Marks and Spencer!!! Well it is my Christmas too. I've also signed up for Christmas Choir Candlelight service. I LOVE this service, I go to it every year by myself. Bill puts the kids to bed for me and I just go and be at peace, I have read at it before but never sung. Anyone who knows me will now be laughing!!! I freely admit I am not the best singer but I am very enthusiastic which I pray will be enough!!!!!

Much love

xx

Up to date pix

I haven't blogged with pix for a while so I thought I would do a quick run down of my most recent snaps! The first is Homesense! Christmas has arrived there and even though it is early as a Phoenix Trader I start my Christmas selling in August and I LOVE Christmas. I was soooo excited to see this loveliness in my local store. I saw so many things I wanted and on the way out I won £25 so went and bought some of them. Including a wonderful snow globe and a Christmas plate (for mince pies) and 2 Christmas mugs. I have wanted some Christmas flatware for ages. When we lived in the US we had bits which I loved but also had storage! We sold virtually all our belongings when we moved here so I am now trying hard to replace things. I did manage to get Bill and I a mug each though :-)

This next picture is our latest addition. Sadly, we had to rehome Mabel. We started by gifting her to the police but she didn't make the cut and they have rehomed her for us. This was a heartbreaking decision that has been especially hard on Bill. Anyone who knows any of my issues will also know just how much this has plagued me! Luckily, we know she will be in a wonderful home with a bigger garden and people who will be able to give her much more exercise than we could. Anyway, back to Elway, we/I weren't looking for a kitten but there was a flyer in school saying that there was 1 stray kitten left from the litter looking for a home. I texted Bill about it, then felt incredibly guilty as he is really allergic to cats. Bless him though, he called later and said yes as long as he could name it. Hence, Elway! Have I told you lately babe, I love you. Elway is a wonderful addition to our family, everyone loves him, Jaime especially and Bill is quite happy to have a good game with him and I just keep plying him with antihistamines!

The 2 pix below are from my Open house evening. I sold Phoenix and I had my friend who has just opened a Bead shop and another new friend who sells other gorgeous gifts too.

My beautiful girls in front of a pond which would normally have a fountain but it wasn't turned on.
The kids playing on the obstacle course at Groombridge Place. We had a blast and are making the most of our passes before the season ends on Nov 6th
More Groombridge
Even more, just gorg boy though, sitting on a log dinosaur bone
More
This was from a model village we visited with the Macnabs. We had the most glorious day and we all had a blast. It wasn't until we got home that I found out it was where my grand parents used to take us regularly!
Anyway, that is a quick update. Dad has been given the all clear which is fantastic and we are all praising God for this wonderful piece of news. Thank you so much for all of your prayers.

This weekend, weather permitting we are taking my grandparents (aged 92 and 90) up to Scotland, Braemar. This is somewhere they have been going for the last 40 years but cannot manage to get there by themselves. Bill and I are driving up there with them on Friday as long as the snow they are kind of predicting doesn't mess up our plans. They are extremely excited as are we. My sister is coming up from Cornwall to help mum and dad look after the children which is awesome of them all for doing this. I think it will be quite an emotional trip for us all but hope and pray that it will be wonderful.

I am planning on taking lots of pix of the trip so will post them once we get home

xx

October!

I love October and from what I have read recently on Facebook and other blogs lots of other people do too. Only problem here is that it starting raining yesterday at 11am and hasn't really stopped since.

I'm still running and am now trying to go with a running group on a Thursday night with Lou, my 10k buddy, and it is actually really fun. Can you believe I am saying running is fun but it is. I started off running with headphones and stopped because of an article I read and didn't think I would be able to run past a mile but am loving it. I use the time to pray and when it is a crisp cool morning I feel such peace. I've even started buying a women's running magazine which I find quite hilarious (the fact that I'm buying it and reading it) not the actual magazine.

Dad is doing well all things considered. The surgery went well and to be honest he is doing brilliantly but he is very frustrated..... it has only been a week but he just wants to be well NOW. Thank you to all of you praying and asking after him. Mum is doing ok too, she is just as frustrated and even though the kids are loud and sometimes annoying I hope that they provide a distraction for them both. They are being really good and not bothering Grampie much at all. They certainly aren't clambering all over him!

I haven't managed to do much work this summer. I am trying to set up an open house at mine for Christmas products which will be fun. I'm going to scout around for some local crafty talent to come too, it is nice to sell products next to other people. I'm still trying to find traders to join my team but just haven't managed to get out there yet at all, but I will. I do really love it and once the girls go to school I will need to make money from it too, which I know I can. I love having a team too, it gives me much more umpf to keep going.

Mum just asked me if I was putting any pictures on here and I'm not this time but promise I will soon.

That's it really, children are all doing well at school and only 3 weeks now till half term then it's all heading to Christmas!!

xx

What have I done since the girls birthday, I'm not even sure myself. Dad had his surgery yesterday and it went well. He is waiting to hear if he can come home today but sounds like he might be staying in. We are off to our friends this weekend to give them a bit of space and peace and quiet for recovery as having all the children around him is going to be a bit tough to start off with.

Fair amount of normal stuff going on here though, William started Beaver scouts last week. A friend of mine was helping out in the group and said he came in bouncing and didn't stop the whole session. He LOVED it and can't wait for tonight. He also started doing gym in the after school program yesterday and really enjoyed that too. Cycling seems to be his main passion at the moment much to his daddys delight. The girls are loving their new nursery, I'm still struggling with them going in the afternoon rather than the morning just because I don't get to see my friends as much as we are child free at different times. Also, Phoenix wise most people want parties either in the evening or the morning. If it is a good friend I can take the girls but not really to a new clients.

I've managed to get a few bits of work done over the past couple of weeks but really need to step it up a bit heading towards Christmas. Bill is doing good as well but working alot at the moment what with Freshers week and all. So much day to day stuff and not enough time to do it.

Running is going well though. I ran with a group last week which was fab.. we did 3 miles and it was really good in a group and I got to run in a place in town that I don't know which makes for a good time. I then thought I would step my mileage up a bit and planned a route with map my run that came out at 3.5 miles. I ran it and was sooooo pleased with myself. When I got back I met my neighbour who is a keen runner and she told me I had just done 4 miles!!!!!!! Can you imagine how chuffed I was. So exciting!! I ran again on Monday just a short one but haven't managed again since. I will have to go in the morning early as I won't manage with the group tonight. I am dreaming of getting myself a piece of kit that will be a luxurious necessity (if there is such a thing) it's the Garmin Forerunner 110 it's £169 here so am starting to look in the US to see if it is cheaper! Definitely can't afford it but both Bill and I would use it so it would be cool!

Hope this finds everyone well, still reading blogs and love keeping up with everyone

xx

Birthday Weekend!

Well, I can't believe our girls are now 4!! Here are some pix not in any particular order because however I put them onto blogger they seemed to get muddled up anyway. But, enjoy!

Sneaking some icing!Blowing out 4 candles each
Our Gorgeous children waiting very patiently for birthday cake

Lovely picture with Uncle Jim and their new music boxes

Birthday party dress cake

One of the only pix that came out of some of their pressies. They got the dolls last year and the highchairs for them this year. Jaime is still clinging onto her music box too

The girls enjoying birthday cakes at their party

Millie admiring her work! Cookie decorating

Most of the party goers colouring in their butterflies

We had a fab birthday weekend. On Friday the girls had nursery in the morning and a party in the afternoon where they did some colouring, cake decorating and pass the parcel. I didn't do a big cake for this party just cupcakes which they all seemed to like. On Saturday we all got up early, opened pressies then I snuck off for a run while everyone else had croissants. Bill and Dad then took the kids to Daddy and Me at church which was lovely because all my children have been going to this session since they were born. Mum and I pottered around the house I managed to clear out our wardrobe, mainly Bills side but I love decluttering. In the afternoon the girls had a friends birthday party to go to, a Woodland adventure. Bill took them to this and said it was a blast. They made dens, had a teddy bear hunt and then spent the rest of the time in the treehouse. Our friends build treehouses so this is such a lovely place for the kids to spend time.

On Sunday we went to church in the morning and then Suz and Jim came for lunch. It is lovely having them over especially when my mum and dad are here too. We all had a great time but the kids were exhausted so bath time was a bit fraught but we made it!

Back to school for all today, bit ratty but never mind they'll get over it.

xx

Back to School!

William went back to school today and last night my routine started! I did the ironing and was in bed by 930pm. I have been very spoilt having my mum and dad home this summer as my mum likes ironing and tends to do it when she is here so I really haven't done much recently.
Got up this morning at 545am and did a 3 mile run. I'm really starting to enjoy running now and once I'm up and out it is great, having said that so far I have had nice mornings it is now supposed to rain for the rest of the week which might not be so pleasant to run in! Just as I was coming downstairs from my shower the kids were getting up, William and I set his clothes out last night and he was a star getting dressed. The girls were super excited today because we were going on a playdate with their friend Mae who we haven't managed to see all summer. Anyhoo, our school run was lovely, we walked which was fab so by 930am I had clocked up 5miles!!

Rest of the day went well, I made soup in my new crockpot which Bill gave the thumbs up to this evening and we spent the rest of the day with our friends. I had to take William back to the docs this evening for his skin, he has developed some for of eczema on his knees, elbows, feet and pretty much everywhere else but on the opposite side to where eczema normally is. Got prescription for that and by then it was 5pm so we went to the mall for McDs. A treat for my kids and meant they would then walk home quickly as we had to pick daddy up from the station by 610pm cos his bike brakes had failed on the way there this morning.

Phew what a day! Girls start at their new nursery tomorrow and I am going to go into town for the whole 2.5 hours they are there and have coffee and mooch! How was your day????
xx

Holiday weekend!

Just spent a wonderful weekend with various friends. We had planned on being away from the house over the bank holiday weekend to give Dad some space to come back to reality after his surgery but it didn't happen and we went away anyway. Mum and dad got to spend the weekend by themselves which at the moment doesn't happen and they kindly looked after Mabel for us too.

We got in the car Saturday morning and drove to my Godparents, weather was ok but Autumn/Fall is definitely on its way. We went to a food fair in town and played in the park then Uncle Jim cooked us a lovely bbq. Sunday we got up lazed around watching DVDs we'd rented from the library then had a slap up breakfast before heading out swimming. Roast Chicken for supper then back in the car to visit Jaimes Godmother and her family including our God daughter. They have just moved back from Guernsey and are now only an hour and half drive which is so fab. Spent a great day with them on Sunday exploring their new town and going to a summer fete, (must be the last one of the season). Kids had a blast and it was wonderful being able to catch up with them so easily. I look forward to many more visits to and from them.

William goes back to school on Monday and the girls start their new nursery at his school on Tuesday. I have to go on Thursday to meet with their new teacher and confirm their hours etc which will be fun for them to see where they will be going. To be honest, I can't wait for them to go back. I am trying to savour this last week but I am dying for some routine and normalcy. The kids are being great in general but there is a lot of fighting and I am just fed up with it. I also have so many jobs that I want/need to get on with but just can't manage to with them around including work!

I know though, the time soon passes and it will be here before know it and they will be all grown up and gone in a blink of an eye, but I still could do with a day off!
xx

Update on dad!

Well he didn't have it! Mum and I took him in this morning to find out there was an emergency surgery in the theatre so there would be a wait. We left him there about 930am to wait, and wait and wait. Dad eventually called at 1pm to say that surgery was now starting but he wasn't having his because of his sleep apnea. He needs a special bed for recovery and they didn't have one. It is rebooked for the 22nd September so we will go from there. Thanks for all your prayers and comments.

The kids were good at my GORGEOUS friend Rachels so that was a blessing and it rained all afternoon so we sat in and watched Bedknobs and Broomsticks and then Peter Pan.

Also, want to say thanks to all my friends that are being so lovely about my parents. This is turning out to be a hard summer for us all and I just want you all to know I appreciate you all.
Thanks
xx

Hanging in there!

Well, I still have yet to run! My sinuses are so blocked I just can't breathe but I may go out tomorrow and just see what happens.

Dad has his surgery tomorrow. He was supposed to go in today but there were no beds so he is in at 745am in the morning and my absolutely gorgeous friend Rachel is having my 3 for a sleep over tonight at hers so I can take him in. I just couldn't fit everyone in the car at one time otherwise.

Anyone reading this who prays, please keep him in your prayers, he is really nervous and mum is too so it would be very much appreciated.
Thanks,
xx

A cold in the summer!

What is that about!!! I feel like crap right now, my nose is running and my throat is sore. I haven't run since last weds and now I am feeling really blobby!

We did have a lovely weekend though, we went to Wisley Gardens with my cousin and his wife and children on Thursday which was lovely. The kids had a great time, they always have fun getting together and this was the first time both husbands were in on the trip too. The weather was kind to us and all in all it was a great day.

On Friday we packed up again and headed off to Stoke, land of oatcakes and Jaimes Godfather and his family. We stayed with him and Emma (his gorgeous girlfriend) in their new home. Wow talk about house envy, it was lovely. They have made a great choice and we wish them happiness in it, and lots of visits from us :-)
On Saturday we visited Blackbrook Zooilogical Park and luckily didn't get rained on the kids had a good time looking at all the birds and especially the lemurs at the end. My fav were the Meerkats, they had just had babies and were especially cute. On Sunday the boys went off to play footie, Jim plays every weekend so William and Bill went to watch with some other family too. Emma, Millie, Jaime, Mum, Joann and I went off to a country park walking distance from the house and the weather was wonderful. We went in the afternoon to Chris and Joanns house for a family get together and I was so proud of the kids they were awesome and the sun shone a wonderful way to finish off our Uk staycation.

Bill went back to work today, Dad went for his preop blood work and the docs. I had the kids and I managed to do 4 loads of laundry and vacuum and mop the playroom floor and the kitchen floor before I picked Mabel up from the kennels.

Anyway that is me, no running as I just can't breathe properly right now! Back soon
xx

Still running!

Well, we are back home and man I can't wait for the kids to go back to school, I am just so fed up with being mauled and whinged at all day. Don't get me wrong, I am loving not having to rush around in the morning and it is great being able to do what we want even though some it weather dependent, but they just don't ever stop talking, bickering, poking, prodding, annoying each other and eventually ME!

There we go enough moaning I sound like the kids!

On another note, I am still running, I ran 5k on Monday and today and I am finally beginning to enjoy it more. I am able to concentrate on running rather than breathing and that is a bonus for me which is wonderful. I run with Mabel on the lead around my waist which is better as I don't get a sore shoulder from holding her back all the time and Bill has done me another running track on my Ipod for which I am sooo grateful. I need to start adding more distance to my runs now, we are away for the weekend from Friday till Sunday evening and Bill is working odd hours when he goes back to work so will have to figure out when I can run. I really like running in the morning, I feel terrible when I first get up but once I have done the first 10 mins I feel great. Once I have done a day with the kids and they are finally in bed I just can't face then going out to run and still have to have dinner etc once I get home. Man there are just not enough hours in the day!!!!!

Anyway enough rambling on about running, can you tell I am a little obsessed yet!!!!
xx

Sand angels anyone?

Thought this picture was really cute, and Millie running up to join them too

Millie, Clarabelle and I built this sandcastle, the shell decorations were done by Millie herself and she was really rather proud of this, there are MANY other pictures of her with it.

Millie, bless her, was so proud of the fact that she had walked across the beach with this bucket of water and she didn't get her towel wet whilst retrieving it because she very cleverly hoiked it under her arms. She was slightly disappointed when as soon as she tipped it into her moat it disappeared though

This is Jaime rolling down a big sand dune, they all had a go at this but I love this picture because it looks like she has just fallen down!

You can't see them but there are bubbles out there somewhere
Knees anyone
Arty beach shot in the grass, he could be a catalogue model
This is just before take off for dune rolling
See we swam in the sea! Well the kids did it was far to cold for me
How cute is she?
All these pictures are taken by my lovely bro in law. He is just awesome and is putting them all, I mean hundreds of them onto a disk for us to take home too. Bless him.

We've also managed to fit in swimming today, Toy Story 3 yesterday. We did that because it was raining and really glad we did because down here it is so much cheaper than back home. We also went to the Minack Theatre on tuesday which even though it rained was brilliant and so worthwhile. There has been quite a few park trips thrown in too, we found a lovely one just down the road from my sis which was lovely and all the children have had a blast doing that. Not sure what we will do tomorrow it is really weather dependent and apparently there is no electricity from 10am till 2pm!!!!! Could be fun!

I've managed to get 2 runs in as well, today I managed 5k along the seafront, man it was goooooood, and if I lived here I would have to make it a VERY regular thing.

Off home early saturday morning, mum and dad brace yourself the children will be back soon!!

To Beach or not to Beach!

That is what it looks like Jaime is doing right here!

This is the gorgeous beach we spent the sunniest day of our holiday on, to be honest the weather has been good just not necessarily beach weather

Obligatory family shot, we had just buried their feet which they looked rather bemused about
My little surfer dude with his bucket and spade
One of many of the pix that was taken of my gorgeous and oh so camera savvy Millie
Play ball

Hello Kitty!
Jaime took William down shortly after this shot, we have a great action sequence of it
Arty black and white picture, they were fighting over the ball not with each other

Auntie Clare painted all our toe nails and even put little decorations on our feet, and if you count them you will realise that Williams are in there too! How could I say no!

Holiday!!!!!!!!!

We are off tomorrow to see my sister and bro in law in Cornwall for a week. We are soooo excited. The car is packed and we are leaving at 5am, hoping to be there by 1030am ish...
May blog, may not!
xx

Running

Well, I went out again this morning. 545am and 1.87miles done by 620am! I used Mapmyrun.com last night to figure out distance and it is brilliant, I would never know otherwise. Not sure how I will ever get to 7miles but I'm sure I will eventually.

I have discovered that I am not as unfit as I thought I was. On my runs I am able to control my breathing and am not too puffed until the end but I just struggle with the will power to actually to keep going. I am really hoping that I get to a stage where this is not the case and I will want to go further each time and really enjoy it. That said, this is the most I have ever enjoyed running so far and I think that is down to the fact that Bill loaded my Ipod with awesome tunes. I have a thing about music, I love listening to it but have no idea who anyone is so if I tried to put stuff on my Ipod I wouldn't know where to start and in true husband style Bill seems to know exactly what tunes I love. Thanks Bill
xx

We took a day out!

Bill still working and it is the summer holidays so I decided to take the kids out for the day. We went to Groombridge Place as my gorgeous mum and dad got us a year round ticket so it was also a free day out. I am sounding so pleased with myself because I don't very often go out to such a public place completely by myself with all 3 children at once. I do normal day to day stuff but not a fun day out, not without friends usually. I also got thinking about this when I read a fellow bloggers take on it too. I took a few snaps on the way for your enjoyment!

The first one is all of us eating our lunch, the kids were so excited as they had their own packet of crisps!! I am that mean of a mummy that they only get a packet of crisps on a picnic! This is William taking part in a drumming lesson, I joined in after the picture taking and so did the girls. We had a blast and even had another go on the way back.

This was a very cool dragon sitting on its nest with eggs

Another very cool pteradactyl, you can't see it very well but its eggs are in the tree above it.

My gorgeous 3 children sitting on a dinosaur bone :-)

We had an absolute blast and the kids were great, the weather was awesome and we will definitely go back together again. I want to take Bill as he hasn't been yet either and it was just beautiful.

What are you guys getting up to on the holidays???

xx