Birthday Fun

William turns 9 tomorrow, I cannot believe the time has gone this quickly.  He is still so young, but this will be his last year in single digits!!!!  Anyway, this year it was his turn for a party but he chose for a family day out to LEGOLAND instead.  It was such a fab day, 25 deg and heaving with people, queues no less than 45 mins each BUT we still had such a good time.  We rode on all but one ride and he got to see the 4D Lego Chima movie he was desperate to see. One of the highlights actually was sitting down at about 230pm and making Lego.  There is a discovery den where you can get boxes of Lego with instructions and the correct Lego bits and all 3 kids loved this!  We spent an hour and a half in here, which in the height of the heat was lovely, especially for us!  Apart from it being really busy we couldn't fault the day.  We got there as soon as it opened and headed straight to the bottom of the park so we could go on the Dragon rollercoaster first then made our way back.  We didn't leave the park until it closed at 730pm! We certainly got our moneys worth!!  Below, are a few pix of our lovely family day out xxx

Lego Chima figure

Bubbs with one of the many models he made 

 Millie with one of hers

 Family lego building

Jim Jam on the carousel

I love this pic above, Lego figures as big as they are!!!

 On Friday, the kids got their first Kung Fu belts as well, so a totally full on weekend!!

Cartwheels and allsorts!

I haven't blogged in a while, it's been full on here really.  Here are a few snaps from our half term break, we went to see Clare and Kenny in Cornwall and it was AWESOME.  It was sunny, warm and FUN x Enjoy the pix xx

Marathon pix and a few details.....

Well, I realised that I really didn't have any pix of the marathon at all!  Probably because it was all so overwhelming and a little bit scary, but there is one of me having just woken up on sunday afternoon with my medal...and one of me with some storm troopers which I took for my husband and the kids!!

I am so glad I took part and feel as though I can put this marathon business to rest now.  I wouldn't say it was enjoyable and it really hurt, especially towards the end.  It also took far longer than I would have liked, it training we walked much faster but on the night you could only really go as fast as the person in front of you and to be honest we bobbed and weaved through quite a few people but that just made it no fun.  The plus side was that I saw lots of London that I'd never seen before.  The negative to that is there are a few places I'd like to actually go visit BUT I have no idea where they are!!!!! 

 

All in all, it was a fab experience and one that I would thoroughly recommend to all of you, the training takes forever but it was worth it.  Missing a nights sleep certainly takes it toll though! 

xxxx

 

What did you get up to at the weekend?

 

  

 

Today I used my courage!

I love to sing!  I sing anywhere, it makes me feel good, I have a terrible memory so I rarely remember lyrics which isn't very helpful but who cares right....I also can't read music and can't play any instruments.  I've never had a lesson in my life but just love it.  Over the last few years at church I have started to sing in the choir and on various womens events we've had, usually as long I've heard the song a few times and have the words I can wing it, I only ever sing the tune!  I also played Snow White in our church panto which had a bit of singing but that is a whole other story!

So, I've been looking at getting some lessons.  To try to learn how to sing correctly etc etc.  There was an ad for our local theatre which was hosting a yummy mummy sing song.  It started last week and is for an hour each Thursday morning for 6 weeks.  I plucked up the courage and went as I only found out about it today.  My worst nightmare would be for no one else to be there, best outcome would be to learn some stuff and meet some new friends.!!!!  Well, worst nightmare it was...I was literally the only person there apart from the teacher and you know what.....IT WAS AWESOME!  A little weird but AWESOME!  I learnt some breathing exercises, did some tongue twisters then sang a song.....all on my lonesome.  I basically got a private lesson and I loved it!  I didn't sound too bad either, my biggest problem is confidence, I may love to sing but doubt that I sing even slightly listenable!!  But, apparently I sound alright....yeh!  So, I'm going again and hope to learn some more and maybe this time get someone else along too. I carried on the tradition this evening too as Bill is away and watched Pitch Perfect, what an awesome film, I just loved it.

Anyway, there is my confession today, what did you get up to??????

Picture!!

Just the one, but it's cute!!!

Hellooooooooooooooo, is anyone still out there??

To be honest, it wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't!  I haven't blogged in so long, I just haven't felt the urge.  To start with our old laptop was so clumpy and slow it took forever and I could do it on my phone but it was all a bit small for my liking.  Anyhow, we now have a new computer (laptop) which is fab, it does have Windows 8 on it which is taking a bit of getting used to, hence no pictures this post....I may upload one in a min from my phone!

So, whats gone on the last 6 months....well, Christmas was lovely!  We had my parents here for the first time since we've had the kids as they usually spend it with my grandparents.  It was fantastic to see their faces as the kids opened their presents and we had such a wonderful, chilled day.  January passed with me turning 41!  One of my 'things I want to do in my 40s' is a marathon, so I signed up to the Moonwalk which is a charity powerwalk starting at midnight round London!!!  It's next weekend...so by Sunday I can check Marathon off my list!  I still cannot believe I am doing it and to be honest it has been really hard doing all the training, not so much physically but mainly due to time????  Last Friday we dropped the kids at school and walked 20 miles which took 5 hrs....that was the whole school day!  Man, I was exhausted that evening because as much as the kids love me, they don't quite get how hard it is to do that and life just continues as normal for them!

Ridiculously, not much else has happened....apart from the normal day to day!  I really am that sad!

So, if anyone out there is still writing, let me know I'd love to start reading blogs again. xxxx

Half term family fun

So, our week hasn't quite gone as planned! We made the movies on Monday but that night Millie and I both came down with a tummy bug! Bleurgh! I haven't felt that ill in ages, the day started at 3am!! Anyhoo, we spent Tuesday on the sofa ALL day and I mean that too. I got up to fix W and J food but that was it, I couldn't stay awake and just felt terrible. It also meant we had to miss the Light Party which the kids were gutted about but M was still peaky and I really didn't want to pass it on! So our first day out was yesterday and what a fab day it was. We went off to my grandparents who are in their 90's and took them out to lunch which my aunt and uncle joined us for too. After we'd visited with them for a bit we headed over to my cousins where W and O played a bit of Wii, J got to hang with D and M got to try to play the didgereedoo with Uncle Mark.... He really can play it!! All in all a fab day, they all live 70 miles away so unfortunately we don't do it that often as right now it is just too expensive and the only regret I have from yesterday is that I took no pix with grandma and grandpa nee naa!! To put it into perspective for my US friends it cost me £70 ($120) to fill my car up with gas yesterday!!!!!!!!
Today is another quiet one, we go back to school Monday so are making the most of not having anywhere to go! Once we go back its the countdown to Christmas and Bill is away loads this month inc 2 full weekends and tomorrow too!!!! I'm actually hosting Thanksgiving this year too with my neighbours who have never done it before! Luckily, that is the only weekend Bill is here for!!
How's your week been??

Happy Monday Everyone

First day of half term xxx got a lovely week planned, movies today (iceage4) at the kids club, Tuesday- swimming lessons, wed- light party (our alternate to Halloween), thurs- off to see my grandparents both in their 90s, taking them out for lunch then tea at my cousins with their kids, fri- our 16th wedding anniversary, nothing during the day but Bill and I off to see Skyfall x
Can you believe it's then November!!!!! Have a great week y'all, I'll be posting any cool pix we get xx

A date with William!

So today Jaime has a party which means I have a date with William because Bill has a date with Millie. I love this one on one time, we get it so rarely. Poor William really wasn't feeling great though so wasn't much of a conversationalist and we bought that gorgeous looking strawberry milkshake home :( I'm now tucked up on the sofa with William xx let's hope he gets better for half term even if we don't have the best weather forecast!

One foggy morning.....

What a lovely walk to school this morning! It was sooooo foggy BUT it made for great cobweb spotting! They were everywhere, on the lights, on the bushes, on railings, fences and cars. The picture doesn't really do them any justice they are just beautiful.
Have I mentioned I love autumn!
Happy Monday everyone xx

Strictly or X Factor???

We are such a Strictly family in this household! We couldn't give a monkeys about the singing shows but give us the glitz and glamour of ballroom and we are away!
The pic is of the kids and Bill snuggled up, recognise the blanket Shar???
We've also had a bit of a busy day, we went to kids club movies this morning to see Brave, fab film which we all loved even if William was a bit scared in parts! We ended up meeting a friend with her daughter after and went for pizza too!! We so rarely go out to eat as a family it was a bit of a novelty AND not too expensive. We managed to take 5 of us to the movies and out for lunch for £46! If we had gone to the normal movies it would have been that much just for the film!!
Ooh, and I got to Skype my sister in sunny CA which was lovely x
Anyway, happy weekend one and all xxx

Cubs

My gorgeous boy got invested into Cubs this evening!! Bless him, however challenging things are with him right now he is still a cutie!!!!!

Gods gift

To us this morning was the most vivid red sky! It's not nearly as beautiful in this picture but you get the idea xx

Saturday fun!!

We normally never go to town on a Saturday but today we made an exception! Kids needed boots for the winter and I'd tried doing it without them and was very unsuccessful so we braved the crowds!! What do you think of them? Millie has the bright pink ones, Jaime's are kind of pewter. Cute or what! You have to love H&M x I spent £59.97 and got 3 pairs of boots, 2 dresses, a pair of jeans and a pair of jogging bottoms.....not bad if I do say so myself!
We also saw an author in the book store and the Minotaur and the knight are from her book, it actually took quite a bit of persuading for the kids to go pose with them x
A quick salted caramel hot chocolate stop later and we're now home having left William and Bill in games workshop for his good week reward. The girls and I are off to sort out their wardrobe!!
Happy Saturday everyone!

Rainbows!!

Look what we saw on the way to school today!!

One of those lists.......

I haven't done one of these for ages, enjoy and hopefully someone else might do it too xx

 

***********FOODOLOGY*************** 

1. What is your salad dressing of choice?  Ranch

2. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?  Don't have one, but would love to find one

3. What food could you eat every day for two weeks and not get sick of?  Hot buttered toast

4. What are your pizza toppings of choice? Pepperoni

5. What do you like to put on your toast? Real butter

***********TECHNOLOGY*************** 

1. How many televisions are in your house? 1

2. What is the color of your cell phone? Back

3. Have any idea how many Megahertz your computer has?  Purple????

***************BIOLOGY****************** 

1. Are you right-handed or left-handed?   right 

2. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?  Wisdom teeth 

. 

3. What is the last heavy item you lifted?   Trampoline

4. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?  Yes, falling off a horse!

************BULLCRAPOLOGY************** 

1. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?  No, only God knows that

2. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?  Holly

3. Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000?  Errrr, no!

************DUMBOLOGY****************** 

1. How many pairs of flip flops do you own?   4

2. Last time you had a run-in with the cops?   Not sure I ever have? 

3. Last person you talked to?   Bill

4. Last person you hugged?   Bill

**************FAVORITOLOGY**************** 

1. Season?  Autumn, nothing nicer than a crisp blue sky 

2. Holiday?   Christmas

3. Day of the week?   At the minute Friday, its my coffee with friends day

4. Month?  November, our anniversary is on 2nd

***********CURRENTOLOGY***************** 

1. Missing someone?  My mum, dad and sister

2. Mood?   Happy

3. What are you listening to?  Country

4. Watching?   The Paradise

***************RANDOMOLOGY**************** 

1. First place you went this morning?  School run

2. What's the last movie you saw?  Hope Springs, last night

3. Do you smile often?  I hope so 

4. Sleeping Alone Tonight?  Most definitely not

***************OTHER-OLOGY***************** 

1. Do you always answer your phone?  No I screen

2. Its four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?  A right wally,  I wouldn't hear it!

3. If you could change your eye color what would it be?   Green 

4. Do you own a digital camera?  No, I use my phone

5. Have you ever had a pet fish? Yes. 

6. Favorite Christmas song(s):   Any of them, I LOVE Christmas

7. What's on your wish list for your birthday?

8. Can you do push ups?  A few

9. Can you do a chin up?   Maybe one!

10. Does the future make you more nervous or excited?  Excited

11. Do you have any saved texts? nope. 

12. Ever been in a car wreck?  Yes

13. Do you have an accent?  Over here no, over there yes

14. What is the last song to make you cry?  ? not sure I have the worst memory

15. Plans tonight?  Catch up TV then bed, Bill is out

16. Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?  Most deifinitely and the only way is up

17. Name 3 things you bought yesterday.  Jeans & joggers for William and sequin tops for girls

18. Have you ever been given roses? Yes 

19. Current worry?  William

20. Current hate right now?  I try not to 'hate' anything

21. Met someone who changed your life?  yes 

22. How will you bring in the New Year?   Asleep. 

23. What song represents you?   In Christ alone

24. Name three people who might complete this?  Jen, Misty, not got many readers

25. Would you go back in time if you were given the chance?   Not to change anything but I'd relive my wedding

27. Do you have any tattoos/piercings?  Ears

28. Will you be in a relationship 4 months from now? Yes

29. Does anyone love you? Yes 

30. Ever had someone sing to you? Yes 

31. When did you last cry?   Last night

32. Do you like to cuddle?  Absolutely 

33. Have you held hands with anyone today?  Yes

34. What kind of music did you listen to in elementary school?  Not sure

35. Are most of the friends in your life new or old?   New

36. Do you like pulpy orange juice? The only kind!!!! 

Weekend x

So, Bill had to work on Saturday which doesn't happen a lot but is still annoying!! He had to get up at normal time which meant no lazy morning for us as our bedroom floor is possibly the squeakiest floor ever to have been heard and always wakes the kids up!! Anyway, my day started with homework! Well, we are having issues with William which I won't go into here but let's just say it took an hour and forty five minutes to do about five minutes work! Once that was done he went off to the movies with a friend and I had to drop Millie off at a party so Jaime and I went to the garden centre for a cup of tea and a cake! When asked what she wanted to do while the others were out she said she wanted to go somewhere for a meeting and a 'conversation'. So that is exactly what we did!! Brilliant! The afternoon was spent clearing out the kids rooms! What a fun thing to do!!! In fact I have made more mess now which I am choosing to ignore until my next free day which is not until Thursday. It does mean that we are now walking over charity bags and all sorts of stuff but it'll be great once it's all done!
Sunday was church, Harvest lunch and as it was sunny we cleared out the shed, put the garden furniture away, mowed the lawn and moved the trampoline! It now looks quite bare and wintery but we are ready!!
Enjoy the picture of gorgeous Jaime drinking her hot chocolate xx

Kidlets!

It rained yesterday!! No beautiful walk to school pics, we were too busy walking in the rain to stop! But this is of the kids on Friday in their pjs after the madness of the day, ready for bed. I love friday evenings, we had no plans, I'd got us pizza for tea to have once the kids had gone to bed and we slobbed watching tv with the weekend ahead of us. Except, this weekend is different, Bill is working today which always bums the kids out! It's not like it happens very often but still I feel bad for him and the kids :(
Anyway, he's bought me up a cuppa before he left and we have a busy day ahead. Homework first, Millie has a party, William is off to the movies with a friend and Jaime and I are going to a cafe to have a 'conversation' her words. Sunday brings church, Harvest lunch and room tidying!! I know, what a rock and roll life! We don't have everything, we never will, what we do have though is Love, for each other and for God and you know what, I kinda like it!!

Blue skies, crisp air and sunshine!

It was and still is a BEAUTIFUL autumn morning...here's a snapshot of our walk to school today xx

Millie and Jaime hiding by the tree

William took this one, it's right outside the school x

I love shadows because they make you look like you have lovely long skinny legs...This is William and I x

Autumn!!!!

Where has the spring and summer gone????  Facebook does nothing for my blogging, but I'm back!  So much has gone on this year, it's been good. 

This was my view on our walk to school 2 weeks ago, pretty much since then it's been raining, really hard too but I'm imagining all my walks to school like this.  Our new routine includes alot of walking!  I was too quick to get in the car last school year and so far we haven't driven once, even when it was POURING, and seriously it was awful but we did it, it's just over a mile to school.

So much has changed here, I have given up Phoenix but have got a job at school as a Midday supervisor twice a week which I am loving.  It is just enough to keep me going but leaves me time to do all the bits round the house and for the kids.  They are doing great, the girls have taken up gymnastics which they are loving and we have managed to get all of them swimming lessons too and they are all coming along with that too.

Generally, life is ticking along.  It is amazing how quickly the summer is forgotten and routine rules.  Only today my children were writing Christmas lists...they are currently taped to the mantel piece so Father Christmas can check on them!!

I'll be back soon x