Christmas

 We got into the Christmas spirit with a trip on the steam train at Kidderminster to go see Santa.  We were greeted by the most vivid rainbow, which this picture really does not do justice to.

 A trip in the buffet car through a rainy countryside was very atmospheric.

 Our destination, Arley.  Steam trains coming and going. 

 Sophie dancing to the music provided by the brass band whilst we munched on roast chestnuts whilst queuing  to see the man himself.

 I was very impressed with Santa's reply to Sophie's request for a skateboard, a simple "I will see what I can do!"  Although she was initially rather disappointed with the teddy she was given, as she expected a skateboard there and then!

 Other preparations included the blanket.  Finished, but not edged, in case Stan wanted it any larger.  It was very touching giving it to him on Christmas Day, and my fears of it upsetting him were unfounded. I think it is fair to say he likes it.

 A typical scene.  This was eating more roast chestnuts, whilst supping mulled wine.

 Alec made sure Santa knew where we had put the gifts for him.

 The Christmas meal went smoothly, and was quite a feast.

 There was of course lego as well.  Ethan built this all by himself.

Just snippets, there was so much crammed into quite a few days, with visits from my aunt, uncle and Grandpa, Stuart's brother and his family, Stan stayed with us for 5 days before going to stay with his daughter in Wales, and my brother came to visit.

There were classical concerts listened to and watched, Grandma bags given out in memory of Jean, plenty of toys played with, too much food eaten, and many more things.  We were all facing a different Christmas, but it has been lovely, surrounded by so much family.  Truly special.

Double figures!

 This is what birthday mornings are all about for our smiling, lego mad 10 year old!!  Although he did actaully abandon it for a little while to go and check out his other presents too!  He was perfectly happy to stay at home all day and play, but we eventually managed to think of somewhere he could go with his broken finger, that didn't involve trying to keep Sophie quiet for 2 hours, as would have been the case if we had gone to the cinema! 

So we went to a nearby craft place, where we had drinks and icecream, sat outside in the perfect August weather, not sunny, but warm with the slightest hint of a breeze. All of us were admiring the location and talking of hobbit holes again!

 We had brought some bread to feed the ducks, but it was actually the fish that ate most of it.  We then saw some horses and went over to have a look.  There was a man tending to them, and he was telling us about them.  He then asked if any of the boys wanted to it on "Roxy" a beautiful, 7 year old, Gypsy Cob.  Ethan was very eager, but when it came to it, decided not to.  So Alec took the lead.  He thought it very strange having her skin twitching to disturb the flies.

 Ethan then decided he would like a go!

 And even Sophie joined in, and looked quite at ease.  (Luke was too heavy to lift over the barbed wire, but I think he was grateful for that excuse!)

 This photo doesn't do the place justice, but it really was beuatiful, and so relaxing.

 We returned home to a birthday tea.

 And some playing, in our newly cleared out conservatory.

 Did the necessary cake stuff!

 The boys were suggesting I should do a portfolio of all the cakes I have made, perhaps one day, if I have nothing else to talk about!

 And then, to top of his birthday, what would a ten year old request as a snack at bedtime, whilst reading his new Beano annual?  Grapes, raisins and cucumber of course!!

Our lovely, smiling, lego mad, funny, sweet, always wanting cuddles, Lally is 10!! Happy Birthday Alec!

A long awaited trip

We have been promising the boys a trip to legoland for about a year, but the time has never quite been right, combined with the schools making it very difficult to take the children out of school during term time.  However, as the boys broke up early for Easter, as well as having a teacher training day on the Friday, we jumped at the chance to take them.  For Alec and Ethan, it is like Mecca!  But we were all very impressed with what we saw.  A dinosaur made to look as if it is made from tecnic lego, but is actually made up of normal lego made to look like tecnic!

 Sophie wanted to play with the lego!  But was placated by an ice-cream!  (food prices were astronomical, we'll have to be better prepared should we go again!)

 Miniland, with all the lego models was really impressive, and we all enjoyed marvelling at the detail, and scale of it all.

 There were rides to be ridden too.  Sophie really enjoyed this little train, going on it multiple times, this time with Stuart.

 The boys all went on the driving school, although Luke stayed well hidden from the camera!

 We ate our lunch (more money!) whilst watching a puppet show, Sophie liked meeting this little duck close up.

 A fun time was had on fire engines, which required alot of effort on Stuart and Luke's part to propel the engine with a pump action, and then pump the water through the water cannons that Alec and Luke got to control.

 There were models all over the place, small ones, big ones, but I think my personal favourite was this dragon.

 We stayed overnight in a hotel by Heathrow airport, thankfully there was very little noise from the airport itself, well, Sophie drowned out any planes, as she was over-stimulated, tired, and wanted her own bed!  But, putting that behind us, on Saturday we had a lovely breakfast, followed by making use of the hotel swimming pool, where Sophie made leaps and bounds in her confidence, with the undivided attention of Stuart, and the distractions of her brothers.  We then returned to Legoland to do the few last things we wanted to do.  However, Saturday was a completely different kettle of fish, schools had broken up, and there was a Star Wars event on, it was absolutely heaving!!  We had a few photos taken with Star Wars characters.

 And then made for the sanctuary of the discovery zone, where they each had a kit to make up.  Quiet, cool, and relaxing, just what was needed.

We didn't last much longer, a mini golf course, and yet more extortionate food, and it was time to head home (via the lego shop!!)

We had a lovely time, but it has reinforced how we could never cope with doing such things in holiday time, just far, far, far too stressful! The boys continued the lego theme on our return home, with building and playing with more lego.

Birthday Boy

 The cool  little boy, who always looks so serious when posing for photos, has turned 7.  I can't believe another year has passed already!  My little boy is growing up.  I can go for days and barely see him, with him either engrossed in something with his big brothers, or playing so sweetly with Sophie.  Either that, or he is playing outside with the neighbourhood children, until way past dusk (well, not so much now the clocks have changed, but given a chance he would!)

He is growing up, but thankfully still needs his Mum and Dad from time time to snuggle up with, or creep into bed with in the middle of the night. 

For his birthday, we unwrapped presents, probably a bit earlier than everyone else would have liked,  but then it was his birthday, so your allowed to wake everyone up at 6.55am on a Saturday!  Amongst the presents were of course lego sets, which got built fairly immediately (with a little help from the master builder aka Alec).  They were so sweet, taking it in turns to do a page each out of the instructions.

 The cake we came up with (Alec helped with some of the design, and little details like the crown, and the eggs)  Yes, there's a bit of a theme, and link to Stuart's birtyhday the other week!

 And mama had to make something of course.  So seeing as they have all been playing Little Big Planet recently, i thought this little fella would go down well!  Trouble is, now I have to make one for Luke, Alec, and Stuart!

 We went to the cinema to see Rango.  Although Stuart and I were taking it in turns to entertain a bored Sophie, so between the two of us we saw the complete film, we'll have to compare notes to get the gist of the film!  We then had a birthday party to go to for a friend up the road, who shares Ethan's birthday.  Return home for Ethan's birthday tea, where we barely saw Ethan, as he just wanted to play with his presents. He did squeeze a bit of time in with his guests, with a request for people to play more lego, this time in the form of a lego game.

 And relaxing after a busy, busy day.  First of all Mum had a go at spinning, and then Luke.  They both did well for their first attempts (much better than I did!)

Happy Birthday our lovely 7 year old Ethan.  Wishing you many blessings for this year ahead of you.

Making the most of time

Half term is a time for home for these home birds of mine. It is lovely to see Luke reading, despite his love of writing, he doesn't really do much in the way of reading, but has enjoyed reading the autobiography of Steve Martin. Of course, there has been lego played with too.

We've had friends over for a meal, who brought these gorgeous flowers with them that they had hand-tied themselves.

I had to include this picture, Sophie knew there was some ice-cream in the freezer, and had the most cheekiest look on her face!

We did venture out on the warm, dry day of Thursday. Picking up a friends little girl, and romping through the woods, as well as feeding animals at a childrens farm.

There have been many moments of just sheer enjoyment. Sitting with Sophie whilst she did doodle after doodle on the mega-sketcher. Drawing a picture of a water slide for fish to go down!

Tidying rooms, Alec was relieved that I helped him with his room, as it had got to the state where you just didn't know where to start. Late nights, watching films together. And to top it off, a sleep-over tonight for Luke and his friends, with the other boys going up the road to a friends for pizza and a film.

I love the natural pace that school holidays bring.