Sorry!

just to add a picture.

Wow !! Have I let this go.

Must try harder.

I have so many entries but unfortunately they are all in my head and the pictures on my phone or the memory card. Just have to put the 2 together.

Will bring you 'Elise turns 7' and 'the big move' VERY soon!!!

Surrendering.

After reading a great article on the Power of Moms website earlier, it had me thinking about 'surrendering to Motherhood'. And I realised I needed to try this. So this afternoon while J was napping and the others while playing quietly in one of the bedrooms, I crept in and quietly sat and watched them play. I didn't speak or interrupt them, I just watched.

Elise, Nathan and Marissa were playing super heroes on a camping trip. Or should I say 'Johnny, Alice and Molly' were playing, as these are there make-believe alter egos.

Of course, Marissa (Molly) was drawling in a very thick American accent as usual when they are role-playing.

As I sat and watched it did choke me a little as, for once, it actually hit me that this won't last forever. Things will change!

I'm glad I took a few moments to just enjoy them at this time and make a note of it here.

I hope I will stop a little more often and instead of always rushing around, STOP, and enjoy being a Mummy.

Daddys birthday

Jared is 32!!!

Hooray! As Jared is my toy-boy my 2 1/2 years, I love when its his birthday and it makes the gap more on the 2 year side.

well, as we are having themed days, yesterday was 'secret party day'. As a typical man Jared didn't want any fuss made, so I thought I would let the kids plan his whole party.

They were very proud of this poster, especially, Nathan was proud of his letter 'i'. He was actually bowing to it and making up songs about it. A little over the top maybe, but he did keep in the lines.
We had a personalised table cloth with messages for Daddy on. (I think this may become a family birthday tradition, it was so cute!)

Daddy did get into the spirit of the party and even danced, which I do have pictures of but I know he would kill me.

And he loved his presents, especially his new suit.

And J loved the birthday cake and being allowed to eat it on the sofa.

N.B. Jared's cake has to be shop bought because he is so mean and picky about my cooking.

We finished the day by playing paper aeroplanes in the garden.

Fun day for all. Even Daddy Nit-Not.

Week 1 of the holidays.

Well we are in to the Summer holidays now and I have started using my new school holiday strategy. As I have mentioned I have a terrible memory and I am therefore not as organised as I would like to be, so I racked my brains to find a way to always have something for the kids to do. And I came up with 'themed days'. Each day has its own title and the activities we do on that day relate to the theme. And to avoid disappointment and arguments, Mummy announces the theme when they wake up (after checking the weather forecast).

O.K. if that didn't make sense, hopefully the next couple of blogs will.

These pictures come from 'PARK DAY'. We tried to see how many parks visits we could fit in one day. We started with the County park. I love these pictures below, they really sum up Ellie's and Nathan's relationship.


I love how these guys look out for each other.
We then went for a long walk round the woods next door and found lots of fun wood carvings. I was very impressed with how far these guys can walk when distracted.
We only did fit in one more park visit as J decided to have a 3 hour nap!!!

We have had other 'theme days' of music, love, pirate, family,make-believe and Worcester day. But Friday was 'FARM DAY'. A member of our stake owns a farm, and invites the whole stake once a year for a fun evening.

The kids loved the bumpy tractor rides,

...and lots of baby animals. Ducks...
...donkeys...
...goats....
...horses...
...piggies(a special favourite as 'Charlotte's Web' is our bedtime story at the moment)...
...chickens...
...and JJ had a special bond with the very cute puppies.
Also at the farm they had some great climbing places and fun play activities.
Marissa eating in the hay stacks.
And I spent half the evening with Ellie and Nathan on the zip-line.

More fun days to come :)

AT LAST!!!!!

Here we have a picture of Elise aged 11 months. 2 weeks later she was walking everywhere.

Here is Nathan, a bit of a Mummy's boy, so not walking until 13 months.
Here is Miss Speedy Marissa. This is her at her first birthday party. She had already been walking great for about 5 weeks!!!

Look at her crazy scarecrow hair. hee hee.

And here we have JJ. AT LAST!!! He is still a bit wobbly but at almost 16 months (!!!!) J has decided to join the land of the walkers.

I really thought he would be a very early walker as he was crawling at 4 1/2 months and was getting up stairs at 5 months, but oh well.

To be honest, as he is my fourth, I have been enjoying his extra long crawling as I know the crazy time we have ahead of us now he is completely mobile.

Let the games begin.

End of the School Year

Can you see Marissa's little lips in the corner of this picture? She will have to wait for pudding.

Well we are finished- HURRAH!!!!

We are excited to have our end of school year party tonight and then prepare ourselves for a fantastic fun-filled six weeks of school holiday.

But first, I have to thank some wonderful women.

MRS MARGRETTS....
This beautiful lady was Elise's year one teacher and I can't praise this woman enough. She is amazing!!!!! Elise has loved every second of being in her class and has changed dramatically. Elise is so much more confident and happy with school because of this wonderful woman. We love you Mrs. Margretts.
The lady above would probably kill me for this picture, but she is the lovely Mrs Marks. What a patient woman- not because she had Nathan in her class-because as you all know, Nathan is an angel; but because she put up with neurotic ME!!! This poor woman had to put up with me not only constantly worrying about Nathan starting school, but his newly diagnosed asthma, accidents leading to casualty visits and several other worries.

We love you Mrs. Marks.

I am so grateful that my children have such great friends at school- who I'm sure we will see lots of in the holidays.
I'm glad my kids enjoy school-most of the time! But for the next 46 days THEY ARE ALL MINE!!!!!! And I can't wait for it to start!

Some fun blogs to come-I hope?!?!

School Report.

I have to put up this entry on before I burst with pride.

Elise and Nathan came home with the best school reports. They are doing amazing with their school work and their teachers love having them in the class.

A couple of quotes....

'Nathan has a great attitude towards learning and his confidence has grown throughout the year, enabling him to show us how clever he is.'

'Elise has a super attitude towards work tasks, is always engaged and therefor has made very progress in all areas. Elise, you are a star.'

'Elise has a wonderful singing voice, very tuneful and perfectly pitched. Elise shows great musical potential.'

'Nathan is a very gentle, kind and handsome little boy.'

I love these kids who amaze me at how great they are.

I am one lucky Mummy!

Gorgeous kids

Whenever I get the chance to borrow Jared's work camera I get a bit snap-happy.

We had a lovely sunny Saturday in the garden.

So I have nothing special to write about,I just want to show off these beautiful children!!!