Well I've had a mixed start to the summer holidays. Firstly I had the worst chest infection ever. I'm on a really strong course of antibiotics and steroids. Now, where to start on the steroids. They make you crazy!! Once I got over the not being able to breath/get out of bed bit I then started tidying. Garage, kitchen, study - nowhere was safe! I tortured the husband until he put up all these photos for me - drawing felt tip dots everywhere so ge'd know where to put them (and wouldn't be able to get out of doing it - no one wants polka dot walls)! Yes, the poor husband has had a lot to put up with!
I then started making stuff. I took apart an old ikea frame that I decided I didn't want anymore. I used the inner frame to do this:
Yes, I even dragged my kids into my steroid induced madness!
I then chalkboard painted the back and have a nice new noticeboard/award chart out in the kitchen. Love it!
And what about the lovely weather? The kids have been having a blast. We set up the tree house as a water chute yesterday & they splashed and slid for ages with our next door neighbour Matthew - such fun & an excuse for soggy cuddles!
Although Cameron was just as happy to play with the water table. He fancied some alone time!
Then today - to keep me busy in my steroid frenzy, we had a family birthday BBQ for my lovely mother. I got to go shopping on steroids - ha - great experience! I came home one hand bag, cardigan, new sandals for the kids and many birthday presents heavier! Great fun! Hardly any guilt either! Mum had a great time with plenty of yummy grub and cake:
So never mind it being Granny's birthday - there was only one guest of honour at the birthday party, baby Grace:
Maddie just loves her - but it brings all these feelings of being 'grown up'. I heard the words, 'I want to be a baby again' from both of mine today - a lot!!
Just a quick shot of the doting dad before I go:
This has been a mega blog - steroids working much?
Happy holidays, lets hope this weather sticks around!!
Did you ever read Great Expectations? You'll recognise that quote, especially of you had to regurgitate it for many an essay for your GCSE English Lit! Anyway, before you nod off, this quote perfectly describes my Easter holidays so far. A ''Lark''. Fabulous fun, diverse destinations, catching up with good friends, in blissful sunny climes. To boot we've had a new addition to our family - not a baby but a puppy. Oh yes, a little miniature schnauzer that we have called Ozzie. He is a delight. A perfect playmate for the kids, who adore him (especially Maddie). Cameron, as usual, is not that interested in anything that takes the cuteness spotlight off him, but it'll be good for his personal devl=elopment to share the attention, hehe. Isn't Ozzie the cutest pup ever:
So how about the beach for our first Easter day trip destination? We spent a sunny (if a bit breezy) morning at Seapark with some friends. We munched a picnic and had a run around the play park. We had to cut it short to come back and baby sit the pup (yes it's being treated like a baby), but luckily our friends came too and continued the fun back in our garden! I love that We have known these Boyd's since baby massage classes with Maddie and Jacob!
And how cute is Adam in this Buzz Lightyear costume? He managed to get himself into it all on his own-hoot!
Destination two: Carrickfergus Castle with another set of Boyds and the Bolands. Such fun! Exploring every inch of the castle, playing with a giant chess set, having a picnic, buying plastic swords and terrorising the courtyard with them, climbing on cannons, and generally enjoying ourselves immensely!
Can you believe this pair tried to disown those noisy boys?
Then today we relocated to another castle - Belfast castle. We'd initially planned to go to the adventure playground but who knew it didn't open until 2pm. Not us! But we spent a sun kissed 3 hours picnicing, running, exploring and totally enjoying the grounds of the castle with the Johnsons while we waited for the playground.
The adventure playground was worth waiting for in the end (even if you did have to pay a whopping £2.20 for each kid to enter). And it was fab to have some great wee boys to show my two around!
It's been super to catch up with all these guys (have you noticed how all the kids are boys apart from Maddie?). She is totally owed a girls day tomorrow!!
In the meantime, Happy Easter, enjoy all your activities!!
I have totally stolen this idea from the lovely Janine and I have no remorse!!!
Watching :) So many good shows that I have had stored on Sky Plus for me while I have been away for a while (skiing). They range from cheesey Glee to the much darker Trublood, with a bit of Bones, Grey's Anatomy and Vampire Diaries thrown in for good measure. I also think I have some Desperate Housewives left to catch up on! I certainly am not short on TV shows to view! In the movie world we went to see the new Disney flick 'Tangled' today. It was super good. Beautiful stolen princess, handsome naughty boy who rescues her, evil witch type as well. I'd recommend it! I also can't wait to catch Gnomeo and Julliette, looks a right hoot!!
Listening :) You know me, I like anything cheesey. My current favourite is McFly 'Shine a LIght'. Do you think someone froze my musical taste at 19? Pretty much anything with a catchy tune and interesting lyrics does me! What I have discovered recently is however that 'music bores' get on my nerves. You know the sort - those people who hear a few bars of a song and interupt your conversation with the band and song name, possibly the album, and hey, why not throw the year in for good measure. Yaaaawwwwn!! If you are one of these sort, I apologise, it's a bug bear! Just listen to McFly and give over:
Wondering :) How long I can leave the two humungous piles of coursework I brought home before I actually have to mark it? It's soul destroying reading the same stuff over and over again! The good thing is it's about first aid procedures - so I will hoepfully never, ever, ever forget how to put a casualty in the recovery position!
Thinking :) I guess I'm thinking at the moment how life is short. How there are so many things people can be doing and if I am on the right path to be doing what I should. Have I forgotten things that I wanted to achieve and will I regret missing out on these things. I think going abroad and seeing how other people live and imagining other possibilities unsettles me. Makes me want to give my kids more experiences, more choice when they are older! I may regret this when Maddie wants to run away with a circus or Cameron wants to follow a rock and roll lifestyle, but so far it's only in the 'thinking' stages!
Reading :) I'm still reading my newly discovered series about Werewolves, Vampires and other such nonsense. I am however very excited that a recommended read of mine 'Water For Elephants' is getting made into a film. With none other than the delectable Robert Pattinson in starring role! Too exciting! Of course I am also reading the aforementioned coursework - but less said about that the better!
Hoping :) I am hoping for a pleasant Summer. Now I'm not asking for sunshine every day, but just less rain - come on, cut us some slack!! Dry, brisk days, perfect! In addition I am hoping that the man cub learned his lesson yesterday after trapping his foot in a moving escalator and buckling his bone in the middle of his foot. He is in a cast to his knee and milking it for all he is worth. Hop hop hop! Ridiculous!How many times does a muumy actually have to tell a child something isnt safe before they listen! Although since it has happened people have told me so many horror stories - about trapped hair, lost limbs; that I actually think he got off lightly!
Planning :) In my head I am planning countless weekends away with the family in our fabulous tent. The first nice weekend in April/May and we are outta here (see my previous mentioning of nice weather!) We are trying further South in our little province this year, although we totally love the North - we are trying new experiences!
Dreaming :) Of skiing. I love it. Can't wait to take my hubby and kids some year!
Finishing :) Today I finished an email to a lovely lady about myself and some of my scrapbook layouts that are going to be published in Scrapbook Magazine. I am totally excited about it all, watch this space!
Sharing :) Right now I am sharing some wine and nibbles with my hubby. He's cute! So I'd better give him some attention! I'm signing off. Have a fabulous February!! Mwah!
I'm posting from my iPhone-isn't technology great!!
Thought i'd show you my new kitchen pictures-love them, they cheer me up no end! Have a great week!
The rain has eventually dried up (for a while) and we have been able to get out to play in the Spring sunshine. What a glorious day it is out there!
So, what have you been up to today? The kids painted their eggs this morning in a frenzy of paint, brushes and chocolate. Then we met up with the Finnegans and Mackeys for a yummy Easter feast after which we headed off to roll our eggs. Here are the before and after shots:
Tasteful egg holders we have around here (hehe)!
Chasing their eggs.
I then tortured the family with much posing for photos - I actually think they are quite used to it now and getting into the spirit! Check out some of my favourites:
Obviously this was taken by someone other than me as, for once, I am in the picture!
Fab day had by all, now we just need to come down from this sugar rush!!
I had forgotten how much I love to dress up. Wigs especially are so much fun - you can pretend to be whoever you want. Assume an alter ego. It rocks. I had great fun singing (or my poor excuse for singing) Abba and Take That with these lovely ladies:
and I especially loved this wig - have had to leave it in the car so I wasn't tempted to wear it all day today!
