Enjoying the holidays

So the kids got to see Star Wars as a holiday treat. Eden adores it and of course any of merchandise.  He particularly loves this t-shirt that he was given for Christmas.

 

Meanwhile, the girls decided to set up a spa and use all their Christmas smellies!!

We recently ripped out the bathroom and put a new one in so they got to test the new bath out for the first time.

Daddy Eden enjoyed some one to one time playing with his new toys....

And best of all the children were able to meet up with their cousins a few times this holiday.

It's Christmas!!

I just want to write this post as a reminder to our children of our family traditions.

On Christmas Eve after baths, Santa leaves new pyjamas underneath the tree.

Santa also leaves a selection of Christmas books which the children read with mummy and daddy including the Night Before Christmas.

We leave treats out for Santa.

On Christmas morning the children come into our bedroom with their stockings and they open them together.

Then Daddy goes down stairs first to see if Santa has been. The children are allowed to open one present before breakfast.

We dress up for Christmas dinner.

This year we had a three bird roast with all the trimmings.

Christmas preparations.

On the first of December we opened some presents.  They were matching Christmas hats.  We went out for a mini walk because it was chucking it down with rain, but it helped us feel a little bit Christmassy.

On Christmas Eve we went for the traditional Beefeater breakfast with Grandma and Grandad.

It was yummy and we ate sooooo much!

When we got home we all helped prepare the veggies for Christmas dinner.  I was really impressed by the skill of my elves.

We then decorated gingerbread to take to the neighbours.

Then daddy and the children prepared a pass the parcel for the Basford Christmas festivities at Grandmas house.

We managed to get out to do our deliveries whilst it was sunny.  The warmest Christmas we can remember!

Autumn

We met up with the Arblaster and Treadwell family in Stratford Upon Avon.  It was lovely to have lunch together and explore the town where Shakespeare was born.  We had read an adaption of Midsummer Nights dream prior to the visit which was fun.

For Haloween we dressed up and decorated our boot for the annual trunk or treat activity at church.

November Birthdays

For Daddy and Uncle Colin's birthday we went to KFC.

We now have a child whose age is in double figures.  That's right, Mia is 10!!!!!! Here is the traditional mummy and Mia birthday photo.

Mia cam down to find a very unusual present array.

Ever since she watched the film Brave, she has wanted a bow and arrow set. Daddy of course made sure he bought her a real one.

A very belated catch up in reverse: September and August

So here is Ismay; on her first week back to school in September she received a £5 Smiths voucher for 100% attendance during the last academic year.

Mia made pizzas for us for dinner with our meagre tomato harvest.

Ismay decided to design and create her own creature which she made herself and then wrote a biology style boom about it giving it it's own endocrine system!

August and September were difficult months for me health wise. Liver and kidneys were still deranged so the kids all did their best to help me out. Here is a picture of Iz bringing me breakfast in bed.

Sammy and I got to hang out together. Sammy is applying for teacher training courses so she came over one day with Jazzy to talk teacher stuff.

And then she taught an art lesson for me and did a rather superb job of it.

I decided to buy a sewing machine and taught myself to make a variety of items.

Daddy enjoyed some boy time and went away on a few mini breaks with Uncle Colin and their friends. The kids missed him like crazy and we're thrilled to have him back home.

As J had the car during the time we were away the kids and I walked every where. One day we walked into town and saw cows at the international Centre!!! They were having a national dairy farmers meeting. 

The girls went to a disco for a friend's birthday party and so Eden and I enjoyed a chipie tea date night.

The kids went back to school and J gave them all a fathers blessing. 

I made mini shuletute for their first day.

In the last week of the long (7 week) holiday, Grandma and I took the kiddie winks to the Cap.

We enjoyed the sunshine and exploring using the excellent value for money public transport.

The children earned pocket money to buy snorkels.

They weren't very good at going to bed!!

Mia made dinner for us.

We enjoyed the beach.

We loved eating al fresco.

The kids made veggie kebabs with our veggie harvest.

I took the kiddies to Wales to see Nanah and Grandpa. My amazing daddy took me for a date.

We all played on the beach.

The children had fun making boxes with Grandpa.

Nanah and Grandpa kindly put us up in a beautiful hotel. The kids enjoyed playing in the beautiful grounds.

Mia and Eden stole my phone!!!! Here are their selfies!

We had a family home evening on the sunny beach.

Ismay completed a record breakers reading challenge at the library and won a medal.

We did some major garden renovations. 

The children enjoyed a primary activity at the town park.

We went on a play date with Martha and the boys in Priorslee.

I sorted out some cupboards!

The children made spaceships out of cardboard boxes.

We had a play date to Dale End Park with the Perkins.

Eden and I planted some herbs and potatoes. 

I rescued a set of drawers from a skip and up cycled them for Ismay.

We did some baking.

Aunt Corrinna cut the girls hair.

We had town park picnics.

We played in the garden.

The kids enjoyed looking after several doggies.

I took the kids on the train to visit the Herriott's in Leeds.

The kids created their own Hepworth inspired sculptures.

We had FHE at Nandos.

The kids modelled for Aunty Becky.

We bought school shoes at an outlet store and saved quite a lot of money :).

Mia took Bunny on the adventure as well!! She looked after her very well even bringing her own blanket for the train.

We had a sleepover with the Daniels and had lots of fun. 

Baking and girly chats.

Science experiments.

We went on a walk to Badger with Esther  and Martha and the kiddies.

We had play dates with the gorgeous Stevens children.

The girls took the puppies for their first injections. 

We had barbecues with our cousins.

We had movie night with the Daniels children.

We went to Tettenhall pools.

Eden went on YM's camp with Daddy.

The children helped in the garden remodel.

We created canvas artwork.

We made our own windmills and carried out some energy experiments with them.

The children created their own den in the garden.

Ismay modelled with icing.

Eden enjoyed playing lego with Alex.

The children made shelters and "fires" in the garden.

We did indoor bowling with the Stevens children.

We had a trip to the playpit with the Stevens children.

Uncle Jordan came to visit.

We visited Aunty Sarah.