Din-dins

Our "Camping" trip.

So, we tested the tent. Packed the car, washed, fed and dressed the kids. printed off the route map Filled up with fuel. and set off for our over-night camping trip. "No advance booking, we have a HUGE site, we'll just open up another field..."
and guess what? They were full.
So was the new forest.

So we decide to make the best of things and had a lovely (?) pub lunch and a really nice (albeit short) walk in the new forest. Thought we'd share a few piccies with you.



our new doggie










Smile








The big boys

Coming soon - the D&P's NZ trip!

Sorry. I still need to sort the photo's :o(

Baby Bunny's first Birthday.

Opening presents.










Mmmmm. Wish mum would uy me smart stuff like this!







Daddy, Why's that horse got stripes?







Picnic time!








First birtday cake!









Hey Mamma! Why has Katie got a bigger slice than me?

There may be trouble ahead...

Hmmm.
Never leave your shoes or make-up unattended

Happy Anniversary (for Tomorrow!)

Old gits :o))

I was thinking this morning how it must be NEARLY 30 years ! When I spotted Paula's blog.
I CAN'T BEGIN to imagine that length of time!!
Well done, any many congratulations
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Couple of photos taken at our wedding ( a mere 3 years ago!)

Ice Skating!

Dum dum dum
d-d d-d d-d
dum dum dum-dum... (OK you try "word -humming" Ravel's bolero)


Al took the older kiddies ice skating today whilst I baby sat Ben (his feet were too small for the skates :o( ).
No major injuries thankfully & Al had to drag the biggest two off the ice after 3 whole hours.

(first input to blog from better half..;o))..........the skates didnt even go to charlies size let alone ben's but we decided that as she wasnt about to go speeding down the ice (she would be too busy holding daddy up!) she could manage some skates that were two sizes too big...

We all started off glued to the sides, making short shuffles in an attempt to avoid the embarrasment of falling over first..it was soon obvious that the whole ice skating idea was a good one as the older kids were full of smiles and seemed to be having a great time..katie got more confident and began to come away from the side a little, whilst matt began racing people and despite producing some incredibly impressive falls, got up and sped on, bruises and all...

Charlie actually took to the ice well, she didnt want to be held and actually tried to free her self from daddy grip on a few occasions until she realised that it really was as hard as daddy was making it look.

Confidence grew and the two of us started playing police cars (charlie acting as my front wheel of a tricycle), she did the siren and we sped off to arrest and crash in to matt and katie.

After three hours of fun, falling over and very sore ankles katie and matt were convinced off the ice, with the promise of a return next week (hopefully with mum)

So all in all..a good afternoon spent, trying not to fall over whilst being over taken by people whom obviously had a mis spent youth...i would have shown them all up but for the fact i had to maintain my composure and keep both me and charlie from breaking a bone or two....

took a couple of pics..not the best but its never easy taking pics when trying to participate and look after others.

Link of the week

Have you checked my link of the week?
Did you see disco squirrels last time?
This weeks is great for using up left over food! (not that we have much with a family of 6!)

Happy Birthday James!

Penny and James came to visit on Wednesday which was great. The kiddies had lots of fun on the Wii and we went for a wet walk along the sea front. Jame's is 9 on the 4th of june (he is privalidged enough to share a birthday with my big little sister!). As a treat we made a birthday cake (any excuse for cake eh?). Here is a picture of him making his wish :o)
Happy Birthday for Wednesday Paula (21) and James (9) xxxxxxxxxxx

Actually, I've a confession...
The candles were already out - James posed it, my camera didn't click :o(

Fun times!

Well the half term is here and our family is complete!
We have the Matty-man for TWO WHOLE WEEKS!!
Weather started off great and managed to have lots of fun in the garden and at the park

So to celebrate we bought this...

A genuine edwardian fireplace - cheap as chips - off Ebay...
I can easily be bought :o))

Ode to a Career

What passing bells for those who quit when mothers;
Only the lolly-pop lady's relentless drivel...

I'm sure that is really bad taste but I will finish it. It has potential. (I think)

So. I'm about to write my resignation letter. Wish me luck.
It will have been 20 years less 1 week and no one has battered an eyelid. Except for me...
20 years, half my life. Apart from a few dreadful lows, probably the best part.

I gained my Independence, my degree. My Katie-pie, My husband, Benjamin Bunny and Charlie Bear.
Became a chartered Engineer and managed to get my foot well and truly on the property ladder.

Almost as importantly though, I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I have been ME. Primarily Nicola Lawty, (spent my Houghton years on Maternity leave, though you have to start again when you get married. Any reputation you have disappears as no one make the connection.)

I know that I am doing the right thing, and I know that I will enjoy it. I can't imagine packing the youngest off to nursery like I was forced to do with Katie. That was devastating. Paying someone else to do what I wanted to do most in the world. It's awful trying to balance a young family and work. Constantly clock watching. Knowing that you are a failure at both, never being able to attend the assemblies OR work late, dreading every cough or sneeze, guiltly sending your child in to nursery unwell as you can't miss that important meeting yet not being able to concentrate for worry. Trying to pack the house work, shopping and all your weeks love in to two short days.

I know it's the right thing, I know I'm lucky to be ABLE to do it, I suppose I just want someone to acknowledge how hard it is to give up half your life...

Bubble Walk

Lovely evening, though slightly cooler than of late, so we went for an evening trot down the beach. PJ's for the little ones ( my expectation being that they would fall asleep and I'd place them, still sleeping soundly in bed when we returned at 7. (Ha blooming Ha Ha ))
Anyway. we had a lovely time, took along some dried strawberrys to munch near the villiage centre and didn't have too many tears over spilt bubble mix.

Yesterday at the Park

Thought you might enjoy these quick video clips taken at out local park yesterday.
Not sure if you'll be able to view them or not so I thought I'd just "post and see".

Actually, as you can see below. I made a mistake when filming. I'd forgotten that you can't rotate the video clips on my camera and took the clip with the camera at an angle. I'll attach it for fun anyway. Enjoy.

One for Dad...

Our first Red Hot Poker :o)

Flying Fish.

Did you know that skate (or perhaps rays) could fly?
Well neither did I, until this morning however.
I was busy admiring my lovely foxgloves and pondering over how it was that the flowers all point away from those on adjacent fronds (?) when it hit me. The stench was UNBELIEVABLE!
I looked own, and there it was. An enormous head. Obviously the fish, skate or most likely Giant Manta Ray given the size, had crash landed on its 100m journey from the sea and landed in the garden.
There is simply no other explanation. A seagull couldn't carry it. Badgers and foxes can't swim (well not deep sea anyway as far as I'm aware...) I suppose it could have been dropped by a giant Roc flying over our house, but, I'm informed, they are only mythical creatures.
The mystery remains. Oh, unless our neighbours just hate us... :o)
Who knows?
I think I'll save it for Al when he gets home from work. xxx

The Godfather (and Bride)

We were fortunate enough to attend Jon & Claire's wedding in Norwich recently.
It was a great day, although rain threatened it stayed dry (and sunny!) until the evening.
I've attached some photos for your enjoyment.

some photos...

Never leave siblings alone together...











Day out at Staunton country park with friends Penny and James.









Family gathering (with ben the bump) at James & Sue's wedding, May '07











Katie and a new born Benjamin! Awwwwww

The morning after...

Sunday morning brought snow. Can you believe it? 6th April!

Charlie thought it was Christmas and Katie couldn't wait to get out there!

Al and Lou had stayed over in our makeshift bedroom (they were very polite!)
Sandie had the lounge. Jemma and Michele shoe-horned in Katie and charlie's room and Al, myself, Katie, Charlie and Ben in our room!
Phew!
We all decided it was a great day for a walk along the seafront, but blooming freezing! We all warmed up with left over veggie chilli and Jacket potatos followed by strawberry gateux What a great way to end a fantastic weekend!

Snow on the sea front!






Found this strange person in the garden the next day, obviously some straggler form the party!

Urk! Where did time go?

So,
the big 4-uh-oh came at last.
Did I wake up feeling any older or any wiser? Did I heck.
I suppose I expected that I would suddenly become more worldly wise or develop an air of sophistication. Instead I'm still this 15 year old stuck inside a fat suit. :o)) Oh well.
It was a great Day.
My fab husband had arranged a secret surprise party for me, it starting the day before when I was sent to collect a mystery person (the Queen) from the train station. I had secretly guessed who it was (or I hoped so anyway!) I was right, my best pal from school, Michele Bicknell!
Jemma and Michele dragged me (kicking and screaming, you understand) to Gunwharf Quays retail outlet centre, along with Ben who is too young to object, whilst Al was busy preparing the house for my big bash. Jem, very kindly bought me lunch though Ben was keen to skip straight to dessert.
5 mins before the guests arrived the marquee took off, I'll never forget Sandie, Al and I holding on the the legs for dear life trying to right it as yet another gust of wind threatened to blow us all away! Can you believe we had tea outside the night before?

The Party was excellent, all (well most) of my special friends were there.
I was so touched by them all for coming along and making my day so special. Thank you all soooooo much!!

Especially my lovely hubbie Alan for arranging it all (and Katie and Charlie for helping)