Saturday, October 21, 2006

Our Photo's Back

We were very excited last week to receive our portrait from Venture. We thought it was going to be really complicated to put up but Steve managed without any trouble on Thursday night - it went up like a dream.

It is truely beautiful and at first I was hung up (pardon the pun) about how much it had cost but then Steve pointed out that we had not spent a fortune on our wedding & honeymoon and that kinda made it ok. After all, some people spend £1000's on one day and we've spent a few hundred quid on something which will last forever.

It really is gorgeous and I'm not a soppy date as you all know but it brings a tear to my eye to look at it.

So, here's a sneak peak.....
And now, are you ready for some close-ups!....


Ben with his truely unique smile:




















And Amy with her radiant one:



















Stunning isn't it.

Apple Day

Today was Apple Day at Lathcotes Farm. It's a little local farm doing "pick-your-own" produce much of the year and today was their annual Apple Day. We'd never been before so were surprised to see the place packed out (there were a few too many people really).


We had a little look around and Amy sampled some of their home-made Apple Juice. We saw the pigs and the donkeys and everyone had a lovely time.

Ben has really started to come on with his walking. He now manages a fair few steps holding on to just one hand and he is really trying. Here's hoping he gets it sorted it before we go to DP in November as he's quite a feisty little lad and really doesn't like sitting in his pram much!!

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Miaow!!

Just a short but sweet post this one.....

Here's Amy dressed as a cat. It's a Halloween costume really but when did she ever need an excuse to dress up!

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Parents Evening

Thursday night was Amy's 1st Parents Evening at her Infant School. I met her teacher, Mrs Berlyn, we is very nice.

Apparently Amy suffers from a lack of concentration! - But then again what 4 year old doesn't. She also plays with her shoes a lot at school apparently and takes them off when they have story time!

Here's a picture of Amy in her school uniform, complete with the tie which is something she said she'd never wear because "ties are for boys!"

Sunday, October 01, 2006

A Brilliant Weekend!!!

This weekend was one of the best of my life so far.... Steve came good on a promise he had made several years earlier. -- "I'll take you to see George Michael if he ever tours again" must have seemed like a safe bet!

However, things being as the are in the U.K. it's cheaper to transport your entire family to the South of France (complete with babysitter) for one night than to pay Wembley prices! For those not in the know my flying phobia means that I won't fly without the kids - silly I know but that's what phobias are. It also meant that we were able to fulfill Amy's wish to travel on a plane - more about that later.

The concert was excellent - his voice is still superb and the performance was well worth the wait. We were really close, although the heat in the venue was stifling and after about and hour crammed in with several thousand sweaty French gay men we moved slightly back but the view was still very good.

Apologies about the quality of the photo. It was taken on my crappy mobile phone but it's all I've got.

You've got to love France though - their concert experience is a little different to ours. Grot burgers turn into premium French keebabs with baguette & the stalls sell good quality beer that doesn't cost you £4 a pint.

On the Sunday we drove up to St. Tropez and spent the morning browsing round the shops trying to blend in! The yachts are beautiful and we had much fun picking our favourite from the many on show.

After a splendid lunch of Moules & Frites (and that includes Amy - no other 4 year old I know would eat Mussels!) we travelled back home.

Amy loved flying - even the little spot of turbulence near the end which sent me spiraling into panic didn't faze her - I'm not even sure she noticed.

Ben seemed to be able to take or leave flying. Well leave really, he found the whole idea of being strapped down for a couple of hours and unable to destroy things frankly a little boring.

All in all a great weekend.