Presenting the Amazing Walking Ben

I'm not sure if this will work but I'm hoping technology will not fail me.

If you click on the link line below, it should take you to a video (on myspace.com) of Ben walking.

Ben Walking

Since his first real walking on Boxing Day, Ben is coming on really well and has now figured out how to get up without holding onto anything either and we are all so proud of him.

It's not very long. Hope you all enjoy it.

Updated 19.02.08 to be a direct link to the video:

Rogers 60th Birthday

Today was Roger Price's 60th Birthday and we all went to a lovely party at their house this afternoon. - Roger & Yoita used to live next door to my Mum & Dad and it's a friendship which has stood the test of time.

As always Yoita put on a marvellous spread of fine foods including the spinach & ricotta dish she does (the name of which I can never remember) which is one of my favourites.

Amy and Ben had a great time cavorting around the lounge floor together and were the best of friends this afternoon.

Roger, Yoita and Mum & Dad are off on their birthday cruise the first week in January and they are all really looking forward to it.

Happy 60th Roger!

Christmas 2006

The wrappings have been ripped and Christmas is over for 2006. Oh but what fun we had...

We woke up bright and early on Christmas morning but didn't venture into the Lounge until 7am to see if Santa had been. The kids faces were a picture when they saw the two presents by the fireplace.
Father Christmas brought Amy a Playmobil Aeroplane and Ben a Cars scalectrix.

Then it was off to Nana & Grandads' house to wish them a Happy Christmas and open some more presents.

We left those gifts there and got to Granny & Grandad's about 11:30 where Christmas Day was being hosted this year.

It was lovely as she had Cessie & the cousins over too and it was nice to have the whole family there. Amy & Ollie disappeared upstairs for several hours playing shoe shops with Granny's ample shoe collection and all the kids were so well behaved.

We had a lovely sleepover and on Boxing Day headed back to Nana & Grandad's house where Ben had great fun showing off his walking.

I think we can safely say that he is now walking. He just has to figure out how to get upright without holding onto anything and he'll be 100% there but I think that seeing him walk the length of Nana's lounge and then some was probably the best Christmas present in the world ever!

So Merry Christmas everyone. The Clarke Clan had a great time!

Christmas Eve with the Animals

We had a wonderful time today at Colchester Zoo with Lily, Rose, Harry, AJ, Archie, Daniel, Luke, Big Ben & their parents.

It's something the others have done in previous years but it's the first time we have joined them and it was a very good way to pass the time on a day which can seem to go on forever with small children.

This is the first year that Amy has been really into the whole Christmas experience and she is so excited.

There must be a little bit of magic in the air though because Amy & Ben had a bit of a love-in tonight and were sat on our bed giving each other big sloppy kisses! It was really sweet.

Anyway, here's hoping Santa brings you everything you wished for!

Merry Christmas!

Holidays Are Coming

Today was Amy's last day at school as a part-timer. She is very much looking forward to returning in January full-time and I must admit that I will prefer to have a little bit more time inbetween pick-ups to play with Ben.

This afternoon Molly came over to play while Auntie Kirstie had to run some errands and we had a smashing time covering the lounge floor with toys.

We went for a play in the little park at the end of the road and Ben had a lovely time going down the slide. I dug out some old reins of Amy's and with just a little bit of support from me he had great fun walking back to the steps each time.

Dinner with Friends

On Saturday night we meet up with our friends for Christmas dinner. This year we went to The South Lodge and it was by far the best mass-produced Christmas dinner I have ever eaten.

There was fine food, good wine and very bad dancing but we had a great time.

I think, if it is actually possible, I was more inebriated that Eric.

It was really nice to see some of our friends who we don't get together with as much these days and we had a really good evening.

Shame about not going to the Cave afterwards though - I was quite up for it apparently!

Ben's Latest Development Check

Ben had another development check with his Physiotherapist, Speech Therapist & Occupational Therapist on Tuesday.

The Speech Therapist was very impressed with his signing and wants us to just continue with more of the same. She was particularly pleased to see him using the "more" sign voluntarily.

The other two ladies were also very happy with him - although he lacks concentration - at 18 months go figure! They are really pleased that he is starting to find his feet and predict a speedy progression which is nice to hear.

It is the last time that Val will see Ben as she is retiring at Christmas and she was really sad to say goodbye. Sweet really!

(Picture of Ben and Molly having a race to see who gets on the tractor first)

Pre-Christmas Party 2006

Saturday 9th December was Granny's traditional Pre-Christmas party only this year we played hosts.

They children got some lovely bits from Granny & Grandad and everyone had a lovely time.

I decided to try and be fun Auntie for a change and brought a Pinata (not very christmassy I know) and everybody had great fun trying to smash it open. It took a surprisingly long time.


We had a really nice tea and pulled crackers and once the kids were all tucked up in bed we settled down to a rousing game of Cranium - well at least the young ones did. Granny & Grandad crashed out on the sofas!

Fins and Feet

Today was a very special day for both Ben and Amy....

Ben got his first pair of professionally fitted shoes today. They are little blue & beige cruisers and he picked them out himself. We went to a little independent shop recommended by the ladies at Moulsham Grange and with any luck they will help him perfect his new found walking skill.

Amy received her first swimming certificate and badge today. She received the Puffin Award for swimming 5 metres with a bouancy aid.

Go Ben! Go Amy!

Amy's 1st Nativity Play

Today was Amy's first ever Nativity Play. She had been practicing for a while now and I knew she was going to be an Innkeeper but that was about it.

The show was scheduled to start at 10:15 so when I got there at 10am I did wonder if I was bit early. I needn't have worried, lots of over eager parents & grandparents had beaten me too it and I was relegated to the cheap seats at the back.

The show was good really, lots of very bemused looking 4 & 5 year olds with tea towels on their heads.

I struggled to maintain my composure - not through emotion like some of the sniffling mothers beside me but through laughter - it really was one of the funniest things I seen in ages.

Well done Amy! You made a fine Innkeeper.

Disney Magic

Well we're back from our trip to Disneyland Paris. All three kids had a great time (that's Amy, Ben & Brenda!!)

Sunday
Our arrival on Sunday afternoon (after a lovely ride in first-class on Eurostar) prompted some raised eyebrows as the place was heaving with people. Amy had said she wanted her first ride to be Dumbo so we joined a 65 minute queue!! I was a little bit worried that was going to be the shape of things to come but that evening the park cleared out and it would appear that it was mainly day-trippers

Monday
We headed off the the busier rides nice and early on Monday and we discovered a new ride this year - Buzz Lightyear - which everyone enjoyed. It was fun to see Amy dressed as a Princess zapping everything in sight and I think it can safely be said that it was Ben's favourite ride - not least because it had a queue which he could crawl around!

We made this our full day and watched both the Princess Parade, the lighting of the castle ceremony and Fantallusion (the night-time parade). The night-time parade was wonderful and it was something we had never stayed to see before and was well worth it. The kids where exhausted by the end of the day though.

Tuesday
More rides today including a brief trip into Disney Studios and a spot of shopping. It started to rain towards the end of the afternoon so we headed back to the hotel for a well-earned rest.

Wednesday (last day)
It turns out that Amy was very much into the characters this time but didn't really mention it until fairly late on so for the last morning we booked a character breakfast at Cafe Mickey. We thought that Ben was waving hello to them all but he was probably waving them away from his breakfast!

The rooms at the hotel were lovely as usual but this time we had adjoining rooms with Granny & Grandad which caused much frivolity crawling/running between the two.

It was an action-packed holiday and a fabulous time was had by all. I don't think my feet will recover for some time!

I've picked a few pictures but really I could add loads more:
Ben eating his way around the park!
Amy meeting Sleeping Beauty and the rather dashing Prince Phillip!
A picture Amy took of us outside It's a Small World.