Weekly round-up

... started the week by going swimming... school didn't go back 'til Tuesday, so we made the most of the Monday. Spike surprised me by requesting to go out to the Glades swimming pool, which he'd completely freaked out in a year ago when we first went! We went armed with his Ear Band-It, which I got a few months ago in the hopes it would dull the noise if we did ever make it swimming again.... and we got him a Noodle from reception.... got changed, held our breath and... well! it was a fab time! He really enjoyed himself, which meant that Bubs could enjoy herself too... success!

... after school on Tuesday, we made Spike's birthday cake... they like to help these days which is good, as then the cake is just how they want it! Spike wanted a Tank... but not liking green icing or liquorice, well, it just had to be all chocolate instead!! It was fun making it! (and very tasty the next day!!!) We love the 30-minute kids' cakes book... it's come to the rescue many a time...

... Wednesday was "Happy Birthday" day for Spike... 8! Time flies! We've never done a birthday at school before, we usually take the day off! So, we HAD to get up at 6am to allow time to open the presents and play with them before going off to school. He did so well to go into school, he wasn't really wanting to, but he had lots to talk about AND they did party games and had a cake for him at his Unit! So, I think it was a lovely morning... we followed that with a trip to McDonalds, and then off for a walk with Grama and Grampa...

... we went up to Hawkbatch woods and up to the view point that overlooks Trimpley reservoirs... WHAT a glorious afternoon it was! Bubs decided she wanted to sketch the view, and Spike was happy to sit as he heard a train and was waiting to see if it would pass. There were lots of lovely Wood Anenomies around.

... later in the evening, cousin T came to visit... this is Spike sitting waiting for him... looks like a typical Kiddy lad with his 'hoody' on!!!!!!!

... Thursday after school we went out to Merryhill and Toys'r'us for Spike to spend his birthday money... we haven't been to a Toys'r'us for a long long while, so it was a bit of a novelty! Needless to say, Spike bought various Lego items, which he and Bubs spent the rest of the afternoon making up!

... Friday after school we took some friends to Pizza Hut with us, to celebrate Spike's birthday - his choice of treat. It was a lovely lovely time... great food and great company! And, ANOTHER birthday cake!

... bit of an odd shot this, but I was trying not to get the other kids in (incase they objected!)... this was at the History Club on Saturday at Hartlebury Castle... it was a workshop on Animation... really fun - from making Flip Books, to taking Stills on a camera, to drawing on the computer...

Honest Scrap Award...

Jo at Jo's Boys has given me this award... gulp! Thanks Jo! I'm sure I'm hopeless at these things, but I'll give it a go! I have to share 10 honest things about myself, then pass the award on to 10 other bloggers - this could be hard, as I'm not entirely sure who actually reads my blog! I started it to keep up with family and friends... so if you'd like a stab at this award on your blog, then just go for it!

1. I have absolutely no fashion sense! I like my own style - and my daughter despairs of me! I have only about 2 or 3 'outfits'. I love really long skirts, and would easily find my place in a period drama!

2. My first (and hopefully only!) car accident happened right opposite to a Police Officer .

3. I have many regrets about how I lived in the 'past'... I'm not proud of many of my decisions, or of the person I was. I often get caught up in this, and forget the amazing Grace of the Lord.

4. Being content doesn't come naturally to me... I have to work hard at it, continually turning my eyes to the Lord for help.

5. I dislike going out in the car a lot. I enjoy solitude. I'm hopeless in large groups of people.

6. I worry too much: about what others think of me and my life; of whether the decisions I make are the right ones; about whether I can possibly be a good Mum; that I compromise too much and don't share the Lord enough... I'm slow to realise that it is only God's approval that matters.

7. I love simple things... like daisies and sparrows; a good view of the country on a fine day; the wind in my hair, sun on my hands, rain on my nose, snow underfoot; grass; earthenware and wool.

8. I often wish I had a specific talent or skill.

9. I always try to do way more than it is possible to reasonably accomplish in a day, and thus I often have many started projects and few finished ones. I feel I must always be doing something, and don't know how to relax properly.

10. I like to smile :o)

I would like to pass the Honest Scrap Award on to:

Erin at An American Family in England

... and anyone else that wants to join in!

Weekly round-up

Not much 'doing', but lots of 'living' this week...

... lots of butterflies in the garden...

... and very large bumble bees!...

... potatoes planted at last...

... first cut of the moss lawn... it DOES look neater... but there really isn't much grass in there!..

... magnolia blossoming in the neighbours front yard...

... attempting to contain the toys in Spike's room, we had a tidying and building session...

... a long awaited 'journey' on the little train which runs next to the Severn Valley Railway... we picked the right time and day to go as it's not running so frequently at the moment but we didn't know that, amazing really...

... fish and chips beside the River Severn in Bewdley... umm, yum!...

... fun in the Bewdley museum... and some tree climbing and admiring of flowers in the lovely gardens...

... and ice cream of course!...

... messing around in the garden...

... and our first bar-b-q of the year...

Weekly round-up

~ Bit late coming... but last week was really quite busy!

Easter Monday saw us ambling with a group from church at the Wyre Forest visitor centre...

Tuesday saw us visiting Hartelbury Castle for the Alice in Wonderland trail and activities... the kids really enjoyed this, and it was good to see the place outwith the History Club the kids belong to...

Wednesday we headed off for Torquay, Devon and a 3-night stay. The first thing the kids wanted to do when we got there was to go down on the beach... it is really odd for us living so far from a beach in Kidderminster, we're just not used to it! We also went out for an evening stroll in the gardens on the Front before bed...

Thursday we had a day around Torquay... Stephen came through and we rode the 'Land Train' twice, played on the beach, played crazy golf, Bubs and Stephen went up in a balloon to 400ft for the view, and we all enjoyed a fab meal at the restaurant courtesy of the generousity of mum and dad...

... on the land train...

... flea market... one of the stall-holders recently won £2.5million on the lottery - he doesn't work there any more!...

... Torre Abbey...

... having fun... and ice cream of course!...

... crazzzzzy golf - we gave up on the score sheet, it was too demoralising!...

... beach fun (look! isn't the weather gorgeous!)...

... on the HiFlyer (not me, I was too scared!)...

... all kinds of yummy food in the Beefeater...

 ... evening walk, walking Stephen to the bus... pirates in the harbour?...

Friday we headed inland and up to Dartmoor, then to the House of Marbles, a stop at McDonalds, and back to Torquay for a walk along the front and round the harbour...

... Haytor... we started at the bottom, and it did take a bit of puff to get up to the rocks, but it was worth it! Bubs and Stephen went part way up the actual Tor... then it had to be ice cream for cooling down! There is *always* an ice cream van in the Haytor carpark... we had ice cream there in the snow in November last year!

... House of Marbles... a must to watch the giant marble run... play in the shop... and play marbles outside... and to watch the glass-blowers at work: this man was making a Robin...

... more ice cream!... evening fun on the beach (that's our Travel Inn in the picture behind the boys)... what a glorious evening!

Saturday: time to pack up and travel home... but time, first, for a play on the beach again... and time for me to indulge in my habit of picking up 'sea glass' (I think it's awful that so much ends up in the sea, but it is quite beautiful when the rough and sharp edges have been smoothed down by the waves)...

... the driver of the Land Train, informed us that these rocks you see are where Henry Francis Lyte penned the famous Hymn 'Abide with Me'...

When we arrived home... we discoverd that Spring had sprung while we were away! Amazing what a few days of sunshine can do!...