A long catch up ...

This blog post has been a long time coming BUT all I would have to blog about lately is school runs and illness.

Firstly poor Alfie had a virus about a month ago and since then he has struggled to pick up and get himself better, even Charlie had time off school:

(the little tuft of hair peeping by the feet is actually a toddlers head!)

We have had a new addition to the family:

**Joey Timothy**

My toddler is no longer the baby cousin...

We also celebrated the eldest childs 12th birthday.

Time has gone soooo fast...too fast really, but he's growing into a young man whom we are very proud of.

This was celebrated in style.

First event - birthday tea at Nans house.

Second event - Cinema with friends to see (a brilliant, and highly recommended film)

Arthur Christmas

followed by Pizza Hut tea...

Third, and final event - games night and pizza at Uncle Jacc and Craigs house

(Uncle Jacc does get competitive hehe)

Charllie performed in the town centre lights switch on with Starlight.

(My lad is the tall one at the back)

He has also got the job of school librarian, following an application form and interview.

Very impressed with how he is doing at senior school, even moved up a Maths group which is a major accomplishment.

Alfie has been picked to be a star in his playschool nativity next week so fingers crossed he is well.

(primary) school days...

Well that's it! Charlie will officially be a senior in September.

He is coping better than me about the whole thing, he's looking forward to moving on.

On the last day he took his camera and created lots of memories, here are a few of them...

This will be hardest part for him leaving his "gang".

He started school not knowing anyone, he had a visiting day with 4 other children and the girl closest to him was in his group. They formed a bond and became best friends all through primary. The other girl started later in the school but quickly came part of the group.

Saddly they are both going to be at different senior school to Charlie :o(

We picked up his blazer and tie today and he looked so grown up when trying them on.

A new chapter begins..

...hope he enjoys it.

Actually did some scrapbooking...

Went to Junes scrapbooking crop and made 4 layouts!!
Really enjoyed it as well and made me realise how much i have missed it.

LAYOUT 1:

Whilst on a trip to the park accidentally captured this shot of Alfie, it sums him up perfectly. Always running and  carrying cars (sometimes trains instead.)

LAYOUT 2:

This time captured Charlie climbing through a tunnel, got quite frightened by how grown up he looks and makes me realise his teenage years are upon us.

LAYOUT 3:

Alfie has started to smile as soon as he sees a camera and managed to capture this gorgeous shot of him.

LAYOUT 4:

(this last one still needs a camera adding to the journalling spot)

We have all recently had to have passport photos taken and Charlie managed to make his look fantastic, Tim looks like a mugshot and mine...well, enough said.

Has inspired to get some more made.

Some cards...

Charlie made this one:

...because today is our 12 year wedding anniversary.

This card has been made an inspiration challenge:

 

It is gorgeous explosion of colour.

I went for pinks and purples but intend to use this for a layout at a later date and make it more colourful and paint splat effect.

Thanks for looking :)

A layout...and a before/after...

This layout was inspired by an advert in a town & country magazine:

...Charlie has written the quote:

...any man can be a Father,

it takes someone special to be a DAD...

...have made the embellishments down the left hand side to match pattern on the paper:just handcut, doodled, matching colour brad added - voila...

What a difference a haircut makes:

Actually let him leave the fringe long. It will look even better when washed and not so windswept.

I know i'm bias but he is one handsome boy :)

Allsorts...

Firstly more bragging about Charlie...

He won a prize for his Victorian Project, he's one of 6 from 30 children so very proud. I also know the amount of work and time he put into it...Well Done : )

A Card...

This was a quickie because had an hour, teething baby and not wanting to face town.

Result:

This was new technique to me. Saw it on a blog but (forehead smack) have forgotten which one...

Used foam stamp (actually from decorating store bargain bin),

Versamark pad,

Chalks (have had these for years, never used),

Stamped the butterfly using versamark onto patterned paper, use a paintbrush to brush chalk onto this,

cut out, add foam dots to lift butterfly, draw border and dots, stamp sentiment using alphabet stamps.

Hope they like it...

"Hello" to my new followers; Thanks for joining me : )

...Bragging moment...

Hello, just a quick one tonight:

Charlie swam a length from the deep end to the shallow in swimming lessons today.
WE are VERY proud, as he dislikes it when the water goes above his chin.
Big accomplishment...Well Done son  XXX

How proud am I???

Charlie has started a new hobby:

...painting these little figures..they are TINY...smaller than my thumb...

He is going to start collecting these figures and when they are painted playing games with them.

His dad does this hobby and Charlie has started to show an interest but we were worried that we would buy the kit and then he wouldn't be able to paint these tiny figures. So dad found some spare Orks (Lord of the Rings baddies to me)...wow...he was amazing and is keen to continue.

The process:

Keep it up son...we are so proud...

My (Bigger) Boy is Poorly...

Charlie is poorly.
USUALLY:
   this boy eats 24/7, honestly he's hollow, only once in ten years have we heard the words "I'm Full".
   this boy has to be forced to bed (not physically), he will try to persuade you why he doesn't need sleep, argue why he doesn't need sleep, moan at us continually to prolong the process.
   this boy would watch childrens tv as long as we allow, mixed with GOLD, he loves the old UK comedies.
   this boy is NEVER still or quiet...
...until now...I want him to be all those things.

Since sunday tea he has eaten a few weetabix mini,  a sausage and some chips...
he hasn't done anything but mainly sleep and complain he feels poorly...
really doesn't care whats on telly...
has hardly spoke...

I really hope he gets better soon I miss Cheeky Charlie :(  :(  :( 

It was a CRAZY day...

...well a CRAZY HATs day.

We have a local charity called CRAZY HATS Appeal and they raise alot of money for Breast Cancer. They recently purchased a new machine for the local hospital so you actually know the money is being put to good use.

Every year they do a 5 mile walk around Wicksteed park wearing a Crazy hat and Charlie did it this year with his Nanny.

We (me and Alfie, dad was working) were going to meet him and cheer him on. I say "Were going to" because Alfie fell asleep when he left and woke just as he rang to say he'd finished.

He did it in 1hour 45mins.

And got his first ever medal.

VERY proud of him, and his decorated hat which he did all by himself.

WELL DONE CHARLIE.

XXX

PS: Someone asked if the folder in the last post FROM THE HEART was a QK one. It is a Goosebumpz folder from the QK LOVE set.
PPS: The soldier is a Queens Guard (I think don't quote me) he's a very special limited edition figure Playmobil from Harrods many years ago. He did lose his gun to a hoover.
Thanks for noticing him.

People are so kind.

 

Children just don't wear uniform anymore:

WORLD BOOK DAY:

I sent this Horrid (Henry) boy off to school on friday. He hates this photo but he has the other 2 on his blog.

Also i think he's cute in it but can't believe how grown up he looks. Arrgghh

VICTORIAN DAY:

I sent this serious child off today for a trip to Holdenby House.

He isn't smiling because Victorian people didn't smile in their photos.

And because I love this one...

Hope he has fun. He was so excited to be wearing this outfit, he wouldn't wear his coat in -1 temperatures (he did have thick scarf on and woolly gloves but they were Victorian looking his coat wasn't)

 

You send your 10yr old to get dressed...

...in his school uniform.

This what he comes down in!!!

No it wasn't mufti or activity day

it was just Charlie being Charlie.

SOME EXCITING/IMPORTANT NEWS..

http://charlieschitchat.blogspot.com/

Charlie has started his own blog.

This title page is all his own work and if you see this header you have hit the right place.

Go check it out and make my 10 year old a VERY happy boy :)

Happy monday...

Well it has happened...

...our 10 year old son showed his clueless 30(something) parents how to work the iplayer.

NOW FOR SOME RANDOM QUOTES THAT I HAVE STUMBLED UPON RECENTLY:

A best friend is like a four leaf clover,

hard to find and lucky to have.

(taken from BazzillBasicPaper advertisment)

Scrapping is love made visible...

(taken from RUBY ROCK-IT advertisment)

Nature does not hurry,

yet everything is accomplished.

(taken from Write.Click.Scrapbook website, sunday photo + words)

After years of being told "don't put off til tomorrow what you can do today" this qoute that suits me better.

Why?

When feeling at my very best,

When the house is clean and neat,

When i've lots and lots of leisure,

And i'm not run off my feet,

No-one comes to see me -

I have put it to the test -

But when i'm extra busy,

When i'm worried and oppressed,

When my fruit cake in the oven

decides to droop and sag,

When i have no time to dress with care,

And feel an awful hag -

When my stocking springs a ladder,

From ankle to the knee -

Why is it that my friends decide

To come and call on me?

-Miriam Eker.

(taken from PEOPLES FRIEND ANNUAL 1983)

OK, so i've never baked a fruit cake but the rest seems so true...

Have a good weekend blog readers.

If you have a favourite quote don't be afraid to share.

Into double figures today!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLIE!!

Today he is ten!! He tried VERY hard to get the day off school. He wore his coat partly undone to show off his birthday badge!

He had lots of pressies and the postman has just brought some more while I am typing this. He also has a suprise chocolate cake waiting complete with 10 candles.

For those of you getting ready to post festive parcels do not do what I did.

After standing in the Post Office queue for 35minutes, got to the front and as handing over parcels realised I had only wrote the names, no addresses!!

Right, off to feel some parcels...

A little imagination!

Charlie is mad on the Simpsons at the moment and wanted some puppets.

With some scraps of felt he went away and came back with this.

Well Done!

GUEST BLOGGER: 9 year old Charlie

This is the day we got the new car.Dad says its mums car because its got her intials on it.

its got 4 doors, lights, tables and much more.

I say "its the best car in the WORLD".

The middle seat turns into a armreast (I would live in it)

Its a nissan note we always see them but we never see a red one.

Happy Red Nose Day 2009

Have a great day. Charlie will it's a mufti fun day tomorrow and he can't wait!

Guest blogger: My 9 year old son...

This is my rabbit (George) as a baby but his huge now.
This is my favourite picture of him because it was his first time on the floor (but also it's my favourite just because he looks so cute).



This picture was taken on Christmas Day, it's me playing the drums that I got from mum and dad. I don't know if you've seen these drums before but they have got loads of pictures of Spongebob Squarepants on.
I am practising lots of tunes ready for my brother Alfie when he is born. He is coming in 12 weeks time (which is actually in 3 months).

This is my sons guest post, all his own work. Thanks for looking.

It's Christmasssssssssss

This was taken Christmas Day and the look of suprise and delight on his face just says it all.

Well, Dec wasn't a great month for our family and illness seemed to rule. Thankfully that is all behind us now and Christmas was lovely. Knowing it was our last one as a family of 3 and next year we will have a 9month old meant our son kinda ruled this one.

HAPPY NEW YEAR AND WISHING GOOD HEALTH AND HAPPINESS TO YOU ALL IN 2009!!!