The Stuff What We Did

Ok, June. And Stuff. Number One recent event of course was Her Mouseness's birthday. I must confess some surprise to having a three year-old. Said birthday was (repeatedly) celebrated with cake.

Other big event was heading up north to catch up with Toadboy, Zarah and baby Max. We booked a cottage on a farm an hour north of Newcastle in Alnmouth - which turned out to be a fantastic idea, as there was a combination of cows, beaches, fish and chips, Alnwick gardens, and a fabulous old second hand bookshop all within 10-15 minutes drive.

Unsurprisingly, the new parents (Max was 8ish weeks then) were a bit frazzled, but seem to be doing alright. Max seems quite cute for someone who is clearly going to be the Doom Of Us All.

Children were taken to a petting farm, where much moo's and baa's were successfully identified. Beaches were seen and fish-and-chip piranha's fed.

Other stuff: I seem to find myself travelling back to Watford, much to my surprise. Though I'm going to have to sort out a bike for the last leg, to try and cut the commuting time. I've got my eye on a Dahon Jack D7, but I'm going to have to wait for the gadget budget to recover from the pad purchase.

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Noooooooo

They've taken away my Costa at the station! Bastards!


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Buble

While I'm writing the "so that was June" post, have some bubbles on me.

Padded

Time to party like it's 1987!

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Spotty Baby

Time for round two - Natasha!

Plague Strikes

Finally the much-expected chickenpox has arrived for Emily. Looks like a relatively mild case, and she's bearing up as well as can be expected.

I suspect Natasha won't be quite so easy when she (inevitably) gets it.

Dress

Admittedly, Renata does like to dress the girls up pretty and all.

Artistry

Alix is finally on a train back to London - all going well she'll be home by midnight.

As requested by Madre, some Alix and Emily painting photos from the other weekend.

A Ticket in Time Saves..

Having to be in a long queue to get into Kew. My season ticket arrived on Friday, and with children to entertain and it being a sunny day and all, we slowly got ourselves ready to head off.

First things first, a stopoff at the Yellow Cafe (Brooks) for coffee, croissant, juice and babychino.

Then pick up lunch, and onto the train.

Sweep past queue presenting season pass. Find Daffodils.

And Ducks.

Go home, have quiet time, and a rousing rendition of row, row row your boat.

Ash Friday (and probably Saturday)

Unsurprisingly, Alix's plane was not going anywhere today. And strangely enough the ferries were wildly overbooked.

Currently booked on a 10AMish flight. Since the current report says that most of UK airspace closed until 1PM, I'm not hopeful.

On the plus side, small children have been (relatively) well behaved).

Look at my gnashers.

Look.

Ash Thursday

Hmmm. I've got the day off to wrangle the children while Alix is in Guernsey, but it doesn't look like she'll be flying back in a hurry!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8621407.stm

Stupid volcano.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Is there any better way to watch them?

Butterflies

High on Yoghurt.

Perambulation

Things just... move around the house.

Glee

Not the TV series.

Communication

Her Snufflyness is getting very chatty these days. "Yes!" seems to be one of her favourite words (admittedly generally in response to "would you like a banana/cuddle/book/bottle?").

Duck, Dog, Book, and Baa (her fluffy sheep) are also pretty common.

Also she seems to spend a lot of her time singing, and while its not fully formed words most of the time, a few are beginning to pop out. Favourites appear to be 'twinkle twinkle' and this one - I'll give you a clue: "The wheels on the..."

Bananaphone

Hello? Hello, Operator?

Remember Me?

And in this corner, a blast from the past.

Pit Crew

Because you know it's easier for Mummy to fix the pram if you crawl inside it.

Internet Shopping

Milk and baby biccies and fruit plzkthxbye.

Around the Corner

Small child w/missing pants? Check.

Baby on bike? Check.

Great Grey Beast

Hi Spring? Anytime you're ready, man.

Words Define Reality

"Wake Up Daddy! You're not very, very tired!"

Waaake UP!"

Chino, Part MMX

And so it begins...

edit: Roman Numeracy Fail

Shopping

Now with added commentary.

Victoria and Albert and Emily

Our Google Widget Thingy reminded me of the Summer of Auntie Lisa.

Natasha and (Another) Cat

Renata took the girls to a birthday party last week. There was cake, dress-ups, cake, and as Natasha correctly identified, a cat.

Mecha-Toddlerzilla

Fear my orange paws and kleenex-box feet.

FEAR ME!!!

Still Cold

But a bit more picturesque. Until now, the snow has been regular, but not thick enough to stay on the ground. That seems to have changed.

Oddly enough though, in most of London, things haven't frozen solid yet. The tube (more or less) works, however a lot of people commuting on the train haven't found it too pleasant.

Snow

It's really really really cold.

On the plus side, staggering drunkenly with ex-workmates in the snow around the City was pretty surreal.

But it is really really really cold.

Cake

Cake?



Cake!

Caaake!

CAAAAAKE!!!!

More Presents

Much presents from various family members and friends. mainly lots of nice tops, with a very pretty dress from Renata.

However the star of the show was the sheep bag, which was quite the hit with her snufflyness as you can see below.

As usual, an attempt to read a book resulted in Alix being covered in children.

And Emily wanted to 'help' Natasha unpack the box of blocks.