Noah's Baptism

Noah has been planning his baptism for months. He chose the songs and the speakers, who would say the prayers, the witnesses; he even picked all his favourite food for the lunch afterward! It was sweet that he was so excited.

I like to watch my childrens baptisms from the side of the font where the changing rooms are. (Most mothers stand in front of the font with the congregation.) I feel closer to being a part of the ordinance as I wink at them when they take a deep breath in as they step into the warm water and look back at me with wide expectant eyes. I get to see them immersed, their feet and hands splaying everywhere. I see their happy and excited faces when I wrap them up in a towel and those few precious moments we have alone while they get changed and tell me what it was like for them. Noah wanted to do it all again, it felt so good! I told him he could do it when he was twelve for other people at the temple, and he replied 'I can also baptise my children if I have any!'. I love that he thinks that far ahead. I love that Noah decided to have this special day.

It's Great To Be Eight

Mr Noah turned eight today! He has been counting down the days for weeks now and is excited that he gets to be baptised on Saturday. He was anticipating his birthday morning so much that he was awake at 2am, 4am, and 6:30am. (It's like I have a newborn in the house again!). It's a good job he's so lovely and gives me plenty of kisses to make up for it. My favourite photo of today is this one: 

Such concentration on the blowing! And yes, that's a baking tray you see in the photo. The birthday boy wanted a tray bake instead of a regular cake, so that is what he had. Happy birthday Noah!

Wednesday's Smile Lines

Noah: 'Mummy, I love you all the way to heaven (that's higher than space isn't it?) and all the way back down to the lava in the middle of the earth!'

Friday's Smile Lines

Noah: 'Yes! I love pitter-patter bread for lunch!'
Ethan: 'It's pita bread Noah.'
Noah: (Giggles) 'Oh yeah...well, I think pitter-patter sounds better!'

---

Another thing making me smile today is the arrival of these plastic lunch boxes for Rosie and Noah's return to school next month:

I used to have lunch boxes just like these but when my children were old enough to need them the trend for sturdy lunch boxes had been replaced with material cool bags...which are a nightmare to clean (not machine washable!) and look rather shabby after a while. I thank you Internet for finding me a random plastic company that still makes these!

He Rides!

Dear Jay,

It is rather sad that by the age of 7 Noah still hadn't learnt to ride a bike. My excuses were that our garden isn't big enough, we don't take the bikes to the park often, there is the busy road through the village in front of our house and a full car park around the back, Noah didn't have a bike the right size.... and so on.  Well, 'Enough of the excuses!' I declared and we dug Rosie's old pink bike out of the pile in the shed and spent this week having Noah practise on it in the strangely empty car park:

After three days of  nervous 'Don't let me go mummy!' comments, Noah completed his first solo ride by himself, I didn't even need to help him start off. Check him out in this video:

Noah was so proud of himself and wanted to tell Ben straight away that he could finally do it. Now that he's got the knack, he wants to spend every spare minute outside...and I can finally let him ride the bigger black bike that is much better for a boy of seven to be seen on!

 

Love you,

Naomi xxx

Sun Happy

The start of the summer holidays has met us with hot sunshine and we are lapping it up! On Saturday we tidied, dug and painted the garden so today was spent relaxing in it. Ben and Ethan were out with friends so with only three of us home it was rather peaceful. There was reading time:

Colouring time:

Paddling pool time:

And get mummy wet time!

Sunday's Smile Lines

Tuesday's Smile Lines

Noah's front tooth has been wobbling its way through Christmas but wouldn't give up....until today!  He wrote a note for the tooth fairy:

It says: 'Dear tooth fairy my toot was so so wobly that it was hanging out so it fell out.  the end.  From Noah.'

Perfect

Let me just say that the Primary children doing a nativity during Sunday School time is the most perfect way to spend the sabbath before Christmas!

Birthday And Santa

Today is my little man's birthday, he turned seven!  He was excited to open his presents sat on the end of our bed this morning, and just as excited that it was a non-uniform day at school!  He chose a strawberry cheesecake to celebrate in the evening:

About five minutes after the candles had been blown, there was a knock on our door.  Who was there? FATHER CHRISTMAS of course!  Santa and his elf were raising funds for the village open air swimming pool (in winter?!) and they wanted to say hello to the children.  Ethan, Rosie and Noah stepped out to have a chat:

Because it was Noah's birthday, Father Christmas gave him TWO bags of sweets!  Noah said 'It has to be the real Santa Clause because it wasn't a fake beard!'

Noah declared it to be 'The bestest birthday ever!'

Puppet On A String

Noah was a puppet in his Christmas production, he was so excited! He's been sporting rosy-red cheeks all week as there have been four shows. Can you spot him? He's much taller than his classmates:

Monday Smile Lines

Writing Christmas cards with rosy cheeks left over from the school play:

Friday' Smile Lines

Noah: 'Mummy, I had a dream this morning. Squirrels were surrounding me 'cause they wanted my nuts!'

Hanging Out

This afternoon, while Ben was training for the Ten Tors, we stopped at the outdoor shop. We found a climbing wall and the children got to have a go; they did a great job:

My baby is climbing!:

I think Rosie is gaining the upper hand here:

Spiderwoman is thrashing her big brother:

Nearly at the top!  Ethan catches up, but Rosie would like the world to know she beat him there:

I think Noah's favourite part was jumping off the rock face...and putting the donation money for mountain rescue in the box!

All In My House I'm Gonna Let It Shine

Here's a little snippet of the crazy that happens in my kitchen on a regular basis. Noah started off with jazz hands but it soon descended into this:

Not ever one to miss out, Rosie quickly joined in:

Another Manic Monday

It's half term this week and today arrived in a rather wet and windy fashion.  By the afternoon I was tired of grumpy and bored children so I decided we needed to get out the house for some fresh air.  Rosie and Noah joined me for a stroll around the village in our wellies:

Sometimes you just have to enjoy getting wet...we did!

Woodlands Fun

When you have a friend that invites you to go with her to the local theme park on a dull Saturday you don't say no! Rosie and Noah came with me and we took full advantage of the almost empty park. It's a good job Sara didn't mind taking Rosie onto the first ride of the day, my stomach cannot handle swinging boats:

Noah enjoyed driving the tractor:

There were lots of indoor rides:

I used to love this ride as a child:

Noah and Rosie braved the sled slide:

Oh, do you see that taller slide on the left of the photo? It shows about half of the height of the whole thing....and I certainly enjoyed going down it.  I hadn't mastered the art of gracefully crashing into the barrier at the end but it was so much fun!

Thanks for taking us Sara!

Thursday's Smile Lines

There's nothing I love better than a snuggle while reading school books, especially when they remind me of ones I used to read to my little sister.

Smile Lines Round-Up

The things that have made me smile this week start off with my new bowls.  I love eating cold cereal from these!  The children picked their own bright colours and I went for these, I originally only wanted a set in the top colour but Rosie told me 'You have to get lots of different colours otherwise it's boring!': 

Also, are these dish brushes not the funniest you've ever seen?:

One of Noah's reading books he chose from school this week was a tale about a witch.  Her broomstick had a baby.  Did you know broomsticks could have babies?  Apparently they do!  Broomstick babies drink warm milk and eat acorns.  Now you know:

My favourite slip of the tongue this week came from James.  He was talking to me about a bush craft event his friend was running and accidentally called it 'butch craft'.  Never have I heard a truer slip-up before!

Now the children are back in school I started my 6 mile country walks again this week, it feels good to be back into an exercise routine, and with this beautiful scenery it's not at all hard to endure!

Last night I found out Brandi Carlile had added a London date to her solo tour, I was so excited to buy tickets as it's been over two years since she last came to the UK and I needed my Brandi fix!  I am also happy that James finally gets to come with me and see her live too, the last four times I've seen her James hasn't been able to take time off of work.  And I only have to wait until next month!

Noah made me the sweetest card today, I was sicker than a sick dog last night and James took the children to school so I could stay in bed.  How could this card not make anyone feel better?:

And Now For The Other Two

Today the alarm woke me at 7.30am and I stepped out of my room to find Rosie and Noah were both up and dressed, eager to start school.  I know this organisation won't last long but it was rather sweet that they were so excited to go back!  Noah has started year two (I can't quite believe he is beginning his third full year at school) and Rosie is in year five.  It was strange for me to only collect two children from school today, I'm not used to it!