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!

Double Digits

It's Rosie's 10th birthday today! She was so excited that her birthday fell during half term so she wouldn't have to spend it at school... unfortunately it rained all day and her two older brothers are away on an overnight temple trip so she spent most of her time playing Lego and watching her favourite films. My girl's easily pleased!

Rosie was so happy that Brandi Carlile's new album arrived in the post today, she made me update her iPod immediately and proceeded to learn a whole lot of new songs! I am delighted she has her mother's taste in music. (It's a glorious album by the way, you should listen to it too!)

Sick Day

I have Rosie home today nursing a cold. As is the rule in our house on a sick day, Rosie gets to choose which film she'd like to see so we are currently watching The Sound of Music on this wet and windy Monday. The housework will just have to wait.

Captivated

A rainy day in the Easter holidays means only one thing for Rosie: an Anne of Green Gables marathon.

Monday's Smile Lines

Rosie: 'Mummy, come here quickly!'
Me: 'What is it?'
Rosie: 'Oh, just look at those love birds having a cuddle outside!  Quickly, take a photo.'

Oh Dear

Rosie has suddenly taken an interest in the H&M catalogues...

Letters

Rosie is a letter writer, she leaves them around the house for anyone and everyone.  Her latest is for the Tooth Fairy tonight and it is just so sweet:

Dear Tooth fairy,
You look pretty!!!!!!
I like you!!
Thank you for all the kindness that you have done for me!!!
Love Rosie
xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Monday's Smile Lines

Rosie: 'Mummy, in the olden days when you were little, was there any electricity?'
Me: 'Of course, I'm not THAT old!'
Rosie: 'Well, did you have hair dryers?'

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!

Monday Smile Lines

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

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!

Little Waltz

We like to watch Strictly Come Dancing on a Saturday night and this weekend Rosie decided to make a 'pretty costume' out of her dressing gown and copy the waltz routine.  She was hillarious.  See for yourself the dedication, clicking, spinning and fabulous ending:

Hair

Rosie's hair grows very fast.  Two years ago it was cut into a short bob and it very quickly grew out.  I was going to cut about four inches off today but Rosie decided she wanted it shorter so she could again donate it to a cancer charity to make into wigs for children going through chemotherapy.  Here is Rosie before I started cutting:

And here is the new do:

 

It certainly cuts down the drying time!

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!

Feeling French

Dear Jay

Rosie and I were dress shopping and came home with two lovely dresses.  She then insisted I take pictures of her in them so you could see:

Aren't they yummy?!

Love Naomi xxx

Saturday's Smile Lines

Today we were in Exeter and after a couple of hours shopping with Rosie we stopped outside the cathedral to wait for James and Noah.  The bells started to ring.

Rosie: 'Oh, they're playing the Hell's Bells song!'

Me: 'No darling, churches don't play AC/DC songs!'

Hooligans

It was our primary school fete today and despite all the fun stalls and games, the most entertaining thing for Noah, Rosie and Ethan were the police officers taking their fingerprints:

...and a spell in the back of the police van:

Hmm, innocent or guilty?