Thursday's Smile Lines

Me: 'What did you do at school today?'
Ben: 'In drama we did Physical Theatre. Or something like that.'
Me: 'What's Physical Theatre?'
Ben: 'You act like an object.'
Me: 'What object did you pick?'
Ben: 'A microwave rotating plate.'

Keeping Me Sane

Last week I had an awful cold which left me feeling rather sorry for myself. There was an up side to laying vertically for so long, and that was the ability to plug in to some new music and send some happy vibes to my brain.  Here's the three albums that got me through:

I've mentioned British band Kill It Kid a few times before, I've been a fan for a couple of years now and their second album 'Feet Fall Heavy' was released last Monday.  I wasn't disappointed.  It was recorded in only 10 days and has a very live, raw feel to it; there are samples of a southern preacher throughout the album, and the guitars sound loud and gritty.  The vocals are again shared between Stephanie Ward and Chris Turpin, and go from gut-wrenching, gravelly howls to soft and melancholy.  I LOVE IT!

The next album I indulged in this week was 'Skin and Bones' from David J. Roch.  I have followed him since 2007 when I first saw him play as an unsigned act named Little Lost David.  Years later, after lots of touring, home demos and EPs, David was signed to a label and released his first album last month.  From the moment I first heard David as a support act I was hooked, his voice easily cut through the noisy crowd and commanded our attention.  He sings mostly about the darker side of life, (heartbreak, depression and the devil) but I think that is what makes it such an honest and beautiful record.  I knew most of the songs on this album from owning his earlier demos, but they sound so different now having been recorded in a studio with a producer all these years later.  It was like getting re-acquainted with an old friend!

Lastly, Katie Herzig released her new album 'The Waking Sleep' last week (it's not available in the UK to buy yet so I have to stream it on my laptop) and it is oh-so-beautiful-and-makes-me happy!  I love her quirky songs and they made me feel so much better by the end of the week.

What music do you like to listen to?  Share with me!

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!

That Time Of Year Again

Today was back to school for Ben and Ethan.  It was Ethan's first day at Secondary school and his big brother dutifully walked him to school and showed him the ropes!  (By the way, Ethan isn't really tiny, it seems Ben is turning into a giant!)  Noah and Rosie were a little sad they didn't start today too (but only a little!).

Summer Holiday Week Five

It's hard to blog in the summer holidays when your days are filled with children and fun (mostly), so you get to see another epic set of photos to describe this past week!  Last Saturday was James' birthday which he celebrated by sleeping under the stars on Dartmoor with Ben and Ethan on Friday night, and a gathering of friends on Saturday night to enjoy some Indian food.  James asked me to make a raspberry and white chocolate cheesecake, and that is what he had:

On Sunday afternoon we went for a stroll on Dartmoor.  We walked over bridges...

...walked through ruins of an old hut...

...found the way to Heaven's Gate...

...found a wooden bridge...

...and got a little geographically challenged!

We walked a little farther than planned, about five miles in all, but it was fun!
James managed to get another week off work so we hit the beach on Monday.  The beach again?  Yes!  It never gets boring to go look for fish:

Or get on that boogie board again:

(By the way, that water isn't brown, it's the red sand being churned up!)
Hurricane Irene sent us some heavy rain showers across the Atlantic, so by mid-week we were found barbecuing in the rain.  We are nothing, if not dedicated to outdoor fun:

Friday we left for a long weekend break to visit with my sister Amy and her husband Ian.  We drove through some pretty bad rain to south Wales but by Saturday we had some sunshine again.  James' brother Steve and his wife Ellice joined us with their two children to hike up Cwmcarn Forest (pronounced Cum-carn) to climb Twmbarlwm (pronounced Tum-BAR-lum).  The walk up to Twmbarlwm was steep, but nothing like the final ascent to the peak!  This looks like a pretty short but steep hill:

 

It wasn't short, that horizon just kept on going and it was a lot farther to the peak than I first thought:

Once you reach the summit of Twmbarlwm (which is wonderfully flat) there is a mound at the far end which is known as the 'Tump'.  There are remains of an Iron Age hill fort:

The Miles' and the newlyweds on the Tump:

Can you tell how much Rosie loves her Uncle Ian?  LOTS!  Steve and Ellice were feeding their little ones so they weren't in the photo, but they made it up there too!  The views were beautiful:

Walking back down Twmbarlwm was a lot easier on the lungs!:

And my nephew Timothy entertained us all the way down:

We can't leave out niece Isabella posing for me:

The children did so well walking up and down!  Rosie slept like a baby that night:

Church on Sunday was rather interesting.  We arrived at my sisters ward to be greeted by an older guy who shook our hands and left us all with sweets (score!).  I sat through a lesson which included discussions on different, painful ways to die (umm...?).  James was directed to the under 30's class.  Yes, someone thought he was in his twenties!  It made his day.  Later, as I made my way to sacrament meeting, a man approached me and said 'You must be Amy's mother!'.  I died a little inside and replied 'No, her SISTER!'.  I know there is almost eight years between us in age, but still, her mother?  In his defense he was wearing glasses.  And was old.  Oh dear, it still doesn't help, he thought I was the parent of a 26 year old!

Yesterday we said our goodbyes to Amy and Ian and returned to England, stopping to visit with our friends in Stroud, where James grew up.  We went to Rodborough Common to fly kites whilst dodging cow pats!  Rosie and her friend named the kite Rainbow:

James had a go on the bigger kite (and had to be held down by his friend a few times!):

Ethan:

Ben:

Noah:

How cute is this baby?:

It was such a fun weekend!  I can't believe summer holidays are almost over for us, it has gone so fast.

My Phone Has Photograpic Evidence Of The Last Two Weeks

We have been a little busy lately having fun!  The weather has been glorious and we've spent a lot of time with friends at our local beach:

We have participated in sack races at the ward BBQ:

Rosie was found sleeping in her den one night:

I read my book/skygazed on the trampoline:

With my Noah:

I've also received declarations of love (which won't turn the right way up!):

James and I were privileged to witness the sealing of Gemma, Nick and their boys at the London Temple.  It was beautiful.  Here they are with the grandparents:

Today the sun has been replaced with rain.  That means it's indoor games day:

We are almost through week four of the summer holiday, I can't believe how fast it is going!