Sometimes life gets in the way

I still haven't got into a proper routine which includes blogging and the next month isn't looking much better ;o). I thought I might be caught up this week but it doesn't look likely. I have cakes to bake today ready for tea and cakes here tomorrow, the VAT paperwork to gather up and get to the Accountant and a quilt to make. On top of that, Emily goes on half term at the end of this week so we'll be busy next week and a week after she goes back, my sister Norma arrives from South Africa to stay with us for 4 weeks :o) We're so excited that she's coming over and can't wait for her to get here.

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In the meantime, a few more photos.

My nephew Ryan teaching his two boys to play pool

Some of our group

Shannon with her twin niece and nephew

Owen

Our roses have bloomed in the last week :o) These yellow ones are my favourite and the scent from them is fantastic - I wish we had smellovision Our quiet Sunday afternoon, the weather was beautiful and Jon and I sat out for a good part of the day. We have to make the most of any decent weather! And finally, Aldi opened a store in East Grinstead on Thursday last week. Mum, Dad and I popped in after I'd taken them to Homebase for some compost. While wandering around the shop I spotted some Sangria - I don't actually drink normally but I do enjoy Sangria and decided to buy a bottle to try. On Saturday afternoon my parents came round for a braai (bbq) and we opened the Sangria :) It was really nice so, yesterday, I went back to buy some more to put aside. There were only 3 bottles left - so I bought them all ;o). I look forward to sharing a glass (or two) out on the patio with Norma while she is here.

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I have now started my baking - red velvet cupcakes made and lemon drizzle traybake made. Just the carrot cake still to do.

xx

Canadian family

A few photos of our Canadian family taken while they were over here. As I said before, we didn't take many photos at all - we were just enjoying being together again and catching up.

Owen is now 6 but lived in the UK when he was little. Shannon and I used to meet up quite regularly and go out and about around town with him. Shannon was hoping being here might jog his memory but I don't think he remembered anything :( We hadn't met Finton before they arrived, he's now 3 and was born in Canada after Ryan and Shannon left the UK. What a little cutie!!! He was just adorable - made you want to smother him in kisses (not that he would probably have enjoyed that!). I'm just so glad we got the chance to meet him at last.

Finton and Shannon :o)

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I need to edit a few more photos soon so I can post them as well. These are really for the boys Mama (Grandma) Merle who didn't make it over from SA as we had hoped. Hopefully we'll see you next year Merle!

xx

One month on ...

It's a month since we took Claire's first pregnancy photos - where she only had a little slope, not quite a bump. Well, yesterday it was time to take the second ones and there is more of a bump ;)

Claire is now 14.5 weeks pregnant and her next midwife's appointment is mid June. She's now thinking that she might find out what she's having at her 20 week scan at the beginning of July. I can understand why but it wouldn't have been for me, part of the "fun" of the birth was finding out whether the baby was a boy or a girl. There's still another 5 and a bit weeks before the scan, still time to change her mind again (perhaps a couple of times ;) ).

xx

8th picture in the 8th file

Mel at I Speak Melsh was playing along with finding the 8th photo in the 8th file on your computer and suggested we play along too and show the photo on our blogs. I was curious to see which photo would come up and here it is :o) It was taken on 17 September 2006. Emily is holding my cat, Charlie, who we had got from The Cat Protection centre the month before (after getting back from our holiday in Chicago). Emily looks so little - and so does Charlie! It's so sweet to look back on these photos and I'm now thinking I could do a "then and now" page with this photo and a current one of Emily and Charlie! Thanks Mel for getting us to play along :o)

xx