This afternoon

We had a lovely afternoon round at Theresa's. She had lots of cakes for everyone - including some Weight Watchers ones :o). Tyler was on top form once he'd got used to us all being there and kept us entertained. He's now 19 months old and is quite a little character.

Theresa/birthday girl ;o)

Tyler through the afternoon New puppy - Smokey Tyler had been sitting on Will's lap watching him show us photos on the computer when, the next thing we knew, he was fast asleep. Theresa took him from Will and he didn't even seem to notice. He hadn't had his nap today and I guess it had just got to the point where he couldn't stay awake any longer. Too cute!!

xx

A quick layout

We are going round to Theresa's soon for birthday tea and cake (her birthday was on Wednesday). I've already given her her present but felt that I would like to take something for her. Theresa wants to make a scrapbook album for her son Tyler but hasn't got round to starting yet. I decided to make a quick layout to get the book started and to show her that layouts can be kept simple.

I know, not normal colours for a newborn but I like it ;o) The layout is 8x8 (the size of her album) and was made with goodies from my stash. The colours for the letters were chosen to match the dots round the numbers.

xx

Forest Row

Today, Carol took the children on a bike ride from East Grinstead to Forest Row (Carol walked and the children rode!). Claire and Emily had been invited to join them but decided against it - they know what the ride back up to East Grinstead is like (haha!). However, seeing as Jake and Leah were doing the ride I offered to pick Ali up and take her down to Forest Row to wait for them. Leah has only just turned five and we didn't think she'd make it on the ride back up the hill but by meeting them in Forest Row I could put her bike in my car and she could come home with us.

Claire and Emily came for the ride (and lunch) but took their Nintendo DS's with them for something to do while waiting for the others to arrive.

We didn't have too long to wait You can just make them out coming up the other side of the road in this one ;o)

Carol leading the way with Leah and Jake following.

Once they got there, we were so busy chatting and sorting out food, I didn't take any more photos. We sat at the hotel for about 3 hours before deciding to make a move again. As Ali lives in town, we all went to her house to wait for the bikers to get back. Not tired enough, Jake, Elliott, Michael and Emily then went to the park for an hour while the Mums, Claire and Leah stayed at the house having a cup of tea.

A great afternoon with friends. Now to see what we'll fit in next week before Emily goes back to school on Thursday.

Hope you all have a lovely weekend.

xx

Thursday already??

Things have become a little busier round here in the past few days. Nothing over the top exciting, just busier!

Monday was a bank holiday for us but started out like a normal Monday where I take Mum to Sainsburys and we do our weekly grocery shop. Claire comes with us to "help me spend less!" I don't know if it works but it's fun having her along.

Emily was invited to go to her friend Emily's house. They hadn't seen each other for a while and were excited to catch up again, so I dropped her off before we went to Sainsburys (she doesn't enjoy grocery shopping!)Afterwards, it was home to unpack and have a bite to eat before heading out again to pick up Mum and meet up with my sister, Kay at Cafe Neros for a coffee and chat. We try to meet up every few weeks and, normally, Kay's daughter Theresa and grandson, Tyler, come too.

Claire had a hot chocolate before heading off with her friend Tom (who stopped for a coffee first), which left Mum, Kay and myself to put the world right and catch up with what's been going on.

Tuesday had been going to be a quiet day until my friend Helena phoned and asked if we fancied going out to Snowhill Garden Centre for a wander around and a coffee. Helena is also from South Africa and we met at the Doctor's surgery not long after she and her family moved here.

Jessie, Helena and Daniel

I hadn't realised that meeting for coffee was going to result in new additions to our family though! ;o) Helena mentioned that they were going to buy a hamster cage because they'd decided it was time to get some pets for the children. They'd seen some dwarf hamsters and had decided to get the cage and set it up before going to get the hamsters the following day. Emily used to have hamsters and I asked her if she still wanted her cage. She did and Helena asked if she'd like to go to the pet shop with them and get another hamster too. So, after getting the sawdust, bedding, food, etc., the cage was dug out from the shed and set up in Emily's room. We went to the pet shop yesterday and, I have to admit, the hamsters are really cute! Helena was getting four - two for her children and two for a friend's. Emily was going to get one but .... there were six little male dwarf hamsters in the cage, if we were taking five of them that would leave one behind. Being the softy I am, I couldn't bear the thought of that little hamster - who was used to having so many around him - suddenly being in the cage on his own. I'm sure you've already worked out that we ended up coming home with two hamsters as well. One is now mine and is called Pickle and Emily's is called Mitchy.

Pickle

Mitchy

Thanks, Graden and Helena, for a fun morning!

And to end off, a birthday card I made for Theresa, whose birthday was yesterday. Happy Birthday Theresa!! xx