Oh wow! I can't believe ....

...it's been over a month since my last post!  There has been a lot going on here but I know that's not really an excuse :(  Let's start at the beginning though ...

Norma arrived from South Africa on 26 June. We'd had the usual build up before she arrived where I feel I need to do some tidying (even though it doesn't last long!) and I like to get all the more mundane tasks done so that I can enjoy the time that she's here.

This year she got thrown in at the deep end as she arrived at Gatwick at 12.30 and we had nearly all the family round for a braai/bbq at 4.00.  We did stop at Mum and Dad's to drop Mum off after picking Norma up and also so Norma could have a chat with Dad before everyone else came to the house. I think Kay was the only one (living locally) who was unable to come for the braai because she was working.  I could name all the family members above but I don't imagine you're really that bothered (and if you are, drop me a line and I'll add them in ;-)  )

Here my brother Iain, his daughter Faith and her boyfriend Josh chat to Dad

Tyler enjoys coming round and playing in the garden

and Alyssa doesn't mind either.

Not sure why her Daddy's wearing her sunhat though! lol!!

And Emily wasn't going to look at me for the photo so I took it anyway.

All in all it was a very enjoyable first afternoon of her visit but I think Norma was quite happy when her head touched the pillow that night!

Monday morning saw us doing the usual weekly shop at Sainsburys and having a coffee in Starbucks before heading home and having to unpack everything.  However, my cousin Linda (who lives in Canada) had contacted me before Norma came over to say she was flying into Gatwick that Monday to go to a conference in Brighton and wondered whether we'd be able to meet up. Gatwick is so close it was easy to pop over in the afternoon and to catch up again. It'd been a few years since I last saw Linda and even longer since Norma had so there was plenty to talk about. Iain and Louise came too and as Emily had that week off school, she was able to come with us.

Iain, me, Emily

Linda and Norma

Tuesday saw Norma, Emily and me heading off to Oxford for a couple of days. Lots of photos from there so I'll leave that till the next post.

I haven't been reading many blogs lately (or commenting on any) but I'm looking forward to getting a chance to catch up again now that Emily is on holiday and we'll (hopefully) be having some quieter days.

xx

23 years ago ...

23 years ago our son was finally born :)  By that stage I was two weeks overdue and had to be induced. I remember clearly leaving the hospital and taking him to Jon's office where he was put in his carrycot on the boardroom table so everyone could come and see him.  So, where have all the years gone because ....

this is him today :)

 Poor Hugh got woken at 7.45am (after a late night and on the first day of holiday from work) so that Emily would be able to see him open his presents. Unfortunately, Emily had to print something for school at the last minute and didn't see  him open them anyway!

 However, Alice was on hand and decided she wanted a closer look at what Uncle Hugh was doing

And ended up helping him open a present.  This little lady always puts a smile on his face :)

Hope you enjoy the rest of your birthday Hugh!

Love you xxx



Happy Fathers Day

This morning I popped round to Mum and Dad's to wish Dad a Happy Fathers Day. It was quite funny because as I got to the top of their road, my sister Kay arrived from the other direction :)

 We enjoyed an hour or so chatting with Mum and Dad. Dad got to open his presents and I got to take some photos :) 

 Kay

Mum

One of the topics of conversation today was the fact that it's only one week now until Norma arrives for her holiday :)  We're all looking forward to seeing her again.  When tickets are booked it always seems like such a long time until arrival date but this year I don't know where the time has gone because it hasn't felt nearly as long.  Unfortunately, the three weeks she's here will probably go just as quickly but we won't think about that, we'll just enjoy each day as it comes.

I have a few things planned for while she's over. Emily, Norma and I will be going up to Oxford for a couple of days. We're going to go and find a craft shop I haven't been to before (always a good thing) and I know Norma wants to go up to London at some stage too. 

Hopefully all this will give me more things to blog about :)

xx

As I said yesterday ...

I did say yesterday that I thought these photos might end up on a scrapbook page :)  Last night they were sitting on my desk just asking to be put on paper. This layout only took me 10 - 15 minutes as I had an idea of what I'd like to do with them already. The Bo Bunny Powder Blue Dot paper reminds me of the blue dotted material in Alice's quilt and the black lettering/typing ties in with the black on the rattle and book (letter stickers were Basic Grey Urban Prairie). As for the bumble bee, it was cute and the stripes tied iin with the rattle once again (also from Basic Grey Urban Prairie). 

Journalling reads : You are so cute at the moment we all just want to cuddle and kiss you! You're sitting on your own and today, when we put youon your tummy, you managed to go up on all fours. I wonder how long it'll be before you're crawling. One thing that hasn't changed recently is the fact that you put anything and everything in your mouth, especially the things we'd rather you didn't! Love you gorgeous girl xxx
Age: 2 days shy of 7 months :)        16/06/2011