End of the week already?

My goodness, where has the week gone!

 Hugh wanted to go in to town to do his Christmas shopping and wanted me to go with him. We didn't do very well - found a DVD I'd like and Home Alone for Hugh then went to Costa for a Black Forest Hot Chocolate.

 On Tuesday morning I was up earlier than normal as Emily had to be at school by 6.15am because a group of Textiles students were going up to The Clothes Show Live in Birmingham.  Claire had a midwife appointment in the morning to discuss her choice of having a home birth. Alice and I stayed at the house and played and then as she got tired she wanted to watch a DVD but wouldn't sit on my knee because she knows if she does that I'm going to try and get her to sleep. She's not silly ;o)

 It was freezing when we got up on Wednesday. When we came downstairs I kept saying how cold I was so Emily went and checked her phone to see what the temperature was. -6C!!! No wonder I was cold!  By 2pm it was still only -2C. It looked very pretty (though you can't tell so much from this photo).  Emily started writing her mock exams and had one in the morning and another in the afternoon. She came home at lunch and I took her back up to school in time for the 2nd one.

 Yesterday morning I went up in the loft to pull out all the baby stuff for Claire. I definitely think it's time for her to get ready for baby arriving as the due date is two weeks tomorrow! She now has the Moses basket and stand, 0-3 month baby clothes and a suitcase to pack in case she needs to go in to hospital. We have agreed I'll keep the bouncy chair and crib here as she has the Moses basket and pram and a baby swing at the house.  It still seems a bit unreal that baby could be here so soon but it's soo exciting too :)

 I took a few photos of ornaments yesterday and had to try the reflection one. The bauble could do with a clean but use it for now.

 Claire and Alice came back to the house after we'd been in to town in the morning. Alice is so at home here and she loves coming to sit and play on my computer. I had been trying to do a few bits but who could say no to such a cutie!

The Round Table Santa came round last night but Alice wasn't keen on seeing him. He was very understanding and just waved to her from the end of the path. Maybe next year she'll like meeting him more.

I have been doing a December Daily (very simple) and keep meaning to take photos of it but haven't yet.  I'll try and do that this weekend and post it on the blog. Have a great weekend!

xx

It's beginning to look like Christmas

This morning I finished tidying/cleaning the bedroom that Max had been staying in.  I want to get it ready before Claire's baby is born so that if she wants to come and stay round some nights, we have a room ready for her. I bought a second hand cot a little while ago now I need to work out how to put it up and then we'll be about ready :)  

Claire and Alice came round this afternoon and Jon took Claire back to the flat to meet the landlady and hand over her keys. She was happy with the way the flat had been left and we're quite relieved to not have to think about it any more.

Emily has been studying for her mocks (practice exams) which she starts writing tomorrow.  However, she did take some time out today to put up her little Christmas tree in her bedroom. She's also been asking me to put up our Christmas tree since the beginning of December so today I brought it in and this evening she started putting it all together.

 The tree was assembled before dinner and we agreed we would decorate it after we'd eaten. 

This is it now :)  It's certainly beginning to feel like Christmas!

 A few more little ornaments

And finally, my attempt at Bokeh

xx

I'm still here

In case you thought I'd disappeared again, I haven't. Things have been pretty busy the last couple of days and then I couldn't find my camera cable.  I'm still here though and back in business :)

 On Friday I met up with Claire and Alice. I picked them up just before 9am and we headed to Starbucks for breakfast.  Alice loves the lemon and poppy seed muffins and the chocolate coins!  I hadn't seen them since Tuesday and it was lovely to see how happy Alice was to see me again.  I love that little girl so much!!

 We were trying for a photo of the two of us but, as you can see, my phone was far more important than a photo.

 After Starbucks we headed to Mary's for Claire to have her highlights topped up before Christmas and baby's arrival. Alice always enjoys going to Mary's because Mary has a little girl too and Alice gets to play with all her toys.  However, after a while I could tell Alice was tired and she was quite happy to come and sit on my lap for a cuddle. It didn't take too long before she was asleep. And yes, this was a self portrait because I want to capture these precious times with Alice.

On Saturday Claire and I went round to the flat to do a final clean and make sure everything was out of it before she had to meet the landlord and hand over the keys today.  Alice was spending the day with her Daddy (in case some of you haven't realised, Claire and Craig split up not long after Claire found out she was expecting the baby. And although this isn't what she had wanted, she is now a much happier person and is doing a wonderful job with Alice and I know she's going to be a great Mum to her two girls) so we were planning to just keep going until we'd finished.

We'd only been there about an hour when I got a call from Hugh to tell me he'd just been in an accident on his way to work and had hit a tree. I'm not going to go into details but am very thankful that he is alright and that he only suffered a cut to the head and a bruised hand. It could have been so much worse!

I hope your weekend has been a good one.

xx

Coffee Ladies

Our Coffee Ladies group started when our children moved up to Secondary School five years ago. We used to see each other in the playground and chat when they were at Junior School but once they went to Secondary School we weren't taking or picking up from school any more. We missed our chats and decided to meet for a coffee instead and we now try and meet once a fortnight. It doesn't always work out and there are times when one or more of us won't make it but when we do all get together it's good to catch up.

We go for a Christmas lunch each year and today we had our lunch at the local Arts Centre, Chequer Mead.

 L-R: Carol, Sarah, Karen and Carol.

 Sarah and Karen

 Carol and Carol 

And finally, a group photo of all of us. Unfortunately it's turned out blurred but I'll still be using it in Project Life :)   Unfortunately, Kathy couldn't make it today as she was unwell and Pam works at the school and wasn't able to make it either.

xx