Recent thoughts

 I'm getting back to doing some of the things I used to do but haven't done for a long time. I recently started scrapbooking again after around 12/13 years. I kept the majority of my stash as I knew I would get back to it at some point. We've moved house so I can now have a dedicated space to store everything and I have a desk I can work at. I've been scrapping the photos from my recent trip to Tuscany - I've loved looking through the photos and thinking back to all the exciting things we did. I need to add the journaling to the pages so it can tell the stories alongside the photos. 

DS1 has turned 16, completed his GCSE's (he got some fabulous grades and is very happy overall), he's excited to start the next chapter of his journey and has enrolled at UTC@mediacity to complete a BTEC level 3 in TV and Film Production. He starts work experience in October too. 

DS2 is starting Year 10 and has been given his chosen options so we're excited to see how that works out for him. He's really changed over the last few month (hormones for you) and is settling down.

DS3 is about to start Year 5, has a lovely time at his activities enjoying Boys Brigade and swimming. He's got so confident in the water and with riding his bike recently and is usually up for most challenges. 

My work is inspiring and I learn something new every day. I enjoy attending Choir and performing, spending time with my friends and reading when I have time. 

Clive is still being creative with wood and enjoying being his own boss. 

Here's a recent photo of my lovely boys!

The Big Hoot - Birmingham

So Sunday saw us take a drive down to Birmingham for a day out. None of us had ever been before, so that was an adventure in itself. The trusty Google search, located a reasonable priced car park near to the main attractions of the city centre, and off we headed.
A couple of hours later, after a couple of rest stops for the kids and some congestion on the M6 heading into Birmingham we made it to the car park.
I'd printed off the trail map for the Big Hoot and we proceded to walk around collecting as many as possible.
We found 3 before heading to Eastside City Park to have a picnic, luckily there was a covered area with benches as it has started to rain.

The boys then had a quick play in the fountains 

before we headed over to the Science Museum to collect some more owls. 

We then followed the route round to the children's hospital,

we then made our way to the Cathedral gardens still hunting as we walked

After spotting all those in the Cathederal Gardens we moved onto the Square outside the Museum and Art Gallery.

Inside the Art Gallery in gallery 16 they had a collection of 26 Little Hoot owls, which we all designed by different schools in the area.

We then made our way back to the car via New Street and the Bullring

In all we found 31 of the 89 Big Hoot owls and walked 5 miles in the process

5 favourites - May

5 favourites from May, you'll notice it's more than 5 photos, but they are linked so I'm including them! 

Callum celebrated his 6th birthday with presents, a trip to the cinema to see Big Hero 6 and a party a few days after with his friends 

Connor celebrated his 4th Birthday with presents, a trip to the cinema to see Penguins of Madagascar and a party with his friends the weekend before 

A trip to see the 3 Queens arrive on the River Mersey into Liverpool to celebrate Cunards 175th Anniversary

A trip to a new Museum (the World Museum, Liverpool), lots of new things for the boys to discover!

A glorious sunset from our house

5 Favourites - April

Playing a little catch up, here's my 5 favourite photos from April

Exploring Lymm Dam Nature Reserve and the Nye Channels and Scallops of the Sandstone

A family photo taken on Ayr Beach overlooking the Isle of Arran 

The boys altogether rock pooling on the beach off the holiday park 

The boys with a Caroline's daughter Ayla (who we met for the first time) on the tall ship outside Glasgow's Riverside Museum 

The boys on the last night of our holiday with some of the characters from Haven holidays, they loved all the singing and dancing with the characters and getting to meet them each night! 

Five favourites for March

I've been reading Jo's blog lately and was particularly interested in this post about five favourite photos. I thought it was a brilliant idea, not only to keep my photo organised but also printed ready for when I have time to get back to scrapping. With this in mind I have spent the last couple of days going back through my 2015 photos and the later months of 2014 and have sent off a print order.

Below are my 5 favourites from March

Our St David's Day trip to Conwy Castle, the boys loved exploring all the towers, we probably climbed a few hundred steps that day. Even better the day was free as they were running a promotion for St David's day!

Callum was awarded Star of the Week at School for his use of great adjective's in his writing!

We announced to the boys and our friends that baby no 3 is on the way. We're really excited, but hoping the nausea ends soon.

Callum took part in Fiesta week at school which culminated in a whole school Carnival, with music, dancing and these colourful masks, that the children decorated themselves

We took a Sunday afternoon out into the Peak District and found another great place to burn off some energy for the kids. Woods, rope swings and lots of mounds to climb as well as the den that someone else had built made for a great hour of playing. Even Clive felt the need to join in and have some fun on the rope swing!

LSNED days 1-3

Day 1 - it pays to check and double check any important documents to make sure you've done everything correctly! I submitted an assignment but neglected to check the assignment booklet correctly so missed out the last question, luckily the tutor noticed and I could answer within the assignment deadline.

Day 2 - My boys are growing up fast and do get along well with each other most of the time!


Day 3 - It was so sweet to see the 2 of you, both in school uniform, walk down the road today chatting away to each other.

Hello Monday and Hello September

September signifies a new start for many of us especially for us parents as it marks the end of the summer holidays and the start of a new school year for our children. This year even more so for me as on Wednesday our youngest son starts Nursery School as well as our eldest starting year 1.

It's also the start of a project I've been doing for 5 years now called Learn Something New Every Day by Shimelle. I'm not always successful in completing a book but usually manage to keep a notebook throughout the month.

Today also marks the end of my assignments on my current Open University module and the start of my revision for my exam which is on the 17th.

I've recently been shown how to Geocache and have enjoyed many wonderful walks in the countryside with the kids and the hubby. I'm looking forward to spending more time outdoors during September.

I also need to get some more photos for Rinda's Photography hunt.

Hello Monday

Hello to completing my 3rd written assignment this week!
Hello to play dates both at ours and at friends
Hello to Nursery School transition meetings and stay and play!
Hello to the eldest son attending 2 more friends birthday parties!

Hello to dealing with the emotions that come with losing my grandfather. RIP

Hello Monday catch up wk's 16th and 23rd June

Hello Monday 16th

Hello to a couple of play dates for eldest son with friends from school
Hello to an 88% score in the assignment I submitted
Hello to papercrafts at craft club
Hello to both sons attending a friends birthday party
Hello to eldest son attending 2 more birthday parties
Hello to my sister and brother-in-law visiting

Hello Monday 23rd
Hello to saying goodbye to my sister
Hello to eldest son's first sports day
Hello to football coaching at school
Hello to the Great British Tennis Weekend and swimming with a friend and her daughter

Sadly this week I also found out a friend from toddler group had passed away after falling down the stairs.
Really makes you think and appreciate what you have in life!

Hello Monday

Another week has past, another Monday is upon us

Hello to finally submitting the assignment I mentioned last week, just hope I don't have to wait too long for the result!
Hello to our routine toddler sessions with the youngest, I'm going to miss them in September when he starts nursery school!
Hello to starting work on the 5th book of 7 of my current module. Anyone know anything about COPD?
Hello to a quiet weekend celebrating Father's day with my boys!

Hello Monday

I'm back from my blog break, I haven't intentionally neglected the blog there are just so many other things to do, but it's a great place to record my thoughts and important things that are happening in our lives so I'm here planning on trying to keep it up to date!

Hello to starting the #100happydays project
Hello to getting back to routine after the half term holiday
Hello to a trip to the dentist for my final 2 fillings
Hello to hubby doing a week of nights
Hello to writing my next assignment
Hello to spending time with the family at the weekend
Hello to spending time with friends at a hen party
Hello to joining in with Rinda's Photography Scavenger Hunt


Do let me know if you're planning on taking part in the Photography Hunt or if you follow Hello Monday!

Hello Monday

Hello to the countdown to my birthday less than 2 weeks to go
Hello to helping the PTA at my first event at school, they're having a spooky party before half term

Hello to spending a few day with the boys and hubby
Hello to no more essay writing for 3 months
Hello to organising the house in preparation for Christmas.....

Lsned days 4-6

Day 4 signalled our eldest sons first day at school and I learnt that you should keep the uniform out of the way on the first day. He wanted to put it on as soon as he got downstairs, he ended up being ready to leave at 8am when school doesn't start till 8.50am and we live a 10 minute walk away!

Day 5 Chinese supermarkets have really surprising prices 50 pairs of disposable chopsticks for 89p



Day 6 Remind me never to book appointments when hubby's been on nights and it coincides with school pick ups! Hubby had a mad dash to school to arrive only 5 minutes late!!

LSNED 2013 days 1-3

This year I had pre made a divided page protector mini book, already having put all the cards into the slots and carefully put it to one side ready for the 1st September, little did I know that I'd end up doing a 4-10.30pm shift on the 1st followed by 9.30-3.30 shifts on the 2nd and 3rd. So far I've not managed to take any photos relevant to the prompts or many at all for that matter as I've not spent much time with the boys. I'll go back and retrospectively take some shots.

For day 1 I'm going with the lesson of allowing potty training to happen naturally, as DS2 decided to sit on the potty which has been around for a good couple of months and do a wee today by himself and then tell us weee, weee yeah yeah!

Day 2 I'm going with There's an autumnal feel in the air

Day 3 it pays to invest in decent thick soled shoes when your on your feet a lot. I suffer with planter facilitus and wouldn't have got through the last 3 days without my clarks active air shoes!

I'm now looking forward to some exciting changes in the household as the eldest starts Primary School tomorrow and I'm going to enjoy a week off work and get caught up with my OU course!

Hello Monday

Hello to working days instead of evenings today and tomorrow
Hello to the eldest starting school on Wednesday

Hello to establishing a new routine
Hello to completing the next part of my OU course
Hello to having a week off work
Hello to spending time with good friends and their children

Hello Monday

Hello Bank Holiday ( unfortunately I'm spending it working )
Hello to last full week of the summer holidays
Hello to organising all the school uniform I've bought and labelling it all
Hello to working days instead of evenings
Hello to DH working nights
Hello to spending time with friends and family
Hello to making the final preparations to organising my birthday gathering.