Birthday post (& more)

Sorry - really disheartened with blogger these days and knew it would take longer than previously so couldn't be bothered basically!

Anyway, Jessica's Four!

Both Nick and I were at work so I can only pontificate as to how Jessica's day went, but it seemed that she had a lovely day, and was quite hyper when I got home! She's definately grasped the concept! So thank you all very much for your contributions to the hysteria..... she has fully explored all gifts now! The scary thing is that it seems to have flicked a switch inside her. We've had discussions about birthing, clarification of how old she is and how many that is etc, we can write our name (almost) and even bigger news! Our pyjama pants have been dry EVERY night since we turned four! How does that work?

On a slightly more (possibly scary) note for all those who know the meaning behind this question.... WHERE'S MY BABY GONE?

And the other one's got all big too. She's saying everything (to a fashion), running, jumping etc, moved up an age group at Monkey Music, got VERY stubborn and opinionated, and keeps growing out of clothes! WHAT'S HAPPENING?!!!!

Anyway, other than Birthday things, Maddy has learnt to copy the dances from Boogie Beebies. Max, Harry, Freddie & Jocelyn came round for a gathering on Friday so we ate more cake and played pass the parcel (oh and destoyed the downstairs!). We went up to Derby to see Nick's Aunt and family to celebrate Nanny Carol's birthday. Thanks very much for the hospitality guys! The girls did us proud but it seems perfection takes lots of energy, so we've suffered the consequences for the last 2 days.

Yesterday, we set up the settee and watched Babe, cinema stylee, which involved Nick "controlling" whilst the girls watched and slept and I cleared and tidied the pantry AND took it all to the tip. The only girl there lobbing wooden doors 3 feet away with great ease and satisfaction! Raaar! Today - the general humdrum!

Anyway, enough blethering, here's some photos.

Wylie Cinema

Eating more the following day!

Eating

Note the slideshow picture in the background! Spooky!

Birthday Girl (+ cake!)

Early morning presents

Courtney, what did you create?!!!

Weeks doings!

So we haven't done much this week (and a bit!). We've played and done all the usual things... like fought, made up, made a mess, tidied up etc! On Saturday we went to Ballet school and then on to Harry's fourth birthday party. Managed to take the camera but not many very good photos, sorry about that. Anyway, there was a bouncy castle and lots of ride on toys, oh, and games to play of course, so the girls were in their element. Then in the afternoon we bumbled around here and went for the customary visit to large warehouse style toy shop to purchase items for a certain someones fourth birthday. Oh joy!

On Sunday we had to do the boring stuff like housework and go and choose appliances for the new kitchen due in a few weeks. That was it really. Then this week we've been preparing for Jessica's birthday!

We'll keep you posted!
(Do you see what I've done there.... You see... It was a joke....... You "post" a blog and I said ........ ahhhh....... my comic genius is wasted on you lot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Birthday Boy

Party Girls!

Two Posts in One Weekend???!!!!!

Yes indeedy!

Today we went to Max's fourth birthday party at Funky Monkeys but forgot the camera so, sorry about that! Suffice to say the girls had a cracking time, despite their "hangovers" from yesterday. Anyway, children dozed and chilled during the lunchtime hours and then we had an impromptu visit from the Junior Circuits.

Well! I think Jessica's going to struggle this week, in fact, no, I think I'm going to struggle this week.... I can't compete with all this!!! But this week sees nothing too exciting until Saturday when it's Harry's fourth birthday party. The gauntlet has begun!....

I'm in a box, playing though!

Ghostly beings, then.... BOO!

Dressing Up - willingly or .... not!

Football crazy, football mad....

Well we've had a very exciting day today! The Thurlby's (- Andrew) came to visit for the primary reason that Nick was going to introduce James to the dark side of live football... and worse still.... live Crystal Palace! Apparently he's a good luck charm though as they won 4-2 away! ("Hurrah" said in suitably sarcastic tone! - At least James got some actual action to watch though!)

So while the big boys were away playing, the girls and William (I did feel a bit sorry for him actually) did some hardcore playing. Dressing up, cars, dolls, comics, tents, blah, blah, blah and Bec and I obviously chatted only in between tending very carefully to our children....! Suffice to say I and the girls had a great day and I get the impression Nick did too, so thank you very much for coming to play Thurlby Family.

Apart from that this weeks been a case of getting back into the swing of things. Jess back to playschool, Monkey Music starting up, of course school for me and general life.... but I did take some cute photos of the girls dressing up for your delectation. Oh and we bought "The Official" ballet outfit, so had to blog that.

But the most important news for you all ............................................... Rebecca has shown me a better way of blogging photos, so I'll be back on almost weekly updates from now on (don't hold me to it though!!!).

Anyway, knock yourselves out....... A visual feast!

Liz
x

Dressing Up Carnage

New Ballet Gear

Before the Match

The Match

After the Match

Update

So this new system is painfully slow....... It takes forever to upload photos, possibly not doing it right, will have to practise!

Anyway, Christmas is over! We had a lovely time visiting family after Christmas Day... Botolph Wylies on Boxing Day, Maids Moreton Circuits the day after. Went to see Snow White at Northampton - didn't take any photos but had a fabulous time (Oh no you didn't, oh yes we did etc!). Then we trundled home to get antibiotics for Madeline's nasty cough and that was that until Sunday when we did a bit of a tour of London. Visited Nanny Doris first, climbed on everything there. Then Auntie Carol and Uncle Steve (Grandad's big sister), trashed baby toys there. Then Pete and Court's new pad, tried VERY hard to trash plates etc and popped a thousand bubbles before finally heading to the Gaskells for general merriment and festivities. The children were all great together - Jessica looked particularly old amongst them all. Once the children were in bed we had a lovely meal and played some games before Jessica decided she was scared of the fireworks so this year was the first one where we saw the New Year in with both our children awake. Nice! They did go back to sleep eventually, as did we and the following morning saw the boys running away to play golf while the girls kept house and children. Tim and Nick also managed to helpfully take their respective car keys with them (although not the actual cars - "you might need them".... Not without the b****y keys!). So we had to borrow various outfits and buggies from The Gaskells and carry Alice the 15 min walk to the park to try and pacify them all. All good fun though and they all liked the swings etc.

Once New Year was done we were pretty quiet until yesterday when we went to another panto - this time MK with Janet and Graham. Again a great time was had by all - apparently I showed them all up as I was shouting so loud and I did have a bit of a sore throat afterwards, but isn't that how it's supposed to be?

So back to normal now. Monkey Music starts tomorrow, Playschool starts on Tuesday and I'm back at work on Wednesday... better go and plan what I'm doing!

Bye
x

Cinderella at MK Theatre

New Year's Day

New Year's Eve