Fond Reunion

The visit to Ben went really well last night. It was lovely to see him and we had a really warm greeting. A massive hug and he even shed a tear (I don't think he was overly homesick or had missed us that much, I think he was just genuinely pleased to see us - and very tired). We had the guided tour of the site and all the facilities, played some ping pong, went on the adventure playground and bought a souvenir to bring home. Ben has spent all his money on sweets and the arcade! I am sure he must have had more sweets this week than in the last year!! I am looking forward to collecting him later and having him home again (even if it does mean we don't get out the door as early in the mornings!!!)

On the way back from the visit last night Dave dropped me off in Highlands road and I jogged home. I am so unfit that I was wheezing and spluttering by the time I got home. I measured the distance this morning and it was 0.7miles and I did it in around 7 mins. I am feeling grotty today (nothing to do with the jog) but I would still like to try and do some more running... got to get fit somehow!

The photo below was taken on Wednesday 8th April (Ben's birthday) and is the latest photo of the boys with their cousins. Sam is now taller than me (just).

Stabilize!!

Do you remember the Bee Gee's song Staying Alive? "Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh Staying Alive, Staying Alive" Well Alex has replaced the Staying Alive with "Stabilize"! It sounds really cute.

We are off to visit Ben tonight at his residential that he has been at all week. It seemed strange that we would go and visit the eveing before he comes home but actually I am really looking forward to going and to seeing what he has been doing all week. They have had amazing weather all week with stunning sunshine and blue skies. I'm sure Ben will be shattered when he comes home tomorrow after a week of late nights and lots of activities. The week before he went away was quite manic too with badminton 3 mornings, a visit to Grandad Ian and Grandma Rogerson, a day with Nana Sue and our first trip out in the caravan. The campsite (Black Knowl) was great and the fact that it had a one way road going around it was great. The children on the site cycled round and round in circles. This was great as a motivation for Alex to want to ride his bike. He has nearly mastered it several times before but not quite. After going round a few times with me he set off by himself and with a bit of determination and encouragment from his brothers he gradually got it. By the end of the day he was cycling by himself and more importantly getting foing by himself. By the time we left he had made it all around the road without putting his feet down despite a hill (down and up!) Mind you the hill has a lot to answer for!! Alex was going down the hill quite happily when he caught his tyre on another bike and came a cropper. A kind father of 3 boys brought him back to the caravan for us carrying his bike, Alex blood pouring from his nose and alover his hands. As always it looked worse than it was (although it was quite bad!) He was very brave and it hasn't put him off getting back on his bike :)
We came back to school to some very sad news. Jodie who was a mum at the school passed away during the Easter break. She had been battling against cancer for a few years but it still came as a great shock. She has two young children who are really going to miss their mummy. She will be missed on the playground too... she was always a very cheery, smiley mum who always had a happy 'hello' for those she passed going up and down the path. I didn't know her more than to say hello to but she was a warm, personable character who brightened up the school community.

Rainy days

Well it's Bank Holiday weekend and it's raining. secretly I think this might be a good thing. We need to relax and unwind and spend some time tidying and sorting and some family time too. This morning we have been busy tidying and cleaning. We even pulled the bed out and did under the bedside cabinets which doesn't happen very often. Ben has started making his Lego model he got for his birthday. It looks like it is going to be big so goodness knows where it will go when it is done. Alex has put in his request for Spaghetti Bolognese for his birthday tomorrow (and a big birthday cake with Happy Birthday on the top!) Dave has been trying to sort the internet out for a couple of hours so that both computers work at the same time but to no avail, at the moment it is one or the other. Right I've got about 1 1/2 hours to do some work before cooking tea.

8 Weetabix!!

Yes 8... that is what Jez had for breakfast this morning! I can see our food bills going through the roof as they get older!

The boys are really excitied as their cousins arrived last night. They haven't seen them yet as they arrived at nearly 10pm but they are coming to pick them up from school tonight so there will be a lot of excitement on the playground. Also it is the last day for Jenny Antony who has taught at the school for 35 years! Yes 35 years! And the amazing thing is that she is one of the best teachers in the school, no staleness or loss of enthusiasm. She is the only teacher that I have never heard a negative word about. All other teachers manage to do something that someone doesn't like but Jenny is so docile, calm and lovely that everyone thinks she is brill. She will be doing some supply teaching which is great as the kids will miss her. On the flip sode it is a male teacher that is replacing Jenny which is going to be great for Ben in the last term of the year. It will be really interesting to see how he responds to a male and I hope he is really challenged.

Ben hasn't been chosen for the school netball team which if I am honest I am surprised about. I think probably his gender went against him as they are only allowed 2 boys per team and there were more boys who were good than girls. They have probably struggled to find the girls and had a glut of boys. Ben was upset not to be chosen and I have spoken to the teacher as she hasn't seen them play really but has gone on the other teachers recommendation. She is going to have a think about it and perhaps give Ben a trial. I don't want to be a pushy parent but it seems a shame that those who don't quite make the mark don't get to do the club at all. She wanted someone else to run another club but there isn't anyone to do it.

We have bought our bookcases for the top of the stairs from Ikea... here's hoping they are as good as they look in store!! (and easy to assemble!)

Happy Birthday to me!

Well yesterday saw me celebrating my 35th birthday! Because of the clock change the boys weren't up in time in the morning for me to open any cards before school so I saved them all to the evening. I had planned to spend the day crafting but ended up packing orders and placing orders with suppliers and I had to leave early for school as Ben's class were doing a brass concert. I did manage to start a layout in the evening which is a page for the America album and also a class for our crop. Two birds with one stone. I only have a few pages left to do for the America album and I am keen to get it finished before we go away this year so I am concentrating on it at the moment. It would be brill to get it all finished as it is will be the first album I have completely finished!! I also want to sort out all the other layouts I have done as they are all just a uddle of pages at the moment. I was thinking of an album per year so I can add the pages to the albums as I do them. I am definately in Spring Clean mode a the moment and am desperately trying to sort and clean through all the stuff whilst keeping on top of the daily chores. My theory is that if I sort more each day than is messed up then I should eventually get on top of it all!!

Mothers Day

Yes I know it was a few days ago but I haven't had 5 mins spare to add to the blog and I want to add this date so that when I do the scrapbook page I can know when it was! I have just finished a page of a different visit to Grandad Bert and I haven't got a date for it so I'm going to have to do some research to try and find out when it was! This trip we were all able to go down in one car now we have the Saphira which was fun. Grandad Bert is doing really well. He is 93 and is still completely switched on mentally. He didn't get out of the chair while we were there so I don't know how he is doing on his legs but he was all there to talk to and it was lovely to see him so happy laughing and joking. Colins sister (Sylvia) and her family popped in too (for 5 mins literally!) which was intersting as I have never met any of them. Dave's cousin seemed really nice and she has two children a little older than ours (15 and 11) and a new husband (her first husband dies a couple of years ago. The comment of the day was when she saw Dave and said "Cor you've grown!" Not surprising since she hasn't seen him since he was a teenager!!

On a different note despite the garden seriously needing attention there are some lovely sights with the Camellia in flower, the wisteria in bud and the hellibore in flower too. Might have to take some photos later.

The Savage men! Aged 93 to 5!!

4 Generations Layout. Photos from 2004 I think!!

Burn Baby Burn

Dave has had a metal barrel he got from work in the garden for a couple of months now. He got it to use as a burner for all the garden waste etc. With the hedge we took out down the bottom there was a lot of stuff waiting to go. Well this weekend we continued our sort out which culminated with the boys all having fun (and getting very smelly) burning everything. The burner worked a treat and fun was had by all. The workers of course needed sustenance so had crumpets and muffins while they worked.

We also put up the awning which was surprisingly easy to erect and is great. Jez can fill the water by himself so that will be his job when we are away. We sorted more toys through to Alex's room and although it is starting to fill up there is still space so that is brilliant. It is amazing the things the boys have played with since moving rooms and sorting the toys. Jigsaws, marble run, thomas track, lego have all been rediscovered.

Jez had a sleepover on Saturday night for Daniels birthday and while Jack and Sam snored away Daniel and Jez decided to try and stay up for 24 hours. They nearly made it but not quite finally falling asleep at 3am only to wake again at 6am. As you can imagine Jez is more than a little tired!!

I have finished my second class for the crop. I go between really loving it and not being sure about it!! We will have to see how it goes down with the ladies.