Close-up cuteness!!

I have been informed by my sister Laura that I "obviously have a favourite", cos I put more pictures on of Jemima than Oliver... !  This is definitely not a deliberate choice/decision (as I couldn't possibly pick a favourite!), so I'd better make sure I post more to do with Oliver in future...... but for now, I'll just post 2 cute ones, and put Oliver first...... 

At The Beach

Lozza and I took the babies out for a drive the other evening and we ended up at the seaside ... here they are giggling on the pebbles.  

Birthday Fun

It was my birthday last Sunday and we had lots of fun with friends .. going for a picnic at the seaside with the our wonderful friends the Dentons (well 3 off them anyway!) and the Brenchleys (Ben and Jayni - friends visiting from Utah) on Sunday afternoon.

Louise, Jayni, Ben and Joseph at the South Foreland Lighthouse, just north of Dover.... 

And views from the cliffs!  ....... The White Cliffs of Dover!!! (with the entrance to Dover Harbour in the background.... 

The old South Foreland Lighthouse!  

We had great fun having a picnic on a windy beach in the shadow of a breakwater... (I think we were all so cold we forgot to get a picture!!)

On Monday morning we went out to one of my favourite places, Leeds Castle (see left - also see previous post on Peacocks and friends at Leeds Castle), followed by lunch at the Wonderful Eastwell Manor....

Ben and Jayni with their Main Course

...... and then we all had supper (PIZZA!!!!) at the Dentons!

On Tuesday I went out with the twins and our friends Linda and Tony.... we had a morning shopping and then went for a long lunch... see picture below for sight of the amazing Dessert Linda and I shared!!!  Before and After!!!

On Wednesday my friend Alison took me out for the day.  She arrived with a beautiful bunch of flowers and then we went for breakfast at this quirky little garden centre.....

A sleeping and snoring pot bellied pig... made us laugh!!!

There were these quirky little scarecrows all over the place!!

We sat in this amazing little greenhouse which was filled with sooooo much quirky stuff.... QUIRKY was definitely the order of the morning!!!  

Then she took me to a Beauty Salon for a facial... it was so relaxing and after nearly an hour of pampering I almost floated out of there....

We then went and visited a National Trust property... Smallhythe Place... which was the home of Ellen Terry... a rather 'racy' Victorian actress. 

In the evening I went to Alisons for dinner, and then she took me to the movies and we saw 'What Happens in Vegas' - which made us laugh so much.  

What a busy and great few days!!!  

THANKS ALL OF YOU FOR MAKING IT SO SPECIAL!!!!! 

Hats!!!

Daddy was changing the babies the other day and decided that Ollie looked like a Rastafarian with his jumber inside out on his head.... and Mimi looked like a bride with her netting-petticoated dress inside out!  Of course Daddy had to add a Deerstalker and a wooly hat to complete the pictures!  

He came and made a busy mummy stop what she was doing (twice!) so she could take these pictures.. but we laughed so much!!! 

Ready for Church on Mummy's Birthday!

Peacocks and Friends at Leeds Castle

I love peacocks... though I have a phobia of birds (esspecially when they fly)... but the colours of peacocks just blow me away.  Unfortunately, it's the males of this species that get all the natural good looks (wonderful colours).  

Today we went to Leeds Castle with our friends from America, Ben and Jayni.....

I was so lucky today to get the opportunity to take these photos of a peacock with his feathers open. 

We had such a great day and it was topped off by this special peacock!!!  He walked around like this for about 15-20 minutes!!!! 

The Big Wide World

Do you ever go through life, in your own little world, so tied up with the day to day goings on in your own little world, that you forget about the big wide world beyond your world?  I guess we are all guilty of it to a certain extent. 

I have recently read a book which opened my eyes a little more to the world beyond my world... to a world beyond the freedoms we have.  

A Thousand Splendid Suns... by Khaled Hosseni is a book I bought merely because it was one of  the 'Richard and Judy's Book Club' recommendations.  But it has affected me greatly.  I like to think of myself as somewhat educated... but I was surprised at how much I learned, and how my eyes were opened, by the things I read.  It taught me details about the history of Afghanistan I was unaware of, and taught me lots about some cultural things as well.  

I think we are all guilty of closing our eyes sometimes to things we find difficult to understand or cope with... but this has certainly changed my attitude for the future.  

 

New Hairstyles!!

Mimi with bunches (courtesy of Auntie Lozza), and Ollie with a kiss curl.... just like Daddy's!

Jemima's First Pair of Jeans

Grandpa and Oliver

Hair Style Swap

We thought we'd give Oliver the Mohican for a change, and Jemima the neat little comb over!

10 Months Today.... 10 reasons to be grateful (x2)

They say that immitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so hopefully Leslie won't mind me copying her idea of listing some of the things that I am grateful for and love with regard to my precious children.

10 months of life has gone by so quickly... but they grow more amazing every day... 

Oliver - my gorgeous first born son.

1. His wonderful giggle

2. His beautiful big eyes (which I am convinced are going to stay blue/grey [with maybe a hint of hazel in the centre])  

3. His curly dark hair

4. His cute little snoring (though not so little sometimes!)

5.  His insatiable appetite for milk

6.  His ticklishness

7.  The way he paticipates in the 'Oh Dear Doctor' rhyme

8.  The way he rolls, and rolls, and rolls!

9.   His smile and the way it lights up his face

10. His delicious feet.

Jemima - My beautiful daughter.

1. Her beautiful smile

2. Her deep chocolate brown eyes (anything chocolate is great as far as I'm concerned!)

3. Her fluffy dark hair and the way it peaks into a little mohican!

4. The silent breaths as she sleeps. 

5.  The little mole on her hand

6.  Her insatiable appetite for rusks

7.  The Way she loves 'The Grand Old Duke of York'

8.  The way she gets excited when she sits up.

9.  The way she's just started waving

10. The way she's learned to pul the string on her musical toy.

They have brought us so much great joy so far... can't wait for the next 10 months.... and more!!! 

Flowers of Spring - Part 3

Sun Hats

Who Are You?!!?

Having recently added the 'Feedjit' Appllication (see below left) which shows where people viewing this Blog come from I have been fascinated to see the variety of places where my little Blog is viewed. I didn't know I knew people in those places...!!

Please add a comment so that I know who you are and where you come from, and how you found my blog! Always happy to hear from new people.. I've discovered that blogging is a great way to meet people and make new friends.

Look forward to hearing from you... Thank you.

Flowers of Spring - Part 2

Shoulder Riding!