Christmas 2012

We spent Christmas up in The Lakes this year with Richard's family. Santa must have been under the misguided impression that the children were very good this year as they got LOADS of presents in their stockings. However a big hit was the gift from Nana and Grandpa which Amie is modelling in the photo below. In typical Amie style she couldn't wait to got out and try out her skates and after a few falls has already mastered the art of roller skating. I was rather nostalgic looking at her, and for a moment I considered getting myself a pair. But I think skating is best left as a memory as I'm sure I wouldn't have the balance or the courage for it now.  

You can't really make it out in this photo but the ring I'm wearing was a gift from Amie out of her very own money for my birthday, I've also got a lovely pair of earrings for Christmas. Rich took note of the very not subtle hints I dropped and got me a lovely Montblanc watch for my birthday since this is the last chance to use his employee discount as he starts a new job in January.

Even on Christmas morning Noah manages to have a grumpy expression on his little face. 

Santa brought Amie and Noah a rather gothic looking chess set to share

Trying to get a decent photo of the 4 cousins together is impossible, and Amie especially looks like a petulant teenager in this one

It took 7 hours to drive home yesterday, and it was rather stressful as we had to be at the kennels before 6pm to pick Benny up. I was rather keen to get there to save Benny another night behind bars, Richard was rather keen to save himself £22... so with that combination we managed to floor it just enough to make it there for 5:55. So after kids in bed, I got changed into my new jimjams bought by my mum, had some of Richard's beer... and a cuddle with Seamus and Benny while watching The Woman in Black.. which I didn't find in the slightest bit frightening but which had Richard looking from between his fingers at the screen. 

Hope you all had a really lovely Christmas :)

If you go down to the woods today

I knew Wokingham was a nice family town but it's now been crowned the top town to raise a family in, in the whole of the UK. How lucky is that to have landed here, basically from sticking a pin in a map 4 years ago!

 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/wonderful-wokingham-the-best-place-to-raise-children-8191511.html?origin=internalSearch

 I escaped over to Ireland last weekend, to spend some girlie time with Emma. I even managed to nick her jumper while I was there :) We had a lovely time down in Druids Glen Hotel while Rich held the fort and looked after the kids, and the animals. He's already planning HIS escape away in November. I had a great time singing out of tune along with the hotel's singer/guitar player... need to do it again soon :)

Amie's friend Angelica came for tea yesterday. I think Amie looks rather grown up in this picture. 

Granny O'Brien had her knitting needles out and knit a lovely outfit for 'Mousey'. Amie thought it was a good idea to bring Mousey for a walk in the woods today, minus all her clothes except for a hat. She then managed to lose the hat. Granny will have to get her knitting needles out again! Mousey is also missing her nose, as Benny got hold of her and decided to do a quick rhinoplasty. Amie was NOT impressed with him after that!

Amie climbing up from a swamp today.. the very same swamp that Benny decided to run into last time we took him to the woods, so he was kept on the lead today. 

Noah, Mousey and Amie enjoying a rest on their walk. We have a wood 10 minutes from our house that we only recently discovered.. it's meant to be really lovely in Bluebell time so looking forward to going there again in the Spring.

The Hound of the MacLachlans

Fred the spider.... I know a lot of people don't like spiders, but Amie and I are not one of those people. Seriously he's pretty cute!

One man and his dog

We tried to run off and leave the kids in the woods, but the dog wouldn't run fast enough so we had to take them home. 

As you know, I've got a dog. And there are also some other people in the house I've noticed from time to time... I give them some food now and then, when I'm not busy playing with Benny. I thought you'd like to see some pictures of them since apparently this IS their blog. 

World Book Day saw Amie dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, and Noah as Robin Hood.. Mr and Mrs Hood!

Really looking forward to pudding!

This is Amie giving me the evils in Cornwall (on demand, she wasn't really angry) but I'm amazed with this expression on her face how much older she looks. A taste of what to expect come the teenage years I think

  BENNY

I was picked up by the warden, and he put me in a van,

At the rescue they shook their heads and said “We’ll do the best we can.”
Left in the cage, alone and scared, I was terrified, till a woman volunteering there had a look inside.
“I’ll take him for a walk” she said,

I didn’t know what to do.I was feeling so excited I wee’d all on her shoe.
She didn’t seem to mind at all, just gave me a little pat, I looked into her eyes and it was ‘love’ ... just like that.
She pleaded with her hubby to come and have a look
He said “We ain’t getting a staffy, you know you’ve read the books. They’re powerful and aggressive, and what about our cat? They chew up all the furniture, I can’t be having that”
She said “ I KNOW that he is loving, I can see it in his eyes. Just lets try things slowly and I’m sure you'll be surprised. I really have a feeling about this little dog. I don’t want to leave him to be picked up by some man, who will train him to fight and kill.  I know this dog’s a good ‘un, it'll work out, it will”.

It took a little while, but he eventually said… "Oh go on then, you can get him, but you’re the one getting out of bed! (to walk him in the cold).
"No worries! I will,  Oh Thank You, Thank You, He'll be good as gold"
And now 2 months I’ve spent here, in my forever home, with a loving kind family that I can call my own.
They may have had my nuts cut off, but I can't say I mind... besides I get revenge each night with gusts from my behind.

Amie calls me "Sir Sink a Lot" which I find a little rude. It isn't really my fault, I just don't like the food.

I've got expensive tastes you know, for such a little stray. And for evenings free of stink bombs, it's a price they'll have to pay. 

Benny and Cornwall

Wednesdays are busy now. The children have started Judo lessons in the morning at 8am, and then Amie has Brownies at 5:45. So a lot of eating quickly and rushing around today! Judo is very cute, especially when Noah demonstrates on daddy what he's learned.

Seamus is a funny cat.The other day as I rushed out to swimming with the kids I glanced into the play room where he comes into from being outside. There in his foodbowl lay a mouse.. he'd obviously caught it and decided he was going to save it till later. I just had to laugh at the way he put it in his bowl. Was tempted to take a picture and label it cat food..but thought you might not want to see a dead rodent on the screen, so went with this one instead.

Amie's Party

Amie and her friends had a great time at Haa Hoos Pottery studio today for her party!

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A lot has happened since the last time we posted. Both children have had birthdays, so Noah is now 5 and Amie is 7. Noah's also started at Amie's school and has settled in really well. And Amie has won the Chess Championship for the second year running.

We've had a trip up to Cumbria and York during the Easter break, and dug the annual passes out for a trip to Legoland. We're busy preparing for Amie's party tomorrow and are going to make some rice-Krispie cakes :)

Amie opening her cards on her birthday, Easter Sunday. She was ill on her birthday so we had to save the cake for the next day.

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Amie trying out the new bike she got for her birthday.

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Noah trying out the present he bought Amie, a gross science set. That's him with a wound and maggots on his hand, no wonder Amie felt ill!


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Amie finally getting to have her cake the next day. We've just bought a Moshi Monsters cake for her party tomorrow.

Amie bought this puppy called Benji with her own birthday money while we were in Legoland.

Noah enjoying his party back in February.

Amie and Lily, dad's friends daughter in York enjoying a stroll.

Amie and Noah in York Jail... they managed to get out.

Noah's happy to ride Amie's 16inch old bike, and doesn't seem to mind that it's pink. We're trying to sell his old one and will buy him a boy's bike with the money.

However going on a girls bike seems to have had a strange effect on him, as we couldn't get him to take off Amie's hairband later that day!