Thomas the Tank Engine

We spent much of today at Didcot railway centre where they were having a special Thomas the Tank engine day. Looking at the pictures, you'd think it was beautiful weather, but there was a cold wind, and by the time we were leaving, there was a downpour. At least we were on our way, some poor souls we're just arriving. It was a very nice day.

The man himself


A rare treat: a picture of all four of us


The Fat Controller has been on a diet. There was a slightly embarrasing incident earlier in the day, when we pointed out what we thought was the Fat Controller to the kids. He actually wasn't the fat controller, just a slightly rotund man in a suit.


All smiles and sunshine




These balloon makers were very popular, and slighty eccentric. The lady had a badge saying "Yes, I really do this for a living"

Our own version of little chef. Amie kindly donated her apron to Noah when she was given a lovely new one by Marie.


As seems usual with most things regarding bring up the kids, I got landed with the nitty gritty of getting the job done, by preparing the perfect pancake batter...


.. while Rich got to revel in all the glory and impress the children with his pancake tossing technique (luckily none landed on the ceiling, though the same cannot be said for the floor). And who will have the job of washing the floor? Hmm I wonder..

Still I can't complain, as I was finally vindicated by an article in last night's Independant that compared the stress levels of a stay at home mum looking after two children (and one of hers was 6 and at school most of the day) and that of her husband who had to commute to his full time job. Guess who had to deal with more stress throughout the day? (Here's a clue, it wasn't the one who looks forward to his daily commute so he can sit down and read the paper ;)


Amie helping her 2 year old brother open his birthday presents.


Compare Noah eating an ice-cream with his big sister doing the same... though he actually looks as though he's puckering up for a smoochy




We paid a visit last Saturday to Beale Animal Park http://www.bealepark.co.uk/. The weather was really lovely and the kids got to enjoy a good run around, and a ride on a steam train.


Noah finally finding somewhere to plant that smaker he's been working on ever since eating his ice-cream (very slowly... getting most of it on his coat)






A few weeks ago we took the kids to visit the REME Museum of Technology http://www.rememuseum.org.uk/ It's probably more of a thrill if you're actually interested in the army and stuff of that general ilk, but they did have a helicopter suspended from the ceiling so the kids enjoyed it.

Rich couldn't make it to work on Monday, so had some fun directing operations in operation snowman instead

Noah is always losing his gloves, so I had to borrow Amie's for him


Friday was a very exciting day for Amie because her best friend in the whole world was coming to play. Jasmine is in Amie's nursery group, and the two of them have struck up a fierce friendship, of the type that only 3 year olds can muster. Every day when I go to pick Amie up they are hugging each other on the mat, and have to give many hugs and kisses and reassurances of when they will see each other before they leave. Very cute.

Having fun at the local toddler group. I've just volunteered to be their secretary... don't know what I was thinking when I said that, I'm just hoping it's an excuse to get out for an evening and gossip with women and drink some wine. We shall see, I might actually have to take minutes or something boring like that.


Noah is having his first night in his big bed tonight. It's not actually that big of a bed, but it will be to him. He kept going upstairs today just to look at his new bed, and Amie and him had fun in it. This is Amie's impression of being asleep. I don't think I need to contact the talent agency just yet..

Happy New Year

We have had a lovely Christmas in Cumbria, unfortunately everyone was struck down with flu, so it was a bit quieter with less food and drink consumed than normal (is that really a bad thing?) Yes, I think it is. The children got some lovely gifts from Santa, the most popular of course being a stocking filler that would have cost 1 pound in Woolies, and looks basically like a balloon filled with coloured water. It serves no purpose other than to be squishy, which is all a toy for a 3 1/2 year old demands really I should think.

We managed to take the keys to Richard's parents house home with us, so had to post them back up. Then we forgot to take the camera with us, which means we won't have any updates to the blog for a while (not that you would notice the difference since I've been very lax lately)... and no, I haven't made any New Year Resolutions this year to be more proactive... I haven't made a single one, so I've nothing to feel dissapointed and disillusioned about in February (except perhaps my driving test)

Here's a pic of Rich and I going out for dinner on the 23rd, when I was still in my twenties. (Emma and Sally wanted to see the dress)

Hope you all had a good start to 2009, and that good things are coming your way.