Peas in a camouflage pod!

Dad has kindly introduced James to all things army related, so James was delighted to be presented with a camouflage fleece that matched his grandads! What have you done to my sweet boy!!!

Street Dance Kid

Everyone who knows James, knows he loves to dance. So when they started doing dance sessions after school, he was keen to start. Today was the day that they got to show the parents what they had learnt!....well it appears James has learnt to stand still, look bewildered, and occasionally move in the opposite direction to everyone else, bless.

Seriously, he can move......but he doesn't seem to have a natural ability to remember routines....stick to the freestyle sweetheart!

Official Snow Day!

'They' had been threatening heavy snow all week, and although we'd already had a covering of the white stuff, none had really settled on the roads and footpaths....however today we awoke to several inches of soft, fresh snow! The first thing I did was check the Campus online to find out the situation at work...imagine my delight at the announcement that the campus was 'dangerous' and that staff and students should avoid coming onto campus!.....yipeeeee...an official snow day. The kids school was also closed and mum and dad weren't at work either so we planned some snow day activities.

After wrapping up in suitable clothing we ventured out for some fun in the snow.......snow ball fight, building a snowman, making snow angels......what fun! well it was until Kaitlyn got so wet and cold and started crying.




Luckily there was the perfect way for us to warm up.....the hot-tub really comes into it's own in weather like this. The kids loved eating the snow and icicles from around the tub...yum! and they even done some laps of the snow-clad decking in their swim suits....brave!


After the hot-tub we had bacon rolls and hot-chocolate and sat down to watch scrooge, perfect.

I was glad it was only one day though as i was going a little stir crazy by the end of the day.

Oare Country Park

I'd recently seen Potter's blog about Oare Country Park and thought it looked a lovely place to go. Several of us from church arranged to meet there today with our kids. I was not disappointed with the park.....however it was slightly disconcerting when the kids came running out from the wooded area where we had been picnicing, claiming that a strange man was running around....James said it was either a ninja or a spy, I was quick to think he was exaggerating however we gathered up the kids and started walking round the park...we then saw him, a strange teenage boy covered in a blue sheet, running through the woods and deliberatley spying on us...everntually her left so we could enjoy our day....very creepy.

The lake area was lovely, the kids couldn't wait to get in....none of us had any spare clothes or towels and the kids ended up soaking wet and filthy....but had lots of fun.

Clacton-On-Sea

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Lessons from General Conference

After returning from Stake conference feeling rather stressed and quite unspiritual I turned to the general conference address in the Ensign magazine. Some parents will understand the stress of stake conference...trying to get two lively kids to be quiet for two hours is a task-an-a-half. So much time is spent handing out snacks, books and toys and managing toilet trips, that very little of what is said can actually be listened to. In the same way that 'it's the thought that counts', I sincerely hope that it's the attendance that counts and not the listening! The kids had bickered all the way to Gillingham and I seriously considered turning turning round and going home...however I stuck with it. I was quite comforted to see that Naomi showed signs of feeling the exact same way.

On getting home, what I felt I needed was time away from the kids....however after reading the conference talk by Elder Neil L Anderson - Tell me the Stories of Jesus - I was prompted that I should be actually be spending more quality time with them, teaching them of Jesus.

After lunch we took a walk from Bishopstone to Reculver towers...this was the perfect opportunity to spend time with the children, talking to them about the wonderful creations that Jesus has made for us. We had a really lovely time with no bickering, whinging or moaning. Again I am grateful for the wise counsel from the leaders of the Church.

Not quite ready to get rid of them just yet!

It's quite a walk from Bishopstone to Reculver...but very beautiful

Hang on kids you're going the wrong way - the towers are behind you!

Oooh a beach! quick let's strip down to our pants so we can paddle!

Football Crazy

James is very excited about the World Cup, this is the first one he can remember and he has been looking forward to it starting for weeks. I let him stay up to watch the first England match against USA...unfortunately it was a disappointing 1-1 draw...booo!