Summer's Coming!!!

Its the first ice-cream outing of summer! Hooray! It wasn't a Hockings, but I'm sure I'll manage to find one of those soon. I've seen the vans out and about, a sure sign that summer must be on its way.

Grandad's Egg Hunt

The Easter Egg hunt at Granny and Grandads is normally on Easter Sunday, but this year Grandad had a motorcycle run to go on (follow link opposite if you're interested), so we had it today instead. Cailtin, Ellie and Francis hunted eggs while Adrienne sat with her nose stuck in a book. This year they also got a big egg! And for this they had to decode a secret message - very James bond. Aunty Beth had the very sensible idea of weighing the eggs to share them out rather than counting them, this had to be fair down to the last gram. This is what they are doing with Grandad above.

And this is Ellie and Francis having found the big eggs in Grandad's Tardis (don't ask!).

Easter Sunday

Each year my children beg me for their Easter Eggs to be hidden. Sometimes we do clues to their location (this has often led to tears because the clues have been too hard) and sometimes we don't. I don't know why they can't just be given them like we were. This year I decided that hiding big eggs was too hard and hid cuddly Easter bunnies instead. It didn't take them long to find them, and one had been found before we even started (so I hid that again), next year I'll find somewhere really hard to put them.

This afternoon we had our first BBQ of the year at my sister-in-laws. At our house it was boiling this afternoon and I even broke out the bikini top! Ten miles down the road, at Claires, there was a bitterly cold wind and we all froze. Still, Claire always has loads of lovely food at her parties so that more than made up for it. Even Robin's crispy burgers were nice for warming you up.

Carl's gone back to France to work with his dad now, so I'm off to watch some girlie telly and then for a good nights sleep.

Friends and Relations

This morning started a round of holiday visits with my friend Louise calling round with her two children. We kicked the kids into the sunshine in the garden (not literally of course) and then sat and had a good old natter. We must only see each other six or seven times a year but time and distance fade into invisibility each time and its almost like we're sixteen again and living just down the road. Almost - stretchmarks and grey hairs not withstanding!

After that it was off to my sisters for my newphews birthday party. Well his family birthday party anyway. This means we were spared hoards of screaming seven year old boys running round with laser guns (this happens some time next week). Francis can be seen above, dressed in his best Dr Who outfit. After tea we all sat down to watch the beginning of the end of David Tennant. I feel the need for a box of tissues already.



This is how my husband and my eldest daughter spent most of thier time at the party. You've got to ask yourself - who are the biggest kids?

Ellie Rides!

At last, after years of trying to get her to ride, Ellie has finally mastered it! She's been wobbling along doing a few pedals then leaping off the bike and throwing it to the ground for over a year now. Then about a month ago she got the hang of starting and stopping. Yesterday she managed to go two miles along the Tarka Trail to the Tarka Inn and back again, and with far less moaning than Caitlin.

Fashion Queen

In other news - Ellie was on the catwalk at school this afternoon modelling the latest in clothes made from recycled materials. Could she be the next Elle McPherson?

Prom Queen

Its Adrienne's prom today. I can't believe she's that old! It only seems a minute ago she was in nappies. Anyway, here she is, all grown up and looking beautiful even if I do say so myself!

There was a minor change of outfit when she got to Brodie's and everyone decided her second choice of necklace was better. Can you spot the difference?