CHRIST IS RISEN! ХРИСТОС ВОСКРЕСЕ!

Christ is Risen! Христос Воскресе! Χριστός Ανέστη! Firstly, Happy Orthodox Easter, everyone!

This, of course, means chocolate for breakfast!

And a family barbecue at the Adventure Playground with the church family!

As if to prove the accuracy of the Old Julian Calendar, the weather has suddenly started to get most spring-like. We are seeing the horses going out to the fields again on our walk to school.

And, speaking of horses, here's Aunty Kelly on Tarry!

And, I spent a lovely day last week sat outside, in the sunshine, watching the removal of the eucalyptus in our garden. Why doesn't everybody want to be a tree surgeon? It's obviously the best job in the world!

The eggs in Tabby's pre-school have all hatched out, and they've had a week of holding and watching the chicks, before they go into the hen-house belonging to one of the ladies who works in the pre-school.

We've been back to the butterfly gardens at Blenheim.

Isn't this cool camouflage?

That's all for now! Wishing you all, all the Blessings of Easter!

A day out in London!

Yesterday, we went down to London for the day! We had a lovely lunch with Auntie Sox at Union Jack's:

Then we went round the corner to the British Museum so Phoebe could see the Egyptian mummies, and Guy could see the Samurai swords and armour. Then down to the Science Museum. Where I dragged the children round the Science of Medicine exhibit (where we saw some truly horrible dental implements!).

I was particularly fascinated by all the Phlebotomy/Haematology stuff (I wonder how much a leech jar costs?).

After that, the children went up tothe Launchpad, where we pumped and twirled, and fiddled with magnets, and made things explode. All the usual! Then went and met Daddy and Uncle Richard for an early dinner (although Daddy's looking past his best here!).  

And, another miracle of modern science! Here's an ultrasound of the next baby Black!
He's due at the end of August, but we're all getting very excited! :-)

Happy 6th Birthday!

So, Guy turned SIX on Saturday! I was working in the morning so Daddy took everyone to the cinema (Guy's request) then we went out to lunch as a treat, with birthday cake. It's the Easter holidays right now, and all Guy's friends are away, so we'll have a small party towards the end of the month when everyone's back.

Being six does seem to make him particularly funny and charming, and quite LOUD!

But it also seems to have made him VERY accident-prone. He managed to trip over his own feet in the supermarket car park, while his hands were in his pockets, so he did a perfect face-plant on the tarmac. A few days later his face still hasn't healed completely!

Still, Happy sixth Birthday, Guy! I'm sure there's plenty more hurt and hilarity in the year to come! :-)

Quick up-date! :-)

So, this Bank Holiday weekend we went to a wedding! We drove down in our ordinary clothes, but got to the venue nice and early and changed into our smart clothes there. Here's the children freshly changed, while they're still looking smart!

Ken and me looking smartish-ish. (I should have taken that scrunchie off my wrist before the photo!)

Tabby getting a good view of the proceedings while our groom (behind her) waits for his bride to arrive!

One of the lovely bridesmaids.

Our lovely bride, with her rather confused little daughter! :-)

And leaving the ceremony.

This is our table for the wedding breakfast. Instead of named place-settings we all had different books as presents - very helpful for the children!

And, we've started a new family tradition. When Phoebe and I go to confession, the two of us go for sushi afterwards. We so rarely get to spend time on our own together, it's a real treat! :-)

Happy Mothering Sunday!

Happy Mothering Sunday, everyone!
I hope you've been able to reconnect with whoever and whatever nurtures you and "mothers" you today!

My big treat was that I got to go to church on my own. This might not sound like a big deal, but it's HUGE for me! :-)

My little darlings playing dress-up!

After a week of everyone being very good; as a treat Daddy took the children to the cinema while I was at work on Saturday morning. Then we met up at a restaurant for lunch!

Daddy helping Guy with the word-search in the kids pack.

Phoebe listening with rapt attention to her mother. It's worth a picture, because it doesn't happen often!

Hope everyone had a lovely day! I'm off to scoff my Mother's Day chocolates! :-)

Monkeys in the trees!

Monkeys playing in the trees!

 And afterwards, warming up in the cafe. (Not quite sure why Tabby looks so grumpy?)

Happy 3rd Birthday Tabby-Kat!

So, yesterday was Tabby's 3rd birthday and we had a birthday party for her. Just a small party at the house, with some songs and games. Here's Emily singing a song about rain and getting everyone to use their shakers and tambourines to provide the sound effects!

And the tiger cake which Tabby requested.
I stayed up WAY too late making it, and you can probably see the effects of the coffee in how shaky my hands were when I was icing it! Ken was very kind and said it was "impressionistic", but Tabby was happy with it, which is the main thing!

And it must have tasted okay!

So, a late night, followed by a late morning sleeping in!

While I was out getting party stuff, part of the wooden panels at the side of the car park fell on to my car. The car park attendants came and helped me move it and took some pictures to back up my claim if I wished to claim on the insurance. But sadly, all of the dings and dents were there on my car prior to the panel falling on it! :-(

In other news, Phoebe saved up enough lizard cards (100!) at Explore Learning to get the book of 'Matilda' by Roald Dahl. Grandma has promised that if she reads it all from cover to cover, Grandma will take her to London to see the stage show! Lucky girl!