Christmas and all that!

Well, Christmas has been and almost gone. We had a reasonably quiet Christmas day,the kids were up at their usual time of six and whispering loudly across the landing to each other!I caught them creeping downstairs looking for their stockings which were hanging very obviously at the end of their beds! Then they piled onto our bed to open them all very excitedly, they then went off to play with all the bits and pieces while we tried to get some more sleep before facing the day!

After a yummy breakfast and a few more presents we headed off to church. Back again, prepared dinner, more presents, ate too much, more presents, watched telly, more presents, played, played, played and then the kids went off to bed.......phew!!! Although we didn't think we had brought them much this year they still managed to end up with stacks of new things and both were very happy with everything they got so a really good day! We had an evening watching my new Mamma Mia DVD (GREAT!) and drinking my new Ginger Wine and eating yummy chocolates......heaven!

Boxing day was a lovely clear sunny day so after a late brunch we decided to head off to get some fresh air and went for a walk around Troutbeck village. It was a lovely walk of about 3.5 miles, beautiful scenery and lovely weather, what more could you ask for?
Unfortunately today it was back to work, while Ben and I went off to sort out one of the cottages, Dave and Eilidh went shopping and trying to sort Eilidh's new (to her!) bike out with a new wheel. We ended up having a very late lunch at 3pm and then the kids put on a Circus show and then we all read a book together while Dave snored loudly in his chair!!

It's been a really nice Christmas this year, not too much rushing around and just seemed to be so much more relaxed than last year, I actually felt quite calm most of the time (unheard of!) and of course Christmas Dinners are the best!!

Christmas Eve!!!

Today, Eilidh and Dave went out for last minute shopping and taking Customers Christmas cards around. Ben and I had a quiet morning, watching telly, having baths and getting presents wrapped. Ben still has a nasty chesty cough and snuffles but seems ok in himself. Eilidh managed to come back with a bag full of sweets from one of Daves customers whcih was really sweet of them.

This afternoon we packed up a big box of Christmas dinner goodies and a few presents for our friend Paul. We havn't seen him in ages and he has had a horrible year, backwards and forwards to about five different hospitals all over the country for Cancer and other treatments. I had spoken to him yesterday and he had said he was staying at home with his cat on Christmas day as he didn't feel like being sociable so we wanted to make sure he had something decent to eat!!! He has a very bad habit of having no food in his house! I think it's just as well we took a load of stuff over because as usual his cupboards looked bare!! The kids love Paul and were very excited to go and see him for a while, it was really good to see him.

This evening the kids had one present to open each as it was a new pair of pyjamas and then we finished reading the last chapters of our Christmas book we have been reading and then to sleep. The presents have all been put out in the living room (how many????) and stockings are stuffed ready to go!! I think we are reasonably organised for a change!

Last Friday was the kids Christmas party with the home ed group. They all seemed to have a great time, running around, playing lots of games, dancing and eating lots of food! It was a really good day, we took along our friends two kids, Zeph and Isaac and they were all absolutely worn out by home time!

On Saturday we had to go and turn on heating and christmas lights at the cottages and then went straight off to see Dave's mum in the North East for the night. Sunday was spent rushing between family and friends and then heading back over for the Carol Service at church in the evening. Dave was singing in the choir, they have only had about five practices together but they sounded amazing, really professional!!! Hopefully they will keep it up after Christmas!

Ben has come down with a nasty cough just in time for Christmas(!) but everyone else is ok and the kids are very excited already. We haven't done a lot else, tidied the house up a bit, done the washing and ironing so we can have a relaxing Christmas! Dave has just finished working for Christmas although he is on duty at church on Christmas Day, (not quite sure how he ended up being lumbered with that one!)

Ummmmm, can't actually remember what we have been doing for the last few days, I think my brain has gone into pre-Christmas melt down!! Ahh yes, we went shopping, managed to get most of the Christmas presents sorted and now have no money again, hurrah!! Dave has been busy working when the weather is up to it and I have been attempting to amuse the kids whilst wanting to curl up in a ball and go to bed most days! Think I might go and have a glass of Schnapps and a warm bath and then to bed! Maybe my brain will be in gear after a decent nights sleep!!!

Eilidh had a dance workshop on Wednesday which our friends Jayne was taking her to so we headed over there in the afternoon to drop her off. They apparantly had a great time, dressing up in wigs and things and dancing, it was all being filmed and linked to another dance workshop in Canada! Something to do with a new arts initiative or something, she seemed to enjoy herself anyway.

Meanwhile I had some time with Ben, just the two of us. Apart from sometimes popping to the shops with him we don't seem to get any time on our own any more and it was lovely. He wanted to go to Cartmel as there is a couple of great toy and gift shops there, unfortunately the one he wanted was closed but we wandered through the other one looking at all the lovely things we couldn't afford!! Then we headed off to a tea shop for drinks and a piece of cake overlooking Cartmel Priory. Ben then decided that he wanted to have a look around the Proiry but it had just shut when we got there so we had a wander looking at the Christmas lights and then back to pick Eilidh up. He was as good as gold, he walked through the shops nicely, looking at everything and chatting away happily, sat still and chatted some more while in the cafe and held my hand while wandering around. What a difference!!! We have recently come to the conclusion that he really need to have some one to one time with us but I didn't quite realise what a change it would make!! We had a lovely time, it was so nice to be able to relax and enjoy his company without worrying about what was going to happen next!

The conclusion being that both the kids would really benefit from having one of us to themselves every so often, not so easy to put into practice but I think it's something we have got to get sorted.

We got back to Jayne's before they arrived so Ditch (Jayne's hubby) installed Ben on the computer to watch Tomas the Tank Engine on You Tube to wait.

Dave has been busy building walls and putting up fences and today was back onto decorating the windows on someone's house so was absolutely frozen being outside all day. We took him down some gloves, scarf and hats this morning and then headed off for a walk by the river in Kendal with a stop at the play park for the kids. Not much else happened!

On Saturday we had some friends come over in the afternoon to go sledging with. Their two boys had a lsedge which had sat for two years doing nothing so were really desperate to give it a run out. Where they live in Lancaster they had no snowjust ice! The kids all had great fun, the sledge runs were really icey and fast, Kevin (their dad) set to work building an igloo with Eilidh which ended up looking really good. A few hours later, after me and Trixi had given into the cold and gone indoors they all appeared back for hot chocolate and biscuits before heading home. Four tired kids (and parents!)

Sunday we went off to church, Ben decided he didn't want to go into his group so went into church with Dave and behaved brilliantly! I was roped into helping with the littlies as someone was away and then home for a quiet afternoon in front of the telly watching Madagascar

Eilidh had an appointment at the hospital physio on Monday for her leg. I hate these appointments, there always seems to be about three people there all talking amongst themselves about Eilidh and pretty much ignoring anyone else! I tend to get 'het' up and never think to ask the right questions while I'm there and the questions I do ask seem to get the reaction that it's not their department and I have to ask the consultant!!?? Anyway the upshot is that her leg isn't any better, she's now going to be referred to a paediatrician so we will have three seperate appointments, no doubt in different hospitals for them all to say the same thing...GRRRRRR! So from what I can gather we see the physio about her shoe rise and if it needs changing, the consultant for any other questions and the paediatrician about goodness knows what???? I was also really wound up because the physio turned around and asked about her reading and writing and asked her to bring in a story or something she has written next time we see them. WHAT HAS THIS GOT TO DO WITH HER LEG????????? Eilidh turned around and told her she had the reading age of an 11 year old and she didn't like writing but could do it when she wanted to so I somehow don't think they will getting anything from her for the next appointment and I certainly won't be making her!!

Anyway.. another quiet day today, making Christmas cards (at last!), listening to story CD's whilst painting and playing with the Magnetix. Eilidh has posters put up all around our house for a play she will be putting on about Robin Hood on the 19th so if anyone wants to come??!!

The snow is still hanging on! We did a bit more sledging and snow man building yesterday and today was Cookery group. Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate!! Me and Eilidh made some Petits Fours(?), little chocolate fancy sweets in those little sweet cases. First we had to brush chocolate round each one to make a casing and then filled them up with a mixture of chocolate, cream and Rum Essence. When they cool down they have a hard chocolate outside with a sort of soft chocolate fudgy filling. Not very easy to describe but they are scrummy. I think we will make some more as little pressies for our neighbours and friends.

Ben didn't join in (as usual!) I sometimes wish I could chop myself in half so I could do something with him while Eilidh wants to get on with stuff in the group. He doesn't really settle in any group situation, we have even been told by his group at church that if he doesn't settle down soon they may have to chuck him out (said very nicely and politely of course and not quite in those words!?) That would be a first....being excluded from Sunday school....just makes me even more sure of the reasons for NOT sending him to school. I really feel that he may be somewhere on the Autistic Spectrum but don't really know what to do about it.

Anyway.... tomorrow we have NO cottages to do...Hurray!

The snow stayed all of today for a change! We popped to the library this morning and then headed home to play in the snow! The kids had great fun sledging down the hill in the field opposite, very handy having a perfect sledging place so near to the house! I even had a go and I hadn't quite realised how fast you could go until then!!

Then back indoors to a nice warm fire and watching Wall-E on DVD. The kids have wanted to see this for ages and amazingly we managed to get it out of the library this morning...Hooray!

Ben doing his impression of a fly in a spiders web! This was the boys way of amusing themselves while the girls did the craft show!

We woke up to a white world this morning, unfortunately I had to go out to do one of the cottages today so after finishing the ironing we headed off. Stupidly I decided to take one of the back lanes to get to the main road which was like an ice rink and ended up doing a rather elegant skid and then getting stuck going up a really small hill! Fortunately the car eventually made it up and we went at snails pace all the way along and breathed a sigh of relief when we got to the end. I should have known better as I did something similar last year down the same lane....dur!! Ben thought it was fun though!

On Sunday I was still really tired after being at the craft fair all day on Saturday so Dave took the kids off for the monthly Home Ed walk. This was before it had snowed down here but they had a lovely sunny day for it and went up Dixon Heights which is a hill not far from here and ended up in snow anyway! They got home very cold and tired and spent the rest of the day in front of the fire.

Yesterday we took some boxes of stuff to our favourite charity shop at Shap (the only one around here that does'nt charge extortionate prices!) and then had some fish and chips at the best chippy! We managed to bump into our friend Kate (and Florence) up there so we took the kids up to the playground for a run around before heading home. They only lasted five minutes because it was sooooo cold!

There have been a few cars skidding and revving up our road tonight so I think we may be staying in tomorrow! Dave was busy working outdoors last week doing decorating and has come down with a horrible cold, he was snowed off today but we shall have to see how it goes this week. Ladders and ice don't really mix!

Phew! I know it's been ages but I've been a bit distracted with making lots of things for my first craft fair and had lots of late nights doing it! It went really well, made a little bit of money and people seemed quite happy with all the things so not bad at all! Hopefully I can get my head back around writing this blog this week but at the moment I am pooped!!

I just can't seem to get on top of the blog at the moment but here is another catch up!

Last Sunday we were meant to be going for a walk with our Home Ed group, unfortunately we were late and missed the start so decided to go for a wander ourselves and see if we could catch up with them. We didn't... but we had a lovely walk in the sunshine and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves anyway!Dave has been working most of the week as the weather has been pretty good, unfortunately any money he has made has gone on catching up on bills from when he couldn't work!

Wednesday was Bonfire night and we went up to Kendal Castle to watch the big firework display, the kids were wrapped up in hats and ear muffs but even with Dave's hands clamped over his ears, Ben couldn't cope with the noise and was jumping and screwing his eyes tight shut every time one went off! Dave ended up taking him back to the car while me and Eilidh enjoyed the rest.

Thursday was the felting day at the Home Ed group. I had organised this so anyone could come along and make whatever they wanted and have a social time as well. We had a huge panic as the wool had still not turned up in the morning but it fortunately arrived just in time!! Everyone had a good time, Eilidh made a bonfire felt picture which she designed herself, and a little bag which was great, I was really impressed. Ben made an underwater felt picture and even Dave got into the act and made himself some slippers!! Well, the slippers have ended up being mine as they came out a bit too small but they are lovely and cosy warm!! He has been busy making himself a pair at home which he is proudly wearing at the moment with plastic bags inside as they are still wet!! It seemed to go well and I there were some lovely felted goodies going home with people.

Not much else has happened as we are having to conserve fuel as we are completely skint (what's new??) so the kids are having quiet days at home. Today was spent tidying Eilidhs room, doing the washing, looking at the Solar System, doing a Planet puzzle, playing Operation, working on the computer, making up a play for Christmas Day (!?), playing schools (ha, ha!) ,doing some workbooks, making lunch and reading. Phew, it always feels like we haven't done much but I guess we do!!!

I have signed myself up for a Christmas Craft Fayre at the end of the month so I have been busy trying to figure out what will sell and making some Christmassy things as well as scarves etc to go on my stall. My brain has been whirring all week and I am just waiting for our money to come through to get really going!

Holiday Club finished on Thursday and the kids all went home with their musical instruments and felted planets and lots of other spacey bits and peices! Although exhausting it was great fun and all the kids did a great job with the crafts. Ben struggled with one of the days as one of his groups leaders had told him off and made him sit down with the group when he wanted to come and see me, didn't go down too well and he refused to go back to his group the next day!! I was quite annoyed as they had actually picked him up and taken him back which obviously freaked him out a bit. After the evening Space Supper on Wednesday I managed to persuade him to go back and join in and he was settled in again for Thursday thankfully! Despite this, both Eilidh and Ben really enjoyed themselves and are already asking when next years is!!

Not much else has happened as it's been a busy week all round.

Today was the first day of Holiday Club which our church put on every October half term. Eilidh and Ben were very excited but I woke up feeling really rough, my tummy was churning and making some very interesting noises! As I was helping out with the craft I really needed to be there, so I dosed up with some Alka Seltzer and managed to feel ok (ish) by the time we had to go. I ended up feeling alright until I got home and had some toast and then my stomach objected slightly. After an hour in bed this afternoon, I'm hoping the worst has passed. We have had this weird bug three or four times this year and it seems to go as quickly as it comes.

Dave had been down at the church until 1am this morning helping out painting scenery as it has been transformed into a space ship for the week!! We had 140 kids plus leaders and they all seemed to have a great morning, running around, screaming, shouting, doing craft, playing games and singing very loudly! Only three more days to go!!

Prince Caspian was fantastic, well worth watching! It was one of those films you could really get lost in, amazing!!! The kids really enjoyed it too, although Ben was a bit scared in parts he didn't want to miss any of it either! Of course the film was made even better by Prince Caspian himself who was very lovely!! (a bit young though!!)

Anyway.... the workmen have been in and finished all the electric bits, putting in sockets, moving sockets, taking out heaters etc. Now we have to wait for the next stage which is installing the shower Hurray!

Our friends from Orkney stopped last night on route back from Kate's parents, it's great to see them again, maybe we will get up there again next year?

Quick catch up again!! I can't actually remember what we have done this week so it obviously hasn't been that exciting!! Today we went off to the cinema in Lancaster to see Mr Magoriums Magic Emporium and ended up seeing Igor instead!? They couldn't get the right film running so had to have a replacement! This was a free trip with the National Film Week they have for schools (& home-educators!!) I was a bit disappointed as I wanted to see Mr Magorium but the kids seemed to enjoy it anyway! On Thursday we are booked in to see Prince Caspian as we have just finished reading the book so that should be good (hopefully they will get that one working!)

I have been busy trying to set up my internet shop for selling knitted and felted bits I've made which has been doing my head in! Have a look at http://en.dawanda.com/shop/woollylakes
shamless plug!!

I' ve got more stuff to go on but it's taking so long to do my head hurts so I'm going to bed. Any constructive criticism would be good, any unconstructive criticism and I might cry!!

I think I married Del Boy!!!!!!!!!!!!! We now have our house full of camping equipment which he was given by a friend who owns a camping shop. This is all stuff which has been bought back to the shop which they don't have the time to sort out so gets shoved into the back and forgotton about! They would have just sent it all to land-fill if Dave hadn't taken it...unbelievable!!!
After sorting through about half of it we have found some bits which seem to be absolutely fine, some which are repairable and some which have definately 'had it'! I have been busy Ebaying loads but now am faced with the problem of blowing up about 20 airbeds to see if they leak....HELP!

Anyway, the kids have been great today, they started painting this morning and kept going backwards and forwards to it all morning. Now they are quite happily sat at the kitchen table colouring in and listening to their third Famous Five story on CD. Yes, this is the boy who usually can't sit still for more than five minutes!

I had a lightbulb moment the other day (bit late I know but...) Instead of rushing around trying to get everything that I need to get done first, I decided to try and get the kids settled with whatever it is they want to be doing first and then sort out my bits. Well, it seems to have worked today and I've actually managed to get a bit done but we shall see.... I know tomorrow I may be having a stress-head day so we'll take it as it comes!! Everything seems to hinge on me and how I feel so I've really got to make a huge effort to de-stress each day and stop worrying about the 'small things'!!! (That was a bit deep....scary!)

We had a lovely time with Mum and Dad, unfortunately the weather hasn't been great but we still managed to get out and about a few times. We had days out in Morecambe (saw new Midland Hotel, very posh!), over to Grange and strolled along the prom and Cartmel, to look around the abbey and then all the way over to Barnard Castle and Durham. Dave's mum was taken into hospital last week with shingles so while Dave went visiting we had a look around the cathedral and city.

They got home nice and safe and since then we don't seem to have done much! Today was cottage cleaning time and more piles of linen to wash and iron YUK!

The kids have decided that they want to do 'work' again, so I have been busy finding worksheets and projects for them to do. We will be looking at the Romans (again!) as Eilidh decided she now wants to know all about them.

Quick catch up....

Mum and Dad arrived safely only to find their Bed and Breakfast room was small and not very comfortable and the woman who owned it seemed to talk non-stop about herself!!! She also expected them to be out of the house all day so they couldn't just relax there. So after putting up with it for a few days they decided they would either have to go home or find somewhere else.Of course the weather hasn't helped as it has poured non-stop for two of the days. Anyway, we managed to find them a lovely room in a country hotel which they had a look at yesterday so they are moving over today. Panic over (I think!!)

We haven't really been able to do much due to the weather but had a wander by Windermere one day. Mum and Dad went off for the day while we went to cookery group on Friday. It was lovely weather that day and they had a good day over at Kirby Lonsdale and around that area and appeared back for tea!

The weather looks good again today so hopefully we will be able to get out and about. We have to rack our brains trying to think of places they haven't already been before!!

The rain is back! We had some lovely days of beautiful sunshine butunfortunately not long enough! It really feels like Autumn up here now, the evenings are getting colder and darker and we desperately need to re-stock our wood pile to get through the winter.

This weekend has felt hectic in a kind of nice way. Saturday we were off doing our two cottages, then took the kids to a park in Kendal to ride their bikes. Eilidh had been given a new (to us!) bike by our next door neighbours and she was desperate to give it a good run. We ended up having to put her stabilisers back on as she can't get the hang of cycling without them. Mind you, the hospital had said a while ago that she may find peddling hard anyway with her shorter leg so I think she's doing fine!

After her last trip to the hospital, it seems her leg is now 18mm shorter on her right so she had some new trainers sorted out with a block again and given some exercises to do and it's a case of wait and see what they say next time. Fortunately she no longer needs the night splint (which we kept forgetting to put on anyway!) It doesn't seem to affect her too much, other than not being able to hop on her right leg!

Sunday was a really nice day, after church in the morning we took the kids and their bikes down to Grange-Over-Sands to have a look at 'Prom-Art' which has been running once a month all summer. They have any local artist or craftspeople who want to join in with stalls along the prom where they have little displays of their work which they can sell. It was really good, and it was interesting to see other peoples work and get some inspiration. They had a gorgeous sunny day for it. The kids cycled along the prom until we got to the first stall and then abandoned their bikes to have a stroll along with the promise of an ice-cream at the end! As we were in Grange we popped in to see our friends for a coffee on the way home and ended up chatting for a couple of hours.

Today was meant to be a day to sort out and tidy the house before mum and dad get here on Wednesday but I don't seem to have got anything done. My energy levels and motivation were not playing ball today (sorry Mum, you will have to put up with our messy house!!) The kids are very excited about seeing Grandma, Grandpa and Jock (the dog).

We had a Felt Workshop for the kids today instead of our usual art group. One of the mums had organised for a lady to come in and show us all how to make felt pictures. It was brilliant,there was quite a crowd that turned up and everyone listened carefully and then happily got on with their pictures. Eilidh decided to do hers of the stable where Jesus was born (her idea!) and I did an undersea picture. Ben had decided before we got there that he didn't want to do any felting and played with his cars and did a puzzle instead. Just as we were getting near the end of the workshop he then decided he did want to make one so a rather hurried picture of Thomas was made (surprise, surprise!)

The end results were great and everyone was really pleased with their efforts.!

I felt shattered again as I normally do after these groups. I'm finding it really tough with Ben at the moment as whenever he goes to these groups he starts playing up, chasing around, throwing cars and 'fighting'. I think I was feeling a bit peeved today anyway about something someone had said about Ben which was really niggling at me. I won't go into detail but it was probably not said the way I took it, but when it's a sensitive subject it always seems so much worse. I'm very conscious of the fact that he gets carried away and doesn't really understand when to stop play fighting and as most of the boys are older than him they find it quite funny to wind him up. Anyway, sometimes I just have to remind myself what a gorgeous little boy he is when he wants to be (unfortunately not everyone sees this side of him!!) Gripe over!!

We now have another car on the road, our big Toyota that has stood doing nothing for about three years as we could never afford to fix it has now got a new lease of life! It's really only temporarily as we are hoping to sell it and get something smaller and cheaper to run but it's so nice to have it back. The kids were so excited as they can sit right at the back, up nice and high!

Last Friday was cookery group where we managed to persuade both of the kids to make a swiss roll each rather than playing all day. I'm not quite sure they came home with the actual ones they made but they were quite yummy anyway.

Saturday was cottage day and after church on Sunday we went down to the Brewery Arts Centre in Kendal as I had got it into my head that they were having an open day for a textiles exhibition thats running. Unfortunately I got the week wrong and it's next Sunday! Still, we decided to have some lunch sat outside in the gorgeous sunshine and it felt like we were on holiday for the afternoon. The Brewery is a great place with a small cinema, theatre, art studios, music rooms etc where they run quite a few courses and exhibitions. Our friend from the Home Ed groups, Jayne had signed up for a few courses and asked if I wanted to go along with her to do Feltmaking and some Embroidery courses. Of course I jumped at the idea!! Dave also decided to get back into his drawing and painting and signed up for some as well so we are going to be busy for the next few months!
Dave went off to his drawing class on Monday evening which he seemed to enjoy and me and Jayne went to our first Feltmaking course on Tuesday which was great. I've been trying out making felt at home already but it was a really relaxed evening where I could start from the very beginning and get loads of tips. I can't wait until next week when we will be making felt scarves.

Yesterday Dave was working at our friends, Steve's house again strimming his 'wild' garden! We took him some lunch and ended up sitting all afternoon in the sunshine drinking coffee (Steve makes the best coffee!!) and chatting while the kids drove Joel up the wall making him watch Thomas the Tank Engine on You Tube!!

Dave was back at Steve's today and the kids had decided they wanted to go on a 'Fungi' walk which they had heard about on the radio in the car. This was one of the 'walking you way to health' walks which is run by the British Heart Foundation. They are all free, short walks which I think are running all over the place for anyone who wants to go. Some friends from the Home Ed group came along too and there was quite a crowd of people who turned up to join in, mostly older ladies but they all seemed quite chuffed to have some children along too! We walked from the middle of Kendal up to Serpentine Woods and had a good forage for any Fungi we could find. The kids turned out to be the best foragers and had the poor guide dotting around all over the place telling us all about the different varieties. Eilidh really enjoyed it and came home with a few prize specimens to cut up and have a look at! The fungi expert had actually brought a load of different ones with her which she let Eilidh take and it was a lovely walk, we discovered bits of Kendal I never even knew existed! We will definately go on some more walks.

The kids have been really tired so after some lunch they were made to go and have a lie-down for half an hour. This was a secret ploy to try and get Ben to sleep as he was getting a bit wild again which he does when he is over-tired. Unfortunately when I went back in to get them half an hour later, Eilidh was fast asleep and Ben was singing merrily, playing on his bed with some lego...I give up!! At least Eilidh had a much needed snooze! We then went off to see their friends in Kendal, Dennis and Florence and headed back home for tea.

Well, I am up really early after another restless night. I think the only way I will get a decent nights sleep is to leave home!!

Anyway... we had the kids friends, Zeph and Isaac over for the day on Wednesday as their dad Chas had loads of stuff to sort out and Dawn (their mum) has been in hospital for over a week now. They are having a tough time with Chas's business going under and Dawn not being well at all. The boys were fine and quite happily stayed here all day playing with Eilidh and Ben and Chas surprised them by bringing Dawn back out of hospital with him when he came to pick them up.

Yesterday the kids did a few pages of workbooks each and then decided to do some painting and sticking with tissue paper. They made some really nice pictures and while I sorted out some finances in the afternoon they helped Dave with the garden.

Catch up time again.....

On Thursday we headed off to the Westmorland Show, meeting some friends from our Home Ed group on the way. The weather was really good, it stayed dry and even had sunny spots until about 4pm and then the heavens opened. By that time we were almost ready to go anyway. It was a good, very tiring day. The show is huge with hundreds of trade stands, craft marquees, schools marquees, animal shows and pens and loads more. We decided to head straight for all the animals as that is what all the kids wanted to see so we had a good look around all the pens, saw some gorgeous Alpacas, Highland Cows (my favourite) and Eilidh got to watch the heavy horses which she was desperate to see. Ben and Dave went off to see the John Deere stand with all the tractors and machinery as Ben was asking all the way around if we could go. He has just been given a new 'Skidsteer' tractor type thing by his uncle and aunt and really wanted to see if John Deere made a real one. He was very excited to see that they had an exact same one at the show!!

Friday was our home ed group where the kids played while we attempted to organise what is happening in the next couple of months in our Science, Cookery and Art Groups.

We had two cottages to do on Saturday and then had a lazy afternoon before heading out in the evening to the Kendal Torchlight Procession,a carnival which goes all around the centre of Kendal. It was an extremely late night for the kids with a lot of waiting around but they enjoyed it all. The floats are mainly made up by local businesses, schools and groups and they all did a great job (not as good as the Burnham Carnival though, Frances and co will know what I mean!!)

We have had a quiet couple of days since then as Ben has been shattered and has come down with the sniffles again. He still manages to get up really early though. Both him and Eilidh have spent most of their time doing Hama bead pictures. I'm sure there is some educational value in there somewhere (art, design, maths, citizenship etc etc!!!!) Anyway they had fun doing them and they all look really good. They also managed to squeeze in some pages of workbooks and filling in their scrapbooks with bits and peices from the Westmorland show and making me play schools (ha, ha!!) Ben is actually starting to want to do 'work' things and his attention span seems to have got a lot better in the last few weeks.

Dave went off today to get a job done which has been bugging him for weeks. He has being trying to get a shed base dug out, hardcored and slabs laid but the weather has just been hopeless. It wasn't helped by the fact that the peoples garden was like a bog and it was in Sedbergh which is a bit of a drive away. BUT it's finished....Hooray!! Never again, he is aching all over tonight after laying 43 big, heavy slabs, poor baby!!

We stayed at home and the rain held off for most of the day, so I was manically washing while the kids played. In between the piles of laundry, Eilidh got on with some nature science, making a mini wormery to see how worms work in the soil, mixing up mud, sand and gravel to see how the different things seperate in water and spotting bugs in some soil!! We got this great book yesterday with loads of experiments about nature in so she has been really keen to get some done!!

Yesterday we went up to Hawkshead to meet up with some of Dave's family. His brother and sister-in-law were over from America so his mum and sister and her family came over for a day out with them. It was pouring all day but we went on up to Grizedale Forest and the kids played on the adventure playground in the rain and then we went on for a short walk around the sculpture trail. Eilidh and Ben were busy talking the ears off Auntie Barbara (American one!) all the way around and were given loads of lovely presents which off course they were very happy about!! Dave and his brother don't always get on (slight understatement!!) but there were no arguments and not too much stress so it was good!!! It was really nice to see everyone despite the rain!

Tomorrow we are off to the Westmorland County Show, a huge agricultural show up here so we are praying for good weather. Last year it was a complete mud bath!!

It's not raining!!!! I know.... amazing but I think we may get through a whole day with no rain. The kids have gone to play at Phoebe's house (2 doors down) so I thought I would catch up on blogging. This week has felt like a really weird week, I have been working down at the church, cleaning every day for a couple of hours. This was meant to be early mornings but as I am hopeless in the mornings, they let me come in at night when everyone had packed up and gone home. Considering I was on my own in a big empty church, (one night in a rain storm) it was actually not spooky at all, quite nice actually! I'm usually quite sensitive to 'spooky' things but I was happily singing away while mopping the floor, just as well no-one else was there!!!

We also had a church party yesterday to celebrate their 'new church' building, they have just had the main area redecorated and all the pews ripped out to put in chairs instead. They decided to invite all the local people to a party so that everyone can see what has been happening. There was face-painting, bouncy castle, games, table tennis,cakes, coffee, bubble machines etc.........and loads of people came in which was great. They also had a great band playing, one of them being our friend Steve's son, although you could see they were just itching to turn the volume up and really play but had to keep it as background music to keep everyone happy!!

Apart from that we have had quiet days in. Ben has decided he wants to write and walks around with his notebook asking how to write his letters. This is the first time he's shown any interest in sitting and working, so long may it last!! Both him and Eilidh spent nearly all day on Friday going through workbooks and a pile of worksheets I was given by an ex-teacher.Although Ben says he can't read he can actually work out loads of small words if he thinks about it, although he still prefers to snuggle up and listen!

Dave took the kids out on Sunday to give me a break, they went off to church and then down to Mintfest in Kendal which is a street festival with acts, music and

loads of other stuff going on. Unfortunately it was pouring with rain again (or is that still!) but I managed to have a lovely bath and read my book in peace and they all came back quite happy.

Yesterday my friend Kate and her two kids, Dennis and Florence came over and picked me and the kids up and we all went off to Eden Ostrich World near Penrith for the day. We actually had lovely weather all the time we were there and it's a really nice place. It's a bit like these farm parks but obviously they have Ostriches as well. It's really nicely layed out and there is lots for everyone to do and plenty of different animals not just all play areas like some others!

Boys will be boys!









Even Kate decided to join in.










Just lazing around enjoying the sunshine.












mmmm...chocolate cake!









Thanks goodness they're not 17 yet!









This is a cross between a Zebra and a pony. Can you make out the stripes?
This week I am working down at the church, cleaning each day just while someone else is away. I had to get up really early (6am) to go down and have decided I am definitely not a morning person!!

Eilidh decided she wanted to do some 'work' today as some of her friends have gone back to school now so we sat down and looked through some workbooks on times tables. Ben also did some workbooks but I think he didn't quite get the right idea!! (or maybe this is!!!)I also managed to finish a jumper for Ben with some lovely soft wool I was given off Freecycle. Unfortunately I don't think it will fit it for long. I'm really not that in to knitting jumpers as they usually take so long but I managed to get this finished within a week and the wool was too nice to put away. Isn't he gorgeous?

Zoo Pictures.....

At last, some pictures from Eilidhs Birthday at the zoo.....












Here's one of the kids....

Eilidhs Birthday

Eilidh is now the grand old age of 7!! I can't quite believe it was seven years ago when we had no idea about babies and kids!! She had decided a while ago that she wanted to spend the day at the South Lakes Animal Park, unfortunately her birthday fell smack bang on the Bank Holiday weekend (bad timing!). The zoo was heaving, they were even parking people in a field down the road by the time we arrived. We still had a great day, Eilidh was in her element telling us what all the animals were and I kept getting the rolled eyes whenever I didn't get the exact name correct!! She desperately wanted to feed the Leemurs and got a chance to hold a banana for one. I will post up a load of pictures later.

We were all shattered when we left the zoo and Eilidh had decided she wanted to go to Pizza Hut for tea. As we were a little bit too early we went for a drive onto Walney Island, an island attached by road to Barrow. It's a really strange place with a windswept, seaside feel and actually quite large. We drove right up to one end, stopping off to watch the waves roll in at a beach and then down to the other end. We drove right along this stoney beach in the truck and stopped when we couldn't go any further (nearly getting grounded in some loose stones but we won't go into that!!). We then spent half an hour in the late afternoon sunshine (yes, we had a bit!) throwing stones and collecting lots of nice smooth pebbles for the kids to paint. As I spent quite a few years of my childhood splashing in and out of the sea and down on the beach it was lovely to just sit and watch the waves rolling in, plus of course I am a closet beachcomber!!

Eilidh was very excited as I had finally persuaded Dave to let her have a pet of her own, well ok it's only fish but it's a start! We got her a little aquarium with all the stuff that goes with it and in a weeks time she will be the proud owner of six little fish. We have to leave the aquarium to stand for a week before putting fish in so she is checking it every morning to make sure the pump is still working and the water is nice and clear!!

The last couple of days it has been raining again, so we have been stuck in the house. Ben is bouncing of the walls and desperately needs to let off steam. One of my friends reckons he could have Aspergers, while his group leader at church was asking if he had any food allergies as he seems to have completely hyper moments. Who knows? Maybe he is just a very active little man, I get worn out just watching him sometimes!!

Yesterday Ben and Eilidhs friends, Zeph and Isaac came over for the day. Their mum and dad had some business to sort out in Kendal so the kids had great fun playing all day. It was actually much easier having more kids as they all played together quite happily and I had none of the 'I'm bored' routine!! Although the noise was driving me nuts at one point so I disappeared upstairs with a strong coffee and a good bookfor a while!! (I don't think they even noticed I was gone!)

Dave has a queue of jobs to be done but the weather has been so rubbish that all the outdoor jobs are on hold. Fortunately he had some lighting and hooks to do indoors yesterday for someone and today he is back down at our church lining out a huge shed so at least he's not in the pouring rain and will probably be fed biscuits and tea throughout the day!!

We are stuck at home again today, I know we have just got back from camping but being stranded at home is already doing my head in! I'm obviously the kind of person who needs to get out and about (probably because I can then ignore all the jobs that need doing around the house!!) Have to go, the kids are nopw squabbling over a toy fire engine.....oh what joy!!??

After all my groaning about going camping we did have a good time. The weather was soggy and horrible but we managed to get the use of their conference centre which is an old converted barn for a few days which was great. The kids didn't care about the rain and still managed to get out and run around, splashing in muddy puddles and streams and playing on the adventure playground. It is a lovely place although I didn't manage to get out and get any pictures!!

There were only three families (all the fair weather campers decided against it...softees!!). One of these came down from the Scottish borders where they had moved to so we hadn't seen them for a while but it was actually quite relaxing not having too many people. The group of kids all seemed to get on with each other and we had none of the usual bits of bickering and sulking. We had a wander into Ambleside on one of the days but the rest of the time was spent chatting, playing and drinking decent coffee.

Still.... very glad to be back home in my own bed, my back can't cope with camping for too long!!

Sorry, I haven't blogged for ages and now we are off camping for five days. Just up to Ambleside but hopefully the weather will improve as it has been raining for about three weeks non- stop (or maybe it just feels like it has!!) Still, the kids don't seem to care and were really upset when I suggested we cancel it so off we go! (Can you tell, I'm not really looking forward to this camp??!!)

I promise to blog when we get back......

Dave is down at the church this week finishing painting and carpeting (amongst other things!)After a week of voluntary work they decided they would pay him for this week as they need to get the rooms finished, so that will come in quite handy (to say the least!!) We are meant to be going camping next week with the Home Ed group and at the moment we're not quite sure how it will happen but as we organise these things we have to be there...mmmmmm??!!

Still.... Saturday was a busy day, I had an extra cottage to do while Dave was busy at our friend Steve's house sorting out his overgrown garden again. We spent months doing this garden last year and it was looking lovely but nature has taken over again and the whole place has gone wild! Dave is just meant to be strimming grassy areas but he was there all day Saturday and hardly touched the worst part! We went up with lunch for him and i ended up being put to work blowing all the cuttings away from the drive and parking areas so my shoulders were killing me that night!! Needless to say the garden is yet to be finished.

Sunday and Monday were both quiet days at home with the kids, Dave was off down the church and Eilidh and Ben have spent most of the time riding their bikes on the front path with the little girl from two doors down. I have been bored stiff!!! There is so much to do around the house but most of the stuff needs a bit of muscle power to do it, which I just don't have. I also have loads of crafty ideas whizzing through my head but just can't seem to get anything done. Ho Hum, I guess I should be gratefull for some peace but I really want to get out and about and can't GRRRRRRRR!!!

Today was art group again, we were doing the first part of Paper Mache mirrors and boxes. Eilidh decided she wanted to do a mirror so sat sticking loads of strips of paper all over our kitchen tray, very messy and sticky. Ben decided he just wanted to play with his car but he pinched some cardboard and proceeded to draw a road for his car which then led on to some houses, trees, bushes and railway line. In the end he had a whole village on a huge cardboard box and happily pushed his cars around for ages. Who needs expensive toys when you have cardboard boxes!!

Just a quick catch up.....

The car we were given was a complete duffer!! The girl had told us that it was overheating but failed to say that the head had cracked and she had already been quoted £400 by the mechanic (as he told us when we went to pick it up!!) Ho Hum....so we are still without car.

Not much has happened this week, Dave is helping out down at our church, as they are trying to finish off the big refit, so we have been at home. Today we went down with him as I will be starting a job in the church office for one day a week and they wanted to have a chat to tell me what was involved. This will probably start in Sept so we shall wait and see. We then went off to the library, but because of the school holidays it was packed so we didn't stop for too long! This afternoon our friends came and picked us up and we spent the afternoon in the soft play area in Bowness as it is pouring with rain again.

It's been really hot here the last few days. I managed to get sunburnt again, stupidly cutting the hedge in the hot sun. (Will I ever learn??) The kids paddling pool has made another appearance and there has been some gorgeous sunsets over the mountains.

Yesterday it was so hot we decided to go down by Windermere to let the kids splash about while we relaxed. It was really nice, there was a lovely cool breeze and the kids had great fun playing about on the beach and on an old tree which came down in the last storms.

After doing the holiday cottages today we headed down to the Windermere Airshow. It's on every year but we have never got to one until now. It was absolutely packed down by the lake, I have never seen so many people down there and it does get busy down there in the Summer!
The kids had been watching a big RAF helicopter, while we were at the holiday cottages, doing an aerial display and we managed to catch it just as it was setting off from the show. There was also a falconry display, the local Air Ambulance which the kids had a sit in and an RAF plane where they became mini pilots for a few minutes! Ben wanted to have a look at the Army Jeeps and Eilidh was desperate to go on the big wheel at the fair which they did! There was also a Civil War re-enactment society who had a little village where they were showing people, woodwork, how people lived, all the weapons like rapiers and muskets which the kids had a try with and also a small cannon which Eilidh learned how to clean and load (you never know when you might need to know that!!) It was a really good afternoon, very hot and sunny but I had remembered the sunscreen this time!