Summer days

Our new family picture 2013

London

Wow! London was amazing!  The whole family had such a lovely time, and pretty much everything went more smoothly than we could have planned!  These pictures are kind of back to front, as our visit to Marble Arch was at the end of Saturday when we found ourselves abandoned close by!  Unfortunately, there had been an accident nearby and the bus we were on (because Nathan insisted we went on a London bus) and all of the other buses threw off their passengers and turned around!  We headed down to the Tube, which although it was hot, stuffy and crowded was just a very easy way to travel.

Esaias and Billy Beaver, who joined us for our trip, enjoying the short but sweet bus ride.

The T-Rex at the Natural History Museum.  Nathan was unbelievably excited about seeing the dinosaur exhibition, it was just fabulous to watch him become so enthusiastic!

While en route to the Natural History Museum we decided to hop off the Tube at Green Park and walk across to see Buckingham Palace.  Nathan has been studying the flags used to signify if the Queen is at home or not, and told us that she was out.

The Abba song passed through my mind every time we mentioned this particular Tube station!

The children enjoying the view on the London Eye!  What an experience that was!  We took our flight on a lovely sunny day and could see so much.  It really is much higher than I imagined, but I didn't notice a bit, because I was too busy looking around.

The kids did so well hopping on and off the Tube.  I was really impressed with them.  On quite a few occasions people stood up and let the children sit down, which was so kind of them.  Aside from the nutty paediatrician and a rude lady who was desperate to barge past us, the people we came across were very polite.  Having said that, I was pleased to be back in the little Spar shop on Monday!

As I said, we all had a fantastic time, so well done to Nathan for dragging us out of our comfort zone and making us go on an adventure.  I wonder where he will take us next!

An update

After a visit from a lady from SeaFish at school, Nathan took it upon himself to taste as many types of fish that he could lay his little hands on!  That boy is really dedicated once he picks his cause!  Following much cod crunching, prawn munching and squid slurping, we all got a bit fish-ed out! BUT it was really worth it, when Nathan was awarded the pupil of the week certificate for knowing the most facts about fish.  It was also worth to see Nathan in his chef jacket, the kid is so cute I could eat him up!

During a lovely summer day (don't see many of those these days do you?) Esaias went to Narnia (the garage) and was awarded this huge metal shield by a wise Narnian (ok, it was Uncle John!).  I caught sight of Esaias sneaking this up to his room and called out to him, "Hey!  Where did you get that from.?"  "Narnia!" was his reply, as if that was the most normal thing in the world, and he carried on walking up the stairs.  Moments like that make my life seem a little surreal!

A good time was had by all at Chris's birthday party.  We particularly enjoyed his cake, which was just incredible!  The cake was topped with chickens, a cabbage patch and even a row of carrots that could be pulled from the "mud" (chocolate frosting...yum).  While we were there Mum and Chris gave us some chicken and quail eggs, so the following morning we had boiled eggs for breakfast.  Free range eggs are really so much more delicious.

Phineas has quickly become far too heavy for me to hold him in the bath, and so we bought him a shiny new bath chair, which he LOVES!  He has just turned 7 months, and gets really cross about laying down.  He much prefers to be sat up and will strain to move into a sitting position if he is laid down.  Such a funny little boy!

Thunder storm

We had a mighty thunderstorm today, ot was so beautiful.  Phineas and I sat in the conservatory for a short time and listened to the rain hammering on the roof. It was such a cosy moment!

Haircuts

Here is Esaias with his spikey new hair do! I love that when we go to the hairdressers each of the children (except Phineas of course) know exactly how they want their hair. Esaias prefers a short spikey look, Nathan is still rocking the Beiber look (he even had his blow dried this time, so cute!) and Caitlin has changed from a side fringe to growing her fringe out.  Of course phineas still has a mohican! He actually has a lot of hair even though he is losing his newborn hair, but because it is growing back blonde you can hardly see it so it just looks as if he has a brown tuft of hair.
Caitlin and Esaias also got new glasses and I was able to spend some time shopping with just the two of them whem we went to collect them.  I love to spend time with each of my children, they are jusy such fabulous little characters!
Once again half term is over and I am sad to see them go back to school, but at least this time I am going back with them.  I will be sad to leave Phineas in the mornings but it is only for just over a year and then I get 18 months at home with him which I am really looking forward to!

Tie tying lessons