Webkinz Kids

Abby and Sammy were recently given a 'Webkinz' each. ((Thanks, Auntie Rachael!) It's a stuffed animal that comes with a secret code that you can use to turn it into a 'virtual pet' on the webkinz website. They have really enjoyed this, and I am very thankful that we have 2 laptops - new and old (and very, very slow) so that they can both go on at the same time. Aleah will not be left out and will get on old 'Barbie' laptop and sit with her brother and sister on the couch pretending to do exactlywhat they are doing. Here are some cute pictures of the kids and their computers.

Sorry, it's been a while!

Sorry, everybody...(especially Kelli!) I know it's been a while. We have just had 2 weeks off school and I have been kept very busy! We did do lots of fun things, a tirp to the farm, movies, ice scating, and lots more. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to bring my camera to ANY of it!!!! The weather was pretty miserable, and now that the kids are back at school it has brightened up!

Tonight we had a movie night. The kids don't have school tomorrow due to a teacher strike, so I gave them a special treat of staying up and watching a DVD. We watched 'Stardust' which was actually partly filmed at the same location we were camping at 2 years ago. (We didn't bump into any of the stars, but the canteen pulled up right beside out tents!) Abigail enjoyed the film, Samuel thought it was a too scary, and Aleah only saw 15 minutes of it so hasn't quite formed an opinion yet!

Day out at the park.

Today I psyched everybody up into going out (like, actually outside London) to the park. We called around to some of the family and a few friends and asked them all to go with us for a picnic at Queen Elizabeth Country Park. (It's about 56 miles away!!!) Everybody was up for it, although a few people did question the weather forecast....but it's England, you can't ever guarantee sunshine! We drove through a hail storm but after that it looking pretty bright. We pulled into the car park and the sun was shining down! A few minutes later as we found a picnic spot, the skies darkened...a few minutes later, after we had started dishing out food, there were a few drops coming down....and then I looked up and over to the right of us I could see it coming...hail!!! We threw a blanket over the food, and we threw blankets over ourselves and sheltered from the attack! The only one who wasn't sheltering was Abigail, who was doing a dance of joy....just to aggravate her brother! Thankfully the rain and hail didn't last long and a few minutes later we were sheltering under the back of the van doors, enjoying a lovely English picnic!

The weather brightened up and the sun shone bright and we trailed through some of the hillside, baby buggies and all. It was lovely to be out in some open space enjoying the great outdoors. Unfortunately after so much loading up and unloading I didn't get any pictures of the 'fun in the sun'. Yes, there's lots of 'stuff' to wash now but we had fun doing it!

Can you believe it?!

It is April, and I know that the saying is 'April showers bring May flowers' but what I want to know is....what does April snow bring???? Sunday morning Abby came running into my bedroom, lifted up the blind and said 'Look everybody...it's snowing again!'. With that I pulled the duvet over my head and exlaimed...'That's it! I'm hibernating!' I can't believe that 2 days ago I had flip flops on!


So, Dean and the kids got their clothes and coats, and welli boots on and went out to gather up as much snow as they could for a snowball fight. As you can see, Samuel is a wee bit excited!

Abigail managed to make a snowman ....his name is 'Bob'. He sat on our windowsill for most of the day but the sun did come out and Bob slowly melted away. Abby just checked on him (Monday morning) and was excited to see a blob of ice...he lives!

Aleah woke up and when she came out into the kitchen she started exlaiming...'thnow! thnow!' She stood on the window ledge and just stared with amazement!

Many people who knew how upset I was about the snow on Easter greeted me this morning at church with an apology for the weather. It's nice to know they care!

Although I do much prefer sun in April and am craving some warmer weather right now I was reminded through a song at church that morning that the Lord's name is blessed no matter what.

English Rose

Today was a beautiful early spring day. The sun was shinning, and the temperature was up to around 15/16 C which is around 62F. Not exactly HOT! But it was enough for me to get my flip flops out. Today the kids scooted/rode bikes home from school with Dean. When Abby got home she was as red as a beetroot! She flopped on the floor exlaiming how hot she was and that she needed to change her clothes or have a cold bath or something!!! Her sister was still napping and because they share a room she couldn't go in to change. So I ran a lukewarm bath for her. In she went with a glass of juice and 4 icecubes. (What is she going to do when we go to Florida in July/August!?!) She is definitely an English Rose.