Saturday 27th August 2011

The weeks are simply blending into on another at the moment, and seem to pass in a blur of feeding, nappies, playing taxi and keeping a 3 year old entertained. There is now only one week left of the school holidays and whilst I have LOVED having the kids at home with me and they have been incredible with Nick and Beth, I am looking forward to establishing a routine and getting the house back into some semblance of order.

Last weekend was spent with Si's sister Jann from South Africa and as always the time together was like gold. On Sunday we decided to give her a quintessentially English experience and packed a picnic lunch before heading about 30 minutes south to Cuckmere Haven and the Seven Sister's Country park.

After a lovely leisurely stroll through the park we found ourselves on the pebble beach where we enjoyed a lunch of pork pies, sausage rolls, fruit and chocolate biscuits (what could be more English then that lol) before Phill and Si braved the water for a swim. Time spent with family in this way is always rejuvenating for the family and the children really enjoyed getting to know their auntie a little better.

Jann treated us to dinner at the Harvester which was as always lovely and a perfect ending to the day. Monday and Tuesday Jann and I spent enjoying each other's company before, all too soon, I was returning her to Gatwick so she could make her way home.

It is a bank holiday weekend in England, and although today is being spent in an ultra lazy fashion we have plans with friends both tomorrow and Monday and we are looking forward to much laughter and good food.

Friday 19th August 2011

Life at the moment is good and filled with those "pure bliss" moments that when they are absent send our lives spiralling down into despair, I am tired (very very tired) but I am happy. It is still the school holidays and I am blessed to be surrounded by four amazingly good children.

Yes Megs is a real teenager now and spends time skulking in her bedroom, but when the chips are down and I need her downstairs to wipe a smelly toddler bottom she never complains and simply gets on with it in her normal pragmatic manner.

Phill is Phill, full of noise and life, but again he has an amazing touch with a screaming new born and is more than willing to sit with her in the mornings while I take a bath, or of an evening while I try and get on with the supper.

Nick has coped so very very well with the arrival of his little sister and my precious boy has conceded with good grace to his surrogate "parents" in the form of Megs and Phill. He lights up the house with his cheery "Mornin" as he comes down the stairs and a more even tempered nature I couldn't ask for in a three year old.

As for our littlest gift, "Baby Bette" (as Nick Nick calls her), as long as she has attention from the ones she loves she is happy happy happy and is very content to sit and watch movies with her older siblings or watch Nick Nick play lego in the playroom.

I really and truly am blessed, as I said to someone the other day, I certainly do have the Earth, Sun, Moon and Stars, I have the four precious children I so longed for and a man who loves me wholeheartedly....what more could a girl ask for.

Sunday 7th August 2011

Life is good at the moment, the children are in the middle of their summer holidays and Si has just finished the first week of his two week annual leave. The weather has been perfect and we have been able to spend lots of quality time together.

I am a firm believer in family spending precious moments together and even my Megs (being a typical 13 year old) who would rather die than be seen out in public with her parents has admitted to enjoying of our outings.

We have also spent lots of time working in our garden and are really starting to see the results of the wonderful job my mom started while she was here. The roses are thriving and full of buds and nothing brings Si and I more pleasure at the moment then a day spent outside enjoying the sunshine and our lovely home.

England has really blessed us with a MAGNIFICENT Spring and Summer this year and whilst there has been rain (this is England after all lol) it has only served to keep the gorgeous country side green and provide a welcome relief from temps often reaching the mid to high 20's.

Thank Heaven for Little Girls.....

They certainly do grow up in the most delightful way.

Beth is now a bonny 8 week old baby and is really starting to interact with the family, she recognises our voices when we enter a room and her little smile seems like it will literally turn her face inside out it is so wide.

Weighing in at 4.75kgs she is still the smallest of our children and is just above the 25th centile for her height and weight. Certainly looks at this point as if this little mite may take after the ladies in my side of the family more (myself excluded) and measure in around the 5ft mark as a woman one day.

Such a joy in our lives, we thank God daily for this forth, final and much longed for baby girl.

Saturday 30th July 2011

I learned early on in Mom's visits that the best way for the family to handle her departure is to be kept as busy as possible and this trip was no exception. Saturday dawned bright and warm and I quickly had the family packed in the car and headed 45 minutes South East on our way to a medieval jousting tournament held in the grounds of Arundel Castle.

There are nearly 1000 years of history at this wonderful historic sight which is situated in magnificent grounds overlooking the river Arun. Built at the end of the 11th century it has played host to esteemed guests such as Queen Victoria, and stepping through the gates was like stepping back in time.

In my experience there is simply nowhere else that does "history in action" like the UK and this event was no exception. It was simply amazing to sit on the grass and get totally caught up in the jousting between the English and French Knights and to cheer the participants in sword fights all dressed in authentic costume.

Phillip and Si were in their element and had a ball trying on helmets and discussing weaponry with the experts in the encampment. Nick loved meeting the horses and Megs, Elizabeth and I were content just to stroll along watching the crowds and relishing in the excitement of our menfolk :0)

Another fabulous day and one I know Phill will remember for a long long time.

Friday 29th July 2011

My gorgeous baby boy turns 3 today. I waited a long long time for Nicholas and he really is the light in my life, a true blessing from God and a little boy blessed with a wonderful nature and kind spirit.

To help him celebrate this milestone day, Kerry, Catherine, Tanya and their children joined us for a picnic in our local park....Nick was in his element playing with all his "big boy" friends and it was a joy to watch him running around keeping up with them and to see them treat him with such care and concern.

Happy Birthday my beautiful blond baby boy, may there be many many more happy days in your life. Love you!

Elizabeth's Dedication

Last Saturday (23rd July) family and a small group of friends gathered together in celebration of the life of our beautiful baby girl, and to witness her dedication to God....Christie was an amazing pastor and his Irish accent, in my opinion, just added to the magic of the ceremony.

Our wonderful friends (and English family) Rob and Kerry stood, together with my oldest and closest friend Tanya, as God Parents and I just know with people like this in her life our youngest will be very very blessed.

As with Nick's blessing it was lovely to have my mom with us and to see the love on her face as she watched her four grandchildren during the service, a very special and significant day for all involved.