Home alone

That's what I am. Home alone. Michael is in hospital having a minor surgery and the boys are having a sleepover with Nana and Papa, which just leaves me and the laptop and a repeat of CSI! Is it wrong of me to feel like this is nearing perfection?! So I thought I'd take a moment and share a few thoughts and photos. First up I have my top 5 list of things to do when none of your family are around.

1. Go to Ikea and marvel at the range of storage solutions without anyone rolling their eyes at you.

2. Buy another homes and style book without justifying the purchase to anyone.

3. This is a good one - go online in the middle of the day! Who knew that was possible?

4. Eat a Cadbury mini Crunchie right before your tea - the kids don't ever need to know about this!

5. Watch Mama Mia with your sister. This would be the best part of the day. If I'd made Michael watch it he'd have filed for divorce by now and have his suitcases packed!

There are many other things you can do during this people free time, eg, not empty the dishwasher or washing machine and ignore the mess from earlier in favour of blogging. The list may be potentially very long! Maybe you should try it too!

Since my last post of ridiculous photos we have been pretty busy - we've had friends visiting, caught up with lots of people, been to Castle Ward and had a ton of fun. Let me share some photo highlights of the things that have been making us happy this past week.

Sunshine - enough to warrant suncream!

Beautiful lavender

 

Acting crazy with friends we don't get to see enough - we miss you!

 

 

Tootats - he is so totally cute when he says that!

  

Summery totes filled with picnic loveliness

 

Boys who are really enjoying each other's company right now - most of the time

 

Laughing Conor

 

Laughing Patrick

More of that enjoying each other's company - have to lap that up while it's going!

 

And one that makes no one but me happy! My new solution for all those die cuts I have. I popped those boys right out and sorted them into colours, words and journalling then put them in a lovely jar, box and tin. Love that I'm trying to use what I have and also get to organise and store!

 

So that's what's making us happy. What's making you smile these days?

Experimenting

With some rather humorous effects, I might add. I was just playing around with the zoom on my kit lens and coming in close. This is what happens! I give you the Boyds as you've never seen us before!!

(Photo credit for that last one goes to Michael who has been making a concerted effort to take photos of me lately, so that my great, great grandchildren will have some idea what I looked like! Although this might not be representative of my best side!)

And unfortunately that's it for today. We have said our goodbyes, tears and all, to the cot today, and while I was confident of a smooth transition to the bed earlier this evening, it isn't going so well now. So I am using it as an excuse to get into the study to do a layout since it's right beside Conor's room and will save my legs from trekking up and down the stairs all night! I shall hopefully report back tomorrow with a bed update and stunning layout:)

Creating = happy :)

Just wanted to share a couple of layouts I've done lately. I am really loving the extra time I have at the minute that means all the dull jobs are done by the end of the day and I have some time to create. And there really is no doubt that creating makes me happy. I should definitely do it more!

This one was for the last issue of the Scrapbook Magazine. They supplied the materials, which I have to admit were fabulous, especially the the ribbon. I loved this photo of Conor and his little chum, Poppy, taken on a picnic last October.

Another of Conor, showcasing his many fabulous and crazy faces!

My guest designer layout for Pencil Lines featuring my favourite shot from my London trip last month.

And a tribute to the fabulous Auntie Lesley. I pinched the layout idea from the last issue of Simple Scrapbooks and have to say I love it and will likely be using it again! Hmm, it seems these are all of Conor - clearly some work to do to restore the balance!

Has anyone seen the sun?

Can you even believe this is the summer? Even Patrick is asking why God would make it rain so much. And even though I should know better given the history of summers past, the optimist in me is holding out for a return to warm, sunny, splash in the paddling pool weather! But until then we shall make do with the weather we have.

Take last Thursday, for example. I promised the boys that since it was dry I would take them to the adventure park at Stormont. There was much excitement and chat about what all they would do, and as we got closer to the park I tried to ignore the increasing number of spots of rain on the windscreen. Out we hopped and made our way into the park, just as the rain set in good and proper. I seriously wanted to cry at the fact that living in this country means you can plan nothing and must be prepared for any of the four seasons at one time! At first we played on, but then the heavens opened in torrential style and my mummy gene insisted that we shelter under the giant slides. But slowly bored little hands began trying to catch raindrops, and that then turned into dashing in and out of the rain as quickly as possibe before mummy could catch anyone. And before I knew it we had gone from this

to this

Look where I am

Just in case you fancy a nosey, I'm this week's guest designer over at Pencil Lines. This is such a great site for inspiration and links to some of the coolest blogs, so I was really thrilled when Annie asked me to do this. And in keeping with a challenge I decided not to do a layout about the boys, but indeed about me and my sister. You can see my layout and all the ones by all the rest of the design team here. I could have been more organised and had my layout here, but that would deny you the excitement and possible addiction to the rest of the site. Let me know what you think:)

One for the grandparents

Ok, Typepad is killing me. I've been trying to post since last night and it's proving very upsetting indeed. I have retyped the whole thing 5 times, posted it with just pictures in the hopes of going back in and adding text, but all to no avail. This is my last attempt! All my original thoughts are somewhere in the ether, and if you get anything from this, well call it a bonus.

It's all been about the end of term of late, and although I was overjoyed to finish, I was filled with dread at the thought of the end of P1. As it was, I cried. Who'd have thought?! But we survived. I did take a photo of Patrick on his last day to compare with the one I took on his first day. The difference is unbelievable.

First day....

Last day.....

And that prompted this.

It's a bit of a shock to my system that I managed to take a photo, upload it, print it and scrap it all within 48 hours! The scan is terrible but I do like the layout.

Now, for Nanny and Grandpa, who have abandoned us and fled to Florida, leaving their 2 Labradors to our solid floors that they hate, a couple of photos. Just to show that we're all alive and well and that we haven't in any way harmed the dogs yet!

And a final thought. Well, more of a question. Why is it that despite the hundreds of toys affiliated to every tv show and film going, and no matter what special things they do, more amusement and harmonious play comes from a puddle that is about half an inch deep?

Ok, I've done it and will quit while I'm ahead:)

Surely not another photo gift

I'm pretty sure Michael must be getting a bit tired of gifts that stem from my camera and scrapbook stash, but in these days of credit crunches and the shocking price of nappies one must be as resourceful as possible! Oh yeah, and if Ali Edwards has done it, then surely I would need no further excuse! So for Father's Day I totally pinched her amazing idea of using an antique printer's tray or drawer as housing for photos and other bits and bobs. I focused the whole thing on photos of Michael and the boys with just a couple of 'dad' type embellishments, and the final flourish came in the form of a drawing of the family that Patrick did - slightly under duress to begin with if truth be told. And I really like it. And so does Michael. It is going to hang in our front room where I shall be able to admire it when I go in to watch some non-sport/cartoon tv when the new tv arrives on Wednesday!

And now I'm going to bed feeling smug for posting on two consecutive days!

London, Baby!

Too much living - not enough time for blogging! And I see from some of my links in the sidebar that it's not just me. So I'm challenging myself to blog a few times this week in a catch up mission. I was in London last week with my mum and sister (big pay rise for sis = fancy trip for the girls!) to see 'Wicked' which was amazing and we're off to York this week to stay with friends for a few days (no kids!) so I'm just posting photos tonight. I will fill in the details tomorrow. Much fun had and more to come I hope!

Brief summary of photos -

self portrait on London Eye - treat for mum and great day for it.

London street signs

outside Appollo Victoria where 'Wicked' is on.

sefl portrait with big shades and pouts!

slight over-excitement at being out with responsibility for no one but myself

took stroll along Portobello Rd market sourcing item which I will post about later

London Eye - cool to go on something you hear so much about.

antique camera stall in Portobello market

post-show high

pre-show composure!

Really do like this blogging malarkey and promise to self to try and do it more. I'm sure I have a few rants I haven't shared and that the internet is just begging to own! But it's only 2 weeks until P1 is over and it's likely to be an emotional rollercoaster - just warning you!

Snapshot

I have no idea where the time is going to right now. Life is just flashing past with no sign of slowing down and we're all busy busy busy. So rather than bore you with unnecessary details of what's been happening in the world of Boyd, I shall provide you with a visual snapshot. Not entirely representative as many of the pictures were taken on the few sunny days we had last week (was that the summer?) but you get the idea.

Sunlight through the amazing acers in Mountstewart

Cooling down in a basin of water because mummy can't find a pump to blow up the paddling pool

Drawing pictures of our latest favourites from Ben 10

New summer shoes - the obligatory Clarks Doodles because I love them!

The P1 concert - he was a superhero and he had a line to say - cue nearly bursting with pride!

Nesting swan on the lake at Mountstewart

Amazing azaleas in Mountstewart (can you spot the theme yet?)

Waiting patiently for the mummy duck and ducklings to swim past

Being spoilt by Auntie Lesley

Playing at Indiana Jones with daddy's hat and a fishing net

Incredible bark texture - can you guess where?!

Sorting out the garden by cutting down half the neighbour's tree!

It's been a busy few weeks and no doubt the next few will be too. We're coming to terms (slowly!) with the fact that P1 is nearly over and that Patrick is growing up incredibly quickly, and at the same time getting excited about the summer holidays - sunny or otherwise! I have so much more to post and will maybe get round to it over the next few evenings, but for now I have half a glass of wine waiting patiently for me and last week's episode of Brothers and Sisters. Better go and get the tissues:) Enjoy the Bank Holiday (obviously not you, Sheila - will see you bright and breezy!)

ETA: must do something about that wintery banner!

Birthday boy

I'm a little late with posting photos from Patrick's birthday, but not as late as last year if my memory serves me. He had a great day on Thursday, from the moment he woke and came up to our room to get his presents, to the moment he went to bed in his new Doctor Who jammies and stick on tattoo, accompanied by his amazing Ben 10 watch! I shall let the photos tell the story - you'll get the idea.

These are from his party last Saturday, which I am happy to report was a roaring success! Thank you for the positive thoughts and prayers for the weather. 11 small children enjoyed relay races, pass the parcel, musical statues, a bit of dancing and a whole lot of crispie buns, crisps, cocktail sausages and cake! Served on the classiest Doctor Who plates, of course. I hereby vow to continue in my mission to give my boys parties like I remember and loved.

Official birthday present opening - essentially ripping paper open, showing a slight reaction and moving on to the next. It must be great to be 5!

The basketball net has been a big success - we have long hankered after one.

 

The Ben 10 watch. I so don't get this, but apparently if you want to hang with the cool kids you might need one. The playground has a lot to answer for! But he is currently wearing it in bed and that's what counts. Right?

I have omitted to mention thus far that we now also have a 12" Dalek residing with us. Thanks, Auntie Joanne!

And a Power Ranger has also moved in!

Cake number 2 - the obligatory one that mummy made, complete with green butter icing at the request of the birthday boy. I can tell you that it did taste as good as it looks! Hands up if you want the recipe...

Skateboard courtesy of Auntie Lesley, complete with all the appropriate safety gear. Needless to say both Michael and I have make idiots of ourselves on this already!

And my gorgeous boy in new birthday jammies. I fear I may make an awful mother-in-law since already I don't think anyone will be good enough for my baby! Look how beautiful he is! 

Now, in completely different news I am proud to say that these are indeed my feet in my running shoes. I have been committed to my twice weekly runs, even when I don't feel like running. This photo was taken just before Debbie and I ran from my house to Groomsport and back, which we suspect may be just under 3 miles. Not a lot in marathon terms, but I hope never to report on running in marathon terms! However, I was very pleased that we ran as far as we did and shall continue to feel rather smug! 

 

And on that note I shall end and wish you an enjoyable rest of the weekend:)