After The Ball is Over

It was strange to remember the first day we met her, and to be celebrating it like this, with crowns and ball pools and lots of shouting and musical bumps. Seems like we have come a very long way in quite a short time really. She is her own person, and makes her presence felt in lots of lovely ways, like having a laugh with her friends, and apparently becoming engaged to at least two suitors in her class without our permission.
When all the thrills and excitement are done, we all come back to our special place, home. Which today was knee deep in wrapping paper and fantastical goodies in various shades of pink. Happy Birthday.

Celebrate Good Times, C'Mon!

Today was a big big day. Five years ago ( it was Mother's Day!), First born went off to stay with Aunty Soup, and the aged parents made their way to have a baby. Here she is. Younger sibling opted to go to an exclusive ball pool emporium for her celebration. There was a select little gathering, some poor guests were going to attempt three parties today, March was a popular month that year for babies.
Here the party Queen, resplendent in her robes and personalised crown processes with her guests towards the feast, ( well pizza and butties)
They did a grand job of eating through the goodies, there was ice cream. Better still elderly parents didn't have to cater.
Then there was a hedgehog cake which she duly spat on, sorry, that should be "blew out the candles". A grand day out.

Bare me away on those snow white wings

It was a little surprising to wake on Easter Sunday and find the snow. People tell us that it was at it's best at about 4-5 am, but we have to take their word for it, as we were all fast asleep. Younger sibling was very excited and spent awhile frisking about, but then lost sensation in her fingers and opted to view it from a warmer spot.
Quite handy with a snow ball though, by the time we got back at lunchtime it was more or less gone.

Younger sibling's foot print in the slushy pavement snow. First born, being older and more experienced didn't feel it warranted going outside for.

Such a Night

This was a weekend of significance for a few reasons, and so we gathered together with this likely looking bunch of individuals for a meal and a catch up. Three generations united by orange juice and ice cream, and cow came too. Younger sibling was yet again assertive, this time about singing Happy Birthday, and giving her thee, sorry that should be five hip hip hoorays, she felt her brithday warranted one for each year.
There are cousins, and aunt and an uncle, Uncle John is a hoot, some cousins and grandad. Offspring are becoming quite at home in the fine watering holes of Wigan and Standish.

Make My Haze Blow Away

The wicked parents made off spring go for a walk in the countryside today, it was very blustery, but at least that made the hailstones blow over quickly. Younger sibling was wondering why it was good Friday, as he died. Here the family groups behind a tree all the better to throw beech nuts at mother. Ah the endless resources for activity to be found in ancient woodland. There was some discussion about the pebbles stuck in rock, we doubt that superglue was involved firstborn, more likely some geological process invloving rivers or glaciers or somesuch, but no that seemed far less believeable than superglue.
The wizard tells us we may drink our fill of the spring as the water falls at his will, the less romantic amongst us think that access to land rights were more of a motivation really.
You may believe that Gunchester lurks under permanent rain clouds, so here is the proof that sometimes the rain clouds ( or here hailstones) pass just next to. Downtown Manchester in sunlight.
Although the hailstones were very beautiful, the big ones looked like cut diamonds in shape, and seeing them tumble through the tree branches was lovely, the hiss of them hitting the ground, younger sibling started to feel her perimeval unease at being in the woods and so we went home for High School Musical 2.

Here's one we made earlier.

As I'm sure we're all aware today is World Book Day, and our school asked for everyone to come to school dressed as their favourite book character. The journey to school, and the hanging around in the playground was very interesting as a result.
There were lots of Harry Potters, lots of witches...no doubt wise parents were squeezing value from those Halloween costumes they forked out for. Some lovely handcrafted ones...Wally from the 'Where's Wally?' books, a rather lovely Little Red Riding Hood and loads of Hermnione Graingers.

Then there are our representatives. As the revered artist says ' Ken yah see wot it is yit?' ( Think Rolf Harris!)





First born was very tempted by Hermione Grainger, but upon reflecting that everyone would want to be her, and shop bought robes were unlikely to win prizes there was a rethink and tah dah here she is as Nancy Drew ( teenage detective). The charity shops round about are depleted after all pater familias' hard work.
Younger sibling was adamant from the off that she was going to be Dobby the house elf, so here she is, thanks to grandma with cats for the pillow slips and a rather good swim hat from Decathlon, oustanding art work from pater, and her own modelling of a nose from a large car sponge. Pater had made a fine one with great care, but she really wanted to make her own, so there it is.
Please leave us a comment to say who you would have dressed up as if you had been invloved.

Let the Sunshine In.

What a day. From the first rustlings of the toaster as the offspring swung into action preparing a mother's day breakfast to the various stop offs at grandma's house to deliver flowers, it's been go go go.

Here they are, grand mothers and granddaughters just being themselves. These pictures were only semi intentional to show where the resepective genes derive from for these rather different siblings, but also show how blessed we are to have over 120 years of female wisdom within such short range of our home.

Can't say fairer than that really.

One of the great things grandmas show us is the delight that is to be had from being together, sharing family bonds and having a giggle together. Plus they do love a nice bunch of flowers.

Take me to the place I love.

Today was a busy busy day, pater familias is hard at work assembling the costume for 'World Book Day' on Thursday when the shorter members of the family will be attending school dressed as their chosen book characters. First born was tempted by Hermione Grainger, but after a discussion about how many there would be in school and therefore less chance of winning any prizes she has now opted for Nancy Drew. There is now a magnifying glass. Younger sibling has opted for Dobby, she seems to feel some affintiy for house elfves....hmm what's that about I wonder?

Other news........

First born went with her Brownie pack to watch a rendition of 'High School Musical' at the Plaza, real actors and everything, here she is upon her return, in uniform and aglow with all the excitement of being at the theatre, or is that the large bag of Haribo she consumed? Dunno.

Meanwhile pater familias tries to get on with some peace and quiet, never an easy job, and quite exhausting sometimes.

Younger sibling was doing some tricky craft activity which involved an egg box and a biro, cutting the egg box up and doing some drawing on it, despite the fact we have been experiencing gale force winds, driving rain and a fair degree of chilliness she is seen in her usual, a vest.
We really don't keep the house in the tropical zone, honest, she just seems to like to roam free.

She seems to be thriving on it anyway.

Last night saw the elderly out at 'The Railway' a rather exquisite hostelry which was actually busy, and not full of loud look at me types, plus there was ale...recommended was the mild, he forgets what it was called now.