Uncle Richard came home

We spent the weekend of the 14th/15th over in Bradford as baby bro Richard came home from his mission - yey!!Mum is just in her element, I'm sure as she's had an empty nest since Caroline moved out in October. It was really lovely being with him, introducing him to Ben and him seeing Joseph as a big boy. Joseph was actually really cute he just walked in sat on his knee unprompted and said -

'Hello Uncle Richard - you back off your mission - I missed you' (Slightly prompted!).

Emily was much more shy at first, refusing to go and say hello 'I don't like Uncle Richard' she was heard to whisper but then when she got over the pressure of the moment she was 'Uncle Richard come n sit next to me':)

It was also really uplifting and motivating to be with a returned missionary full of the spirit and enthusiasm for sharing the gospel - I felt like I wanted a bit of it so I'm going to start reading preach my gospel and get more focused on my prayers - love it when you have an experience that rechargers you.

Yes, straight away

Joseph: Mummy can you just squash me Mummy?

Me: You mean like this ( I put my arm around him)..

Joseph : Yes, you squash me with your other arm too Mummy.

One happy Mummy!

A Quartet of Bank Holidays - I'm Lovin it!

Thanks to  ' a combination of events centered around the lunar cycle, the solar cycle, the division of each year into 365 days and a 1,700 year old Church ruling.' which determine the date of Easter (source Answers.com) and a certain Royal Wedding we have just enjoyed 4 Bank/public holidays in the space of 11 days. It's been great. Whoever decided that a working week should be 5 days long???

Bank Holiday 1 - April 22nd Good Friday

Newby Hall, Ripon.

Lovely hall with great gardens, enjoyed a picnic, train ride and digging in the sand. Highlight was watching Joseph in the fountains - Ben was a little unsure about being squirted with cool water.

Ben turning the minature train ride into a white knuckle ride for Daddy!

Whe did my boy get so grown up?

A great day was sealed with fish n’ chips and reading about what Jesus did for us on Good Friday. I’m so grateful for my saviour, for his atoning sacrifice which provides me with the possibilities of repenting of my many sins and returning to live with my Heavenly Father with my family.

Bank Holiday Numero Dos – April 25^th

Mother Shipton’s  Cave – Knaresborough

After a lazy morning we set off to Knaresborough. Picked Aunty Caroline up from her flat which is only a mile or so away from this lovely market town and headed to Britain’s oldest attraction ‘ Mother Shipton’s Cave.

The woodland setting was really pretty and gave great views over the river to the houses built on the steep edge of the hill on which the town centre is built. We walked to find the infamous cave next to the Petrifying Well. The well was fascinating with the teddy bears, shoes hanging from its ridge and gradually being turned to stone (or petrified) due to the water falling on them having an extremely high mineral content. It apparently takes only 3 months for a bear to be ‘petrified’.

The Petrifying Well

So the well was unique and interesting however, the cave was a bit of a let-down. I had imagined a vast underground cave the reality was a small cave above ground with a model of Old Mother Shipton in the darkest corner – hey ho, been there seen that. The walk back on the other side of the river was lovely and Nathan and I will come back sometime for a boat ride on the river and to explore the castle on the hill.

Bank holiday Trois – April 29^th The Royal Wedding.

Nathan went for a long walk in the Lake District with his Dad. Amy came over to help watch the boys as I went to do some early morning piano lessons and then to watch the Royal wedding between Kate and Will – now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Kate/Catherine/ Duchess of Cambridge looked absolutely stunning and it was nice to see how relaxed and genuinely happy they seemed together. Thanks for deciding to get married on this day so that we could benefit from this bumper run of public holidays.

Prince Joseph dressed up for his Royal banquet at school

Bank Holiday Four – May 2^nd

The Childrens’ Festival, Harewood House

We decided fairly late on to head towards the Childrens’ Festival at Harewood House – best take advantage of the children being under four and therefore still free! We set off on the supposed 30 minute journey at 11:20. As soon as we came off the A1 we were embedded in a snail trail for the remaining 7 miles to Harewood. Fortunately the boys had already fallen asleep and remained so for the majority of the next 2 hours that it took to finally arrive. Nathan and I fought the urge to turn around and just give up. On arrival we weren’t entirely sure we’d made the right decision – it was heaving and many of the attractions had long queues and had additional fees. Any how we went and saw Peppa pig and George – the boys liked that.

Peppa or is it George - no it's Peppa!

 We tried to see Justin aka Mr Tumble doing his show but we were just too far back. We headed to the park but the crowds were there too, the numerous children crawling over the equipment looked like an army of ants. So we went to the bird gardens which were lovely. Thinking we should call it a day, we walked back up the hill only to find that the Roary the Racing car show was on the stage and we could get almost front row standing places.

At one point Joseph did a great littlle dance to the theme tune!


 The boys were happy and showed some great moves to the music. The Bob the Builder and Wendy show followed – success the entrance fee was becoming worth it!

Satisfied and in want of an ice-cream we made towards the Yorkshire Dales ice-cream van. Coming in the opposite direction was a group of security guards escorting Justin to his get a way car (golf buggy). Well in ‘Supermum’ style I set off at speed with Joseph is close pursuit to get a photo of him and I got a great one – just don’t want to imagine what I looked like?!!!

'I'm Justin!' (Must be said in correct Justin way!)

Admission totally worth it – got a photo of Justin J

So these bank holidays have been great – just so nice to spend lots of time as a family, total bonus that the weather has been fab – it’s so much easier to have a great time with great weather. Long, long may it continue.

Wonder when we’ll get 4 public holidays in 11 days again?

Photos to follow when I can be bothered to upload them for the third time - arrrrgh!

In the midst of a migraine

This week I had another migraine, I've been having quite a few recently.  Nathan was great and sorted the boys out whilst I went and buried my head in my pillow. Migraines really do suck, head feels like it's in a burning clamp and sickness. All I ever want to do is fall fast asleep and sleep it off. As I tried to zone out the activity of downstairs kept drawing me back to painful wakefulness though it did have me laughing out loud at points non the less.

'Daddy! Daddy! Ben's pooed in the bath...come quick Daddy it's bisgusting (no spelling error!)'

He must have  then got himself out of the bath leaving Ben wading in his own muck, climbed onto the toilet seat and heckled  the following out of the window...

'Leo...Leo..Ben's pooed in the bath Leo! Leo I'm naked! I'm just a bit naked Leo!'

{How does an 11 year old boy respond to that??!}

An eventful Saturday

Had a great eveing with Nathan's work colleagues on Friday. We went to the Royal York hotel, had food (good in the taste department, small in the potions size -not necessarily a bad thing!)I enjoyed talking to Ashleigh - Graham's girlfriend and found her really easy to talk too. Everyone seems to really like Nathan and have a some what protective attitude towards his standards which I think is nice. When we finally went to bed I was astounded that it was 1:20am - how hardcore are we??!

The room had a great view over the Minster.

In the morning, everyone else (non of whom live near York) had to dash off to various Saturady activites. We however, (who live 10 miles outside York) took a leisurly stroll into the town. Nathan went to a model shop and I went to a fabric shop and a fave haunt 'The Quality used furniture shop' I enjoyed rummaging around their shelves of bric a brac. Nathan commented how he  really loves the fact I bring him in such random shops! I came away with a few plates and a tin full of buttons-result!

The boys had stayed over at mum and dad's. We went to meet them at Isabelle's first birthday party. They'd been really good and Mum told me how sweet Joseph had been when he'd accidently stood on her foot. She'd said 'ouch', he apologised then lay on the floor and kissed it.

It was lovely seeing all the cousins together, playing. Joseph and Emily sang 'See-saw, Majorie door...' as they see-sawed. Ben was of course in his element in the 'Little Tykes car'. He and Jack kept following each other. Isabelle was given plenty of attention from her older cousin Holly who took her for walks.

We had to dash off as it was the Bowen's surprise party. It was a lovely night and I think they were genuienly surprised (despite the fact someone had put it on our ward online calender as the Bowen's surprise party!!) President and Sister Lindley(the mission president) and Elder Wilson (a returned missionary) came too. There was some country dancing; primary sang God be with you til we meet again (lovely);Josh Hatton had done a fab job with putting together a slideshow of photos and people's memories; Gill Cole was busily beavering away to complete the scrapbook for them. The finale was the YM performing a specially composed song. In the event, there were only 2 YM present on the night so they drafted in the Bishop, the Stake YM president (Steve Laurance, Eric our new member, oh and Andy Yoward- the ward YM president and lyricist to 'Bowenian Rhapsody' - very funny and the Pontefract members seemed to take the digs at Pontefract in good spirit- we hope!

General Conference weekend

Loved General Conference weekend.

So in specifics I loved -

 Elder Scott's talk about marriage and family and Elder L Robbins talk about being and doing.

 Joseph talking about seeing the prophet 'Thomas Monson' and when looking at the apostles and being asked who they were he replied - 'Thomas's friends'

Being in Bradford with family and seeing friends especially Jennie and her girls Grace and Eve.

Meeting Eva Stewart - having a cuddle with lots of smile and her talking to me.

Elder Holland's comment about to trying to do FHE inspite of the bedlam your bedlamites maybe inflicting!!

Listening to Thomas S Monson.

The cake I made for mum's birthday and the journal covers I made for her and Carol too!

My mum

Being a mum



Things a mum loves

Just made my day :)