A Sunday School Creed...

We cut our ½term break away a little short to get back to St Michaels and All Angels ' Family service where the Sunday School children sang a new creed to the congregation (with Tom accompanying them of course!!)

Come and join in at the next family service Sunday March 25th @ 1100, you can practice the creed beforehand!!

Half Term

Well, a week's break between termlets 3 & 4...to be exact!

After a few days rest and an eventful dentist's appt for mummy, we set off down to London with Tom's tools in the minibus. Although stranded whilst Tom was working, we were with Mamine and Papytail an easy distance away from Wimbledon Common and park for releasing pent up energy!!




Maman and Daddy, thank you for letting me have lie ins and enjoy some uninterrupted reading time!

An early start on Friday saw us make a quick visit mid morning to see Betty and John in Locking near Weston-super-mare, Tom's aunt and Godfather. We kept it short and sweet as 7 Stainsbys descending on anyone even for a cup of tea and biscuits is a feat to be endured!!!
But Matthew managed to come away with a recipe for chocolate squares, and the boys discovered newts in the front garden pond!

We had planned on going over to Wales for a picnic but when we saw the toll charges to cross the new Severn bridge, we opted for a cheaper picnic under the bridge!!!! Matthew was relieved as he seemed apprehensive about crossing the bridge! We will go over it when we plan a proper trip/stay in Wales....

We then made our way to Mark and settled in to Lorraine and Jeremy's house before the hosts got home! At least they didn't see the chaos of unloading the bus!!

At the mearest glimpse of a clear if cool morning on Saturday , we went fossiling on Kilve beach before moving on to a rainy picnic amongst the trees at Ramscombe forest.

Back home and the children warmed up by jumping in to the "warm tub" (It was made back into a proper "Hot tub" for us adults later on... BLISS... a nice long night time relaxation session.....can you bring it up to us next time you come up?!)

Anyway, thank you Lorraine and Jeremy (and Blythe of course) for letting us relax and enjoy your hospitality whilst not being fazed by the upheaval the 7 of us can engender.

An even earlier start back on Sunday morning saw us arrive home in time for the Family service.... see above post!

Overall, a very positive break, with lots of relaxation and lots of "changes of scenery" which I sorely needed!

Cross country running

Here they are again, yesterday, our two intrepid cross country runners.... Just before the start!

They made the trials to join the Sleaford District inter school cross country event. I drove over to Cranwell RAF base (the venue) with the little ones to cheer them on.

Get ready,

on your marks...

They came 15th and 29th out of 57, but were their school's 1st & 2nd!!



They had great fun and have decided to do more running..... That's one way of keeping their energy levels in check! Now I just need to sort out a circuit!!

Happy Anniversary!

To my darling Maman and Daddy,

43 years young today....

Not all plain sailing, because no marriage is! But an up and down Chinese meal of a relationship that has stood the test of time and stress and is a glowing example for us to look to...
Thank you for your example and your continued support in our day to day lives.

............now where is that photo?..........will post it when I find it!!

OK here it is!! (you see I can find things when I need to! it just takes a little bit of time and working out the most unlikely place to find it!!

PS Chinese meal?: sweet and sour!!!!

Cousins together.

Poppy was on half term this week so she came up to be with her cousins.... Lots of fun things to do, playing in the garden and the playroom bit of the garage, joining in at Sunday school, helping to look after Leah, walking Matthew, Joseph and Isaac to school, and after doing some homework of her own, a special afternoon treat going to Crazy Bongo's (indoor adventure play area)with Isaac and Benjamin!! Missing mummy and daddy especially on the last day was eager to go home, but we thoroughly enjoyed having her up with us..... Come again soon cousin Poppy!!

Splish splash!

And we thought she didn't like the bath!!! Seems she wants to be in it alone!!!!

We had some snow!

Not enough for a snowman but it was still fun!!

Frosty mornings...

God truly shows himself and his creative beauty in everything...






Caught out by the frost.



















Chilly start to the day...