What a lovely weekend.

Mamine and Papytail joined us and what a welcome they got! Screeches and jumping cuddles from four very excited grandsons who felt that 3mths between visits was simply too much!!!! (edit to say forgot we came down to London in Feb ½term so only two and a half mths!) Leah was a little cautious at first but smiles were abound and even steps when Papytail enticed her to move with some chocolate!!! Bribery? well it DOES work!
Early morning cuddles were accepted bleary eyed by M&P with the love with which they were given, started each fun packed busy day, what with a jet propelled Lincoln visit, a gardening day followed by a walk in a local woodland plantation with other families, an Indian "not takeaway"!(Sainsbury's own meal in a box for 4), and Sunday saw us in Walcott church for our Group service followed by a buffet Spring Lunch.(It's nice not to have to cook sometimes!) Actually, this weekend I got away with not much cooking at all.....
The children didn't want to say goodbye but I do believe a promise was made not to leave it so long again...Lets hope the boiler and the bathroom get done pronto so you can come up soon and spend a little longer!
Thank you for your visit, it's so nice to have you up.
I will add a photo slide as soon as I put one together!

Riding his bike!

Well it's all "firsts" here at Four Acres! Isaac having ridden his sit on pedal-less wooden bike for the past year got on his newly given bike (thanks Julie! much appreciated) and just rode off!
Here he is the next day setting off from standing. We were absolutely amazed.... Just goes to show that it is the balance which is the most important skill, the pedalling just follows naturally!

Woohoo Isaac! Go, Go, Go.

Such fun!

Mummy baked me a banana cake as I AM a bit of a banana fiend! and we settled down to open all these colourful parcels.

What lovely thoughtful gifts... Can I have another birthday tomorrow please?

PS I took 2½ steps, showing off for my daddy tonight!!

A busy day...

Last day of the holiday, parcels and cards through the post, phone calls from abroad, visits from both God mothers bearing gifts as well as friends..... what a lot to take in on your first birthday!

Alex popped in to play some football with the boys, then Chris, Su and Asha came by for some friendly chatter and play, and finally Debbie and Elizabeth came by for us all to set off to Belton house
Anyone for football? , Benjamin "chilling" with his Godfather, Leah going for a stroll with her Godmother

Leah had more than enough with the many rendition of the birthday song performed to her throughout today and a nice juicy caterpillar cake (chocolate one Su before you have a go at me for letting my daughter help herself to nature's cafeteria!!!) Now that DOES look tastier than that worm the other day....

We hope none of you mind but we will be saving her colourful presents and cards until Friday afternoon when daddy is back and we can fully have a party!

Thank you all for your kindness, generosity and most of all love that you choose to bestow on our daughter. Eaten some chocolate cake? MOI? you must be mistaken!

She did it!!!!

Leah has taken her first step! and what's more I have it on video!!!
We went to Belton house as it was the last day of the holidays, Debbie and Elizabeth joined us for some afternoon fun in the maze, hiding in bushes, general rambling and of course the adventure playground..... and as all the big ones were occupied climbing up the 20ft slides.... Leah just got up and got on with it! You can hear Debbie cheering her on and me behind the camera, holding back a whoop of glee!

Well it's here!

Leah's first birthday!

How quick it has come (although at times it has felt like a snail's pace!) but it's been a year since our youngest joined us......

And amazing how from a helpless babe we see developing an independent spirit, acquiring new skills daily as well growing in beauty...

No doubt we will be taking photos of today (although we plan to celebrate fully when daddy comes back from London.)

Breakfast, birthday rendition!

Well the big brothers were up and ready for their first rendition of the day, together with breakfast treat cakes for all.

The Easter holidays.

The boys are back to school on Thursday and we have had a really lovely couple of weeks....
Busy but restful. Easter celebrations starting on the last day of term with a most moving service sung the children, the Walk of witness and of course the fun of Easter sunday. Visits out to Tattershall Castle, Belton house , Whisby nature reserve, a marathon couch potato day watching the whole "Friends and Heroes" series!!visitors at home: Penny and Charles, Julie and Amy, Mark and Charlotte but mostly just enjoying each others' company playing in the garden. The whole holiday ending on Wednesday with our littlest's 1st birthday.

A sun kissed lunch.

Today was glorious and so we enjoyed our first "al fresco" lunch. Dare we say it was almost too bright?!

The holiday haircut.

Well it has to be done.... but to make it more fun, less monotonous we decided to do each of the boys in two sittings.... has a feel of the 80's?!

PS I did finish it off..... honest!

Easter Sunday photos

An early start...

Bleary eyed the children were dressed, bundled into the car and off to church for a 0630 Sonrise service to joyously and vocally celebrate a

HAPPY EASTER!!!

It makes for an unusual start for the day, but the children love it! A healthy gathering of 30 or so meant we couldn't fit in the choir pews as in previous years, but instead sat in our normal places. A bracing shower from enthusiastic Malcolm and Haydn as they sprinkled the congregation in the renewal of baptismal vows and then we held our lit candles singing "Shine Jesus shine". Of course one HAS to join in the church breakfast afterwards (well the Stainsbys do!), boiled eggs, toast and hot cross buns....yummmmm. Off to pick David and back to church for the 0930 family service with a memorable sermon set around Malcolm's Easter breakfast tray. Here is the resulting prayer taken home with us:

Risen Lord Jesus,

I have been given a new day in my life.

If I get cross, please calm me;

If I get eggcited, please direct my energy;

If I get discouraged, help me to soldier on.

Please help me to live this day so that you and I

Together can bless your world and love each person in it.
Amen





Happy Easter to you all, and amongst the chocolate eggs, presents, sweets, gardening and Springtime celebrations, give thanks to our mighty and Loving God who gave his son to us that as He rose from death itself, we may have eternal life in his kingdom....

What a clever girl!

Leah finding her feet....with the help of her wooden trolley.
Who knows, she may yet walk unaided for her first birthday?! 10 days to go... we need to get some practise in!

The joys of discovering nature....

No comment!

Walk of witness.

1000 o'clock came and we gathered at the war memorial to join in once again the Billinghay Walk of Witness. A silent procession through the village, interspersed with Bible readings about Jesus' arrest and crucifixion and prayers...An affirmation of our faith and the true meaning of the Easter celebration for the Church. Tom and the boys carried the cross and David and I held up the rear of the walkers.

Slight variation this year as we stopped by our doctor's surgery which burnt down yesterday... A prayer was said for those who work there, for their dedication to the community and time they are putting in over this weekend to help set up an emergency surgery in the village hall. Pausing for prayer with the burnt surgery in the background

News of the walk must be spreading as we had circa 50 witnesses this year, more and more joining in each year since we started three years ago.
walking past the burnt out shell.

Refreshments in the hall gave the opportunity for a good chat and the children went over to the church to hear the Easter story in a child friendly version as well as help build the Easter garden ready for Sunday.

Putting the floral decorations together and decorating the tomb with ivy.

Good Friday

The Friday before Easter is known as Good Friday or Dark Friday. In this day we remember the cruel death of Jesus Christ on the Cross. He loved us so much that he was willing to take on the sin of the world and die for us, so whom ever belives in Him can have eternal life. Jesus was Crucified on Good Friday and died on the Cross for the Sin of the World.

An early Easter visit.

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Sommerset schools having broken up a week earlier than ours, we welcomed Jeremy, Lorraine and Blythe for an early Easter visit!
As they arrived late on Friday night, the children wasted no time in catching up FIRST thing! Daddy made pancakes for all and a morning of garden fun was had before donning our walking boots and setting off on Billinghay footpaths! A sunny if blustery 2hr walk with the incentive for the older ones to be allowed to watch "Doctor Who" later on that night if they didn't moan!!!! Surprisingly not many problems putting them all to bed so that we could tuck into a curry.
Palm Sunday , saw Blythe joining in with the Sunday School children in a procession to celebrate Jesus's arrival into Jerusalem, waving laurel branches. A lazy garden afternoon ended the fun for the boys.
Our guests were still with us on Monday so after walking the boys to school, a morning of trampolining and an early lunch, we set off via Nursery to pick up Isaac (accompanied by Asha who joined us for the day) to visit Tattershall Castle. We didn't make it into the grounds as I had brought last year's memership card instead of 2007's! We improvised and ventured on a surrounding walk with a view of the castle!
Back home to pick up the schoolboys and an early tea, and our weekend fun finally ended as our guests set off back "down South". Thank you for visiting, here's hoping to see you again soon....