We have joined the Billinghay twinning....

...and tonight we have welcomed our French guests Véronique and Christophe. A lovely couple who have two boys Benjamin and Isaac's age, but who they've left behind for this trip... a nice break away! I've had a lovely evening chatting away in French... mmmmmm not sure that is what's supposed to happen! I think they're here to get an English experience!!! Oh well they're off ten pin bowling tomorrow before going around Lincoln. They'll be back for tea and then we're out to an evening of Europeen games....

Anyone read Northern lights?

Would this Dæmon (or projected conscience)be truthful to me? what do you think?
The Golden Compass film is coming out on the 7th December.

Fellowship

Thank you so much Chris and Su for welcoming us over to their's this afternoon. Bible study for us with the littlies playing lego and brio,as the older kids set about a task of writing a newspaper front page with story and interviews from a bible story they had read. We finished with some uplifting worship together followed by a wholesome meal. Time to ponder, learn, read, sing, share, encourage, guide, laugh... Great afternoon... when can we come again?

Athletics

The boys have just finished a three day athletics "worshop" with Norwich union star:track at St Georges college Sleaford. They have enjoyed it thoroughly, made new friends and tried their hand at new skills. An especially big Well done to Joseph who was awarded a medal for his good behaviour and achievements over the three days!The freebies were a bonus a snazzy T-shirt, a shoe/kit bag, sweat bands, gloves and a handbook. Will definately be looking out for the next one!

Big girl....

...in my big girl bed! It's great for bouncing on!

It's comfy and pink...

Ooh, just the right place to read my books...

BUT it's MY bed and I would like you to get off!!!

Thank you Chris and Su for Asha's old bed, and Su for coming over and helping me figure it out, put it together and let me take some photos with your camera!

Leah slept soundly all snuggled up... she took herself to bed and I had to change her there! She was also asleep before I finished giving Benjamin his bedtime cuddle!

Matthew's appt.

He's had bloods taken for testing and we have a follow up appt in 6wks to discuss the results. He has also been referred to a dermatologist.... not sure of waiting list for that! They agree he isn't "quite right" and is decidedly pale so for now they want to check if he's anaemic and if so why. Overall a positive meeting so now we pray for enlightenement and pro activeness and a short NHS list!

Farewell.

We said goodbye to the Dutch Stainsbys this morning as they set off home... we wish them a safe and uneventful journey... We hope they enjoyed their stay albeit not the holiday they were anticipating! Through all the sickness and sore throats at least the cousins had a whale of a time!

Emmerging from the depths of the duvet...

Three days up in bed, unable to eat or drink..... no D&V! just bad tonsillitis which then caused blood poisoning and kidney inflammation. High temps and sore joints all this with a housefull of guests!Upstairs in my darkened room I was unaware that Four Acres was turning into a hospital! Basically everyone has suffered with something at some point! high temps/ sore throats/ D&V.... take your pick.
Come on over! We like to share EVERYTHING!!!!
Taking it easy and trying to get my strength back (everything seems to take such an effort). The good side... one always has to look for one: I was 78kg on Thurs am. This morning I was 73kg! I know it won't stay off as I am eating again!but it makes me feel nice that I managed to get down that low!!!!

PS I must have been ill, is the general consensus as I haven't been online! I've come back to a VERY full mailbox.

The party girl

Looking a little peaky she soon joined in the party fun...

Happy Birthday Sophie! I had a great time and the "juice and cake" were scrummy. And what luck that I won the pass the parcel!

PS Thank you Heidi for the photos and a lovely morning.

Another one bites the dust...

Hot shiny eyes looking up at me this morning and in a croaky pityful voice "Mummy my head feels really strange.... can I have a glass of water it will make my head better"
Bless him Benjamin snuck in to bed after Tom's departure to London and has succumbed to this headache/high temp bug. Isaac who was bouncing around with his cousins last night suddenly isn't well enough for school! A compromise has been reached, I'll pick him up at lunchtime. Matthew however came down all ready and he is NOT going! Roll on ½term! Joseph holding fast so far.... will he make it 'til the holiday? watch this space!

Dropping like flies!

Well went up to get Benjamin from nursery on the way into Lincoln... and Matthew was sitting looking very sorry for himself, pale and complaining of a headache. The head said he really wasn't himself but he didn't want to go home!! In the bus he got because there was no point me getting a call on my way in to town.
Harvest produce all safely delivered to The Nomad trust homeless shelter as well as ½ dozen bags of charity donations for their shop and we are now home safe and sound setting up the hospital ward. Some very sad looking peeps here, pale with hot red cheeks..... not feeling too hot myself but hey that goes with the job!

A couple of poorly little ones.

Well Leah looked a bit peaky yesterday morning and felt a little hot, and then a phone call came from school that Isaac was complaining of a headache and looking like he'd be better off at home. He had a sleep at penny's house (thank you so much!) As I was otherwise engaged with wax strips and couldn't "drop everything"!!! he perked up no end but the dark circles and fluctuating temp belied the truth of the matter. A VERY disturbed night with a boiling little girl who couldn't settle and Isaac coming in to join us feeling sick, so a subdued morning here, lots of cuddles whilst watching Postman Pat and waiting to pick up Benjaming from nursery....

Well what a hectic few days....

The Dutch Stainsby's arrival has made it's mark on the household, dormitories set up as our children are still at school, no chances for late nights and midnight feasts! However we had our annual treat of a visit to the fair, The Billinghay Feast is on, rides and bright lights, lots of friends to meet up with. The children's favourites? The dodgems! Leah had her first ride on the swing roundabout... so funny to watch as she couldn't figure out how to focus on anything and mainly looked constipated throughout! she was giggling though and thoroughly enjoyed it. A tough start on Sunday morning for the Harvest family service with the bleary eyed children reluctantly leaving their beds, but a sunny day loomed with outdoor playing fun despite less than sunny dispositions!
The half term starts on Thursday evening...... everyone needs it!

People amaze me...

There are still genuine, caring, generous of heart kind people out there.
Whoever you are, I hope you read my blog so that I can say : you know who you are, you know what you did.... Thank you, we very much appreciate it :)

Growing bunny...

Well Benjamin has just had a visit from the Nursery Nurse to do his 3¼ yr check. Doing well he chatted away to her, buiding blocks, soting colours, threading shapes, pointing to particular objects in a fun book etc. A little on the "lightweight" side and possibly in need of going on a stretching rack! Our Benjamin is a bonny boy, happy with life and thoroughly enjoying his three mornings in nursery each week!!!

For my big sis Sarah...

Happy Birthday!!!!
We may be far but we think of you lots.
You should come up here it's the Billinghay Feast this weekend and the fun fair is here. Lots of fun to be had...

One of those manic, out of the house days....

Just got home.
Set off to school on bikes to drop M,J&I at breakfast club for 8am this morning then back up for 9am and B's Nursery start. Straight to the Community Café for a morning cup of coffee, and then into church for a lovely school harvest celebration service. Back to the café for another coffee and biscuits and then on to the Nursery for their thanksgiving animated prayer and join in a BYO harvest picnic lunch. No rest for the wicked, we stayed on as Thursday afternoon is Treehouse chicks afternoon toddler group. Guess what? More coffee and biscuits and a final singing session before collecting the Big3 and all cycling home.
Feel absolutely done in... is it bedtime yet? (somewhat hopeful, it's only 4!!!

Thought it'd been a while since our last A&E visit!

Matthew came out of class holding a wet paper towel to his forehead; a bit of jostling fun whilst walking through a doorway at the end of the school day,had earned him a cut on his eyebrow.... Didn't look too bad, and as I had a meeting at the school, I agreed for him to go to a friends' (having asked mum to ice it and put a plaster on it for me please)
He came home at 5 and the plaster was red through, so I gave it a clean and got the steri strips out... gave it my best shot but couldn't quite close it enough and it still appeared to be bleeding.
So cue our very friendly vicar and his wife who came to sit (at possibly the worst time of day!) finish tea, and bedtime routine them for me as I took him off to A&E!
We did rather well, we both read several chapters of our respective books during our hour long wait, I was complimented on my handiwork, but as I wanted them to check it they cleaned it and glued it up. We were home 2hrs after setting off, and came home to four sleeping children . Thank you so Much Malcolm and Tina, I really appreciated your help.
I thought the more children I had the easier it would get... I now doubt my own judgment more readily than before... and I panic so much more easily... like when he "bungee jumped" out of our willow tree with a piece of towing rope tied around his legs,last Friday... but even that little escapade didn't earn him a hospital visit!!!
And with no camera, you don't even get to see his battle scar!!!

No more photos for a while...

A relief to most no doubt, but our camera after 4½years of faithful service, surviving being dropped between rocks, into puddles, left hanging on a branch in the garden overnight.... has finally decided that it is to retire! It just plainly refuses to click the photo! So no more photos as we think how to fund a replacement.
I have just invested in a few pen drives as portable storage/ photo albums to relieve my computer of a photo memory overload. So I will be busy cataloguing, streamlining and I dare say reminiscing on our past four years at four acres.
Unfortunately it means we miss our lovely colourful photo opportunity that is The Billinghay Feast this coming weekend.... ho hum! I'm sure I'll survive.

Welcome friends

Yesterday we had a lovely day.
The boys had an optional school day; so as we were welcoming Dana,Tara and Freya, we had an early start to the weekend. It was a sad day, Kris and James (with Robin in tow as Kris has as yet not figured how to dismantle her breasts!!!;)) were going to the funeral.James who had done the flowers kindly stopped by the house so that I could see them.... Beautiful, I was choked just looking at them in the back of the van.
The children just thought it was a holiday. The noise levels were nearing unbearable at lunchtime but that was due to my boys showing off and being over excited! Lots of garden fun, an afternoon movie and then tea to send them home on their weary way back up to Yorkshire.
It was a shame it was a sad reason that got us together again, but we really appreciated meeting up once more.
Thanks for coming guys!

A reflective day...

Thoughts and prayers are needed today for The Gresham family and Malcolm our vicar taking the funeral of Willow, Angel, Thor and Keavy.
It is hard for us to comprehend the weight of grief that they will be feeling and the effort it will take to carry on day by, taking steps to live daily with sweet memories and not overwhelming sadness. The funeral is to be a celebration of those short lived and carefree lives.
We pray that the family will come to rest with an inner peace and that Malcolm will be guided and supported by the Holy Spirit. May they all feel the power of united prayer, as we join to celebrate those children....

A good start to the week...

Monday morning and a fresh start... With cake and coffee, join with other parents to share our parenting experiences and support each other in finding new ways to lovingly but firmly guide our children through babyhood... toddlerhood...budding independence... developping of self... teenage and beyond...
Thank you Tina for setting this up, and providing us with the guidance, support and information that is "Parentalk".