our weekend

I have been looking forward to the Balloon Fiesta for months. So, on Friday we got up at 5am (well, I was already up!), got everything ready, hit the road and arrived at Ashton Court at 6am. It was then we were told that the balloons weren't going up. Sad face. But that was before we'd paid the £15 parking charge. Happy face. Hence, if you'd have walked past Blaise Park at 7am, that's where you'd have found us. The climbing frame was all ours! Drinking hot chocolate and eating brioche; what a healthy start to the weekend!

And then Sunday was my parents' 40th wedding anniversary, in honour of which we all congregated in the Wye Valley, most of us wearing red. Here my niece hands out my auntie's excellent idea: DIY pavlova. Meringues, cream, raspberries. Assemble. Consume.

Hmm, that sounds like a really unhealthy weekend...!

Welcome!

This week we welcomed our lovely daughter into our little family. I don't think there's too much to say except that she's healthy, she's lovely and - above all - she's here. She's a delight to us already, as is her brother who has welcomed her with joy and gentleness. 

Thankful, thankful.

January glimpses

Hello, hello! A (very) few shots of a simple and not-too-well January...

There was the day Warren suggested we have pancakes - uh, YES PLEASE! And J had his first pancakey nibbles...

I've enjoyed reading and researching birthday ideas ahead of March's big 1st. I was delighted to find this Waldorf idea, the Birthday Ring...

As was J, it seems....

Last year I painted some wood with chalk board paint but hadn't slated it, so seized my opportunity.

Seconds later, it was in somebody's hand ... You have to be speedy around here!

Wonderful J.

How was your January?

Day 165/2

Mum gave me some birthday flowers, they're still going and most fragrant.

Day 160/2

Happy birthday to me! Warren's (perfect and delightful) birthday idea was lunch at Jamie's Italian, so off we waded through the rain (on my summer birthday) and found a lovely spot in the restaurant while this precious bundle slept for two whole hours! My husband, my son. The best gifts.

Day 159/2

Warren started his new job today - I am so excited for him! His welcome-home-tell-me-all-about-your-day-let's-celebrate-meal is ready and the table, as you see, is ready too.

Day 136/2

Today is Warren's mum's wedding ... J is catching 40 winks with his daddy just before the reception.

Day 124/2

J is 6 weeks old today!!! His aunty popped over with some celebratory balloons which are wrapped around his baby gym so he can have a good look at them.

Day 122/2

The birthday celebrations continued with Warren's friends today, so I didn't take many photos. But the bunting is still up because, as we all know, a birthday isn't a birthday without bunting!

Day 121/2

Today we had a family day celebrating Warren's birthday. Our lunch was made in search of a seriously yummy sandwich and yummy it was, although it required two hands so it didn't fall apart!
Happy birthday, man I love.

Day 72/2

Happy Purim!! It's the celebration of the deliverance described in the book of Esther and it's traditional to read the story, so here we are at the beginning...

Day 61/2

Ah, dear Grupo ... where would we be without you? Just had some tapas to (belatedly) celebrate my big sister's birthday - happy birthday!

Day 38/2

They're upside-down wineglasses by candlelight, in case you were wondering! We're just preparing to celebrate the Sabbath meal, happy face!

Day 1/2

Last Christmas Eve, Warren and I got back in touch, met at Grupo and now here we are, a family. A little visit to Grupo seemed right and proper, to celebrate, to acknowledge, to reminisce. 

September

Here are some moments from my September...

Spending time with the scrumptious Z; playing with bubbles ...

 and making Lego cars.

W and I went walking, celebrating Rosh HaShana; eating apple dipped in honey as a symbol of the sweetness of God's blessing on the year to come.

We topped off the month by marking 3 months of marriage by sharing a fruity breakfast, exploring a Museum of Astronomy and eating lunch at a little place Helen showed me last year.

Day 272

Happy Hanukkah!! Day 1 started tonight at sundown. I can't find my dreidel...

Day 27

An odd photo, I know. I've baked some muffins (the new cake cases you've seen) and prepared a card to share in the staff room tomorrow and, as it's been on my mind, I'd thought I'd share it as today's photo. 

"Long before He laid down earth's foundations, God had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love ... He wanted us to enter into the celebration of His lavish gift-giving by the hand of His beloved Son." Ephesians 1:3-6 MSG

May you know the joy of celebrating His lavish gift-giving this Resurrection time xx