Tuesday 25 February 2014

SWAT Drill 25

I haven't really had much time to scrap lately what with school half term, OU essays and other stuff going on, but I loved this Challenge at SWAT - using just black and white and one other colour!
Still time to enter by 28th Feb here: SWAT Drill 25

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Show time!

Everyone, especially me, has been so so proud of Alexander over half term as he performed brilliantly in Merlin Productions Sleeping Beauty all week.
I took Nicholas and Cassandra to see the show on Wednesday and managed to organise others so that he had someone there at all 7 performances!
 Alex and Nanny Poppins
 Alex and King Henry
 Alex & Queen Hetty
 Alex and Princess Beauty
 Alex and Fairy Crystal
 Alex and Caraboose
  Alex and Chester the Jester
It's given him a real taste of theatre and the stage and he had a great time.  Thank you to everyone at Merlin who made him feel so welcome.

My eternal thanks go out to everyone that came along to see the show and support him in his new venture - Mum, Tony & Christine, Barbara, Doug & Irene, Dawn, Andie & Max, Tara & Lennon, Rachel & Niamh and Karen & Ash.  He really, really appreciated your support :)

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Sunday 16 February 2014

Scrap Much? Sketch-y Friday Challenge

I found a new challenge website and their sketch challenge was a double page layout and I do quite a few of them (mainly due to having so many photos), so here's my entry:


I titled this one "Roughin' it" about the first time we all went camping with our new tent!

click here to enter
You have until 26th February 2014 to enter this challenge, using the above link.

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Birthday girl!

It was Mum's birthday on Tuesday and I treated her to lunch at the new coffee shop opposite M&S in Southend - it's really nice in there and they even do an afternoon tea option - which I will def have to remember!
We had a great chat and then came back to our house as the kids all wanted to see Nannie and wish her a great day too...


And no birthday is complete without CAKE!  (shop bought, not homemade I have to admit)

That evening Mum and I went to see Tonight's the Night - the Rod Stewart inspired show at the Cliffs Pavilion and it was just brilliant.

Happy happy birthday Mum!

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Juniper Class Assembly

Nicholas' class had their assembly last week all based around their recent geography theme of Africa.
 There are 26 kids in his class so they each chose a letter and told some info about Africa for each one.  Nicholas had some serious lines, but he did so well and got them all, off by heart :)
 All the kids got to show their art work too :0
Nannie always comes along to support the kids in any of their school/other event for that matter, and she was very impressed with our main man too :)

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Dib, dib dib...

I've mentioned here a few times that I've taken on the role of Assistant Beaver Scout leader for the Scout group the boys go to - 3rd Prittlewell.

As part of my training to gain my woodbeads, I had to organise a "nights away" for our Beavers.  However, not one to do things by halves, I also invited two other groups along, so in all there was 43 little people last weekend taking part in my first ever sleepover :)
I'd done a little research and decided to theme the event on dinosaurs - everyone loves a good dinosaur, so our first activity was den building in Belfairs woods!
I'd been in contact with the Education Officer at the Woodland Centre, and she put together a fantastic plan of activities for us, based on my suggestions... 
One of 1st Haycroft's Mum's also came along for the ride and I was very proud of Julie, she fitted in so well this weekend - so much that she's now also coming along to Cub Camp in July!!!
Although Nicholas isn't a Beaver, but a Cub Scout, he still wanted to come along and join in - perks of being the leader's kid I guess...
Our gracious leader Sue apparently doesn't really like the rain!!!  After den building, dinosaur tracking and crafting defence sticks, we were all supposed to go on a dinosaur hunt, but some of our Beavers were getting cold and were wet, so we skipped this and went straight back to the Woodland Centre for lunch.

Whilst we were in the woods and on our way back on the bus, Sarah and Abigail prep'd up the hall for the afternoon's activities - they did such a good job (even having a hot cuppa ready and waiting for us) I nearly cried when we got back to the hall :)
One of the first activities was dinosaur ice excavation and this one was apparently one of their fav activities...
My fav had to be the paint dino feet, but painting pasta dinosaurs, playdoh dinos, fossil making, dino trump cards, dino shrinkies, and dino stomp games were all up there!
After a wonderful dinner courtesy of Emily, all the Beavers bunked down to watch Ice Age 3 - Dawn of the Dinosaurs and the last one finally went to sleep about 10.30pm....  For the first one to be awake at 5.30am!!!!
I had such a great team of experienced leaders around me, Sarah even giving up her birthday morning to come along and Gus, one of our young leaders also helping out - the least we could do was offer birthday cakes!
My inspiration Sue, was on hand before, during and after to give advice and guidance (as was Carol and Emily) and I couldn't of done it without her (despite the wobble in Tesco Friday morning)!!
Sunday morning, we all went home, some to sleep, some to crash out and some to just sit and have a cuppa.

Thank you so much to everyone that came along and helped out in anyway - Sue, Gail, Emily, Carol, Sarah, Kate, Deena, the Mum's and the young leaders, Ben, Ben, Beckie, Owain & Gus and of course Abigail.

Bring on Cub Camp in July!!!

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Sunday 2 February 2014

40 - again!

Seems like quite a few of my friends are having significant birthday's this year, and this weekend it was my friend Cara's turn to join the "oldies club" as I call it.
She pushed the boat out and organised a party with the theme of "prom" which was great, as I got to wear my birthday dress again and Lee got to dig his tux out!
Cara looked lovely and I just know she had a great time...

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He's behind you....

I'm so proud of Alexander, as he's recently joined Merlin Productions and is taking part in their latest show of Sleeping Beauty over half term week.  7 performances over 4 days!
He's loving it and working so hard, learning all the songs and that.  It's going to be an amazing show, so if you fancy supporting my eldest and all the other cast, pls book some tickets and come along!

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