Noooooooooooooooo!!!!

Dam Icelandic volcano - doesn't it know we're due to fly out to America on Thursday!?!??!

Please can everyone keep their fingers crossed the ash cloud goes the other way!!!

7 days to go!!!!

This time next week we'll be in Florida!!!!!!!

Harry Potter

Well, the preparations took weeks and weeks - but it was all worth it!

I'm in the middle of creating another blog, dedicated entirely to the HP party and will post the link here and on Facebook, but in the meantime a quick synopsis:

Alexander turned 7 and wanted a wizard (namely Harry Potter) party. So.... 5 guest plus my two = 7 students to Hogwarts. All students were asked to arrive with a broomstick...

During "Orientation" the students visited:

• Gringott’s Bank
• Madame Malkin’s Robes for Every Occasion

• Eeylops Owl Emporium

• Olivander’s Wands

Classes came next, the first being Divination and being taught by Professor Trelawney (AKA Mum) and boy did she look the part!

Potions Class

Spells, Incantations and Charms Class

Defence against the Dark Arts Class

Quidditch training

Considering I'd gone with the standard 2 hour party, it was a good job all the kids were staying for a sleep over as events seriously over ran so we never did two of the potions in potions class or Care of Magical Creatures class! I just about remembered to order pizza for supper!

When a child tells you that it's the best party he's ever been to - it makes all the hard work worth while...

Big girl!

Well it seemed a good idea, at 2 that Cassie went into a big girl's bed... Peppa Pig and all, but no. Would she stay in it? No. So, an hour and half later when she finally fell asleep, we had to pick her up and put her into bed.

Fingers crossed for tonight....

Birthday boy!

I can't believe that Alexander turned 7 on Wednesday.... where did the time go?

He was a very happy bunny in the morning as we had bought him a DSi XL that he'd been going on about for AGES. We also got him Mario Kart to go with it and amongst his other pressies, Mum bought him Harry Potter for it - and he's already completed 2 levels apparently...

After school I took the kids over to Rayleigh Mega Play for a play and tea and Nannie, Nana & Grandad came along too. Daddy meet us there after work.

Not the clearest of photos (Lee hasn't edited them yet) but he liked his DS cake!

All the preparations have been undertaken for the much talked about Harry Potter party tomorrow night... all will be revealed soon...

Easter Hols

To be honest, I was not looking forward to the Easter hols as having three kids at home 24/7 for two weeks, all fighting, moaning, whinging and generally playing up was not a good thought.

The first week was hard, but this week just gone, a good few days have made up for the bad ones.

We sold the boys' pedal go kart the other week and bought an 8f trampoline which ALL the kids have been on constantly since Lee and his Dad built it...

We finally pursuaded Alexander to try out football at Leigh Rockets and the day he went the Evening Echo were there taking pictures of the team, so Lee had to do the same! (Alex 3rd from left on back row in blue Arsenal away kit and Nicholas 1st on left in front row in red Arsenal kit)!

Our annual Easter egg hunt in Belfairs woods was a hit with Kelly Morgan-Blancke creating a fabby clue driven hunt that the kids enjoyed...

I took the kids to a couple of bootsales where they got some goodies and Lee and Alex throughly enjoyed playing "Battleships" one Sunday afternoon.

Water fights in the garden, trips to the park with friends, friends coming over to play, and going to their's for fun in their pool. Falling in love, eating chocolate Easter eggs for breakfast (guess I wont be winning the "Healthy Mum of year" comp there), egg hunt's at Nannie's house...

It hasn't been all bad I guess.

Back to school on Tuesday :)

Chessington!

A teacher training day at school meant that last Monday Lee and I took the kids off to Chessington World of Adventure for the day.

Despite it taking nearly 3 hours to get there due to a major multi vehicle accident on the motorway, we had a fabby day.

The boys knew what they wanted to go on, but it was Cassie's first visit and she loved it! She could actually sit on a horse on the Carousel on her own with me standing next to her and her smile said it all!

The trucks have always been a favourite especially as all the kids and moi could go on, and this time was no exception...

Nicholas was finally tall enough to go on the Vampire ride and after some encouragement, Alex went on too!

Lee enjoyed the runaway train ....

but I think Alex enjoyed the swings best!

I love teacher training days!

Mummy's Day

It comes round so fast, but both Mum and I as Mummy's had a great day last week.

I awoke to a yummy breakfast in bed - a bacon sarnie and a cuppa kindly made by the boys and then after a couple of very nice gifts, I took Alex to church parade where he was thrilled that he got to carry his pack flag and both Mum and I got a posy of flowers he made.

When we got back from church, there were more gifts including a flower pot with flowers in that each of the kids did for Nannie...

Then it was on to a yummy dinner at Strawberry Fields with Mum too.

Days like last Sunday make it all worthwhile being a Mum...