Tick tock, tick tock... I'm sure the clock is ticking faster than it should be!!!

I can't believe it is the end of the summer holidays, can you?  One week today, and the children will be back at school and everyone will be settling back into their daily routines... well, not quite for us as we are going to have a sneaky trip to Cornwall at the end of next week for a few days!!!

I feel so out of touch with my blog at the moment, which is a real shame as I do like revisiting my posts as time goes on... it's like a record of what I have been up to... my diary :-).  I post more frequently on my facebook page, so if you would like more frequent updates on what I am up to, please do feel free to pop over and like my page so that you are included in the news feeds.

Soooo, what have I been doing all summer?  Let's have a brief look back.

We started the summer holidays with a trip to stay with my brother and his family.  The weather was glorious while we were there, and most of the pictures are similar to this one.  It was fabulous being able to sit in the garden and watch the children play whilst relaxing and experiencing various 'o'clocks' ('Pimms o'clock', G&T o'clock and 'Wine o'clock'!!!)

We also had a few family days out.  This was Skipton castle, which was okay, but a few too many signs saying we weren't allowed to do things (e.g. stand on the grass which was mown so that it had perfect stripes across it... aghhhh!)

I've also done a bit of paper cutting (more than I thought actually!!)...

 ... a Family Tree Commission (which you can find more details about here)...

... a Baby Name Memory Tree (click here for more details)...

... and a few of my new Wedding Day Memory Trees (these have been really popular and there will be more to share with you once they have been given... click here for more details!)

I also did a little bit of doodling... 

... and shared my 5th wedding anniversary with my hubby.

And then we (me and the children) visited my sister in her New Castle (as the Tinker says), where we had a lovely time with her and the children...

... eating ice-cream...

...having a trip to Whitley Bay to eat fish and chips, before climbing a multitude of steps (with an 8 year old and 3 children under 4!?!?) to the top of St. Mary's lighthouse. 

We also had a trip to a farm to pick some strawberries (they turned out to be the most expensive strawberries we had ever eaten!).

In the evenings when the little monkeys were in bed, we had a good natter whilst drinking wine and doing a spot of sewing (my sisters first sewing project!).

 Fabulous times and ones to be treasured.

Hope you had a good summer too :-).

A holiday in sunny Skeggy... and an escape to Lincoln!!!

We had planned to go camping this week, but last Saturday after searching the internet for decent(ish) weather in the UK, and a couple of glasses of wine, we decided that we would snap Butlins up on their offer of cheap accommodation and head off to Skegness!  When I told my family they really did think I was joking, but no, it was booked.  Am I pleased we went?  Well yes... I will never return (!!!), but despite it being difficult at times, the children had a great time and we had time to play with them, which was the plan.  We were also very lucky with the weather, it did rain, but for short periods, and we managed to keep dry for most of it!

On day one, the weather was dry, so we escaped to Lincoln.  A fabulous, and beautiful city that I would love to spend some more time in.  

We visited the castle, experienced the prison in the grounds, and saw one of the original Magna Carta's.

We had also planned to go into the Cathedral, but unfortunately the cost was a little too much after being in the castle, so we admired it from outside instead.  A truly fabulous piece of architecture.  Just look at some of the stone work.

We did a lot of walking!  We saw lots of gorgeous streets...

... stunning buildings... 

... and amazing doorways, and windows.

The Fairy also got a bow and some arrows, and spent hours practising (the mirror in our 'apartment' was covered in sucker marks when we left!!!)

So, you are wondering where the pictures of Skeggy are?!!  There are none!  We drove into the town, and back out again, deciding that we would rather be running around on the beach at Butlins than bustling with people and hotdog stands!

A fantastic decision, and we managed to get back just before the heavens opened!

We also had fun at the little funfair on site (most rides were free) and the water park was fab (it'll be even better next year as they are redeveloping it at the moment!!).

But...  I would have preferred to have been in one of these!

Winter Sun

Each year our family get together in France to enjoy a week in the snow with each other.  As the years increase, so does the family!  This year we had 6 adults and 6 children (7 and under)... pretty hectic!  Fortunately for us there was lots of snow at the chalet (last year was pretty miserable, and the younger children didn't enjoy the snow as much as we would have liked) and so the children spent lots of time wrapped up throwing themselves around...

... climbing...

...making an igloo... 

... sledging...

 

... and learning to balance on ski's!

We also enjoyed the beautiful scenery, although there aren't too many shots... it was very very cold, and time up the mountain was spent skiing as it was so limited (we took skiing and looking after the children in shifts!)

One of the things I love about France are their patesseries and chocolatiers.  Fabulous cakes, breads and chocolates, and the most beautiful displays.  This one is in Samoen.

These are yummy, they are a bit like a doughnut pastry with
myrtille berries (a bit like blackcurrents but not as sharp). 

And look at this for a sweet shop!!!

This was the front...

... and this the rear.  A gorgeous balloon display.  I love it!

Fabulous France!

N.B.  Just a reminder, I am celebrating, and so have...

...one of these...

... ans two of these up for grabs...

... if you want one just let me know by leaving me a message on here, on Facebook or on Twitter

I am also offering 20% of in my shop until the end of Feb.  Just enter CELEBRATION2012 at the checkout.

Spread the word :-)