Time apart - bit of a softy

Ok if you know me in person you may think that I am not a slushy romantic type, but actually I am. I love nothing better than spending time with my husband just hanging and love little surprises. To us all I think that means different things, my husband loves gifts where I love spending time together. One thing I don't like is time apart. I miss his so much, every day I call him at 4:45 asking what time he is coming home hoping he will say he is leaving work early. He never does but I live in hope, hope that he leaves work early, has sorted baby sitters and takes me out (I actually suggested this and he said it only happens in movies). One day he will especially if he comes across this post.

Next week he leaves us to take up home in minehead for a Christian event called spring harvest for a few weeks, there he will be busy where I am not, I think and want to call him far to much. He has been such a bit support lately getting up with Little bear, taking the kids and letting me have a bit of peace. I know it will be fine with out him but I would rather him here. He has the ability to make me laugh like nobody else.

There is a nice thing about him being away is seeing him after a length of time, my heart thumps as the time dwindles down to seeing him. Its like when we were first dating and he lived away every Friday I couldn't wait all week. I watch videos of him and look at photos, I now feel such a creep but this is me! Its actually only for couple of nights before we join him but still its the longest we've been apart for a while. Especially with two small children. So we shall see how well that goes.

So here we are, you may feel like you know me a bit better or even think I am a bit more stranger than you thought but thats me. Below is a video I watch when he is away (although I just rewatched it and he sure looks so much younger in it, this was before he was married to me and had lots of children)




PROJECTED - SHORT FILM from Matt Carvosso on Vimeo.

2013 Round up 2014 is here..

Its finally here, Im not sure why I put finally as the last year just flew by. I still feel like I should be wearing summer dresses because that's where my mind is! Last year was a really good year for us we have seen many blessings on us as a family on been on some crazy adventures. A year of firsts for Ami and a new addition to the family has been a great thing too.We have been on many adventures seeing us being stretched beyond our capacityand feeling tired to having a blast and wondering what we are doing.

Disney Land Paris

To start of the year we decided to go to Disneyland paris for a day trip! Yes a day trip that involved getting up at 1 and travelling for 5 hours including a ferry trip to Disneyland and arriving home early hours of the morning. The only problem was Ami broke out in spots with chicken pox and was so itchy and contagious! We still went dosed Ami up on piriton and found out you can baby swap meaning Pants could go on the rides two times in a row!

Spring Harvest

We as a family served at spring harvest in minehead this year, Well everyone except the kids they enjoyed being part of the team and playing with all the other children that were around. My husband was there for 3 weeks we just joined him for the middle one. It was a lot of fun and something that pushed us a little having a family with us. 

Scripture Union

Me and the kids went on mission within our local scripture union. Which we helped out in the toddler age. We as children were taken to this as my mum wanted a few hours peace from us but I kept on going as a result found my faith there so I always enjoy helping their. They also host a massive water fight where the fire men come and spray water at all the kids its alot of fun

Lark in the Park Sidcup and Ramsgate 

This is both my church and New Generations Community events where they see thousands of families come along to experience kids clubs, family nights out, craft and good fun. All put on for free for the benefit of the community. I love it It holds a good piece of my heart I met my husband their and who doesn't enjoy hanging out in marquees, letting the kids have some freedom to play and serving on a team with your friends. 

Denmark

We went to Denmark to serve on a team in a school, we went to teach some lessons and host a week called Jesus week. It was hard work I was 38 weeks pregnant and found myself just chasing after Ami the whole time. She enjoyed all the attention she got from the students. We went to a really cool pool and I didnt give birth which was helpful as that eventuality could have been a little crazy. 

Ami's Firsts

My little girl went from being a baby to turning into a chatty toddler. She achieved many firsts and just grew up too fast for our liking. She learned to sit, crawl, stand, walk, run and turn into the cheeky girl she is. She is such a blessing and so funny to watch. 

Pants Football

Pants joined his first football team and has scored many goals (a few own goals to add to the list too). He has grown up loads and is such a lad. He is loving being a big brother to his sister and brother. 

Little bear joining us

In November little bear was born, completing our little family and just slotting in. After a uncomfortable pregnancy I was glad it was over. He has settled in well and now life is so busy with a 15 month age gap can be crazy at times but also alot of fun! 

Finally a Nurse

After nearly 6 years at university being part time and maternity leave I finally finished my training! years of sitting in front of a laptop wondering what I am doing is over. I got a job at our local hospital and am on maternity leave again crazy.

So that was a few highlights of last year, this year is new, this year is exciting I cant wait ti see what adventure lays ahead. We sadly lost our friend Joel last year and times we still dont believe it but look forward keep our eyes on the good, keep our eyes on Jesus. 

Denmark Trip Part 2

So we made it, we survived a mission trip to Denmark and didn't have a baby whilst abroad. Huge relief but really glad we went, really glad we took the risk but ultimately happy to be home. If you missed the first part catch up to it here.

This is one of my favorite places

I love Denmark people are generally happy and helpful, the pace of life is slower and the staff especially at the school we were working with were very laid back. Both myself and my husband got involved teaching different lessons from English to Citizenship. I also taught a history lesson in which I ended up doing a history of music quiz wasn't as bad as I thought (bearing in mind im very shy). 

Some antics at the assembly 

We also got to be involved in some afternoons running some creative projects for the students that didnt want to take part in the sport. My husband and Pants went of to run sports such as English sports day, football and play ground games. Whereas me and Ami helped to make sweets, bake cakes and cookies and make heart baskets. Ami even got involved in the making of some biscuits (this involved her licking the mixture of a whisk but she loved it all the same!) 

Making heart boxes 

We also went swimming again at the awesome pool, and got the bouncy castle out. Pants had a great week he had plenty of time to play or ask to play on a laptop like his friends were. Ami loved to walk the corridors of the school going up and down the steps exploring and having loads of people talk to her. She even by the end of the week began to sit down for longer than five mins. Nice break for me!

Ami helping make cookies!

They also slept well most the time, we had one awful night where we lost Ami's soft bedtime cat and poor Peter (find out more about Peter here) was maliciously thrown on a high speaker and poor Ami kept waking with out a teddy to cuddle! Must remember to take plenty of soft toys everywhere we go now!! 

Playing football at the gym! 

I was very nervous about leaving, I wasn't looking forward to travelling home especially in a van it didnt seem the most comfortable of ideas to me. Also leaving my family in Denmark as they were flying back the next day. It must have been pregnancy hormones or something similar but I got really tearful when leaving and sad I was going to miss the kids first time on a plane, but a nice memory for my husband. The journey home was fine I managed to sleep alot and play on Pants DS. I then got a day to myself whilst waiting for them to come home. That was lovely got my nails done, went out for lunch and lazed around just caring for myself! 

Dad give me the ball!!

My husband said that on the plane Pants was a little bit scared at times and shut the blind so he didnt have to look out the window, and luckily for him Ami fell straight asleep as the plane took of. All in all we had a great time I doubted alot at first why we went but Im glad we took the risk. We saw some great things happen and got to encourage some teenagers so was good. 

My little family on the plane

Here is some more photos of what we were up to! Excuse the mobile photos even though we took the DSLR it never came out of the bag! 

Ami on the swing

playing yet another game of football!

Huge game of pairs 

nothing beats a hug with Peter!

Pants enjoying the plane ride!

Peter arrived back in the UK safely 

Our summer of fun

So the summer is nearly at the end and cor have we been busy! So busy to get time to write and reflect has been a hard mission so finally catching up with it now!! As you may know we have been taking part in various summer missions and community events and have spent a few weeks hanging out in marquees. Some people said to me I was crazy to do so much but the thought of not doing anything and sitting at home does not appeal to me, I like to get stuck in, helping to serve and being community. The kids have loved it too, Pants had been 6 going on 16 feeling grown up given independence to roam around the park with out his parents and Ami has enjoyed walking looking for birds and generally not staying still.

So our summer started with a weeks mission in Minnis Bay, were they run clubs for all ages bringing the good news and providing a bit of respite for parents for the holidays ( as a child my mum took me hear to get a few hours peace I think!!) We helped out with the toddler venue, which was nice to met some mums who are local. They also host a water fight every year where the firemen come and spray the children, read about the great water fight here.

From this we then went to Sidcup to help our friends in a event called Lark in the Park, which started there 17 years ago and sees thousands of people come along. It hosts clubs in the day for all ages and evening entertainment. Best of all its free and is put on by the local churches of Sidcup. We helped out in the toddler club which one day 750 people came in the venue which had outside play area, inside soft play, role play craft all fun and at the end of each session they hold a show in which the children love. I also helped out in the adult art tent, a nice relief from following a 1 year old around. Pants loved being allowed to go in the teenage venue and play on the ps3 and football cage. A highlight was when they let him stay in the venue during the evening. We love it hanging out with family and friends and making memories together.

We then came home where I had a few days of but my husband helped to put down the marquees and put them up again this time for Lark in the Park in Ramsgate. We then were all go for another ten days. Helping out in yet another toddler venue, Ami enjoyed it very much playing with her friends and exploring. We also helped out at the evening events in which saw lots of free enterainment and fun for families. Was crazy spending 12 hours on site but good fun, although most the time I found myself looking for my children. It was great to be part of something for our local community, and hearing lots of good news day. one of the days there was a ladies day and we gave out gifts to all the ladies on site, one of the ladies was so overwhelmed by how nice people were she started crying. she said nobody had been that nice to her in a long time. The weeks finished with church in the park where our leader of our church and lark in the park said, if 100 people sign up to 5pound a month to sponsor Lark in the Park he will shave his hair of! much to his disappointment 123 people did! was very funny! We had a great summer getting stuck in to what was going on! Next year we have another addition wonder how much that will change how much we help out? knowing us not much at all!!

Pastor Mike getting his hair shaved of!!

Heres some photos of the fun we have had!

sumo fun 

Being on mission with children!

I for one love being involved in mission work and having children never has got in the way of me serving! I love getting stuck in to whats happening and helping to make change with what I can give! Pants was 10 months old when he was with me whilst I served on mission and now nearly 7 he absolutely loves being around and helping, although mist of the time his idea of helping is getting balls out and pestering someone to play football with him. I would love to go on global missions one day thats the dream take all the kids and just do it, now have nursing qualification should make things easier to work in some of these places!

This year for this weeks mission which is Scripture union Minnis bay we are in with the toddlers, which is actually going better than i thought as im not always a toddler group person, I found that i actually knew some of the mums so it wasnt too bad! Pants is in an older age group called twigs he is enjoying that too! They host kids clubs for all ages from 0 to 18 and in the afternoon hold an event for the whole family. The first being a tide fight where teams had to build the strongest castle to survive the tide! Pants got stuck in a team whilst I had the task of stopping a now walking/ running Ami running in the sea or destroying the childrens castles!

This afternoon sees a huge water fight in which fire men come and hose the children in a big dip! Its alot of fun and Im sure wearing a bright red T shirt will not help me to stay dry!! But it will be fun we look forward to the rest of the week before were on to our next mission! The T shirts read Keep Calm and know God is Good!!

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