Sharing the Joy March

I have been finding life hard lately I am not going to lie. Some days I feel like I can climb mountains and others I am stuck right at the bottom of the valley. It has been a bit rubbish but each day is a new day and actually on the grand scheme of things I am rather blessed. So with that I thought I would write my little positive post sharing the things we are grateful for. The little blessings in my life that I can read back on one day and think wow we were blessed.


Sunny Days

I really love the sunshine and ok its been shining when I have been at work and stuck inside a hot hospital but it makes everyone feel happy. The few days I have been off and it has been sunny its been lovely to play out in the garden. Also heading into work and its light is not as painful when you start work at 7am. It makes me excited for the spring and getting out the house without twenty layers on.

Two Year Checks

My little Son Son had his two year check this week. Which now they do at the nursery which I was dreading but actually went really well. Son Son is coming along well and he was really relaxed to be with his key worker. With Son Son being my youngest its kind of like the end of an era with all the health visitor business.

New Work

My husband has recently got some local work which looks like it could be fruitful. Being a video producer it can be a bit hit and miss. the fact that its local means no long commutes to London. He is a very talented man he deserves all the breaks he gets.

Days out with the family

This will always be my favourite thing to do, we have been swimming and to the beach but we are a busy family and days together as a five are very rare. I think this is what makes it so so special. My husband is away alot of the next few weeks so hopefully we can hang out sometime soon.

So here is just a few things that bring me joy. I actually found it hard but the more I write about it the easier it becomes. I have so many draft posts where I have started a post and gave up. Hopefully I can get back into a better flow of writing soon.

eFRAME Picture Frame Review

There is one thing I love and that's taking photos, they can be off anything I am forever trying to get better at my technique. As much as I love taking them I love looking at photos, I often waste tons of time looking at photos new and old. So when we got offered a review of a wonderful frame from eFRAME I could not wait for it to come. You see as nice as photos can be in canvas prints they do not beat a framed picture. The way they hang as flat almost like its part of the wall.

The thing about eFRAME is that you can customise any size frame, so if you have a photo that can not be stretched it is perfect for that. eFRAME stock a large selection of frames. There is different options to chose there is ready made frames, which if your like me and have no clue then this is a good option. Another service is their print and frame option where your frame will be delivered with a print of your choice, and lastly they sell a custom frame, where you can choose your own size frame.

The design process is the easy, you choose the size (and there is popular sizes too if your not good with sizes like me). You can chose the frame weather it be wood or aluminium or even one from their own collection. I went for a black frame with a white border, the effect of the photo against the white wall is almost as if the picture is just against the wall. The great thing about my frame is that as its rather large 45cm by 65cm that their is no glass weighing the frame down, the front of it is made out of perspex. 

The only issue I had was I did get a little confused using the website, I think I was rather excited to get a frame I clicked the wrong thing by mistake, so when it came I was surprised as it had no photo. I had not checked my order in the email confirmation (rookie mistake). Other than that the website was easy to use, I like that you can choose any size and it did not take too long. The only way it may take a long time if you are rather indecisive as there is alot of choice. I had in my mind the colours and the type of frame I was after, which I think helped cut the time down.  

The delivery was exceptionally quick especially as it was custom made, and the frame packaging well nothing was going to break that frame on delivery. Wrapped within another package and very secure. I could not fault the packaging. It did take some time getting into the package and a good pair of scissors.

I love our new frame, it looks perfect in our living room. People have been attracted to it as they come in and always comment on the standard of the frame. I shall use the service again as I love a good frame. The price of this frame £40 excluding VAT, you may be thinking a bit pricey but the quality is excellent. So why not check out the eFRAME website and start planning your print that you would like on your wall. 

  

Life oh LIfe - Feb

Just thought I would write a little update of our day to day, I know we have not been around as much as I liked on the whole blogging front but someone has been stealing my evenings so I have been stuck, infact tonight is the first free night in along time and I spent it doing a sainsbury online shop! Oh well It hasn't helped I have been working alot of evenings meaning by the time I get back my brain is mush. Enough about the boring bits of my days heres the fun parts.

We have been making the most of our garden and getting the kids outside. Its been so cold so the park is no go so at least the garden we are not far from the warmth. Little Bear has loved it and we find it really difficult to get him to come inside. Pants has found it good for football practice so the warmer days shall bring much relief. I really can not wait, we have never had a good garden so shall be interesting. I have loved the sun shining even if it has meant cycling to work has been rather chilly.

With the season of love upon us me and Ami have been getting creative making heart stamps out of toilet roll. Really easy to make all I did was make the circle into a heart and tape it and all set of a toddler to put as much hearty paint all over the place. We also put masking tape into a heart shape so when it peeled of it would look all lovely. It was fun and for the first time I did not feel so stressed with paint, Ami enjoyed it and although the toilet rolls when all mushy and we ran out of paper she was doing it for ages.

Pants just played in his last game of his season, they won 14 matches out of 14 and scored a impressive 105 goals, although Pants has felt a little crushed by sitting on the bench it will hopefully help him to be more disciplined. He likes to have fun and finds it hard to sit still so as he gets older I hope it improves. The team did really well, really well for 7/8 year olds. My husband I think has been enjoying 2 football games on a Saturday.

Little bear is finally starting to talk, he can now say birbees and bath along with mummy and daddy. My first two were such chatterboxes and they speak alot for him so its nice to see him say words. Ami got so excited as she understood what she said, she is so good at encouraging when shes not beating him up.

Yes we made a dragon also

So this is some highlights from us at the moment, life has been busy fitting in work and childcare me and my husband are often passing ships.

Me and Mine - December

Wow what a year, can not believe today is the last day of the year! 2014 went by with out me knowing. One thing I am so happy about is taking our little photos each month, as much as my husband moans then so do the kids we are always happy of the result.

This months photo was taken at Southwold our family annual trip when at the in laws, sadly we forgot the DSLR so have Iphone photos which is a shame its such beautiful surroundings. We walk o the pier have chips it gives a nice little break from being in a house with 20 other people. The kids enjoyed running into the sea in their wellies and playing beat the tide.

So here we are looking forward to what next year has in store for us, alot more adventures I hope.

Here is the rest of the years shots from a little baby to a walking toddler, Our family is getting bigger each month, its even harder to keep them all still but oh so worth it. Its interesting to see in most photos I am holding little bear and my hubby holding July and September are my favorite pictures I think.

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Funny Toddler chat 27 months

Toddler sure are funny and I fin myself tweeting/ texting my hubby with Ami's latest toddler chat, so here is some of our conversations over the last month. 

Mummy: What do you want to watch Ami

Ami: Toy story its my favourite ever

A few minutes into Toy Story

Ami: I dont Like this one anymore

Ami: Wheres your Dinner?

Mummy: Its in my Tummy

Ami: No its not its in your tummy its in your mouth!

Ami to Little Bear: Oh my Gays Son Son (she meant oh my days

Daddy: What do you want for Chrsitmas

Ami: Father Christmas get me Peppa Pig Bike

Daddy: Only if your good

Ami I want to go to Daddys bed when its dark

Daddy: Ok Ami Bear

Ami: My favourite food it scetti not chips

I dont like them.

Takes Daddys fork and says:

"Dont worry Daddy I feed you"

She then started feeding Daddy! 

Ami waking at 6am 

Daddy: Ami back to bed its night time

Ami: No thank you its morning. 

Daddy: No look its dark outside

Ami: No put Peppa pig on

I caught Ami upstairs in my draws covered in Lipstick

Mummy: Have you been playing with Mummy's Lipsticks

Ami: Yes I look all pretty now!

I got the natvity out which is very old so I showed Ami in which she replied. 

Ami: Why has that man got face paint? 

Mummy: What do you mean?

Ami: That man he has face paint

I looked at one of the figures and it was a King that had been painted black in a old person way 

Mummy: No thats his skin colour Ami

Ami: Oh thats his skin Aston

She then has told everyone who has come round. 

Here is just a few of our little chats next month I will be a bit better at writing them down as some are just so funny.

Angel Delight - Bubblegum flavour yes bubblegum!

As a child I loved Angel Delight it was a pudding I could make on my own and was not too much fuss. Learning to use a measuring jug and mixing were skills I owe to many years of angel delight. I have not had it for years so now me being a grown up I was like argh bubble gum, surely this is wrong on lots of levels but the kids gave it a go!

We do not do alot of cooking mainly because our old kitchen was so small it was stressful but in our new house there is alot of room and this was out first little food item we have made. I say we Ami did all the whisking on her own. She even got her hands in there (I did not tell her brother and her hands were clean). It brought back lots of memories of childhood and me and my sisters. We pored it into the bowls and she waited outside the fridge till dinner then scoffed her dinner down in record time so she could eat it!

So after dinner it was time for pudding and an excited Ami got the puddings out and as a surprise I let them put sprinkles on the top. Pants went mad with the freedom and poured the whole lot all on his pudding but had a fab time all the same. I fed Little beat his little portion and had a try and actually was surprised as I usually hate bubblegum flavour but this was not too bad. The normal Angel delight was there with a slight taste of bubble gum. It was rather nice, my husband was upset as we had not made him a portion! I tild him he could make his own but he was not up for it.

They all loved the Angel delight and actually is a cheaper pudding to many others on the market for a larger family. They had a lovely time decorating the puddings and for them was a special treat, something different from the boring yogurts they have every night. For me it was like passing a love of Angel Delight down to my little ones.

 We shall be adding more angel delight in the shopping from now on. A simple pudding and alot of fun to be had. Ami enjoyed finishing of all the puddings and Daddy sulked because he did not get any. Check out the Angel Delight Facebook page too for more info on what to do with normal Angel Delight. 

 “This post is an entry for #AngelDelightMoments Linky Challenge”

Siblings - August

One thing I love about summer is days spent playing at the beach. Even though we live a stones throw away we still do not go as much as I would like. Also it has taken my youngest a few trips to like the sand. One day we popped to the beach on a warm afternoon and the kids (well me) made a castle. Pants made the bridges, Ami got the shells and Little bear ate alot of sand. It was a lovely time at the beach, it may have been short but the kids loved it, I loved it. Making memories and loving the seaside what could be more fun.

 

Ami was over the moon, its not very often that Pants is away from a ball game and wanting to play with her she loved it more for that reason. 

Join in with the Siblings Portrait challenge or click the badge below to see some more lovely pictures too.