Pirate Party

Whatever possessed us? Who's idea was three hours? (mum I am sure it was you!) Do three year olds really need the toilet that frequently? Can they really complete a task/game/activity that quickly... and what is their obsession with taking their clothes off??!!

Hope you enjoy the pics (for larger versions click on them!)

Poorly Sick

All is not good here with a bout of tonsillitis for me and d&v for Tom . . . gone are the days of being sick, home alone, watching daytime tv. . . . now instead one gets puked on and enjoys cbeebies (well he did watch Diagnosis Murder so fair's fair!!) Probably the most upsetting thing was that my doctors appointment clashed with 'Homes Under The Hammer' my all time fav day time watch . . . hey ho at least I got drugs!!

Think the picture sums up the difference in B and T's characters rather well!!

More photos

Just thought we'd keep you up to date.

And Again it Snowed

Can't believe its still snowing - was in jeans and short sleeved t-shirt last week and now back to coats, hats and gloves. I don't think I've ever seen such HUGE flakes - did let my mind flip out for a bit thought thining about how each snowflake was (apparently) different . . . God must have a bit of spare time on his hands at the mo!

Murder Most Horrid

Hosted (at someone else’s house) a Murder Mystery party on Friday . . . overall very well received and it is amazing how gracious people can be when I was a complete fool . . .not known for my instruction reading we ended up watching the 4th DVD at the end of round 4 (of 10) . . . all sounds perfectly sensible, except for the fact that that particular DVD is the one with the solution!! Hey ho, thank goodness we had all enjoyed a glass or two of wine and that people's expectations of me caused them to believe that I would never be so foolish as to have shown them the answers, so instead they viewed it as some kind of red herring! Well done to all involved for being so fantastic!

Hope to put up pics soon.

Failed

Okay so have to confess have failed with the whole not reading/writing blog stuff - decided I needed the escape/window on the world too much, not that I don't love my small people, but you can feel pretty trapped sometimes (especially when we are all screamy and tired!)

Thought you might like to see a few more snaps - the first is my jobshare partners' twins - the most gorgeous, born just a week and a half ago.



Then Tom already following his sister's lead of undoing any housework I do manage to get done in a day . . . I was fairly sure he wouldn;t manage to pull the whole airer on him, just the trousers off!



And finally (belatedly) Beth in the snow

Twenty-Four (plus Sixteen)

I'm going dark - it's a lent thing - no blog reading or writing, see you at Easter. Ema

Us!

Here we are

Holiday!

Second try . . . how annoying

Just got back from a rather fab week away at the Vineyard National Leaders' Conference in sunny (and flip it was) Hayling Island. Stayed in a rather swanky hotel which was fab with the small exception that it was a Warner one (no kids). Unfortunatly didn't mean we got to leave Beth and Tom at home, but instead as Vineyard had taken over the whole place they said we could bring them. The downside being we neded to take everything a small person might ever need - high chairs, travel cot, air bed and so on . . .bit like camping in a hotel room really, but we were rewarded with a fantatically large room.

Yes the picture really was taken in January!!

Have to say we were somewhat in trepidation as to how the whole all sleeping in one room would go, but Tom and Beth seemed very happy to sleep through the other ones wakefulness, shame we couldn't!! And actually we did okay on night 2 and 3!!

Beth's first ever photo of me!

Will's bit!!...As for the meetings, they were great. Terry Virgo spoke on grace in the mornings, and Jay Pathak talked about making Jesus relevant in the evenings. One of his challenges that really stood out was 'What would it be like if we treated everyone in our community like they were in our small group?' If you really think that one through, it blows your brains out!!

There were also some 'bonus' talks, such as:

• John Mumford sharing "family news" ('as close as we ever get to an agm'!)
• Eleanor Mumford on our gathered worship (it's all about Him!)
• Rick Williams on where church, work and world collide

There was also loads of time and space to worship together as 500+, and to get prayed for during ministry times. Finally, there were some interesting and thought provoking seminars to dip into in the afternoons. All in all, we had a fab week out with God and each other

Taking it in turns to walk on the beach - they really weren't designed for buggies!!

What's all that up there about??!!

Bye Bye Baby Bye Bye

Well it's all got to go . . . some sadness maybe, well why else the picture, but as much as we love them, that's our contribution to the population!

Best Pals

I am pleased to say Beth is finally coming to terms with the fact the she is no longer the only 'Makower child'. She 'lubs' dad and mum and Tom now ... phew!! She's still a bit miffed that he can't play, but I keep reassuring her that one day he will (although little does she know that's when it will all go wrong - that's my toy, he hit me, I want to play with that and so on!!!). We certainly 'lub' them .. arrr.

Snow, Snow and More Snow ... Well Sort Of!!

It did snow ... honest. Didn't hang around long though, and was much better at 5am when I got up to check on Tom and then couldn't get back to sleep as I had peeked out of the curtains and seen the 'oh so exciting white covering'. Would like to say Beth, (Tom) and I rushed out to make the most of it, but instead Beth had a mega paddy about getting dressed and then it had gone!! Hey ho, maybe more soon.

I'm a Big Girl Now

Beth's first day at pre-school today, which of course she loved . . . it was me that wasn't so keen . . . feels a bit like a slippery slope to the days of starting school . . . help I've turned in to 'one of those' parents. Can't believe how grown up she looks!

Happy New Year, Happy New Year . . . .

(why can't I get the Abba song out of my head??!!)

Thought as I was catching up with Christmas on this of all days I should at least post some reference to the new year. Was thinking about it earlier and wasn't really all that inspired (although I have to say celebrating New Years Eve with Bill Baily was rather fab - even though he was in red . . . have since managed to fix the TV!!).

However, our top and very exciting news (that is if you have ever had to suffer Will or I coming to you for advice sympathy etc re: Beth's lack of food intake) is that Beth has had a fantastic day . . .

• 2 breakfasts,


• bag of Quavers


• ham and cheese 'sandwiches' for lunch (in'' as Beth has just discovered the delights of having a slice of bread, the ham and/or cheese and then another slice of bread . . . we clearly take everyday thing way too much for granted!)


• bag of milky bar buttons


• a banana


• dinner of . . . wait for it . . . scrambled egg, broccoli, pasta and baked beans


• and ice cream

That's pretty much what she would normally eat in 4/5 days!! Excellent, excellent, excellent.

So there you go another exciting day in the crazy Makower shaped world . . . well that and these fab pictures!

Christmas

All in all a splendid time was had by us Makowers, although it did seem to last forever . . . Beth opened her first present on Friday 22nd and then just kept going until the 28th ... scary stuff.

Despite being a whole year older than last year (odd how that happens), she still seems to have no concept of Father Christmas, or why we were giving/receiving presents. I don't think it is because we have failed as parents, but it does seem a bit strange. Maybe she's just blase about the materialism, has already grasped the deeper meaning of Christmas, and we should just count our blessings!

Alan working on the traditional Rhodes family Christmas puzzle . . . finally completed by . . . . Ema!!!! (I'll post the solution if you ask nicely Alien!)

Thomas obviously had a whale of a time at 2 months, ripping open all his pressies and scoffing himself stupid with chocs(!)

Notes to self for next year:

• if staying overnight, take pyjamas for small people;
  
• don't forget presents for important family members;


• church twice in one day isn't necessary (at Christmas);


• it doesn't matter how big your car/house is, it's still always full!


• no amount of camera skill can account for poor subjects!

Ema's Mum and brother (proabably only here for a limited amount of time - that is until my mum sees it! )

Daddy's Girl

What do you think to this then? Have to say these were taken towards the beginning of what turn out to be a very long process - one that unsurprisingly Beth tired of more quickly than Will (or I!)


I guess if we were really clever we would be able to upload the result (Will are you reading this - there must be some software at DPM that can 'covert it' from good old cassette)


Thinking we won't Blog before Christmas so hope you have a fab time - especially all of you with new little people (and believe me there are hundreds of you....you can rest in the knowledge that when you are up at a crazy time in the night, feeding - again, loads of other devoted mums (and dads??) are there with you!) Congrats to you and all your beautiful Little people!
(Does that makes sense to anyone other there??)

Christmas Comes Early

Thought you might like this - really is an early Christmas for the bear, although as she tells everyone - "I don't have them cooked" yep that’s right another Makower delicacy

Long time no speak?

Well doesn't that always happen after saying I had too much free time things have just piled up ... must be Christmas or something! Not sure I actually have any exciting news from all the busy-ness though, just a few more pics for your perusal!! Enjoy :-)

Will's all new myspace artist page!

To check out Will's all new myspace artist page, go to this link:



Check me out!

Blogging Disease

I'm addicted - either that or I have too much free time!!

So far I have survived my first full week of being alone (although still got tomorrow to go!) Actually thinking I have planned too much in . . . no surprise there then, but at least I can admit it! Haven't quite managed to do the shopping . . . normally get milk etc today, but due to heavy rain drove to toddler group and due to huge, new, 'family' car decided I couldn’t risk parking in mini Tesco's car park!!

Thought I'd add another picture to the ever-increasing set - I think I'd like to call it 'The Perfect Children'. Don’t they look peaceful.