Half-term so far

Valentines day was nice. We had bought the kids boxes of chocolates, which they were not expecting in the least, and they had written us this. There was such a nice atmoshere, with everyone being lovely and the kids being so sweet to each other, and taking a big valentine heart they had made to the old man across the road. It has worn off somewhat now though!As part of the 'Personal Progress' programme at church, Lucy asked if she could do the cooking for 2 weeks. We planned out the menus together on Monday and then went with the boys to get the ingredients. Two dishwasher loads yesterday, is all I'm saying! Actually, Lucy's doing a great job, and we're enjoying working together on the meals. Here are some brownies she made to take to church last night. Pancake day yesterday. I actually forgot, but the kids hadn't. Looks like Tom had a lemon juice overdose.
Jack's goal is to stay in his dressing gown all week. He has to get washed, but he's doing pretty well so far. He even wore it under his coat this morning. (It's the one Mum bought him - she should be happy it's getting such good use...)
This is the den that Lucy has been sleeping in for about the last two weeks......and this is what the living room looked like yesterday... (I'm not even going to try and bother keeping the place tidy this week!)
Scott is off work today. I did some new quilting earlier on (see craft blog) and then we went out this morning and sold our red car - it has been a good car and I am sad to see it go - though glad our driveway is a bit emptier now.

We're all enjoying watching the Winter Olympics now. (And we watched 'Cool Runnings' yesterday too, to get us in the mood!)

Pretty things

I've just been reading the book Shabby Chic Home by Rachel Ashwell, and I loved the collection of mismatched crockery she had. When Scott asked me if I would like anything in particular for a Valentine gift, I said I would like to get some. A cup/saucer/plate set arrived today (Ebay!) and I have a couple of other plates on their way. I think they are pretty. (It didn't stop Scott getting me two dozen red roses today though!) We have had some more slow cooker meals this week. I think the book I have (Hamlyn Ultimate Slow Cooker Book) is turning out to be really good! We have all liked everything so far. We had Beef with Ginger & Bay the other day, and yesterday had Bread & Butter Pudding with White Chocolate and Blueberry Coulis. It was very rich - lots of double cream/butter/chocolate etc! It used egg yolks for the custard part, so to not waste the whites, I made meringues today. Also today we've got a new potato and spinach curry. (The joy of the slow cooker is that it was all done by 10am!)

Other stuff: Jack and Tom both had parent's evening this week. They are both doing great, and doing very well across all their subjects. Proud of them all.

Scott and I ordered our two double beds.

Harry went to a birthday party today at the Leisure Centre, and had a joyful time tearing around like a loony. Unfortunately we completely forgot to take him to goodbye party last night, on the American base. It was written down and everything - my memory is just bad.

Also yesterday I did another run. I tried to go faster this time, but was dying after 20 minutes, so that was that.

Scott wants to play another game of Settlers of Catan now, so gotta go!

Ha ha! Guess what arrived in the post today!
Harry's eyes are beautiful - I wanted this photo to highlight mainly them. Harry has spent a lot of time putting stickers on some cards lately, then peeling them off and sticking new ones on. They were meant to be for his friends, but he's very attached to them now.

I love seeing him so engrossed. Everyone is fine - Scott is in London today. We had a lovely walk to school in heavy snow, but it's mainly melted now. Trying out another of the recipes from the slow-cooker book - Beef with Ginger & Bay. It's making the house smell good.

New cameras!

I am really happy - there are two new (second-hand) cameras winging their ways towards me as we speak!

I decided it would make good sense to have a second camera (and I am getting jittery without one, while mine is being fixed...) I looked on eBay for the one I had before, but they are still £80-100ish, so I had a look for the camera I had before that, and bought one for £35. They are really great little cameras - John, Robin, me and Mum all owned one, at one point.

Anyway then I saw another one, exactly the same, but with no charger, and I bid on it and got it for £22! It seemed daft not to buy a £200+ camera for only £22! I figured the kids can use it, or I can have it as a spare spare.

I think having no camera for a week has revived my passion for taking photos!

Had a good weekend, even with Scott working on Saturday. I walked with the boys into town to get sweets, and then we made Valentine's cards. In the evening, we drove to Ikea, so Scott and I could try out mattresses. We want to get 2 new double beds - one each. Scott got up before me that morning, and it was so wonderful to be able to sprawl out how I wanted, and have all the covers. Why not have that much space each, all the time?! Our room will look a bit daft with 2 double beds next to each other, but I really don't think I mind!

Church and a quiet afternoon yesterday, and then Visiting Teaching this morning. I'm struggling a bit right now, with a pulled muscle at the back of my ribs - it's very painful to move. Scott took Tom to school for me, and I think Harry and I will have naps this afternoon. The weather is suitable for a snuggling up afternoon - freezing, with some feeble looking snow.

Missionaries, and Olympics Here I Come! (Slight exaggeration on the second one)

The missionaries came for tea tonight, and afterwards they showed us {this} short clip. It's lovely. Lucy is at a new friend from school's house for a sleepover, but the boys enjoyed it, and Tom said to Jack after, that they should do the same to Marcel! (our Farmer-neighbour in France)
After the boys were in bed, I went for a run, and did just over 5 miles! It took 1 hour 9 mins. If my camera wasn't away at the camera hospital, I would take of photo of Scott's GPS watch thing, because I am really proud of it! I'm pretty sure it's the furthest I've run ever. The best bit was that I could have kept going a bit more, and I wasn't even out of breathe. (I know it's quite slow though.)
Scott has to work most of tomorrow, which is a bit rubbish, but Harry and I spent some time today cutting out hearts etc. on my Cricut machine, so we can all make Valentines cards.
Going to go and read 'Longitude' tucked up in bed now...

Dad's in Wikipedia!

(Look in the 'People Born in Mufulira' bit)

Stuff

Sunday was nice at Ben & Anna'a - said goodbye to Beks - before she heads off on her American adventure! Since then it's been cleaning and ironing, and trying to sort out broken things. The tumble dryer has been making incredibly loud shrieking noises, but I've been determined to get all my washing dried in it, before the repair man comes tomorrow, because it may not work at all after that. My camera lens was making bad noises too, so that has all been parcelled off to Sony today. My car has decided it will not lock, but that's not so great a loss, as I never locked it much before anyway. I managed to fix the dishwasher myself, so that's OK now, but I am getting fed up of the pilot light which keeps going out. Thankfully my sewing machine still works! Jack doesn't want a quilt but a big cushion, so here are the squares for that. LAST PHOTOS FOR QUITE SOME TIME...

The family:

SCOTT: Says he is 'totally a cutie' (Think he spent too much time with the Young Women tonight...)

ME: The above, plus I went for a run this morning, and did rubbish again (had to walk). I don't know why I run OK at night, and really struggle in the mornings.

LUCY: Says she is tired. She seems happy though, and looks like she enjoyed Young Women's tonight.

JACK: Has cried about 4 times today, but he was happy too by bedtime. I think he was feeling a bit sensitive because I whooped him at Settlers of Catan. He has sent in a reply slip to join the school Ukulele club.

TOM: Has the most ridiculous hanging-out tooth, that he won't let me pull out. He loves being a free reader and has read 4 Roald Dahl books in the last two weeks. (Which makes me laugh, seeing as he was on 4-lines-a-page books at school.) Tom cleared up and set the table beautifully this evening without being asked.

HARRY: Bought a tiny pink teddy from the charity shop today, and called it Lucy. He didn't want to go to playgroup yesterday, so had a day off, and slept for over 3 hours in the afternoon. He is a mainiacal scooterer, to and from school.