Youth Outdoor Activity Day (20th October 2012)

On Saturday 20th October 2012, we held a Stake Youth Outdoor Activity Day at the church farms. Lucy's school friend Georgia came too, and we picked up Ben Hirst from his Aunt and Uncle's (the Lilleys) on the way.

Loads of kids came, and we divided them into four groups, and they rotated round four activities - First Aid, Fire Building, making giant catapults using Pioneer Poles and knots skills, and Orienteering.

This was Lucy and Jack's group.

Georgia and Lucy in the barn where the Orienteering was taught.

Richard Malachowski taught the Orienteering.

Cadan Stiles taught the knot tying and catapult making. The catapults were a bit rickety, but sort of worked!

Victims from the First Aid Class!

Me having lunch with some of the Kettering girls, Bethany Hough, and Emily and Bethany Winebrenner.

We then split into groups to do a mini hike, which incorporated clues along the way which made us use some of the new skills. I liked seeing various groups of youth wandering round the countryside around the church farms! I'm very fond of and familiar with these fields, as Scott and I lived in a cottage on the church farms for a few months when we first moved to the area in 1997 when I was pregnant with Lucy.

I ended up in group with the older lads, and our hike was somewhat entertaining. Here's Oli Cain and Jared Amos splinting Ben Hirsts 'broken' leg. Our hike got cut short, as we were out of time, and we managed to hitch a lift back with Brother Malzone, who was passing in his car... I will not quickly forget being in the boot (with the door wide open) hanging onto the back seat with Oli and George Farrow, and pulling into the church farm in the middle of all the parents arriving!

Jack's group's catapult.

We finished off the afternoon with some hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.

Oli and Ben Ryan getting the fire going (under the supervision of Oli's Dad, President Cain!)

I had bought a prize for the best participant in each of the four groups (a knot tying book, a flint lighter, a compass and a First Aid Kit), plus we had some certificates for people. We ended up hanging round at the end for a bit with the stragglers, and Lucy and Ben wangled the left-over certificates out of me... Ben's for him and Jared crashing their bikes, and Lucy for Yellow Welliness... (I'm not sure what those glasses are that she's wearing!)

It was a fun day, anyway!

Evening Walk, with our new gear (14th October 2012)

In October, we decided that we didn't want to be cooped indoors all winter, so we went to the large Decathlon shop at Lakeside retail park, and got everyone kitted up with decent waterproof coats, waterproof trousers, hiking boots and gloves etc. On Sunday 14th October, we went for a lovely evening walk on the outskirts of a nearby village.
All nice and clean, beforehand!

Lucy looking lovely in her reindeer socks and new boots!

The evening sunlight was just glorious.

After a little walk through the woods, we headed back to the car, via lots of mud.

 Scott and Tom decided to walk the couple of miles back home while the rest of us drove back. A pleasant evening.

General Conference at Mum and Dad's in Nottingham (Sunday 7th October 2012)

On the Sunday of General Conference weekend, we drove to Nottingham, to Mum and Dad's house. It was a lovely misty morning...

Jack and the men went to the Priesthood session in the morning, and the rest of us played and chatted. We were all excited because it would be the first time in ages that the whole family had been together.
Harry with his first two missing teeth!

Harry and Amy have a kind of love/hate relationship!

Tom and Asher

We could tell as soon as the men got home (John in particular!!)

After dinner (at lunchtime), we went for a walk along the canal.
Feeding ducks.

Lucy and Asher

Grass fight at the end of Cyril Road.

Amy was rather attached to Tom!

Then Robin and Niki came over too, and the house got even fuller!

My nieces, Amy and Emma, with Mum.

Then we went in the garden to get some sibling pictures!

Me, John, Robin and Katy.

Not all the photos were what you would call brilliant!!

This photo below is the entire family's absolute favourite photo of the day... all the Grand kids together.

Every time I see this picture it totally cracks me up! Not one single child looks normal!! What a complete state!

And a couple of me and Scott.

We then went to Nottingham 1st Ward to watch the Sunday evening session of conference. It was wonderful. I love listening to the words of inspiration, guidance and wisdom from our Prophet and Apostles.

Rest of September & Beginning of October 2012

The rest of September was filled with the usual kind of stuff... 

Harry's swimming lessons every Monday after school, a hair cut for me, and requesting Lucy's first ever prescription, for more blood glucose test strips, needles, insulin etc.

From Saturday 15th September to Sunday 16th, we had Liz Knight's youngest two boys, Julian and Alastar, come to stay, while Liz was taking her eldest son Ben to University in Scotland. Harry and Julian played happily in the garden on Saturday, then Julian and Alastar shared Harry and Tom's bunk beds, while Harry slept on a mattress on Lucy's floor, and Tom on Jack's.

In September, I also went to meet 'Miss Mash', Jack's form tutor. (I'm not entirely sure what her full surname is - that's what everyone refers to her as though!) It was a bit awkward, because she is also Lucy's science teacher, and I wanted to check that she had read the recent email which had been sent to all of Lucy's teachers regarding what to do if Lucy gets ill in class. When I asked if she knew what to do, she admitted she didn't know and hadn't read the email. I actually have far more confidence in Lucy's friends to treat her if she becomes unable to treat herself, thank goodness.
Jack got a very good report - Miss Mash says he is very bright and confident, and will do well.

I also had Stake Council meeting, A Stake Youth Fireside (after which President Hirst gave me a blessing because I wasn't feeling great), Visiting Teaching, a Youth choir practice, Milton Keynes Ward Conference, and Scott's Mum and Dad came to visit on Saturday 29th.

On Tuesday 2nd October, Harry started going to Beaver Scouts, at the local village hall. The other Beavers are mainly from Harry's class at school!

Lucy had her first flu jab on 3rd October - something very much encouraged now that she has Diabetes. I though it was quite funny how nervous she was about being injected, considering she now injects herself a few times every day!

Holly Bleakley's Birthday Party (9th September 2012)

On Sunday 9th September, after church we drove over to Lincolnshire to celebrate our friend Holly's birthday (and actually her husband Tim's which is not too long after).

Lucy and Abi were somewhat excited to see each other!

The kids spent most of the time playing in the garden...

Tom and Sam

Holly also had a game for the adults to play too.

This was also the first buffet that Lucy has been too since her Diabetes diagnosis. The birthday cake was cut a little early, so that Lucy could work her total carbs out before eating!
Tim and Scott catching up.

It was just nice to hang out with good friends and relax.