Tea Party

Not the Boston kind!
Nor the Republican party spin-off kind.
The Naomi kind.
She has been bugging me for a while about having various friends over to play so one afternoon while she and I were playing tea party I suggested we have her friends over for their own tea party (thus, in my head killing all kinds of birds with one stone).  What I had not counted on was my darling daughter's social proclivities and we ended up with a list of 11 girls to invite.  Well, in for a penny, in for a pound!  I figured (wrongly as it turned out!) that some would be unable to make it due to other commitments.
We designed and filled in some invites and started planning.
I made mini cupcakes which Naomi and Joshua helped me to ice, mini jam and lemon curd tarts, sandwiches and crisps.  I had cookie dough made and separated into 10 (1 couldn't make it) piles and when they arrived they started cutting shapes and we put them in the oven ready to decorate later.  The girls played outside for a bit (thanks goodness it was pleasant again) then ate, then played, decorated their cookies, played and it was time to go home.  Very successful - although I felt bad when I realised 2 girls from Naomi's class were the only ones NOT to be invited.  They will have to come another time.  More an oversight on Naomi's part rather than malicious.

Learning about Lent

The kids have been learning about Lent - one of the benefits of going to a Church school. Rose made me laugh, though, as she has got the idea of giving something up for lent but rather than saying "I'm giving up for lent", she says "I'm lenting..."  As Emma pointed out, it sounds quite appropriate!

While eating our pancakes on Shrove Tuesday and talking about why we have pancakes on that day and its tie to Lent, Rose decided she might give up (or lent) sugar for Lent.  She was just tinking about the straight sugar she was putting on her pancakes so I said, "You know that means things with sugar in them too?"
Rose: No.  But not much has sugar in it
Josh: Loads of things have sugar in.  All sweet things.
Debs: Cakes, biscuits, sweets.
Rose: Biscuits don't have sugar on.
Debs: But they have sugar in. 

After a period of short reflection Rose decided giving up sugar was not a good idea as she may have to cut too many things out!

Long weekend

Over the half-term Naomi asked me if she was going to school tomorrow.
Debs: No, not until Monday.
Naomi: Is that tomorrow?
Debs: No, it's a few days, yet.
Naomi: Wow! This is the longest weekend, ever!

And then on Saturday we had the following conversation:
Naomi: Is it school tomorrow?
Debs: No, it's Sunday , so it's church.
Naomi: And then it's school, right?
Debs: Yes, are you looking forward to going back (thinking my daughter has finally deided to like going to school!)
Naomi:Yes, because I want to show Mrs. O my new shoes.

As I said to Steve, well, that will be the first 5 minutes of school and then what?

Guernsey

We have just returned from a wonderful few days in Guernsey, staying with my gran and catching up with family.  We had the opportunity to present what we do for a few of Gran's friends  - many of whom contributed to the gift we received in lieu of flowers at my grandpa's funeral. 
It was great to be near a beach again! - our mad kids obviously cannot wrap their heads around the fact that beaches do not necessarily equal warm or being in the sea.  Despite being bundled up in our warmest coats, scarves, gloves and hats (it snowed in the Midlands the day before we flew out) they insisted they wanted to  paddle in the sea.  After warning them how cold it would be we figured they may as well get it out of their systems so they stripped of socks and shoes and waded in.  Well, Naomi didn't  Her toe touched the water and she was done.  Josh and Rose both went in up to their knees.  Of course, afterwards, Josh said his feet were so numb he couldn't walk on them!!

Eating ice-cream

We did a couple of the touristy things - The Little Chapel and Guernsey Candles but mostly it was just a refreshing trip and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Snow Fun

Not long after the snow started.  Josh has his pyjama trousers on and Naomi just a nightie under her coat. MAD!

Our kids' wishes have come true.  We got a decent fall of snow and they have had a lot of fun outside (in the FREEZING cold).  Once it started falling thicker, Josh and Naomi went for a walk in the forest with Simon.  They were so excited when they got back because they made snow angels.  I have to admit, the thought of lying in the snow really does not appeal to me, but I made all the right noises like a good mum does! (Rose was finishing her school project before going to a friend's birthday celebration).

Snow's a bit deeper now

We weren't sure Rose would make it to her friend's house as they live not far from us but their road is even more country than ours.  However, the friend's dad came and picked Rose and the other friends up in his 4x4 so that was great.  When she returned today she was very excited to have been sledging on the hill near them.
The kids managed (with adult help) to build a couple of snowmen and Naomi and Esther kept us entertained in the afternoon as they sculpted (and Esther ate) the snowman.
I'm gad my kids have experienced real snow but I will be perfectly happy if that was it!

Bath

Steve and I were speaking at a couple of groups in Trowbridge and decided to take advantage by staying a couple of nights in Bath just the two of us.  Granny Taylor came and stayed and we had a lovely time.  We arrived in Bath on Weds evening and were pleasantly reminded by Orange that as we have now swapped to their service (it is so nice to finally be able to send and receive anywhere at home now!) we get their two for one cinema deal so we went to see War Horse. 
The following day we did a tour of the Roman Baths.  We were the first ones through the door!  They offer audio commentaries so we took our time (about 2 hours) and mooched round.  It is a brilliant place. 

Steve with Hadrian

The main pool of the Roman Baths

After that we had a snack in the "Pump Room" - including some of the warm mineral water from the spa.  Then we walked around on a Jane Austen tour of buildings of our own devising!  It was actually quite thrilling for me to connect with those places in her novels.  In the afternoon, we enjoyed about 5 hours in the thermae spa, partly through the generosity of christmas present vouchers from my mother-in-law.  They had a rooftop pool which was open-air and, even though the view was great, it was freezing getting in and out of the pool!  It wasn't as warm as I would have wished in the pool either.  We did also venture up there when it was dark to get a night-lit view, but not for long!  Our favourite place was the steam room, which was warm and humid.  We also got a massage so all in all a relaxing and fun day.
The following day we met up with the vicar who married us and enjoyed coffee together in a lovely Georgian church (where Austen's parents married).  It was good to catch up with each others' news. Then we popped into the Jane Austen Centre to the shop and after buying some lunch to go began the trip home.
It was a great getaway.