The Big 4-0

I am now married to a 40 year old! It was Mike's birthday on Friday, not that he really wanted to celebrate, he doesn't really do birthdays. He is so difficult to buy for as well, so my fab sister made him a chocolate cake, yum yum. That was definitely his favourite present. Mike and I dropped Jacob off at nursery and headed for York. We had a stroll along the river and a wander through the shops and then off to see York Minster.

York is probably a bit too far to travel for the day in hindsight, we didn't have enough time to go inside the Minster. Then we got stuck in horrendous Bank Holiday traffic on the way home. Fortunately Grandma was available for an emergency nursery pickup.

Stockley Farm

Mike is on holiday this week. Typically though, the one day we have together as a family to go and have fun the weather is dreadful. So, yes I know everyone is extremely well wrapped up, but I can assure you that these photos were taken in the month of August! Jacob was very excited to see have ride on a tractor. At 38 weeks pregnant, I was definitely less than excited.

We got to feed some baby goats. Jacob has really little legs and can't reach the pedals, so Mike had to push him around.

How cute are these piglets, born at the begnning of August.

Jacob was a little surprised when this calf went in for a kiss!

The weather wasn't too bad in the end, just the odd shower and a bit windy.

Origami

For our first anniversary my parents bought us a book on origami, as paper is the symbol attached to 1 year. I was feeling a bit fidgety last night, so as I had an hour before bed I thought I'd have a go. OMG it's really hard.

Here is my first attempt, the crane. According to the book this is a traditional design that many Japanese children learn to fold. I'm not sure i'd be able to do it again. There is something called the inside reverse fold towards the end, which I only achieved through luck.
My 2nd attempt was a lily. This one was a little easier but still very fiddly. Not sure I'll ever become an origami master

Birthday Boy

Jacob was 2 on Saturday. Not quite sure where the time has gone! His cake was made by my amazing friend Abbie and tasted as good as it looked. I finished work yesterday. Can't quite believe I won't be going back after maternity leave this team, feels quite odd. I had some lovely presents. These flowers from my boss Andrew are just beautiful. I must blog more often. I have totally got out the habit.

The crazy lady and an accordian

We had a very bizarre cup of coffee in Tesco today. When we arrived all seemed normal, but we had unwittingly sat between a crazy lady and her granddaughter and an accordion player, who didn't seem to speak English.

As we sat there, the lady came over and asked the accordionist to play her tune. She kept going on about how she loved the accordion, and just don't see them nowadays. So he started playing. He managed to get 30 seconds in when the Costa coffee lady, told him off.

Phew, randomness over... or so we thought. Crazy lady then asked me to put her granddaughter in her pram. I think I'm too polite. I put the little girls fleece on and then she climbed into the pushchair all be herself. The lady then thanked me for helping.

Happy New Year

We had a brilliant New Years Eve. We spent the evening with Andy and Julia and friends. Jacob had other children to play with, so he was happy and went to bed no trouble. We could have a couple of drinks chat to friends and see in the New Year. Best Wishes to everyone in 2009.

Not really catching up

As it's the 1st January, It's not particuarly impressive that I'm only upto 13th December. I'm going to have a good go before I go back to work on Tuesday!

Postcards

I've got really behind uploading my postcards. Most of these are swap-bot but the bottom three are Postcrossing postcards. I've put them in swap order...

Unusual Postcard Swap #4

Just Because Postcards

2 Day Postcard Swap

Food and Drink SwapStore bought postcard swapCards from where you liveQuotecard #19

"You see.... no-one would surrender to the dread pirate Wesley" The Princess Bride"Age is a matter of mind. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter" Anonymous

"The truth is, laughter always sounds more perfect than weeping. Laughter flows in a violent riff and is effortlessly melodic. Weeping often fought, choked, half strangled, or surrendered to with humiliation" Anne RiceL Recipe postcard swap

Lemon Soda Float

Ingredients : 2 pints vanilla ice cream, Lemon soda

Divide ice cream into 6-8 serving glasses. Pour soda over ice cream, to fill each glass, using 36oz. Wait a few minutes, until the lemon soda freezes, to create a slushy coating around the ice cream.We love PostcardsAnd finally...(for now) Postcrossing postcards. Two from Finland and one from Portugal

Sale Shopping

In fear of lots of shops going into administration over the next few months we've been out today spending our giftcards.

Mike had managed to accumulate quite a lot in WH Smiths, and as our friend (who's quite clever) predicts that they will be the first to go that was our fist port of call. We then went to Boots, HMV and Waterstones. Although we were determined to spend, spend, spend, we have still managed to come back with quite a lot.

I've also bought a journal, with the idea that when I think of "stuff" I can write it down and then transfer it here when I get home. How often do you think that will happen!

Mike and I are going out for a meal tonight, even that is in a sale 50% off at La Tasca!

Back Home

Christmas has been a bit crazy this year. Lots of visiting family and friends. Jacob has had a brilliant time. It's his 2nd Christmas so is much more aware of things going on. He quite enjoyed unwrapping presents to a point. He is defnitely impressed with his new toys. We had Christmas dinner with my parents, they have bought Jacob a rocking snail called Stanley. Not quite sure where we are going to put him! We stayed over with mum and dad. They have celebrated 28 Christmasses in that house, I can't quite believe they are moving out at the end of January. Who knows where we will all gather next year. We got home on Boxing Day afternoon. It was then a quick turnaround and off to catch up with the Huttons on the 27th. We stayed there for a couple of days. The boys went to watch the football (Southend v MK Dons) and the girls stayed in the warm.

We took this photo (and about a million others) this morning before we left. If only we could get all of them to look at the camera at the same time!
On the way home we popped in to see the Abbots. This photo was more problematic, because Jacob wouldn't sit still so Mike had to be in it as well.

So, now we're home. Jacob is in bed, fingers crossed until about 8am! Got a couple of days to do some relaxing and then New Year shall be upon us.