painting

playing indoors

home sweet home

we've moved house and survived the trauma of it all. Charlie seems to have taken it all in his stride, he loves the space he has to run round and ride his beloved 'tiger bike', in our old house there was so little room and I think we all felt quite claustrophobic at times. Well I will post some photo's as soon as I get chance as like every home everywhere its now the preperation for christmas, although Im quite calm and collected and really dont want to get involved in all that mad craziness that happens at this time. Yes, I'l admit to total unorganisation, I havent bought tons of 'stuff' but I'm to tired to care, I just want to focus on settling in our lovely new home and being together (teenage rows n all!!). I'm also going to try and celebrate the solstice tomorrow, I'd love to have a little fire in our garden .....erm...how to persuade warren.

Merry christmas to all.

xx

hello and goodbye for a while.

I'm probably not going to get chance to post anything for a while as we're moving next monday and wont have the internet for a few weeks. I just want to say 'happy vibes' to anyone reading this and sending love to those fab GP ladies, who are amazing and inspiring.

I've been neglecting this blog a little bit lately but with one thing or another I just dont get much chance to come on the pc. Charlie really doesnt like me to sit at the computer even whilst he is engrossed in play, he climbs on my knee and bashes the keyboard generally whining for 'bub'. I spend lots of time playing with him, taking out for walks and the toddler group but it just doesnt seem enough, like all mums at the moment a little 'me' time would really be a treat. We're also going to be moving house very soon, exciting but stressful springs to mind, I cant wait to have all the extra space but the thought of physically moving from our tiny cramped and very overcrowded house to our lovely new home all seems such hard work with charlie, animals and teenagers who want to stay living where we are!! I'm a bit run down right now as we've been ill and charlie insisted at getting up at 4am this morning, so Im of to have a drop of bachs olive remedy to perk me up a bit.

my little bookworm.

A few weeks ago I was a bit worried about charlie's handling of books, he would throw them around, try and rip pages and just generally seemed to have lost his love of books. But here is my little bookworm happily engrossed in one of his favorite stories 'A Squash and a Squeeze''. I wonder if he was going through a little frustrated stage and was struggling to let me know.

Fun at the park

Pumpkin Fun.

Our week.

Well we've had a busy week. We went to a childrens science museum on Charlie's birthday, im sure he thoroughly enjoyed just running around and touching, pushing, driving and just generally having a great time discovering, but I have to say I was a little bit uncomfortable. It was half term and beyond busy, in fact it was bursting at the seams with mums, dads, kids, prams etc and it was so hard watching Charlie wait patiently to have a go at anything, when so many other children were snatching, grabbing and wanting to spend lots of time on things. Now I hope I don't sound like some over anxious mother or something but I did really notice that Charlie was calm and placid, he walked away from confrontation, he didn't get upset but looked bewildered. I certainly don't want to make judgements about children but it was so obvious how differently they behave. I also don't want to make out that my child is perfect, far from it, but I wonder if the other children were just mirroring their parents behaviour...wanting to be first in the queue, rushing and hurrying around etc.

Unfortunately it has confirmed my reasons, however valid for not going to loud, hectic toddler groups, instead we do lots of things together as a family and I don't mind how odd or against the norm that makes us.

happy birthday charlie x

I just wanted to say ''happy 2nd birthday'' to my beautiful baby boy and write down just how happy you've made your mummy and daddy. We love you so much.

Harvest activities.

We've been making (and eating) flapjacks and went to a really lovely harvest festival at our steiner group.

Charlie's birthday celebration.

We had a small family party at home today to celebrate my darling boy's 2nd birthday (a bit early as its his actual birthday on wed ), anyway charlie had a wonderful time and so did we....love you so much charlie x.

Just a thought.

The world is too much with us;late and soon,
Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers;
Little we see in nature that is ours;
We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon.
This Sea that bares her bosom to the moon,
The winds that will be howling at all hours,
And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers,
For this, for everything, we are out of tune;
It moves us not.....

William Wordsworth.

my babies!

All together celebrating Bens 21st birthday.

my firstborns 21st birthday.

summer days!!

A photo I came across of me and charlie looking for shells and stones.

our morning

We've just got back from a lovely morning at the steiner parent and toddler group. I always feel so calm and peaceful after our sessions, I love the wonderful mums and children we meet there and it gives charlie a chance to play along with other little ones. I wish we could go perhaps a couple of times a week but its about 13 miles away and just not possible at the moment.

I was going to post a few pics but the pc is playing up!! I'll try again later.

A mothers thoughts.

After a hard and particularly stressful day I've started to think I need a major shift of attitude towards housework. I need to learn to stop resenting it and be more mindful. I dont want to feel drained and grumpy and frustrated because charlie follows me around and either wants to help or messes up what I've just tidied. I need to try and stop my mind racing with stuff that has got to be done that I invariably never get round to doing anyway.

Its just how can housework compare to spending as much time as possible with my darling boy.

out and about

autumn colours

my pledge :)

I've decided that it's about time I really put more effort into trying to live the life I really want to live, a healthier, peaceful, slower and greener kind.

So here goes...
To play with my DS as much as possible, that few minutes extra wont be there forever and before I know it he'll be all grown up.
Turn the tv off (I'd like to get rid of it altogether but Im a bit outnumbered by 4 teenagers, hmm well slowly does it :) ).
To plan meals and buy more wholefoods, fairtrade and organic.
Reflect on and change my world for the better.
Stop hurrying and enjoy simple pleasures and joys.
Read more (erm..if possible!)
Learn to knit.
When we move house, grow our own veg and herbs.

There's probably a whole list of other things too but to be honest Im shattered right now, I think Im coming down with a virus courtessy of my dd who is just getting over a nasty bout of glandular fever. Anyway, Charlie is having a little nap and I'm of for a cup of something herbal and a nice quiet read, while I can.

books that have inspired me

our season table....autumn

A day at the farm

we had a lovely day at a local open farm. It was made even more lovely as both my daughter Lucy and step daughter Claudia joined us :)

We're lucky enough to live close to such a gorgeous place.

I love the look of pure wonder and joy of being surrounded by nature, I hope he always keeps smiling and just never loses that excitement.

A Walk through the woods.

We had a lovely walk through Healey Dell Nature Reserve yesterday and of course, without a doubt Charlie's very favorite bit was playing in 'muddy puddles'.

Its a gorgeous warm, sunny autumn day here and we're just enjoying playing outdoors in our tiny little garden. Charlie seems so joyfull and happy out there, I get such a warm rush of happiness watching him :)

Oh my goodness, where do I begin. I promised myself I would keep a diary of life with my wonderful partner and children but somewhere along the way I became distracted with life in general. Anyway...here goes, hopefully the start of a happy blogging story of us!

Here's a picture of my beautiful boy enjoying exploring the beach, he just loves nature and rambling outdoors.