Bedtime!

But Jasmine is nowhere to be found.......

.....I looked high and low, then found her curled up, fast asleep in the pile of washing I'd hidden behind the living room door (in a desperate attempt to deny its very existence......)

Yet more snow!

We decided to brave the cold and go for a walk on the grounds of Blenheim Palace. It was so beautiful and serene - a true winter wonderland. Jasmine lost the will to carry on after an hour or so, so we set off back to the car. And it was a good thing we started to leave when we did as the snow started to fall in flakes as big as the palm of your hand! It was amazing to look up directly into the sky, and we all (except for Jasmine - who by now was bordering on inconsolable) tried to catch as many snowflakes as we could on our tongues :-)

We tried to calm Jasmine down with the promise of a mug of hot chocolate in the Black Prince Pub, but she wasn't to be consoled. In a vain attempt to show her just how cosy it was by the fire, I tried hanging our things to dry in the inglenook fireplace and banged my head on the wall above - it was so painful I wanted to join in and have a good cry too. In the end, we decided to just go home as this quiet cosy pub was being disturbed by Jasmine's wails - so I didn't even get a rum for warmth or the head :-(

Highlights of the day:

1. Nick trying to prove he still 'has it' by attempting to climb a tree

2. The views

3. And best of all.....having fun with my beautiful family

More snow

And the fun goes on.......

The view first thing this morning out of our bedroom window

The kids are eagerly awaiting the news that the school will be closed again

family photo (the snow woman is taking Nick's place as he had to work)

Jas loves her snow girl so much she just keeps on kissing her!

Ben's just so handsome!

******

By the way, who do you think pulls the best ugly face?

I think Nick wins hands down :-)

Snowy Days

I got the day off work today because of the snow. We've (me and the children) been eagerly listening to the radio every morning hoping to hear that the kids school and nursery is closed and so far this week no luck. It reminds me of when me and my sister Naomi used to do the same thing whenever there was snow. Today, our luck was in. We cheered as it was announced on Fox FM that the school and pre-school were closed...... so we went outside to enjoy and make the most of the wintry weather.

When it was time to come in, Benjamin and Jasmine didn't want me to remove the hats and scarves from their snow people, and not wanting to leave them out in the middle of the square, clever clogs that I am decided to transport the snow people back to our front garden - er not so clever after all maybe, they weighed an absolute tonne! My arms are killing me now!!!

The snow people, in their rightful place

That evening Zoe and Matthias joined us for tea and we had some yummy brownies for desert. Perfect end to a lovely day I say ;-)

Licking the bowl!!! Look at little Zoe in the background with the wooden spoon all to herself!

Make do and mend!

In these crunchy times we are living in, good old fashioned homemaking is definately called for. So, when Jasmine fell over at nursery last week, instead of throwing out her (expensive, Christmas present) jeans and replacing them with some cheap imitations (after all, she's only going to ruin them at nursery again isn't she?), I decided to buy myself a sewing kit, and armed with a snazzy, sequinned patch I mended the jeans. Jasmine absolutely loves them. However, subsequent holes will have to be patched with leftover material from old clothes as patches ain't cheap! That little one cost me almost 3 quid! Why is it that nowadays it is cheaper to buy things ready made than it is to make them ourselves. Where once clothes were mended out of necessity, it is now seen as a 'craft' or 'hobby' and the stores make a mint. Scandalous!

In protest I am saving all the old/ruined/grown out of clothes and cutting swatches. They should come in handy for the next hole.

Mummy is losing her magic

I have noticed of late that Ben no longer believes everything I say. If the teacher has said something different to what I say, then of course I must be wrong. Miss Wyatt or Mrs Morgan must be right because they are the teachers and they know everything. Who am I to argue with that?!