Happy 40th birthday Dawn and Ola!

Dawn wasn't here for the party, as there was a mistake with her booking and her flight back from Barbados didn't land until today, but she was in our thoughts nonetheless!

Ola and Anton

Nick was Djing on the night - and he was hot!

Role reversal!

Whilst Ben dutifully helped in the kitchen......

Jasmine relaxed with the Playstation. Women's Lib!!!

Ahh, the innocence of the young

Jasmine told me the day before yesterday that she's going to marry Ben when she's older. Despite me telling her that brothers and sisters don't usually marry eachother, she was adamant that they would live together when they were older, get married and have babies. Ben, feeling much older and wiser, told her that he was going to marry a lady and she was going to marry a man, and that 'I will put a seed in the lady's tummy and she will have a baby'. So much for trying to explain the birds and the bees. He went on to say that he would put the seed in her mouth (at which point I about choked) because that's how the seed gets into the tummy (can see his point though!).....Next time they are curious about how babies are made I think I'll stick to the old 'found you in the cabbage patch' line.

My beautiful children....

Today when I picked up the kids from school, Ben made me promise to go straight upstairs to the living room - but first I must get him a tray off the top of the fridge. I then heard him and Jasmine rummaging around in the kitchen, with shouts of 'don't look yet!' every few minutes or so. I waited patiently and in they both came bearing gifts for Mother's Day.....

Just look at my beautiful gifts:

1. A beautifully wrapped, handmade tile from Ben

2. A beautifully written card from Ben

3. And another wonderful card - this time written beautifully by Jasmine

More motherly guilt!

I feel like the worst mother in the world! Ben had a special spring assembly at school today which I wasn't aware of and I missed it. He was so upset, he told me, that he cried because he looked for me and I wasn't there for him to give his flowers that he made to me. I later found the note in his book bag but either way, as a full time working mum, I don't have the privilege of being able to take time off for assemblies - not if I'm to have enough holiday to be off with them some of the spring/summer/half term holidays throughout the year. Doesn't make me feel any less guilty though :-(

aaahhh!

Spring Cleaning

Nick decided the windows in the conservatory needed a good clean, and got right on with it. Good on him I say!

Look how sparkingly clean the conservatory is!

Meanwhile, me and the kids baked bread rolls and made homemade meatballs and sauce. Recipes can be found at 'The Allen Family Kitchen'