Sticker lady

I'm not sure I really need to say anything about these photos...it is fairly clear that my daughter has a slight obsession with stickers!!!

The boy who refused to have his face painted

  Until very recently MJ would always refuse to have his face painted. Then one day I thought perhaps if I bought a set he might allow me to paint his face. It turned out that he still refused until I offered that he paint mine. Since then, he can't seem to have enough of it and we are having a great time. I love painting him and he loves having it done. This week we were a monster, pudsey bear for his school charity day and a pirate. Who knows what he will want to be tomorrow, but I look forward to it already!!! LJ is unable to sit still long enough but we have managed a heart and butterfly on her hand!

October recap

October was a busy month so this is really just a recap for my own memories sake!

Another Amelia Rose...another line of bunting.

and a baby girl card to send with the bunting!

The first of my Christmas cushions.

Farming fields for a farming crazy boy.

A dress for my neice who turns 1 just before Christmas.

The back of the dress!

We had a lovely half term trip to Chester and Liverpool. Staying with family, visiting friends, train ride to Liverpool and checking out Tate Liverpool, Liverpool museum and the docks.

Outside the new Museum of Liverpool.

Bird watching at the Rye Meads Reserve.

Filling our Operation Christmas Child boxes.

A visit to the National Space centre.

A card for twins, Michael and James.

October was a fun, fast paced month while November is turning out to be a slower, 'back to normal' (as MJ would say) kind of month!

War: who looses?

'A thousand splendid suns' by Khaled Hosseini is a fantastic book and one that I was unable to put down. It opened my eyes to the reality of life on the streets of Afghanistan and helped me understand a little of the wars the country has had to endure in the past 30 years. It's portrayal of the innocent victims of a war torn country was captivating but also heart breaking.

Friday was Armistice day and as my parents were visiting we decided to go along to the American War Memorial for the 11am rememberance service.We considered and remembered those who bravely found in battles only to loose their lives.

I am struggling with the way we celebrate the lives of soliders who go to war and those who loose their lives to war. Do we ever consider the millions who are simply living their day to day life when their world is turned upside down by war, their families are torn apart by war and they are left with devastation in every way. Even now as I type, parents and children are being separated, homes being destroyed and many many living in continual fear. Who are the real victims of war...those who choose to go and fight or those ordinary people who are in the worng place at the wrong time?

I wish I could eloquently articulate my thoughts but writing is not my strength so I suggest instead that you read this book!

A bargain filled month

I'm sure I have mentioned my local charity shop on here before. Our house is full of things we have purchased there and everything we no longer use finds itself there. Over the last few weeks we have found some interesting, useful and fun things to buy.

A 201k Singer...I watched a lady drop it off and knew that although I don't need another sewing machine I just couldn't pass it by. To my eye it is the most beautiful thing. This picture doesn't do it justice. Last night I read online a bit more about the 201k Singer and it turns out my £10 purchase was a huge bargain...not that I will ever want to sell it on.

6 metal Thomas and Friends engines... On a Friday when we pick MJ up from school he gets his pocket money and can choose to save it, spend it in the charity shop or in the sweet shop. His £1 pocket money went far in the charity shop today! The engines are very well worn but as M loves to paint warhammer models he is thinking of repainting them...I don't think MJ had noticed how worn they are!

There was an old lady who swallowed a fly rhyme book...This is a curious rhyme which always intrigued me as a child. I was delighted to find this book which is so beautifully illustrated. It turns out that MJ and Lj are also equally thrilled with this 25p purchase.

Large word cards...MJ is reading! I thought to help him along I would like word cards. I fondly remember my word tin from primary school...the tins were perfect for storing our words and were used again and again. I wonder what the tins originally held! I also wonder if this is where my love of storage boxes began! Before I ordered some word cards for MJ online I found this set which looked like it had never been opened. Now as he learns a new word we find it in the pack and stick it to his wardrobe door. It is so exciting to watch him learn to read.

And finally...a little girls buggy! I had planned to get Lj a baby buggy for Christmas but why spend £10 on a new one when we could spend £2, save on landfill and support a charity all at the same time...the only issue is I couldn't resist letting her have a play straight away and I'm not sure I have the heart to put it away til Christmas.

So would you agree...we live beside the best charity shop...ever!