Ok so a bigger update (with pictures) on all of us!

Ok so i have shared to ups ans downs, highs and lows of Becky's flying life, I guess i better let you all know what the rest of us are up to or you will start to think she has hijacked my blog!
So get yourself a coffee (maybe a Thermos) and a biscuit (or four) then take some time to catch up on the rest of us!
Rich has been working SO hard. He is an amazing husband and father and takes his role as a provider to his family very seriously! There was a point we really were ships in the night. And I missed him. Lots.   
Still in August we went on holiday together, with the children... my parents, my brother, his wife and their two children! Time together in a converted barn in Devon. It was lovely. The weather was kind to us, if you don't count the thunderstorm on our arrival nor the fog on our departure!
It was so lovely to spend time away from home with Rich. Seeing him relax a bit. Watching him enjoying time with the kids. Snuggling with him at night, hearing his relaxed breathing.  

I have been ill pretty much all of this year, well since March 14th (UK Mothers day to be precise!). I need surgery. I am getting my surgery. 13th September is my planned date for it.  It feels like it's been a long time coming! And i will be able to blog more, what with being off on "sick" leave. I will be home for between 10 days and 6 weeks depending what they do to me. ha ha.don't you just love surprises?
 I am still enjoying my job and we are now planning to move house. hooray!
  
So what can i tell you about Rae? Well she is still doing amazingly well at school. She took one of her GCSE (UK exams) exams early and has chosen 13 in total to study over the next two years. The average is 8 or 9. I hope she can find time to a) fit it all in and b) still have fun being a kid. I guess time will tell.
She is now playing the Sax, Flute and guitar as well as her singing lessons oh and doing her music theory exam.
It was great to see her relaxing on holiday:

Laughing in the garden in Devon.

    

Walking along the shore.

Becky has also been doing well at school. She is choosing her GCSE options this year. Eeeek! I am NOT ready to go through ALL that AGAIN!

She has a beau in her life, the lovely C. He is good for her. I like him. He keeps a close eye on her at school for me with regard to her blanking out. 

Becky and her beau C.

She spent a LOT of time in the sea while we were on holiday...

About to start a water fight with Uncle Andy.

Losing at the water fight!

So we move to to youngest member of the clan. David, has surprised me lately. He is thoughtful, helpful, caring, funny and about to enter his final year at junior school. That's right I am nearly the mother of 3 children in senior school. YUK!

He is still my baby. He cannot be nearly 11, despite what his birth certificate says. In typical boy fashion, when we asked what he would like as reward for a good year at school, he asked for... drumroll.. wait for it..

2 Giant African Land Snails. Oh dear Lord.

So welcome to the family... Dory and Crush! (Photos soon of those two!!)

David thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and spending time with Dad and Grandad. With all the girls at home he does like some "man time".

Surf Dude!

First Geocache find of the holiday!

Looking good kid.

And so that my dear friends is you all caught up with the comings and goings of me, him and them! I will really try harder to post more often. Promise!

                                        

                                           
  

A bit of what you like.

Well today has been spent relaxing at home. We walked to the park (photos later) and played football (soccer). Rae and I decided to show our Croatian visitor just what home made fudge is, he had never heard of the name, seems he knows it as caramel but has actually never had what we Brits call caramel!

Here is how it turned out:

1lb Castor Sugar

1/3 of a can of Carnation Milk.

Add together and bring to the boil,

Pour into tray to set.

Cut up and enjoy!

Before pouring i added a teaspoon of vanilla essence!

And here we are at the park:

Rae Jumping around.

David reaching for his ball, trying not to get wet!

A hug with my eldest.

What a week...

Well it has been an interesting week for us. Rebecca has decided it is time to start flexing her teenage wings, unfortunately she flexed a little hard and i had to get the clippers out.
It was hard to deal with it all really, she is normally a fairly easy kid to raise but i have issued a punishment this week that is aimed to reel her back in... no going out, no PC and chores as and when i demand request with no questions asked! She is hating every minute of it, as am i for making sure i stick to my guns. Still if it hits my point home, it's a job well done!
Rae has now taken on learning another instrument - the guitar to go along with the flute, sax and singing lessons!
She has a bit of a Midas touch when it comes to music and I cannot claim she inherited any of it from me or my husband!
David is going to Swanage from the 7 - 11 June, with the school, so today we bought him some summer clothes and walking boots i had to get him age 12 / 13 clothes, he is only 10, he is so tall.
I helped a friend T to buy some bits for her new house was nice to see the new pad and be able to offer her the help she needed.

Tomorrow i am booked to do a photo shoot of a friends little boy L so will post photos when i have taken them.

So i currently look around the house and cannot decide whether to ignore the housework and read a few blogs or get off my butt and do something!

I like her style!

I have a wonderful friend with whom i have a "deal" of sorts... I drive her to and from work and she allows the kids to stay at her house after school so i don't have to pay a taxi to take them home. It works for us. Becky collects David from school and they walk to my friends house where Rae meets them later after whichever music club she has attended.
So it is Friday afternoon, I'm counting down the last couple of hours when my daughter rings..with a due sense of fear and dread i take the call and i have the following conversation:
"Hi Mum, i have picked David up.. but well he is REALLY hyper, i think i should take him for a walk through town to calm him down!"
(just a minor point to note: David is not a child we could ever describe as hyper...the word i would use is more like lethargic!!)
"Oh really, and just what would you do in town honey?" I reply trying not to chuckle at my darling daring daughter.
"Uh, you know Mum.... just, you know... walk, to wear him out.. after all i don't want him being hyper in B's house.. it might upset the goldfish!!!"
Well you know what i caved in... I let them walk in town for a short while, giving them a time to be at the house. I just had to admire her style and tenacity on this one. We have talked about how David is NOT now, nor has he ever been, hyper, so i can't wait for the next request application to be filed.

Life was so much easier then:

2 weeks to go

Yes i have two weeks until i start my new job! Woohoo! I am really looking forward to the challenges it's going to bring and the new people i will be meeting! I will be helping to run a creche at a local health club, obviously there will be perks like not having to pay childcare for David in the holidays as he will join their kids club for free during my working hours. Very cool huh!

On another note i took a pic of Rae today and am soo pleased with it i thought i'd share it with you...I just love how at 13 she still looks like a little girl in this one!

Oh for anyone who missed out on my PAY IT FORWARD feel free to go to my good friend Sparkles who is new to blogging and is also taking part :)
Leave her some love and welcome her to blogland!