Half Term part 2 : Early Halloween

As the title suggests we had a early Halloween with friends because, well, quite frankly Halloween just wasn't convenient this year. That's how we roll people. If it doesn't suit we just move stuff around. Watch out Christmas! Actually it turned out to be a genius move because as I write this post on the 'real' Halloween, Isaac has Chicken Pox, Lucas has ear ache and I have yet another stinking cold. Bleh.
Anyway we had some real good albeit early Halloween fun. You know me, I'm a sucker for an holiday...

We were maybe too prepared, this is only half the pumpkins we bought... 

(also blame the beer on the husbands)

The fun began with traditional pumpkin carving...

Actually the time the children spent on this was minimal. It soon became a fierce competition between the adults as to who could create the best carving. I'll let you be the judge...

Here is my friends efforts: 

ol Scarface and Inquisitor...

And obviously no bias...

HERE'S MINE!

Named Stabby Joe due to my apparently dangerous knife abilities that make my husband way too nervous...

To vote: simply name your favourite on a post card to:

StabbyJoe to win!

UK

 he he!

Oh yes back to the children, *ahem* it's all for them after all. We made cobweb drawings with glitter, that was way too messy for my camera to be involved. But as is always in our house it's really all about movies, food and drink. So we got making some yummy stuff...

I expect perfection people!!!

Well they went down well while the little lovelies watched Scared Shrekless...

Although I'm not sure Stabby Joe liked the movie as much as the rest of us...

Then there was more food....
We had pumpkin soup to start which I forgot to photograph, then Spaghetti meatballs served with eyeballs...

With a steaming brew of Warm Witches Blood to drink...

So much fun...

Poor Stabby Joe...

 So Happy Halloween, hope you have a great day...

Half Term part 1

We have been busy this half term so I'll show it in parts. The first weekend we spent staying with family. Now when we stay at Tim's parents it involves eating loads (and I mean loads) of good food until we cannot move. Every meal is Christmas meal in their house size wise and I love it. But so does my tummy unfortunately which doubled in size over the weekend. Good thing we got in a quick work out at the local playground...

A playing work out...

 Lucas was soon shoved of this by a certain playground bully...

Things to explore...

And climb...

    Speaking of which. I'm not very good at playgrounds. Seems like every step my little ones take I imagine them falling and breaking their bones. I'm too cautious, too overprotective. I stand in the way of letting them push their own boundaries. Often when I'm sure they are not ready for something they go ahead and do it easily. And since I don't want them to learn my fear I usually let daddy take over, he's not worried at all. In fact it's usually best if I can't see what they are up to most of the time. Boys will be boys and all that. 

    However this time I noticed Isaac was a little scared, not trying like he used to and saying 'no mummy hold me' while he climbed. Uh oh. So he had picked up on it. This time I swallowed my fear, told him I was there but he didn't need me to hold him. He got up there so he can get down again. *Gulp* And he did. Oh man he was so pleased with himself. In fact the next time when daddy tried to hold him he said 'no I can do it myself!' Hmm lesson learned mummy.

So here is mummy letting go and Isaac learning what he is capable off...

In the spirit of this we spied an empty skateboard park. I really got into the letting go thing, for myself too. To be less afraid, to play like a child, play... 

Wait?! sliding on you bum is for babies...

Now jumping from the top is hardcore...(can you see the little trace of fear in my face?)

 But I got into it...

Obviously the boys didn't actually jump from the top by themselves. Well one boy did...

He got some height! Which made me all competitive. From then on if there was something to jump from, I was there... (regardless of how ridiculous I looked)

Nailed it! (I seriously landed like that)

We were all at it...

Try, fall down, learn.

Try again.

Lady bug chaser...

I keep finding these little dudes everywhere...

Avebury

I've totally been meaning to show you this for ages. The Avebury stone circles in Wiltshire! It was still summer when we went and I took so many photos I couldn't face sorting through them all. I took so many in fact that my camera didn't speak to me for a week.
    My brother told me I should see these. He said it's was way better than the more popular Stonehenge. Well move over Stonehenge, this placed rocked. Literally, there were rocks everywhere...

Unlike one small circle of stones they sort of go through the whole village. Which was the quaintest English village ever...

So we wandered around enjoying the hot weather and looking at the weirdly shaped rocks all over the place.

We had to climb to get to some...

Lucas couldn't believe he was hanging out with Sheep too. Although they were less overjoyed by this prospect than he was...

The boys did some model poses on some unsuspecting ancient rocks, Lucas nailed the moody look in the distance look...

Some of these rock are really big!

And some not so much. 

Don't worry guys it what you do with it that counts...

There were cool patterns to touch...

And it may have been just me but I saw figures and faces everywhere...

The bottom middle shot was actually more of a belly button in my head, but hey if they have faces why not belly buttons too?

 This place is seriously pretty...

Now this place was a two hour journey from where we live so we had decided to drive another hour to stay at my parents house for the weekend rather than go home. My parents were actually visiting my brother in Seattle at the time so they wouldn't be there but we wanted to go see my grandparents. 

    However it was only as we left that Tim realised he had left my parents house keys on the kitchen table at home. It was stupid hot, the kids were overtired and grumpy, Lucas was settling in for tantrum number 6 or something, this would have meant a 4 hour round trip to get keys and go to my parents house. In short, I could have killed him. 

    Luckily for me I forgave him fairly quickly. Luckily for me? you ask. Yes very recently I accidently dropped his brand new work ipod touch. It completely smashed and he forgave me pretty much instantly. Let this be a lesson to all. Forgive easily for you do not know what stupid thing you might/definately will do in the future. 

    Anyway crisis was averted. It turns out my Grandparents had a spare key (yet another reason I'm glad I didn't go nuts).So off we went. Lucas had a party in the back... 

While his big brother clearly couldn't keep up...

And I tried to made stressed out hubby laugh. At this point despite the triumphant spare key success, we were stuck in a long traffic jam. Gotta love British motorways huh?

So Avebury rocks! Just remember your keys x