Sherwood Forest

The other day we took a trip to Sherwood Forest...

You know the actual home for Robin Hood and his merry men (in green figure hugging tights apparently). Some say it's purely folklaw/myth others say its based on a real outlaw. *Tut* haven't they seen Robin Hood Prince of Thieves? It is so obviously real (despite Kevin Costner having an American accent in the movie).

I've wanted to visit this place for ages...

Isaac absolutely refused to accept that Little John was the bigger man...

My favourite part of course was the walk through the woods to find the Major Oak. The very Oak that is claimed to have been used by Robin Hood as a hide out. Come for a little walk with me will you?....

It's a beautiful forest... 

With clearly some really old trees within it. Although am I the only one that can see wooden boobs all over the tree in the left photo...?

Just me then huh? There are 'things' to climb...

As well as cool places to get your head stuck...

Aw posing for Grandpa...

You know me and trees. I can't enough of walking in the woods at the best of times. Okay I admit it. I'm a total tree hugger...

There are cool wooden statues everywhere like this laughing tree, which as you can see achieved its desired effect...

Then you finally reach the major oak. I was all 'this better be big after such a 'major' build up'. And it was! The photos don't do it justice, it's so big its held up by freaking metal poles...

And it's next to a place where the boys can build their own dens and pretend to be real Outlaws...

Any minute now Kevin Costner is going to come running out of the trees claiming he would die for me. Any minute now. We wouldn't make it as outlaws though. In no time at all Isaac was doing the 'i'm hungry' dance...

I'm not kidding. That is what he is actually doing.

We found a cool spot to eat though...

Plus there is a really cool playground...

'Come on little buddy follow me...'

 'um...a little help here...'

Hee! I hope you enjoyed the walk as much as we did x

loving the bees

If you forget about the whole stinging thing, close up bees look all soft and fluffy...

You could almost just give it a little stroke...

Luckily for me, I didn't.

Sunday is easily my favourite day of the week...

Sunday is easily my favourite day of the week.

It was not always so.
    Saturday was the obvious favourite as a child with morning cartoons and playing all day with friends. No obligations whatsoever just a day for fun.
    Back then Sunday however had obligations aplenty. It was the day we went to church. I didn't hate going to church but it made the day feel more serious. There were important things to be done before fun could be had. You know? I no longer go to church or have those beliefs but somehow Sunday has become an important day. A good day. As some of you know unless the weather is rubbish I often go for a bike ride on my own...

I love it because I do a little exercise but mostly because I take pictures and enjoy the surroundings. It's almost like meditation...

I'm reminded of lyrics from that Faithless song 'This is my church, this is where I heal my hurts...' I often think that even those of us unable to believe in God still need a place to reflect and find peace. This is where I get mine. Taking the time to breath in the fresh air and notice the little things we normally miss when busy...

A reminder that no matter what life is good. Sometimes you have to set up the good, which is where Pancake Sunday started...

Hubby makes the best American style thick pancakes. These ones were filled with banana and were soooo good. I say hubby makes them but he always has helpers...

I say use the word helping loosly as it usually consists of lots of this...

We set the table and pour the all important tea...

And within what seems like minutes our table looks like this...

And it was good. Then the rest of the day is for play, see friends, do a blog post, take some more photos whatever you fancy. I think there is an unspoken rule about no housework which is a little like a day of rest.

Trip to Newcastle

We recently went on a trip to Newcastle to see my friend Fiona get married.

We also went to the sealife centre in Tynemouth which was really good! Right off the bat Lucas makes a new friend and refuses to move on...

 I can see the attraction...

Sort of ...

Holy space creatures what on earth are these?!...

Now this I have seen before, so pretty...

Now we get to the fish who look so pleased to see us...

What's that now? Where's Nemo?

How the devil should I know?

Oh don't give me that fish stare I have no idea! You all look the same to me...

 Ask him I think he knows something...

And just when we thought things couldn't get more exciting it did...

Great stuff!

We also went to the beach. The day when it was really hot and we swam in the sea was the day I didn't charge my camera. So you'll just have to make do with the day it was kind of cloudy so we just hung out on the sand a bit...

Which was kind of fun too...

Despite bringing an array of buckets and spades Isaac seemed content to just roll about it...

And lucas?

Well he just wanted to eat it *rolls eyes*

Don't be fooled, it may look like chocolate but it is definitely sand.

And when he wasn't eating sand for lunch 

he was following Isaac everywhere...

And when Isaac didn't want to play with him? 

Well I think you can see what happened...

Daddy as usual got in on the action...

And even risked my wrath by using my camera slyly to get some shots of me when I wasn't looking...

And what is the first thing the lens sees? 

Me telling off Isaac for kicking sand in Lucas' face! Seriously I make him look so good with his athletic lifts and jumps and this is what I get?!

It gets better...sort of
The only way to make Lucas go in the direction you need him to go is to carry him on your hip. We do that alot...

Finally me playing with Lucas...

Or I'm playing rugby with my child as the ball. Same thing.

What? They love being chucked around...

And a trip to the beach wouldn't be complete without showing off your muscles. At least I think that's what he's doing? Unless hes trying to perfect the art of standing up sleeping...

 My kids are nuts...

Lastly before we waved goodbye to lovely Newcastle we met up with Fiona and Mark at a nearby farm...

Where the birds were pretty...

And the pigs were...

Oh my...

And the goats were friendly...

And the sheep hmm...a little static.

So much fun in such little time.