Opening presents from Auntie Donna and Uncle Larry!

We let James and Bekah open their Christmas presents from Auntie Donna and Uncle Larry (all the way from America!) early. James loved his Lightening Mcqueen book and flashing hoodie and Bekah really liked her touchy/feely book and purple outfit! Thank you!!! We miss you!!!

Day out with Auntie Caroline

A few weeks ago Auntie Caroline had the day off work and so we spent the day together. In the morning we went to a local gardening centre called Henry Street (where, coincicdentally, Auntie Cat used to work many years ago!) because they had reindeer and lots of Christmas decorations. James was actually quite interested in the reindeer - even though they were lying down in the far corner. Must've been resting for the busy night they're going to have on Christmas eve .... We had a really brilliant day, and James was REALLY good!

Eating our lunch in the cafe after we'd looked at all the Chirstmas decorations

A sweet photo of Bekah and Auntie Caroline

[It's so annoying that there was a smudge on the lens ...]

A new playground to explore!

This is the playground we go to most often. It's about 5 minutes walk from our house. James loves the airplane climbing frame/slide. But just lately he seems to enjoy walking around the perimeter of the playground more than actually going on any of the play things ...

Bekah's first swing in this playground.

Bekah exhausted after all the excitement!

Cousins Expedition to the Secret Playground!

A few weeks ago Auntie Sarah and Kezia came over to play and so we took them to a "secret playground" we'd found a few days before by accident! It's really close to our house and we never knew it was there!

Auntie Sarah and Kezia in the Secret Park!!

Exploring cousins! It's a wobbly tortoise!!!!

Playing together

It was really sweet to watch James and Kezia playing together. Kezia was doing her best to keep up with her cousin. A+ for effort!! She did really well especially since this walking business is relatively new for her1 ;0)

The girls swinging!

Sisters Day Out!

Back in November we had a Sisters Day Out to a big craft fair in Birmingham. Caroline got Sarah and I tickets as our Christmas presents. It was such a fun day out. There were LOADS of different craft stalls to buy crafting supplies and materials and then a Christmas fair part too. Thank you Caroline!! I really enjoyed the day even though it seems like a long time ago already!

Time for a spot of lunch!

Creating together ...

To raise money for a charity called Children In Need people could make their own card and then the plan was to put all the cards together to make one giant one and get it in the Guiness Book of Records. Sarah and Caroline working on their creations!

With our finished products!

On the train back home ... with all our purchases in our cool (and NOT old-lady-like) bags ...

What a brilliant day it was!

WE'RE BACK!!!!

Well, we've been back online for a little while but what with one thing and another (like christmas shopping and baby germs!) there hasn't been much/any time for blogging!! I've got quite a back-log of photos so I'm going to put some random posts up, in no particular order! I've got loads more but know the little munchkins will be waking up from their naps soon! It's good to be back - I've missed you!!! ;0)

"Let's have a photo, shall we??"

James caught me completely off guard by actually ASKING to have his photo taken today!!! Both he and Rebekah managed to lose one sock each and I just commented on that fact when he requested a photo!! Who am I NOT to take up such an opportunity?!!?

Bekah's first Christmas tree!

Space would only allow a fairly small tree this year but we had fun picking one out and decorating it. [James was not in a photo mood ...]

Bekah's first Christmas tree ornaments!

Sweet sleepy heads!

Sometimes I manage to get them both to have a nap at the same time. We lie on Mummy and Daddy's bed, read a couple of stories and then James (and sometime Bekah too!) falls asleep. I took this one a few weeks ago because I hadn't realized James had decided to put a pillow on TOP of his head ... it looked so funny! And they both looked very sweet.

Sitting up!

Bekah sits up really well now. The first photo was one of the first times that she really sat up properly unaided and was taken a few weeks ago. The second photo is more recent. She's happiest when she's sitting up at the moment. We just have to watch that James doesn't knock her down (I wish I was joking!)

Bekah gets her flexibility from her mother .... ;0)

Bekah let us know she was ready to try more solid food in a very subtle way ....

by grabbing Daddy's sandwich one lunch time!

Actually, this was taken a while ago and as you'll see from the following photos she has tried other foods but it'sn't all that bothered. She watches us eat but isn't that fussed about eating herself (unlike her brother at a similar age). In fact, at the moment she's been a bit sick this last week and so is just back to formula all the time.

"Cheese and pickle! Lovely!!"

"Oooo, this is better than boring old cereal!"

Bring on the new high chair!

[Yawwwn] "I'm bored of this now ... bring on the food!!"

Brown sludge .... errr, I mean sweet potato, pumpkin and apple .... for lunch!!

Someone was very happy about trying something new ...

"Hee! Hee! Hee! Brown goop for dinner!!! You Brits and your funny food ..."

"Hmmmm, does have a bit of a kick to it doesn't it?"

"Hang on a minute ... this isn't funny at all ... it's disgusting!!!"

Can't say I blame her ... I wouldn't want to eat this!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Grandad Peacock was 60 the day after Thanksgiving and so he had a Thanksgiving Themed party at the village hall. Nanny and Grandad (with a little bit of help from other family memebers) cooked a Thanksgiving Meal for about 60 people - including Turkey, Sweet Potato and Bean Casserole! So here is Dan and James tucking into their Thanksgiving meal. There was even an American flag hanging up in the hall but I forgot to take a photo! ;0)

Rebekah enjoyed eating her napkin (amazingly folded by Uncle Kev!)

The party poppers were a big hit with James ...

There were no other children at Grandad's party but James kept himself amused with the streamers all night instead!

There's nothing like a nice bowl of Heinz tomato soup ...

After a cold morning out at the playground there's nothing James enjoys more than a nice bowl of Heinz tomato soup ... He loves dunking his bread and doesn't care that he ends up looking like an UmpaLumpa!

Still no internet ... ARGGHHHH!!!

Well, we have been in our new/old house for over 2 weeks now and settling in pretty well and re-familiarizing ourselves with the area. Unfortuntately we don't have internet (and won't until the end of the month ...) - it's driving me crazy but is also teaching me an important lesson ... ie, life shouldn't revolve around blogging ... ;0) I'm blogging this at Mum and Dad's ... well, James and Bekah NEEDED to see their grandparents!!! ;0)

We've been taking lots of photos so hope to have them up on the blog as soon as I can!