Chicken Pox and Cabin Fever!

The reason for so many blog posts lately is probably because iv been stuck in doors with my mingin' poxy kids! It turned up just in time to sabotage our little holiday to Cornwall, So instead of packing up the car to go on holiday, we stocked up on some new DVDs and camped out at home instead.
And finally quarantine is over! Thank goodness because I don't think I can take another episode of TreeFu Tom!

Anyway in true (slightly sadistic), parent style I of course took pics of them in all their poxy, chamomile glory!

"Go on William 'av a good scratch."

They where champs! And that's two kids with pox ticked off. Phew.

2nd May 2012

3 years. 2 kids. 1 brilliant husband.

Don't really know how we got here, some times, when we are all together I take a step back and have a moment where I'm just sort of looking thinking "how did this happen?", "How am I married with two kids?", Our lives seem to have changed so dramatically in a relatively short amount of time. And yet its the most familiar, comfortable and natural feeling in the world to me. Its home in the greatest sense of the word. It feels as if William and Anna have always been there. I cant really remember a life without these people, and I don't exist without them either. Its testimony to me that Families are, and are intended to be, eternal. 

Well as always Anthony outdid me for our anniversary, he led me to believe it would have to be a regular day as he had to work out late and from work would be going to play football (as he usually does on weds eve). And to be honest I wasn't to bothered about that, Id expected he'd be playing football and just thought we'd mark it some other time in some small way.........However he surprised me Wednesday morn with the fact that I would be going out in the evening and not to cook an evening meal. Well the prospect of actually going, no matter where it was, was enough for me. I was excited all day looking forward to it. Getting ready I asked William what shoes I should wear, and from behind Anthony said "the ones with the bows", this kinda made me feel giddy, since Anthony rarely has an opinion on what I wear. I liked his assertive opinion, made me feel giddy.......we really should go on dates more!............

He took me to a restaurant Iv been wanting to go to for over year but never made the opportunity so I was really pleased with the surprise. The restaurant is Azou and was on "Ramsey's best restaurants" series, coming runner up in the final.

Its a small intimate family run north African restaurant and is barely 5 mins walk from our home. 

I loved the atmosphere, so chilled. We declined the traditional cosy cushioned seats on the floor but regretted it later when we relaxed into the meal (with encouragement and complimentary drinks from the main guy Chris). We soon found ourselves slowly making our way through the courses at the pace intended for this restaurant and food. Don't get me wrong, it was quick service but an encouraged relaxed, "take your time", "savour the food, kinda place.

We spent over three hours easily there, and just enjoyed each others company, the food, the friendly staff and the atmosphere.

Needless to say I could barely walk home!

You can watch Azou in the following link, to get a "taster" of the mouth watering food we had, watch the first few mins, then fast forward to 9 mins....and watch for a few mins. I had a Moroccan lamb dish passed down from his granny! so sweet and tender, lamb just fell to pieces. Delish.

Ramsey's Best Restaurants: North African 

Doll Face

6 Months...on 24th April.

She's army crawling, and can cover ground fast when food or hex bugs are involved. We get Williams train set out less since all we hear is "no, go away anna, no anna, go away"...followed by "mama, get anna away mama, get her away", as she bulldozers through his precious set up like king kong. 

Love her laugh, its big and infectious. Also love her conversations and how she's speaking up to be heard now. She is in ore of William still, following him round and laughing at his sillyness. She also lights up when ever her dad comes in the room, and loves being amongst people and any action. 

She continues to emenate peace and has a soothing healing influence on everyone who meets her. At church on Sundays, she is taken from my arms the minuete I enter the building and I dont get her back until I leave. The relief society ladies especially hover when they know I'm teaching a lesson and need to pass her on to some one. She litrally has groupies. Infact ladies know her name but not mine....I thought that was quite funny, they just go straight for her and dont even look at me sometimes ha.

She is content, and secure, un threatened by any situation, almost like she understands .....anyway she amazes me, and we thank God every day for her huge amazing spirit she brings to our home and lives. If 'mums intuition" is real, then I feel she is gifted with wisdom. 

Love her rolls, they are so scumdiddilyumptious! 

Laughing at her big brother......

The time is going fast and I am trying to soak her up as much as I can at this age. Part of me really wants her to stop at this stage, but of course the other part of me is looking forward to whats next.....................

This is my friend Savannah, she sang at my wedding for those who attended. She sang "make you feel my love" during the service. She makes an amazing Mary, and really honours the role I think. I was on lds.org last night and they had this tribute to Mary, the mother of Jesus as it is american and european mothers day (just not british? why is that anyway?).....anyway enjoy! ...and well done again Sav, so beautiful. x

What a pair

Movies in mums and dads bed - What happens when Anthony goes away.

 Excuse the football themed duvet. Anthony manages to get his QPR duvet cover on the bed every time we do a wash! 

    And amongst all the patterns, you might find two kids in the photo below....The vintage pillow case is also Anthony's. Quite a few of Anthony's childhood things where recovered and found their way to our flat after clearing out Wishanger last year (Anthony's childhood home). Gotta love sentimental nostalgia.

                                                       Love finding them like this!

ARE YOU "WELL JEL?" (In essex accent).

The following weekend was my turn to get away! First over night without Anna. Me and my sisters got a brilliant last min deal for a spa hotel, treatment and fine dinning meal just out side of Chelmsford. Needed a fourth person (as mum couldnt make it), so invited one of our favourite adopted sisters Kelly girl.
We loved it. It was MUCH needed by all. We pretty much laughed the whole time. The hotel was lovely, the spa was lush and the staff where all brilliant, and Iv decided I love people from Essex,  they are "totes amazin"!  The following photo is the result of 3 mums and 1 RM escaping from life!

It was good proper girl time, slumber party style. Magazines, nail polish, face masks, sweets, chocolates. We had plenty to laugh about since we kept embarrassing our selves! Think we where all a tad excited to be off parent duty and well Christine was just overwhelmed with a menu choice after 18 months of rice and beans in madagascar...she was a crack up in the restaurant! We stretched out two whole glorious days finishing off with the cinema before returning home. Those two days where amazing and felt like a week!
We decided it needs to be a bi-annual tradition at least.....I'm all about traditions like this! Set it in stone now! I just felt like i had my sisters back, with out any pressures, stresses, responsibilities, and ties that occur in the context of kids etc. Pure Bliss.

Carters Steam Fair.

There have been a couple of occasions we have been able to get out in the dry hours of these non stop april (now going into may) showers! Carters Steam fair was one of them. After living here for 3 years I was finally around for Carters Steam Fair which comes to Ravenscourt park every year. Its a traditional old victorian steam fair. Anthony was away for the weekend so William, Anna, my self and my sis Christine braved the mud and enjoyed some good old fun fair fun. We met up with our friends the Furbanks whilst there. William was bored by all the rides his age (he'd just climb down off the parasel horse mid flow), and wanted to go on all the grown up rides....I couldnt handle the battles any more and so gave in to candy floss and ice cream instead!...of which I indulged in too just to make sure he didnt eat it all to himself!

love the loveable rogues on BGT this year..... ....that cheeky charm is why I always loved British boys.