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.

What easter looked like this year........

The above is a traditional kenny easter cake, I grew up making this cake in my home, a chocolate cake covered in chocolate shredded wheat to make the nest, and marzipan chicks made (and eaten) by William....Love that I am starting to carry on traditions with my kids that my mum did with us.

Spot our new lodger (my sis) Christine in the background...it appears she has started to live on our couch.

Hyde park Easter Egg hunt with the kids from church....but most importantly a good social for the mums.

All in all 3 easter egg hunts, a killer easter roast dinner, chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate, and time with The Dixons on easter Monday. And William mentions the easter bunny in his prayers now.

I Miss his HOT body!

Anthony is away for a few days and with the cold weather that's come in I found my self freezing missing Anthony's body heat! One reason why Anthony and I are a good pair is because I often have icy cold feet and his hot blooded body is perfect to warm them up on!

These April showers are taking the mick when it hails too! Bring back the sun!!!

William and Anna....

Anna adores William, her face follows him round the room and beams at any acknowledgement and interaction from him. William is really quite protective of Anna, he doesn't like strangers holding her and tells them to "give Anna back, mamas Anna, mamas Anna"! A passer by came to coo at Anna and William told the lady "no look at Anna, no look at Anna, go away"!

I love hearing them giggle at each other and discover random games like "catch me Anna", as William runs by her and she grabs at his feet. Both giggling. William can get quite rough with Anna and she is heavy handled every which way but never fusses.

They are quite literally chalk and cheese, he is all menacing and she is a doll, rag dolly Anna......

look see for your self.....

(right before he turned the hose on Anna)

Things I say a lot... "get off Anna, leave Anna Alone William, be gentle, don't pull her, don't push her, no you can't pick her up, no she can't eat that, Anna can't kick the ball yet (as he gets frustrated because she's not playing back)".........

Poor girl gets worn out

love them.