May you have a Happy and Blessed New Year. I wonder if this will be the one when I can post more and get more pics up now that I have a new phone. We'll see!!
Had a lovely Christmas day watching my beautiful grandchildren opening their presents and Marc and Sam cooked a lovely Christmas dinner - it may even have been Marc who cooked most of it. Boxing Day saw me driving up to see mam and my family up North and we had a lovely time at Brenda's day after boxing day when all of the family came round and Michael caught it all on video. It's a great reminder and such a laugh, especially playing back all of the old videos we have of family Christmases.
New year was spent quietly at home with mam. At 86 she is doing great but sometimes the noise gets to her so we saw in the New Year and I spoke to my sis in Texas (yep that's you Niecy) and my Aunt Freda in Canada and to my son and grandsons and to my sis over here (yep that's you Nenna). It was a nice night and I drove back this morning through torrential rain but made it safely. Back to work Tuesday so a day of rest tomorrow, well after my grandchildren have been to see me.
Sunday, 1 January 2012
Monday, 24 October 2011
A lovely day - the melt down
Well it's half term so a week off work and it started with a sore throat, ugh!! Anyway it wasn't so bad today and it was grandmother and granddaughter day as Marc, Sam and a whole host of kids were off to Alton Towers for the day.
Livvy and I spent a lovely day together, apart from major melt down but I'll tell you about that later.
First of all it was into town and ofcourse the day isn't complete without buying a toy so Dora the Explorer came along with us as this is what we bought. Livvy was so cute carrying it around with her all day and talking to it too. She told me to close the car door quickly when we were getting in 'because Dora is cold' she said.
We headed off to Shugborough Hall http://www.shugborough.org.uk/as I heard they had a farm and Livvy wanted to see the animals.
Well now that I'm a senior citizen I got in for quite a lot less, infact it only cost me £3 and Livvy got in free. The lady did give me an orange sticker to wear so that I didn't have to get my ticket out of my purse if I wanted a discount off any meals I had. I did wonder why - because do I really want to be reminded that I am now over 60.
It would have been a cheap day out if it hadn't been for buying lunch and the other little niceties that go along with a day out oh and the presents she wanted to buy for her brothers and mom and dad. This sweet little 2 year old knows exactly what she wants and it made me smile to see her stand back and look along the shelves to see what she could get them. Thankfully she didn't pick anything too expensive.
Shugborough is a beautiful place but if I'd paid the full price I wouldn't have been too happy as there wasn't really a lot happening today.
Everything was going well - but then 'melt down'. We were going through the kitchens, Livvy trying out the old fashioned scrubbing brush on the washing and then we went upstairs - sadly it fell apart after this - sweet little Livvy was obviously getting tired, wanted to be picked up but she was just too heavy for me so when I put her down that was it. She screamed - and I mean screamed and lay there on the floor shouting for 'daddy'. I just walked away in the hope she would have followed - but NO she still lay there screaming. I was determined not to go back for her so stood my ground while people looked at her, tried to talk to her, walked round her, almost climbed over and looked at me as if I was the monster from the black lagoon. She was just routed to the spot and was not gonna move for anyone.
Well after waiting as long as I could she finally won and I lost it - big time, I marched over, picked her up and then, heavy as she was, had to try and find my way out of the place going from room to room until I finally found the stairs down. My sweet little granddaughter just continued to scream.
Finally we got outside and I was absolutely drained. I could feel the tears nipping at my eyes but I told her I wasn't happy with her. She knew she'd won but continued crying and finally we made our way back to the car. I didn't want the day to end on a bad note and when she saw I was nearly in tears she calmly said 'you alright nana' then said 'sowwy'. We'd missed the animals first time around so I got the buggy out of the car and off we went to see the animals. She fed the rabbits, that were very few, we looked at some really smelly pigs and I mean smelly - I can stand most things but this nearly made me sick. Mommy pigs had just given birth and were feeding their young. We saw some guinea pigs and chickens and that was about it for the animals. There was a little play area which Livvy loved so she played on the slide and went on the swings. It was certainly a full day and we made it back to the car. I sat for a couple of minutes and when I turned round she was fast asleep.
Will I do it again - most definitely Yes, she is adorable and it's the first time she's done anything like that to me and she wont be doing it again.
Livvy and I spent a lovely day together, apart from major melt down but I'll tell you about that later.
First of all it was into town and ofcourse the day isn't complete without buying a toy so Dora the Explorer came along with us as this is what we bought. Livvy was so cute carrying it around with her all day and talking to it too. She told me to close the car door quickly when we were getting in 'because Dora is cold' she said.
We headed off to Shugborough Hall http://www.shugborough.org.uk/as I heard they had a farm and Livvy wanted to see the animals.
Well now that I'm a senior citizen I got in for quite a lot less, infact it only cost me £3 and Livvy got in free. The lady did give me an orange sticker to wear so that I didn't have to get my ticket out of my purse if I wanted a discount off any meals I had. I did wonder why - because do I really want to be reminded that I am now over 60.
It would have been a cheap day out if it hadn't been for buying lunch and the other little niceties that go along with a day out oh and the presents she wanted to buy for her brothers and mom and dad. This sweet little 2 year old knows exactly what she wants and it made me smile to see her stand back and look along the shelves to see what she could get them. Thankfully she didn't pick anything too expensive.
Shugborough is a beautiful place but if I'd paid the full price I wouldn't have been too happy as there wasn't really a lot happening today.
Everything was going well - but then 'melt down'. We were going through the kitchens, Livvy trying out the old fashioned scrubbing brush on the washing and then we went upstairs - sadly it fell apart after this - sweet little Livvy was obviously getting tired, wanted to be picked up but she was just too heavy for me so when I put her down that was it. She screamed - and I mean screamed and lay there on the floor shouting for 'daddy'. I just walked away in the hope she would have followed - but NO she still lay there screaming. I was determined not to go back for her so stood my ground while people looked at her, tried to talk to her, walked round her, almost climbed over and looked at me as if I was the monster from the black lagoon. She was just routed to the spot and was not gonna move for anyone.
Well after waiting as long as I could she finally won and I lost it - big time, I marched over, picked her up and then, heavy as she was, had to try and find my way out of the place going from room to room until I finally found the stairs down. My sweet little granddaughter just continued to scream.
Finally we got outside and I was absolutely drained. I could feel the tears nipping at my eyes but I told her I wasn't happy with her. She knew she'd won but continued crying and finally we made our way back to the car. I didn't want the day to end on a bad note and when she saw I was nearly in tears she calmly said 'you alright nana' then said 'sowwy'. We'd missed the animals first time around so I got the buggy out of the car and off we went to see the animals. She fed the rabbits, that were very few, we looked at some really smelly pigs and I mean smelly - I can stand most things but this nearly made me sick. Mommy pigs had just given birth and were feeding their young. We saw some guinea pigs and chickens and that was about it for the animals. There was a little play area which Livvy loved so she played on the slide and went on the swings. It was certainly a full day and we made it back to the car. I sat for a couple of minutes and when I turned round she was fast asleep.
Will I do it again - most definitely Yes, she is adorable and it's the first time she's done anything like that to me and she wont be doing it again.
Friday, 14 October 2011
Surprise
Well, I realized I couldn't get the book uploaded that I'd made for mam but I'll keep trying.
Had a lovely surprise the other my son and daughter in law decided to decorate the hall and stairs for me. It's my birthday tomorrow and they thought it would be nice to do something different and I just love it. They chose some wallpaper which was my favourite colour and a beautiful flower pattern in a soft green and brown. It's gorgeous.
I'm off to Shrewsbury for the day then I'm babysitting at night so no big celebration.
Had a lovely surprise the other my son and daughter in law decided to decorate the hall and stairs for me. It's my birthday tomorrow and they thought it would be nice to do something different and I just love it. They chose some wallpaper which was my favourite colour and a beautiful flower pattern in a soft green and brown. It's gorgeous.
I'm off to Shrewsbury for the day then I'm babysitting at night so no big celebration.
Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Mam's Birthday
It was my Mam's 86th birthday on 15th September and I created a book of memories for her. I hope you're able to view it. She is just so sweet and I never know what to buy her but she just loved her book even though it arrived after her birthday.
Friday, 2 September 2011
Happy 60th Sis
I know it's late on my blog but I've spoken to you and I'm glad you had a great day Sis. Love ya lots xx
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Visiting Sunderland
A 2 week visit to see my family in the Sunderland was great. It was lovely to see mam doing so well, she'll be 86 this year. I am so thankful to have such a wonderful family and I miss them all very much, especially li'l sis in Texas as we don't get to see her very much but she has a fab blog that I follow so I feel as if I'm a part of what's happening in her life.
School holidays for me were later this year so I missed the Sunderland Air Show and arrived the day it was on but didn't get to go down as there would have been no parking spaces.
It was a beautiful first week, warm and sunny but we didn't do too much just sat in the garden and relaxes.
I went for a chinese meal on the Monday with Mam, my sister Brenda, and niece Joanne. It was lovely but unfortunately they ran out of spring rolls which were the best on the menu.
I thought the food was lovely until we went the Metro Centre later in the week. We did a bit of shopping and then went to Buffet King (we like chinese food) where you could eat as much as you wanted for a set price. There must have been a range of over 50 dishes to choose from and each one was yummy. My mam doesn't eat much normally but she just loved the chicken, unfortunately I can't remember what it was called but it was slices of chicken in a beautiful sauce and the chicken just melted in your mouth. She went back for seconds which is a first for mam.
Marc, Sam and the children came up for a few days the following week and we went to Brendas where all the family met up and we had a great time. It was probably the best day weather wise as we were able to put the bouncy castle up in the garden and the kids loved it.
We ate, talked and just simply had fun.
School holidays for me were later this year so I missed the Sunderland Air Show and arrived the day it was on but didn't get to go down as there would have been no parking spaces.
It was a beautiful first week, warm and sunny but we didn't do too much just sat in the garden and relaxes.
I went for a chinese meal on the Monday with Mam, my sister Brenda, and niece Joanne. It was lovely but unfortunately they ran out of spring rolls which were the best on the menu.
I thought the food was lovely until we went the Metro Centre later in the week. We did a bit of shopping and then went to Buffet King (we like chinese food) where you could eat as much as you wanted for a set price. There must have been a range of over 50 dishes to choose from and each one was yummy. My mam doesn't eat much normally but she just loved the chicken, unfortunately I can't remember what it was called but it was slices of chicken in a beautiful sauce and the chicken just melted in your mouth. She went back for seconds which is a first for mam.
Livvy, Tom and Ben in mam's garden just after they arrived for a few days.
Marc, Sam and the children came up for a few days the following week and we went to Brendas where all the family met up and we had a great time. It was probably the best day weather wise as we were able to put the bouncy castle up in the garden and the kids loved it.
Deborah, Brenda and Joanne
George, Marc and Michelle having a cup of tea and a bite to eat 
George, Marc and Michelle having a cup of tea and a bite to eat Brenda, Joanne, Deborah and Michelle savouring the pizza
Bouncy Castle Fun - the kids just enjoying themselves
We ate, talked and just simply had fun.
It's not a visit to the North East without going to take a look at Marc's brick in the wall at the Sunderland Stadium. I bought the brick as part of his 18th birthday present when the football stadium was first being built and ofcourse the boys wanted to see where it was - unfortunately I didn't manage to get a close up.
The rest of the week it rained but we went to the beach one of the days and just took the children to the arcades where there were rides and they loved it. 
The rest of the week it rained but we went to the beach one of the days and just took the children to the arcades where there were rides and they loved it. This next picture has to be one of my all time favourites. I have never seen two children laugh so much in all my life and their faces say it all. It was the best £2 spent that day. They were on two seats looking at a huge screen that showed them going through an underground tunnel - every now and again as they got to a certain part of the tunnel the chairs vibrated and Ben and Tom just screeched with delight. If I'd given them enough money I'm sure they would have spent all day on it but it was a joy to see and and hear their delight
I can't quite believe it but the batty died on my camera half way through taking photographs so I haven't any of mam and some of the other members of the family. I'm hoping some of the others managed to get some and will maybe email them to me so I can put them on my blog.
Friday, 29 July 2011
Rest and relaxation
School's out for summer - yeah. Looking forward to 5 weeks of rest and relaxation. Well maybe not if this week was anything to go by. It sure was busy, Sam and Marc on cross over shifts so I was up at 5 a.m. Monday and off to babysit and take my grandchildren to childminders then off to work for the day. Back to pick up three noisy grandchildren and we had a MacDonalds then it was home until Sam came in. Tuesday was the same but I also did a sleep over that night and then off to work. I was feeling a little tired. Caught my leg on the side of the car and grazed it and had a nasty bruise but its going now. Sleep over last night but Livvy decided she didn't want to sleep and woke at around 11 p.m. and then she just smiled sweetly and said 'no like bed nana'. It was near 1 a.m. when she finally went to sleep but I do adore them all and I love seeing them.
I'm off to the North East on Sunday for a 2 week visit so I might just get that rest and relaxation after all!!.
I'm off to the North East on Sunday for a 2 week visit so I might just get that rest and relaxation after all!!.
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