Warwickshire Wylies

Okay, so the amount of time I've wasted this morning confirms my apathy towards blogging....

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Anyway, I've tried to give photographic evidence of what we've got up to in the holidays;

BUDE: We went, did lots of the stuff that we always do and had a lovely time. Walks along the cliffs, playing on the beach, ice creams, walks around the shops not finding anything to spend money on. Oh! Except a very expensive frying pan for Nick as a wedding anniversary present.... the gift that keeps on giving (and a pretty locket for me of course!)!!

IN-BETWEEN: We had visits from The Gillis' after their stay in Bude, a "School picnic" with the Gaskells, Hamers, Daveys, Marshalls, Kellys, Blacks, (have I missed anyone? Sorry if I did!) which was great fun tho' the camera didn't make an appearance! We went on picnics with Jessica's school friends, we had friends round to play, we went and saw Nana and Grampy.... we were generally quite busy but not doing very much!

FRANCE: Only one day of "not a cloud in the sky since 6am" and conversely, only one day of torrential rain so the weather was what you'd call mixed but it didn't stop us having fun. lots of swimming/splashing, a bit of cycling, lots of lovely food, some less lovely(!) and a day trip to Dijon which worked out very expensive... you'll no doubt see their new outfits soon! Suffice to say, a good summer holiday was had by all.

AND FINALLY, evidence that Madeline has officially grown up and now attends school. Aarrgghh! She LOVES it. Particularly the opportunity to play with Erin all afternoon - hopefully Mrs Edmonds won't see them as one person as the year progresses. But yes, she was very keen to start, so keen, in fact, that she didn't let me take her into the classroom, just to the gate, and then didn't even manage a backward glance! She waved her hand up high - I assume she was waving at me but there was no eye contact to confirm my suspicions. Ho hum! Obviously I'm a) a really good Mum who's created a confident child or b) a terrible Mum who she's glad to get away from. Only you can decide!

x

First day at "Jessica's school" - not any more love!

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A night in Chipping Norton

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Back to school

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France!

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Playing with rhubarb!

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Bude 2009

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Forever ago....

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Sorry if you're bored of checking for nothing! I'll try hard again to keep it up especially as I've just spent the last hour trying to work out how to use picasa instead of using the long, slow, laborious way....... so here goes.

Some photos from the last (ahem) months! I can't remember everything but; Will was one, Megan Rose was born, we were visited, we visited others, we went out, we stayed in.

Tra la la!!!

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Alice turns 3!

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She's 4!

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Party time (again!)

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Pre-party hysteria

Simon says

Aaaaahhh!

Dodgy attempt at a parachute game

Whiffy parachute game!

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Birthday singing

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Mid-week update? Well I never!

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But we've finally had the garden done! Looks nice doesn't it?!!!

Before

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After

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Quick catch up...

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because it's taken ages to put all the photos on!

Jess had a party and I forgot to update, Jess turned 6 and I forgot to update, Grandma had a birthday and I forgot to update, it snowed and I forgot to update, and then last weekend Debs & Andrzej got married.

There you go! I didn't update quickly but there's lots of photos. I just like to get you all wound up and desperate for more photos.... trying to create dramatic tension you see. Nothing wrong with a bit of anticipation in life is there?!!!!

Debs & Andrzej got married!

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The cast - part 1

The cast - part 2

I'm the Fascinator, twisted fascinator.....
(Nick sang this all the way home on the train!)

First sights

Post-ceremony cuddles

Jaunty angle (Nick)

The Paps + wedding co-ordinator!

Champagne giggles

Snowy days off school

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Faster than a speeding bullet #1

Faster than a speeding bullet #2

Biggest snowball EVER!

In progess #1

In progress #2

The finished articles

Mummy was given a peaceful and quiet lie in....

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Somebody invaded!

Grandma's Birthday

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Jessica's 6th Birthday

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Booty

I can read!

The Masterpiece?

Cousins up to mischief #1

Cousins up to mischief #2

Jessica's 6th Birthday Party

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Gossip

Which number are we? (Must be together!)

Facing the disco mecca

Incessant poll taking!

So last weekend...

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We went to see the Thurlby's. Well Liz, Jess & Maddy went to see Bec and Megan, while Nick went to take Andrew, James & William to see Crystal Palace get slaughtered (again - and I don't mean drunk) against Ipswich. Despite being a dismal failure as a club, the boys still seem to have enjoyed it.... It's a good life lesson to learn that you can't always win. Something They'll become VERY au fait with if they continue to support The Eagles!

Anyway, the girls had a lovely time playing in the warm. It was great to catch up and chill out together.

Then on Sunday we had a mini 6th birthday party with Max'Arry as they will forever be named. We mums met at postnatal classes and therefore they're all January birthdays so instead of being uncool and having to invite a girl/boy to their party, they had a mini one where they didn't have to be cool and could just run around madly like they always do when they get together. It was really lovely - just like old times (before school got in the way!). Ahhhhhh.

Next installment..... Sometime next week...... Promise?!!!

Da Boyz

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Get the players in the background though!

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Thurlby Converts

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Pass the Parcel

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6 in January

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Well that's what happens

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when you make a NEW Year's Resolution over a week before New Year!!! I do actually have lots of excises as to why I've already broken it (one of which being that I don't believe in them anyway but that's by the by!), but that's exactly what they are.... excuses.

So, Christmas came and went and despite Jessica's horrendous bout of sickness et al (which she duly passed on to Maddy by Boxing Day!) a good time was had by all. The girls are very much enjoying their booty (a hasty but heartfelt thanks to all who've contributed to that - the Thank you cards are in the pipeline, unfortunately there's a blockage, but they will happen!!!!) now that they have recovered and are up to speed, and Nick and I are steadily becoming more and more competitive with each other. My achieving pro status in bowling after only about 5 days apparently didn't go down well. Anyway, crashing on.... We went and did the village bit by going to church on Xmas Eve which was actually ok (says the heathen) and then a meal at the pub helped with organisation and prep. When we got home the girls put down the reindeer dust and requisite bribes for the Old F.C. and went to bed, fairly excited but managed to get to sleep relatively quickly. Then the presents arrived (a little offensive if I'm honest but very good fun to open!) and filled the lounge so we all had to go to bed!

Will woke us up at around 6ish, but the girls did as told and came in at 7:01! Very impressive - they are good. Then the festivities commenced. We had presents breakfast, presents, lunch, presents, Pete, Court, Will and Sam beat a hasty retreat and the girls had tea and collapsed!

Boxing Day was a bit uneventful as Madeline started the bug and just wanted to lay in bed all day. The others went for a crisp wintry walk and I babysat, then we played on the Wii and Grandparents went home. Girls collapsed again!

The following day Nana and Grampy came to see us. Grampy got straight into the "Big Girls Lego" activities, Madeline insisted she was still poorly and only just managed to get dressed (she so takes after her mother!) but played a little bit. Obviously N and G had jobs to do while they were here.... put up Jessica's bunk bed tent, sort out the curtains etc, etc. But we did allow them to stop for food and drinks occasionally and we even treated them to watching Memoirs of a Geisha with us!

Monday we went to see Beck in her new pad... all VERY nice and we had a lovely time, chatting, painting nails, a walk to the park, late tea and another part sleepover (the girls love this. Going to bed in someones house, then lifted and taken home. It's the simple things!) which allowed for adult dinner. Yum!

We then had to prep for New Year which was also good fun - we had a slightly smaller house full as Emma-Jane, Sean and Eva had to cancel due to a scary skin infection - eeek. Despite that I think even Allison enjoyed it despite the hideous alcohol free wine and general exhaustion of pregnancy. No park tripos because by the time the kids were going stir crazy it was dark and the Dad's were on their way back (phew!). Lots of Wii - ing ensued and a quick game of Mr & Mrs through dinner which obviously had one couple who were totally incompatible - answers on a postcard!!!!

And that was the holidays so we then got back to normal (except I'm now in eldest child's birthday fever and should be organising party bags and pass the parcel RIGHT NOW!!!). And on that hasty note I'm off to Hawkins for a thousand and one pieces of expensive junk for other peoples houses. Hurrah! Photos will follow asap!

x

Christmas Eve

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Christmas Day

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High School Musical - Sing it!

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Swing Out Sister

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Heads and Nails

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New Year's Resolution?....

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Do the blog more often, then I can remember what we did!

So, the Other Wylie family came for a visit, we went to a bonfire night display, the girls had a weekend at the ballet with Grandma & Grandad, Jessica got a cold, Madeline & Nick got the sickness bug,we went back to Stanwick Lakes for William's birthday, we missed the parade due to bad weather and other commitments, Jessica performed as a mouse in her school play, we put up the Christmas trees, Madeline performed her ballet for me!, Jessica had the sickness bug, we went to Nana's Christmas party.

Most of it was great fun - in fact all except the puking/sneezing/coughing bits. I'm the only one who's fought it all off. You wait... Christmas Day!!!....

Anyway, some photos and I'll try to keep to my NYR!

Byeeeeeee!

Playing

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Feely box

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Mmmm donuts!

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Ballet

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Deck the halls

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"Census? What census?"

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Cousins

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Cousins

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Blogger posts are like buses....

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You wait and you wait and you wait.

Then 3 come along at once!

x

A witch and her cat

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We spent the whole day dressed up! Well if you can't do it when you're young when can you? The girls perked up significantly in Sainsbury's when an assistant told them to go to customer services and say trick or treat. A Mars a day apparently helps your Mummy do her jobs! We also went pumpkin searching so we could trick or treat, then hid the treats and went to bed.... but it was good fun!

We all pat the cat...

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow...

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So you don't tend to think October and snow but it did and so my children went out in it and tried hard to build a snowman with a very small amount of snow and lots of b****y stones, leaves and grass. There's a reason why snow comes in winter!

Brief catch-up

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So we've done stuff over the holidays and in to the New Year - I just haven't felt the urge to do anything about it until now!

We did lots of playing, had friends round, went to stay at friends houses (including a trip to Glasgow for Hannah's 7th birthday!), went on a family picnic to Stanwick Lakes (which was very good as the photos suggest), helped John a bit with his drive, Nick played golf, I had a day at the spa (courtesy of Allison) which was much needed! Basically we pootled around doing stuff.

The truth is I can't really remember but here's some photos!...

Breakfast in bed

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Stanwick Lakes

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Swing out sisters!

Hmm

Feel the fear... and get some help!

The end to a perfect day...

High School Musical party people

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Singing sensation

Cutie

Troy & Gabriella

Running

Cousins

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Back to School

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When you're the best of friends

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Littlies!

Biggies!

Bude 2008

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So it's the school holidays, therefore, we went to Bude!

We spent the first week with Janet and Graham (Grandma and Grandad) generally existing - Jess "helped" walk the dogs A LOT, Maddy did a bit but thankfully (for Janet) her maternally inherited laziness won through quite a lot! We walked to the pixie caravan to see Margaret, the men watched A LOT of golf - so much so that Jessica almost had an ab dab because she was "sick of all this golf Daddy, when can we have something for the children?" (Because the entire holiday wasn't based on the children and their enjoyment at all!) But Padraig won so Grandad was very happy.

We also went for lunch and a walk near Morwenstow.The food was fantastic, lemon bread like my Mum used to make, and discovered Hawkers Hut. A hut RIGHT next to the sea built by a rector (or something) because he couldn't see the sea from his home up the cliff..... Now an opportunity for local teenagers to get some methinks, slightly less romantic than the original intention but nice to visit. (http://www.cornwall-calling.co.uk/famous-cornish-people/hawker.htm)

Nick and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary, a very lovely meal in a restaurant in Widemouth Bay, I got roses "one for every year we've been married".... (I'm looking forward to the silver or ruby celebrations!) Nick got a card. That was it! And he should think himself lucky!

The second week was the four of us on our own. It was lovely just to exist around each other with no timescales, agendas, etc. We all chilled out and spent a lot of time on the beach. We also went for a day out to DairyWorld (near Newquay) which was hideously tacky but the girls loved it. Big slide/ballpool thingy, cows to be milked and fed, ponies to be riden, digging with mini diggers. Blah, blah, blah!

We just had a great time, good weather (most of the time), good company (most of the time!!!!!) and just good.

There you go avid viewers! Until next time!

Breakfast on the road

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Oldies and Youngies

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Cliff hanger!

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Beach Antics

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Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge?

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A better family portrait!

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10 YEARS!

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Hawker's Hut

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Surf's up Dudes!

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They're on the left side of the middle cluster

Jess' the tiny spot in the centre on the edge of the wave

Jess' on Nick's back on the wave (centre)

I scream, you scream, everybody here scream!

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Our arrival at DairyWorld

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Pony Rides

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Sliding

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Feeding time

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Found the quickfire shutter on the camera

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It only took seven months!

Jo and Polly?

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Jessica's being Polly (manic and haywire!), Maddy's being Jo (slow and lethargic!)

Wet A**e Canyon!

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We weren't singing...

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Especially on the way back. It was VERY slippy

And there it was gone.

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Yes, after 6 years of PhD and 1 year doing a masters prior to that, the debacle of Standard Life bank and it's years salary in 1 month to make him stay is finally over.

No suggestions to do another course.......
yet!

Front and back

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Where did you get that hat, where did you get that hat?!!

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The Graduand Graduating

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The Wylies at their best...?

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