Down on the Farm

Had a gorgeous day out at Finkley Down Farm the other day it was a perfect sunny day with just enough breeze to make it pleasant. I tagged along with the Kings School Infants who where having a trip it meant that I got to spend time with my friends as well. Sammy loved it so much he was signing excitedly at all the animals although still didn't get him to sign goat, I think they made him a little nervous they were very nibbley and rambunctious with big horns! He got to stroke a mouse, it was very cute and tiny yet he was really gentle. He also got to feed a lamb with a bottle and was even brave enough to let a calf eat from his hand.

He had a great time in their play area with all the ride on toys, there were loads of little tractors and pull along things, thankfully it was lovely and grassy so he was able to crawl about without getting to grubby. At one point he had a lovely chat with the chickens he could get right up close to them in their run I'm not sure that they understood what he was saying maybe they just thought he was doing a chicken impression. We had to make up a sign for peacock they had quite a few really flashy ones about, he loved them and really wanted to touch but I wasn't sure they were very friendly they were far to snooty!

After picnic lunch which he was to excited to eat they played on the swings, slides and sandpit, Sammy had lots of would be Mummies that wanted to help with him I even got a bit of a rest for a while. He was so exhausted by the end of the day that he was asleep before I managed to get out of the car park, I will definitely be going back again soon hopefully with some of the others who were all sad that they hadn't been able to go. It was a wonderful learning opportunity, a chance to make what he's seen in books and tele real.

He's really coming on with his communication lately, when I was doing some matching with him the other day he was looking at a picture of a baby that he had already signed and he seemed to be examining it closely then he looked up and did the sign for sad, I was so amazed that he was making a comment like that, the baby was actually sleeping with his face down which is quite often what Sammy will do if he is sad, he just puts his face down on the carpet. I was quite impressed it shows that he is really thinking about what he is seeing and able to communicate it!

A special day in the Forest

What a wonderful day today the sun shone and it was beautiful and warm. We took a lovely jaunt out in our new car to the New Forest, it's a really smooth drive with the added fun of music on demand we had a great time playing some of the kids worship songs and a few other things even when we hit traffic which I suppose was inevitable on a bank holiday it was still alot of fun! Millie didn't even complain and felt fine the whole time.

We fuelled up at the tesco one stop and headed off to find our usual picnic spot, unfortunately it seemed that everyone else had the same thought and got to it earlier than us so we had to keep going til we found a new spot which worked just as well, lots of trees and the usual forest stuff. Later we had trouble again trying to park at Aldridge Hill but as it turned out it was a bonus because we discovered a lovely spot on our walk from where we had to park in the end. The kids had their wellies so they had a great time running in and out of the stream and getting stuck in the mud at one point Luke lost both his wellies in the mud and Millie had to rescue them, I think the socks are beyond rescue unfortunately though! Sammy had great fun sitting on the side throwing in stones he missed most of the time but that didn't seem to dampen his enthusiasm. Millie and Luke were kept busy supplying more stones for him to throw sometimes a hazardous business as he didn't want to stop for them to get out of the way!

We finished off the day with fish and chips at Lymington, the seagulls there are way to adventurous one nearly landed on my head the kids thought they were great fun and would have preferred to feed them all their dinner but they had to settle for a few tit bits in the end, we probably shouldn't have given them any but it was so tempting. It was a lovely day in the end I hadn't been keen to start with as I was tired from Sammy being up in the night and having a horrid cold but I'm so glad that Rob was insistent about it. It was worth it and the fresh air and sun were a real tonic.

Oh yes I nearly forgot it was also a special day because we are eighteen years married today what better way to celebrate! Still loving you Rob!

Easter

Today we made this lovely collage at church, I've been trying to make church more accessible to the children so while the service was going on this morning I had the children colour in a mixture of trophies, rosettes, medals, number ones and stars. They all wrote their names on them to show that although Jesus was the one who won the victory he did it to save them. I painted the background in a black and white check to symbolise the winning flag, it all looked really effective and the children really seemed to enjoy it.

I love the creativity of God it's one of my favorite characteristics probably because it's one of the things that make me feel most alive I get so much enjoyment out of creating something new or finding some way to express myself creatively. I really feel that it's a good way to learn about who God is by looking at His creation and that the act of creativity also teaches us so much about Him, His patience, attention to detail, His love for us, His extravagance, His joy and many more things.

I have been so moved today because life can be so hard sometimes and trying to live it the way we should seems impossible but today I am reminded that in Him all things are possible and also that it's not me but Christ that sets me free it is such a relief! I hope that I will remember everyday and not just at Easter.

Happy Easter!

First Steps Almost

What an exciting day, I was amazed that Sammy just got up this morning and decided to that he could walk with the push along walker. Up to now he has always refused on the grounds that it moves way to fast and is obviously a health hazard but for some reason this morning it was suddenly easy. It is a wonderful step literally in the right direction I'm hopeful that we may have him walking by his second birthday that would be way ahead of where I thought it would be.

Also this week he's using his signing more and more and obviously understanding so much of what is said to him and around him. He really seems to like squirrels after seeing one on 'Something Special' so we took him, Millie and Luke for a walk on Sunday afternoon to see if we could find one in the woods. Typically when you want to see one there were none in sight but he did get very good at the tree sign, two days later I was telling a friend about this and when I looked at him he was watching me and signing tree. He is even signing a couple of signs together now if you count signing to songs it's so sweet to see him but unfortunately I can't sing, sign and film all at once so you will have to take my word for it.

I'm really encouraged at the moment he seems to be coming on so well the fact that he doesn't speak isn't so worrying because I'm sure he will get round to it and it's obvious that he wants to communicate. If every journey starts with one small step then today I think we started on our way to somewhere wonderful!

Peg apron

As promised here is a picture of my peg apron it is so practical and I'm really pleased with it. As you can see it fits all which is essential with a houseful it means that anyone can hang washing. It's not as beautiful as the one my Gran made but it's lovely and bright and I did do some decorative blanket stitch round the pocket openings. Rob suggested that I make some more and sell them to raise money for Millie's trip it might be a good idea and if no one wants them I can always give them away as presents, once you have tried one I think you will always want one, I don't know why you don't see them in the shops!

Pick and Mix

Sammy is really getting the hang of signing these days, we have been singing and signing a song called 'I dig my garden' and it has a sign for planting seeds and growing. While the portage worker was here he actually did both signs like he'd been doing it for ages she was so amazed, he also did a puzzle she brought without any mistakes first time, what a star! He doesn't often perform for the right people so it's always satisfying when he does it's good to have a witness it stops you thinking you are imagining things.



We are reaping the consequences of Millie's sleepless weekend away, she doesn't cope well with a lack of sleep her personality takes a detour into contrariness and weeping not her usual self at all. It means we will be on egg shells for a few days I think I should make her a T-shirt with the slogan 'Fragile, handle with care' on it til she catches up with her sleep and we have our smiley Millie back.



I read the most wonderful book yesterday it's called the Miraculous journey of Edward Tulane it was so good I read it in two sittings which is good for me I'm the sort of reader that likes to take in every word so I tend to read at the sort of pace you would read aloud. It's a children's book and I can't wait to read it to Millie and Luke when we have finished the Penderwicks. Hopefully it will teach them something about appreciation of the people that love them and about loving others.



It's been quite a busy day I managed to cut out an apron for holding pegs, I had a beautiful one that my Gran made with embroidery on it but somehow it's lost, I'm hopeful it will turn up but in the meantime I'm making my own. It's more modern but just as practical and I'm sure just like Grans the kids will laugh at me when I wear it. I don't know why, it's so much better than those silly ones you hang on the line and have to keep fighting washing to get at, admittedly it's not the height of fashion but the fact my Gran made it and used it gave me pleasure while I hung out the washing. I'm not sure this one will have the same effect but it is really cheerful, a bright red with multi coloured dots on. When it's done I'll take a picture and put it on here.



Luke is reading to me at the moment, a book about pets, his reading it coming on great he wants to read everything including the book I'm reading to him he tries to read along which can be a bit distracting at times but it is lovely to have one that can do that and wants to. That reminds me better go and read some more of the Penderwicks need to find out how the 'save daddy plan' is going to work out!

Playtime and parting

Sammy and I went to Farnham today it was a lovely relaxed day with lots of lovely people and children to chat and play with. We had a lovely time playing on the water bed in the sensory room it was so warm with changing lights and revolving pictures being projected on the wall. It was a special time rolling around together with lots of cuddles and tickles, he is such a lovely little boy full of kisses and giggles.

He also had a fun time in the playhouse with a couple of older boys, they were so sweet with him he loved playing boo out of the window and seemed to think that the pretend pizza was in need of a wash in the sink. He also had great fun in the tunnel always a winner with him today he played with a couple of girls crawling in and out together. I have noticed quite a change in the way he is playing he is much more interactive with other children now, he watches and copies what they are doing. He also was signing to one of them today she didn't understand him but he was trying to communicate which is great!

The speech therapy time was hard work Sammy just wouldn't sit still he wanted to climb on the bean bags and explore. He did do some lovely signing and responded well when she asked him to feed the lion an ice-cream (plastic of course).

He really loves his cuddly toys we often play with our teddies he particularly loves Mummies Teddy, a panda that Rob brought me a while ago. I think he loves it because it's mine, so cute, his little face is a picture when I cuddle it and then he instantly wants a go to.

Millie is off on a youth weekend with church it's been coming for a while and we have done nervous, excited, stressed, excited and more excited. She went last year and texted or phoned every two hours, hopefully she will feel more settled this time she certainly seems more up for it this time and it's alot closer so I think that will help, although I am secretly hoping that I still get lots of texts, I think I'm as bad as her. We will miss her noise about the house she is always so chirpy. It's amazing with so many children how one missing changes the whole feel of things. I can't imagine how it will be when they start leaving home it's going to take some adjusting to, in the mean time I'm going to make the most of it and hope that I can survive the lack of sleep and damaged eardrums!