So long!!!!

Having checked the last time I actually blogged and today's date, I am horrified to discover that it has been 3 1/2 months since I posted. I either lead a very dull life in which there is nothing to write about or a very busy life which doesn't allow time to blog, somehow I fear the first statement is probably the most accurate!

So, if I have any blog readers left this is what we have we been up to: (Apologies in advance for the large number of photos)

:: Lauren has finished her first year at school. She received a glowing report from her teacher and we are very proud of her. It is amazing to see how much she has developed during the school year, not only on the reading and writing front but in her confidence and willingness to try new things. She also passed her Level 4 swimming award and now progresses, in September, up to what is commonly referred to in Bangor as the "big pool"
Here are a couple of photos I took at the start of Year 1 and some at the end. Is there much difference, I'm not sure - apart form the length of her skirt!!





:: We have spent a number of weeks knocking down walls, building up new walls, eating dust for breakfast, lunch and dinner to create a new kitchen/dining area. We are absolutely delighted with the result and I am glad to report that it was all worth it. Just a bit of painting to be done next week and the room will be finished; imagine some almond white walls in the pictures below.







:: We spent a week in Center Parcs (Sherwood Forest) at the start of July and there were plenty of opportunities to go swimming, cycling, 10 pin bowling, visiting the numerous play parks. The best bit was the 3 hours that Ann and I spent at the spa - truly relaxing! We even managed to squeeze in another trip to Alton Towers.









:: Amy is turning into a real little chatterbox and is definitely the family comedienne - coming off with some classic one-liners! Here she is playing up to the camera. She is off to playgroup in September and they don't know what is going to hit them!!





:: The summer activities are now in full swing - Lauren is spending this week at CSSM and so far she has loved every minute. Unfortunately it will come to an end on Friday but will be replaced the following week by a week long Ballet Summer School after which we head to Disney Paris for a couple of days.

:: Trying to be a little creative and completing a scrapbook layout of Lauren's trip to Eden Pottery - ( can you tell I'm a little behind)



...and finally...we had some very exciting news in the early hours of Monday morning about the birth of our nephew, Samuel James Carswell, weighing in at a very respectable 8lbs, 6ozs. Lauren wasn't at all sure about having a boy cousin at first but seems to have adjusted to the idea - phew! Unfortunately Sam being at the other side of the world means that I won't be able to share in those early baby cuddles but I hope to make up for it when Jen & Ben bring their precious bundle to NI in October, until then I will have to make do with shopping for little blue things!!


Sam : 2 days old

That's all for now folks