Summer's here - again

Wow - we have had a glimpse of summer again over the last couple of days and I really hope that this won't be the last we see of it. Amy and I went to Ballyholme beach yesterday afternoon while Lauren was at CSSM, (which I am glad to report she now loves), this was Amy's first real opportunity to get her shoes and socks off and run wild over the sand and paddle in the sea. We did bulid a couple of sandcastles but they weren't nearly as interesting as getting soaked! I can still hear her shrieks of joy - unfortunately my camera battery ran out so I have no photos of her enjoying the beach :(

Here is a photo, before my battery ran out, of Amy's abandoned bucket in favour of splashing in the sea!




Her Space:My Space prompt for the day is Row A number of persons or things arranged in a continuous line. Also two or more people having a heated argument also known as a "row".
Here are my attempts





and finally



Here's hoping for some more good weather tomorrow. Enjoy it while it lasts :)

Prompts & Photos...

I came across a cool photo challenge blog a while back herspace myspace, giving daily one word prompts to get your camera in to action. I never took up the challenge but on re-discovering the blog today, I have decided to give it a go. Today's prompt was ring and this is what I came up with, maybe not ring in the circular sense, but it was fun.



I am actually quite excited to find out what tomorrows prompt is going to be - am I losing it?!!

Lauren started a local CSSM on Monday, I am not exactly sure about what her level of enjoyment is but hopefully she is getting something out of it. I reckon that after 2weeks of numerous daily pick-ups and drop-offs that I will be exhausted, even if she isn't. Anyway, to lighten the mood after the morning session we went to purchase her first school tie - she is so proud of it and insisted on wearing it in the house this afternoon - see what I mean:



Over the last couple of days I have been trying to sort out the huge number of photo files I have stored on my computer. It has become very apparent that I very few recent photos of Amy, it is not for the want of trying, this child simply does not sit or stand still long enough and does not seem interested in the camera to the extent that she avoids looking at it or runs the other way. I did try and get a few this morning, imagine me, moving frantically after her and making the most ridiculous noises to grab her attention, anyway, this is what I got, not great but there you are.
Any tips on capturing camera phobic children greatly received!!

Back home

We arrived back from our action packed trip to Center Parcs yesterday evening. The weather was great, no need for wellies! (clearly we did not bring the sun home with us judging by today's continuous rain). To say that the girls are exhausted is an understatement, although they still managed to find the energy to re-acquaint themselves with their toys before going to bed. We managed to go swimming, pony trekking, to indoor soft play, outdoor (not so soft) play, to creative craft sessions, feeding the ducks, pedalos on the lake and a local theme park all in 4 days!! Not to mention the numerous ice-creams, Starbucks coffee and muffins(for the adults), BBQ, Pizza etc. When I get my photos organised, I promise to share just a few.

I have embarked on yet another photo course, again run by the fab Cheryl Johnson This time the course is called "Tec Pro Masterclass" an intensive 4 week roller-coaster of a course. Bring it on!!

Amy's speech is really improving and I think the week away with us definitely helped. She is becoming a little girl and leaving the baby behind. Not sure how I feel about that!

Just prior to us going away, I purchased a patio rose named "Sweet Memories." I bought it with my Papa in mind and Dad helped to plant it in the garden, it seems to be doing well and lots of the tiny buds have now opened up.

Here we go, here we go....

...on the first of our summer trips. School is finished and Lauren is now "offically excited" about going to Center Parcs with our good friends Ann, Neil, Sarah and Grace. It is our fourth time to Center Parcs and the girls absolute love all it has to offer. Seriously hoping for a some dry weather and a little sunshine, (the wellies are packed..just incase)!!
I will hopefully have some photos share on our return, so until then...have a good week!

A Special Tribute

Just a short post to pay a special tribute to my dearly loved Papa who passed away peacefully yesterday. He led a long and happy life (91 years) and although I am very sad, I am thankful that he is now at peace and has gone to a better place.
I am thankful for the memories and thankful that he got so much joy from seeing Lauren & Amy and watching their antics. He will be missed by us all.


George Trimble 1916 - 2008

Oops...

- I haven't posted for a while!! I seem to be busy doing other things, taking Lauren to meet her new teacher, attending parent/teacher interviews and receiving the first school report, which I might add we were thrilled with!!, taking more photos for my final 2 photography modules, enjoying the good weather, crashing my car into the house (yes you read that correctly!!), you get the general idea.

Janine on her blog had created a photo collage of what she had been doing and being inspired by this I made this one tonight:



Raindrop - from my latest module, creating a sense of movement

Amy playing peekaboo between the steps of the slide

Lauren's latest fascination - ladybirds and all things "mini-beasts." They have just completed this topic at nursery.

Getting up close to a CD sprayed with water to create abstract art for another photography module

Fancy a drink? Painting with light using a torch for another photography module

Lauren enjoying the sunshine

A rare shot of my girls together, enjoying some cooling refreshment on a warm day (I was also experimenting with fill-in flash for my last module)

Some Hama beads up close- why?

Random flower in the garden, up close and against a fab blue sky

I made a trip to Eden Pottery the other day with the girls, Lauren was warned not to touch anything and Amy, much to her disgust, was tightly strapped into her buggy!! I am ashamed to say that I have never been there before, however I did buy some teachers presents and made a mental note to return and sample the delights of the coffee shop, minus children!

To date I have refrained from voicing my concerns on-line about Amy's speech - or lack of it. However, she is really making progress of late and is saying lots of new words and putting them together. Yesterday we went to have a nosey at a housing development near to us and whist viewing the upstairs, Lauren discovered the bathroom and announced to us "look at the big, big bath!!" Amy equally thrilled at the size of the bath pointed at it and in her loudest, broadest Northern Irish accent shouted, "big big baff!!" Couldn't help but smile! :)

Enjoy your week!

Lighthouses, Windmills and Sculptures...

Module 7 - shaping the subject and yet again I found myself touring the local area for things to photograph. Thankfully I took the photos on Sunday and Monday when the the weather was still good and the skies relatively clear - unfortunately I cannot say the same of tonight and as I type it is raining.
After hearing the nicknames for the "Lady of Tranquility" - "Nuala with the Hula" and "The Doll on the Ball", my beloved sister has nicknamed me the "Nutter with the Shutter"!!

I am still wearing my crocs and I fear that they may need to be surgically removed from my feet at the end of the summer.
My rather dull life at the moment means that I really have nothing else to blog and to prevent me boring you to death with my endless twitterings, I will bid you goodnight as I leave you with my 3 photo entries.







P.S. Janine, you and the boys are welcome anytime to enjoy the Jungle Gym and whatever else we have in the garden for that matter!!