Day at the beach

Although the weather forecast was not as good as the previous few days - as in heat wave, we decided that we still wanted to spend the day at the beach. 

Glad we did.

James's 5th Birthday

Up early of course, to open his presents before his brother and sister went off to school. 

Captain America Figure

Captain America Suit

We had a special breakfast then off to Crealy

Splash Zone

Diggers in the Sand Pit

Dinosaurs

On the bike

on the boat

Back home for a Birthday Tea with a Captain America Cake,made by his sister

Here comes the sun (do do do do) and I say its alright

So say the Beatles and I agree.  Its been a scorcher again today and not before time too.  Also as the song said, it has been a long cold winter (well it said lonely as well, but I haven't been lonely) and I didn't realise just how much I missed glorious sunny days like today.

Of course its not ideal for me right now, as I have a lot of sorting and packing to do with our impending move, but as the Aliens say on the Argos advert, the sun doesn't shine on the earth for very long, so we have to make the most of it (I think they should have said the UK)  and I am darned if I am staying inside packing while it is baking outside.

Saying that I have been sorting both the garden sheds, which has been no mean feat, and going through James's outdoor toys.  So am kind of getting organised.

Now I am concentrating on my little boys birthday, which is Friday, we had a few things planned, but with the weather being so hot, we may be changing our plans for his Birthday Weekend to beach beach beach.

Onto my poor little cooped up darlings who are in school - Becky auditioned for a part in a Shakespeare play, she will find out at the end of this week how she got on, also she will be doing the 200m sprint and the Long Jump for school sports day.  Danny will be entered for the Discus of course, which he did at Athletics Club and got a PB, which is pretty good as it was only a standing throw.

Mike is working hard, he spent most of  his day off yesterday going to the tip with garden rubbish, and then out in the garden keeping James occupied (including pretending to be The Hulk, by rolling his trousers up and taking his shirt off and growling really loud - what must the neighbours think - good job we are moving) while I sorted out lots of forms, phone calls and emails to Solicitors and Estate Agents.

A lot of Art and Craft in the garden going on as well, very impressed with Mike and James's Marvel Scene

And at the end of a very tiring day, we managed to have a nice family BBQ

which = one tired little boy

Photo A Day May Day 23 Technology

Has to be the Remote Control - not just because it means that I don't have to get off my backside to turn the TV over (this I still have to do because half of the time I cant find the bloomin thing) but because you have so many channels at your fingertips.  Back in my childhood (the good ol 70's), we had 3, yes 3 channels (we didn't get Channel 4 until the 80's - Channel 5 - well, who cares). We couldn't even turn the telly over on the telly itself, there was a switch behind the TV with  A B C - BBC1 2 and ITV and  1 and 2 which were Radio Stations.  Also to mention that there wasn't even anything on the TV until about 9am, and  nothing after Midnight.

So History of my very low tech childhood over, here is the photo of my precious Remote Control (to add - this isn't actually the main Remote, cant sodding well find it - probably down the back of the sofa!).

Photo A Day May Day 22 - Pink

Pink blossom from a tree in my garden

Olympic Torch Relay

We had a great time in Exeter on Sunday, celebrating in all the festivities that surrounded the arrival of The Olympic Torch.

Unfortunately Mike had to work at 5, so he dropped us off in the town, and of course we had to go to Maccy D's before heading down to The Quay.

Very busy, but not so bad that you couldn't move. There was a Blues Brothers type band playing, boat races, lots of activities and a balloon artist - which I just knew would lead to some kind of hoo-hah (see a few paragraphs down).

So first stop - a balloon sword for James

The Ferry across the Exe was slightly flooded, and as we are very sceptical about the Exe and its pollution, Becky and I did not want to get our flipp flopped feet contaminated, so we walked across the bouncy bridge.

Then to James's delight - a mini Olympics for little ones

Then the balloon incident:-

James's sword had popped during the mini olympics excitement, just the handle was left on the sword.  But he also had another balloon.   As we were walking back to the bridge, the handle blew away, Becky managed to catch it, but then she let go of the other balloon - Danny raced after it, just stopping it from going in the river, (by now we had drawn a crowd)  as he dived on the balloon, the bloody thing popped!  The crowd laughed, as it was funny, but James cried - so like I said previously - a right hoo-had.

Tears were dried up by the promise of Ice-Cream

Then off to find a space at the side of the road to and wait for the Torch to arrive

There was a really good atmosphere amongst everyone, even the Police were getting excited about it - it was a brilliant afternoon.

Photo A Day May Day 21 - Where You Stand

In my sons paddling pool

Photo A Day May Day 20 - Something You Cant Live Without

Well, obviously this would be air, water and suchlike, my family of course.  Money, a roof over our head, a car - this list goes on.

But if we are talking everyday essential items, it would have to be my eyeliner :-)

Phoo A Day May Day 19 - A Favourite Place

I love this part of my garden, bit of shade, bit of sun, and a log to sit on

Nature Trail, The Avengers and House SOLD

Yesterday morning we got on the early supermarket bus to try and get a bit of essential clothes shopping in as we had plans for the rest of the day. Essentials as in pants socks, school shoes and cute top and jeans for James.

As the bus only stops at the shop for 15 minutes before going off and returning an hour later, we decided to have a bit of brekky in the cafe, while James read his magazine and I looked at the Properties for Rent page in the local paper.

Once home James got his exploring gear on, as in ruck sack and baseball cap, and we headed out for a Nature Trail with our spotting sheets.  It was raining a little, but it wasn't too cold, James thought it made it more of an adventure, especially as we stopped off at the pound shop to get him a large magnifying glass

Here he is looking cute under his umbrella ella ella

Onto the park, stopping to watch a game of Bowls

Time for a play

Then it got just a bit too wet

So home to stick his nature finds onto his sheet

In the afternoon he was so excited about seeing The Avengers that he insisted on having a nap, so he wouldn't be tired for the film.

It was a really great film, and probably has gone to the top of my fav film list above Star Wars. Captain America had nothing to do with this of course (just like Hans Solo had nothing to do with Star Wars being my once fav film) ;-)

Slightly weird moment when Mike looked at me in the darkness of the cinema  - he looked like Iron Man (Robert Downey Jnr)

Maybe if I dyed his hair and beard black......

Anyway, moving on, he nice thing was that all of us enjoyed it, and it was good that all of us were at the Cinema together, not often that you get a film that all your children like.

So lovely evening, even though we got a flat on the way home, which Mike changed, Normally that would be fine, but with three tired kids in the car who are hyped up on sweets and fizz - just got a bit stressful that's all I'm sayin.

Onto today

James was feeling a bit poorly, so just nipped out so he could get his Avengers Magazine, he just looks so cute when he gets the money out of his Ben 10 wallet and pays for it himself, and he always gets a receipt you know.

Rest of the day was spent with him watching films and playing Lego, while I rang Estate Agents, solicitors etc.  At around five to five I speak with the Estate Agents and we finally agree on a price.

Bit scared now, moving house is a big upheaval.  Oh well, onwards and upwards, as they say.