There is a limit to the energy

I've really been enjoying this stage of the pregnancy with tons of energy flowing around. It really did seem neverending. Washing, washing up, stripping and making beds, play time with the small person, cooking meals, bathroom cleaning, sweeping up, wiping down cupboards and doors, reoganising the airing cupboard, you name it I could do it ten times over all in the one day. I have however descovered there is a limit to this deep well of energy. It's called Toddler Group.

We had camera club last night, so we set everything out last night. We were short on volunteers and for some reason, the further we get on in the school year, the more some parents decide to leave the kids completely to their own devices. It means I end up spending a huge amount of time picking up lost toys and returning them to their rightful place, saving children from things that aren't play toys, fixing toys which have been pulled apart, returning balls to the ball pit, and generally getting more and more worn out. Hormones flying and all that, I've also been getting really quite cross. I watched one mum pick her 1 yr old up, put him in the ball pit at one end of the room (alone), then walk back to her chair at the other end of the room to carry on chatting. Deep calming breaths..... deep calming breaths......

Ok. Rant over. Just let it all wash over you.

So, today we made felt collage monsters. Quite good sticky fun. This is Alexandra's wonderful creation creatively called " Monster". Having the apron thing on the brain, I am finding myself with a sudden urge to create a monster apron. It's probably just as well that I'm too tired to get the sewing machine out :D
Camera club last night, we took our first outdoor session. We went a tried to recreate some of the old photographs that we have been collecting. I quite enjoyed it (despite having watch the small person because of lacking a babysitter, but she did occupy herself by finding leaves and feathers and taking pictures on Daddy's camera) but it's interesting to see just what sort of problems we're going to come up against. For instance, someone has quite unconsiderately planted a tree right in the line of a shot we need, since the original photograph was taken! Also, the old plate cameras used for some of the pictures had a much longer lens so the overall effect is quite different. It should be an interesting project. Of course it didn't hurt that we got hot drinks and biscuits once we returned to the hall!

May Fair 2010

Our village May Fair was held last weekend at the village hall. The weather held out, loads of people turned up and everyone had tons of fun. The only crafting I've really done since feeling so ill has been Alexandra's costume for the fancy dress competition. She wanted to be Dorothy.

She wore a plain white short sleeved t-shirt with a dress I made with fabric from the market. (this was super quick to make. Only about 2 hours) My Mum and Nan found the cutest little basket the perfect size for her at a car boot sale along with a pair of pink sparkly shoes. I know, Pink, not exactly the ruby slippers we needed, but a red permanant marker pen later they were very ruby red. The sparkle showed through the pen. I even managed to find the exact blue colour socks in primark. Toto was selected from many stuffies living in her bedroom.

She didn't win, but she looked great and had fun. She did however win the under 5's girls race. We can honestly say we didn't think she would. She's never been much of a runner, but on the day she was speedy gonzales! The only problem was the rope at the finish line confused her and she didn't want to run through it, so she raised her arms up in the air, stopped dead in her tracks and looked to me and her dad for expkanation or instruction :D

We had a tombola for camera club and we were sold out only 40 minutes into the event. We bought cake, entered competitions, ate from the BBQ and just enjoyed the sun. Mr Bogert did the Dad's race again and this time he didn't fall down a mole hole. He came in a ver respectable 3rd. I must draw your attention to the expressions on the faces in this photo. You see the Dad's race is not just a bit of fun, it's serious business!

Now that the May Fair is over for another year, we've got to turn our attention to the Open Gardens in June. As we so often do, we'vegot involved and we're running a photography exhibition in the village hall. The Village then and now. We've been tracking down old photos for a while then during camera club we're going to recreate the same pictures but as the area is today. We're also putting on a mini display for each club member. Minimum of 5 photos per person of any type or theme. So far I have 1 that I'm pleased to include. Best get a move on taking some more :)

And now to crafting. I have quite a few unfinished projects, but many of them were winter orientated so I'm finding it hard to muster the enthusiasm for them in the nicer weather. I have had aprons on the brain though. I know that once I'm on maternity leave I'll be able to do more. The further I get on in the pregnancy the harder work is getting. The work I'm asked to do has been cut right back, but I'm still finding by the end of the day I'm struggling with back and hip pain :( It will, however, all be worth it :)

I'm now just over 18 weeks which means nearly half way. I've been feeling more energetic so that's been a nice change! I must admit though, I have neither made, planned or bought anything for baby squiggle. Seriously, not even a bib or a muslin square. I don't feel any urgency to prepare, It's almost as if it's not actually gonna get here. I'm sure at week 38 I'll be in a mad flustered panic!