Happy anniversary to Mr Lovely

3 years ago today at this precise moment in time, we were running late for dinner at our wedding :)
We both had to admit though, with everything happening at the moment, neither one of us remembered. The only thing that stopped it passing by was my mother in law asking if we needed a babysitter for tonight. "What for?" was our reply. Ooops!

Anyway, We shall be spending some grown up time together getting a quick bite to eat then going to see Inception at the cinema.

Mr Bogert has been in work all day, so I took the small person on a shopping trip into town on the bus. We bought some more of her school uniform, we bought some more boring baby things like bottle teats, Alexandra bought a few special presents just from her for the baby, We bought and ate lunch and most importantly we bought an anniversary card for my lovely husband.

I'm now going to get a little bit of sewing done before he arrives home. I can't very well abandon him for my craft things on our anniversary now can I?

What did we get up to?

Now I've bored you to tears with my wedding album, I'll fill you in on yesterdays events.

I've been wanting to visit Cannock Chase after seeing this post on Cloudhopping's blog. So that's where family Newman spent a big chunk of the day yesterday. We had something to eat at the cafe for lunch, but if anyone else feels like visiting here, I would recommend a picnic of some kind. It was a bit pricey and really wasn't that good.

We stopped off at the play area, which I think is a really good one. I didn't even know it was there. Alex thought it was great and there were plenty of things she could go on even though she's only 3.

We walked the sculpture trail. Some items displayed I just didn't like or get (but that's personal preference, and I've always been a bit funny about "modern art" even coming from an art and design background). Other things I loved like the 3 bears chairs and the tortoise and the hare. The one thing I really wanted to see were the fairy houses!

We all really enjoyed walking around in the sunshine and spending time together. Alot of the sculptures are interactive. You could touch, feel, sit on or play them. The small person loved having the freedom to run around, and we felt we could give her that bit of extra space because she was safe (no cars, we could see her in the open space, and there weren't too many other people around for Alex to bother!).

On our way round, Alexandra made a new friend. His name is apparently "Kittypar".

We were going to stop at the play area on the way back again, but wanted to check little miss didn't need the toilet first. She was so determined to get into the play area, she just wasn't hearing us. She has a very short attention span, and you can actually see her eyes glazing over as you're talking to her. Rob stopped her, turned her to face him and got her to look him. Gently. (this is how we get her to focus). As he was talking to her very calm but seriously she was concentrating so hard on looking at Rob's face, she started to go cross eyed! I couldn't stop laughing and had to turn away. Then Alex started laughing, and the whole thing was just futile. Bad mummy.

We stopped at Melbicks garden centre on the way back. We ran around the sheds, summer houses and wendy houses, then had a good look at all the gifts and toys. They were selling off some old xmas decoration so we bought Alex a pink marabou covered bauble and some pink tinsel for her bedroom. I wanted the giant gold baubles, but Mr Bogert wasn't so keen :( Alex and Rob went to look at the animals and fish whilst I spent time in the craft section. I was hoping for some piratey or high seas inspiration for Alex's invitations, but no such luck so I just came away with a MIC blue paper pack and some white feathers that made me think of mini writing quills.

Fed the small person, left her to be put to bed by the grandparents and took a lovely evening stroll down to the hotel/bar/resteraunt at the bottom of the village. We both had steak dinner followed by a sharing platter of 3 different types of chocolate dessert. Mmmmm, yummy! Rob ended up with most of his around his face :D Then we took our drinks out to the terrace by the river (where we were the other day) and sat there having "grown up chat." This consisted of what we'd do if we won the lottery, the long list of places we want to visit and what we want to see/do when we get there, Rob's dream of reliving Home Alone 2 for himself, and what we'd do if we got to see Santa at Lapland. All very important topics for discussion.

And look! My lovely husband raided my craft stash and made me a card. He often does this now 'cos he knows I appreciate it more. And look at my gift!

Now that's a man that knows, loves and understands his wife. Not only are there 14 different sized crochet hooks here, but they're in rainbow colours!

I will resume normal crafty programming tomorrow ;)

Warning: Extreme smooshy contents

In 4 hours and 40 minutes we'll be 2 years married, over 9 years together, 3 houses lived in, 8 years living to together, 1 graduation, 1 child together, 1 christening organised, 3 countries visited together, x amount of holidays taken together and with family and friends, 3 big parties marking milestones, countless trips to B+Q and Hobbycraft and 24 guinea pigs donated to a bigger home. I love you Mr Bogert :)




(Finished the card. 2nd attempt. 1st one wasn't good enough for my man ;D)

Sewing, sewing, sewing

I may have forgotten (as I frequently do) to mention that I help run a toddler group in our village. It runs every Tuesday morning, so that's where we've been today. I put all the mini craft projects together for the kids and today we made little lambs with cotton wool. Alexandra was a bit disappointed she couldn't show her Daddy her creation because he's away for work at the moment, so she's going to share it here instead.

She absolutely loves making, drawing, sticking and anything else creative. She's desperate to try sewing, but she doesn't quite have the skills yet to manage it. We've both been card making as well because it's Grandma and Grandpa's (my Nan and Grandad's) 64th wedding anniversary today (yes, really, that long. They are both nearly 84 and going very strong). They only live a few doors away, so we already dropped in for a visit and we'll be going back for dinner later. *EDIT - Alex swears that her card is a picture of a bus. I can see where she's coming from, but I think it looks an awful lot like Tick Tock from Return to OZ!*

I actually get my love of sewing from my Nan. She was a dressmaker and let me fill her entire back room with crafty things every weekend as I was growing up. I made all sorts, like dolls clothes, dressing up outfits, dolls houses, papier mache things, cards, stuffed animals, jewelery, it was endless fun. I think it's that freedom I had to create that makes me think now "yeah, I can try that"! She also taught me how to knit, smock and crochet. Then when I got married, she made my wedding dress and helped me make the bridesmaid's dresses. My wedding dress is definitely something I shall keep forever. It would be nice to hear anyone else's stories about anything or anyone that particularly encouraged your crafting either when you were younger or now.

Furry costumes are coming along nicely and I've sent 6 into the school already (that should please Mr man). I have now completed the leopards, the giraffes, the lions and the monkeys. (We already had existing giraffe, lion and monkey heads though). I'm hoping to get either the tigers or zebras finished this week too while Rob's away. The little tiny fluffy bits off the fur fabric keep blowing across the laminate floor and making me think it's a spider! With no Rob here to save me, I'm a big wuss.

I've been playing around with tiny cross stitch too. No particular reason other than I wanted something to do sitting watching telly and give me a break from the mountains of fur! I wasn't sure what to do with them, but I think I'll turn them into cards and gift tags for those new arrivals on the way. What do you think? I have another idea for the little tea cup, but you'll have to wait and see.....