Look at me go!

Woo hoo! I must have had a holiday because that energy is back! I have actually had a holiday. We spent a lovely (hot and sunny) week in Woolacombe just the 3 1/2 of us :)

We stayed on a holiday site in an apartment. The site had loads to do (indoor bowling, amusements, and indoor pool and 4 outdoor pools, kids clubs, caberet, climbing wall, pottery painting cafe etc etc) but because the weather was so nice we went out and abuot loads.

We spent a day looking around Woolacombe and on the beach.

The Monday we visited Coombe Martin Wildlife and Dinosaur Park. We've been there before, but it just gets better every time! It was the most expensive admission we paid all trip, but it was also the one that was most worth it! We fed Wallabies, sat in the Meerkat enclosure with them running around us, watched the sealion show (but had we have known they now do swims with them, we would have booked it for Mr Bogert), and we fed raisins to the ringed tailed lemurs who were so gentle! Fantastic day.

We spent a morning on site so that the small person could go to the kids club at least once, then we took her to the pottery painting cafe and she painted a pink dragon. The afternoon we spent at Lynton and Lynmouth. I got my crafty fix by visiting the local craft place that is in the old Methodist Church in Lynton. Mr Bogert bought me a bunny! Yay! He's called Buttons, but I haven't taken a picture of him yet, so I'll show you next time. The small person also got a bunny who is called Parsnip.

We took a ride down on the Victorian pump lift and had yummy fish and chips on the sea front. We looked around the shops of Lynton and had local ice cream. So Yummy! (Yummy again? Everything was yummy :D)

Wednesday we visited Watermouth Castle (but forgot to charge the camera). We took my sister here once BSP (Before Small Person) and thought we'd see what Alex made of it. We managed to fill another whole day there and I beat Mr Bogert at Mini Golf, which is always worth a mention. Alexandra's favourite ride was The Snail Trail. She Made Mr Bogert go round twice!

Thursday we took a trip up to Mortehoe but were really disapointed to see that the place we've always been for cream teas in the past wasn't doing them anymore. We had a quick drink and stopped into a lovely little shop (I forgotten the name) and I got new egg cups. Now that may not sound exciting, but they're Giselle Graham, and they have little dots on :D Well they cheered me up, anyway. We spent another chunk of the day at the beach again.

Friday (our last day *sob*) we went to Exmoor Zoo. Never been before, but I really quite enjoyed it. (I didn't enjoy the huge school trip that was visiting, but it could have been worse). We got to hold 2 snakes, a King somthing or other, and a milk snake. We also stroked a goose, a really big duck, a guinea pig called Jeff, a giant bunny (well it looked giant sitting on the small person's lap), a polecat and a skunk. Phew! We had just enough time after finishing there to run over to Mortehoe again for the weekly craft fair. It's only small, but they had some lovely things. They sell the items so cheaply for the amount of time and work that must go into them. The small person bought herself a knitted Jelly baby (who is sleeping in bed with her at this very moment) and I bought a microwave heat pack for my nan for her birthday next month. I could have bought plenty more :)

The day we were coming home, we woke up to rain. We were so lucky!

So, I haven't been back to work yet. That's tomorrow. Also, half term, so a break from Toddler Group too. I feel rested and energised and I like it.

As well as the housework today and getting things ready for tomorrow, I've had a go at wet felting which I've wanted to try for ages, and I liked it (and didn't even mess it up!) so I'll be trying that again with a few more things I think. I've also made 2 squares for the lovely Mrs Woo for her project (I just hope they're not too late!) and I've made soup for tomorrows lunch AND some homemade lemonade with some left over lemons! Yay me. Look at me go!

I will produce photographic evidence to support my claims of productivity, but in the mean time, hope you enjoy the piccies from our lovely trip away!

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!

Dear Miss.......

Dear Miss, I'm sorry Vicky has been absent from blogging but she has been most unwell. She is slowly recovering and hopes to return to blogging, but may suffer relapses, due to there being a Squiddle pop in her belly.

Squiddile pop has been named by big sister Alexandra. (Think we may have to let the grown ups pick an actual name after the arrival to avoid many years of bullying and sibling hatred ;D)

So, yes, I've been ill as we are expecting little wish number 2 due 6th October. I really didn't want to leave you so long, but as I haven't ventured far from either sofa, bed or bathroom I had to give in to the overwhelming desire to sleep. Alot. In all honesty, there's nothing to show anyway. You can tell a girl's sick when she can't even muster a bit of enthusiasm to craft!

I may not be on here as frequently as pre bump, but I'll certainly be back more often than the last month.

Catch up #3 - Small person craftiness and ideas please!

Obviously I have been trying to stick to my plan for toddler group as much as possible and we haven't been doing too badly so far.

Last week we decorated fans for chinese new year (which doesn't start until the is Sunday - 14th February, but I needed time to include Valentine's cards too) and I had a few chinese dragon cut outs left over from last year, so we decorated those too. I must admit, the fans were far easier to cut than the dragons! I thought it best to make a flat fan shape to make it easier for sticking (and a pleated one would not have held it's shape once covered in wet glue or paint).

If you were to make this at home, you could decorate first, wait for it to dry and then pleat it. You could also add tassles to the end. Unfortunately these weren't an option for me because we only have 1.5 hours and most things go home still wet!

We used red and gold collage pieces from our collage tubs.

This week we made our valentines cards. I would have liked some pastel card to use as a base, but I need to restock our craft cabinet, so white it was. I used pink and blue half circles, pink blue and red cut out hearts, little "slices" of paper doily (which would have shown up much better on the pastel card) and heaps of pink and silver glitter. Glitter's always good :)

So we made lovely love bird valentines. Doily tails, heart shaped wings and plenty of floating love around them!

We're now into half term, so I get a break next week, and we've booked a play date with one of Alex's friend's from toddler group. It's good all round because I get to have grown up chat, and the small person gets someone to play with that can actually fit in her dressing up clothes with her!

I've been having a go at a few things from my mum's "the art of crochet" and so far have one fingerless mitt to chow for my efforts. I'm quite pleased with it and found it easy to make. NOTE TO SELF: MUST PRACTICE RIBBING IN CROCHET. Mine does not look so great!

The small person thought it was good, but I think perhaps they're a little too big for her.

Mr Bogert and I are joining in with the village Open Gardens which will be held in June (not actually opening our garden though. It's more of a health and safety nightmare situated in a wasteland than a garden!). Planning is already underway. We're going to have an exhibition for photoclub in the village hall and there's also a competition across the whole village for people to make scarecrows to put outside the front of thier houses.

We have been trying to think of a really good theme for ours and so far all we've come up with is The Simpsons or The Wizard of Oz. I think both would look great and be tons of fun to make, but both would involve making a 4 or 5 scarecrows! That's a few more than we would really like!

Do any of you out there have a better idea of a recognisable theme we could use (that would hopefully involve less scraecrows!). It doesn't have to be from TV, but needs to be recognisable to both old and young.

Installment #2 - CAUTION:Contains mild crafting

Twice in one day. I have much to tell. :)

Do you remeber way back when I mentioned something very exciting had come up but I couldn't say anything right away? Well now I can tell you (although now it's a little late thanks to our lovely internet connection). I was asked if my crochet hair bows could be in Inside Crochet Magazine! Woo hoo! Someone likes me!

First page of the spread.

Second page of the spread. Look! Look! There we are! Bottom left.

I ofcourse said yes, and the issue that is in shops right now has a feature called "things we like" and there I am! Well, actully, there the small person is, modelling my large aqua crochet hair bow. The very sad news of this is, I can't seem to get hold of a copy! If anyone has any idea where I might be able to find one, please let me know!

They did send me a pdf of the spread (jpegs of which I've posted above), but it's not the same as having the solid paper there in your hands to grin stupidly at.

I also have more new exciting news that you'll have to wait and see about in a few more weeks time! I hope you like being kept in suspenders! :)

Other crochet type crafting that has taken place includes this cushion cover I made for the small person's bedroom to match her new bed covers and curtains (that I still haven't finished). She loves it, I love it, Mr Bogert just about gets it, so it's all good. I love crocheting bobbles! I would cover all the soft furnishings in crochet bobbles if I didn't think it would look odd and people would think I was crazy.

Bobble front of cushion

Back of cushion showing pink star button fastenings.

As you may or may not remember, I helped teach my mum to crochet last year and then bought her a set of crochet hooks and made a roll to keep them in for Christmas. Well she's really taken to it and has started to collect "the art of crochet" and make the squares for the throw they give instructions for. It's going to look great when it's finished. I thought I'd like to have a go at making a throw the same design, so she's lending me each installment when she's finished with it. So far I have 2 squares, but would have had 5 if I could work out where I'd put my pink yarn. I found it, I thought "that's the colour I need", I put it somewhere ready to use and the house pixies hid it again! (It's probably with that elastic I never found).

Apologies for this interuption in services.....

I know, I know. Where on earth have I been? Mainly swearing at the internet (or lack of it) we seem to be back up and running (hope I haven't spoken too soon) although at a much slower speed. Yay to technology (again). Perhaps it just doesn't like me?!

Lots of things to show and tell to catch up. I thought perhaps it would be best to break them down into bitesize chunks. It'll stop me gettting confused and wandering off to a completely different subject. Trust me on this one or just ask Mr Bogert.

So first things first. Well done Bessy Bear! She did go through with the zip wire leap if faith across the shopping centre roof and we were all very proud of her. £45 raised by Alexandra and Bessy Bear will be handed in shortly ready to go to the NSPCC. We did however forget to take the camera, so the only picture we have is the one taken by the shopping centre staff that we was emailed to me this morning.

We had a little hiccup after the daring event. The small person insisted that Bessy bear needed the toilet an couldn't wait. I thought this was code for Alexandra really needs the toilet and can't wait, so told Mr Bogert we'd see him on the car park level above in a minute.

I found out that Bessy bear needs the toilet was not code for anything as I found myself having to hold Bessy bear above a toilet in pretend wee mode. The things parents do.

Anyway, we got to the escalator to take us up one level to where Mr Bogert was waiting for us, I had her hand tightly and I said ready, then I got on and the small person didn't. I tired to step backwards to get back to her, but had heels on and couldn't move fast enough, so I let go of her hand because I was going to pull her over. I then turned fully around to try to make my way back down the steps, and she decided to get on on her own, but out her hands on the glass/plastic siding that doesn't move and it pulled her over onto her bottom, but because the steps were still moving she couldn't get up and rolled, and to my horror she just kept rolling on the bottom steps. She started to panic calling out for me, I was completely panicking trying to get back down the steps and then a member of staff at the shopping centre ran over and hit the emergency stop.

Never before have I been so scared! My hands were shaking (and I even had a little cry when we got back to the car!) She was unhurt, but I just kept thinking what if her clothes or hair got caught in the steps? It was a horrifying moment that seemed to take ages, but in reality was just a few seconds.

Both the small person and I did recover from the escalator incident and so the week carried on. She took Bessy Bear and the certificate into pre-school last Thursday to show everyone and tell them all about it (bears in the air, not the other). She did such a good job she got a special gold star sticker award in her record book. She's extremely pleased with herself.

We also had confirmation of Alexandra's school place ready for September. She's got a place at our first choice school. (Yes Heather, it's St Nicks). Not sure what I'll be thinking in September when my small person leaves me to start school life. I'm not going to know what to do with myself!

We have also been drawing up a list of wonderful things to purchase for toddler group. I asked the mum's, childminders and nan's who bring children to toddlers, and I also asked the volunteers, especially Sheila, who used to run the group for many years. We chose things based on what needs replacing because it is old broken or unsafe, and also things that we don't have to offer the children. There were certain areas we were definitely lacking in (such as baby floor activity mats and role play items). Now I just need to type it up and see which is the most urgently required, then work towards the rest. That I do feel optimistic about.

So that's catch up installment number one. Come back for part 2 later today. There will be something I was ver excited about in that post!