Monday 26 April 2010

Yay! For Sunshine & ‘My Favourite City’…

it’s probably very British of me to start off commenting on the weather, but this weekend was just gorgeous! Well, most of it anyway…we did get rain on Sunday, but I was at work for most of that & when I was outside, the air smelled of warm earth after rain…just lovely!!

So…to catch up, I had my visits to the dentist & optician on Thursday morning…I am now a fair few £££’s lighter (if only the LB’s were so easy to part with!!) BUT…I will be able to see properly & smile without worry again on 6th May when my new lenses are fitted into my current frames (the style has been discontinued & I couldn’t see anything I liked as much!) & I have four fillings replaced in my front teeth!!

On Friday evening we went along to our favourite pub where Lee & I soaked up the sunshine while the boys played war games with other children in the play area & neighbouring field…why do boys always have to shoot? It must be genetic…I never used to give my boys toy guns, but then they made their own out of Lego!! 17Apr2010 006
They did just play on the frame too..Alex is sad because it has a sign saying that it’s for children ‘13 years & younger’…so he won’t be able to use it after his next birthday!

Nathan lived up to his nickname of ‘Monkey’ & climbed & swung with the best of them!!17Apr2010 016

 

 

 

There were children of all ages using the play equipment & one little boy, who was about four years old, took a shine to Alex & followed him around like a little shadow!  While Nathan is great with little ones, Alex doesn’t have much patience & kept asking this little boy, ever so politely, to stop following him, but to no avail & until we heard the boys parents calling him to go, he was never more than three feet from wherever Alex was!! So funny to watch!!

Alex ropesWhile I appreciate being able to sit & relax while the boys play, I did think that it only seems like yesterday that when we went anywhere with a playground, one of us had to supervise them & how soon it will be that they’ll be ordering a pint for themselves & won’t even want to be there with us!!!

Alex asked me the other day how long it is until he can learn to drive & that is scary…only three & a half years!!!


My friend Amanda finally got home from her skiing holiday after being stranded due to the volcanic ash, so after work on Sunday we resumed our cinema habit!! We chose to see ‘The Blind Side’ with Sandra Bullock….one word describes it…Amazing! blind_side Such a wonderful story & I had not realised it was actually biographical. At the end, while the credits roll, they show photo’s of the actual family & it made the whole story even more touching. I’m so glad we caught it before it came to the end of it’s run.

Now for some scrappiness…the current ‘These Are A Few Of My Favourite Things’ challenge is My Favourite City. This was a no brainer for me… I was lucky enough to visit Venice in 1993, a lifelong ambition! Before I went it had always held a fascination for me & I remember being told at school that it is constantly sinking & felt then that I just HAD to get there before it disappeared! It took a couple of decades, but it was so worth the wait!
26Apr2010 003 I would love to take the boys on a visit, to enjoy the whole experience, but maybe another year or two, when I can be sure they won’t end up falling (or being pushed!) into a canal if I turn my back!

And on another scrappy note, Saturday May 1st is National Scrapbooking Day in the US & Dixie Pieces are holding a one day ‘My Day – My Way!’ on-line crop between 7am & 7pm (PST). There will be a challenge posted on the hour every hour, with fun & games in between. The challenges are being placed, not by the DT but by volunteer participants!! I have taken the noon slot & there are still some slots open, so get over there & check it out!! The deadline for challenges is 11:59pm on Monday 10th May & every challenge completed wins entries into the grand prize draw…& boy!… is there ever a totally AWESOME prize package on offer!!  Dixie Pieces events are always such great fun, so…do come on over & join in!!

Finally, I am pleased to report that I have managed to stick to my eating plan for the entire week…with no slips or deviations, in spite of baking chocolate chip cookies for Lee & the boys on Saturday!! I didn’t even so much as lick my fingers!!!  It’s weigh in tomorrow morning, so I am keeping everything crossed that I will have good news to share…& that my sidebar tracker can start moving in the right direction again!!

Thanks for dropping by & Happy Monday!!

11 comments:

Sian said...

You've had a bit of an overhaul, then! And a new photo? Nice! I'm laughing about you being ££'s lighter..that's very well put!

I'd love to go to Venice. Your layout is beautiful.

Lisa said...

What a lovely new profile pic of you! You are one gorgeous lady!!! Sounds like you had a wonderful weekend...love the pics from the park! Also love your Fave Things LO...I so wish I had the time to play along.

I really want to see The Blind Side. I recently met a new possible suitor who actually knows the actual family. Makes me wish even more I had seen it.

Hope you have a wonderful week and good luck with your weigh-in! xoxo L

karen said...

Good luck with weigh in.I lapsed yesterday in London and had 4 cupcakes and prezzos!!Plus i'm in London all day again tomorrow with Linda.
What a shame Amanda did get stuck.Anna is still in the US.
Can't wait to see your new pearly white teeth ,will be money well spent.Yes I said money sell spent.And you know how tight I am!

Jocelyn said...

Love this post....filled with JOY....The pics of the boys are awesome...they are soooo Handsome!!! It is amazing how quickly they grow up!!! I don't have to chase Evan tooooo much but Gavin keeps me running!

Love you LO.....that is one place I would like to visit!!

The Blind Side was AWESOME and guess what....he plays for our Baltimore Ravens...yep a home town guy!!!

So glad that you have stuck to your eating plan...I am on that treadmill...sweating and puffing...so let's see what I can do!!!

Thank you for all the love you send me...I always look forward to your posts!!! I just adore you sweet friend and don't forget...we need to exchange telephone numbers..so that when you get to the States we can say HI!!!!

Wishing you a Fabulous week!!! :-)

jacque4u2c said...

We just got this movie in the mail from Netflix yesterday - I can't wait to watch it!

Your fave city layout is just gorgeous!!!! i love playing along over there!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

OMYGOSH!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeee the park photos!!! such a gorgeous day U had!!! and love love love love love your new avatar!! WOW-ZERS!!!! HOTTIE ALERT!!! And "the blind side" is amazing.....the end!!! :):):):):) And YOUR LO!!! WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!! i loveeeeeeeeeeeee those photos, the design and that doily!! thanks soooooooooooooooooooo much for playing along with us Sandi!! U ROCK! :):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)

humel said...

I come humbly and penitently to your blog.... Sandi, I'm so sorry about forgetting it was you who passed on the blog award to me!! *doh!* Please don't think for one moment that I didn't appreciate it, I was so touched that you chose me, but I have a rotten memory. Sorry.

I too love your new profile pic, and the layout rocks! I'm hoping to see Venice this summer :-) You'll be sure to hear about it if I do! xx

Jenneke said...

WOW, Venice!!! It's on top of my list, I would sooooo much love to visit it!! Lucky you!

Thanks so much for playing along with us at Fav Things!

XXXJenneke

Anonymous said...

hope SW went well and you got what you deser4ve I lost a pound but it's a struggle

Anonymous said...

Wow..loving those beautiful photo's!
Over here the weather is great too! Finally ;)
Love your Lo about venice...beautiful photo's and I love your design!
Good luch on the dieting ;)

Anna said...

I tried to leave a comment this morning but it's been soooo long since I used Blogger that Google had forgotten who I am and was demanding a password that I couldn't remember ...
Anyway, just to say that I love your Venice LO. Beautiful city! ( Nightmare place to try and negotiate with a wheelchair... The bridges are a killer!)
Hope you have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend :)