Category Archives: Games

Saturday Picnic

The sun was out today and we had a busy Saturday planned.  Though not a school day, we were up at our usual waking hour to get the boys to the school for the open house day.  The children were broken into groups and did a series of games and activities while the parents enjoyed tea, cake, and conversation.  The boys and I left shortly before it was over to meet my husband at the train station and we headed down to Brighton.  Apparently all of London was on our train, because all the cars were very packed and crowded.  We met up with our friend, Annette, whom we rented a room from last summer, and her neighbour and kids.  It was a beautiful afternoon for a picnic and we had a nice spot in the shade. Ryan had made fresh bread from the oven for our sandwiches and I think that was definitely a highlight.  Before we left all the kids got together to play cricket and they even let me catching on the fun. It was a great Saturday and I wish the sun was here to stay for the summer.

Cricket with Ruby, Ronan, Molly, and Maddox.
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My turn at playing Cricket with the kids in the park.
#cricket #Brighton
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12 o’clock: Picnic at the park on a warm sunny English day with the family.
#photoadaymay #photoadaychallenge
http://instagr.am/p/LF6cqtIk-C/
Me ‘as a child': Dressing up as Goldilocks and posing with one of my bears.
#maycreative #photoadaychallenge
http://instagr.am/p/LGf67Iok2F/



“Don’t take my silence for confusion…I was just trying to kill you with my mind.” – Sam (Burn Notice) @GroovyBruce

Playing Cricket in the park with Ronan, Ruby, and Molly. Technically I’m watching and Ronan and Ruby are really competitive. So much fun. xx


“Sometimes you make friends and then never see them again.”- Ronan (age 7) “The story of my life, son.” – Bonnie Rose (TCK)


Picnic with the family and friends in Brighton at the park.

Really enjoying the sunny 20°C + weather these past few days. This is my type of climate.

Coconut Oil for Pink Eye

Yesterday we tried out natural remedies on Maddox. His eye is not red, pink, or itchy. But the last couple of days he has complained that they hurt. Due to the timing of when he has mentioned it, I assumed it was his way of getting out of eating his dinner. Except that he came home from school yesterday with pink eye looking discharge. Still later last night his eye had not yet turned pink or red, nor was it swollen. So we put some coconut oil on the eye lid itself and a dillution of tea tree oil in hemp oil in a large circle around his eye brown and cheak bone. Maddox asked me, “Do I look like the Target dog?”

Today Maddox’s eye looked as healthy as ever.  I would like to think that the amount of coconut oil Maddox gets in the food we cook at home has helped in the prevention and that the applications on his eye helped to clear the infection entirely.  A friend mentioned that the mixture of coconut oil with breast milk works even better. But being that I am not lactating we went with what we had.  I’ve been telling my clients all about this miracle oil.  I already use it on my hair and to moisturize my skin as well as in our cooking and in our hot drinks.  I was given a recipe for a sunblock, so I look forward to doing that one as well. If you have a great use for coconut oil I would love to hear it! 
‘Music': I quite fancy a pink ukulele. #maycreative #photoadaychallengehttp://instagr.am/p/LBlZqSok2j/
Technology: Sometimes the DS can be a great distraction when needed.
However it’s the first thing I sacrifice when handing out punishments.
#photoadaymay #photoadaychallenge
http://instagr.am/p/LBjoeSok1f/

1PM

Found some lost photos of my dad with Maddox the last time we saw him. With his super dark tan, long hair, and aloha shirts he totally fit in being with us in Hawaii. I think he spent more time under the water scuba diving than he did out on the surface.
Lounging to keep warm. http://instagr.am/p/J-CxXPok8W/
One Ukelele at 1PM
#photoadayapril #photoadaychallange
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In camera shot of my son this morning at Sports day today at school.
http://instagr.am/p/J-wlXBoky7/
Ronan playing Cricket at Sports day today at his school.
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‎”When I go strapless, I am more of a professional” @JasmineStar on shooting without a camera strap. @the_bonnierose @creativeLIVE
Being motivated by Jasmine Star, wedding photographer, on a live online course. @jasminestar

Happy Easter

I have not fathomed just how big and over the top America celebrates holidays.  Trying to find things to put in the boys’ Easter baskets proved this point to myself. There are lots of eggs, but no ‘baskets’.  There is also not a plethora of plastic green grass, needless Easter toys and egg dying kits.  I love the thought of just buying an Egg and the boys were both excited to get their own egg.  However I did pick up some extra little chocolates, a film, and a few items from the toy section so we can have some new things to do together while they are on Easter Break.

We really wanted to get out of the house today and do something special as a family.  We took the boys over to Chichester to go to the RAF museum.  The boys really enjoyed seeing the planes and it was really nice to do something that reminded me of my dad.  He would have loved going there with us.  I really wish I could have seen what he would be like with my boys experiencing something that was such a huge part of his life and who he was while he was alive. 
We ended up missing the last bus back and got to take a 2 hour nature walk back to where the train station is in town. Though not planned it was very enjoyable.  We got to see two large rabbits in the field as well as many other animals.  After a night of pizza we got our train and headed home. It was a great day to be with our family.
The Easter Bunny left his goodies for the boys. 
Ronan & Maddox with their Easter goodies. 
Ammo.
Engines…
Looking inside.
My three guys with the planes at the RAF museum. 




My kids’ Easter surprises. They do not do baskets in the UK, so I pieced it together from a few various shophttp://t.co/zBNM1u7c


Toured RAF museum in Chichester, took a 2 hr nature walk after missing the last bus, and enjoyed a family dinner before catching train home.

Buona Pasqua a tutti! Happy Easter ♥ xx

Field Trip Pt. I: Cuckfield Museum

Today was a field trip for Maddox with his class from school. Since this was his first field trip for me to attend with him, it was quite a special trip.  We were a little early arriving to school, so we played a game of chutes and ladders while waiting for his classmates to arrive.  We took the mini bus to Cuckfield (pronounced ‘cook-field’) and went to the Cuckfield Museum.  The boys were very eager to see the actual dinosaur bones and fossils found right here in this area of England.  Afterwards they got to see the collection of historical items which include a lot of vintage toys.  The boys had been learning about toys from various parts of the world in class.  They got to take a turn playing with some of the old fashion toys.  We did a walk through where the boys got to learn information about different pieces in the museum and what they were once used for many years ago.  
Maddox reading a Biff & Chip book before leaving on the field trip.
Maddox beating me at Snakes & Ladders before class begun.
An old riding bridle and chest.
Fossils and Bones.
A bell that run the bell at the church. 
An old vintage Noah’s Ark toy set
A finding from Cuckfield
A key that was for the chapel that I thought looked very cool.
A vintage board game, much like monopoly
A vintage bear, sheep, and doll dated 100 years old. 
A dinosaur collection of findings from Cuckfield.
Maddox having a go at an old European lawn game of Skittles.
Bed warmer for the fireplace. 
The Dinosaur collection at the Museum.
The boys with the curator of the Museum. 
Vintage shoes and clothes.
Maddox learning how to play a game. 
Doing the tour of the Museum. 
Checking out a dinosaur egg shell under the glass.
An old clock face. 
The boys looking at the old toys.
Magnifying glass.
Lawn game of Skittles