Summer Fun List 2012: #2, 3 and 4!! Bournemouth Beach and Oceanarium

Well yesterday we went on a fantastic day trip to Bournemouth with some of the families from 26 Engineer Regiment. The weather was amazing considering all of the rain we've had for the past couple of months and we all had a brilliant time. It also meant we got to tick some things off our Summer Fun List too!! Bonus!
We got on a coach on camp at 9.00 and wound our way through the countryside down to the coast. First stop was the Oceanarium where the boys loved walking through the tunnel under the big tank, then over to the beach for lunch, sand angels, sand castles and fun in the sea.
Finally we dried them off and went for a walk in the beautiful gardens and scoffed ice cream.
The hardest part of the day was trying to keep them awake all the way home on the coach because if they'd fallen asleep then there would have been ho chance of getting them into bed at a reasonable time!
Some pics from the day.....

Summer Fun List 2012 - #1 Puddle Jumping

Well yesterday we had the perfect weather to tick one of the things off the Summer Fun List. Sports day was cancelled and the rain came, and with it came the puddles!!!
Being the very kind, efficient (cough, cough!) Mummy that I am, I had the kettle filled, mugs, hot chocolate and tea bags ready and towels warming on the radiator. (yes, the heating is on in July!)
Oscar and I donned our wellies and took Alfie's with us when we went to pick him up from school and went straight to the Basketball court by the Leisure centre where the biggest puddle was to be found. Then the jumping, running and splashing commenced!!

We squelched home and wrapped up warm on the sofa, bliss!

The Thompsons' 2012 Summer Fun List

Well after I mentioned making a Summer Bucket List here I got down to it and wrote everything down. I decided against the name 'Bucket List' because I just couldn't face the questions on why it was called that from my 5 year old! So The Thompsons' 2012 Summer Fun List was born, and here it is for you!

• Feed ducks
• Puddle jumping
• Climb a tree
• Write a letter
• Make a fingerprint tree
• Make a den under the table
• Watch a rugby match
• Go to the cinema
• Use chopsticks
• Make pavement chalk
• Play with cornflour
• Decopatch
• Go to Legoland
• Ride bikes
• Go to the beach
• Go on a fossil hunt
• Build sandcastles
• Make a fort
• Visit an aquarium
• Go camping (even if its only in the garden!)
• Have a walk in the woods
• Make ice cream
• Have a picnic (once again, even if its only in the garden!)
• Wash the car
• Have a PJ day
• Make string balloons
• Visit a zoo/farm
• Go swimming
• Have a bbq
• Paint rocks
• Do the Summer Reading Challenge
• Make cardboard box cars
• Have a drive-in-movie at home
• Go Geocaching
• Go Tree RUnning
• Make water balloon sponges
• Fly a kite
• Go on a train
• Visit a museum
• Visit the theatre
• Send a message in a bottle
• Make splat paintings

So here goes!!!

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A 2nd Year of Projects

Well, the 1st of July is upon us again and I can't believe its been a whole year since I started this!! The second year of projects starts today and I have learnt a lot over the past year. Mainly that a very specific list of projects was never going to get completed!!
This year I will be slightly less specific on my projects, mainly because I know that I'll probably change my mind about patterns and there are always new ones being released. Sooo.....

I need to finish the following WIPs....
Peerie Flooers hat
BMC - the very long rows and two balls need Oscar to be sleeping better!
Nonna
Mojo socks
Japanese slippers
Japanese shawl
Girasole baby shawl
Arielle


Then new projects...
Owls jumper - a second one for me because I've worn the one I have to death!
Boreal jumper - for me because I love it!
Boys jumpers - maybe just Guston for Oscar, I have just done one for Alfie, maybe Iain Jr for both
Gloves - definitely for me, maybe kids too - Grove/Shipyard mittens/Dustland Mitts?
Scarf for me - Topiary/Kildare/Oslo?
Stasis pullover - me
West Knits MKAL
Orchids and Fairy Lights - for the Ravellenic Games
Maybe another cowl - Pippi/Inspira cowl/Jig
Still light tunic/Topstykke - I love both of these but am not sure whether I'll ever manage that amount of 4ply stocking stitch!!

Well, here goes!! There'll definitely be lots of other projects throughout the year as well as these. If you want to join in visit the Year of Projects Group on Ravelry!

Summer holidays are almost here.....

In just over four weeks we will be finishing school for the six week summer holidays. That should coincide with Mr Thomps getting his two weeks r'n'r (rest and recuperation) from his not so little 'holiday' in the desert. With this in mind I've decided that this summer we will do a Bucket List.
The Summer holidays can quite easily fly by with not much getting done so I think that if we write everything down and tick things off as we do them it will motivate us to keep going.
Our list will start as soon as I manage I make it (hopefully this week) and I'll Donna official launch blog post, and will actually run until the end of October. This is because Mr Thomps will be back properly by the end of September and has all of October off work so some things will get done then. These will be things like going into London to see a theatre show and visit the museums because the Olympics will be happening when he is home in the Summer and London will be far too busy then!!!
The boys have been asked what they would like to do and I have had more inspiration from here: http://thehappyfamilymovement.com/2012/05/the-2012-summer-bucket-list-challenge/

Anybody fancy joining me??

Year of Projects Update:12 Jun 2012

Well here we are again, its been a long time!!! Its almost the end of our year of projects and I have learnt a huge amount in the past year.
I have done a fair amount of colourwork, learnt to knit continentally (although I still prefer to knit English style), dyed yarn, even had a very quick go at spinning on a friend's drop spindle, but the one thing that I have learned, above all others, is not to plan too far ahead! Out of my original list from my Year of Projects Post here very little has stayed the same. As new patterns were released I changed my mind over much of my list and there are things still outstanding that will never get finished!

So...
WIP
As of today I have in progress....
Sally the Eco/Xmas Fairy
Japanese Crochet Slippers
Japanese Flower Shawl
Mojo Socks
Granny Stripe Blanket
Baby Kimono
Hemlock Ring Blanket

From this list I think that it is unlikely that my Granny Stripe Blanket will ever get finished, but I am hopeful on the rest (even though I haven't touched some of them since they went on my list :hangs head in shame:)

Outstanding
Still Light Tunic
Lego Man
Tamara Gloves
Damask Shawl
Kalajoki Socks
And So Are You Shawl
Stitch Sampler Shawl
2 Monteagle Bags

Now I know that I won't ever knit the 2 Monteagle bags because I really didn't enjoy the first one I made!! Also As beautiful as the Damask Shawl is, I was intending it for a wedding that got cancelled so that will probably never come to fruition now. The same goes for the And So Are You shawl and the Tamara Gloves although I truly love them both.
I have bought the yarn for the Stitch Sampler Shawl so I'm not writing that one off yet and I still definitely want to knit the Kalajoki socks and Lego Man. The Still Light Tunic I adore, although I'm not sure I'll ever finish something of that size in 4ply..... We'll see!!!

So on to year two. This year I will definitely be less specific, more like 'A Kate Davies Jumper for Me' or 'A Brooklyn Tweed Scarf' so that I have a little more leeway when new patterns are released without my whole list appearing to change!!

Off to plan.......

Welcome to the World........... Audrey!

Meet Audrey.

Here she is, doing her thing and doing it perfectly.

Audrey was going to be my present from Dearest Husband's bonus at the end of his 'long sandy holiday' however over the Easter weekend I found her on an amazing offer at Harts of Stur so it would have been silly not to have indulged!!
She has been used a number of times since she arrived here at number 23 and she makes the most amazing mashed potato as well as all of the other baking uses she can be put to (like making the perfect pancake mix above). I may even go so far as to say that everybody who bakes should have one!
The name Audrey came from a little brainstorming session with my fellow knitters at Love Yarn's Saturday afternoon drop in session and as soon as I heard it I knew that it was perfect. Strong, dependable and lets you know exactly where you stand.

Audrey, I think I love you xxx

Year of Projects Update: 3 April 2012

Well, it's been a long old time since I did one of these!!! I thought I'd have a look back at my post from 1 July and see how far I've got......

My original list was...


UFO's to complete.....
1. Twenty-Ten Cardigan for me - FINISHED
2. Hemlock Ring Blanket for Alfie - HIBERNATING
3. Baby Kimono - HIBERNATING
4. Granny Stripe Blanket for the sofa - HIBERNATING
5. Mojo Socks for me - HIBERNATING
6. Japanese Flower Shawl - HIBERNATING
7. Textured Shawl for me - FINISHED
8. Something Pretty cushion for Mum - FINISHED

Gifts.....
9. Erik zip up hoody for Dan (my brother) as a birthday present - FINISHED
10. Monteagle bag for Nanny - changed to Christina cardigan - JUST NEED TO SEW UP
11. Monteagle bag For Chris for her birthday - FINISHED (but I hated doing it so the others got abandoned!)
12. Owls jumper for Sarah (Dan's girlfriend) who fell in love with mine - FINISHED
13. Monteagle bag for Bez - ABANDONED!
14.  Fetching gloves for Sarah - because she works in a draughty office so wears these that I knitted for her last birthday all the time - FINISHED (but not for Sarah!)

Others....
15. Hiker jumper for Tom - FINISHED TWO! (except he changed his mind to this one and this one!)
16. Cardy me - Deco or Paulie - FINISHED but chose this one instead
17. Hats for boys - either Astronomer or Modern Rib Hat - FINISHED BOTH
18. Remembrance Poppies - FINISHED
19. And So Are You shawl
20. Stitch Sampler Shawl - STARTED
21. Guernsey Wrap - FINISHED
22. Japanese Crochet Slippers for me - STARTED
23. Sally the Eco Fairy as an Angel for the Christmas tree - STARTED
24. Kalajoki socks
25. Damask shawl
26. Tamara gloves for me - I WILL learn to do colourwork! - Haven't done, however did do this and this is almost done for my colourwork lessons!
27. Asymmetric stripe shawl - Different Lines - FINISHED
28. Still Light Tunic with hand dyed yarn
29. Lego Man for the ever Lego obsessed Alfie
30. Jane Hat for me - FINISHED
31. Jumpers for kids - FINISHED BOTH


So I don't think I've done bad! I've got time between now and 30 June to hopefully get some more ticked off my list...... we'll see!!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.

To find more moments and add your own, visit Soulemama

The Eggs Factor

Coming up to Easter Alf's school has set a whole school piece of 'homework' to design a rock band made from eggs.

The first part of the homework consisted of producing a drawing of their band with the second part to make a model. The models had to be taken in to school this morning ready to be displayed at the Easter Concerts on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning.

I am so proud of my little man, drawing has never really interested him, it's far too calm and quiet for him, but over the last week he's really enjoyed this task and then made his band last night. His concentration is definitely improving and I am eternally grateful to his teachers endless patience for that!!

Here is his contribution......

Our Weekend With Floppy

Alfie's class has a soft dog called Floppy, so named from the Oxford Reading Tree series of books where there are children called Biff, Chip, Kipper and a dog called Floppy.

When Floppy comes home he brings with him a diary and a digital camera and your child is expected to take photos of what Floppy has done as well as draw a picture and write a short sentence.

This weekend it was our turn. It also happened to be the one weekend where we had no plans. Absolutely none.

The weather was beautiful and unseasonably warm and all we were going to do was chill in the garden - which doesn't make a good diary entry for a 5 year old! So, we cooked the sausages for tea on Friday night on the barbecue and Floppy helped, he also helped us to plant some carrot seeds on Saturday morning. I think we did pretty well considering!!

I didn't think it was appropriate to include the witnessing of grown men fighting over reduced yogurts in Tesco though.....

Blogger App

Well hello there! Long time, no see (again)!

I've just discovered that a Blogger app is available so maybe I'll be a bit better at keeping up to date from now on........ Maybe......

Oh dear.....

I thought the idea of a lie in was too good to be true..... This is what we were greeted with.......

Thank god it was just their bodies!!