Home-ed outing, Clement's 2nd Birthday, and Daily stuff

It looks like this is yet another post with *many* photos, and only time for a few words. I always feel I need to keep up with organising and uploading photos, or I end up with over 100 photos on my camera to sort through. (I think the problem is I take too many photos!) Anyway, this won't be a proper update, but just bringing my photos up to date! :-)

Two weeks ago we had an outing with a few other families connected with our homeschool group. We went to a place called "The Floral Hall" in Inverness. I didn't even know it existed, but it was a lovely place to visit. And with admission being only £2 for adults and children of *all* ages free, it was good value!

Here's Clement looking at some of the large Koi fish at The Floral Hall.


Benjamin walking through the "rain forest" :-)


Looking at fish again


Benjamin on a small bridge

Lots of lovely tropical plants


Beautiful flowers


Some friends looking at the display of carnivorous plants!



More beautiful flowers


Clement in the vegetable garden there


Some of the children


Deborah relaxing in the Mountain Buggy - sock removed and playing with toes, of course! :)


The three 4 year olds (with Clement in the background)! I think it's really neat that they're all so close in age! The boys (B and J) were born on the same day and the girl (R) 3-4 days before them! :-)


Abigail's best friend, Rebekah! :-)


Still having fun with these wooden sculptures!


And sitting on them!

And Clement enjoyed sitting in the bear's lap :)

R again


Transporting 3 children with ease! :) My ancient double Mountain Buggy Terrain that I got off ebay! I bought a Kiddyboard to put on the back, so Benjamin can stand while the youngest 2 are seated. It's quite good and very light & easy to push.


My darling Deborah! Wearing another dress that my dear friend Marilyn made for her! :-D


Sitting in a laundry tub!


An attempt at introducing solids to Deborah, but she's *not* very impressed. She does the most awful faces and makes it very clear that she *doesn't* think food tastes very good. She'll also loudly spit it back out at us! Of course, she's a very chubby baby on nothing but mummy's milk (and still sleeps wonderfully at night), so no big deal that she doesn't want to eat anything yet.


The oldest 3, sitting on the table [blush] and eating chocolate cookies!


And same again, this time at the park last week


My dear daughters, in matching pyjamas!

And finally, Happy Birthday to Clement! He turned 2 on Monday this week (11th).


Deborah thought it was brilliant that I sat her next to his present, and she immediately started opening his present!! She tore the piece off completely and then thought it would be a tasty snack.


Clement working on opening his big present! :-)


A pressie for Benjamin!


Exploring what's inside the box!


Fisher Price little people!! (his favourite!!)


An airport set and...

Farm!


Cake with diggers!


Blowing out his candle!


Abigail and her best friend - playing dress up together! :)


Sweet little Deborah again - already 6 months old!!


Yummy toes!!


Playing with her brothers, which she thinks is great fun! :-)

March in Photos!

I just moved 152 photos from my camera to my laptop - but you'll be relieved to know that only a fraction of them are uploaded here! :) There were lots from January that I never posted, but I'm going to omit them from my blog, as Deborah has changed so much since then. But I thought I'd better update this with photos from Benjamin's birthday, as it will soon be Clement's on the 11th of April!

A rare moment of quiet - when the oldest 3 are all buried in books! :)


Benjamin holding a small stuffed mouse that he found on the side of the A9! He was out for a walk with his daddy when he found this very muddy soft toy, which he *had* to rescue. It came up beautifully clean in the washing machine!


Deborah on my back in the Performance Ergo - she spends a good few hours there every day, which is nice and peaceful for me! She takes her naps there while I'm cooking & cleaning, and at least I know she's safe from her brothers!


A hyper little Deborah with Clement. Yes, she's starting young - I think she's going to be a wild little girl! She's been doing the most loud, high pitch squealing sounds - when she's happy! Her brothers like to tell me "Deborah is being very noisy" (as if they're never loud!). The worst part is when she thinks to try it during church!


On the 11th of March, my dear Benjamin turned 4! Here he is holding his Woody the cowboy dressing up outfit!


A present for Abigail - Mrs Potato Head!


Opening a present...


"Lego" police station!


Some books!


And a book for Abigail!


Mr Potato Head for Benjamin


Clement with a car - anything with wheels is always a good pressie for Clement! Though removable rubber tyres always end up in his mouth, which is rather annoying!


Another present


Playing with their family of Potato Heads!


My Boys - with Benjamin's cake


Benjamin and cake again. He had a simple request this year - just wanted plastic/rubber figures on the cake which he could play with afterwards, so I was relieved that I didn't need to attempt any icing creations!


Benjamin the cowboy!


My delightful little daughter! :-)


Doing lessons - one of the mornings that I attempt to do some schoolwork with them! I keep trying to get into a routine of it, so I'll be organised when Abigail is required to do it "full time" in August. But it's a bit hectic trying to "teach" Benjamin at the same time as Abigail, and he never wants to be left out. Yet he doesn't always like to cooperate - he usually thinks his method of doing it is better than the one suggested, or that he knows better than the book, etc. And of course Clement likes to help out too - usually marking the books while they're working! :-) I'm sure I'll get there eventually. I'm quite enjoying the book "Language Lessons for the Well Trained Mind", though I have to admit that we're only several lessons into the large book. But I like the style of it and the kids enjoy it too.


Deborah looking on while they're working! :-)


On my back again - this time sleeping in the "Sleepy Nico" sling


Discovering her tongue!


And awake in the Sleepy Nico!


Out for a walk in Edderton - this photo isn't so clear, but in the background is a crane which says "Deborah Quick Lift"!


View from Edderton


Lovely fields with sheep


Peter and oldest 3


Clement coming back to bring me something


The current parish church in Edderton


Playing dolls with Abigail - complete with a girly hat - and no shoes!


A very happy little girl!


Most people like to sit on the couch - but the boys in our house often prefer to stand on their heads! :-/ ... I think it would make *me* feel sick!


Smiling, as always - nearly 6 months


The children decided that the new wool rug from Next was so comfy and soft that they would "sleep" on it!


And within a few minutes of putting Deborah down on it, she rolled onto her tummy and turned round, where she found a parking garage and CARS to play with ....


and she felt *very* pleased with herself! She was really driving the car back and forth along the wooden base there - which was quite noisy!

And now, after this long post, I must go do the dishes from dinner!