How things have changed

 It's been a while, a long while things have somewhat changed and some reassuringly remain the same.

I'm still fostering but maybe not for much longer, What seems like may years ago now a little whirlwind was brought to us at just 17 months old from another foster carer who couldn't cope with his needs. He has just turned 6 and will be here forever .He has changed our world and we have learned so much about children with additional needs.

When i look back on past posts the house and garden have changed so much as i guess we all have as we get older 

I hope the world is treating you well wherever you are and whatever you are doing 

Snow

Last night it began to snow around 6.30 and was still snowing at midnight when i finally drifted off to sleep.
 It has obviously frozen overnight and it was bitterly cold this morning.
 The little ones were desperate to play out so after a quick trudge round the back garden,once up and down the street and throwing a bit of snow at each other they had had enough.
 For the rest of the day we have been tucked up nice and warm inside watching the DVDs we got for Christmas. Bliss.
 The youngest didn't want lunch and as the day progressed got paler and paler.poor thing.Hes now tucked up in bed.lets hope he sleeps it off.

Tomorrow i should at least try to do a little bit of cleaning and washing,but who knows.when there's snow on the ground the sofa, a throw and the fire are just too tempting.
Keep warm

Happy Christmas again

Where has the year gone?

 Have a Happy,safe and cosy Christmas.

fun times

Fireplaces

We have a few

The to do list

I have started following http://iheartmyfamilyhome.blogspot.co.uk  where Tracy has made her to do a list #52 projects
I thought what a fantastic idea and way to get things done so here is mine. And if I know I have to blog about each one hopefully that will be added motivation.

• paint the front door (done)
• sand and re stain hall floor
• sand and paint bay window
• level garden and lay turf  (done)
• finish garden seating area  (done)
• plant up tubs (done)
• buy and erect children's climbing frame (done)
• buy bathroom flooring (done)
• buy new shower (done)
• buy new fire guard (done)
• fit a strip between the hall and dinning room floor (done)
• build shelves for bathroom (done)
• paint my bedroom furniture
• decorate children's room
• finish painting hallway(done)
• build fence and gate for front garden (done)
• start on utility room :/ (started)

I haven't got as many as Tracy although the utility room being turned into a study is a good few projects in its own right.
Wish me luck

And the toddlers

 

They are just as bad!

 

 We have still got the cot up as well as the toddler bed because we don't know if the littlest one will actually stay in the toddler bed yet.

 I wish i had made the bed up now,but if i had waited to take the picture cahos would have resumed once more.

Toddlers and teenagers

If you want to tidy up blog about it

 

 

I find that the easiest way to tidy a room is to take pictures for your blog,i mean you wouldn't want the world to see your mess,would you?

 

 

Sometimes when i go into my daughters room i find it like this

                                                       I prefer it to look like this

                                                  For at  least half an hour anyway

Its been a while

But I'm still here.Life is moving on much as life does. Since my last post which I was shocked to see was in April, we have had a summer holiday ,Cardigan bay in Wales. I had never been before but it was the most relaxing holiday I have ever had. We even got to watch the dolphins playing in the bay.
 We have had numerous birthdays. Halloween, With pumpkin calving, mess and sweets. Do you remember trying to calve a turnip?. Bonfire night and we are almost upon the holiday I love the most.
 We still have the two little ones that arrived with us just before last Christmas, causing some last minuet panic Christmas shopping. This year so far has been a little more relaxing, but im sure the panic will happen nearer to the big day. Followed by my yearly Christmas cold. Why do I always get ill two days before Christmas day?!
 Its time to get ready for a little ladies special day now here and then im sure it will nag,nag,nag to put the tree up. The problem is this year I want to get a real one and getting it too soon may end in a twig with lights on by the big day.
I hope your holiday plans all go without a hitch.
The aim is to blog more often but just in case I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year.x

memories

Ahh the memories

Today

This time last year

And Today

16inch of snow on the table

The pond

Christmas

Its that time of year again,i think we are about as ready as we can be.Lots of changes have been taking place as we have two new little people in residence.and our gorgeous baby girl has moved on to pastures new. Its a heart breaking way to earn a living.
Here at the madhouse We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy new year.Here's hoping for snow.
Sarah x

keeping up

Its been a while.I'm still managing to keep up with every ones blogs,but only just. Life looking after someone Else's 16 month old is ongoing and a joy.I am also starting a degree course on the 5th November so that should be interesting.I am going to take it a year at a time and hopefully steadily plod along.
 Summer seems long gone and autumn is beginning in the garden.Although i  may have to cut the grass maybe once or twice more before the mower goes away for hibernation.
 There are still some flowers out but not many the rain seems to have helped with the loss of the petals.
  Thoughts of winter excite me and I'm looking forward to cosy nights in front of the fire.One weather forecaster i watched said we were going to skip autumn and just go straight to winter in November,snow,freezing temperatures the lot!
My mind has jumped from summer days sat in the garden with a good book to how much should i stock the freezer and should i buy a electric blanket? And of course Christmas presents and is it too early to buy cards?Ah well so it begins the madness. keep warm.
Sarah x

Grandchildren

Happy Easter

Father Christmas and driving tests

Last Wednesday was my daughters 15th birthday,We sat in the garden,we had the paddling pool out for the little ones and ate outside.
 This morning just six days later we have woke up to a good 4inch of snow.My little grandson aged 3 announced to his little sister this morning that Farther Christmas was coming!
 I love snow,but tomorrow i have a driving test.I passed over 20 years ago.This a re test for work,which to me seems stupid to me.If you have a clean licence and never had points then surely you are a good driver.Its a full test booked for 8.10 in the morning.I have been so stressed about it and just want to get it over with.Aaah well fingers crossed.

Open wide

I helped my daughter out this morning by taking her cat to the vet for some stitches out.
 As i got me,handbag,cat carrier etc out of the car i somehow banged my front tooth on the corner of the door.By the time id got into the vets i realised id chipped my tooth  and by the time we got called in it was hurting.I explained to the vet what id done (mainly because i now look like a hillbilly!) and because i couldn't speak very well.
 When the vet had finished with the cat he said "lets have a look at your tooth then" I was a bit shocked but obliged.He then proceded to get a small pot of gel and rub some on my tooth."There you go" he said "That will take that pain off until you can get to the dentist.It lasts a good couple of hours.Its what we give dogs when they've a broken a tooth"
 Well i have to say its worked.I'm now pain free and going to the dentist in the morning (although i should imagine the pain will have returned by then)
 It wasn't until i got back to my daughters and was telling her what happened i realised he didn't change his gloves from examining the cat.Aah well I've probably had worse in my mouth although i don't want to know.

I hope your day is filled with hearts and flowers.x

And so it begins

It started to snow around 6pm and hasn't stopped yet. The cars are struggling up the hill and the cats keep looking out of the window with a disgusted look on their faces.

Sledges are at the ready for morning.

Fingers crossed

It's been a long time in coming, but there's been a lot of talk in the last couple of days that later on Saturday into Saturday night a large part of the UK will be affected by the first widespread fall of snow so far this winter.For our region current timings bring the snow into Pennine areas early Saturday afternoon, reaching the coast late afternoon and into the evening.
The girls are really excited and the sledges,shovel and wellies are ready.

The areas affected are covered by a Met Office amber alert, shown.