My Smallest Girl

Is seven today!!

This time seven years ago I was waiting for the jelly to start the journey of her birth. Elizabeth had convinced us that we were expecting a boy baby called Peter. Elizabeth, aged just 2, was with us in hospital and although at the time it was frustrating because that was not the plan, in hindsight it was magical and so special that after me Elizabeth was the first person to hold her baby sister, she never mentioned boy baby Peter again, she was so in love with our new bundle. Francesca was a whopping 8lb 9oz and was so perfect (she still is). I never imagined that I would love another baby as much as I loved my first but a Mummy's heart has infinate expansion room. Francesca explained to Nathaniel when we were expecting Sebastian that when a baby arrives so does a new lot of Mummy love so they all still have the same.

She is beautiful;


And a bit of a Rock Chick;


A wonderful big sister;

And I love her so much my heart could burst!

She is funny too, she spent a while the other night reassuring me that we'd be safe in the jungle because man eating lions don't eat women!

Happy Birthday Francecsa!

I do love him more than buttons.


Happy Birthday Simon xxx

A Birthday Owl

It's Mrs Swirl's birthday today and I thought it was about time I cabled her some owls. She (rather cheekily) emailed me this link before Christmas but I just didn't get around to doing anything with it, until now that is........


I knitted this owl with the intention of mounting it on a card for her.

It kind of grew out of all proportion so I ended up mounting it on a box frame (about 30cm x 30cm).

It's on a machine embroidered (I use the term very loosely) tree, with some hand embroidered text and a couple of felt leaves.

I finished it with this amazing 1970s braid.

And knitted three owls and mounted them onto a felt back with a brooch pin so she can bung it on her coat.

Happy Birthday Lynsey!!

Daisie xxx

Birthday Update

A pirate card made by Francesca, I just love the crocodile in the sea, and one by me;

We've had a lovely day out and enjoyed a late lunch together, spent hours in a book shop and we all have at least one new book but Elizabeth has somehow, miraculously managed to come home with as much money in her purse as she left home with this morning? Wish I could do that!!

Firstly let me show you some makes. I have been trying on all the bags I have made recently on Elizabeth and secretly measuring her to make a bag that was a perfect fit;

I finished it with a lovely big, bright blue button;

Inside there are four patch pockets, perfect today for her purse, music player and notebook (don't know where she gets it from);

She really loves it and it is a fabulous fit on her, sadly I didn't manage to get a good photo of her wearing it but have a feeling she will be wearing it alot from now on so there will be plenty of chances to show you. And best of all is that it was a complete surprise, she loves this fabric but I told her that I only had a small piece left and made her a small zipped pouch for her ocarina a while ago, secretly hiding the last bits to make her birthday bag! Sneaky Mummy!

Francesca has also been busy making birthday delights. We saw a cardboard book shaped box in a craft store and bought it a few weeks ago. Francesca wanted to decorate it for Elizabeth to keep on her book shelf and hide her precious things in. We painted the cover a deep silvery colour and the page edges gold. Francesca chose a good photo of her sister to go on the front and the we spent ages doing mosaic tiles around the pic. I sat for hours squirting tiny bits of glue onto the back of the tiles and watching Francesca form a patterned frame. I think she did a really good job;

She decided on the book title too and I added it to the spine;

We glued some deep blue felt to the interior to make it look a bit posher and then we added little delights to the inside. A note book, a letter 'E' to hang on her door, Francesca made a card and we chose some family photos and made her a small album;

And I just have to show you this picture of Nathaniel and the biggest mug you have ever seen;

We often have a family trip to Borders and we spend hours there, the atmosphere is lovely and there is so much to see and do we nearly always have to venture upstairs for a little sit down and refresh and a browse of our books. Simon does like his caffiene and I have a big hot choclate (with cream) that I can share with the children. The size of the mug didn't stop Nathaniel from sharing too;

He is such a big boy. We have been out all day and have had dry pants all day! What a star, think we may just be getting the hang of this toilet training malarkey :-)

Daisie xxx

A Second Birthday

Imagine the imposition, you get woken up, you get made breakfast and you have to open presents too;


It's obviously harder work than we thought!!

But after a little zen like meditation on his new cushion;



He was a smiley boy again;

The cupcakes went down very well at the course/creche this afternoon, think I may have to make cake for next week too!!

After school some of the girl's friends came to play and Nathaniel's chum Li-Bau came too. The dinosaur turned out (not as well as I'd hoped) quite well and at least everyone knew what it was;

Simon commented on the artistic way the dino had managed to poo!!

Nathaniel was sung to by many pretty girls;

And Li helped to eat the cake;

A lovely day was had by all, thanks to all those who came along to celebrate with us, it wouldn't have been the same without you :-)

Happy Birthday Nathaniel!!

Daisie xxx

Happy Birthday Simon!!!

And now I can reveal how my son managed to get a little green tash yesterday, see all the beautiful green colouring? That would be Nathaniel;


Elizabeth decided that Simon was brill and he rocked;


Francesca was responsible for the pink love hearts (well, who else?);

This shot is very dark and I do apologise (I'm sure there is a way I could correct it if I was technically minded) but the girls were so excited when we can home from school that they were washed, changed and ready to 'paaarttaaay' by ten to four!!

Nathaniel and I made a cake this afternoon and it was Francesca's job to light the candles and then call for hush when it was time to sing;

You can't tell from the pic but we artfully arranged the candles in an 'S' shape. I think after your tenth birthday having the same number of candles as years from birth is a little silly and when you get to be as old as Simon it is a positive fire hazard!! And I can say that; I'm middle aged!

Nathaniel didn't like all the singing but was very impressed that Simon managed to blow out all the candles in one go;

After we had all eaten far too much cake we did fun scientific experiments with balloons;

Happy birthday Simon!!

Daisie xxx

Little Green Hitler Tash

Not sure now I've written the post title whether it's entirely appropriate? Oh, what the heck, am sticking with it anyhoo!

Today I have been feeling mightily under the weather after puking for many hours during the night, so much so that my throat began to bleed! Very alarming! Feeling slightly better just a bit washed out and knackered. I'm hoping that it's the same bug that has been doing the rounds at school the last week or so. If it is I'll feel 100% myself again by tomorrow which will be good!

Even though I am ill and knackered I dragged myself (kicking and screaming?) to meet Swirly and Sarah at SAMS. I got some beautiful fabrics, a water colour painting set for my father-in-law and some small pieces of coloured leather and suede.

I ran the suede through the die cutter to embellish some note books I bought a while ago;



You can see the texture better in this shot;



I have been meaning to do something with these for a while, am thinking of doing a few more and taking them to the school fair. Think little girls will love them (I know mine do)!

And with regard the title, the children and I have been creating delights for Simon's birthday tomorrow. Daren't show you any pics yet incase the big man comes and has a look when he gets home from work tonight. Will show you lots tomorrow! Nathaniel did do lots of doodling where we asked him to but he also managed to doodle on his face and ended up looking like this;



The little green 'tash looks much better in the flesh! The girls thought he looked very funny and I thought it was highly fitting for the mood he has been in all afternoon!

Daisie xxx

Happy Birthday Francesca, 5 Today!!

I don't have nearly as many pictures of the girls on the computer as I do of Nathaniel.

Here are the ones I managed to find of my smallest girl:

Francesca aged only a few weeks asleep on two year old Elizabeth;


Francesca aged about six or seven months dressed in her football gear (how fat was her face?);



Francesca and me summer 2005;

Francesca in a supermarket trolley sometime 2006;

Francesca last week ready and waiting to have her hair cut;

This is the very pink cake we had to eat tonight;

Happy birthday my baby girl!

Daisie xxx

A Belated Birthday

!!Happy First Birthday Li-Bau!!

A very happy first birthday (yesterday, sorry) to Nathaniel's bestest friend in the whole wide world! Li-Bau;



We all had a wonderful time at his party yesterday and he (and his Daddy) really liked his mini golf clubs, especially the little club warmers I knitted;



There was so much food that we were invited back today to finish them for lunch. Nathaniel sat in a big boy's chair next to Francesca;



And Elizabeth and Kae-Lei filled the other side of the table;

And I must say that the food was as good as it was yesterday (if not better)!

The children and I were out far too early this morning shopping for bulldog clips (am taking on a quick project) and some large paper clips. I have made some ice skate boots to mount on cards but wanted to do some in felt to hang on Christmas trees. These clips are 7.5cm in length and I got to sew some this afternoon while drinking tea;

At Claire's suggestion I am going to re-do the boot with the shorter row of laces, they look much better when the laces start nearer the toe.

I also managed to get some more mini hot water bottles so will be able to take orders at the fair after all!!

I need to go now and find some school uniform to iron for tomorrow and dig out clean PE kits, can't quite believe that the holidays are over already :-(

May be back later with some fancy bulldog clips....

Daisie xxx

Happy 7th Birthday Elizabeth Emma!

Blimey I feel quite old, it doesn't seem so long ago that she was just a bump called 'Hughie' because she made me soooo sick!!

Just a quick one today as we are palying with new toys, eating meatballs in chilli sauce with spaghetti (at Elizabeths' request) and cake before an early night with her new book so she is refreshed for tomorrow's party.

I will post a better pic of her tomorrow, sorry baby!

Daisie xxx

Happy Birthday Nathaniel!!

Hello, I have just spent ages looking at pictures of my baby boy over the last year and deciding which to share with you. If you were here with a cup of tea and a piece of cake I'd show you them all but to put them all on blogger would take a year in itself! So here is a year in pictures.

June: Nathaniel aged just two days in this one, please note Francesca's terrible chicken pox, it was a hard week for her!!






July saw the purchase of our car and digital camera, lots of lovely adventures over the summer holidays;

August was warm and his little arms looked so scrawny in short sleeves;

In September he turned into a smiley little man;

October, brought more of the same;

November was the start of the cold and we snuggled after school with our pyjamas on before tea;

Nathaniel's first Christmas brought lots of fun (and some new socks);

In January his Daddy taught him to fly, I'm not sure how I managed to take this photo as usually when Simon makes the children fly I have to leave the room or at least close my eyes! To his credit he's never dropped one of them;

Nathaniel had wonderful fun with Francesca's birthday balloons in February;

In March he helped me cook;

In April we took this embarrassing pic when Elizabeth made him wear a pink headband (there are lots like this and I hope he can forgive us);

In May he got windswept on Fleetwood sands;

In June he loved his Mummy;

And turned into a big boy;

Happy first birthday Nathaniel, we love you lots!!

And a very happy father's day to all the Daddies out there!!

Daisie xxx