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Jonny celebrated his 1st birthday on the 17 Feb in style with chocolate cake and pressies – which Charlie very kind unwrapped on his behalf   I had a little morning tea with a few friends around to celebrate his day unfortunately,  Charlie had the chicken pox and while i was concerned the mums and children wouldn’t come, once I called they were more then happy to ‘infect’ their own children believing that its better for their kids to get chicken pox earlier rather then later – bonus

Two and half weeks later Jonny comes down with the chicken pox and he has got them far worse then what Charlie had.  The poor wee man has got them everywhere in his ears, up his nose, all over his bits and even on the bottom of his feet!  And I think he’s also got a viral gastro bug as he has been throwing up and pooing up a storm to go with the spots.  My little boy is not well

However here are a few pics from his birthday:

Jonny and Charlie unwrapping the presents.

Jonnys birthday cake (which was the best ever flourless Chocolate cake) and thats chocolate rice crispy bits I’m picking out of his hair!

Charlie was eating a piece of cake and a large piece of icing fell off the side.  She looks at me, puts her hands on either side of her face and says ‘uh oh – sticky tape please mummy’.  Bless her little cotton socks :+)

Ian’s aim came right!

Charlie in deep snow!

Ian and Charlie in the snow.

The snow when if first arrived!

In the first week of 2010 the UK got hit with quite alot of snow, the locals tell me this is most unusual – although I remain unconvinced given we have had snow for the two years I have been here! It did however,  make for some lovely pictures.

Ian took these in the field across the road from us.

Pictures of our back yard.

The snow also caused problems for Noodle as it would stick to her hair in very large clumps and Ian would spend up to an hour getting it off her.  So to combat this problem he decided to ‘dress’ her for the occasion – there were a couple of attempts before he found the right combination.

Attempted No. 1

Attempt No.2.  More refined and red was always her colour

Noodle out having fun in the snow

She doesn’t look this shaggy anymore because we had her shaved (quite literally) as she was developing dreadlocks soon after these photos were taken.  It took her a week to forgive us for doing that to her!

Charlies cage ie her play pen was made redundant when she cleverly showed me how she could climb in and out of it a few months ago!  However, we found a new purpose for it .. and it certainly helped keep Jonny (who gets around in his walker) from ramming into the tree as he liked the sparkly decorations and Charlie from helping herself to the presents!  She wasn’t interested in the contents of the presents, she just likes unwrapping presents :+)

Charlie got a small table and chairs for Xmas and this is her eating her Xmas banana pancakes at her new present :+)

Charlie went to her first Xmas party at her nursery and won best dressed in her new Xmas dress.  She even made the tiara she is wearing

Jonny playing with Charlies new Dora doll before Charlie promptly took it back as HER toy!

Charlies fairy princess outfit which Santa gave to her.

Ian playing with Megans keyboard which she got for Christmas and Charlie  isplaying with her much smaller (though just as loud!) keyboard.

Charlie, like her mum, enjoys orange labeled bubbles!  And Ian in his new Swindon Town shirt!

This photo was taken a couple of days after Xmas – however she does look like something out of the 60’s!

Both Ian and I had a difficult time getting into Xmas with lots going on and with the loss of Sausage, it really didn’t make us feel to much in the spirit of things.  However, we mustered up enough holiday spirit to provide the kids with a lovely day with fun and of course pressies :+)  This year we even had friends come around in the morning for a glass or two of bubbles!

We took the sides off Charlies cot/bed last night and installed a stair gate on her bedroom door.  She seemed very excited about her ‘new’ bed when she saw it and only got up twice to yell for mum or dad when we put her to bed.  So all and all a successful first night.  Oh and she didn’t fall out!

In early December we finally had some professional family photos taken and here a few of them.  Charlie did the typical 2 year old thing and had a massive tantrum so we were surprised we managed to get the photos of her that we did!  We hope you enjoy them.

Everyone looks good in black and white :+)

Megan at almost 7 year old ..

Charlie at 2 years and 3 months old ..

Jonny at 10 months old ..

This picture was taken by chance as Charlie was loitering in the background!

Charlie actually sitting/lying still!

And one of Ian and I .. ahhh

Sausage was diagnosed with lymphoma almost 3 months ago and  initially the chemo treatment seemed to be working but a week ago we discovered the lumps had come back in her neck.  The vets where looking into another form of treatment but on Thursday she seemed to take a turn for the worst and stopped eating, drinking and didn’t want to move from her bed.  So back into the vets she went on Friday and things didn’t look good as she had a high temp and the nasty cancer cells seemed to be going into over drive.

After no improvement in 24 hours and her neck had grown in considerable size with the lumps we made the decision to call it a day for her and not have her suffer anymore.

I said my goodbyes to her and Ian stayed with her until the end.

She was the most beautiful, gentle, lady like dog  and we miss her presence already.

RIP our Sausage dog.

x

Well the 1st of December, bought the 1st frost and the first negative weather at -1 degree and the first time I have had to scrape down my car!

So far so good, winter hasn’t been tooo bad.

Megan and Charlie compiling their Christmas lists from the toy catalogues

Charlie painting – she loves it.

Charlies first sculpture which she built ‘all by herself’.  Clever girl.

I’m sure her father taught her how to do this .. he blames Dora the Explorer!

One of those VERY rare moments when she quiet and still!