Keswick

On Sunday we drove up to the Lake District for a mini holiday in Keswick. Grandma and Grandpa were there for a relaxing week so we thought we'd gatecrash and join them for a couple of nights. Along with reinforcements (Gran and Grandad) we rented a cottage in the centre of Keswick - our favourite Lake District town.

Amazingly the weather was pretty nice although it was a little cold. Beth of course loved being in her holiday house especially since she was surrounded by grandparents willing to be bossed about and join in her games. When we arrived on Sunday we headed down to the lake to stretch our legs and also had a run around the park before heading to the pub for dinner. We spent Monday walking over the hills and around the lake. It was lovely and clear and the views were great. We spent lots of time watching the para gliders come down off the hills, I'm not sure Beth realised that there was someone attached to the bottom of them - she thought they were big kites.

Toby seemed to enjoy himself but since he isn't yet on his hind legs, he spent most of the time in the pushchair. He did get to go in the swing at the bottom of the garden of the holiday house but just seemed to love having a new place to explore. Since coming home he has started pulling himself up on everything and can now get up two steps of the staircase. We really will have to get a stairgate up this week.

It was a great few days and I think we'll try and sort things out to go back for longer when the weather gets a bit warmer.

Snow Day

Just a quick post about our snow activities. :) Beth and I managed to get out and play for a while yesterday when Toby was napping but the real fun came when daddy got home. First they made a snowman (and snowbaby) complete with arms, nose, mouth and eyes. The eyes were a bit freaky as all we had were mushrooms! I am not looking forward to him melting as Beth hugs him and says she loves him every time we go by.

After Mr Snowman was complete they made snow angels though Beth didn't quite get the idea and waved her arms in the air. Steve's were quite impressive and I would have joined in except I was cooking tea (good excuse). There was no more snow today but what was there did not melt. We walked to playgroup and it was really slippy. Toby was in the pushchair and Beth walked. I held her hand in case she fell - she did and I was left holding a glove! She was not impressed.

Due to the weather, we have spent quite a lot of time playing in the house. Beth spent much of her time dressing up, no surprise there, but also experimented with her tower building. Toby just spent his time knocking towers down and chasing the cat.

Brrrrr

Couldn't resist doing a quick post so I could include this picture taken from the front door. As you can probably guess, it's snowing. Not sure what the forecast is for the next few days but I would imagine cold! Mog was not at all sure what was going on. It's the first time she's seen proper snow but being adventurous she did get outside even though that only lasted a minute or so before she headed back inside to sit by the fire (probably dreaming of the California sunshine!).

This afternoon we went to a third birthday party for Yvie, a little girl at Beth's playgroup. It was at The Wacky Warehouse again but this time they had face painting. Beth was a little hesitant at first but after watching another girl get made up as a puppy she decided that she would like to be a butterfly. The picture was taken once we got home so some had rubbed off, but you get the idea. We're still trying to decide what to do for Beth's birthday, I'm sure ideally she would like a (pink) princess party that includes dressing up as a princess, eating pink princess food and generally pretending to be a princess. We'll see.

While at the party Toby stayed with Steve. I don't think they did too much as Toby slept for most of it . . . sod's law that as soon as he's out of my care he falls asleep. Why doesn't he do that during the week??? I think he's probably recovering from being ill last week. He had a fever on and off all week culminating in a stunning 105.5 degree temperature that had us rushing to the out-of-hours doctor. All good fun, have to say that he is lovely even when sick and can muster a smile when most of us would be horrid. He also seems to have started to say understandable words. A couple of weeks ago he was sat by the radiator, touched it and said 'hot' a few times then today he picked up the party hat Beth got from the party and said 'hat' three times. Perhaps he just likes words beginning with H!

A Whole Year . . .

Today it is exactly a year since we touched down in the UK - I was going to put a little face there but I can't decide whether to do a :) or a :( I think it would have to be both.

It has been a busy year, lots of moves, two new jobs for Steve and the arrival of Toby. It is pretty amazing that Beth has only turned into a partial terror rather than a total terror! It is certainly wonderful to be close to family and able to see them and other friends more often but we most definitely miss a lot of things about SoCal. The number of times this year we would have loved to indulge in an In N Out or gone for breakfast at Woodies or Hofs Hut. We also realise how many things we took for granted - Disneyland being less than 30 minutes away, shops being open past 5pm, lots of parks all really close, the beach being right there (and the sun being out!). But most of all we miss our friends.

Great News, First Haircut and Playing

Yesterday we got to meet the newest member of the Makepeace Family. Last Monday, the 19th, Cousin Adam got a baby brother, William. Beth wasn't too impressed with the news - I don't think she realised that you are allowed more than one cousin and thought this meant Adam was being replaced. Adam is a very attentive older brother; the newness definitely hasn't worn off yet! I think that doesn't really happen until the little one is on the move, as Toby is finding out with a train to the head from the top of the stairs after showing interest in his own toys (poor thing).

On Friday Toby went for his first haircut as his wispy bits were poking him in the eyes. I had held off as I felt £5.50 was a little excessive to trim the hair of a baby. However, Toby gave the stylist a run for her money - at one point she was attempting to cut bits while he was just about upside down, an inch from the floor. Beth on the other hand is now an old pro when it comes to getting her haircut and was just about finished by the time I got Toby strapped back in to the pushchair.

Nothing much else left except a few pictures from here and there of the kids playing. Toby in his 'car' and playing on the piano, and Beth in full dressing up mode. Steve was not very impressed with my description of her in the last post but I still think it's fairly close to the mark with the exception of the fact that she is very cute and not at all manly!! Any better descriptions would be welcome.

Adam's Birthday, The Blue Poo and Lots of Other Things

Sorry for not posting for a couple of weeks, we have done plenty but I've been rather comatose by the end of the day with no energy to organise thoughts well enough to make them public.

Last weekend we headed up north for Adam's third birthday party. The party was at The Wacky Warehouse, a soft play area perfect for a dozen toddlers to hurtle around without doing too much damage. All his friends turned out to celebrate and Beth was very excited - she had been talking about the party for ages and everyday since has asked if we can go to Adam's party again. The birthday boy had a Thomas the Tank Engine cake and received a great haul of presents. I think the experience has started Beth thinking about her birthday. Perhaps I won't be able to get away with not throwing a 'proper' birthday party for her this year, especially since she's going to another birthday at The Wacky Warehouse for a friend from playgroup so that will further cement the idea in her head!

At the weekend we went for a walk along the river and for the first time Toby sat properly in the seat of the pushchair rather than in the sling attachment. Judging by the photo, he was pretty happy there. Amazingly Beth stayed in the pushchair for most of the walk (over an hour) but I don't think we'll let her do that too often, nice as it was to have a relaxing walk not worrying if she was going to jump in for a swim, I prefer to think she's getting some decent exercise. On the subject of exercise, she has turned into a bit of a couch potato since becoming obsessed with the Tinker Bell dvd. She could watch it back-to-back 24/7 - thanks to those responsible for sending her the Tinker Bell socks and starting this all off, you know who you are!

Their Christmas presents are still providing hours of entertainment. Beth loves her dressing up box and spends most afternoons looking like a drag queen dressed for a wedding! This is mainly due to the fact that she cannot wear just one outfit but layers them then finishes it all off with a wig and hat. We all use the wooden blocks from Gran and Grandad - Steve and I are very defensive when our magnificent creations get knocked down without a second glance. Having said that, Beth is getting pretty creative with her architecture. Toby loves the garage (also from G+G) though it will still be a little while before he uses it to it's full potential.

Toby has been trying out more foods, he likes most things and will try most things as long as he isn't tired, his teeth aren't hurting (he now has six, four top, two bottom) and he's in the right mood! Over Christmas and the New Year he tried chocolate for the first time, here he is enjoying a chocolate finger. Finally, thought I'd leave this till last to keep you all reading. After Adam's party, Beth ate the most enormous slab of birthday cake coated in the thickest layer of blue icing. Well, I'm sure you can guess the rest though it took me a while to attribute cause to the effect!!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to everyone, I hope you all had a relaxing Christmas and best wishes for 2009.

Today we went for a walk in The Peak District. Santa had bought Steve a book with walks in Derbyshire with children so we thought we'd try one out. The one we chose was around Derwent Water, we've been for short walks around there before but never for a proper walk. The weather wasn't too bad, it was dry but a little cold and got colder as we walked. At the highest point there was 'icing' on the ground (poor Beth was a little bit disappointed when she realised it was frost and ice especially since icing is quite possibly her favourite food!).

Toby was in the carrier and seemed fairly happy to be there. I think he got a little chilly (we need to invest in a snow suit for him) as his hands, despite the gloves, were little blocks of ice by the time we got back to the car. This pic is from New Years Day, bit cheerier than him looking cold! Part way round we had some soup (very organised I thought) and that perked Beth up - I think the hill had worn her legs out. She did really well, the walk was about three miles and she did the whole lot herself.

I think the tiredness hit her around five o'clock at tea time when she asked for a bath and didn't want anything to eat. We managed to shove half a plate worth of food into her then off she went for her bath and was in bed before six. Toby, not wanting to miss out on the bath, had a good splash but was having none of the bed so he had a good play until just after seven.