telling the story

Dad

Three years ago today my dad passed away. It wasn't time and we weren't ready. There was still so much left to say and so much still to do together.  

When dad died the lyrics to the song Days kept going round and round in my head and I spoke them (through lots of tears) at his funeral. Whenever I think about my dad, I get the same song playing.

Thank you for the days

Those endless days those sacred days you gave me

I’m thinking of the days

I wont forget a single day believe me

 

I bless the light

I bless the light that shines on you believe me

And though you’re gone

You’re with me every single day believe me

 

Days I remember all my life

Days where you cant see wrong from right

You took my life

And then I knew that very soon you’d leave me

 

But it’s alright

Now I’m not frightened of this world believe me

I wish today could be tomorrow

The night is dark

It just brings sorrow let it wait

 

Thank you for the days

Those endless days those sacred days you gave me

I’m thinking of the days

I wont forget a single day believe me

 

I bless the light

I bless the light that shines on you believe me

And though you’re gone

You’re with me every single day believe me

Days I remember all my life

Days where you cant see wrong from right

You took my life

And then I knew that very soon you’d leave me

 

But it’s alright

Now I’m not frightened of this world believe me...days

 

Thank you for the days

Those endless days those sacred days you gave me

I’m thinking of the days

I wont forget a single day believe me

 

I bless the light

I bless the light that shines on you believe me

And though you’re gone

You’re with me every single day believe me.

Dad, I wish so much that you were here to see how wonderful Nathan and Kerris are. I tell them lots of stories about you and they love to hear about granddad Wolfie. Like the song says, you are with me every single day, believe me.

We love you and we will never forget you.

Okay, who took all the time away?!

Is it me? Is it just that I am getting old and not keeping up with things? Or is it some conspiracy theory type thing that is making time actually move faster? Who knows, but I can't believe how the days are flashing by and it is almost a month since I posted!

So a race through what we have been up to since the 19th March then!

I took the kids to Legoland while John went to watch football (if only he went to watch say Liverpool then I would make sure we all went, but no he supports AFC Wimbledon instead!). For some reason it seemed like the whole of the South East had decided to go with us to Legoland and so we didn't actually get to go on any ride! Instead we watched Johnny Thunder, had a picnic and then went to look at Miniland. Still we had fun.

Nate looking "like a cool dude"

Kerris pretending she is a little angel!

Both kids loved the talking camel outside the new Bazaar ride -even if we didn't get to go in

Here is a layout I did using a photo from a visit to Legoland last year (not that you can tell it is lego, but Kerris had put her head in the lions mouth!)

I used I Heart You, It's all about...Scallops and It's all about...Hearts from Banana Frog.

On mother's day my treat (apparently) was a day at Chessington! Marvellous. Actually we did have a fun time and this time got to go on some rides. Here are Kerris and Nate in Beanoland.

Thanks for stopping by ☺

A trip to the park

Last weekend we spent an hour or so in one of the local parks. The idea initially was that Kerris and Nathan wanted to skateboard and roller skate. Nate had tried it near the house but the road was too bumpy, so off we trundled. However, as soon as they saw the swings and slides all thoughts of skateboarding and skating went out of the window!

Eventually, Kerris decided to try the skateboard but went for a less conventional way of travelling!

Finally, we John remembered he had the ball in the car and so the boys played basketball for a few minutes. Nathan has decided he wants to play, just like Troy in High School Musical!

Another quick layout of Nathan from our visit to Warick Castle. This time taken during our trip round the museum. John was busy with Kerris and so Nate and I went round the museum together. He was really interested in all the exhibits about how people lived in and around the castle and enjoyed watching the work man making a coin. However, by far his favourite bit was looking at the armour that the knights would wear. He was going to strike a pose, but the helmet was so heavy that he just stood still instead!

I used It's all about...Elegance (which may be my current favourite of the new sets), Teen Tiny and Madfont from Banana Frog with a liberal sprinkling of embossing powder.

Little funny face

Nathan likes to think he is quite mature and cool, after all, he is 6 now (one of our favourite Nathan quotes was last year when he said to John "dad, I'm not a kid anymore you know, I'm 5!"). He often tries out his different cool looks on me and of course, as his mum, I have to try not to laugh. These photos were taken last year on a day trip to Warwick Castle. John and Kerris had disappeared off to the toilets while Nathan and I kept our places waiting for the jousting to start. I got my camera out and asked him to show me his cool dude face. This is what he came up with. I think he was trying to wink in one but ends up looking like Popeye! I tell you, not the coolest of dudes, but totally adorable.

I used 4  sets of Banana Frog stamps on this layout and also fantastic Bam Pop! papers. I stamped Super Stars and What a Star!  in Versamark as a background, the title is usingPharmacy Large and the journaling tag is from It's all about...Documenting.  

The March challenge is up on the Banana Frog blog, you just need to tell us what your favourite set of Banana Frog stamps are and you could win one of 10 sets!

Good luck

Booster jabs

Okay, so today I had to take Kerris to have her booster jabs for MMR, Polio, Diptheria etc etc. Can you believe she was actually excited about getting some medicine from the nurse?! Bless her, clearly she didn't understand what "a little needle in your arm" would entail. She trustingly sat on my knee and laughed at the nurse when she said mummy would give her a special big cuddle -that meant I had to hold her arm down tightly. Then nurse Jane came at her with a javelin and plunged it into her little arm! Oh my, I don't think you ever get used to seeing your child's face crumple. Kerris cried in pain and looked at both of us like we were evil -then she had to go through it on the other arm. Mind you by the time we were in the car she was deciding what treat she should get for being so brave!

When we got home Kerris helped me to make a little something to brighten up my studio. We used Make a Chain and It's all about...Scallops from Banana Frog.

The new stamps are due in tomorrow and will start shipping out to shops next week. So exciting!

So here I am...

When I first started the Banana Frog blog it was a mix of things about me and also about Banana Frog. Then I got a super organised design team, and there was no real space for rambling about my life. So I thought I would start a blog where I can ramble and also show some of the things I make. Hopefully it will ensure I make more time to be creative.

Today though, a couple of pictures from our trip to The Lookout. 

We originally decided we were going on a bear hunt and both Kerris and Nathan took their swords just in case. However, when we didn't find any we decided to have a pine cone fight instead. After that there was playing in the park and races.

Kerris in her favourite "movie star hat"

Nathan warming up for races against daddy

Kerris and daddy both looking adorable

It really was a fun Spring day.