Jonah's sticker book

Jonah's sticker book
Originally uploaded by Lenny&Meriel

Jonah finished his first year two sticker book, clever boy.

His teacher is leaving at the end of term to have a baby - it's a carbon copy of what happened last year.

Meanwhile Cara is going to pre-school three times a week and sometimes staying for lunch. She's growing up.

Viola

Jonah is now at the age where he is becoming eligible to do all sorts of activities - poor old Cara has just got to wait a little longer and she'll be able to do the same.

The two main stories are that Jonah has joined Beavers (like small scouts/cubs) and loves it very much. The other thing is that he's been accepted to learn the Viola and is very happy about the instrument he's been given to look after:

Catching up with the Summer

I've left the blog for a while so here's a quick catchup in very basic chronological order:

First there were the Gate family. Here's George from the kite:

Then, the Bayfords were over which was great for the kids. Much jumping off rocks, sandcastles and beach stuff in the lovely summer sun:

And the other big event of the summer hols was the trip to England for Gran & Pampa's fiftieth wedding anniversary, which was endowed with lovely weather again:

Rib ride in the fog

I think this may be a really old video, from about three montha ago, but it was a Youtube experiment, so I'm posting it up as a kind of experiment - and a memory of a foggy rib ride. Jonah is loving it in the passenger seat.

Jo & Cara's Birthday Party

Jo & Cara's Party
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel

We had a joint party for the kids and had about 16 guests (plus their parents). The rain held off and it was nice & warm, so everyone had a fabulous time.

At the end of the day we had to put the castle away. But we did sneak a quick go on just before we turned it off:

Herm with the Hurdleys

Jo & Cara on Shell Beach, Herm
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel

Dan & Lucy took us over to Herm with all the kids for Lucy's Birthday. Lovely day, BBQ on the beach and lots of messing around in the water. The kids had a great time, needless to say.
Posted a bit late - it was about two weeks ago.

Petit Port

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Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel

We were down at the nearest beach with Meriel's Mum, Dad, Brother & family last week - amongst other places.

Cara's new doll's house

Cara's new doll's house
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

It was Cara's Birthday last Saturday and seeing as we were in Bristol for Tok's and Andy's Wedding, she had to wait 'till we got back to open her present. And my, wasn't she chuffed. Not half.

Bike riding

Now that the weather is improving, the bikes are coming out a little more. Won't be soon before Jonah & Cara will be going to school on theirs (well, actually Cara will be on the back of Mum or Dad's).

Walking with Cara

For anyone who wants to know how sweet Cara looks with the hat we got from cousin Cooks.

Testing testing, do we have video?

Well, do we?

Guess what Jonah wants for Xmas now!

Guess what Jonah wants for Xmas now!
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

We spent a day at the Foley's house helping them make cider. Jonah and Cara were far more interested in this car. Who can blame them! What a car :-)

Cara's Princess

Cara's Princess
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

Cara loves to draw. She has a very different style from Jonah's at the same age - much more considered and detailed. This is a picture of a princess which did all by herself. The eyes and the mouth are self explanatory. The long line looping around the face is the dress.

A & B

Jo's recorder
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

We bought a recorder for £1 at a charity shop. When Meriel was a simliar age to Jonah she started learning the recorder. She remembers giving a recital to family using only the notes A & B - that's all she had learnt. Jonah now knows A & B - although as shown in this picture he insists that he put his hands the wrong way round. Grrrrrr......

Meriel has now unpacked her flute and her old music - it's in fine condition but she is VERY rusty indeed. Some practice is required!

Kayaking at Vazon

Steve, Jack & Harry in a sit-on-top
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

Although the summer is almost over, there was a kayaking social event down at Vazon. We went down to see Meriel surfing, but there were no waves, so instead the kids got rides on the kayaks.

Back to school

Chocolate cake
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

Jo went back to school last week, so it's business as usual again. We've been riding into school every day and he's so into it that he'll quite happily throw a fit if we come and pick him up in a car. The only concern is that he might get really tired, although he doesn't seem to be affected by it yet. He's certainly enjoying the freedom and it's nice not to have to use a car for the school run. On the days when one of us has both kids, we can quite easily take Cara on either of our bikes, so there's no excuses not to cycle - unless it rains, of course.

Jo's new bike

Jo's new bike
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

Jo is now using his new bike and we're using it to go to the beach - school is out for summer and so we're spending quite alot of time there. Apart from the odd small crash, he's getting on very well. Meantime Cara is using his old bike with stabilisers and managing very successfully.

Herm trip

Jo on the rib
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

The Hurdleys asked us on a trip to Herm or their rib last Saturday. Weather ended up wonderful and we had lunch and dinner at shell beach. Jo had a great time on the rib, having never been on a really fast boat. When we got to Herm he came on the boat again to watch his Mum and Dad wakeboarding, which he thought was very exciting.
Cara, needless to say had a lovely day playing on the beach, but fell asleep on the boat.

No stabilisers!

Jo rides his bike
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

Although we are consumed by the buiding work on our house, life does carry on. Jo is away on his bike without the aid of stabilisers. He's out at every opportunity and he's loving it. Now we just need to persuade him to use the new bike he got for his birthday. One step at a time ...

Oh, and of course no new bike rider would be complete without his matching set of skinned knees and other crash scars. Hooray for helmets.

Jonah's party

It was Jonah's Birthday on the 6th and we had a party at the Mallard on the 11th June. Most of his classmates came along, plus Margaux and Kristyna, so we had 18 all told. They had a meal in the restaurant and then went off to watch "the Wild" in the cinema. It wasn't too hectic, but we didn't get time to take any pictures. In fact it was all over quite quickly. Of course the main thing was that Jo had a great time.