Reasons to be happy

My reasons to be happy

I'm very thankful for my family today. Knowing that their love and support is endless and to have each member here and healthy is a blessing. I love them all dearly and I will be thinking of someone in particular today, as many in the blogging community will be, as she lays her baby to rest.

　

I'm thankful for the dog. A little bit random I know, but as I was never keen on the idea of having a puppy originally he is a lovely pet. He will always come over for a snuggle at just the right time and it is sweet to see him eager to say goodnight to the children each night. He sits patiently on the bottom step waiting to be called upstairs after they have been tucked in and he will pop his head in each room for a nosey before heading back downstairs to his own bed for the evening.

　

I'm thankful for my mummy. With Mother's Day being this Sunday I thought it would be nice for her to know that I am grateful for all that she does for me and has done for me over the years.

I'm happy to have booked our first holiday of the year and I'm looking forward to a break. We are actually going away with friends for the first time so it will be nice for the kids to all play together.

What reasons to you have to be cheerful this week?

Our week that was... new beds, food and outdoor fun

Sunday the Mr and I decided to go on a hunt for a new mattress, as despite being only 2 years old our current one isn't very comfortable. This resulted in us buying new carpet, a TV bed, pillows and a new mattress and we looked at new beds for the Mini Mes too.... Oops - but worth it!

Monday we went on a bike and scooter ride after school for some outdoor fun and fresh air. Minxy has a basket on her bike which was handy for bringing back a few bits of shopping in too. We didn't get out as much this week as I would have liked but with it being half term now we will be outdoors a lot next week.

Tuesday Spartan decided to join in with my 30 day shred by climbing on me during sit ups!

 Wednesday I received a lovely Weight Watchers hamper of goodies including wine, bonus.

Thursday Minxy had her first swimming lesson in the evening. She loved it and did really well, the instructor said she was confident which was reassuring as I have a phobia of water.

Friday after a busy evening clearing our bedroom out completely ready for the new carpet I popped on a movie and poured the Mr a Jack Daniels Single Malt to relax.

 Saturday As the Mini Mes were really good while the workmen were in today, I treated them to some chocolate eggs, pizza and a movie.

How has your week been?

I'm linking this with...

Saturday Caption

Is Spartan whispering sweet nothings into his toys ear or attempting to wrestle it?

 Do you have a funny or witty comment for this picture?

I'd love to hear it!

You can link up your own picture or view more over with the Mammasaurus-.who is packing her bags ready for her #GoodWork trip to Ghana with Comic Relief!

Have a great weekend.

Saturday Caption

Hmm so what is this white fluffy stuff Spartan wonders, it doesn't look like grass....

 Do you have a funny or witty comment for this picture?

I'd love to hear it!

You can link up your own picture or view more over with the beautiful Mammasaurus.

Have a great weekend.

Our Week That Was - Food, family and movies

A new year and a new project; 365 -  a photo a day!

I did do this for some of last year but with a change in job, various illness and a memory like a sieve I regrettably didn't complete it, so for 2013 I'll be posting my photos in a collage every Saturday instead.

Tuesday started with a lovely lay in after a late night out where the Mini Mes both managed to stay awake to welcome in the New Year. After lunch we walked the dog across the fields through lots of thick mud before coming home and making carbonara for dinner. The Mr and I watched the final few episodes of Homeland in the evening once the Mini Mes were fast asleep.
Today was also a year since we picked up our tiny puppy Spartan - where does the time go!

Wednesday was a chilled one at home. The Mini Mes played Skylanders Giants before we all watched Brave snuggled up under the duvet. In the afternoon they headed off to their dad's for the night and the Mr and I enjoyed an Indian and Ted DVD.

Thursday we made some cheese and tomato whirls for lunch and had a quiet one indoors playing with toys and games from Christmas.

Friday we went to see Rise of the Guardians which we all really enjoyed sat on the back row with lots of nibbles to enjoy! We called in to see my dad who has broken his ankle and is off work for a few weeks and we had lunch there before heading home. The Mini Mes went to their dad's for the night so the Mr and I had a delicious steak each for dinner and snuggled up to watch The Amazing Spiderman (although the Mr fell asleep after about 10 mins!)

Saturday I got up at 11am, ooops, had a yummy chicken pasta salad brunch while the Mr did some housework and I ordered some photos for my beautiful new frame. I love it and I've added quite a few lovely family related things to various walls recently.

Silent Sunday

Meet Spartan

You may see our little dog (named after our love of Rome related movies) pop up in pictures and stories but I've never really mentioned much about him.

So, meet Spartan....

The Mr has always loved dogs and has always had one as a pet since he was a child. I however am not that keen on them, but with relationships comes compromise so when the Mr moved in I agreed to getting one.

He originally wanted a re-homed one to skip the little puddles that puppies leave on the floor and the destruction that they create. Having looked around a few kennels over a period of a few months we couldn't find anything suitable for our family. I was also concerned that not knowing the animals background that it may have issues with children so we started to look at puppies online.

On New Years Day this year we found a woman with Border Collies for sale on a pet website. We drove to have a look, and came home with a mini bundle of fluff!

I was surprised by how fast he settled in. He was toilet trained after 2 weeks and he will sit by the back door if he needs to go out. He may have trashed my sofa (rar!) and munched my lingerie off the clothes pile but that's replaceable and apart from that he has been superb.

"It wasn't me!"

Despite not initially wanting a dog at all, he is very well loved and spoilt. The Mini Mes adore him. He is very friendly and if anyone is upset he will sense it and pop over to cover you in slobbery kisses, whether you like them or not, and he likes to snuggle up on the sofa with me in the evenings.

He will be 1 in October and I may just have to make him a dog friendly cake, well I like baking and he is part of the family now after all.

Do you feel having a pet benefits children? Which do you have?

I'm linking this with...

Happy Campers... and a crazy puppy!

The Mr and I had a lovely few days child-free camping at the end of last week. This was the first long car journey and holiday for Spartan, our 9 month old Border Collie, and he was a little excited by the entire experience! He wouldn't lay down and rest in the boot, instead he watched every vehicle and person that went by, taking it all in.

When it started to rain the Mr popped on the wipers. For most this is an ordinary thing to occur but for little Spartan who had never seen wipers before he didn't know what was happening....

He decided to attack the window every time and bark!

Do your pets do things that amuse you?

Project 366, 238/366 - Love it or hate it

I was scoffing some Marmite toast and Spartan decides he wants a bit. He gradually gets closer and closer, climbs onto the sofa (which he isn't allowed to do while people are eating) and puts his paw on my leg. Cheeky devil!

Project 366, 231/366 - Spartan

We all really missed Spartan when we were away, even if he is mischievous at times! He seemed really pleased to be back home yesterday (he stayed in the local kennels) and we let him upstairs this morning for a cuddle.

Project 366, 223/366 - Puppy love

Even though he has destroyed the sofa and nibbled at my banister I do love Spartan, our 9 month old Border Collie. We headed into town this morning and we popped into the pet shop while there, so I treated him to a few goodies.

Project 366, 165/366 - Walkies

The Mr was a busy bee this morning so instead of his usual walk with the poochie I took him out for a play instead. I thoroughly enjoyed some wellies, mud and fresh air time.

Project 366, 160/366 - Baking

I love baking with the kids but they are now old enough to be given the ingredients to make things all by themselves. We made a variety of goodies today including these fairy cakes. You can just about see Spartan hiding under Minxy's chair waiting for crumbs!

Project 366, 159/366 - Naughty Pup

Spartan has always loved pulling clothes of the airer and dragging them around but I found him wrapped up in my lingerie today trying to eat it! Dirty boy.

Project 366, 158/366 - Swimming lessons

Spartan is a bit of a wimp when it comes to getting wet! We have gradually introduced him to rain and puddles and now deeper water. He walks in so slowly to get his ball but he is finally beginning to build his confidence.

Bank Holiday Bike Riding

I would much rather stick on my wellies and get wet and muddy outside than be stuck indoors with a TV. Thankfully the sun did make an appearance this bank holiday weekend so we headed out on the bikes for some fresh air and exercise without the need for waterproofs.

Both of the Mini Mes learnt to ride quite a while ago now although Jamster is in desperate need of a new bike (that's on my endless 'to buy' list ready for the summer holidays). He will still happily use it though for now so we headed off to the fields with the poochie in tow too.

Here are some of our pics....

We are lucky to be in such a rural town with a lot of fields. These are literally only a few minutes away and are great for dog walking, kite flying and other sports too.

What did you get up to over the Jubilee bank holiday?
Can your children ride bikes and do they enjoy it too?

Project 366, 147/366 - Sunset

Once all the food and drinks had been finished off and everyone had said goodbye after a lovely BBQ in my garden, me and the Mr headed out for a slightly later than usual stroll with Spartan. The sunset was a really colourful warm glow and despite losing Spartans ball as it was quite dark I managed to get some nice late evening photos.

Project 366, 146/366 - A new friend

There is a broken fence panel and Spartan has been jumping up to have a nosey into next doors garden. He recently discovered that there is infact a lovely new poochie over there too and now whenever they are both outside they both go and say hello!

Project 366, 140/366 - Puppy Eyes

Despite having sweet, innocent eyes and a look saying 'it wasn't me' Spartan isn't always a good little boy. I caught him pulling fluff out of the sofa again today despite sticking it all back down with lots of tape - I find it hard to tell him off though as he's so lovely.