We've had a busy couple of weeks and been catching up with lots of friends. My sister, Sally, came to visit us last week and bought me these gorgeous sunflowers.

Matthew loved her being here and seemed to read her his entire library.

We've begun to have regular Sunday brunch with our friends Olly and Sonia and their gorgeous 7 week old son, Seth.


Most things we do revolve around food and this has given us a perfect opprtunity to introduce the Kiwi pancakes, bacon, banana and maple syrup though there was a reluctance for the banana.

On a Friday morning we go to the library for Story Time where we sing some songs, listen to a story and then do a craft activity. Generally I end up doing more of the craft than Matthew does and his favourite part is trying to eat the glue stick but today we made a lion mask and he loved it! It took him a while to realise what it was for but now he walks around roaring his head off when he's wearing it! (oh, and he's finally sussed that cows go 'moo')

Last weekend it was Ken's 60th birthday so the Shepherd clan met for a 'surprise' at a cottage on a farm in Herefordshire. Matthew was made up with the cows, cockerels and pig - though you would have thought that after a weekend surrounded by mooing creatures he would know that a cow does not 'roooaaaar' like a lion!


Neil was well enough recovered to drive the kids around on the go-kart; Emma was far more impressed with "Mat-mat" than Matthew was when Emma took his spot on the back of the go-kart and went riding off with his daddy!



The early mornings have continued resulting in Matthew and I touring the farm practically in the dark and seeing the cows being milked and Neil getting to watch live coverage of the grand prix - again focussing on the positives of being completely shattered.

Life back in Bristol is heading back to normal - hopefully no more trips to the hospital for a while now that Neil is better and Matthew's little op is over and done with.
It's all feling a little more like home. Although the views are very different, I do have some favourites and one is this one of the rooftops driving down Ashley Hill.


The wonderful Sam Lovell is staying with us for a while and Matthew is made up because as soon as Sam appears in the morning Matthew grabs a football as he's got a boy to play with!

Poorly

The new term didn't start quite as we'd expected; Neil came back from a weekend in Denmark in lots of pain and, after a day of frustrations and not getting very far with the GP, ended up in A&E and subsequently having his appendix out! Bless him! He doesn't do poorly - he's never ill! After three days in hospital he came home and has been a pretty good patient, mainly because he's had to be - he really can't do much at all. I was able to spend quite a lot of time at the hospital because Sylvia came to stay (hot off the plane from holidaying in Croatia) and looked after Matthew which was wonderful. Here is the little man with his Grandma...


And this photo is of Matthew having a tantrum, something that is becoming a more frequent occurance - it's obviously hard work being 16 months old.


They generlly occur when Matthew's hungry or tired but he really does get quite cross and throws himself around - can't imagaine where he gets it from...Anyway, this proves (for Jo P) that Matthew isn't always smiling!

Face Off

I now realise why blog posts have diminished as everyone has jumped on Facebook. I only properly got started last night and I really could get quite addicted. I think my saving grace will be the fact that Neil starts back at school on Monday (boo) so he'll have the laptop and I'll have less opportunity. Anyway, Neil is in Denmark and so for the weekend at least, I have unlimited access to technology and so will endeavour to catch up on blog and facebook.

So, the summer...not really summer weather but definitely summer activities including exploring more of Bristol and the surrounding area and travelling around the country visiting family and friends.

We went to Cheddar gorge, walked across the Clifton Suspension bridge and Matthew and I got to see the 6am launch of the hot air balloons from the balloon fiesta (one of the very few benefits of having a son who is an early riser!).


Neil and Mags swapped children at Cheddar!



Took several photos in between as gradually the sky filled with balloons but I wouldn't want to bore you!

In Liverpool we stayed with Alastair and Helen and did something we haven't done for a very long time - we went out dancing!!! We ended up in 'Heebie Jeebies' which is more soul/funk and I loved it, especially as I didn't feel like I was harping back to my student days (I always did very cheesy clubbing as a student) or trying to reclaim some previous life - we were just having a good night out. We looked after our neice for the day when Helen was working and now not sure how quickly I want Matthew's vocabulary to develop; whilst out shopping Emma (only 5 months older) spent the whole time saying "Get out me!" to let us know she clearly wasn't happy in the buggy!

In Hartlepool we had lots of rest and relaxation. The weather wasn't great but we did manage to get to the beach and climb Roseberry Topping.




One of the highlights has to be Neil and I having extended time just the two of us in a very nice hotel while leaving Matthew with grandma and grandad for the night! What a treat for all of us (not sure grandma enjoyed the 1 and 2am wake ups - we may have to work on that before we leave him again).



Then onto Sheffield to stay with the lovely Lovells and catch up with friends; seeing people has become so much more regular now that I've stopped taking photos! Though should have taken one of the gorgeous Sam Breen as we've not seen him for 3 years - Matthew was made up with the very big Sam boys to look up to!

Haircut

Matthew has been in desperate need of a haircut for a couple of weeks now and so I took the 'bull by the horns' (or 'hair by the scissors') and had a go! I had more confidence as Neil, Mags and Phil were around and there have been a few DIY haircuts in the house recently - all successful I might add! Matthew was amazing and sat very still, clearly aware that Mummy had not done this before and his ears are very precious! Anyway, Phil did a whizzy montage of the photos so you can see before and after shots and how delighted Matthew was when he could see clearly again!

Monkey Business

Neil has broken up from school (just in time for his thirtieth birthday) so we're getting into holiday mode. It's nice to get out and about and the newly discovered walking means Daddy can now begin discipling Matthew in football!




We've actually had some summer weather lately which has been a treat - especially as we've had lots and lots of visitors! First some Norwegians came for the night on their way to Momentum - that sounds like we didn't know them which is nearly true (though Phil did, but he was climbing a big mountain in Wyoming!) but I do know Miriam Cave rather well from time in Sheffield and it was so good to see her again. Then the Manserghs returned (we'd like to say they can't keep away from us but the arrival of a new niece was the greater pull I think!). Not much personal space when there's three in the bath!



I managed to get to Momentum for the day (student Soul Survivor) but I have to say my very spiritual encounters were catching up with friends over hot chocolate and lunch! Here are Matt, Toby, Phil and Miriam sheltering from the rain in one of the venues.


It was good to have some time with Debbie and to see Joannah S and meet the very beautiful Tia and Zoe. It's so nuts you don't see people for three years and nothing very much feels like it's changed (yes, we've had children and moved countries - twice - but other than that...). The downer of the day was that I wasn't very thoughtful lifting stoller and travel cot and toddler in and out of the car in the rain and my back objected strongly over the next few days - praise the Lord, it's much better now but I must be kinder to it in future...

Giles and Naomi stayed overnight and then the lovely Ducker family came to hang out for a couple of days; we went for a walk and a bit of a kick around on the Downs though it was a little blustery! Here are Ella, Skye and Matthew having a look down the Avon gorge towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge.



To add to the fun the Shepherd family descended (with the obligatory surprise thrown in; Neil's parents flew down from Hartlepool for the day and it was lovely to see them. We've decided the surprise to pull next is when there's no surprise and everybody in the clan knows everything!). The plan was to head to the zoo but the afternoon was spent in the children's emergency department checking out a dubious rash that Matthew and Emma both had; it turns out they both had randomly and independently caught hand, foot and mouth! They are both fine now and we don't think we passed it on to anybody else which is quite miraculous considering the amount of hugs and kisses that pass between Skye and Matthew at the moment!.
We did manage to get to the zoo on the following day and Matthew is now beginning to appreciate such visits and there is much pointing and many excited noises made! The Monkey Jungle allows you to get very close to the lemurs and it was amazing to be just a couple of feet away - amazing that is until they all start going ballistic, shrieking, bearing their teeth and then running straight towards you!


For a few moments I thought the traditional bars were a better idea but on seeing that the warden looked completely unphased and the lemur bounded off over our heads to join it's mates I thought it was probably ok. Matthew was not bothered though Skye was slightly more sensitive and there were a few tears.
Our children don't stay still for very long so photos were hard to come by but I'm sure Alastair and Helen will appreciate this one!

Yesterday Matthew and I went to visit my parents and also my sister, Sally. It's lovely to be able to drive over for the day - it's four hours there and back but that's a good opportunity to sing my heart out without anybody else having to suffer (Matthew sleeps most of the way!). Dad and Lis are getting set up for a small person being around and have bought a high chair and a little ride-on which Matthew loved (he is crawling away from it and a fair speed but that's because the camera is more interesting!).


It felt like summer should do to, just being able to sit outside and enjoy the garden and we even needed suncream!

This photo is especially for Emma and Dan who sent Matthew some All-Black shoes for his birthday - who knows, maybe they're what got him walking!