It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

This  weekend  we were  busy  baking gingerbread,  Saffron buns,  decorating our gingerbread house  and  last but not least  decorating our  Christmas tree!

Today Mark and I have been to see "Whoops a Daisy Angel" , Vera's first  Christmas show!  Vera  was a squirrel :-)

End November

It's been a while... I always find November a trying month with the darkness creeping in. It is is also a difficult month when we remember Joe and Olivia, hard to believe it's been a year already.

But we've also had lots of highlights and been busy with school. Keeping up with everything going on feels like a full time job at times, so far Vera's had a school trip to build a class mascot, dress up for Halloween, dress up as a superhero for Children in Need (charity), last Friday it was dress up in blue as part of anti-bullying week. BLUE = Be Lovely and Understanding to Everybody. This coming week we have Vera's first school disco (sweet!) and soon it's the Christmas play where Vera is playing a squirrel so we got a letter to bring in brown trousers and a brown top into school. Not the easiest to find I can tell you! Most of these things come with a "please bring a voluntary contribution of £X in a labelled envelope".

Work and getting to and from work is keeping me busy and the commute is starting to stress me out - I hate feeling that I am late and for Vera to have such long days in school and at her after school club. But such is life and she seems to thrive, so perhaps I'm worrying too much...

We had a very positive parent's evening with her two teachers the other week. They're really pleased with her performance, reading and phonic ability and, what meant a lot to me, she is kind and helpful to her friends, raises her hand and volunteers to help.

What also make me very happy is the little life in my tummy who moves about. I'm 30 weeks now, 31 in a few days so time is really going fast.

We can't wait to meet this little person and our new family member soon!

Sign of life!

Ballet Saturday

Vocabulary

3 words that  I  didn't know  when I was 4 years old:

Phonics
Halal
Exoskeleton

School

Picnic in the Peaks

Where better to have  lunch and go for a walk  when the  sun's shining on a glorious autumn day!

Photos from our eventful week!

What a week!

There are some weeks that just go by full of "same-ness" and some that are truly memorable. Last week was truly one of them!

On Monday Catrine and Magnus welcomed gorgous baby Elsie, my niece and Vera's cousin! She is just beautiful and we are so, so happy for the whole family!

On Thursday it was Vera's last day at nursery and we brought in gifts to the staff and to Tracy, Vera's key worker. It was sad to leave, end of this particular chapter in our lives. Vera had a good day and was hugging everyone, children and staff, as we left.

But the end of one chapter is the start of a new one, and on Friday Vera started big school! She was very excited wearing her new uniform, bringing in her book bag, new water bottle, gym bag and treasure box. She had a great day and was well looked after by her teacher Mrs Burgen and teaching assistant Miss Brennan.

For the first couple of weeks they'll focus on getting to know each other and playing before any learning starts. We had Mrs Burgen and Miss Brennan visiting us the other week for a home visit. They spend a lot of time getting to know each of the children and we feel really reassured that it is a good and safe place for Vera. We're also very lucky with Vera in that she's good with change and just takes it in her stride - new school, her new before- and after school care etc etc.

And speaking of changes, we also have some other news. We're expecting a baby, due at the end of January next year. Vera is very excited about becoming a big sister and so are we of course!
We had the 20 week scan last Thursday, in the same eventful week, and all is looking good, which is very reassuring!

End of summer weekend break

We wanted to do something on this the  very last  bank holiday weekend of the summer  so Mark  booked a night in  Manchester Sunday to  Monday.
We drove across  Sunday morning and  arrived in Salford  quays just before 11 am.
As  we  couldn't check into our  apartment,  we went for a  little  wander  before  getting the bus to town.  Where we stayed  is called  Media  City and the  BBC and  ITV  moved some of their  offices and  programming from  London.  As a result,  Vera  got to see some of her  favourite  TV  characters.
I  town  we had lunch  and then  went to the  beautiful John  Rylands library.  I'm so impressed in general how most  museums in Britain are  free  and  so  child friendly.  In the  library  there was a gothic  treasure hunt,  where  Vera  got to look for small coffins  containing   secret  answers to  questions  that could only have been seen with a special  torch.

After the library  we  went to Manchester museum,  located near the  university.  Here we saw  lots of  animals,  both  stuffed and live  as well as the coolest thing,  and what we came for,  Stan  the  T Rex skeleton.

Once  back "home" we went out for some  pasta  before a big  sleep  for  little  tired  legs.

Today  we've been to the  Imperial War Museum,  another great  family  museum,  despite the tough subject  area.  It showed  the human side of  war, and  included  modern  conflicts.  We really  haven't learnt a thing. ..

At the end of the visit  we spent time in a creative  room for  children where  Vera  made  a great  picture after lots of  cutting and  gluing.  A great way of  processing everything they'd  seen.

Then  we walked across to the  Lowry  museum (also  free although  we made a  donation) and saw the  L S Lowry exhibition as  well as  Vera's favourite,  a room  with a giant  bouncy  call  with  spikes  and  covered in  "ink " that children  got to bounce around the room  and  the ball made  patterns on the walls.  Cool and  interactive!

Ireland

Graduation

Today Vera had her graduation at  nursery.  Part of me thinks it's a little bit  OTT,  but it  was quite  sweet!  All the  children  sat on little  chairs  and one after the other they got to go up to get their  hat,  diploma and a baby bear to  wish them on their  way. 
Afterwards  a big crowd of us  went to the  Stag  pub for  some  food and drink,  while the  children  ran around and  played in the sunshine.  A lovely afternoon although it will be  sad to say  goodbye to all nursery  friends when the time comes to move up to  big  school.

Sarah,  who now lives in  Solihull,  came up to see us over the weekend.  We had a  great time,  a BBQ on  Saturday evening and a nice walk at the Longshaw Estate on Sunday.  Sarah  spoilt Vera  with  starting school presents and  attention!

Now we can't wait to see the rest of our  Irish  family at the weekend.

Brilliant day in Sheffield

We all went into town in the  afternoon  for  some  errands,  Mark and  Vera  went to the University  as  Mark had to do  some  work  and  I went to pick up my  new glasses. 

Then  we all met for a coffee  and  enjoyed  some time  at the  fun fair in  the city  centre.  Sheffield is  great in  organising  family  friendly  activities  and  Vera  had a  ball  with  bumper  cars,  rides  and bungee jumping.  We finished  the day  with a meal at  Wagamama's.  Great food and  fun to eat with chop sticks!

A great family  day!