Pictures from Christmas

Chrsitmas pictures!! I love them all!!!

I went to my Dads at about 7pm on Christmas Eve and stayed there until Boxing Day. It was great being with the children as they woke and opened their presents; though it was hilarious that my Dad was awake at 5:45 and getting angsty as the children didn't wake until 8am and he had to wait! The kids had so many gifts it was actually quite sickening, particularly as our youth group sponsors a boy in Mexico and he was over the moon to receive a bible on Christmas day. Dad and I decided that they could wait until New Yeas Day to open the gifts from us and that seemed to work really well.

Here is Lowri with the first gift she opened and played with all day; she wasn't actually that bothered by any of her other gifts. Amanda also got her the pink dress that she's wearing here and she looked stunning in it- the dress had to come off during lunch though as otherwise she'd have looked like she was rolling in mud!!

I can't believe how much the little man is growing up. He expresses his emotions and punctuates his words with his hands and arms now and so everything is so much more elaborate than it used to be!!!

This photo I just love!!! My Dad only has a small dining room table as he's used to living by himself and so there was only enough room for the adults at the table. Amanda was going to sit the children on the floor with their food on their knees but then Dad had this great idea of getting in the table and chairs that Lowri and Osian use in the summer in the garden, cleaning and drying them off, placing a tablecloth on the table, knives forks and plates, and little shot glasses with fizzy pop in and letting the kids have their own table. They loved it and it made them feel all grown up!!

Taking this photo was hoilarioius as Lowri came over, placed the hat on her head, the camera in my hands then put her hands out to the side posing for her picture to be taken!! I love her so much!!!

Dad; typical Christmas afternoon pose. I went to visit some aunts and uncles when he fell asleep and Gareth and Amanda took the children to see her mum. He fell aslep to a house full and woke up alone. Osian was funny though as he was complaining that "Taid is snoring too loudly!"

December

I haven't been as faithful a blogger this year as I was in the past.......not too sure what the reason of that was.....busyness, lack of time management and inspiration probably!!
Anyway December was (as it probably was for everyone!) a busy month. I found myself going into work for 7am (which would mean a 5:30 wake up!) on a number of occasions and quite often not getting to bed until midnight (once again I think a lot to do with my lack of time management!!)
A few things that were great about the month......my Dad actually sought help with the doctors and began a 2 week intensive detox and counselling session. The side affects of the detoxing drugs were quite similar to him being drunk to be honest but at least once he was off them you were able to have a stable conversation with him again! This also made Christmas a much more happier and sane time!
We also had my nephews Christmas nativity play in which he was a sheep! For 2 weeks before hand all we could hear around my Dads house was him singing "tweet, tweet, tweet goes the robin; baa, baa, baa goes the sheep; moo, moo, moo goes the wise old cow; in a stable in Bethlehem". I doubt very much there was a robin at the birth of Jesus but he was a happy young soul singing it all!!

I'll do a serparate post for Christmas with some pictures of the little guys and then another post for New Years eve as I was blessed to be at a beautiful wedding, my friend Jo was getting married; so I'll post pictures of that too.

Does this thing still work?!??!

Well, it would appear so! I can't believe that it's been this long since I've blogged.......I check often to see what everyone else is up to, but have barely had the time to write anything recently, never mind, think about what I'm going to write! I have a couple of posts in the edit section that I started but never got around to posting.........will sort that out today though and get some photos up and news of whats been happening. Bless you if you still check on here; I know I've been hopeless!

latest news

Family life seems tumultuous at the moment......and so I feel that I need to post these pictures to remind me of the simplistic good times.

My brother who's adopted has a half sister that we've always known about but who has now been in touch via the adoption agency and wants to meet my brother........my Dad has sadly turned to alcohol once again after being off it for 2 years.......my brother and his girlfriend have been told that unless they are willing to told to officially leave my Dads home and live in an extremely unsavoury area of Rhyl for a couple of months there is little chance of them obtaining a house through the council......and I feel like I'm trying to hold this family together as we go through arguments and tough times......it's tiring and not a burden I should be carrying and instead needs to be left with God.......I'm learning to on a daily basis!

Anyway here are some pics from when I went to Anglesey on a day out with them a couple of weeks back; once again some from my phone and some others from my digital camera. I highly recommend a vist to this island if you're ever in the North Wales area........it's stunning......let me know and I'll be your guide......after many summer holidays there I feel I know it well!!

Osian was scared of going down the hill too fast so Lowri came worlessly alongside him and held onto the side of his bike to slow him down.......cute!!

Taid, Lowri and Osian.........Am sure it's only us Brits that go to the beach in the winter!!

Taid and Osian watching the planes coming into land..........Lowri was in the car wailing!!!

Lowri picking the petals off a daisy..........she's such a treasure!

I just love these last 2 pictures..........just awesome!!

Haddon Hall

I've been meaning to post these pictures for weeks and am only just getting around to it! I visited a place called Haddon Hall with my friend Kathy at the end of September. It took us around 1 and 3/4 hours to get there and was so much fun! It's the place that they filmed the latest version of Jane Eyre by the BBC and used the hall as Thornfield, the home of Mr Rochester. Anyway I forgot to take my camera but did have my new mobile phone with me; the photos are great! I never thought that I'd get this good photos on my phone!

I got this next photo by using the panoramic shot on my phone. It allows you to take 3 different photos, lining them up as you go along to create a panoramic picture. I know this isn't very good, I was just astounded that my phone could do this!!

And just in case you're wondering, this is Kathy and I!!

Autumn Sunrise

No words are really needed! How awesome is this?

Phil Collins Gorilla Ad Cadburys Dairy Milk

I loooooooooooovvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeee this advert....it always bring a smile and a giggle to me when I see it.....thought I'd share......also isn't a bad thing that I love Cadburys chocolate!!!

Life.......

This might sound wierd but I've been reluctant to post pictures of my niece and nephew after some comments were made about her. Comments that upset me and had me questioning what the world had in store for her and wanting to protect that innocence that is in her at the moment. But I love my niece and cannot not share photos of them both......they bring me such joy and laughter........

Osian, who's birthday it was on 26th of last month, had his party and sadly managed to fracture his wrist on the bouncy castle......I saw him and he was going around with this face on that said "show me sympathy" while he craddled his arm in plaster.......I had to giggle, I think he may go into the theatre when he's older!!!

Anyway here are some recent photos of them both. I want to try and get one with Osian tomorrow and his plastered arm; he's said that Auntie Emma can decorate it!!!

Lowri pointing at the Turkeys

Lowri - Daddy's girl

Osian and his Dad- there is no mistaking that he's Gareth's son!

Family photo!

Busy busy busy

Life has been busy but good recently.....my brother has discovered the wonderful world of e-bay and as I'm the one with the internet access and the laptop he has arranged visits down to my house 'for me to see the kids'(!) while he surfs the net......I have to say I have loved having them down here though, it's been great. The picture below is of Osian having his face painted by Gareth. He wanted to be a bird and so this was the outcome.......it was very funny watching him run around the house saying "tweet tweet" and flapping his arms!!

Lowri on the other hand wouldn't sit still and started throwing a tantrum half way through her face paint, so she merely looks like she's going to war!!!

The second time they came they were banned from using crayons as I'd found drawings up the stairs wall where Lowri had decide to decorate with a crayon. So the next weekend that they came down we went to Greenfield Valley and saw all of the animals and played in the park. I love these following photos!

Osian traversing the perils of the rope bridge!

Lowri making sure another child is not playing on what she wants to play on!!

Osian on his rocking dragon......doesn't have the same ring as a rocking horse does it!!!

Lowri talking to the chickens and turkeys through the fence......Osian was petrified of them while she was trying to pet them!!

Todays reading

"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you" Psalm 37:4-5

When we delight in the Lord, we celebrate our relationship with Him. We love to spend time with Him and to share every aspect of our life with Him. We tell Him about our hopes and dreams, and let Him dream with us. God loves that kind of relationship with us. It brings Him joy and makes Him want to give us joy. He wants to give us good things and fulfil our deepest heart's desire. We can trust Him with our dreams and delight in His love.