Play time for Alex & Emma

Helen, Steve and Alex came to visit over the weekend. It was fun to see them and for the kids it was a real party!

I missed the first evening as I was at a work leaving do for Tracy and Keri at Bottelinos. Tracey is left of Amy, and Keri is to her right.

The other photos is Chris & I, Chris being the pharmacist working at Somerset Square. His eye's don't normally match his shirt.

After a busy morning at work, I got back and Helen and I went to the tip at Portishead while Helen and Steve were visiting relatives. On the way back we went to a farm shop where Emma chased a chicken, and we popped into a country fair where Emma enjoyed sniffing some flowers.


Alex & Emma had a whale of a time together. They ate together...

Watched In The Night Garden together.

Alex showed Emma how to open doors. And play hide and seek behind curtains. Also how not to ride the bus (inside the compartment.)

They had tea and cake together.

And a refreshing drink.

They enjoyed riding the bus together, until an unfortunately cornering incident threw them both off.

They played on the slide together, although only one could sit at the top at any one time unfortunately.

Such a shame when it was time to go home.

We had Sunday lunch with Bryony, Andrew and Bry's mum, Margaret. We went to The Salthouse where the carnivores had roasts. Nobody was tempted by the dog leg.

We took a walk along the seafront afterwards ending up at Scarletts for an icecream. Emma enjoyed sharing my chocolate one. In the picture she is playing peek-a-boo behind the chair.

Tyntesfield

Helen, Emma and I visited Tyntesfield last Wednesday. We got there at 11am and our ticket allowed us into the house at 12.15pm. We spent the time up until then having a look at the plush chapel and having a picnic.

Here's Emma in her new car seat. The old one was fiddly and we needed a spare for Leila's car. Emma seems to like her new one.

We had an amazing view for our picnic. Emma sat strapped onto my lap and had a mixture of mashed carrot & potato and sandwiches.

I forgot to pack a beaker but she managed very well with drinking from the bottle.

Here's Helen & Emma stood in front of what looks like an old summer house next to the main house.

When our time finally came to go into the house, Emma had to be carried as we couldn't take a pushchair in. She got very wriggly, very loud, and when put down, very fast! Helen continued the tour alone while Emma & I had a look around the gardens.

Afterwards, Helen had an introductory drum lesson with Steve Wilson in Clevedon that I'd organised as a birthday present. It went well.

After a long sleep, Emma had a long play on her slide, then a rather unsuccesful meal. Bath time was fun though as we played peek-a-boo by hiding in the bath then jumping up.

Helen's Big Three-Oh!

We now have a bed time routine with Emma between 6 & 7pm which normally guarantees sleep before 7.30pm. An important part is "In The Night Garden" on CBeebies. Emma occasionally stands on her bus to watch it. Helen and I are both addicts too. Emma particularly enjoys the Titifer's song.

We've seemed to be so busy of late! August was a wonderful month when we got a bit of sun and were invited to three wonderful weddings. The last, Holly and Olly's wedding fell on Helen's 30th birthday. We started the day with some present opening.

Here's Helen mystified at what could be inside the layers of wrapping. Turned out to be some very attractive silver earrings from Lin and Mike. Thank you!

I managed to get rid of Helen's first present of the morning before she even saw it. Tigger had very thoughtfully disembowelled a mouse on our living room carpet. Luckily I (David) was on breakfast duty with Emma so managed to scrape up the mess before the birthday girl bounced down the stairs!

Leila, Rob, Becky and Rob came for a brunch at 11. I'd cooked a full English breakfast which was eaten up to the last black pudding! Emma engaged in some car surfing afterwards. Leila & Rob babysat for us while we went to the wedding in Tetbury. It was Emma's first ever night away from home and no problems were reported.

The hotel in Tetbury was beautiful and Holly and Olly made a handsome couple. The management of the wedding was first class too with lots of entertainments laid on including dance instruction in the evening.



We sat on a table comprising of lots of my old friends from Nottingham Uni. I hadn't seen Lydia & Andrew for about 8 years. So lovely to meet their little son Isaac who was 3 months old.

The next day we hosted a party to celebrate Helen's birthday properly! There was a mixture of our new Clevedon friends (mostly with babies), family and it was great to see Mike, John, Rowan and Maddie coming a long way to join in too. With so many babies coming, Emma thought the party was for her! She had lots of fun showing off her slide and dashing about.

John and Rowan's Maddie is just on the verge of walking now. She showed off her strength and balance by pushing Emma around the garden on her bus. They had some excellent games of peek-a-boo upstairs, and a rather unsuccessful bath. Emma enjoys her water a little hotter than Maddie is used to!