What a mess!!

After a couple of evenings making "stuff" this is what the craft/Dining room table, looks like!

In truth , it has not been used as an actual table to eat at since Megs Birthday in April.

Its not a bad size but i have so much "truck" on it that i only leave myself about a foot of space to work in !

It didn't get any better today as Meg has art to do. We had play at Encaustic art painting backgrounds for some of her drawings.

Its very messy and very addictive.

Meg did several pieces that she is quite pleased with.

I WAS going to show you a before and after shot of the table but it doesn't look any better!

Have updated the background of my blog to correspond with the weather.

Love Soojay xx

Beautiful Sunday

Well the sun is shining anyway :)

And I am still on hol for another week and a bit.

This week:

Meg went to Norwich again with friends- not so many texts from her this time( she is now an old hand- obviously!)

Nats Went to Pleasure wood Hills with Mencap yesterday and had a great time.

Dan actually got up ( by accident) before lunch!

Dereks car needs fixing :( Think it needs a new clutch- booked for next week.

I had fun :) went to pub with a friend from school for a lovely meal. Taxied kids to and fro and yesterday cropped all day in Norfolk with dear friends ( photo above ;))

I am popping into school on Tuesday for yr 11 GCSE results - probably the last time i will see some of them :(

Have a great week xx

Love Soojay xx

Brill Photo

I Love this photo ( have scrapped in on my other blog- though not done it justice) Meg took it on her cheapy camera on a timer. I am entering it on her behalf to Shimelle's photo challenge because i think she is so clever. With her permission i will upload some of her other photos soon.

Love Soojay xx

A Busy Week :)

Last night Natalie and I went to see Westlife at Newmarket races. Unfortunately although i took a camera, i was too short to see anything much. It was VERY crowded and very muddy. It took us over 2 hours to get there ( it should only take an hour). Despite all that Nats was able to see ( being so much taller than me :) ) So I am really pleased that she enjoyed herself. The conditions were NOT great for anyone with disabilities but Nats coped really well.

Derek and Daniel went to Wales for a few days. This is where Derek lived when I first met him. Milford Haven.

Of course they went to the ice cream parlor in Tenby!

and visited family ...These adorable children are his nephews....Joshua, Jodie and Jacob ( the 3 J's)

They adored Daniel, apparently it's the first time Jodie put a skirt on when she heard Dan was coming ..Sweet!

Dan's new Haircut. I didn't cut it , just bleached the top.

They have gone to see Ipswich play today.

Derek wanted to know why Dan got all the photographs, so I took a couple of Derek.

Even if Dan had to hold him down.

Ohh and Megan being lazy ( as usual)

Love Soojay xx

A Better day

Popped to Superstore to get lots of fresh fruit just to make a pretty fruit salad...Well I liked it :)
I promise Nat is fine. She went off to her placement okay this morning and has been out visiting friends this afternoon and has gone straight back out after tea. She did not want her photo taken but i did manage these.

There is a hint of red in it and it is MUCH tidier.

VERY quiet here with the boys away...also a lot more tidier too!! Both girls are out at the mo so I am here alone...how strange...I could get used to this..now wheres that cider i bought this afternoon?

Love Soojay xx

Disaster!!

Well there was supposed to be a photo of Natalie with her new "hair do". I managed to cut it nice and short- it is very difficult for her to manage when it gets long. She also still pulls it out occasionally. I WAS going to dye it a lovely plum colour. I have done it before and it really suits her. That was NOT to be! I had just started to get the colour on , quite quickly , nearly half done, when she said she felt ill. I couldn't smell a thing and all the windows were open but.......Natalie has been known to "fit" if things don't "feel " or "smell" right. So I got her outside in the back garden to see if the fresh air would help. No, she started being sick and i was worried that her hair would dye half red so I had to get it off quick. I did what I could but ended up using the garden hose! We were both drenched but she didn't "fit".................sigh. She went for a lay down and was fine after an hour ...hair slightly reddish on one side though. We won't ever be doing THAT again!

Love Soojay xx

Blog Candy

Here.

Love Soojay xx

Peace ;)

Derek and Dan have gone to Wales for a few days, so it is very peaceful here.

I have coloured Megs hair.

It is a little lighter - sort of a honey blond. I have told her that if it is too red , i'll do it again tomorrow. I think she likes it.

Have spent the day cleaning and tidying, so much easier with less people about . I have to say i do NOT miss the X- box!!!

Finally!!

Got to see Eclipse today. This is the first one i have seen at the cinema - had to wait for DVD for the others. Eclipse was my favorite of the four books and i loved the film. I am excited about the next two films though .

Meg ( team Jacob) and I (team Edward) went to see it while Derek and Dan saw toy story 3 in 3D...we were all happy ( Meg even happier that she now has a large poster of Jacob on her bedroom wall ).

In Other News

Cooking:

Not done any baking for a while, but as I LOVE these, thought i would give them a go later in the week.

Listening to:

Darren's new album will be out soon. I always keep a selection of his and savage garden songs on the iPhone.

Sorry Naughty !! Both Meg and I stop to watch when he is on TV.

Watching:

Last DVD we watched was Remember me....bit slow, i wasn't expecting much more than a chick flick. NOT what i expected and we were both left thinking about it for days afterwards.

Reading:

Halfway though this..If you intend to buy it, go to W H Smith as it is on offer for £1 instead of the £8 it cost me in Tesco's. So far an easy read . Quite a thin book and i should have it finished before Weds when I am off to watch Eclipse ...finally!

A Day out.

Yesterday I was catching up with my friend Pat and took a look at a holiday cottage for respite rent in Norfolk. Pat and her family stayed there last week. Its booked up till November this year but we might be able to book it early next year. Sleeps 8 plus , so the children could take friends.

One of the nice things is that as well as it being a lot cheaper for us to rent, is that it is less than an hours drive away. These lots of lovely space and walks.

Theres a lake to take a boat out on ( Fritton)

Also Gt Yarmouth and Gorleston are only 5 miles away and Redwings horse sanctury is across the road.

Theres pitch and put as well as a golf course, horse riding and a large park.

We had a lovely lunch in the hotel near the site.

Grumpy Drawers!

Doesn't like having his photo taken, especially while chatting ( via dads iPhone) on face book AND watching afternoon TV.

I made him get up early this morning ( BEFORE LUNCH!) to go for a check up at the ADHD clinic, probably his last as he will soon be too old. They are very happy with him as he has been off meds for a year now and is quite calm. I am pleased that they will keep his case open for the next year ( just in case) until he is 18 , next October. He was weighted ( not under weight by much thankfully) and he is now 6 foot ( and growing!).

Got all his college details in the post today as well ..I do feel better knowing that everything is in place. Just waiting for transport to be confirmed now.

Right a bit a crafting before I cook tea.

Yayyy Holidays

Not that we are going anywhere this year. Derek and Dan are off to Wales for a few days next month, so it will be very peaceful here! :)

We have a few outings planned but my lot do not like to all do the same stuff so its quite difficult.

We are desperately saving to go back to Cornwall next year to stay in "our" cottage. The price has gone up so much though , it would be cheaper for us all to go abroad!

So far the holidays have been lovely and relaxing, I have been pottering about , getting up nice and early to enjoy the peace of a house of teenagers that don't rise before lunch. Actually that's not quite true. Megan gets cross if she sleeps in and has been getting up between 9 and 10am.

She wants to knit and I will give her this, she is certainly persistent! I have restarted her at least four times ...today.

Mind you she might find it easier if she sits up instead of laying down.

Ohh well its keeping her busy.

I have done a little crafting and uploaded to my other blog Here.

Right, my batteries in the mouse are dying ( i hate that!) must go get some more.

Proud Mum!

We went to Dan's year 11 presentation evening last night. I must have cried half a dozen times as it was very moving. Only a parent of a child with learning problems can understand, all the years of worrying, of problems , often daily. Trying to find ways to help them learn to feel good about themselves and NOT measure against "normal" children.

The pupils from The Ashley special school presented the evening. One young girl found the reading difficult and burst into tears (reminding me of when Nats left school) but later she came back and tried again ..she got the biggest round of applause!

Two of the worker from the house where Dan used to sleep over on a Thursday night, Telling us stories of all the antics he used to get up to.

Two of the guys from the construction site that Dan has had a placement with for the past two years. I thought it was so lovely they they turned up to show their support. Again they had lots of funny stories, apparently they used to teach him to dance!?!

Dan's form. The blond young lady told me that she was Dan's current girl friend.

He received a special award for being the most friendly pupil in the school. The youngest pupils, yr's 1 - 6 voted for him.

He has OCR Entry Level in English, Maths, science,resistant materials and Clait. A certificate for food safety, first aid , BTEC skills for working life and a bronze D of E :D

I went to our year 11 Prom. These pupils started high school when i started as a TA. Some of them where at primary school with Dan and are still friends. I will miss them.

Jordan , who registered with us each morning , my boss/partner and oonagh who did most of the organizing and gave us flowers.

Dunstan Hall nr Norwich. Aren't they beautiful?!

Adorable Stamps!!

Crafters Companion will be releasing a brand new Collection of 12 Stamps and a CD, this new collection will feature as the Pick of the Week on Create and Craft from 11am On Friday 16^th July .
This awesome SWALK collection is a bit different from our previous releases and features some of the cutest characters and wonderful sentiments that will appeal to anyone from 1 to 100. The CD has been designed to complement the Stamps perfectly and features our usual popular designs sets, borders alphabets , inserts, verse writer etc , we have also included 2 sets of co-ordinating papers plus the most amazing co-ordinating flowers that can be resized and layered to make awesome embellishments for your creations.

Have a lookee here for some Great Candy

I So NEED these!!

Sad few Days

For Cavell and Dad

Steph and Ericka

Went to visit Steph yesterday. She is doing SO well after such a big, nasty op but it hurts so much to see her like that.... vulnerable , she says she is not in pain which if true is a small miracle. I, personally think that she said that just for us. Hopefully she will be home soon. Cross everything for her.

Today 20 years ago we were with Steph and Ericka when Cav died :( Sometimes those years have dragged but other times is seems like yesterday as I can remember every detail. He would have celebrated his 23rd Birthday this year.

Tomorrow it is three years since dad died :(

You can see why I shall be glad when this week is over!

Will post with something nice next time.

Ohh I do have a new blog.....nothing much on it yet though Here Called paper ,ink and glue.