August 16th 2011

It's the small man's birthday !! The BIG three .... my little man is growing up so fast.  

He had a brilliant day.  He leaped out of bed at 8am shouting  'it's my birthday have I got any presents??' .... I must add not in a spoilt way, I had told him that he had one more sleep to go then he might get some presents if he went to sleep, which he did, although dreams and nightmares upset him during the night.  We came downstairs and he open a couple of presents from his Dad and me, including a new bicycle.  we then got ready to take him to the local Fire Station, our birthday surprise and treat.  For a little lad who ever since he could walk and talk has insisted he will be a fireman when he grows up he was indeed in his element.  A grin from ear to ear.

watching the fire engine being driven out of the station so that he can play with the hoses.

there is small man's pride and joy !!

Of course he had to drive to the fire first...

then it was time to put out the fire....

actually they were trying to knock the cones over ...

really getting into the swing of it now ...

and then the spray (which he wasn't too sure of ... he preferred the jet)

playing with the two tones, sirens, lights and horn ...

bit noisy .... 

that's small man's Dad at the birthday lunchtime meal ...

small man and me...

blowing out the candle ...

Small man's cake ...

This fire engine we got him, the levers pull the ladder up and down and from side to side, it also squirts water. This is Small man putting out his house ...

Squirting everyone with water at the birthday BBQ ...

Squirting himself ....

Great way to get a drink ....

Dad he needs no encouragement to squirt everyone !!  Good day was had by all.

I have had a really busy day today getting ready for the small man's 3rd birthday tomorrow.  OMG where has the time gone.

Birth Day

1st Birthday 

2nd Birthday

My beautiful boy is growing up so fast.  Tomorrow he will be blowing out the candle on this cake ...

As well as driving halfway across the county to get icing for this and another cake I have to make, collecting Jnr's bike from Halfords, going to the butchers and getting meat for the BBQ, wrapping presents  I spent the best part of the day making this cake.  Luckily Jnr spent the day with Ma and Pops which gave me time to get on.  When I went to pick him up he looked as though he had had loads of fun.  Well I still have lots to do but I have run out of steam for today I think.

Today has not been a great day.  I have felt really quite poorly, terrible stomach pains and I can't help but think there is a cold brewing, sore throat, achy pains and the occasional sneezing fits ..... great !!

I have been of late contemplating ways in which I might be able to do some model making again.  I dabbled a little before Jnr was born but everything had to go back into the loft as I didn't have the space.  I NEED A GIRLIE SHED !!!  Anyway I still don't really have the space but I have so many ideas I need to get creative.

My plan is to eventually design and build a 1940's kitchen room box, in the hope that one day when space is available (yes I WILL move) I can design and build additional boxes to make a house of sorts.  I am also planning and designing a small bakery but something a little quirky ... I am not going to say much else about that only that I need to hit the charity shops and or car boot sales.

In the meantime whilst researching 1940's décor and thinking of design elements I decided to try my hand at making a piece of furniture just to see if 1) I could actually do it and b) how easy or hard is it.  I decided that a bookshelf would probably be the easiest to try first.  Taking measurements from a real size bookcase I scaled it down and this is the result...

I also had a go at making the books too.  For first attempts I am actually quite pleased with the results.  There is a few things that are not quite right but lessons learnt.  For a start glue !!! Best not smear it all over, although once it dries it can't be seen when you come to stain it resists.  In this instance I quite like it it gives the feel of well used piece of furniture but for future more precise pieces I need to remember be sparing with the glue.

Here's hoping I feel better tomorrow as I can feel cabin fever setting in.

Today I took the folks to Southwold.  Dad wanted to go to a railway exhibition.  Some may find it boring and although I am not particularly interested in the functions of how the railways themselves work I do enjoy looking at the models and the intricacy of the layouts ...

this is just an example of one layout.  Jnr of course had a ball, like any little boy he finds trains exciting, especially if he gets to make them go really fast.  O and especially if the name of the train is Thomas....

There was of course more fun to be had when we went for a ride on a small train and 2 traction engines outside ...

(please note those aren't freaky children riding with Jnr on the traction engine ride.  I have edited photo as I thought it unfair to have someone else's child on display on my blog without permission)

After we had finished at the exhibition we made our way to Southwold beach for fish and chips.  Jnr and mum had a go on a carousal ...

A pleasant day was had by all really.  I just wish I had the energy to get in my Work Box and have a play, maybe tomorrow eh ??

What a difference a day can make.  Wednesday was lovely and sunny, bare foot in the garden playing ....

playing fire engines inside....

and the yesterday we had storms and rain and wind and it was still bloomin hot, but it didn't deter us from playing in the garden, we dived outside in between showers ..... this time it was wellies on and bubbles and lots of them ...

I had a couple of new tops arrive from Next on Wednesday. I tried them on last night before we went out for a meal at a friends house.  Both garments were the same size and yet one fit ok and the other was so small I couldn't get it off.  I have to admit I did start to panic a little.  Thankfully hubby came to the rescue and got it off.  I was disappointed though as it was a top that I wouldn't normally look at let alone try on but I felt like having something a little different.  Needless to say I took it back today.  

Our meal last night with Bob and Sylvie was lovely, very chilled evening with plenty of wine and laughter, unfortunately it ended a little sooner than I would have liked but we were all very tired and Jnr needed to get to bed. 

I treated myself to a couple of goodies from the scrapbook shop today (naughty me).  I am hoping that sometime over the weekend I might be able to have a play. :)  anyway not much else to share.  I have been spending any spare time reading my Good Study Guide and Scrapbook Blogs.

Don't have a huge amount to report really.  I popped over to see a friend in her new home on Monday, we sat around drinking tea and chatting.  Yesterday I was at home, got some washing done and a bit of housey work and today my mate came to mine to use the PC as she will not have internet until next Monday.

I haven't done any crafty things since Sunday and my Smoosh book.  I have however been getting my nose into a book The Good Study Guide.  Really good book, hopefully it will see me through the OU course.  Speaking of the course I have sent off all my paperwork now so hopefully I will have confirmation very soon.  So looking forward to getting stuck in now.

Off to do some more reading.