Recent cakes made by the children

We have had a lot of celebrations in our house recently.  Usually I get a home made cake on my birthday but this means that Colin gets the leftovers for his birthday the next day.  So this year we agreed that I would have a shop bought mini Cadbury's cake for mine so we could make Colin one.  This is what he got.  It's a chocolate base with vanilla butter cream.  On top are mini eggs (bet you didn't guess that!), twirl, fudge and chocolate buttons.  It was rather tasty!

Then last week Colin had an interview.  Do you remember how he was made redundant from his company last year and although he got a new job it was temporary and a step down from his previous position?  Well, the company finally admitted it made a mistake and advertised his post as there had been an upturn in business.  To be honest, there had never been a lack of work for them and we had always said it would be re-advertised eventually.  Anyway, cutting a long story short, he applied, they interviewed him and last Thursday night at 6pm they phoned to say it was his!!!!!!  So we rushed out and got the ingredients needed to make him a celebratory cake.

Milky stars, malteasers and chocolate buttons decorated a vanilla sponge with vanilla butter icing.  3 Congratulations champagne bottle candles completed it.  We decided to surprise him and all hid in the hallway with party poppers when he came in from work at 8.30pm.  It was hard work baking and decorating a cake in that time and I was worried that the butter icing might melt as the cake was still slightly warm. It was DELICIOUS!  Well done hubby :)

Prayers worked

All the prayers and good wishes have obviously worked as Colin has just started a job with the company.  It is only a 4 month contract initially but Nick, his boss, has said that it is a foot the door.  Hopefully when this contract is up there will be some more work for him - fingers crossed.  So thank you to everyone who sent good thoughts and prayers our way.

I haven't had much time for stitching as I am currently studying an OU module which is really hard work.  It is a level 3 course, equivalent to the last year at a brick university and is Research with children and young people.  This is an area that I am not familiar with, especially the key terms.  One of the set books has turned me into a Pavlov dog and every time I even think about reading it, I start yawning.  I received the mark back from my first assignment and it was the lowest mark I have ever received (this is my 8th module), so I must need to study even harder.

Apart from the updates I have posted over the last couple of days, I have stitched on Roses of Paris and Sweet Pea Pixie.

Chatelaine Designs - Roses of Paris

Nora Corbett - Sweet Pea Pixie

I also had a birthday on March 8th and Mother's Day on March 10th.  With Colin not having a job we were supposed to be having a very cheap birthday without presents apart from the children giving ONE SMALL THING. The capitals are because despite agreeing to the rule, Colin was unable to keep it.  I was very lucky and received the Tiny Treasured Diamond kit and the chart and threads for JBW's Halloween.

Then I received nearly all the silk threads for Roses of Paris.  I have to say my favourite is the Northern Lights (magenta) which is divine in real life.

And finally...

each year they bake me a cake.  Now I'm not saying I'm a chocolate fan or anything but as you can see by the cake I do enjoy a little nibble :)

A birthday, some stash and some stitching

Rachael's science teacher was absolutely fabulous when she had a bad hypo in the lesson. Rachael wanted to get her a little present and asked if I would make a card for her.  I asked her if there was anything her teacher liked. Rachael said giraffes and so I stitched the little Mouseloft giraffe kit that I stitched previously.  Rachael's teacher was really pleased with it by accounts.      

Giraffe card for Rachael's science teacher
Mouseloft kit

A little progress on She Sells Seashells but not much! Apart from this there isn't much else to show for stitching progress this week.  I have been busy working on a scissor fob for an exchange so can't show that yet.  It looks great though!

She sells seashells              

This is my gorgeous birthday cake that Colin and the children made me. They make me one every year.  Under the icing is a rather delicious chocolate sponge.  They were very kind and only put 10 candles on - it would have taken too long to blow them all out otherwise.

And finally here is the lovely stash I received for my birthday.  There are 2 Tiny Treasured Diamond Halloween kits, a fuchsia chart by The Silver Lining - fuchsias are my favourite flowers.

There were also 3 little charts too - a LHN, a LK and a JBW designs one, all of which were on my wishlist.

My birthday was on Thursday and Colin's is the day after. We went to Frankie and Benny's to celebrate Colin's.  Colin asked me what I wanted for my birthday meal and I chose spaghetti bolognese.  This is something that I normally make with the children and both of them do a really good job of it.  It was an absolutely gorgeous dinner and the cake that followed was scrumptious!  I am very lucky to have 2 kids that take an interest in cooking and at least I know they won't starve to death once they leave home!!

Long time, no see

Hello to anyone still out there and still visiting!! I honestly can't give a reason for not blogging for 2 weeks - the time seems to have flown by. Lots has been happening here so I'll try and remember it all to fill you in.

I received my ABCstitch order and got hammered for customs. £15!!!! The annoying bit is that £8 of that was a Royal Mail handling fee. I used up the last of my Christmas gift certificate for this order so I haven't really been spending! I treated myself to several charts and the threads to complete one of them.

I have to admit to being naughty and getting the 4 charts below but they were in the sale and were something like £2.50 each. They did get put in the "Oh look what you just bought me for my birthday" pile. (That's where I see something I like and buy it to put away for whatever the next event Colin needs to get a pressie for!)

I can now use my laptop to use the internet. This is huge news as it means that I have successfully set up our home network!! Virgin media supplied us with a new wireless router for free, upgraded our broadband speed and managed to save us £20 a month in one phonecall - not bad service for a company these days. The wireless router was dead easy to set up too.

The 8th was my birthday - my BIG 40. The children and Colin spoilt me rotten and really went out of their way to ensure that it was the best birthday I have ever had. They made me a fabulous chocolate cake with marshmallows on top and decorated everywhere downstairs with banners and balloons. They took me to Frankie and Benny's for lunch which was delicious and the staff there made it a special meal too. Some of the presents I received were a Build a Bear called Daisy (pink with flowers on), Wii balance board, DVD's, Gift certificate for DSL and more stamps for my collection.

I received my stash ambush package in the week and was thrilled to bits with it. There was a chart (Crabby all year) which I have had my eye on for a while and hummed and haaed over and 3 pieces of Silkweaver solos with a co-ordinating thread for each. Thank you Chris it was a fab package and I felt very spoilt!

In work we have now had the results of the pay and grading review which has been rumbling on for about 5 years. I can't believe this originally started in 2004! I am one of the lucky ones. As I haven't been in my current role for very long I am at the bottom of the pay scale and so have recieved a pay rise. Unfortunately people who have been there for years are finding that their pay has been cut. This has varied from about £60 a year to £2500 a year. It is really hard when everyone is discussing it at work. I am one of about 3 or 4 people that have had the rise. People are quite obviously upset about it all even though their pay is protected until 2011. Frankly, I think the council are treating everyone dispicably and it won't be a huge surprise when the best staff leave for neighbouring councils who all pay more than ours does! If this was happening to teachers there would be uproar, as TA's no one is bothered!

I think that will have to be enough of an update for now, otherwise anyone who isn't asleep soon will be!! I need to catch up with 2 weeks worth of blog reading!!

I will be doing a giveaway for my 1 year blogging birthday in the next few days - so watch this space!!

Luke's birthday or rather his present day

Today is what we call Luke's present day. This is because his birthday falls when we are away on our hols and as we can't take all his pressies with us we just take his small ones so he has a few things to open. He was thrilled with all his bigger presents today. He got (amongst others!) lego police station, Indiana Jones lego, Dr Who figures, Ben 10 omnitrix, radio control subaru, Man Utd football and some science experiments. He was thrilled with the football which Rachael gave him. This is his reaction to opening it.....................

It's not often he gives out hugs and kisses so I think Rachael was taken a bit by surprise there!

Colin and I were up until 1.30am making the lego police station. The instructions were really clear but there was just so much of it. We hid it behind the curtains and got Luke to open them after he opened all his presents...........he was VERY surprised and absolutely thrilled with it. The most exciting bit (apparently) is the fact that the prison cells have little toilets in them. Well, I suppose he is a 6 (almost 7) lad and anything to do with bodily functions is great!!

The cats are going to the vet this afternoon. Over the last couple of weeks they have both started spraying. We are hoping that getting them castrated will do the trick otherwise we may have to consider either one or both of them being rehomed - there is only so much cat pee we can put up with! As they have taken to doing it on the kids beds and toys it has become a bit of a health risk. Everyone is really upset that the cats may have to go although apparently the children are happy to have a hamster instead!

Rachael's birthday part 2

Rachael's birthday party was brilliant. There were 9 of them all together, some from her old school and some from her current school. All the girls got on great and had their hair either plaited or curled (or both), nail polish and nail art and make up done. The 3 ladies that did it were fantastic with the children and made it a very enjoyable experience for them all. We ran out of time to do the birthday cake so I will take it into school on Monday for them.

Rachael got some lovely presents from her school friends which included a pampered pupz, a couple of nice tops, arty stuff and a beautiful pink cross on a chain amongst others. She was really pleased with what everyone bought her.

We all went to the Harvester for a birthday treat. Unfortunately since we were last there they seem to have done away with the children's menu and do smaller portions of the adult ones. The service was absolutely diabolical. We were there for about 20 minutes before we managed to convince someone that we really did want to order. It then took another 20 minutes for the drinks to arrive and a further 20 minutes for the food to arrive. When it turned up the food was delicious but by then we were ready for giving up and going over the road to KFC! Needless to say we didn't leave a tip!

Rachael rounded off the day with us all watching one of her birthday DVD's. The boys were both impressed with watching Bratz Kids........not! Actually as Bratz DVD's go it was quite good and I think Rachael really enjoyed it.

I think all in all this could well be the best birthday that Rachael has ever had as far as she is concerned. Even the weather managed to perk up so that she didn't drown on her birthday!!

Rachael's birthday

As hard as it is to believe, 9 years ago I was giving birth to the most beautiful girl on the entire planet. Rachael birthday is here at last and she is having a lovely day so far. Her main pressie was a digital camera which she is thrilled with and she has some books, DVD's and Cd's as well as a few other bits and pieces.

This afternoon she is having a make up party at a local salon with some of her friends. They will be having their hair, nails and make up done for them which should be good fun. After we are having a family meal out somewhere of her choosing.......hopefully NOT McDonalds!

Luke has gone to football as usual and went charging off in without a backwards glance or goodbye. I never thought I would see the day he did that. It's good in a way but shows that he is growing up quickly too.

Cross stitch wise I have finished a small card with fuchsias on. I'm not sure who I will give it to as I only bought it as I love fuchsias.