spring break

Its finally spring although the weather is rather changable and really does make things a bit too tense at times. Still, Zac and Reuben have thus far loved their 2 weeks holiday and well we had survived it too...:)) all being serious I had loved having my boys together and planning things with them. We had stayed local not really managed a holiday as such...but I guess we did loads. We had explored and revisited loved places. This photo shows you the real Zackie! Always ready to be in the centre of attention and waiting for the next mischief....while smiling sweetly and the hat signaling its time for spring....his skin is well kissed by the sun we had enjoyed recently....and well his T shirt suggest the end of out holiday their surprise trip to Thomas LAND!! Shopping's never been so fun. On a rainy afternoon I took some stuff back to TK MAx and Zac decided to be very good and literally won over every shopper with his cute mischiefs and smiles and chats. He was in such good mood and happy self that shoppers stopped to chat to him and he was in his element. Don;t think I ever seen him like that either so I was loving it too...We had done our first cooking class! Not really our thing but both boys seemed happy and it was another morning activity done...Zac;s friend Henry was there too it was good fun.At Andrei's house or aunty NENENA's house we had Easter Egg hunt and it was fantastic! The kids really got into it and were ever so good.

Who says we need toys?! We need to be able to teach our kids to be imaginative...to find things to look at and marvel at. I had always liked introducing my kids to different things where they can see more of life out there. Its hard to believe but I had very little and few toys...some of them were totally inapropriate but gosh was my imagination much more vivid and firey then today;s kids....yeah....! I have decided to really try and get my boys out more...TV is overrated and boring so are the computers, DS es and such. We need to get back to matchsticks and matchboxes, and making things out of recycling and enjoying some counting stars and such....Yepeee

Another beautiful evening after a lot of hanging around we all went to Upnor about 15 mins drive. love it there, we nearly bought a house there (hard to believe about 8 yrs ago)....and looking at the boats and the lovley calm water was really good. We finished the long walk off with a well deserved pizza at pizza hut the place just about across from where this was taken....Dockside. It was really good and boys love sitting down and eating together....I am loving this...and so do the boys. they always want to have a picknick in the back of the car.....:))) Zac really gets into it!I am so pleased that this Easter Holiday we really have enjoyed so much outings and feels just like it should SPRINGY!Living on the highstreet means taht we all get the chance to stroll up and down and Zac loves taking a rest outside one of the best ANTIQUE show room houses!!Its great having our friends over especially when their mummy is a hairdresser and she cuts our hairs!!! YAY!!

After the Hop Farm we also went to the East Kent and East Sussex Railway....it was good fun. While I shopped around daddy and boys enjoyed some train spotting and training around....:)))Picknick at Hop Farm....it was such a beautiful day and boys really did get into the picknick idea....and so did we.

A day at Hop Farm meant Zackie was also able to enjoy sitting in the big boy's cars and enjoy some driving around and playing with his brother whom he loves immensly.Thank God for the beautiful sunshine. Truley Aprilis weather rain, sun, rain and sun again....warm-cold and such....a real silly weather but the sun has got us really excited and its been so good to us all to be able to extend into the back garden for a little bit....My two boys often sit like this...they get inspired as R would say! this is their quite time when they just rest and enjoy a little I PAD time....their favourite stories or characters.

My beautiful boy and happy 79th bday granny!

What a few beautiful days we had recently! If you ask me its been faaar to long and cold winter and I am only happy to see sunshine again and looking at my boys they are just loving the sunshine, the fewer clothes and also the amazing fresh air and running free! This morning we all walked to church to do the PALM SUNDAY procession with donkey! It was nice. Fewer and fewer people make the effort even though its an opportunity to witness to community and family that God is within us and also that he reigns forever! Looking at these kids all looking down to the river I realised the blue sky, the sunshine and the wonderful fresh crisp morning all remind me of GODs grace amazing grace.Also this week we had a few walks with Zac. Normally he takes his motorbike...or scooter but this particular morning he seemed keen on walking and taking his pushchair with Ms. Bunny. Its one of my few favourite places.....I love this walk and seems Zac does too.As Reuben has finished school on Thursday we gone to the Castle grounds for a little picknic and play with R;s friends from school that have siblings too most of them....was good fun and look what I found Zac doing.....yummm dirt a lot of dirt!Last Sunday we enjoyed an icream (well they seemed too) even though it was freezing. THese boys really do seem so crazy for the icecreams. If that is so I do I always end up eating it....?!We also celebrated Granny's 79th bday with a lovley cake thanks to Iveta Breckinova, Zac;s brilliant childminder and my friend....and champaign and granny had yummy lunch with some of the girlfriends from the development. It was nice that boys also wanted to join in once they got home from school and childminder.Zackie always happy to see people around. He is being shy here. He loves attention normally. It does always amaze me how cute this boy is. He really is such an actor. He has about 100 facial expressions and he really does know how to be all cute and good and charming. I am so pleased with my little boy! He is a trouper and such a cute cute boy! God thanks for my little sunshine.

mothering sunday

now is that not the most adorable pressie for Mothering Sunday?! Zac goes to my wonderful childminder friend Iveta on a Monday and Friday to start with and he loves it there, i have to say she is one of a kind and she is such a talented and wonderful childminder....when she dropped him off at home he brought these gifts for me. Bless he was so proud as he gane them to me he even made me smell the flower then demanded I sneeze....:))) so much about him knowing his flowers. Zackie you sweety pie!

The brother's work of art. He is such a little monkey Zackie is....copies everything from his brother. Often I feel so sad for Reuben cause it seems he doesnt get anything without his brother getting it too but then I look at Reuben and he really does not mind ....however one little funny story which makes us all laugh these days is Zac denying his own name and having brorrowed R's name. I ask Zac "what is your name Zacky?"...he smiles looks at Reuben and says OUTLOUD "BUBEN" that is just so very funny. Even Reuben gets involved in the game and says "no Zacky your name is Zacky" then Z "no buben" and so on....eventually Z starts crying or getting very upset and so we let him be BUBEN!!!!Toast and painting bunny!!! I have to say this boy eats at all times and has to be busy all the time...!! Things I love about you Zac are: - you are terribly predictable, you are as good as gold, really rarely challange me..., you know your boundaries, you sleep like a LOG and are so good at putting yourself to sleep (cant even compare it to your brother who generally took hours to go to sleep and your daddy spent most of his evenings either watching some sort of tv with reuben or falling asleep with Reuben), you are a CHARACTER...you will be an actor no doubt....your face changes 1000 times in 1 minute and you can mime us all..., you know how to kiss and hug and make my heart melt, you are amazing on scooter and love excersize..., you know whats yours and you share well....rarely make a fuss when having to share toys. You get excited when you see your friends, especially Andrei, Martha, Henry, Blake, Rufus...(although Rufus is a bit of a difficult one as he hangs out loads with your girlfriend Martha so you get terribly jelous)...., every situation we take you into (I mean playgroups, visiting people)...you are straight in....

You recognise and know most of Reuben's school friends and you do like to take your brother to school and collect him. You do not demand anything specifically except us to love you and thats EVER SO EASY!!!yes, on a Saturday morning you get a big treat....coke, we are all addicted but we dont go crazy...we know when to have coke and even you know it!!:) We only have coke morning or day time not in the evening. Yours comes with bubbly water to make it a bit less crazy...Here you are showing off your amazing skills of being a potato head!!! nope, you had too much coke...nope, you just have amazing ways of entertaining us all...YES!When you get tired or upset you need your blanket (your brother never had a comfy thing although God I wish he would have had), you often just wind down and fall asleep while sometimes latley especially you nearly falling over of tiredness and you keep saying NO when asked if you would like to sleep. The above photo is of a day when I fell asleep while waiting for you to come and lay down with me and woke up to find you at the bottom of Reuben;s bed snoring literraly. NO I did not live you there I had put you in Rls bed. thats your special treat when R is at school you have your nap in his bed.My little swimmer....you amaze me...you strip down with Reuben put on your swimming costume and off you go. You seem to be as happy as a fish in the water....well done my gorgeous.Both you and your brother get treats after the swim and you love it...sitting there watching everyone else cry their way into the swimming pool:)))Saturday morning while mummy makes that cooked breakfast you love playing with daddy and Reuben on the wii and also building LEGO houses....here is one that you done recently...with some help. I think daddy is questioning your architectural skills or mine but he has noticed you are fabulastic with your dexterity....clever monkey...

How can I not be happy?! how can I not be content?! I have two wonderful God given boys whom we love and cherrish....always. Keep growing sunshine and bring us all the joy there is and may you beautifuully grow and develop into whom God intended you to be....

Zackie's room final!

The study area....! Hope you like it! it is opposite the picture below with a cute skylight...(why did I hesitate so much in putting boys up there before?)After some reading and writing on the blackboard....there is a comfy chair or two for some training.....and playing and exploring....Opposite Zac's bed (cot bed) is this really cute mirrored wardrobe/storage area...he enjoys waking up and seeing himself....:))) I guess its a funny thing....its kind a cute as well I have the same in my bedroom....nice big mirror wardrobe and I like to know how I look in the morning:)))Seriously this room could not be cooler thats for sure....Plenty room and loads of fun....I say I would be happy there toooo!! Its been a week the boys are at home and have not had any difficulties! I must say I am delighted with results both estethic and emotional and well being....boys are happy= mum very happy.

London and HOME

Sorry about the bad quality of the photo...Zac's room (yes if you follow R;s blog you will know we had moved boys to the top of the house where two good size rooms were not really made much use of). Zac's room is amazing. Its a very unusual shape and its soooo cosy. I intentionally made it look like a tent....he loved loved it and this is third night he is been sleeping there and seems to be very happy and content. I am chaft with it. More photos soon.Toy Story mad my son....yes...after dinner they make their way up for baths....(well not straight away but after downstairs tidy up) and then they have their baths. After Pjs are put on they have a play upstairs while I get ready things and they choose their books to read. Zac's favourite now its "Just in case you ever wonder" - Max Lucado...its beautifully illustrated and talks about God and how special each child is. Anyway, Zac loves cuddleing Mr. Potato head which was his birth present to his big brother:)))Last Sunday we went to London, and on the South Bank (my favourite) Zac has met with Mickey...and well loads of other characters. I wasnt sure he would know who they are but he was def knowing Mickey. he loved cuddling him. I must get him a Mickey soft toy cause he just was glued to this one....which cost me probably as much as a toy Mickey Mouse. It was a busy busy Sunday, we went on the train (Zac had a nap) then we walked on the South Bank and visited the London Aquarium ....then we walked to St James's park and had picknick and then walked to Covent Garden via the strand. Yea, well it was busy but we had so much fun. If weather will stay warm we will venture out more...God knows we miss the sun and some nice outings. For now....mummy and daddy busy with boys rooms and their own rooms being decorated and refreshed too....so all very much feeling like spring here....mummy also hopes to try and get the boys into gardening some!!!:))

MY 2 YEAR OLD BIG BOY! Zacariah Jesse Smith

A really successful party! Mama has made all these beautiful aprons as gifts to all who attended Zac;s party. It was such a delight to have so many kids there (38) and only 2 of the invited ones did not make it...one due to illness and the other was away.....still party was a great success!!!To make a good party takes time and energy and a lot of planning. I think would have been less hard work would I have gone for the easy and cheep option but no...I enjoy giving my kids and my friends the best I have...they all deserve it. Thank God I was able to do another party....yay!Zac's 2nd birthday party was celebrated on the 18th Feb (2 days after his real bday which was celebrated just by us the family and Rebeka and mum who were here) and it was such a great party...Zac was so overwhelmed but yet so happy. He had two Toy Story cakes to share with his friends and 1 yummy coffee cake for the mums and dads....(we were honoured that so many mummies and daddies have come the cake dissapeared as soon as it was cut).His favourite motorbike .....ohhh this motorbike surley makes mum and dad happy:))) keeps him entertained in the early mornings and now that finally is warmer we are out and about with it too.now you might wonder what this is?! Well, our very good friend Clive Miller has set up an area in the church hall where they could sit down and eat and enjoy TOy Story on big screen....it was like being in the cinema...:)) THANKS TO CLIVE kids were very good and well entertained.The two grandma's , granny Smith (pink top) and Mama were well entertained too. Such a great joy to have two of the grandma's here for the birthday party.Zac was very keen to put on his Buzz LIghtyear outfit and was a pleasure to see some of the kids dressed as Buzz, Woody and Jess....so we had that also to enjoy....Zac was aware it was his bday and enjoyed carrying around his presents and opening them....later at home. He was showered with gifts...what great friends we have! THANK YOU ALL.Do I say anything?! THese two love love each other! My little sister now 2o?! What what- yes she is...and in love with my Zackie and the feeling is def mutual. Rebeka you are such a treasure! WWIDo without such an amazing little sister?!One of the two tables that I set up with snacks and food....:)))all made in house! I am good arent I?:)) I think the older generation was pretty taken aback with the preparations going on for this bday...I loved it and enjoyed it.Over all we think party was a real success. Unlike before we had no food, drinks and cake left!:) We had happy customers:)) kids loved their photo shoots (well done Catherine Price from LOVELANEPHOTOGRAPHY) and the cinema (THANKS CLIVE MILLER), the wonderful aprons made by my mum...and worn for photo by kids at the party.....and well we were happy that everyone seemed happy. To follow up on the bday we had also spent Sunday the 26th in London with both boys enjoying some more bday spoiledge!!:))) It was fab to walk the South Bank (one of my favourite) then to go to London Aquarium, St James Park, Covent Garden...and boys were amazingly well behaved. ....

MAMA AND REBEKA's visit!

My little cake (lemon cheescake) for Zac;s bday. It was such a nice family bday...with Zackie falling asleep at 10am when granny Smith came to visit but then perking up later and enjoying a tea time with mama at a great new coffee shop called THE COFFEE POT in Rochester Highstreet.Yes, I now have a 2 years old...he is soooooo stubborn...he thinks he is 4 like his brother and when asked what his name is he says "booben"(Reuben). He knows he should be Zackie off course but likes when we all laugh and remind him that is certainly not his name. He is really such a character! We are loving his cheecky personality.A few things went baby toys and such and suddenly I remembered we had a scooter at this stage for Reuben and wondered if Zac would master it too?! Well, would you believe it....Zackie not only is mastering it (ha ha :) he has walked from our house through the Vines Park...down the Cathedral and Castle and all the way to the end of the highstreet with it).....determination....we are enjoying his massive developments. He knows around 100 words or so....can speak if he needs things and is very predictable....a real sweety.Loves loves, trains, wible woble things and basically as many balls as one can have.....plays football amazingly good...he actually tackles the ball and dribble it ever so well...I won;t mention he kicks it well too. Reuben certainly never showed that much interest in footballs.My little reminder of LIFE beyond DEATH.....or life after what it might look like dark and lifless times. Zackie I will never forget that while professionals and those who should have promoted your life were ready to take it away while God all along was making you our perfect gift of LIFE. I will always tell you how special you are, how unique and that we will always always love you that much more. And yes, my belief is that no matter how bare, lifless something is ....given a chance can be all that it was intended to be. I hope God will keep blessing you and making you into what he intended you to be! I know he will....cause he is good like that. LOVE YOU LOADS.