Thursday, June 29, 2006

Going to need a few cushions...

If Thomas is really that keen on learning to drive, I think he's going to need a few plump cushions to help him see over the steering wheel...

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Happy 2nd Birthday, Cousin James!

It was cousin James' 2nd birthday today, so back to the Thomas' house for a barbeque. The food was tastier this time, than at Aunty Jan's birthday, as Uncle Ricky wasn't cooking it!

James looked like he was having a fun party - he's getting really good at opening presents, which is a useful skill to learn! He's also pretty handy at blowing out candles!

Hannah and Thomas enjoyed helping James play with his new presents, especially the trampoline. There were lot's of bouncy tiggers at the party!

But James' sister, Bethan, didn't really see what all the fuss was about. It's probably because she hasn't been able to have a birthday party herself yet - she'll understand when she's one!

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Aunty Janey's 60th Birthday Party

Ruth's Aunty, Janey, is celebrating her 60th birthday this year, so we were all invited to a party in Reading to eat lots of food and to sing Happy Birthday.

It was nice to see all of Ruth's cousins and their families, but unfortunately Uncle Tim, Aunty Abby, Chloe and Anya were unable to make it as Chloe and Anya had caught chicken pox, and have erupted in spots in the last few days!

Hannah and Thomas enjoyed playing with her second cousins (or are they second cousins twice removed, or something?), Beth and Anna.

Despite it being Aunty Janey's party, we didn't get any photos of her - she must have been good at hiding! We did get some lovely photos of Thomas, Anna, Hannah and Beth sitting on a bridge, dangling their legs in the (non-existent) water!

Friday, June 23, 2006

Happy Birthday, Auntie Jan!

We're hitting another time of the year when there seems like hundreds of birthdays one after the other in the Hurley House! It was Auntie Jan's birthday today, so we headed over to the Thomas' house to eat their food and trash their garden!

We're not sure why Jan only had two candles on her cake, because she's actually aged XX (censored).

It looks like Mummy and Auntie Jan are up to something...

One of the few times that cousin James lets Hannah push him around!

And here are Hannah and Thomas being 'Gruffalos' in the bushes at the end of the garden.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

There can be only one...

Following our recent news, we had a Hurley family outing to the hospital last week, for the baby to have it's first ultrasound scan.

Hannah and Thomas really enjoyed seeing the picture of the baby on the screen, but Mummy and Daddy were too busy counting how many babies there were to really enjoy the experience!

Only one - unless they were playing hide and seek...

The other exciting news that we heard while we were at the hospital, is that, judging by the current size of the baby, we can expect the stork to arrive on December 31st! That's our New Year's Eve party sorted, then!

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Finally up to date - for now!

Well, it's taken three months or so, but I've finally caught up with myself and got this blog up to date with everything that's been happening in the Hurley Home for the last half-a-year.

The weather has helped, surprisingly, as I'm currently sat outside in the garden, with the laptop, putting the last few photos online. Hannah and Thomas being at a birthday party helps in some small way, as well!

I'll try to just keep things up to date as we go along, now. I'm sure it's much easier to do it that way!

Updated on 17th June:

Saturday, June 10, 2006

Who's been sleeping in my bed?

We took the bars off Thomas' cot this afternoon, so that he now has a 'real' bed to sleep in. It also means that he can escape whenever he wants to!

At the moment, though, it looks like he's quite happy to stay where he is!

If you go down to the woods today...

We've still got lots of sun here in Cardiff at the moment, so we took a ride "up" to the woods today, to have a walk around the Wenallt.

We were too late to see all the bluebells, but it was nice to explore the woods, and climb trees, and jump over streams. We even managed to use the 'automatic timer' settings on the camera and capture a rare photo of the four of us.

At the bottom of the woods is a stream, complete with stepping stones. Slippery stepping stones!

It was a wet walk back to the car for Daddy and Hannah not long after this photo was taken!

Friday, June 02, 2006

Happy 2nd Birthday, Thomas!

It was Thomas' second birthday today, and one of the great things about having a June birthday is that sometimes, just sometimes, you can have your party outside! It was nice enough weather for us to have a barbeque this evening, which made Thomas' party extra-special.

He'd have been happy with just his Thomas the Tank Engine cake, though!

Thomas had a fantastic swing-seat for his birthday, which he kindly shared with Hannah and James.

He also had a bubble machine, which Daddy had just as much fun playing with as the children!