A Chocolate Cake

The first thing on my agenda now we are back home, bake a cake.
My lovely Kitchen Aid mixer has been calling me to play ever since Christmas Day. Being 150 miles away all week has proved a disadvantage for baking!

So the Kitchen Aid and I whipped up a lovely little chocolate cake, covered in white chocolate frosting for our visitors. Yum yum!

Christmastime Snippets

 Playing with new toys.

 Showing off my lovely new jumper.

 Angles Mummy, I want Triangles!

 Cowboys vs Knights.

 Mommar and Louie.

 A birthday Pizza Express lunch.

 Annual (albeit early) New Years lunch at our favourite ever restaurant, the Three Fishes.

 Poorly sleepy boy.

 Scary giraffe.

And of course, ending with a wedding party!

A Winter Wedding

We were lucky enough to be invited to the beautiful wedding reception of an old friend Iain and a blogging friend Chloe (of naturallychloe fame) this past weekend. Of course, we were delighted to attend and had been looking forward to it for quite some time! Louie was so excited to meet little Ava.

After getting a little lost, we arrived at the beautiful barn venue. We were made to feel so welcome and immediately were shown to the sweetie bar. Chloe did such a good job with all of the decorations, it was truly lovely!

And then we got down to the main event. Dancing.
Louie had so much fun running around, dancing with various ladies. It was safe to say he charmed just about everyone in the room. Except maybe Ava. She seemed a little scared of him, poor thing.

The beautiful Mr and Mrs!

New best pals ;)

I didn't take as many pictures as I would have liked. My camera was playing a little silly. I think it may need a big clean up but hopefully it will be back to its usual self soon!

Thank you again, for inviting us. We wish you very well for your new married life! 

Our Year, 2012

 January, a party fit for a bumble bee

 February, playdough fun

 March, a splashing party!

 April, a trip to Peterborough

 May, exploring Calke

 June, on holiday

 July, new favourites

 August, a birthday cake for Mother Hen

 September, camping in the Cotswolds

 October, the amazing Upton House

November, an autumnal walk through Swithland

December, The best Christmas to date.

2011

2010

The New Year

2012
I can't pretend that 2012 was amazing for us, because it wasn't in parts. But I do have a lot to be thankful for. A perfect little boy and a man who has stood by us through thick and thin. Times can be tough for everyone but I am forever thankful for my constant positive attitude which gets me through with a smile on my face.
This year we had lots of adventures, excellent health and Dan and I got engaged. I suppose next year has quite a lot to beat in some ways.

2013
I have some goals and hopes I wish to attain in the new year.
A cliched get fit regime of course. Last summer I started running, but failed at the first hurdle when I suffered shin splints. Spring 2013 I am to be back on the wagon, running to get fit again.
Get back to me. May seem a little bizarre, but sometimes I need to tell myself that it is okay to just be me, to like what I like and to do what I do. And that is just fine. I don't tell myself that enough.
Plan a wedding! In the last few days, Dan and I have decided to set a date. We have already decided (again) on venues and all sorts, so now we just need to get it all together!
Improve. 2012 was a big year for me in one department. Photography. I hope that I can continue to build on my favourite skill.
Continue. Our regular outings with Anna and Isaac, and our National Trust trips. I don't know how we can top 2012 in that department but we can bally well try!
And most importantly;
Be thankful. I have a wonderful family, a wonderful chap and an amazing little boy. We are all very fortunate and every day I am thankful for everything that we have.

Happy New Year to you all, I hope that 2013 brings you everything you wish for. 

Christmas Hampers

 Merry Christmas everyone, this is a scheduled post, but I hope everyone had a truly wonderful day yesterday!

This year, Dan and I decided to hand make the gifts going to most of our friends and adult family members. We made a list of things that we could make with Louie that we could give, and ordered lots of everything and got cracking!

You can see how we got on here, here and here.

They may not have been quite as amazing as Becka's amazing hamper, but I hope the recipients appreciate all the love, care and time that we all have put into these little token gifts :)

Christmas Day

 Oh what a wonderful day! So many gifts for everyone, including extra special surprises! A day of playing, cooking, eating and laughing!

 So much for Mr Bee!

 And so much for me! And that isn't even all of it! Mother Hen bought Papa and I a huge box and filled it to the brim with kitchen essentials. Whisks, sieves, saucepans and spatulas, it had everything you would need!

 Then came the extra special gift. A belated engagement present from Mother Hen, a Kitchen Aid mixer of our very own. You can't understand how overwhelmed I was, I cried for a little while! Such an extravagant gift, but very, very welcomed!

Then a huge meal, cooked by Papa and I for everyone. It was just perfect! Everything from scratch and utterly beautiful! We can't wait to do it all again next year!

I hope you have had a wonderful festive day too :)
Merry Christmas!