New Tastes

Sean eating his first ever McDonalds burger

This summer Sean has started to eat the same foods as the rest of us... for the first time in his life he has been trying new foods. So, after years of surviving on bread and butter with prescription vitamin enhanced milkshakes, he is daring to put new foods in  his mouth. This is a big deal for us all!

His motivation is that he really wants to go to school camp next summer on the Isles of Scilly. We've said he can but he has to be able to eat more foods just like his friends otherwise it's not really possible. Fortunately he is bright enough to understand, and though it is not easy for him, he is really trying.

(Admittedly we are also using bribery and corruption and giving him money  as a reward when he does try new foods- but even the psychologist we saw a few years ago said this would be worth trying when he was old enough to understand).

I've started a hexagon granny square blanket this week. Inspired by the crochet along with the Inner Hooker on facebook. Here is my first 10 blocks...

 I was working with the idea that they looked like a field of flowers, but my lot all seem to think they look like lily pads, so even I am thinking of them like that now... I've even started to look at maybe making an amigurumi frog to sit on them... I'm sure  I've a pattern for one somewhere...

Anyway, until next time
Gillian

Summer Laziness

Hi, It's been a while but I'm still around, busy enjoying our summer break. Five and a half weeks off work- the advantage of working in a school- I know that should have given me more time to blog but in my world it gives me more time to do so many other things I haven't had time for it!

So, what's been happening?

Two weeks visiting family- we do this every summer- it's hard not seeing them for months on end so we try and make the most of invading their houses and spending time with them all...

Then a week and a half of high stress waiting to find out if Tom had got the grades to get into University- he did!- and also to see a Skin specialist to find out if I had skin cancer- I don't- the specialist said it was a skin coloured viral wart in an unusual place probably because it was where my sunglasses rest on my nose!!!! Anyway that was a relief and she froze the thing off so it looks better too. Still my lot are all taking using suncream more seriously now so hopefully they will never get skin cancer...

As part of looking after myself more I also started doing more exercise. I like doing DVD's at home as it's so much more convenient and cheaper than going to a gym. My asthma is playing up so doing aerobics is too much, so I've started doing pilates. Although it's really hard I actually enjoy it, it's good to feel strong and actually feel your muscles... it makes me feel good.

For the last week I have been able to relax more, Kieran got his GCSE's today, he was so laid back we had to beg and nag him to even get his results- they were really good even though he didn't exactly over do the revision for them!

I'm also making a new quilt topper- I saw two gorgeous polka dot fabrics in a shop last week and just decided to make it with just these, so that pattern is a simple checkerboard design, its working out quite well- pictures to follow soon...

I've been doing a lot of crochet- amigurumi and hats so far- again pictures to follow. I also just decided to do a crochet along with Inner Hooker on Facebook- ( see also http://oxfordfam.blogspot.com/2011/08/crochet-along.html ). I love making granny blankets but think it will be even better to do it to meet targets- so often I start something and then after a little while it gets put away while I do something else...

.....that's just the way I am I suppose....

So until next time
Gillian