Family Friday

On Friday we went over to Leeming to visit Lizz and the girls, who had Jon, Elisha and Alex staying for the weekend.
It was lovely to catch up with them, and take a new batch of photos of the grandchildren, who seem to have grown up almost beyond recognition every time we see them - one of the penalties of long distance grandparent-hood!

Alex pushing Freya around for a change!

Freya putting her shoes on before going out to play.

We had bought Freya and Alex a little watering can each - we liked the design as they had a very small filling hole on the top, preventing (hopefully) water from slopping out between tap and garden. I liked the design so much that I bought one for myself for watering my containers - by the design, I mean the fact that it is relatively spillproof, not that it is a charming bright orange plastic elephant, ha ha!

Little Alex trotting around with his watering can..

...then letting his daddy carry the can, so to speak...

...before dashing off to do something more exciting instead!

Unfortunately, this left Daddy with the watering can to play with...!

Boys will be boys!

 Freya, meanwhile, was getting the hang of using her new     watering can.

Quite the little gardener, keeping Grandpa busy filling the can.

More please, Grandpa!

While Freya was watering, Alex was playing with sticks and stones (who needs toys!) and eventually the children, big and small, ended up on the slide and climbing frame...

Lizz was looking after baby Chloe, and Alex had discovered the fun to be had climbing over the backs of the springy fold-down garden chairs...

The look that says "Mother, put my picture on your blog at your peril...!"

 

Freya had gone very quiet at this point and had gone back  to her watering...

She must have become aware that nobody was taking very much notice of what she was doing, so she had a quick double check that she wasn't being observed...

              and decided to see what being a flower feels like...

                      Wet presumably!



Fortunately, she has a very laid-back Mummy, who saw the funny side, even if she privately felt that Spy-Granny should have prevented the soaking!

It was lovely to catch up with the family, and we appreciated the lunch that Lizz had laid on, complete with chocolate cake provided by Elisha, as did the little ones...!

 

If I'd known what fun my grandchildren were going to be, I'd have had them first!

In which I introduce my newest grandchild!

I've been back home for a week following a spell of Grannying, while we awaited the arrival of the latest twiglet on the family tree, so it's time to share some pictures!

It  was a rare treat to spend time Lizz and her little family, and I was in place ten days before Chloe Annabel was actually due, 'just in case'.

It was amazing to see how much Freya has grown in just a couple of months, and she chatters away (partly in Scribble!) quite happily now!

We all went to local park a few days before the baby was born, and Ben, Lizz, and Freya  fed the ducks and geese, some of whom were skating on thin ice...

Then we went to the playground, where it became apparent that Freya is pretty fearless, and loves exploring, climbing and sliding!

Just after midnight on the 25th January, Lizz's labour began. Thankfully it progressed much more normally than it had with Freya, and she and Ben went off to the hospital that afternoon , arriving at about 2.30pm. Lizz's greatest fear was that they would take one look and send her home again, but after a quick examination she was told in no uncertain terms that she wouldn't be going anywhere!

Chloe Annabel  arrived at about 4.20pm on Burns' Night 2011 weighing in at a healthy 7lb 6oz, and bearing an uncanny resemblance to Freya as a baby except that where Freya was blonde and blue-eyed, Chloe has dark hair and darker eyes. We suspect she may end up with brown eyes like her dad - time will tell!

The whole family, with the new addition, 'the morning after'.

 Lizz and the new baby came home the day after the delivery, and the family began to adjust to being  four souls instead of three!

Suddenly a Big Sister...!

 

The following weekend, Lizz's big brother, his fiancee Elisha and their 17 month old son Alex  paid a visit, to greet the new arrival!

Uncle Jon entertains Freya, but Alex looks unimpressed! Perhaps he'd heard it before!

Freya and Alex, discussing whether to go into the construction business together...

All my descendents...

 Aunt Elisha and baby Chloe

It was wonderful to have all the children and grandchildren together to welcome Chloe Annabel into the family! 

I am so blessed!