An Update Finally - Well what can you expect when you have 3 kids, a demanding job a WONDERFUL husband no life of your own to do what you want!

Well hello everyone - that is if anyone still checks this blog. My sincerest apologies - but finding it incredibly difficult to get the time to do it as it takes so long to upload the pics. Since going back to work in September I've been bogged down with work and I'm just so exhausted the last thing I feel like doing is updating the blog especially when NO ONE BOTHERS TO COMMENT WHEN I DO FINALLY GET ROUND TO BLOGGING. Anyway enough of that and on with the update.

July and August - During the summer we enjoyed a trip to Canada. No I did not fly across the Atlantic on my own with 3 small children I'm not that insane YET!! Conveniently my parents were over for Liz Brookes 60th so Hannah, Noah, Ellie and myself went back with them on the same flight which worked out great and David met up with us 21/2 weeks later. We stayed at Auntie Rachael's and Uncle Adam's house as that seems to be the IN thing these days! That and the fact that my parents were trying to sell the house I grew up in (not that I'm bitter about it!) and we didn't think it would be good for the selling price if it had us lot living in it!! While we were there Hannah got her first two teeth the bottom ones - relatively easy really - although looking back I put down the sleepless night to jet lag - maybe a bit of both. We had a great time at the cottage that we rented for Mom's 60th Noah and Ellie are often talking about it even now in February! Noah caught his first fish while at the cottage and Ellie proved once again what a great fisherwoman she is as she caught way more fish than uncle John, uncle Mike and Grandad Bernie when they went out on the boat fishing. We had loads of fun on days out while in Canada such as going on Thomas the Tank with Nanny Banny and Grandad Bernie, Ellie, Noah, Ollie and Mummy and Hannah. We found a great place to have lunch with a fantastic splash pad. We also went to Storybook Gardens with Cousins Ollie and Emma and Auntie Rachael. Another great day was in Santa's Village. Noah wasn't too keen on the roller coaster but Ellie and Ollie loved it! We enjoyed meeting Father Christmas and his Wife and they even sent us a postcard just before Christmas to say thankyou for coming to visit them during the summer! Our main reason for going to Canada this time was for Nanny Banny's 60th. We surprised her with a trip to a cottage for the whole family - including John who came in from Calgary. Mum was very surprised to see her favourite child arrive for the week away - as you can see in the photo below! Alas all good things must come to an end and I once again had to say good-bye to my loved ones, the house I grew up in (and the garden that contains a menagerie of my dead pets) and the country I call home to return to the soggy country of England!! And even worse back to work! Luckily for us Auntie Rachael, Uncle Adam and kids all came over a week after we returned for 7 week so things weren't that bad - about leaving loved ones that is!

Hannah having her first solids! July 13th 2008

Noah on the plane after enjoying the Twix from his children's meal!
Ellie keeping Grandad company on the plane!

Noah was in heaven with all that track! And Uncle Adam changed it EVERYDAY for him!
Noah and Ollie chillin together! Ellie Noah and Ollie at Storybook Gardens.



Our day out on Thomas


Our visit to see Fireman Greg at his fire station. It is great that Nanny and Grandad have such connections!







The cottage trip! Including trip to Santa's village. Check out the before and after picture of Noah on the roller coaster!

The last family photo outside 59!!!
September
Starting work was HORRENDOUS!!! Trying to get everyone out of the house for 8 am is madness and I often felt like I'd put in a days work before I'd even got to the place! Unfortunately 6 months on and it hasn't got any better! Hannah did not settle very well in nursery. She refused to drink milk from a bottle cup etc for the aunties and survived on only a little sleep all day therefore at night we were suffering the consequences of a VERY overtired and hungry baby. This was very difficult as it meant that we had a lot of disturbed sleep ( or more like our wakeful nights were punctuated with a little sleep here and there!) and then it was back in to work!! Days that I do not look back fondly on - nor do I ever want to repeat!


Ollie on our train! Check out the curtain twitcher (Like father, like daughter!) BEDTIME!!!!!
October

Well October was an exciting month for us as Nanny Banny and Grandad Bernie celebrated their 40th Wedding anniversary over here. Consequently we had lots of Canadian visitors and some from Sweden too. Auntie Janice and Uncle Mike came as did Uncle John, Uncle Adam Auntie Eve, Karin and Tomi and friends of Nanny and Grandad's. Auntie Rachael and Ollie and Emma were already here. We had a great time with family and friends. Ellie was bridesmaid and read some very special prayers that she wrote all by herself!


November
November was another eventful month in the Stott household. Ellie lost her first tooth just days before her 6th birthday. Hannah on the other hand cut her two top teeth!! Ellie was very excited about her birthday and as usual was spoiled by everyone - Thanks to all those who sent gifts! She had a party at our house to celebrate and thankfully for mummy she wanted Numberjack's number 6 character for her cake!! Ellie's dance show was supposed to take place this month but due to a fire at the costume maker's place it was delayed until February. Mummy and Daddy were thankful as it is very hectic especially so close to Christmas! Hannah started to crawl on the 27th of November and has been getting into all sorts of trouble ever since!




December

Well it was Hannah's first Christmas and she enjoyed all the Stott family traditions especially the Christmas Eve Gingerbread house construction. She loved the Christmas tree and surprising left it and the gifts underneath it alone. We had a very quiet Christmas but we did enjoy quality family time during the holidays.


January
Happy New Year! We brought in the new year by sleeping!!! We've got quite boring in our old age!! As the Twinkletoes 2008 is just around the corner (February 11th - 16th) we were back and forth to rehearsals. Ellie was in three dances and this month seemed like we never left the dance studio! Nanny and Grandad Stott took off on the 15th Australia for a 5 week holiday of a lifetime. Of course the big event this month was Hannah's First Birthday. Can't believe that it has come round already. It seems like this past year has been one big blur! On January 23rd Hannah took her first independent steps!! She still favours crawling but does walk now and then! It was a lovely surprise for Nanny Banny and Grandad Bernie to see her take her first steps!! Nanny Banny and Grandad Bernie left the warm climate of their Florida retreat to celebrate Hannah's first birthday - unfortunately both Hannah and Ellie had chest infections and were not well at all for the event! We did have big plans to do something special with the kids to celebrate but instead we had a very quiet celebrations at home. Nanny Banny and Grandad Bernie managed to get to spend more time with Ellie and Hannah then they bargained for as they were on babysitting duty while Ellie and Hannah were poorly - that way mummy and daddy didn't have to take any extra time off work! Thanks for that!! Much appreciated!


Ellie and Noah decorated Hannah's birthday cake and as you can see from the photo Hannah enjoyed it!!
February
Finally we are up to date! It has only taken me a week to do it!! Well this month has been dominated by THE SHOW! Ellie was in Big Cook Little Cook, Happy Feet and a Blackbird in Sing a song of Six pence! She did fantastically! She was up very late every night and at school all day and then wisked off to Blackpool Opera House for 6 pm! Mummy and Daddy went to see it with Noah on the Saturday Matinee and were very proud!


Wasn't she cute!!!

Well folks once again sorry about the delay in updating the blog - but as you can see we have been very busy. Hope that you enjoyed this update and I have included enough photos for you! I did find it a lot easier this time as the photos uploaded really quickly! And I love the fact that you can add video! Miss you all! AND IF YOU ARE READING THIS LEAVE A COMMENT!!!!


Just looked at the preview - don't know why the font is all sorts of sizes and looks a general mess tried to fix it but just can't and I am getting pretty annoyed so you'll all just have to ignore the mess and enjoy the blog!!! I thought this was going too smoothly!! I'll update in another 9 months time as it is sooooooooooo annoying when things like this happen!!!!
Kate - the frustrated blogger!!!