The Marshes

Names...

2010-03-10T17:35:00.007+00:00

I don't think that this is the start of regular posting on this blog again (don't know how I ever found the time before...), but I did want to record somewhere something that we might forget over time if we didn't write it down...

We have two boys and I've only just realised how odd it is that we only ever call our oldest by one name, and we call our youngest by scores of nicknames and different variations. So, in the interests of being able to look back and chuckle, here goes:

Isaac
Isaac

Toby
Toby
Tobes
Toby-tobes
Toby-tobe
Toby-toes
Toby-lobes
Toba-lobe
Toba-robe
Tobles
Floba-robe
Floba-lobe
Flobba-lob
Roba-Tobes
Toby Wan Kenobi
Toblerone
Toby-toast
Toba-roba-toba-robe-tobe-tobe
Toby-trouble
Toby-sausage
Tony
Moby-Tarsh

Is that all a bit strange?

Chester Zoo

2008-08-25T08:07:00.002+01:00

A momentous day!

2008-07-12T21:28:00.002+01:00

Look - no stabilisers!

We bought Isaac a new bike today and after two laps of Canford Park with very wobbly stabilisers, we decided he'd be better off without them. I don't know why we were surprised when he then just got on his bike and rode 50 metres on his own!

We had a glass of bubbly (Lemonade) to celebrate at tea time...

We're brimming with parental pride!

La Rochelle, June 2008

2008-06-27T14:02:00.006+01:00

Just back from a 9-day holiday near La Rochelle in France. Had a brilliant time with fantastic weather every day. Went for a daily swim in the open air pool to cool down, played lots of football and boules (Isaac's version, anyway) and had many trips to the beach. Had lots and lots of ice creams and also had croissants for breakfast every day.

Great to get away from email and glad to leave my mobile at home for the duration!! We switched off and relaxed as much as is possible with two boys who very rarely switch off themselves!

Only interesting aspects were Isaac falling out of bed on the first night and hitting the bedside table (blood everywhere...) and Toby falling and knocking his front tooth loose (blood everywhere...). And, yes, it was the same tooth that Isaac has missing having knocked his clean out two years earlier!

A selection of holiday snaps available by clicking here.

Below is a brief video clip of Isaac and Toby dancing and Toby's preferred way of getting into the swimming pool (no sound).

Don't mess with mr tiger

2007-10-30T22:14:00.001+00:00

Isaac at a birthday party today. It lasted 3 mins before he wanted it removed!

From the BBC

2007-08-11T10:08:00.000+01:00

The weather forecast for tomorrow:

What on earth does that mean?

Bi-vocational Leadership and Camping Adventures

2007-08-06T07:27:00.000+01:00

Having previously said he wanted to be 'a hoover' when he grows up, Isaac has now decided he wants to be 'a fireman and a King'. Not sure if this arises from Daddy also having two jobs but it will be interesting to see how effectively the firefighting king can govern...

In other news...

Isaac and Daddy put a tent up on Sunday evening in the garden intending to sleep in there during the night. Isaac helped putting the tent up by handing out pegs and using 'the Hammett' (what you use to knock the pegs into the ground).

Isaac was fairly scared of sleeping out in the tent despite Mummy praying with Isaac and asking Jesus to keep him safe ("Mummy, Jesus is going to sleep in the tent next to us because there's not room in our tent").

Needless to say, after we'd read stories and settled down in our sleeping bags ("Daddy, I want to get in your sleeping bag with you"), Isaac wasn't very keen in sleeping in the tent - the batteries running out in the torch was the last straw and we trekked inside where Isaac fell fast asleep in his bed in a few seconds.

Recent photos

2007-07-17T20:20:00.000+01:00

Several photos from recent weeks, click here.

A handy tip for flying with children

2007-07-01T19:38:00.000+01:00

A tempting way to have a quieter flight - but the excess baggage weight charges would be a bit hard to swallow...

La Rochelle, France - June 2007

2007-06-28T22:19:00.000+01:00

We've just had our family holiday. The weather was mixed but a lot better than it's been in the UK by the sound of it! We had a lot of fun and did a lot of swimming, bike riding, playing on the beach, crazy golf and eating Spiderman ice creams!

It's been a slightly bumpy end. The night before we left, Deborah went down with tonsillitis and Ed caught a stomach bug and had a high temperature. We just about made it back to the airport to catch a flight home but we're still knocked out with it - now Ed has tonsillitis too! Joy!

View more photos here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=31837&l=dd2a2&id=865020645.

More dedication photos

2007-05-23T21:43:00.004+01:00

Toby's dedication service

2007-05-20T22:26:00.000+01:00

In other news...

2007-05-14T20:07:00.000+01:00

Having surprised us by starting to crawl at 6 months (much earlier than Isaac), Toby has progressed quickly on to sitting up (no practising, just decided to start doing it) and standing up. This means that nothing is safe from his grasp. He also seems pretty fearless and indestructible - whenever he falls over and bangs his head on the floor, he just laughs. One of his favourite games is chasing Isaac round the room on his hands and knees and then trying to start a pile-on. He thinks Isaac is hilarious and chuckles away, especially when Isaac plays a little bit rough him... Will he make his first birthday?

Parenting gaffe #25,476

2007-05-14T20:00:00.000+01:00

...but one of the bigger ones. And an amateur one at that.

All I needed to do was leave the words "or horn" out of "Isaac, would you like a bell or horn for your new bike..."

It's L O U D.

Just ask any of the neighbours...

Watching the world go by...

2007-05-07T20:12:00.000+01:00

Meals and wheels

2007-05-06T21:05:00.000+01:00

Far too busy to post regularly but here are a few photos showing Toby in full swing with food and Isaac riding his new bike and giving it a wash (his Grandad would be very proud).

In the garden...

2007-04-14T16:47:00.000+01:00

CSI Portishead

2007-04-09T20:47:00.000+01:00

"No matter how hard he tries, Detective Daddy can't bring himself to look up whilst Detective Toby gets on with the job and radios for back up..."

(Great photo courtesy of brother in law, Dave)

Ever tried taking a passport photo of a 6 month old?

2007-04-09T20:28:00.000+01:00

Here are our best efforts. The rules say you shouldn't have your mouth open but there wasn't any sellotape handy...

Some more relaxed shots where we encouraged a little more lounging (the cappuccino in his left hand is out of the shot)...

And here's one that definitely breaks all the rules but is probably the nicest...

Catch up

2007-04-08T21:19:00.000+01:00

Was hoping to post a lot more over the last week or two as I've been between jobs. However, here are a few photos from the last couple of weeks by way of catch up!

Toby with Grandad Thorpe...

Cousins...

Grandad Marsh with cousins Toby and Olivia...

Craft breakfast

2007-03-18T20:23:00.000+00:00

Ed and Isaac helped organise and set up for a Dads and Kids Craft Breakfast at Highgrove this weekend.

See more photos here: www.news.highgrove.org.uk

Back on the bike...

2007-03-10T21:00:00.000+00:00

For the first time this year, Isaac and Daddy went on a bike ride. "Ooh, this is hard work" comes a voice from the back of the bike as Daddy labours an extra 17kg up the hill.

We then had lots of fun on the playground before having a butterfly cake at the cafe and embarking on the (downhill!) ride home.

Conversations...

2007-03-08T16:22:00.000+00:00

Mummy: “Isaac, Ben’s poorly”
Isaac (concerned): “Oh, what’s the matter?”
Mummy: “He’s got a bug”
Isaac (puzzled): “Has he been digging a hole?”
Mummy (also puzzled): “What?”
Isaac: “Bugs are in the ground”
Mummy: “No, he’s got a tummy bug”
Isaac: “Ben swallowed a bug, mummy? A little one?”
Mummy (deciding to give up): “Yes, a little one”
Isaac (contemplatively): “A really, really, really little one…”

A full day...

2007-03-03T21:02:00.000+00:00

A visit to Great Aunty Betty's house...

A quick trip into space...

On the run from the Indians...

Coffee, cake and a cuddle

2007-02-24T22:13:00.000+00:00

Isaac and Toby in the cafe at the farm (from mobile)