Rosa's World: 2012

Another year flies by...

It's been a while since I wrote and so much has happened since then...here are some highlights:

Eating cake at Isla's birthday

A midweek trip to Winter Wonderland (no crowds!) with mummy and her friend Betsy, here with Liam

One of several trips to see Santa

Take me home!

Being elves with Liam

Playing a nativity scene at Tring Christmas fair

I didn't like the huskies at Waddesdon manor...

..but I enjoyed writing a note to Santa

The fake snow got everywhere

Me and daddy in Narnia at Waddesdon

Protest in the park at Waddesdon

All quiet now I've got a hot chocolate

Santa train at Chinnor

Me and daddy on the Santa train

My playgroup (and first!) nativity at the local church - that's me smiling at the back (and after weeks of practicing the songs I didn't sing a note!)

Mayhem!

At the party afterwards I got very upset (wanted a cupcake but wasn't allowed)

Playing in the church during Tring Christmas fair night

Another trip to Winter Wonderland - here in Hyde Park

Feeding the ducks in Hyde Park

And then....Christmas!

Messing with Cousin Maia in church on Christmas Eve when Nadia was on stage

At the table for Christmas dinner with Maia and Nadia

Getting to know Cousin Maia

Hoping it doesn't rain at carols in the car park in Tring on Christmas Eve

Daddy, why so many fillings?

Playing Buckaroo with Uncle Herman, Maia and my sis

Left in peace to eat my massive chocolate

A family boogie at Christmas

So there goes our first Christmas in Tring. I'm loving playing with all the things I got - I must have been a good girl for Santa. We are having a quiet New Year's Eve - mummy and Nadia are quite poorly. Here's to a healthy and fun 2013!

Beanbag xx

I'm a bit grown up!

I'm 3 - hooray! Thank you for all your presents and kind wishes. I spent most of the morning opening presents and then we went for a lovely pub meal in the countryside and then we went to Blackpool. The weather was blooming awful, but we went to an arcade and then trundled along the seafront looking at the famous illuminations.

Walk on, through the wind and the rain (through Blackpool)

Hooray for me!

Happy early birthday to me!!

Pop! Pre-pressie opening on my actual birthday

Nadia, let me open my own presents!

(Lolli)pop goes the weasel!

Left in peace to enjoy my chocolate fudge cake

Blackpool illuminations!!

So I was pretty lucky really as my birthday celebrations started a day early as we went to see the Manchester relos. I got to see Grandad John and Nana Noreen in the morning and early afternoon.

Hands off!

After some temporary shyness and a lot of coughing (I have been rather unwell since Friday night - I think I caught my sister's bug) I got into gear and had a lovely time, especially watching my sister perform a magic show in front of everyone.

I was very lucky as I not only got lunch but also got a great big birthday cake to celebrate. Then mummy's Aunty Anne and Uncle Norman came around so it was good to see them too.

Afterwards we went to Grandma Moira's where there were more celebrations and I opened some presents and then had a birthday dinner. Uncle Andy arrived as a special guest just before we had to leave so that was very cool.

Smile Uncle Andy, I'm giving you a kiss!

On my birthday itself I was still feeling very poorly it has to be said. Within 10 minutes of arriving at nan and grandads I had thrown up on the lounge carpet which kind of set the tone for the rest of the break. When I haven't been coughing throughout the night I have been crying out for mummy or daddy (like my sis I have a thing for the dark at the moment, and I need the light on outside the room!) or I have been entering the room where they were sleeping at 4am demanding to share a bed with them. Basically we all got up on my birthday looking like Halloween had arrived a day earlier.

That said, when I saw all my presents on the table in nan and grandad's lounge I got quite excited, and when Nadia wasn't trying to take over enjoyed opening my presents.

Lovely gifts from the Tordoffs

A crab game that my sister and me have taken a shine to - thank you the Kirkhams!

I got an ace princess tent from Grandad John and Nana Noreen

And my first ever bike from mummy and daddy (note: no pedals!!)

After opening up my pressies we all got in the car and drove north under murky skies to go to Blackpool. Thankfully daddy had found a pub in the country just outside so there was at least a little sophistication to the day!

Nice pub near Blackpool - say cheese!

Mummy sneaked in a birthday cake to ensure I celebrated

Only for the waiter to turn up with a slice of chocolate fudge cake with a candle on!

Yum!

After the pub it was time to drive for 15 mins or so to get to the main event! The arcade on the windswept and soaking wet Blackpool seafront. We were glad to take shelter on the rides and the 2p machines.

Nana Marg puts on a brave face in the arcade

I finished off the day with a short tour of the illuminations. Daddy looked relieved to escape the virtually stationary traffic ahead of us after about 40 minutes of crawling along the seafront. I loved the train and boats that were lit up and that travelled along the tramline the best. I had a good snooze on the way back, after a lovely day.

And that wasn't the only party on the trip up to the Wirral. On Sunday we were invited to Henry and Charlie Kirkham's for a Halloween disco (whilst the daddies watched the Merseyside derby on TV, slightly interrupted by us youngies who frankly couldn't care less about football).

Halloween tea party at the Kirkhams

We enjoyed dressing up for it beforehand at Nana Marg and Grumpy Mike's

Seriously, I'm not letting go of this pumpkin!

On Halloween itself it was untypically lashing it down with rain. Daddy's Aunty Pauline had come down from Wales in the morning so I enjoyed her company. We then went to a local garden centre called Gordale that had a kind of Halloween Grotto there that I went in with mummy. It was a bot scary, but not too bad and I was more upset that daddy had gone off somewhere else with Nadia (who was way to scared to go in). In the evening we did a very short and wet trick or treat on Nana and Grandad's doorstep before some early shut-eye before the trip back down to Tring on Thursday.

On Friday we had a bit of a local day - a bit of shopping for mummy and daddy but with a great pub trip thrown in and a trip to a playground. I'm feeling a lot better now, and if the truth be told I've had a great week, despite lots of coughing and interrupted nights. Thank you for making it so ace everyone!! xx

In my poncho from Aunty Heather at the Old Mill in Berkhamsted (playing Jenga by the way)

Mummy's roast pork and gravy sandwich looks nice!

On the swing at the play park by the canal in Berko

Oh...and almost forgot. 3 weeks ago I started playgroup for the first time! It was a bumpy ride initially...mummy stayed with me for the first session, and the second session went home after a little while only to be called back from home when I got really upset. Since I have been good and when mummy has left me I have promised not to cry and have a smiley face when she has returned!