Names...

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?

A momentous day!

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!

From the BBC

The weather forecast for tomorrow:

What on earth does that mean?

Bi-vocational Leadership and Camping Adventures

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.

A weekend off

It's great to have a quieter weekend this weekend. Having been involved in worship six weeks in a row, work being fairly full-on since the start of January and a church gift aid inspection this week, we're enjoying catching up on a bit of much missed family time.

Here are a few photos from today...



Toby's first taste of baby rice (the face tells the story)...


A first pair of pyjamas for Tobes...


Not sure we've mentioned it here yet...

...but we're very much in countdown mode now in advance of Ed finishing at KPMG on 23 March. At the start of April, he'll be starting work at Burton Sweet with specific involvement in the Charities unit. This is an exciting new development and a chance to concentrate on the area of expertise that provides the most interest.

However, the thing that's also exciting is that it is a 3 day a week role (Tues-Thurs). This will allow us both the chance to make more space in life for serving the church (doing things we already do plus the implementation of a few more). Part of the rationale for 3 days a week is that, for Ed, having had far too many days where he doesn't get to see the boys at all due to working hours, it's time to make the decision not to be absent as the boys are growing up. It'll be great to have them to himself one day a week as well as having the possibility of reinstating family meal times at least for most of the week.

It'll all be a big change and we're slightly nervous about it - but we have a conviction that it's the right decision...