Look at me...

Greg looking pleased as punch. He couldn't climb this one, but for a change he had as leg up.

It's been cloudy and cold today in the forest, completely unlike yesterday.

Weekend walkies

We had a very pleasant walk today from Wilverley Plain, heading off in a big circle towards Brockenhurst, via Rhinefield Lodge. We had a nice picnic and saw some Peregrine Falcons hunting.

Here are the foot soldiers, with Lewis carrying Miranda.

After a game of footie at Wilverley we headed down to Braxton Gardens for tea and cake, and then Keyhaven for a stroll by the sea. Top day out!

Run for it!

Friday night and it's down to the beach to chill. Tonight we played rounders whilst Miranda had a snooze. Greg couldnt quite get the hang of "drop the bat and run!"

We changed to frisbee and had a lot more success, and by the time we'd tried out the new playground, a sweat had been worked up. This was taken running back to the car, last frame but one!

Heads Up

Portraits should capture a fragment of a person's soul, or maybe they should just be a likeness of that person at some point in time. Either way this is Lewis, at supper time yesterday, having just eaten dinner, and getting ready to go out and play for half an hour. His face is glowing for a moment.... I love that eye just creeping out from under the fringe, and the lip curled under - you could write a book on facial expression, but what would be the point?

Woody Woodpecker

Lewis doing a woody impression, as a response to seeing the inside of a huge beech tree torn apart in Denny Wood.

The tree had fallen in high winds and left the inside exposed to messrs Greater Spotted Woody.

Mr Cool Breeze blowin in de palmtrees...

Today it's a rather windblown Lewis' turn to charm us with his portrait. We had our first outing in the canoe on the weekend, and the sea was quite choppy, so Lewis though it would be fun to do some pop-up and rollovers.... No Lewis not just yet!

Tasty...

You may wonder why I have so many pics of Gregory eating lunch. Some would argue it's because he's slow eating, others (myself) that it's the only time one finds to pick up a camera for fun.... The reality is that Greg loves acting when he's eating, and the range of expressions and stories he come out with is amazing.

Mr Cheeky

Back to the present, and here's mr cheeky chappie doing what he does best. It was no surprise earlier to note that this year I have over 800 photos of Greg and 225 of Lewis.... Well those are the ones I have tagged as noteworthy - total photos this year so far almost 5000, so slightly down on last years 17k total. The family blog has proven to be a useful discipline in creating fresh images on a regular basis, if nothing else!

My old girl!

My old girl and my young girl, so to speak!

Mum and Miranda enjoying a cuddle during our recent visit.

Smile!

Here's Chris (looking a bit like a muppet) with Alison having fun with Miranda. They are expecting a new addition to their family and this is all good practice for the fun bits!

The boys and their toys!

Plying trains at Grandad's house on the weekend, with Uncle Chris on the videocamera. We all had great fun making a movie about the trains, whilst Lewis did his best to derail the dolly carrying the camera!

Gran at 70!

My mother proving there's no need to act your age when you can still act your shoe size! Throwing all caution to the wind, and forgetting that the last visit to casualty was because she fell from a Tarzan rope... she chose to go on Chris' skateboard towed by his Nibs.

Child abuse...

Here's my little bruv Chris taking advantage of Hannah and Gregory at Llanstephan beach on the weekend. Easter weekend in Welsh Wales would seem like an unlikely place to spend a day, (let alone two) on the beach. But we did and we all have a warm tan into the bargain now.

Happy Easter!

Special message from Lewis and the Brown Clan....

Actually written in the sand some weeks ago but timing is all. So Happy Easter!

Christabel

Christabel in Pork Pie Hat and Madness braces. Honestly some people have no fashion sense.....

Forever a "little girl" in my eyes, here's Christabel swinging Gregory around like a doll - with a fairly manic look in her eye. Gregory cried as the party waved goodbye, normally this is Lewis' routine, but not today!

Card Tricks

We have been decended upon by the Guthrie's, so here's apicture of Els Bells playing cards with the boys. It was a close run thing between Christabel wearing a mouldy old hat, and this - this won. Am forced to listen to some decent music whilst I load this, rather than the junk on her iPod.

Downfall

A quick game at lunchtime almost lead to the downfall of the empire. When those boys get the bit between their teeth it's warfare....

Just look at all that concentration!

Filthy McNasty

Todays picture should have been of the boys eating spinach gnocchi with tomato sauce, but I didnt get my camera out until it was too late. Instead the moment Lewis said "that was the best dinner I've ever had" was a moment of pure pleasure.

Lewis lends his weight

Here's Tiger, pulling the boat in. Which boat we don't know, but as the tide is out we certainly wont be seeing the boat. Still there's nothing like a challenge to our Lewis, who enjoys pulling coal trucks, railway carriages, or fallen trees. One day one will move and he'll be happy

Lewis gets blogging!

Today's post is written by Lewis and Gregory!

Miranda is smiling at Gregory, and looks very cheeky today. She's looking happy because she has just eaten her breakfast. Miranda likes baby rice, apple, sweetcorn, plum, pear, sweet potato, banana, swede and avocado.