The winter's night are drawing in...

...but it's nice and warm in front of the fire!

Lewis Cartier Bresson

Lewis has been practicing using my camera to take photos, and here's one of us during the instruction process. He has been given a film camera by Gran and Grandan so I thought I'd improve the hit rate by experimenting with a digiSLR.

Greg also took a few but I didn't think one of the top right hand corner of my head would be very interesting to look at.

The light was falling, so difficult to get a result especially when Daddy won't let you use the flash!

Last of the Mohican's

There's one thing the boys love doing and it's hairdressing, which is funny as they used to bellyache about getting their hair wet. Now however, the merest mention of " ....it's Sunday!..." and spontaneously they are under the water ready for the shampoo.

The mohican is by far the favourite hairstyle although many styles have been experimented with...

Thwarted!

The threshold between living room and hall creates an interesting challenge for a stairgate, but I managed to get it in place on the weekend - Miranda has met her match, and don't the boys just love teasing her from the other side!

Rocket to the Moon...

It's Lego time again, and Greg is building a Rocket to take us all to the Moon. Miranda is testing the Lunar Module, and Lewis for some strange reason is nowhere to be seen!

Can I just check your pulse?

Here's Tiger looking handsome as ever, ready to conduct his business!

The other side of Greg

Greg has a capacity to melt almost any determination to persuade him to do something. Well I can be fairly determined!

But this shows him at his most resourceful, cheeky and sly. Greg "butter wouldn't melt" Brown turning it on for the camera, when there's a mince pie at stake.

Rounding up the cattle...

This one from the weekend as it's not been possible to take any pictures today for one reason or another. I love watching the boys when they are out in the woods, sometimes they jabber away to each other acting out some role, other times they are lost in thought.

We free kings

Greg went to his friend Toby's "King Party" dressed up in all his finery, and doesn't he just look regal!

Pop to the Shops...

The boys love playing games when there's a bit of time spare before bedtime, which is not every day! However this was last night's game which Lewis managed to win, although I'm not sure if his dice was loaded.

It's my birthday!

Today is the official birthday, but unfortunately Gran and Grandan had to head for home! So there was lots of hugs after breakfast and then everything was back to normal for the clan. All except for Miranda who was wearing her beads and badge, who headed off for Playgroup in the village, to tell her friends all about the visitors, ...and the party.....

Birthday Girl...

Today we had Miranda's birthday party with the Brown Hall clan. Ron and Ann seeing if they can get Miranda to look towards the camera, and proving it's possible to get one person to look forwards but not three at the same time...

The cake picture may have to wait for another time...!

Do the Smurf!

Gran and Grandan playing Pooh sticks with the boys on Saturday morning near Rans Wood in the Forest. We had a lovely walk in the glorious sunshine and autumnal colours, before stopping for a little smackerel of something - as Pooh would say...

The Ferryman cometh

Another picture from yesterday, as I didn't take any today.

Miranda in action mode as she sends her little boat into the harbour, whilst on two feet. Tonight whilst she was standing at the bath, she left go and turned around, before suddenly realising she was in trouble... Phew that was close!

Terrible Three, Famous Five, Secret Seven...

Miranda was standing next to the chair in the study when she started looking at the book which happened to be sitting on the chair, so this shot is a nice follow on from the one of Lewis reading a few nights ago.

She's very good at turning pages, although a bit too quickly to manage to read them.

National Book Week

This was the scene at our house this morning as the boys set off to school in fancy dress! Lewis aka James Herriott, has got Scrufty on his lead, and Greg aka the (medium size) Billy Goat Gruff is ready for action.

So look out Trolls, you may have met your match!

No more Mr Nice Guy!

The days when Gregory would smile for the camera, or simply ignore me at my pleasure, are almost gone for the time being. He enjoys teasing me and depriving me of my photo opportunities - or at least that's how I see it!

Really he's just creating his own image - make your own mind up...

Shall I call an ambulance?

Our neighbour Brian walked past as I was laying on the ground taking this picture - "Shall I call an ambulance, because someone's bound to get injured!" he joked...

On this occasion I was not flattened and the boys didn't come off their bikes as they stunted over the ramp (which you can't see in this picture). Lewis is making it look very easy

Tomorrow I'll post one of Greg who is also quite good at taking air!

A bigger Splash!

Fun and frivolity at bathtime tonight. I dont normally have the patience for getting my camera at the same time as trying to get the kids bathed and ready for bed, but tonight I took a few pictures and this one capture the vitality of carefree playtime...

Busy hands

Cars and Jigsaws, you can't really go wrong with this combination where Greg is concerned - he's a natural when it comes to this sort of activity - he just picks up pieces and they seem to fit into place.

....and if they don't go, he just pushes them into place!

The adventures of the Secret Seven

Lewis engrossed in his bedtime story, which tonight is the "Secret Seven Fireworks"

Sometimes it's difficult to accept that he's happy to read on his own now, having done bedtime story with him nearly every night for eight years.

It's a good job I've got Greg to entertain me instead!

Wait for me!

It was difficult to choose between this and the tree climbing picture on Sunday, so here it is. Gregory charging down the track in hot persuit of Lewis to show him something he's just found. It was a piece of wood that reminded Greg of something, a boomerang or a magic key - I don't remember!

This is on the trail from Beaulieu towards Brockenhurst.

Cagey Tigers

We were playing football lunchtime when we saw Miranda watching us through the window. Fortunately I had my camera on my shoulder as I'd been photographing the leaves on the Maple...

Miranda you'll notice is standing for brief periods with support.

Onwards Upwards

Lewis in climbing mode as he scales up the tree in hot persuit of yours truly! What you can't see in this picture is Gregory coming at the tree from the other side!

Lewis was my helper this morning at the Boat Club, and his job was to blow the klaxon for the race meeting - as I was OOD (Officer of the Day).

Chase me Charlie

Didn't get to take any pictures today, as we've been busy getting a bonfire and guy (and stuff for a barbeque) together for this evening. So tonight's picture is from earlier this week as Miranda chases the flat ball around on the floor. She scoots around like a scud missile following coordinates, as those back legs propel her towards the latest shiny object to catch her attention.

We had barely a complaint from her tonight with the fireworks, which was a surprise! Both the boys were scared by them when they were her age!

Bang, bang, bang, goes the beat of the drum!

Miranda fired by enthusiasm from her Music class is laying down a rhythm track for her latest track! What with Lewis playing recognisable tunes on the guitar, I'm very confident that we'll have singalong sessions here soon...!

What d'ya think you're smiling at

The chemistry between the kids is often really exciting, and Lewis in particular makes lots of effort to entertain Miranda. It's lovely to observe, and even nicer to know that you can influence people to behave positively.