Molly & Sally play in the garden.

It is a lovely day and Sally and Molly are enjoying themselves in the garden.

Molly has found the skipping rope.

Do you want to watch me skipping?  She asks Sally.

Okay, can I have a turn after you Molly?  Sally asks.

Of course.   Molly tells her.

This is how you do it.  Molly demonstrates.

Molly shows Sally how she can skip.

You are pretty good at it.  Sally tells her.

Here you go Sally, you can have a turn now.  Molly says as she passes the skipping rope to Sally.

Frogs & Cricket

What are you doing Rory?

I'm playing with my frogs. 

Do they have names?

Umm...Rory thinks....Not yet

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Later on the boys get out the cricket set that had been ordered some months ago and arrived just a few days ago.

Do you want to have a game Henry?  Rory asks.

I do, Henry replies.  I just don't really know much about cricket.

No, neither do I.  Rory replies.

The boys discuss what to do about their lack of cricket knowledge when along comes Jack.

Jack picks up the bat.  Hey guys, are you going to have a game of cricket?  He asks.

Do you know how to play?  They both ask Jack.

Yeah, sure... Jack replies hesitantly.  Shall we go outside to play?

We can't.   Look at the weather.  Henry says pointing at the sky outside.

It sure is grey and wet out there.  Rory comments.

Suddenly there is a rumble of thunder.

I don't really think it is cricket weather somehow.  Says Henry.  Perhaps we could see if we could find a book on how to play cricket.  I'm sure the rules are really complicated...all those unders and overs and outs and wickets and stuff.  

Still it is good weather for frogs... Rory notes.

Boys playing

The boys have been playing outside today.  How they have managed it in this heat I have no idea!

Henry is on the scooter while Bobby is on his trike.

Hey where is Rory?

"I'm coming....can I ride on the back of your trike please Bobby?"  Rory asks.

"Okay, hop on and hold on tight!"  Bobby tells Rory

"Hey there Mum, look at us!"  Rory calls out.

Next thing I know they are having a running race!

Beats me how they could even think about running today.

Looks like Bobby is taking the lead... hope it doesn't end in tears!

Simon's Special Birthday Gift

Simon is an early to mid 70s blonde Gregor with blue eyes and eyelashes which can just be seen.  He arrived sometime last year...I would need to check my old computer to verify his date, however I have decided that 26th July is his birthday.  Why is that?  Well because a totally unexpected and wonderful surprise arrived in the post today...and it said (forgot to photograph the card...will have to do that tomorrow)  "From my boys to yours...a little gift for your boys especially Simon.'  Well I can assure you Simon is absolutely delighted, having never received a gift before, this was certainly a real treat for him indeed.

Here he is looking slightly overwhelmed and a little shy.

Look Aunty Ellen, it is just perfect!

Thank you so much for the wonderful scooter, it is super dooper!  Watch me ride it.

I push off like this...oh...I'm a little bit wobbly...

That's better...wheee! Off I go

Look both legs standing on it!

Thank you so much Aunty Ellen, such a wonderful surprise.  I really can't quite believe it!  Don't worry I will share it...once I have had a good play first! ;-)

A little Pram Set.

Inspired by Kendal's lovely pram, I thought I better get cracking and work on a pram set for the girls pram.  They were wanting to get out in the sunshine, having been cooped up for far too long due to the wet weather.  A day of sunshine seemed almost too good to believe!  This morning I made a little mattress, bottom sheet, top sheet, blanket pillow and the quilt cover is still a work in progress, but as it was warm they didn't need it.

Ah, doesn't our little baby look happy in her pram Julia?   Do you think we ought to pull the hood up to protect her from the sun?  

That sounds like a good idea Judie.  Can you manage, or shall I come round and do it for you?

There we go, that is better isn't it?

She sure looks like a little sweetheart snug in her pram.  The twins wander off pushing the pram taking turns.

Yet ANOTHER rainy day

Another wet rainy day keeping the boys inside...fortunately they seem to be quite good at occupying themselves.

Looks like they are all engaged in various games.  

Henry is writing a letter to Harry as he should be home in the US very soon now.  The twins and Rory are playing a game of Ludo.

"Dear Harry,  I hope you ...."  Henry begins to write.

Simon is on the laptop, while Peter looks like he might be up to some mischief...

"Now if only I can get Simon to move for a few minutes, I can then sneak this whoopee cushion underneath him"  Thinks Peter to himself, while scheming of a way to get Simon to vacate for a short while.

"...have got home safely."  Henry continues to write.  He is also planning to paint a picture of one of his model horses.

James rolls the dice... Rory has his little pet frog with him and keeps on fidgeting.   

As James goes to move one of his pieces round the board, Rory suddenly produces his frog glove puppet

"Can I play as well?"  He says in a croaky voice.

Rory grabs the dice to give his frog a turn.

"Hey, it's my turn Rory" Connor tells him.

"No it is frogs turn, he hasn't had one yet"  Rory retorts.

"Look, that isn't fair, this is a proper game"  Connor and James tell Rory who looks back a bit surprised at the way the boys react.

"Stop messing around Rory"  James says.  "It is Connor's turn"  

"No, it isn't"

Yeah it is!"  Connor says with a raised voice.

Henry looks up and then continues to write..."Uh oh, I think the twins are going to get angry...."

"What's this on the board?"  Connor asks shocked

"My pet frog of course"  Rory replies.  "Who did you think it was?"

"Well what is he doing on the board"  James asks as Connor continues to stare with a shocked look on his face.

Rory giggles..."Looks like he wants to play as well"

James and Connor are simply not amused and suddenly start clearing the board of all the pieces.

"Oh dear"  thinks Henry...Rory needs to realise those two take everything so seriously...and continues to write his letter to Harry...."....gone off in a strop"

"Come on James, lets go and play somewhere else where we are not going to be pestered by silly boys and their frogs!" 

Off they stomp to their bedroom.

In the meantime it looks like Peter was successful in getting Simon out of the way for a few minutes while he planted the whoopee cushion...

Poourrppp!  "Simon!  How Rood"  Peter exclaims.

Simon doesn't look especially amused, although another of Rory's little frog friends looks highly amused.

"Don't you think that was funny"  Peter asks Simon.

"Well, yeah okay it was a bit"  Simon replies.  "I wonder who we could try it out on next?"

Henry continues to write his letter...what's this though?  Two frogs approaching him?

Henry looks up as he realises the frog is getting closer...he hears some stiffled giggles coming from below the table.

"Hello Mr Frog", he says.  "How are you today?"

"Ta da!"  Rory leaps up, hoping to surprise Henry.

Henry being the good sport he is acts surprised.

"Goodness Rory, you shocked me, I thought it was a real frog"  

"Will you play with me Henry?"

"Of course I will Rory, wait here and I will go and get my Mr Horse."

Henry returns with his glove puppet Mr Horse, and he and Rory have a lot of fun playing with them.

 "We really should try and make a puppet theatre sometime Rory and put on a play for the others"

"Oh cool, that sounds like a great idea"  Rory replies enthusiastically.

"My friend Oliver in Devon has a really excellent puppet theatre"  Henry tells Rory all about it.  "I know we should ask Mum if she could make us one as she made me a really super cool medieval cart for my costume prop to take to the Sasha Festival"

"Oh wow, yes lets ask her"  They wander off in search of Mum.

"Vroom, vroom"  Simon says

"Beep, Beep"  Peter replies...both boys in a world of their own, oblivious to everything else that has been going on.

"Come on guys, it is time for some food"  the hear someone call.  They leap up and dash to the table.

Connor and James have already finished theirs and are eating ice lollies.

"Oh wow, McDonalds AND cakes!  We never normally get yummy food like this to eat!"  Simon exclaims!

"Think I am just going to have a sandwich"  replies Peter

Simon gobbles down his burger and chips in record time and starts on his milkshake.  The others are taking their time.  

"If you eat slower, you might enjoy it better", Henry tells Simon.

"Nah, it tasted pretty good to me"  Simon replies.

"I've got a jelly top"  Connor tells James.

"I don't think so"  James replies.  "I've never seen them here.  Mum says you can only get them in New Zealand"

"Well, I'm going to pretend it is one anyway"  Connor says.

"Delicious!"