The Gallery - World Photography Day

I had grand plans for this weeks Gallery. Tara wanted us all to make sure we dug out our cameras to capture a moment from Friday (or the weekend) to mark World Photography Day.

Great I thought!

A perfect excuse to dust off my DSLR and take a photo with my camera remote control of Mini Cheddar and I doing what we do best - having fun together. More often than not, I'm the one behind the camera so very rarely do we get any photos of the two of us. I think the last half decent one of us was taken in March 2010 and resides on my About Me page.

I was excited! I even put her cute little camera t-shirt on to mark the occasion.

However, she had other plans.

She didn't want the camera set up, not even the remote control could get her interested. She had a strop, she got upset, she got all snotty and she dribbled. A lot.

So this is my entry this week. A moody toddler captured forever to mark a great day in photography. Shame on you Mini Cheddar.

Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

The Gallery - Black And White

I haven't got a lot of time at the moment so I'm going to try and make this a brief Gallery entry and try and let the photos speak for themselves as much as they can (I have ended up with 3 this week, sorry!).

They were all taken in Vancouver so, once again, I appear to be dragging the 'travel theme' through the weeks.

Under The Boardwalk

Waiting For Master

The Search

If you'd like to know more about these photos, have a look at my Flickr stream.

Normal service will resume next week, I promise!



Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

The Gallery - Grandparents

I was unsure whether or not to join in on this weeks Gallery theme of 'Grandparents'.  Simply because I've already blogged about my grandparents who have passed away but this gives me the chance to talk about my parents - Mini Cheddars Grandparents.

My parents are wonderful Grandparents to her and she loves them both dearly.  She always talks about "Going to Grandma and Grandad's house on Friday" - they look after her every Friday so I can do my volunteer work.  I'm so lucky in the fact they are both retired and they live about a 10-15 minute drive from my house.  Mini Cheddar squeals with delight whenever she sees them.

I know a lot of people don't have any support from their parents, they have passed away or they live far away.

So each day I try to remind myself just how lucky I am.

Taken by me March 2010

I hope in years to come that I can be as wonderful to my Grandchildren as they are to Mini Cheddar.

"Grandchildren are the dots that connect the lines from generation to generation" 

~Lois Wyse

Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

The Gallery - My Weekend

As Tara is lazy nosey busy, she's chosen a simple theme for The Gallery this week - My Weekend.

I should imagine more than half the entries this week will contain photos of conference halls, booze, Sarah Brown or dildos.  Blimey, I never thought I'd use Sarah Brown and dildos in the same sentence but there's a first time for everything!

Yes it was CyberMummy this weekend.  THE parenting blogger event of the year which was much hyped and talked about for many months and I'm glad to say I got to go.

I had a blast!

It was a whirlwind day and I didn't take my camera - just my iPhone and I'm actually gutted as I could have got so many great pics.

I deliberated over which photo to choose for ages but eventually I decided on this one, which sums up the weekend nicely.  I'm actually surprised there was any left after Jane's repeated visits to Rowan's table of delights!

I have (ahem) already taken advantage of the £40 off and I have 6 large bottles of beautiful prosecco that have just arrived on my doorstep.

Cheers! *hic*

For more on my CyberMummy experience you can read these posts:
I Laughed, I Cried, I Ate, I Drank...I Went To CyberMummy
Silent Sunday #24


Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

The Gallery - 3 Word Gallery

That Tara over at Sticky Fingers has come up with a gem this week (not that she doesn't always, obviously).  She's pinching using the idea from Simon Mayo's radio show - he does a 3 Word Thursday where listeners give 3 words which sum up their day/week/life. That's it, just 3 words.  So Tara is having a 3 Word Wednesday today.

Simple for me.  Please don't hate me but my 3 words are:

Want Another Holiday

I know, I know... I've only been home a week!  I'm not a greedy person but I need to say it as it's how I'm feeling.

The only downside to going on holiday is coming home. Obviously I love seeing my family and friends but I always suffer badly with 'holiday blues' after a great trip abroad.

The thing is though, I'm not the only one with holiday blues.

Mini Cheddar keeps saying to us "Go back to Italy".  Here's why...

Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

The Gallery - Dads

The Gallery took a holiday last week which was very lucky as so did I!  How lucky am I that, as yet, I've not missed a gallery (lucky or sad)...I only got off the plane from Italy at 5pm yesterday so it's been a bit of a scramble to get this post prepared.

I didn't want to miss this as it's 'Dads'.

I could write about what a great Dad my husband is to Mini Cheddar but I think that I've talked about that a few times.

So this is a post dedicated to my Dad.

My Dad is a great man.  He's done so much with his life and I'll always be proud of that - he's run local committees, been a local councillor and a core member of the community, he's even been to the Queens Garden Party (oooh get him!).  He has strong opinions and can sometimes be set in ways but he's the first to admit that and I love him for his honesty.  I love the fact he loves his golf and has himself a hobby that keeps him fit and active.

He has always worked hard and looked after his family financially.  Mum and Dad always went without when we were younger and they didn't have much money to splash about.  Now my parents are financially secure and they are loving their retirement...and I love them.

He's also the perfect Grandad to Mini Cheddar and she loves him dearly.

If I'd known about the Gallery theme before today I would have easily captured the perfect moment yesterday at Liverpool airport.  Dad came to pick us up and 10 nights without Mini Cheddar seeing her Grandad sent her into squeals of excitement and stamping of her feet and then a mad run towards him for a big cuddle.

Sadly, I didn't capture the moment but I'll share with you one of my favourite pictures I took of Mini Cheddar when she was only 6 months old and her Grandad - my wonderful Dad.  It's not exactly highlighting my photographic skills, far from it, but I love it for the look on my Dads face and the touch of Mini Cheddars hand on his face.

Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

The Gallery - I'm Grateful For...

As our blogging friend Chris over at Thinly Spread embarks on her epic journey in Mozambique for 'Save The Children' this week, it's time for The Gallery to reflect on the things we are grateful for.

But before you do anything, if you haven't already done so head over to the Save The Children website and sign the petition to plug the funding gap for vaccines for children across the world.

Thank you!

There are a lot of things I'm grateful for in this life, such as the health and happiness of my family and I'm grateful for the lovely home and things we have to fill it - although material things pale into insignificance compared to the love and happiness that's inside the walls.  I know that sounds naff but it really is true when you sit and think about it.

For me though, there is one thing that stands out that I'm grateful for.

I'm grateful for my family and my friends.  I don't know what I would do without them.

I'm grateful that I found an amazing husband and that we were able to have Mini Cheddar together. I've already mentioned on this blog that my parents went without when my Sister and I were younger so we could have things we needed or wanted and I've be forever grateful for what they did for us and how they continue to love and support us even now we are in our 30's.  I'm grateful for my older Sister who is like my best friend and she is a brilliant Aunty to Mini Cheddar.  I'm also grateful for the fact I got to have 4 Grandparents in my life for such a long time.

I'm also grateful for my extended family, even though they are a strange mixture of characters sometimes!  I'm grateful for my young Brother-In-Law (pictured below) who makes me laugh and Mini Cheddar adores him - he is fantastic with her.

I'm grateful for all my beautiful friends who I've known for years and who have supported me through the good times and the bad. I love them all dearly for various reasons.

So thanks to my family and my friends I'm grateful for the love and happiness that fills my life.

I'm grateful for a lot.

Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

The Gallery - My Blog

That Tara is a pesky lady.  She tries to stump us last week with the 'Tomorrow' theme and promises us an easier week this week.  What does she do?  She goes and picks the hardest theme yet *shakes fist at Tara*  I will NOT be beaten...WILL NOT I tell you! 

So....'My blog'.

I had no idea when I started blogging at the beginning of the year where it would take me. I didn't realise there was a whole world of 'mummy bloggers' out there and just kind of stumbled across British Mummy Bloggers (aka Brit Mums) when I saw the badge on another blog - I joined up and hey presto, I was thrust head first into the lovely world of blogging.

Two weeks after my first ever blog post I discovered Jay's Silent Sunday and indeed The Gallery.  My passion for photography lead me to not miss a week of these link-ups yet!

So this is the photo which I think sums up my blog:

My daughter, Mini Cheddar, is the main focus of my blog.  I started my blog because I wanted somewhere to document my journey as a stay at home mum with her - for her.  Like an online diary. I never expected anyone to read it but it's rather lovely that it does get readership and I've made some fabulous new blogging friends.

As I've already mentioned, I have a mild passion for photography which sees me owning 3 cameras plus my iPhone camera (I took this photo with my iPhone).  There's my trusty Nikon DSLR, my Canon 'point and shoot' and my Diana which Mini Cheddar is kindly modeling.  Taking part in Silent Sunday and The Gallery is now part of my weekly routine.

My blog is also about me but I decided not to appear in the photo because a) I look like crap at the moment and b) It would involve me having to get my photographically challenged husband to take the photo.

Oh and some of you may have noticed the stuffed toy dog in the nappy.  That's because I couldn't mention my blog without mentioning that post now could I?

Now head on over and check out all the other entries...

The Gallery - Tomorrow

Blimey, Tara stumped me a bit this week.  The theme she gave us on Friday for The Gallery was 'Tomorrow' and I sat at my laptop with a blank look on my face - an expression I've perfected over the years!

I toyed with talking about anxiety and the hope that tomorrow was a better day but I didn't want to get too deep on your asses. How wrong does THAT sound?

So I used one of the first 'tomorrow' songs that popped into my head from one of my favourite TV shows from my childhood (yes, I'm showing my age) and my daughter.  So come and join me for this rather lame (but cute) 'Tomorrow' Gallery...but hey, this week it has sound ooooooh!

Click play to complete your gallery experience!

She has this LittleLife turtle backpack we bought for her when she was 1 and she loves it.  It's the cutest thing.  She still wears it now and I always refer to her as the Littlest Hobo.

Yesterday she took our dog, Betty (yes, she's still with us) for walkies around the back garden.  The Littlest Hobo takes The Hairiest Hobo for a walk...

Maybe tomorrow they'll get to venture outside the confinement of the garden fence eh!

And for those without sound...sing along in your head...all together now:

There's a voice that keeps on calling me
Down the road, that's where I'll always be.
Every stop I make, I make a new friend,
Can't stay for long, just turn around and I'm gone again 

Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down,

Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on. 

Down this road that never seems to end,

Where new adventure lies just around the bend.

So if you want to join me for a while,

Just grab your hat, come travel light, that's hobo style. 

Maybe tomorrow I'll want to settle down,

Until tomorrow, the whole world is my home. 

So if you want to join me for a while,

Just grab your hat, come travel light, that's hobo style 

There's a world that's waiting to unfold,

A brand new tale no-one has ever told.

We've journeyed far but you know it wont be long;

We're almost there, and we've paid our fare with this hobo song. 

Maybe tomorrow, I'll want to settle down,

Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on. 

So if you want to join me for a while,

Just grab your hat, come travel light, that's hobo style. 

Maybe tomorrow, I'll find what I call home, Until tomorrow, you know I'm free to roam.

Now head over and view all the other Tomorrow entires, I can assure you they'll be better than mine...

The Gallery - Mother Love

With it being Mother's Day on Sunday just gone, Tara has given the prompt of 'Mother Love' for The Gallery this week and also dedicated entries to World Vision's Mother's Day Campaign which is asking for people to share their best 'mother' moments that make them smile.

It was actually my Mum's 66th birthday on Mother's Day so it made it even more special and the reason I've chosen my Mum as the theme for The Gallery.

It's hard for me to pinpoint the thing that makes me smile the most about my Mum.  I think just knowing that despite having had breast cancer twice she's still here with us.  I'll always be so thankful for that.

This photo of my older Sister, my Mum and myself was taken on my daughters 1st birthday just over a year ago.  Since then my Mum has been going to Weight Watchers and has lost well over 3 and half stone. I'm so proud of her, she's looking fantastic.

Mum is the mother of two daughters and I am the mother of one (so far) and I hope that my daughter and I have as much of a bond as my Mum and I do.

Even though I don't say it all the time, I love my Mum so much.


Now head over and view all the other mummy moments...

The Gallery - Hair

I could share some seriously dodgy haircuts from my past but I've already done that once and I don't think you poor people are quite ready for that again so soon.

Some of you may remember the picture below being in my original banner when I ventured into the world of blogging almost 12 weeks ago now. Has it really been 3 months?

I took this when my daughter was just coming up to 4 months old back in July 2009.  I was on the floor with her looking up, trying my best to hold the camera without dropping it on our heads!  It was supposed to be a nice sweet picture of the two of us but she got a bit narked.

Right at the point I went to press the camera to take the picture she yanked my hair... really hard.

Now head over and view all the other hair raising entries this week...

The Gallery - Education

Tara's theme for The Gallery this week is 'Education'...ooh a toughie!

Learning isn't my strong point.  I always did quite well at school but I hated exams.  Despite that I continued my learning even after getting a job at the tender age of 16.  I'm still to complete one exam for the Chartered Institute of Marketing to get my final qualification...maybe one day I'll get around to it. Who knows?

In the meantime I'm having fun learning about motherhood *cough*

When I first found out I was going to be mum back in July 2008, I rushed out to buy all these books.  I filled my head with the idea that everything I needed to know about pregnancy and motherhood I could glean from a book.

How wrong I was.

I don't think I've touched any of these books since having my daughter - apart from to get them out this week to photograph them.

For me, the best education in the ways of motherhood is learning on the job.

And what a wonderful job it is!

Now head over and view all the other Education entries this week...

The Gallery - Trees

The theme of Tara's Gallery this week is trees.

I knew when I saw the theme I was going to delve into my archives this week.

I absolutely LOVE this tree.

Click the pic to view it large

I think it's a Japanese Maple tree and it stands in prime position outside the Aquarium in Vancouver, Canada.

As soon as I saw it I was itching to take a photo of it and I'm so glad I did.  The colour contrast just takes your breath away.

Forgive the extremely lame tree pun but I 'spruced' it up a little with an Orton effect.  You can view the original here.

Now head over to The Gallery and check out all the amazing entries....

The Gallery - One Word

A very open theme for The Gallery this week.  One word.  Any word.  We get to choose.  Eek!

My word...DOUGHNUTS

Traveling a lot through America, Krispy Kreme became like an institution for us. Now of course Krispy Kreme has hit the U.K.

I guess my word should actually be 'dangerous'.....or maybe 'calories'?

Now go check out all the other words...

The Gallery - Simple Pleasures

The theme this week over at Tara's Gallery is 'Simple Pleasures'.

The simple pleasures that make my day....let me think...I could say cuddling up with my husband to watch a great film, I could say taking a great photograph, I could say grabbing a coffee with my friends, I could say having a chat on Twitter, I could say reading blogs, I could say watching some comedy or I could say writing this blog.  The list is endless for my simple pleasures really.  But the simple pleasure I love the most is spending time with my daughter.  After all she's the reason I started this blog and the reason I'm a SAHM.  We play games together (hide and seek is her favourite at the moment), we read books together, we get all her toys out and we even clean and cook together - she really is Mummy's little helper when she's not stealing baguettes that is!

There are times when, being the techno-toddler she is, we enjoy the laptop together.  I love her face when we play all the Eric Herman Music videos.  Her favourite is The Elephant Song, she finds it so funny and knows exactly which animal is coming up next, proudly announcing it's imminent arrival.  I love seeing her little face light up when we watch it and sing together.

She turns 2 years old next Friday (March 11th) and I struggle now to remember a time when she wasn't in my life.

The Gallery - Expressions

The subject of The Gallery this week over at Sticky Fingers (aka Tara) is Expressions. I've really struggled with this as I have so many photographs I could use.  I got it down to 3 and I've been sat on them all week wondering which one to pick.

In the end I got sick of deciding so I'm posting all 3 - sorry!

Relief 

Ice cold water on a boiling hot day after a game of football

Anger 

(aka The Football Hooligan look)

Giving 'Big Teddy' some grief

Aggression
The Betster and I bearing our gnashers

Head over to Tara's place to check out all the fab entries...

The Gallery - 24 Hours

When I saw the topic prompt from Tara I wasn't sure I was going to join in with this as I couldn't imagine ANYONE wanting to see photos from my day being a SAHM.  Me teaching my daughter, playing with her and cleaning.  Wow!  But then I thought I'd give it a go just for laugh.   So hold on to your hats for a roller coaster ride of excitement *sarcasm* here's how I spent Monday 7th February 2011...

8.00am

Breakfast time.  Mini Cheddar (aka the human dustbin) ploughs through 3 (yes 3!) weetabix.  Then begs some "Mummy toast" from my plate.

Then it's wait for my doofus of a husband (aka 'Daddy Leg' as Mini Cheddar now calls him) to slide downstairs on his bottom - he's fractured his ankle and is in plaster...I may have mentioned it this once or twice ;-) - so I can make his coffee and breakfast.  Joy.

10.45am

Having provided said plastered husband with provisions for sofa-based nappy changing I arrive at the dentist and sit in the waiting room.

The prospect of having a filling removed and replaced is not one I'm relishing.

12.00pm

I arrive back home to find my lounge trashed with toys.  Husband in plaster (foot up) trying to work on the laptop from the sofa.  Even Dory the fish looks pissed off!

I can't even moan at them both as I can't speak properly without dribbling out of the side of my mouth.  Damn dentist!

I make them both cheese on toast for lunch which they scoff on the sofa and jump back in the car.  I'm unable to eat.

12.50pm

I walk into the doctors waiting room and an amazing sight greets me, one I've never experienced!  It's empty!

I'm so happy to take this photo as next time I'm stuck in there with the loads of the silver-hair brigade coughing and a thousand kiddies running around snotting everywhere I'll remember this moment. Ah!

2.00pm

After a quick pit stop home to settle Mini Cheddar down for a nap (and check on useless man in plaster) I pick up some letters and head out to the 'Swyddfa'r Post'.

That's Welsh for Post Office incase you were wondering.

2.30pm

Just a quick 5 minutes before Mini Cheddar wakes to grab a coffee and a choccy break.  Not exactly what my dentist would approve of after all her hard work but hey ho I need a sugar fix!

4.00pm

Mini Cheddar decides that Teddy has come out in sympathy for 'Daddys Leg' so we have to bandage Teddys leg too and give him lots of cuddles.

5.00pm

Start to make dinner, set table and generally try to keep Mini Cheddar from trashing the place whilst I do.

7.00pm

Mini Cheddar and Minnie Mouse ready for bed!

8.00pm

2 very LARGE glasses of Baileys and ice and a selection of naughty treats for husband and I to relax and watch a film.  Well, it's been a rough old week ;-)

Bed at 10.30pm.  So rock 'n roll.

Rinse and repeat.

(I'll omit photos of us all asleep)







See, told you it was thrilling!