Grateful

A few months ago I started a gratitude Journal. I felt the need to focus more on my blessings and record the good things in my life, things that inspire me and the tender blessings I recognise that come from above. I have to admit that I haven't been very consistent at writing in it, and feel I would do a much better job if I combined it with my photography. So every week I will take three pictures of things I am grateful for and post them here. This week it's the turn of technology, were would I be without it. I know I rely on it far to much. I guess they speak for themselves.

Crazy dreams...

This morning I woke Tayler by putting laundry away in this cupboard. He turned to me and in his cheery little voice said "Hi Mum, I've just been having the craziest dream ever". My boys do occasionally have very vivid dreams, they all feel the need to share, even Jason, who has the craziest of all. Tayler continued by saying "It was a little bit happy and a little bit sad". "Why was that?" I responded, "Well, it was sad because Jarom was going away. But happy because my new brothers were Sponge Bob and Patrick!" I have to admit I thought this was hilarious. Just typical of my boy, and he was deadly serious about the whole thing. So so funny!

Saturday, is a special day...

This Saturday we decided to have a special family day together, and despite Jason feeling really poorly we went ahead with our plans. The boys gave us lots of ideas for their 'perfect day', most of which were actually quite reasonable. It was daddy that wanted boat rides and trips on an aeroplane. So in the end we played games on the wii, went to the garden centre, pizza for lunch, mountain boarding in the park and then Burger King for dinner. A perfect family Saturday. I have to admit that the park was absolutely freezing, I hate the cold, it makes me so grumpy. Roll on Summer!

Sleepy head...

So my little boy is feeling really sleepy this week. Which means he is taking afternoon naps that last longer than half an hour. Whoopee! We had a much better week together, and I've actually been able to get things done around the home - cleaning, washing, ironing etc. And this little man seems to be happy with our new routine. He has two breakfasts after he wakes up - count them, one with dad and one with mum, it's two! He's such a little hobbit. And then we take the big boys to school and play together all morning. I've decided not to try and get any major jobs done in the morning, maybe load the washing machine, dishwasher etc, but instead I try to play with Nathaniel. Then we have lunch and he's so sleepy he's falling asleep whilst eating. It's great, then he stays asleep for at least an hour if not longer! I can't believe it almost a whole hour to myself, unless of course dad needs me. Is it too good to be true? Will we revert next week back to a 30 minute nap at 9am, on the school run? Oh I hope not!

My boys

Not the best picture in the world, but one of the most recent of my boys, I wish I had time to get the camera out daily, my boys grow so fast. But we've had such a busy few weeks with illness in the family, first Tayler, then Nathaniel. But we're all well again now.

We were well enough yesterday to take Tayler to his yearly review appointment for his muscular dystrophy at Frenchay Hospital Bristol. He sees a fantastic team of specialists - a Neuromuscular consultant and a team of physiotherapists, plus counsellors. They are all wonderful people and so supportive. Tayler really loves to be the centre of attention, and shows off a little too much. Although Tayler general health is very good we have noticed a degeneration in the muscles in his feet. He has to tip-toe walk a lot now and his team of specialists have suggested a treatment to help him a little with this. They have suggested that he go into plaster for a few weeks to help stretch his muscles. This will mean a series of several plaster casts on both legs for a few weeks. The results should last a year or so, so on balance it will probably be worth it. We'll have to wait and see though, it may not produce any improvement at all. We are, as always, trying to stay as positive as we can. Tayler also is willing to try whatever he can.

So next week Tayler will go into plaster. Just before the Easter holiday. This will be useful for school, he won't have the difficulty of struggling around the classroom with both legs in plaster. But it does mean I'll be busier at home. So - bring it on we say! Whatever we need to do to help Tayler to have a few more months with more supple muscles. Life is tough sometimes, but I guess there's a reason for it all, if only to teach us patience and inner strength.

Poorly boy

Our little man has been so unwell. Yesterday we spent most of the day in the hospital with him. We took him in because he had been so incredibly poorly - so tired and limp, he was displaying many of the meningitis symptoms. He had barely been awake for more than ten minutes at a time for the last 24 hours and had no energy to even hold himself up. Despite being really poorly he wasn't sufficiently dehydrated for the doctor to put him on a drip and so the hospital allowed us to bring him home. He slept really well last night and today woke a new boy. Still very weak, but smiling a little and wanting breakfast. How relieved I was not to have to take him back into hospital, which would have been the plan if he wasn't better. I'm praying now for a little peace in our lives, just a fews weeks of rest before any other major issues come along that we have to deal with.

Family photo shoot for Easter

As an early mother's day gift my boys agreed to having their picture taken for our family Easter card. Thanks boys! It was with fear and trepidation I sat down to edit it on the new computer. I think I did ok. We followed up the shoot with a family trip to Costco and then Mother's day gift shopping at Sainsbury's. Dad and I went out to buy mother's day flowers for mum, a sweet little bunch of orange 'Flaming Katy's'. When we returned from taking them to Ebdon Road crematorium we found that poor little Nathaniel had been very sick. Tayler was sick all last week and it looks as though Nathaniel has picked up the bug. So it's more washing and nursing of little ones for me for the next few days. What would mother's day be without a special reminder of how much a mother is needed!

Wedding soup recipe

So many people have asked for this soup recipe after we made it for Katy & Tim's wedding. I thought it was time I posted it here for all to see. It's a special family recipe because my mummy first discovered it and made it for us all to enjoy on a family trip we made to the Westonbirt Arboretum. A wonderful soup and a magical trip make for great memories.

Butternut Squash, Coconut, Crab & Chili Soup

Ingredients

3 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
2 medium/1 large butternut squash, roughly chopped
2 sticks of lemongrass
2 pinches of chili flakes
1 litre vegetable stock
400ml coconut milk (approx. 1 can)
240g white crab meat, plus brine if using tinned (I’m pretty sure this is 2 small cans – cost £1 from Asda)
1 tablespoon fresh coriander, chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method
1. Heat oil in pan, add onion, garlic and butternut squash, cook gently for 10 minutes.
2. Take stick of lemongrass, remove tough outer layer and bash with the back of a knife to release flavours.
3. Add chili flakes and lemongrass to pan and fry for 2-3 minutes.
4. Add stock, bring to boil, cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes until squash is tender.
5. Cool and remove lemongrass. Blend till smooth.
6. Return to pan, add coconut milk, crab and coriander. Season to taste.

Pretty simple really and it really is the very best soup I’ve ever tasted.

On the go...

This little man has really taken his time, but he is finally walking. Being able to walk is making him so happy and it's wonderful to watch him waddling around the house. He is enjoying keeping up with his older brothers and little friends at church. However it has made him even more mischievous. We often watch him toddling off, closing a door behind himself to touch or play with things he knows he is not allowed to touch. He has been mobile for many months now, but walking has given him so much more confidence. It's hard to keep up with him. He played on the trampoline for the first time on Friday and just loved standing and being able to bounce himself up and down.

He Won!

So my boy got first prize in the World Book day dressing up competition. It would be an understatement to say he was really happy with himself. He may look a little smug in this picture, but actually his picture was taken before school, and just shows the crazy little smile he has right now. When I went to pick him up from school he came out of his classroom clutching his giant peach and his prize - a chocolate Easter egg. He said it had been the best day of his school life ever! We were all so pleased for him.

The whole story is that this little boy is really being very brave at the moment. His positive attitude is tested to the limits each day at school. He is beginning to see the effects of his disability, and just can't keep up with the other boys when they run around in the playground. He experiences pain and discomfort every day when he puts on and wears his shoes. The other children have also noticed, and they have started teasing him. It's heart breaking to see this happening. Tayler is truly fantastic, he smiles, and is incredibly forgiving, he just wants friends. He sees the bullying as just 'annoying', and hardly mentions it at all. We are communicating well with school, and they are helping him more at break time, and are keeping a close eye on him.

I really do feel his love of reading is helping him at the moment. He tries to read the scriptures daily, and we do our best as a family to have family study time after dinner. Tayler also loves the heroes he is reading about. Harry Potter is his latest favourite, and of course there's James and his giant peach. If ever there was a story about triumph over difficult circumstances it's the story of James. Tayler just wishes his peach were big enough to roll over the problems he has at school.

Happy World Book Day!

We love books in our home. We have many favourites between us. Jason prefers to read factual history books, especially anything to do with the second world war, but strangely he also loves the little house on the prairie books by Laura Ingles Wilder. Emily loves Jane Austen, Stephanie Mayer & Shannon Hale. Jarom enjoys anything that will make him laugh, but has also worked his way through the spiderwick chronicles, the Alex Rider series, and also several of the Percy Jackson books, to name just a few. Tayler enjoys books to comfort read, he has been reading many of the Roald Dahl books, his favourite being James and the Giant Peach, and is now reading through the Harry Potter Books. Nathaniel loves the David Wojowycz books because of the interaction and beautiful illustrations.

We were excited when the Boys school announced a dress-up day to celebrate world book day. The boys choose carefully - Jarom choose an old favourite 'Cavin' from Calvin & Hobbes and Tayler went as - can you guess? 'James' of course - that's a peach not a pumpkin! There are prizes for the best outfits, we may be in the running with Tayler's giant peach, but I have had a little chat so that he's not too disappointed. We shall get the results in an hours time when I got to pick them up from school.

Where have I been?

I've been crazy busy. Christmas, birthdays and a big wedding, not to mention the washing, ironing, cleaning, tidying and general day to day madness which is the running of the Beale household.

So here are just a few pictures from just one of the reasons I've been so rushed off my feet. I wish I had more from the last few months, but I've hardly even picked up the camera.

1. Lime green - just the yummiest colour, so glad Kate chose this as the colour for her wedding. My beautiful sister in law Chessy came up with this little idea, how cute?


2. The decorations - Kate's new father in law is amazing, we love you Roger, and Sue too of course who ironed all the chair covers.


3. My boys. Words cannot express how proud of them I was on the day. This picture captures a little down time before the wedding kicked off. They were amazing grooms men, and then also gave the most polished talk I've ever heard during the service - A* Boys.


4. Kate arriving at the chapel, uncle Mike was a wonderful stand-in for Dad. Family is so special. Didn't kate look so pretty, what a dress!


5. My new brother in law - I love him to bits!


6. Beautiful sister.


7. In front of the camera.


8. Crazy poses.


9. Our new family - the Farrants.

Hope to be posting a lot more soon. These were just my pictures. I have all the professional ones to edit, hopefully on a new computer. This one is a little old and tired.