Spring happenings!

I laugh when I notice the lack of blog updates this year! It is so indicative of a pregnant belly and feeling so tired all the time. But besides that I have been feeling good. We have had many exciting happenings in the Ward household. The weather has been quite lovely recently so we have had many adventures in the outdoors. I am sure that once Wardy #3 appears on the scene we will have many more and hopefully more frequent updates for all of you!


This was Katya's choice for dressing up for National Book Day. She and 3 of her friends dressed up like Dalmations. She made a mighty cute puppy!

The pictures got a bit mixed up, but this is one of many photos from Katya's party. We had gorgeous weather and luckily it could all be in the garden. I love how most of the photos the children are yelling and screaming!

Katya and Ollie preparing for a Sunday afternoon spring wellie walk with Daddy!

They had 5 minutes to decorate one of their team members as a mummy. Katya was quite pleased with the wrapping she received. Next to her is one of her best friends, Aleeha.

Oliver, unable to stay on his feet, in the giant silly trousers. They loved this dress-up relay!

More silly dress up antics!

More screaming group shots!

The other mummy!

Katya playing dress up on a day out with Daddy to the university botanical gardens.

I don't recognize these 2 do you?

Looking sweet, especially Katya's graffiti hat that she insisted on wearing. But still sweet!


The last of the daffodils, and Oliver's tongue!


Katya looks way too grown up in this picture. We made her M&M rainbow cake together. She was very proud of it. She blew her candles out halfway through the song. She had a great day!

Serious Catch-up!!!

It seems every year around this time of year I realize I haven't posted since before Christmas. But I made a few minutes to give you all a photo catch-up. I will try to write a brief caption for each photo and let you all know what we are up to!!! This is Katya and one of her good friends from Reception Aliha and her little sister, Aliza. Their family moved here from Pakistan last May and were excited to spend their first christian Christmas in England, so we invited them to our house for Christmas Eve celebrations!

Many of you will understand the significance of this picture. Finally the Spiderman suit was acquired. There was much happiness that Christmas morn!!! Nice that the kids slept in until 8:00 am. We couldn't believe it!

Katya on her snazzy purple bike! Thanks Father Christmas! She has ridden it about 3 times. The weather has been too cold and snowy/rainy. Can't wait for some better weather!

Katya loved it but Ollie was really not sure! He just doesn't like being cold so it never lasted longer than 5 minutes for him. While Katya would go for hours!

Mush Mush Daddy!

Not too impressed. We have some video footage of Katya's wild rides! She loved it!

We were lucky enough to have Uncle Tommy come and stay with us shortly after the New Year! We all went to Warwick castle. It was fun for everyone! Despite being bitterly cold.

Sometimes I might really enjoy some of these in my own backyard, but alas I think social services would have something to say about it!

Ollie loved crazy Uncle Tommy! He talked about him for days after he left and still asks when he will come again!

The old sword in the stone!

Ollie's birthday was fun, but difficult to photograph. I find 3 year olds impossible to get to stand still for more than 3 seconds. We have an old digital camera that you have to hold the button down for like 5 seconds before it takes the picture so you can imagine the difficulty! The cake was not one of my finest, but I had limited supplies!

I'm pretty sure he was singing Happy Birthday to himself!

Opening presents with cousins and friends, oh and Katya too!

This picture is the epitome of Oliver Ward. Martin call him a Coo-coo!!

This was on his actual birthday morning with his hand me down plastic, sort of broken castle, but he LOVES it. Can't wait to Grandma brings him his real birthday castle when she comes in June!

At least now you all know that we haven't forgotten to photograph our children and will try to be better about posting! I can't imagine it will be easier when number 3 comes along!

Let it snow!!!

We got almost 10 inches in 6 hours...

Can you see something in the snow?

Making snow angels, when suddenly attacked by the Daddy snow monster and suddenly burried.

Through the livingroom window so blurry, but ready for fun. This is the only picture that proves that Ollie did go out in the snow for about 5 minutes. He doesn't like the cold very much. But Katya was that way last year, so I'm sure Daddy's infectious excitement will catch him in the near future.

Can you believe that fell in 6 hours?

Christmas catch-up!

So this is a quick catch up... just short captions to make sense of the pictures since October!!!! Ahh this new baby is taking the oomph out of me!! Here we are on the really cool model steam engine train to see Santa in the woods. It was REALLY fun!!!
They all look sufficiently awkward!! Santa included...
Grandma, we got a little confused who the outfit was for? We just thought it was great that it fit her too!
Here come the awkward smiles. But they look great don't they. Thanks grandma!!

On the way to town to see the Christmas market. Somehow it was too busy to take pictures in the actual market...
Sleepover pancake morning. I really love Katya's face!!!!
I'm loving these little Halloween dickens!!!
Arg!!!
Too cute to be scary


Does this child have enough Spidermans? Plus he really wants to wear a school uniform!
Everyone sleepy after a hard day at school...
This is from the summer when we were watching Abby. I love how they are all asleep and looking oh so comfortable!

The first day of really being big!

Before we leave posing for mommy in her uniform and with her fancy school hairdo!


Obligatory self portrait!

Outside the school still smiling! And even a sunny day for the occasion. Remember we don't live in California so this was an extra special treat. Oliver has his hood on because he is a crazy child, not because it was cold!


This picture was her own idea. She is the ultimate poser! We dropped her in her class and she just waved us out the door! No tears, no glances back, very very ready to start!

When I went to pick her up she looked at me and said... "It was a bad day!"

Her teacher chimed right in with the whole story. And just to preclude it wasn't an entirely bad day, just one bad thing happened. She was at lunch and a girl told her she was "all nasty and naughty". She cried and cried for a total of 5 minutes and then went off to play. She mentioned it a few times, but survived! It reminds of another story about a little girl in Fountain Valley saying to the new neighbors..."Don't you think I'm pretty?" and the reaction was not favourable. Like mother like daughter!