This one of stir it up Sunday from 2016. We'd been out to a Christmas Fayre and when I got back I made the pudding, my Mum and sister were on their way home when I told them to make a wish when they had a quick stir of the same.
Well last weekend we escaped for a break away to our local Center Parcs at Sherwood Forest. This time opting for the same lodge as the one we had last time, so we knew exactly what to expect.
This time said 17 year old's girlfriend came with us, for her first visit to Center Parcs, I was hopeful she was going to enjoy the break.
First grateful is watching these three get along so well and playing fun games - this game of spoons taught to said 17 year old when he went to Lesotho a couple of years ago. Hubby in the corner attempting to read was in fits of giggles watching them - happy times!
That evening we had a barbecue, which meant us adults went outside and froze whilst the young adults stayed in the warm (they have a lot more sense than us). These two cuddled on the sofa watching Netflix made me smile too!
My niece really is one of the most photogenic people I know, even in a woolen bobble hat she looks fabulous, standing in front of the sparkly (now known as Avatar) tree.
Another shot of the tree, although we were worried the bats in the bat box might starve thinking that it was permanently daylight outside!
Being able to walk around the forest, enjoying the fresh air and time with family really is one of the most beautiful and simple pleasures in life!
We booked the usual sports, badminton
and then tennis, and yes we did play with 4 balls all at the same time, in fact if you look at this photo, said 17 year old is peering through the chain link fence at said niece collecting one of the rather bouncy balls that we failed to keep inside the court!
I spotted a couple of cute embellishments in the children's park, this cute wooden bird on the top of a climbing frame raised a smile.
And this caterpillar on the side of the same item
And this balancing object made me smile (I was in the play area retrieving one of the balls from our tennis match).
Hubby also decided to enjoy the park when he went to collect the balls (I promise there was some tennis played just not a lot). Me and my sister played ball girls but still needed help when the other balls went out of the court.
A scrapworthy photo if ever I saw one, he doesn't change!
I managed a selfie when we went out for a meal and then failed to get a photo of us - grrrrrrrrr
Weirdly I did manage to get a photo of the ceiling lights
And the bottle sign
And my sister managed a few photos when we got back to the villa, albeit that we were all in PJ's by that point.
All snuggled in blankets
Me and hubby and sister enjoyed an evening walk, lil sis got this photo of me and hubster, I've made it my profile pic on Facebook as it sums the two of us up at the moment.
We did get some blue skies (proof below)
And saw some of the more unusual wildlife around the nature reserve area.
The beautiful sunshine really was gorgeous!
We booked for the adventure golf (well for four of them to take part, me and lil sis were on photo op duty and preventing the golf balls from hitting the water).
Table tennis was less chaotic than usual, probably because there was only 2 to a table and 1 ping pong each, I much prefer the 4 people multiple ping pong games, as they are far more fun!
After all that hard work (cough), it was definitely time for a drink from Starbucks.
These three headed out on the lake, watching them swap places to pedal was funny too, thankfully none of them fell in.
Hubby and said 17 year old's girlfriend were joint winners of the first game.
Watching them keeping out of the way of my slightly over zealous niece was amusing.
The courses were actually quite tough, but the overall winner was hubby (which is nothing new). It was nice to be out in the fresh air as a group though and everyone seemed to enjoy it, including me and lil sis who weren't participating!
I could soak up this view forever
And this one, if only I could carry a little Center Parcs with me at all times.
This cheeky chap was happy to pose for a photo whilst he was eating the peanuts we had put out.
We saw last year's cygnets had grown since we'd last seen them.
More beautiful sunset photos
A dreadful non make up selfie of me and lil sis, but by this point in the weekend, we didn't actually care.
And before we knew it we were back home, rested and relaxed. I'd finished off my Hygge book that I've been reading, I had talked and talked and talked to my sister (I always get withdrawal from this when I get home as we are so talkative when together that it's weirdly quiet when I get home, men just don't talk as much, although mine is singing single lines from tracks this morning for some strange reason).
The rest of the week has been an odd one, I haven't felt a hundred percent and have been quite anxious over work, but the weekend has at least given me a little clarity at the moment.
I now need a bit of a plan if I'm honest to take things forward.
I'm also looking forward to a 4 day weekend. Although the weather forecast is abysmal and they are threatening snow (again) for Monday!
I hope you've had a splendid week, if you fancy joining in pop a post together, come back and link up and we can come and visit.
Christmas layout from Christmas 2016, when we moved the Alice items onto the stairs garland (due to the Harry Potter tree - but you know all about that).
I took a couple of instagram shots to document it, it is seriously weird looking back years later as the changes we make even to Christmas decorations.
First up is my atrocious art journal page - this is what happens, when you don't know what to do with the flowers you've cut out and you aren't engaging your brain. However, given that I used my hot glue gun they are definitely there to stay!
I've managed to do some scrapbooking recently which has been a really pleasant change, I hadn't realised just how much I had missed it!
However, the downside of being behind on scrapping (by over 2 years) is that photos become a little difficult to identify the source, I knew we were in Scotland, I had a feeling we were in Edinburgh but locating the church which had this beautiful window was something else!
Next up my Hygge book, I've been thoroughly enjoying reading these delight reads over recent weeks, this one just as inspiring.
Another layout from our day at Jupiter Artland, which was epic!
I could fill an album just from that day!
Then I'm grateful that my slight addiction to scrapping mean I keep the little things, the print out from the Auto-wed machine and the rings that came out of a box.
The amethyst chamber is really stunning in Jupiter Artland and so very very different!
Fun documenting a day out we didn't go on, this one of three cousins on a day trip to the seaside
We had glorious weather when we went to Scotland, blue skies all the way!
I finally tracked down the church in question - St Giles and it was in Edinburgh - thank goodness for google is all I can say.
Hubby at Lacock abbey - a completely different holiday - this time in Wiltshire! The photo documents the display of outfits from the Hollow Crown, this particular one being worn by Benedict Cumberbatch when he played Richard III
Now the weekend approached with a promise of three 6 Nation matches on one day (although we already knew that Ireland had won), but I wasn't expecting the mini beast from the east, to be worse than the original beast from the east. Here we documented the next door cat and her ventures out in the snow, it was fun to see where she actually walks!
Yep Spring in Yorkshire is proving elusive at the moment!
The nearby village over the hill looked pretty grey and wintery on our walk out - but we needed the air if I'm honest!
The bench we walk past didn't look too welcoming but I think it shows how crazy the weather was
So difficult weather and grateful moments, well hubby took to baking in kitchen this one being a very tasty light cinnamon cake!
More snow meant more scrapbooking, still going through 2016 holidays, this one of the Falkirk Wheel.
And another from Jupiter Artland, I had forgotten how long my hair got before I had most of it cut off.
More artwork from Jupiter - the words don't ask come to mind!
And the Camera Obscura and Illusion place in Edinburgh
I found out some very old stencil books and managed to make a pretty different looking art journal piece
But by early in the week the snow had completely disappeared and I ventured out to check on my pots, thankfully the snow doesn't seem to have destroyed the plants.
I love the tiny daffodils that have come through
And I managed a wash load and got it out on the line
Other grateful moments, include my sister, my Mum and my niece keeping me sane this week - they are all awesome and it has been nice to put the world to rights.
My Mum had us giggling when my niece was asking her to copy a link from one social media site to another, my Mum seemed to think the copy was stuck to her thumb and that she needed to get rid of it quickly - it made us giggle, she knows that's not how it worked but it still made us laugh - that an using the word hullabaloo a lot.
Hubby for being, epic and awesome and listening to me and just being himself. It has been another tough week but with a fabulous family beside me I'm sure I can make some progress and get back on an even keel.
I hope you have a fabulous weekend and week ahead, if you fancy joining in pop a post together, pop back, link up and we can come and visit.
