Time flies!

Yup it's been a VERY long time from someone who promised to blog more regularly but things swing from chaotic to manic in the Farrell household and there is rarely time to chill. When that time does occasionally come along it's more a case of making the most of every minute because it never lasts long! The news that I had been dreading reared it's unwelcome face again. Pete rejoins the sub next month and goes away to sea immediately afterwards for two months, home for a month and then away for another three months. I knew it was coming but it didn't make it any easier when i heard it. In the past six years he's only had 12 months alongside in Plymouth, and that was over three years ago now. The girls have never known daddy to come home for tea after work so it's what they're used to I suppose, but having just had Pete home on leave for two weeks it's kind of spoilt them a bit and there were lots of tears when he went back to Gosport last night.

I'm trying to console myself with thinking that at least he'll be home for some of the school holidays, plus I'll have lots of scrapping time. I'm gutted that he won't be home for our birthday (especially seeing as it's the big 4-0 this year!) so I'm hoping we can do something when he gets back at the end of the year.

The past two weeks of him being home has been lovely. We had loads of plans to decorate the hallway but in the end didn't touch it. I guess I just wanted to make the use of some down time and spend it chilling as a family. We've spent a few afternoons sat down on the waterfront with the kids, splashing in the water, watching the boats, finding shells, and in Emily's case...scaring the crap out of the swans! I don't think I could ever not live by the sea, I just love it down here so much that it would be a major blow to move away. The girls shell collection in the playroom seems to get bigger every week.

So it's been a busy month. Last time I blogged it was just before Freya's 10th birthday. We had a tea party and most of the evening was spent singing along to High School Musical on the Wii and gorgeing ourselves with cake and sushi. Our easter holidays were early this year compared to a lot of the country and unfortunately it didn't coincide with Pete's leave so Easter was fairly quiet and yes, there are still eggs left (as there is EVERY year). I've also had a lot of work on which has kept me so busy.

Freya spent most of the holidays with her dad in France. It was her first chance to see him and the rest of her extended family since he moved in February and it's really done her the world of good to understand that it isn't a million miles away and actually takes less time than going up to Wigan to see all Pete's family. It's made her feel a lot happier with the situation now and if she's happy, then so am I. She's a busy girl at the moment, doing some extra work to see if it's worth trying out for the 11+ exam, keyboard lessons, school trips, football practice, choir and then this weekend she starts at Stagecoach. She's really excited about it all though. Plus she got a super new haircut this weekend which she loves. Photos are a little blurry but then I'm well out of practice at the moment, not having picked up a camera really since Xmas.

It's shocking just how quickly she is growing up. I was completely on edge when she flew out along to see her dad (although they have a chaperone to get them on and off the flight until they meet their alloted family member). She, on the other hand, thinks this makes her super cool and grown up.........

This past weekend was one to celebrate as it was mine and Pete's wedding anniversary. We managed to get all the kids elsewhere for the night and make the most of it. A gorgeous meal at Yukisan again and we really pushed the boat out. Lobster and Oysters, scallops, steak and plenty of saki! A few more drinks on the Barbican and then it was home for several nightcaps. The wierd sense of coming back to an empty house though.......and not have to listen to the girls stirring at some ungodly hour of the morning on Sunday.

I was rather stunned to be given a gorgeous present before we went out. It's unusual for Pete to be home for our anniversary and as we were having a major night of it, a present wasn't really on my mind and I certainly hadn't got one for Pete so I was choked when he gave me this beauty. I adore Amethysts and this bracelet is beautiful.

So as Pete is back to work now, it's time to get my scrapping head back on. I have played with a few things lately, mostly little projects that I can't share incase of prying eyes but I'm hoping to share a couple projects with you tomorrow. That's if I can get the playroom tidy enough tonight to fit in a new sofa bed tomorrow........i have NO idea how the thing will even fit through the door but I can only try......could mean that we have an extra sofa in the living room and just have to climb everywhere until Pete comes back at the weekend.