My own space

We've had a lovely day today.  I'm still on holiday, Marisca is at nursery, and Elspeth and I have been alternating between Getting Things Done and playing with Tom.  I very rarely get the opportunity to play with Tom on his own, as usually me & Tom playing something together becomes a Marisca magnet.  So it's been really nice to have that space, and to watch him bumbling around, exploring and enjoying things.

Out and about with my boots

An uneven comparison, as Risky was well over a year when it rained enough for her to wear this outfit, but it's fun to compare the two nonetheless.  They looked similar as babies but are definitely looking their own ways now.

The Yorkshire Coast 10k

We're just back from a very nice weekend away.  Stewart and I ran the Yorkshire Coast 10k in Scarborough.  Given the setting (early November, Scarborough sea front) we were blessed with beautiful sunny autumnal weather and although still gusty, probably as little wind as you ever get around the headland.

We went up on Saturday (driving through foreboding torrential rain) and had a nice potter on the front before pasta tea and an exciting (for Marisca) stay in the Premier Inn.   Elspeth and the littlies came to cheer us on for the race, which we both completed in under our target time.  I did allow myself a big grin as I raced past the brightly painted beach huts and around the headland under the shadow of the castle: what a great opportunity to be out in the lovely countryside getting some fresh air and exercise.

Scarborough itself was fun.  Yes, run down as all British seaside resorts are, but certainly charming.

Before the start - hence the casual stance and lack of exhaustion.

Setting off - some 1500 runners charging (too quickly...) down the seafront.

Marisca doing a great job of cheering people on.  That's not me, you'll have spotted.  

And the happy finishers.

Miles more fun

There's a pun in the title, for those of you who know my in-laws sufficiently well to know their surname.

Anyway, we had Alice, Ian, and Catriona visit us last weekend.  My camera only really came out when we had a trip to the park, so I don't have any photos of the trip to Skipton (yes, milkshake, yes, whisky shop, yes bizzie lizzies), or many of the quiz at church.  I do have some very cold looking children though (tears are from then cold and exertion rather than sadness).

Lovely to see Alice growing up into a giggly curly little girl.  Marsica had lots of fun playing with her Alice.

Sewing

Elspeth is very much into sewing at the moment.  She's enjoying making clothes for the children, for friends' children, and occasionally for herself.  She's even teaching some people to sew which sounds complicated but appears to be lots of fun.

And Marisca's picked up the bug too.  She's pretty handy at sewing bracelets.

11 months

Here is Thomas showing off one of his new skills: clapping. He joins in with any applause, be it directed at him, a clapping song at toddlers or church, or even clapping on the tv or radio. When he isn't clapping he is practicing his new sort-of words. Dadadada has been around for a while, but it has now been joined by 'mmmmmby' which I am taking to be Mummy and calling his first word!

Standing up is great fun these days, but Tom is showing no desire to stride out just yet. If you hold his hands and lead him he will happily walk with you, but will just as happily sit down again then head off rapidly in a crawl. But standing up means he can reach table tops and get at any food left there, or his sister's toys which she has tried to place out of reach. Tim hides his firemen around the sitting room every evening so they are ready to be discovered in the morning - it is a bit like a very small, very cute, Antony Gormley installation.

New favourite toys are things on wheels: Tom has worked out how to roll them backwards and forwards. He also likes dropping objects into a basket then fishing them out, and has started stacking bricks on top of each other. Totally standard for this age, but we are very proud of him none the less!

We are into birthday season for Tom's friends now, with several parties to attend over the next few weeks. And one of our own to plan for next month!

A birthday

It was my birthday last weekend. Tim and I went out for beer and curry in the evening, but we spent a lovely day enjoying being a family and spending time together. We headed into Bradford as there was a science festival and an arts festival on in the City Park. 

Tom was as cute as always:

Even when trying on clown hats in the circus skills tent:

Meanwhile Marisca loved the steppy-cycling things, though her enthusiasm was greater than her skill and Daddy had to be on hand:

Outside the library there was a fairy blowing bubbles (of course). Marisca only stopped jumping up, chasing them and popping them when she ran out of bubble mixture!

Then it was time for a break and a relax on the street art:

Before watching some street entertainment...

...and enjoying a birthday treat!