The creative juices are flowing in the Hammond house.....

As a  family we are not renowned for being a creative bunch, so when we have a surprising and infrequent upturn in skill we must celebrate this period and sing it from the rafters. After all, we are known more for our consumption, not creativity. Amy has been baking again (I must admit there is some real talent within my wife), this time with a collection of delicious fairy cakes for Auntie Doris' birthday on Saturday. The girls came home with their years work from school on Friday and there was a massive collection of stories, hand writing, maths, art work and models. I was very impressed indeed. One piece that particularly caught my eye in this gallery that even the most modest of fathers would beam with pride over, was Lucy's model ice cream van. It has taken pride of place on the mantelpiece and in my humble view sums up the mood of all good things Hammond and celebrates many a good family day out in the Norfolk sunshine! Anna's contribution was more of a 'live work' as I watched her play a numbers game with Amy and Lucy and I was very impressed with her grasp of maths for a five year old.

I, am afraid, have not been able to contribute greatly to this creative surge, I did the housework and gardening this weekend and that my friends is about as good as it gets. I am a grafter not a sculptor (who is partial to the odd cake and ice cream!)...

Just 'pottering' around and making the most of our sunshine tokens!

The Hammond family has gone Harry Potter mad and nestled in the biggest pile of car boot rubbish this morning was 'Potter gold' in the form of a Quidditch robe perfect for Lucy and a Harry doll for Wiggle - all for the bargain price of £3! As Amy is reading the girls the third book these were perfect finds to fuel the imagination and the afternoon's games in the garden. Taking advantage of the weather while it lasts we have filled the weekend with some really fun  and normal Hammond things to do in the sunshine. Mud sliding at Blakeney; tea, cake and strawberry picking at Wiveton; stunt bike riding at the park; another brace of delicious barbecues with our neighbours, several rows due to a general hormonal shift in the heat, plenty of café culture, giggling at comedy and rude shaped fruit, much breaking wind and loads of ice lollies. A normal weekend in the Hammond house, including the rows!

Groovin on a Sunday afternoon....

A perfect Sunday afternoon - summer sunshine, a fine picnic, great company and a paddle in the river to cool down. The theme of the weekend for the family Hammond was sunshine and food. Two barbecues knocked off with our neighbours Libby and Ben, followed by a sneaky one this evening as well. Oh and did I mention the time honoured tradition the excessive consumption of ice cream.  As my work life balance is slowly restored I am enjoying more and more these lovely days out with the girls without interruption, it was a joy to kick back in the shade and watch them play in the river. Really looking forward return trip to Cornwall this year now where the focus will be well and truly on a family holiday, not fitting my family in with work. The weekend was not without its trials as tempers sometimes frayed in the heat - me very much included in this and the girls battled for the title of who could be the grumpiest on Saturday and on this occasion the winner was Anna by a country mile! She does know how to press her Daddy's buttons, she not stupid that one you know....

Reporting positive progress....

School reports day arrived today and we are delighted with both the girl's reports. Lucy has showed good steady progress all year and what I really loved was the comments about her kindness and caring nature with other children who are hurt or upset, also comments about working hard. Very proud of you Lucy. Anna's report was also very positive and starts with the comment: 'Anna is quite a character!' She is very young for her year and I am delighted with how she is doing.  She does need to focus a bit more and can be easily distracted. Surely Anna's teacher can't be talking about Anna?! Well done girls, well done indeed....

Day three of the birthday celebrations successfully negotiated!

I am not sure even the Queen receives this kind of extended birthday, but here we are at the end of another day celebrating Anna's birthday. As I won't be here tomorrow, Anna was allowed to open some presents including her transformer mask. (very jealous indeed!) I do hope by the time the real day arrives in the morning, it is not a disappointment to her. She finished today naked in the garden running around being bonkers with a football. The perfect end to a perfect Anna day. Happy birthday for tomorrow Wiggle. I love you with all my heart. xx

P.S. the Lego Yoda sticker I now have on my wallet is a perfect gift for me....

Let's get this party started!

The birthday weekend is finally upon us, a certain young lady will be five on Monday and Anna's celebrations are going on for days. Last night she had mates around for hotdogs and ceremonious trashing of the house! Best gift she received is by far the Spiderman Mr Potato head. Today, with family and friends we sped off to the dinosaur park for a gargantuan picnic (a fine spread and cake Mrs Hammond) and much fun in the sunshine.  I must say that Amy and I are exhausted already and we have not even made it to her birthday yet! Happy early birthday Wiggle. xx

Gymnast of the week!

Not known for her dexterity, decorum and lady like movements, I am so proud of Lucy as she has attained gymnast of the week in her class for the second time recently. She is by no means a natural and works so hard when she is in the classes and the hard work is indeed paying off. I would have to say her floor work is more solid, having witnessed her attempt the bar and the struggle to even mount it! Well done Lucy, your enthusiasm is so commendable for something  you struggle with a little and your effort second to none. This kind of attitude in anything in life will take you far. xx