Love is in the air...

I Love Daddy (14th Feb 2018)

Despite the very snowy winter it seems the last few weeks have been full of love. We've had Valentines Day, our 6th Wedding Anniversary and Tanya and I escaped for a weekend to celebrate Tanya's birthday (our second night away in over 5 years).

Emily's been obsessed with hearts recently which has been really nice as it means I've had regular homemade cards and messages full of love, hearts and kisses. Niomi is currently a little more restrained on the matter but I did get a big hug when she came back from staying with Nana and Baba which was very nice.

Things like this can be a little fleeting however, as both of them can also be a little patchy on their Daddy affection. Its the curse of a working Dad versus a stay at home Mum. One minute you're really cool - Mr Fix-anything, do-anything, go-anywhere Daddy...then the other 59 in the hour it can be like you don't exist. Niomi had a brief period after she came to us when she really thought Daddy was cool but then, like everything else, she has just copied her big sister and I've been cast aside. And this is them at 3 and 5 - god help me when teenage-hood arrives!

Still, at least Tanya sometimes loves me - particularly when I bring her doughnuts.

 Doughnut love

 Gargunnock House - the scene of the wedding crime

The Shadow Rooke Family

And then we had our weekend away in the Trossachs courtesy of my brother and sister-in-law. We spent the time ambling up hills, round lochs and eating fine food - all at our own pace with no moaning or tears. It was heaven... Emily and Niomi I think had similar fun - doing lots of things they're not normally allowed to do including copious Peppa Pig to watch and chips to eat - all of that probably reduced the moaning and tears. So all in all it was a grand success...

Climbing hills, like life before kids

Sitting on benches, practising for when the kids are grown up

All change...

With February it seems there is always change. The last few years have brought new houses, new kitchens, big birthdays, pregnancy...to name a few. And this year there seems to be more change in the air.

First up Niomi was 3. It was celebrated with our usual homemade style coupled with a large dose of Peppa Pig who is very much Niomi's favourite. There was a Peppa cake, tablecloth, plates, cups and napkins but no straws. In a definite effort to cut down on plastics we've forced the kids to go strawless.

The Birthday Girl

Umbrella birthday joy

 3rd cake (non-Peppa)

Videoclip: Happy 3rd Birthday Niomi

And then there were other changes. Niomi started nursery which seems to be going ok so far. She's also getting far more into her arts and crafts then ever before which is a great sign. Emily's started reading and loving school which is also a great sign. And all these signs mean that it's all change in the Rooke household - the kids are growing up!!

Can you tell they're not real fish fingers?

Rampaging at nursery and at home

Videoclip: Reading is coming along