Every picture tells a story...

Stories are a big part of all our lives. Kids can tell amazing ones and certainly love hearing them. Emily's imagination is growing by the day and her love of fairies, dragons and castles is just fuelling her storytelling. As is her love of all things 'Frozen'. She's still writing to the fairies that moved in 9 months ago, and they're now regularly appearing in her pictures like 'one of the family' as well. 

The downside of all this is I am now having to read endless 100+ page books to her everyday. What downside? This is wonderful I hear you cry. And on one level you're right, but having recently completed the first 42 books in the Rainbow Magic series I was somewhat relieved that we moved on. Each book consisted of the same two girls helping a fairy find something that it had lost, at the same time as avoiding Jack Frost's goblins, in order that Fairyland be saved. . And guess what? Each time they miraculously managed to retrieve said item and avoid said goblins. Never a plot twist or hidden turn. 100% predictable and quite hard to stay awake to read after a long day. Still, Emily never seemed to cotton on and each story miraculously held her gripped, so they must hold some magic for a 4 year old's imagination...

"Daddy, I hope the goblins don't get the girls this time", Emily stated excitedly.

"Emily - the goblins NEVER get the girls, they also find the missing object EVERY time and Fairyland is ALWAYS saved", Daddy replied. Or at least he did in his head... 

Videoclip: A Story - by Emily Rooke

One of Jack Frost's goblins

In order to keep on integrating Niomi to full-on Rooke life, and to build on her musical introductions, we've been encouraging her to get downright dirty in her play. Her birthday treat was to somewhere called "The Messy Place" (does what it says on the tin really). We've also had the paints, crayons, glitter, glue, sticky paper and anything else you can lay your hands on, out big style. She's generally an outdoor kinda gal so can be quite vocal in her avoidance of such nonsense, but, with a little perseverance and persuasion she's coming on grand in the creativity stakes as well. So if she's not trying on men's clothes, she's now making odd art, as well. Plenty of people have made a living doing far worse in the last 50 years, so we have high hopes for her future career prospects in the 'retro' art field...

Girl's only art session

Red hand of destiny

Purple hand of freedom

Shoe Fetish Part 1

Shoe Fetish Part 2

Sisters hand in hand

A 'handbow'

Meet the (grand)parents...

grand

/ɡrand/
adjective

1. magnificent and imposing in appearance, size, or style.
2. denoting the largest or most important item of its kind.
3. informal very good or enjoyable; excellent.
4. (in names of family relationships) denoting one generation removed in ascent or descent.

Grandparents are a wonderful thing. They're able to give a whole lot of love and fun to a young girl's life. They like to spoil; giving gifts, time and treats (and to us as well). They give stories and experience which make kids feel special and parents feel like the craziness is just 'normal'. Most importantly for me they give an "old school charm" which re-enforces to me that many of the trappings of modern society are nothing more than frills - and that the best thing you can give to kids is your attention, time and love.

So, when it comes to grandparents all of the above definitions of 'grand' can apply. Niomi's been settling in really well so we thought it time she met them all. She's lucky as she has 4 wonderful senior relatives in the shape of Nana, Baba, Grandma and Grandad. And even though they don't live round the corner, she took to them all a treat and, unlike Emily, she seemed to have a particularly penchant to the male species of grandparent.

Delight at meeting the "magnificent, important, enjoyable one generation removed"

First up was Nana and Baba and we had a lovely time which included our annual trip back to the snowdrops of Gargunnock where we got married. Then Grandma and Grandad came, bringing with them Storm Doris which was kind of apt as my Mum shares one of her names with the storm. All of the visits were a great success which is great to see as Niomi joins our family story.

Breakfast with Nana

A walk in the woods with Nana and Baba

Storytime with Grandad

And tower building with Grandma

Niomi has brought with her some of her uniqueness to add to the growing Rooke tapestry of oddities. Her favourite thing at present is dressing up. Not in the traditional sense of witches outfits or princess dresses, but in whatever and whoever's clothes she can find lying around (and in her house there's always plenty of props to hand). Turn your back and she's wearing my pants on her head. Turn your back again and she has Tanya's wellies on. Turn your back for a little longer and she has a whole range of gear on. It's a constant source of amusement just now. That said, she's a fast mover. No sooner is something on, and its off again - so pretty hard to capture on camera. Great practice for a future career on the stage or as a super-hero. It's giving us all lots of laughter though - even if our drawers are constantly being emptied. But for now, at least we know she can dress herself - one less hurdle we have to overcome.

Swimming costume over clothes - future super-hero look

 Soulful yet sporty

Emily assisting too - pants, socks the works

5 years on - Gargunnock with 2 additions :-)

I'd like to teach the world to sing...

I really would like to teach the world to sing (in perfect harmony) but, being a little short in the musicality department, I've probably got more chance of doing that in the way that the New Seekers intended it, than in any sort of melodic capacity. Still, god loves a trier, and in the Rooke household we do love to try.

We regularly have sing-alongs and dance-alongs. Everyone joins in. No-one in the house can carry a tune - the young ones are too young to have mastered it, and the older ones are beyond hope. But still we approach it, as best we can, with gusto and enthusiasm, and we all 'seem' to have a lovely time. Instruments are festooned around the house for anyone and everyone to pick up, bash, blow or do whatever takes their fancy. Early weekend mornings are a real treat if you're ever passing. Mummy and Daddy, fuelled by far too much caffeine, are usually to be found dancing and singing away, whilst the girls just look on shocked until they are resigned to join in. It normally ends in some sort of pyjama disco-tastic extravaganza. Or at least that's how it is in our heads...

 Mummy Daddy NO!

No really Mummy Daddy - NO, NO, NO!!!

And so if you've truly never sung and danced your heart out when no-ones looking - then it comes highly recommended. Go for it - it's very good for the soul. And we all need that from time to time.

Videoclip: Puff the Magic Dragon

Trumpet Eating

Videoclip: Musical genius is born

Talking of good for the soul. We are increasingly becoming a bit of a hippy family. Flowers (look out for the campervan's new additions later in the year), meditation, peace and love are starting to find their way more and more into our lives. What could be better? And so now that you're all singing and dancing away when no-ones looking - go back and listen to the New Seekers. There's a valuable lesson for us all in there...

I'd like to build the world a home
And furnish it with love
Grow apple trees and honey bees
And snow white turtle doves

I'd like to teach the world to sing
In perfect harmony
I'd like to hold it in my arms
And keep it company

I'd like to see the world for once
All standing hand in hand
And hear them echo through the hills
For peace through out the land
(That's the song I hear)

Enough said 😊

Family...

Our Family by Emily

We don't have much of monetary value in our family, but we do value the wealth of our story. The tapestry we weave and the legacy we leave behind. And with Niomi joining our tale - the narrative just got a whole heap richer. I'm not saying we under-estimated the challenge of suddenly having a 2 year old live with you full time who doesn't know you at all, but, along with the many joys it brings, there has been a whole lot of bedding in, understanding and accommodating all our differences, and re-balancing all the relationships so that our story can continue.

 Our Family by Nikon

 Sister chat

 Daddy and daughter bonding

So the last few weeks have been a big learning curve all round. We've learned to appreciate the restorative joy that coffee brings after another 5am start. We've learned that Niomi is definitely entering the 'twos' and starting to exert her views and independence. We've learned she's also a great explorer and incredibly inquisitive about what life has to offer. We've learned the art of communication with someone who doesn't yet speak but still wants to talk. And we've re-learned just how much joy children can bring, and that family really is the most important thing.

And in amongst all this we've had plenty of visits from our wider family to further introduce Niomi to the wonderful story she is now a part of - with another few planned over the next few weeks. There's also been Chinese New Year, and, to top it off, Niomi actually hit two proper - which was celebrated with lots of games, cake and giggles. 

Family truly is a wonderful thing. 

"A happy family is but an earlier heaven" (Sir John Bowring)

And whilst we're not perfect, we're doing our best to try and be happy.

Birthday races in the garden

 Two candles with one puff

 A horse called John

Cousins :-)

Bubble-tastic in the garden

 Learning to smile for the camera

 Exploring - did I really just unravel the whole roll?

Lanterns for a Happy Chinese New Year

Two is more than double one...

Before Niomi arrived someone said to me "Remember, two is more than double one". Now, generally my reaction to mathematical misnomers, is to ignore them at best or cast derision on them at worst. But 10 days in with 2 children I am beginning to see their point.

Strapped in out of harms way

I am knackered. It's official. Mummy's knackered too. That's also official. The pair of them have run us ragged.

Niomi is an explorer. I don't think there is a cupboard, drawer, shelf or such like anywhere in the house that she hasn't wanted to investigate since she moved in. And she moves fast. Turn your back and she's off. On one level we are delighted that she has such a wonderfully inquisitive mind, on another level please read above - we are knackered. And coupled with meeting all the physical, enquiring needs of a very adventurous nearly 2 year old - we've also been trying to meet her emotional needs as she comes to terms with the transition to ourselves. It's been a dynamic rollercoaster of a week but things are now starting to settle down (we hope).

Emily is taking on the role of big sister, and she's doing really well at it. She's loving Niomi being around although sometimes her expectations of a 2 year old exceed reality. We did a lot of work preparing her for this paradigm shift in her life, and that, coupled with the fact she's generally pretty lovely to be around, seems to be paying dividends so far. There's been the odd jealous moment (mainly about Mummy's attention more than anything) but that's generally been overcome by her lovely nature and making a big fuss of her too. We're really very proud of her just now. All that said though, we've still had to meet her needs as well which was a pretty much full time job anyway. So as above, we're still knackered.

We've invested (ahem - in our hand me ons and second hand style) in our garden, which has had a massive trampoline and double swing land in it. So if you're ever passing and fancy a quick bounce please pop in. I'm not sure Niomi has figured it out as that exciting yet but Emily was definitely over the moon. Thanks to Shaun/John/James, Nana and Baba, Grandma and Grandad for their various parts in turning the garden into a play park.

Anyway, as we move through week two, send us good sleep vibes and all the energy you can muster. It's 8.30 pm now and I'm already thinking about bed. If this is my last post, you'll know I've just finally run out of steam because "two is definitely more than double one."

 Niomi loves music and dancing

 Super, super excited trampoline face

 Getting to know Buddha in the garden

 Sitting still and calm for at least 10 seconds

Mummy - Daughter 2 bonding session

Hello Niomi...

Niomi - by Emily

And so last week's transition came and went. Niomi has now been with us since Friday 13th January 2017, and it certainly hasn't been unlucky for us. She is a wonderful, free-spirited and feisty young girl. She is funny and happy and can win your heart in an instance. She might not say much just now but she knows her mind, and has no trouble letting you know it. She's run us ragged over the past few days but we've had so much fun and already we can see her settling into our family life. We are truly blessed...

Welcome to the Rooke family Niomi. May we have many, many adventures together and so, so, so much fun. May the love and special times that we have together create wonderful memories that will last forever.

First meetings

Videoclip: Toe painting

 Sisters

Family

The best of times...

It was the best of times and it was indeed a tale of two cities (well, towns actually - Kirkintilloch and North Berwick). But these were no Dickensian festivities, as Christmas and New Year this year was a truly wonderful time with some wonderful, wonderful family fun. And we are left feeling truly blessed.

In all senses we were catering for many different needs at Christmas, but from 4 to 84 (well, nearly 87 actually) we all accommodated each other and spent some lovely, lovely moments throughout the period. We started with 5 on the 22nd, but this rose to 9 on Christmas Eve, before peaking at 11 on the 27th, and then a slow departure back to the 3 of us by the 29th. It was a houseful, with a bellyful of laughter and a gutful of food for good measure. We ate, drank, sang, chatted, played games and generally made merry. We even ventured out in between the worst that Storm Barbara and Conor could throw at us. And the highlight? For me it was definitely Emily throwing aside my careful 'dad-planning' of Santa's descent to the garden, and whizzing round at top speed, sprinkling reindeer dust as fast as she could caper. The magic was definitely there in those precious moments, as was a tear in my eye.

 Chloe and Emily became inseparable (thanks Chloe)

 Jenny was on guitar

 Chloe on piano with the rest on voice and sleeping beauty in the corner

 And two Santa's appeared in a cardboard sleigh

 Obligatory sprout preparation

 Eyes firmly closed for full surprise effect

 This year's fashion essential

 The 'after eight' game

The 'full Christmas' 4.5 hour marathon commenced

And then barely did we catch our breath and it was off to North Berwick for the bells and another marathon in the 5 hour steak pie making - but boy was it good :-). The Gurney's had miraculously pulled their house together from their stunning house alterations just in time to allow me to go and drink John's whisky in what is now a highly salubrious environment. And it was again a time full of people, laughter, game playing and great food. From a select 5 on New Years Eve to a raucous 14 on New Year's Day, we had fun, fun, fun all the way. Thanks again to the Gurney's.

 Welcome indeed 2017

Lovely food in a new lovely living space

And now we're ready for the off again. The planning for Niomi's arrival has begun apace and within days she will be living with us. Please keep your fingers crossed for a smooth sailing over the next fortnight, but above all we hope you have a Happy New Year. 

May 2017 see the best of times come to you all...

One very excited big sister in waiting