Review of 2012

While I was sorting through photos to create a photo book for 2012, I was encouraged to see the range of photos from all we had done during the year.  Sometimes I feel I don't do enough with the kids but looking back at my photographic evidence made me feel a bit better!  

So here it is...my look back at 2012.

Still only month 4 after our move from London, January saw us exploring the locals parks, decorating the bedrooms with a little help from DS, and discovering Staunton Country Park where we were lucky enough to see newborn piglets just a few days old.

February gave us our first real taste of snow outside London...and it didn't disappoint!

On a wet day in March, we discovered The Sculpture Park and had great fun exploring all the sculptures.  DS was lucky enough to meet Mr Bloom at an event organised by The Organic Cookery School.

If DS were editing this post, I have little doubt that our day out on the Watercress Line to meet Thomas in April would be one of the year's highlights!

After a chilly start to May which saw us exploring Littlehampton beach one wet & windy Saturday, the weather opened up possibilities of picnic suppers in the garden, numerous trips to Guildford Lido in the sunshine and lazy afternoon naps on the lawn.

With DS comfortably settled at nursery 4 days a week by June, I took DD to her first experience of a show and we headed back to our old stomping ground of West London to see In The Night Garden Live.  We also discovered the delights of Pewley Down at the top of Guildford one weekend, and the kids managed to burn off a ton of energy running through the fields.

There is almost too much to document for July!  The Olympic torch coming through Godalming and the start of the Olympics, visits to Fishers Farm Park, Alice Holt and Birdworld, surviving the mud at Guilfest, trips to London to see Daddy and a fabulous children's show at Priceless London Wonderground, more fun in the garden with the now added bonus of a paddling pool, a day out to Rustington beach and the delights of early morning in The Devil's Punchbowl...I'm exhausted just reading that ;)

We took advantage of the long lazy days of school holidays in August and headed off for a short break in Wales but once back at Three Counties Mum HQ, there was lots of fun to be had...a joint birthday party for DS and DD, trying our hand at PYO and a wonderful afternoon for DH and I where we escaped the littles for an afternoon at the Olympic Park.

September's big event was of course DS starting school, with DD joining in the fun by starting nursery.  Throw in a couple of birthday parties, a trip to the circus and a visit to Winkworth and the month had already passed us by in a haze.  Oh, and the paddling pool was still out...I was reluctant to put it away for winter in case we had another sunny day but alas the only thing we could use it for by then was jumping in it wearing our wellies!

By October, we were almost becoming regulars at Haslemere Museum thanks to their excellent Early Years programme and the dressing up section that DS doesn't seem to tire of!  With friends visiting from Japan and our mammoth drive to Europe, there wasn't much room left for anything else that month except for the excitement of DS bringing the class bear home for the weekend and our adventures taking him to London.

The start of November saw us still in Europe, enjoying Belgian waffles and flying kites on the beach.  After our return, we had a fairly quiet month but managed to squeeze in an evening watching the fireworks in Godalming and trying out a new playgroup in Haslemere.  Oh, and me attempting to snap a decent photo for our xmas cards!

What with all the Christmas preparations, there wasn't much time left in December but we did find time for the Haslemere Christmas Market, a production of The Very Snowy Christmas at Cranleigh Arts Centre, a Babes In the Wood Christmas Special at Alice Holt and of course the panto at the Yvonne Arnaud theatre in Guildford for DS and I.  After the madness of Christmas, I was glad I had the forethought to book ahead for a showing of The Polar Express at Haslemere Hall...the kids absolutely loved it and it was a lovely family afternoon.

And so now on to 2013 and all it brings.  I'm hoping to spend more time on the Blog with more local reviews and info, making it even bigger, better and brighter than before.  Wish me luck!