June 2012

William wrote this postcard to his best friend James:
I flew a kite and nearly fell over! Dear James Love William

 Sophie at the local park.

Rhossili Bay, Gower, South Wales. This first picture is William trying to wink.


 Worm's Head in the background.

First camping trip for Summer 2012

We've just returned from a lovely weekend camping in the sunshine. We were near Brill, a small country town 30 mins from Oxford. Highlights include a great walk through fields of buttercups to a pub lunch, a small, intimate feeling festival, we all have a little sunburn, and William stayed up until 11pm listening to a country folk band. Here is the view from next to our tent.

William off for a walk among the field of buttercups.

Sophie enjoying a bath with a plastic pint glass, in a bucket.

Easter holidays in Wales 2012

We spent Easter with Andrew's parents, which is always a lovely treat. Eggs were hunted in the garden, chocolate was consumed, a birthday party tea was held in Sophie's honour and many expeditions set out hunting for dragons in caves.

The second part of our Easter holidays was spent staying in a converted chapel in North Wales, near Bangor and Angelsea. Friends stayed with us and the kids all had a ball together. Sophie also got to spent more time with her Godmother Rachel.


One day we caught a steam train from Beddgelert to Porthmadog. It was fun having lunch on the train together.


Then we had a really lovely walk back to Beddgelert along side a river - the kids lead the way!



Some video footage of Sophie laughing and running.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=L2UzrqUh31c

PS For my non-Welsh family, see this link for the legend of Gelert (which every time I hear or read, I end up crying).
http://www.beddgelerttourism.com/gelert/

PPS Beddgelert is pronounced Beth-gelert. Love the Welsh alphabet!

Sophie "reading" a book

Watch out!

Occasionally we worry that Sophie is too gender stereotyped when she spends hours and hours putting her dolls (she calls them babies) to sleep, cuddling them, feeding them, patting their backs etc. But we are reassured that she also likes other pursuits when she goes to the dress up drawer, insists on this outfit (note also sword, belt and shield) and has a sword fight with William.

The four Marshalls: January 2012

Penarth Aug 2011

At the end of our August holiday, we spent a couple of days staying at Aunty Jenny's house in Penarth, just outside Cardiff. It is a great apartment, with the added bonuses of being near the beach, having Milly the cat to meet and get to know, and Nana and Grandad stayed too, so we got to see lots of them. We spent a lovely afternoon at Barry Island beach, playing on the rocks and making sandcastles with Nana.




So, an update on the kids as of August 2011:
William played about 15 games of Ludo this week and 25 games of Snakes and Ladders. Despite the fact that these are either totally or mostly games of chance, he seems to win about 85% of the games he plays. Shall we take him to Vegas....? Although these are his first board games involving a dice, he now recognises the numbers on the dice instantly, not needing to count the spots. He has been giving Sophie a good morning hug and kiss each day and it is super sweet to see!

Sophie is learning the meaning of new words and can point to her ear, nose and throat when asked to. She points at lots of things/people that we then have to name for her. She is also becoming more vocal, and can say 'No' and 'more' (very useful words for a toddler). Sophie now understands a lot of the things we say to her and we are beginning to get a feeling that she is a very determined little character. Two upper canines came through this holiday. One thing she likes is doing buffas (aka raspberries) on Mummy's tummy, but William is still the family buffa master!