Hammonds Christmas Eve Dinner

In previous years we have cooked the traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas day but with all that effort that goes with the meal it always seems that the day ends too quickly, so this year we decided to have dinner on Christmas eve which worked well and we are all looking forward to a more relaxing day tomorrow.

Eager eaters! the fondant potatoes and red cabbage did eventually make it to the table.

Scott special chocolate pudding..... nom a nom a nom

Christmas Race

No your not seeing pictures from Australia, these are from SUNNY Weymouth, and today was the yearly Santa race. The idea is simple, dress up as Santa and catch the person dressed as a Christmas pudding!

The Santa warm up to Christmas Pop songs.

The Christmas Pudding

And they are off !

My money was on the Santa greyhound!

Christmas Donkey Ride

Today was such good weather we went down the beach and had a morning enjoying the calm sea, sky and the local attractions, while me and Katharine enjoyed a coffee the children found dogs to play with and donkey rides, who needs Santa Claus.

Jacob was very impressed with his donkey because it can poo and walk at the same time.

Donkey race is on.

Trio of Christmas Plays

Its Christmas time there is no need to be afraid..... oh yes there is when you have three school Christmas plays to attend. First up was Oliver's year whose performance was of the little match girl, which I had never seen before and had a lump in the throat in the end! the next day was Bethany's year whose show was called "Creepy crawly Christmas" Who knew insects saved the star from falling at the birth of Christ, well you do learn something every day. The final performance was Jacob & Rebecca's whose play was called "Prickly hay" and they were dressed as cowboys for the "Stable Ho down". All I can say was that the plays were very performed and the costumes were amazing as well as the singing so overall it was a success.

Oliver as the Town Crier. Oh Yey!

Bethany as the Virgin Mary!

Rebecca the fastest girl in reception.

Jacob so hungry he could eat a horse.

Twins 5th Birthday

WOW! where does the time go!! Jacob & Rebecca have reached there 5th birthday and everybody is excited! Jacob was so looking forward to his birthday he woke at 10:30 the night before and wondered in to our bedroom to admire his present pile! but after convincing him it was not morning he soon went back to sleep. The day started with present opening and a short play before school. At midday we collected them from school and had playtime before their party guests arrived, then the games started. All was going to plan when we received an unexpected telephone call from one of the childs parents to say a fire engine was about to arrive, and would they like to climb aboard. After convincing the mothers it was a child only activity they spent the remainder of the party on the engine, and we almost missed the lighting of the fantastic cake that mummy made!

The amazing treasure chest cake.

Party Guests

Gentle trial walk

One recent sunny day we took a nice walk along a trail that leads from Weymouth to Portland harbour. The views were amazing and the local nature was impressive too!

Part of Portland harbour.

Jacob on top of the world

Local boats bobbing about.

Girls sharing there recent treasure find

All Aboard the Bounty II

A few weekends ago we were shocked to find a tall ship docked in Weymouth harbour, we manage to stow aboard to take a closer look at this ship which was soon to depart to the Caribbean.

The might Bounty II which was also used in the Pirates of the Caribbean!

Who is going to decide which way to go!

Jacob not to impressed with the seafood on offer.

Rebecca not impressed with the lack of ammo!

New Beginnings

A month off blogging due to summer holidays and camera trouble, well it seems as though everything is now back to working order. So we begin with the start of school for all the little Hammonds. It was going to be a strange start to the year for all, Oliver was moving in to a mixed class of year 5 & 6, Bethany was now moving in to key stage 2 playground, Jacob & Rebecca start school reception, with out any worries! well the only worries were going to be able to cope with them! Rebecca already informed me that a teacher told her she had to stop & listen when a teacher says 1,2,3 stop! Rebecca has already decided this method is not suitable for her to learn.

Get ready teachers, here they come.

The Birthday cake.

Yes its a giant Hot Dog ..... Cake!

Sports Day 2011 Part 1

Sports day time is beginning again, and first up was the smarties sports day.

Rebecca showing how it is done, "come on, one foot then the other"

I think I need a push!

Rebecca tricking Jacob, telling him the tunnel is dark!

Egg & spoon! "Should I have it scrambled, hard boiled or fried".

Rebecca storming ahead in the sack race!!.

Busy Sunny Day

A wonderful sunny day yet again, so we were clothed, fed and ready to go by 9am. First stop Weymouth Beach.

My Kayak is bigger than your kayak

Next stop was a Tudor re-enactment at Sandsfoot Castle, we learnt about the food people ate and the weapons used in the civil war. We tried to eat our picnic while they were performing the gun demonstration, but its hard to eat when the keep telling you to put your hands over your ears.

Photos by Bethany

Jacob not to impressed by his sword

The aim is to throw sticks at the white ball.

Ready for the picnic

Aim, ready

Fire!!

After lunch, we cleaned the car as it was looking more like Weymouth Beach.

Two little helpers.

In the afternoon Oliver had his last sport session of his eight week event, and he won a trophy for Tag Rugby.

Oliver with his first of many trophies i'm sure.

Lulworth Cove June 2010

I am very thankful to the striking teachers today as it gave me an extra day with the children. I thought we ought to do some home schooling really, so we went on a field trip to Lulworth Cove. We had maths when we added up the car park money, home ec when we had a picnic, PE when they climbed on the rocks, geology when looking at the pebbles, biology when we looked at the crabs and sea anemones and art when the children found some clay and made lots of models. All angles covered so we got on with enjoying a fantastic day out in the sunshine!

Very interesting. Men lugging bags onto beach from a boat. Could it be pirate treasure?

Their haul was piled up and the camera zoom not quite strong enough to get a good look, so we meandered up the beach to find out if there was any gold going spare.

Only if you like scallops! A days catch, going straight to London to make someone else some gold. Oliver did check to make sure they hadn't left any bags behind!

Bethany's catch of some sea anemones. Endlessly fascinating.

Oliver's favourite...one of many crabs. This being one of the smallest.

Jacob with his most favourite thing in the whole world...rocks. Lots and lots of rocks. Thankfully this one has not made it back to sit in our garden with half of Weymouth beach which is already there.

Oliver on a mission to collect water for his crab castle. The crabs moved in to the sand castle Rebecca and I made and was then filled with water in an attempt to keep the crabs in one place. It didn't work. We forgot they have lots of legs and move really fast. No animals were harmed in the making of this experiment. They were released back into the sea.

Lots of synchronised playtime going on today!

No idea!