Thursday 31 December 2015

LisasMiles 365:365

From the Highlands of Scotland where a run affords you views like this, the Stevens family wish you all lots of smiles in 2016. And tomorrow I'll reveal my new blog for 2016. Watch this space! 

Wednesday 30 December 2015

LisaSmiles 364:365

Floods and howling wind didn't stop us and we made it to the Highlands. Our cottage is lovely and the toiletries smell gorgeous. Highland soaps are going to be getting some custom...
Liked the huge horses heads on the drive from Edinburgh. 
And you've got to love a toilet that doubles as a library! 

 

LisaSmiles 363:365

Happy birthday Isaac! 
We've arrived in Scotland. Looking forward to eating this!! 

LisaSmiles 362:365

Love the many faces of Jude - so many that they wouldn't fit on one collage! 

Sunday 27 December 2015

LisaSmiles 360:365

A family present giving pile up (minus the one watching the CBeebies pantomime for the fourth time this afternoon)

LisasMiles 361:365

Running in the park this afternoon. Starting to lose the 'hard work' feeling that you get when you've been ill and enjoyed it, even running up the hill from Boldmere to the ice cream van and the very steep stretch up to the Bistro. 
In other news, Jude played trumpet at church and was brilliant. Also at church,  Donald skilfully rolled worry pebbles to by our feet whilst we were singing/playing and amused Jude by rolling it straight into the spit puddle from his trumpet; appropriate I think! 

Wednesday 23 December 2015

LisaSmiles 357:365

Christmas pudding alight! 
Teleconference at a service station, a cracker-delivered whistle orchestra, the hunt for Christmas jumpers, cake eating and wrapping part 2. Time with the in-laws is always amusing: hunt the remote control was today's task. It was found in the basket by the chair of the person who was searching for it! 'That's where I keep it!'
Indeed... ;)

Tuesday 22 December 2015

LisaSmiles 356:365

Shopping.
Lovely run before it rained. Quite fast too :)
Although the shop we wanted to visit was shut, it gave us a good excuse to have a seasonal coffee.  
And I've finished my Christmas shopping! 

Monday 21 December 2015

LisaSmiles 355:365

Another item on my 'to do' list done, and another area of my 'office' tidied.
Nativity 2 made me smile. 
The boys made me laugh. 
I answered several questions correctly whilst watching University Challenge. 
I've nearly finished my Christmas shopping. 
And Jude shared this again!

Sunday 20 December 2015

LisaSmiles 354:365

An absolutely awesome carol service - in the true sense of the word awesome. The music was magnificent and at times I found it hard to contain myself. And we got to do it all twice! 

Saturday 19 December 2015

LisaSmiles 353:365

The joy at seeing packs of Guarana Antarctica can never be underestimated!  
The Bridge finale! Although I'd worked out who the killer was, I hadn't worked out why. And Saga - what a character! Broke my heart. 

Friday 18 December 2015

LisasMiles 352:365

What a beautiful morning for a run!
Having run five miles I'd earned the end of term pizza lunch too! 
Very grateful and relieved to have reached the end of term without major injury to myself or others! 

Thursday 17 December 2015

LisaSmiles 351:365

Watching this filled me with great joy today - and reminded me of how mild it is this year!
https://www.facebook.com/lisibo/videos/10150137445889152/?l=1051923297973406993

And I LOVED singing Christmas carols with Shelagh at carol service rehearsal, especially with the amazing brass section!

Wednesday 16 December 2015

Tuesday 15 December 2015

Monday 14 December 2015

LisaSmiles 348:365

Lots of peace to get some work done.
Getting "sorted out" by  the lovely Emily. 
Watching Guy Martin. 
My family :) 
Picture made a year ago and I'd say still accurate! 

Sunday 13 December 2015

LisaSmiles 347:365

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! Love this time of year with the lights twinkling in the darkness!
Had a good run this afternoon in the fog. 
And Anton and Katy made the SCD final. Jay to win though I think! 

Friday 11 December 2015

LisasMiles 345:365

A nearly felt human whilst running this morning. 
I stayed calm when a digger decided to park across my drive. 
I had a fun time in IKEA! 
And the Plantsbrook Christmas concert was excellent. Marvellous music stand decorating Jude and Alex! And you were right Noah ;)

Thursday 10 December 2015

LisaSmiles 344:365

TwinCR night out was fun albeit a rather late night that was extended by the search for tinsel for Jude. 

Wednesday 9 December 2015

LisaSmiles 343:365

Really enjoyed Jack and the Meanstalk this morning as did the kids! 


Tuesday 8 December 2015

LisaSmiles 342:365

An afternoon with y6 spent making baubles. I was sure they'd run out of things to do but only one person finished in the 85 minutes we had! Perhaps the wait for the hole punch was what did it...

Monday 7 December 2015

LisaSmiles 341:365

Busy today with Options evening for Jude and then Parents' Evening for Isaac. Very proud of them both as their teachers all smiled when they saw them and had nothing but praise for their efforts and achievements.

Sunday 6 December 2015

LisaSmiles 340:365

Still feeling grotty but who can fail to smile at a meerkat screaming 'Gleb!' at SCD? Or a child who insists that Maltesers are thrown into his mouth as if he is performing seal?

Saturday 5 December 2015

LisaSmiles 339:365

Smiling after a good day with friends old and new.
Smiling that I arrived home safely. I'm not a great fan of driving at night at the best of times but when  I feel ill, it's even worse.
And smiling because I'm with my mad family.
And it's Bron/Broen time!

Friday 4 December 2015

LisaSmiles 338:365

A Christmas place setting. Odd to be at NCL at Christmas! 
Today's Advent challenge from the Bible Society was to smile more. I tried and I think succeeded! 

Thursday 3 December 2015

LisaSmiles 337:365

I am the proud mother of a grade 6 trumpet player! 
I survived a day with a very croaky voice. 
This chap made me smile as I was doing my daily Duolingo. 

Wednesday 2 December 2015

LisaSmiles 336:365

Christmas decoration time at school. Capped a good day with no real disagreements with children over behaviour, some great work and a surprise Y6 free afternoon that filled my heart with great joy!

Tuesday 1 December 2015

LisaSmiles 335:365

Enjoyed handing over Language Leader badges this afternoon. I also enjoyed marking my books whilst marvelling at the patience of one of the TAs!

The first day of The Bible Society Advent challenge saw me making cards for people I love - so the boys each got a little card with (one of the) reasons I love them. And that made me smile!