Rose on the beach

Rose (unsurprisingly) liked the beach too. She also enjoyed getting her feet wet, and the associated beach pleasure of a lick of ice cream...

Windswept on the beach

Felixstowe is not known for its sweeping sandy beach, but the warm wind swept our hair nonetheless.

Paddling

Ana was a bit surprised to discover that the sea is a bit colder than the bathtub, and even than the swimming pool!

Gran and Ana and the beach huts

We had a lovely day at the beach with a large group of extended family. It was Ana's long awaited trip to the seaside that she had been looking forward to for months. Here she is spending some time with Gran.

Two more under the table

Since Rose has claimed this under-table zone as her own, Mummy has to clean under the table more... And Ana decided to come play.

Fluffy white towels

The girls' bath time together is a splashy occasion with Rose dishing out the most vigourous splashes, causing Ana to cry out " I need my FLANNEL!!!".

Ana doesn't like getting her face wet.

Then Rose gets out and has a cuddle while Ana recovers from the onslaught with gentle bathtime play with her watering can.

Still Life

Ana amazed us the other day with this drawing of fruit; her first really life like piece.

There is a banana, a red apple, some blueberries, some grapes, some (admittedly miniature) lemons, and an orange (though we're not sure which is the apple and which is the orange). We think it's brilliant and she's clearly a genius.

If you fancy owning an original Farewell direct your inquiries towards our agents at Sotheby's.

Rose's hidey-house

If you ever walk into our house and just can't find Rose, take a peek under the dining room table. Rose discovered this wonderful area to explore a couple of weeks ago, and often you'll find her tugging on your trouser leg from under the table, and grinning impishly up at you.

Here she is knocking on the underneath of the table with her spoon (incidentally covered in some kind of orange vegetable from her dinner, hey ho).

Princess hat

We were looking through our wedding photos the other day and Ana exclaimed "Mummy's wearing my princess hat!"

Here is Ana enjoying hers while dancing around in her new dress.

Daddy time

Time spent just holding your baby is very precious, and too hard to come by! We wish babyhood was not quite so brief...

Speaking of briefs, Ana had her 1st 100% successful potty training day today - hooray!

The colander

After using this to wash some strawberries, Ana commandeered it to be a hat - much more sensible!

On our fifth anniversary

So, here is the Olney branch of the Farewell family, five years on from its commencement.

Today we were enjoying the burst of glorious sunshine between the rather impressive thunderstorms.

We have concluded that it is very difficult to get both girls to look content, and in the same direction for a photograph.

But here is Rose, just about to pull Ana's hair. Ana is currently happy. Rose gleeful. Mummy and Daddy, blissfully oblivious to it all...

Five happy years ago, today

So, we think it is fair to say that a lot has happened in five years! What will the next five hold?!

Summer is for...

Ice cream!

Awww

Lara wanted to call this "Ooo's de little pudding, wooding", but I said "no".

Riding off in their pyjamas

Rose has discovered Ana's horsey, and loves it!

What is really interesting to see (and often furstrating) is how often one of them will be playing with one toy, and then the other suddenly feels that they need that particular toy as well. In this case, it was possible to share... what a relief, as at this time in the morning, my capacity for mediation is severely impared.

Breakfast

Our Ana is getting more and more independant. Most mornings, I leave Ana watching a show on television while I have my super-speedy shower. The other day I came downstairs to find her helping herself to cereal!

But it gets better.

This morning, the cutest thing happened. Lara and I were upstairs, and Ana turns up with a bowl of cereal for Mummy! There wasn't much cereal in it, and no milk, but it was the thought that made it beautiful. And then, of course the fact that Ana then proceeded to eat most of it doesn't change this at all.

Wriggly Rose

Rose loves to crawl, and 20 meters up on a forest walkway is no exception. She wriggles and wriggles until you put her down, then off she goes to explore.

Baby Food

We've been reading lots of baby nutrition books recently, but it seems none of them have discovered this great way of getting dairy products into your child.

We think this new approach, properly marketed, could be a bestseller.

Seriously, she only got a couple of licks (which she enjoyed immensely!), and then, when Mummy wasn't looking, polished off most of Daddy's!

"Adventure walking" with Uncle Dom

Near the park in Clifton they have a lovely rocky outcrop, just perfect for a wild adventure.

A park in her sights

Mention that there's a park over the hill and it's amazing the speeds that can be accomplished!

sleeping cousins

After a lunch out in late June, both Rose and Nathan decided that sleeping in their mobile beds was preferable to shopping (sensible babies (says Tim!)).

It's so much fun having a sister!

Things are getting really fun (and chaotic!) now Rose is old enough to play...

Authentic family portrait

We tried to have a portrait photo taken of the girls the other day, but as neither of them would sit still we decided to leave empty handed. Here is a much more natural family portrait.

Mini Bee convention

Here we are all on the way to the park, Rose and Nathan in the deliciously matching buggies and Ana 'helping' to push...