Center Parcs With The Bulls & Davies'

We've just come back from a great week away with The Bulls and Davies' at Center Parcs in Longleat. Here's a quick glimpse into the holiday...





This one is a very rare photo of Daniel actually eating!! He was well distracted by Bex, Mike, Katie, Emma, Lucy & Sam - well done guys!








This is a photo of us all at Graham's 40th Birthday party bash in one of our villa's.







We had a great time playing pass the parcel, pin the tail on the donkey and eating a whole load of fantastic party food. Graham's favourite present was this pair of speedo's (which he wore in the pool on Friday - what a sight going down the rapids)!!!







We were fortunate enough to have two days of really good snow, as you can see on this photo from our villa. Anyone up for snowbathing (again)?!!





This is a photo in the restaurant on Graham's actual 40th Birthday.









And a gorgeous close-up of Daniel, showing us one of his best grins...








This is a good one of Sam and me. I only left this one in so you can see my new jumper!!

The Garden Transformation

One project we've been putting on the back burner since having our house extended last year was the planting up of the front garden. It took me ages to dig out all the rubble and take it to the dump and dig in a load of manure and wood chip, but it has looked dreadful for the past 6 months or so. I finally got around to getting some new topsoil and this is what it looked like just after this was delivered (not a pretty sight)!...

I then had some fantastic garden design assistance from Nigel Joinson, a good friend of mine, who came up with the following superb set of suggestions for a planting scheme (thanks again Nigel)!..

Next came the expensive job of buying all the trees, shrubs and plants, but it was well worth it when you see the finished results below...

The latest on the twins

Ok, so we've just had the 20-week scan for the twins and here are the photo's to prove it. Handsome aren't they?!!

They look fairly relaxed don't they? The consultant was a bit concerned about the difference in size of the twins, so we're going to have to see a different specialist consultant in Bristol next week. If you know us, please remember us in your prayers - thanks!

Daniel's Star Chart

We reached another family milestone on 14th Feb. Daniel was dry for 10 consecutive nights, as can be seen clearly from the Thomas star chart. This means that we are now officially "nappy free", at least for a few months until the twins arrive! Dad promised a special present to both Daniel and Sam and here you can see them both proudly showing off their new engines, Donald and Douglas (identical twins)!!!

Did you know my photos were famous?

Did I mention that I submitted a couple of photos to the BBC web site? Check out the following links to see them...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4482062.stm (Photo no 10)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_pictures/4643754.stm (Photo no 6)

Aberaeron & Llanddewi-Brefi

Here are a few photo's of a totally relaxing day out last Saturday...

What a fab cottage!

Have a look at http://www.oldreccottages.com/ for full details.

It was unusual for us not to have the boys with us, but a great opportunity to just "chill-out"!

Here's the Birthday girl herself...

And Graham & Kath rehersing a pose for their 40th party later this month....!

And the sun shone on us all day in Aberaeron...

Can you work out who is who from this lovely "does my bum look big in this" shot.....?

And, as Martyn kindly pointed out, I was the only "grey" in the village...

Helen Bull's 40th Weekend Bash!

As most of our friends are now reaching their 40th Birthdays, January is a real month of Celebration! Here are a few photos of our weekend away with Helen & Martyn Bull and Graham & Kath Davies at a fantastic cottage in West Wales.

It was great to dress-up for a gorgeous meal out on the Friday night...

And what a lovely set of wives we have between us!

The men don't scrub up too bady either..

The Boys on New Years Eve

Here's a gorgeous photo of Sam and Daniel on New Years eve...

BIG News!

OK, so we've had a great Christmas and we're looking forward to the New Year as a family. This is made even more exciting by the prospect of having a new child in 2006. What a shock we had today at the first scan, when we were told Helen was expecting TWINS!!!! The news is no where near sinking-in yet! Sam and Daniel were right all along. They have been telling mum and dad that there are two babies and not just one...."from the mouths of babes"!

Here's the evidence - the scan people in the hospital were so shocked we didn't know the news already that they forgot to print out the "decent" photos, so these are what we ended up with. I'm sure there will be lots more scan photos over the coming weeks!

And here's a photo of Sam and Daniel when they heard our "news". They are both very excited!

The Boys with their Scooters

This is a lovely photo of Sam & Daniel with their scooters. They were using them as a den while they were watching a new Thomas the Tank Engine DVD they had for Christmas!

Boxing Day - Bodger Style

Here are a few photos of Boxing Day at Grandma & Bamp's house....

Check out Sara's mouthful of green beans!

Sam really enjoyed his second full Christmas dinner in a row!

And Daniel did really well too, with a little help from his cousin Rachel!

I just love this photo of Helen with Daniel at Grandma's house. Doesn't she look radiant? By the way, have I mentioned that we're expecting Baby number 3?!!!!

Christmas Day - Bodger Style

Here are a few photos to give you a glimpse of life in the Bodger household on Christmas day...

This is what was left over from Father Christmas and Rudolf. It looks like Father Christmas really enjoyed his bottle of beer, chocolate and mince pie and there's no sign of Rudolf's carrot!

These are Daniel and Sam opening their Christmas stockings...

Mum and Dad gave the boys scooters - which they absolutely love to bits. They have worn groves in the kitchen floor already. I must show them how to use their brakes, as I'm not sure the utility room door can take much more...!

Uncle Steve seemed to enjoy his Pirate Ship present - we were worried it would be too intellectual for him, but he seems to be coping!!

And this is the fantatsic Christmas dinner - the first of many in the recently extended Bodger house!

This is what Grandad looks like after a few glasses of mulled wine - you wouldn't want any teeth filled by him today I can assure you!

We're now at Grandma & Bamp's house, and this is a lovely photo of Sam with his cousin Sara.

And now with Daniel and Tomos.

I just loved these smiles. This is Sam & Daniel with some new trains from Grandma!

We 2 Shepherds of Orient are....

Here's a great photo of Sam and Daniel in front of the Christmas tree before they were shepherds in the Thornhill Junior Church nativity play...

A new Bodger Blog!!

So, just when you thought you were safe with the one Bodger Blog, another one is created. Check out http://thebodgers2.blogspot.com/ for the ever-increasing number of Bodger Blogs! This one was created by my brother Mark, and I'm sure you will agree that the Bodgers have been blessed with a gorgeous bunch of children!

Tomos' Birthday Tea

OK - so my new camera is now red-hot! I couldn't resist taking it along to my nephews Birthday tea! Here's a few shots of interest. This first one is the Birthday boy himself, Tomos, now age 7.

And here's one of Tomos with Bamps...

And here's one of Bamps (my Dad) with his sister Muriel (Auntie Mu). Do they look like they're facing the firing squad, or is it just me thinking that?

Caerphilly Castle

So, the new digital camera has had it's first official outing. Check out Sam and Daniel at Caerphilly Castle!

Look out - New Camera!!

OK, so you'd better look out now. I have my very first digital camera - and I plan to use it!! Watch this space for the latest photo's of the Bodger clan. These are my first ever photo's using my new camera....

What a holiday!!!

So, I've finally got around to adding some new content! What better to update you with than some photo's of the Bulls and Bodgers on a superb holiday in St Ives, Cornwall?

And what would a holiday in Cornwall be without a few top-quality pasties?!!!!!

...or some seagull poo!!!!!!!!!!!

And for something slightly more steamy.....

It was certainly not as "bubbly" without Martyn on board!!

And a photo of the real swimming pool...