I think its safe to say 2015 certainly wasn’t the finest of years for us, its been pretty much been filled with ill health, tears, grief and turmoil. On the outside we have kept ourselves together, ClearlyDaddy and I have focused on the kids and the family business even though we have been grieving and also trying to focus on our future.
We have been grieving for the loss of Mick, my Step Father in Law who passed away back in April, he had been ill for a long time but unfortunately his diagnosis and treatment came too little too late. We are greatly missing him, Leah I think is still too young to understand what has happened and has carried on with her day to day life whilst Lewis we think understands that Grandad has died but still wont open up fully to talk about it. We don’t push him to talk, even though we are regularly talk about Mick around him, we have photo’s and memories which we are keeping alive around us.
Also we have been battling with my health too, back at the End of May I was diagnosed with Endometriosis and after a laparoscopy I was informed even with as little scar tissue as I have I should lead a fairly normal life… how wrong they were they! Since my last update we decided to keep it a secret and try for another child, adding a last little person to our family but since October onwards my condition has gradually got worse, pain has increased incredibly and have been taken to hospital twice due to the pain becoming too much. I am still suffering now so at the beginning of December I unfortunately took the decision to end adding to our family and went back on contraceptives. I am now happy to say that 3 weeks later my pain has pretty much subsided completely. I am sad to not be able to conceive again but I am immensely blessed with the children we have and our beautiful family.
With all this negativity we did have some amazing times this year, now I shall share a few of them with you!
January & February
During the school term January – Easter I signed up for a beginners photography course. I learnt not just vital skills on how to use my camera but skills and knowledge which will last a lifetime on composing the perfect picture, setting up my camera and beginning my journey on using my camera in manual mode.
March
March is the month of Leah’s birthday, on the day of her birthday we took a trip over to Manchester to visit Sealife Centre and LEGOLAND Discover Centre. Whilst we were on Leah’s birthday outing trip we were joined by MotherGeek and Batman who helped us celebrate.
April
Even though April brought an amount of sadness for us as my Step Father In Law passed away it also brought an amount of excitement for the kids, we were invited along to National SEALIFE Centre Birmingham but also Drayton Manor Park to attend two new events and also enter to become Ambassadors for 2015 with them. We were soon delighted to be chosen to become Ambassadors for both locations, Ambassadorships which we have cherished and thoroughly enjoyed this season.
Left; Drayton Manor – Right; Sealife Centre
May
I think it’d be fair to say May was one of our hardest months, as at the beginning of the month we buried Mick and then at the end of the month I was then diagnosed with Endometriosis. In the meantime we did manage to squeeze in a bit of fun, we had our first family foreign holiday. I actually won this holiday, 5 nights in a 5* hotel in Tenerife and they were an absolutely lovely 5 nights too. The kids haven’t stopped talking about this holiday since, every day one of them ask “can we go back to Tenerife yet?!” – I think I need to book our 2016 trip!
June
Another birthday this month, this time Lewis’s. Luck was on our side for his birthday as it was a weekend so we had a weekend celebration. Saturday (the day of his birthday) we ventured over to National Sealife Centre, took lots of photos and later that day my phone was stolen (SOB!). Then on Sunday my family visited, the weather was lovely so we took a wander down to Ironbridge. Albeit the missing phone we had a lovely weekend celebrating Lewis’s birthday.
July
Summer holidays time, this year we were granted with not just 6 but 7 whole weeks of keeping kids entertained, happy and out of mischief… Mission accomplished!! The first fortnight saw us visit Drayton Manor Park, Blists Hill Victorian Town and West Midlands Safari Park. Lovely days out with friends and family.
Left; West Midlands Safari Park – Centre; Blists Hill – Right; Drayton Manor (Again!)
August
More summer holidays fun, blog events and something special from Birmingham City… The Big Hoot trail! August also brings a special event for Lewis, he gets to spend a couple of days in Lancashire sleeping over at Nanna and Grandad’s house, an event he spends 51 weeks of the year counting down to!
Top Left; Making Pizza with Strada – Top Centre; The Big Hoot Trail – Top Right; Jodrell Bank
Bottom; a day at Hanbury Hall
September
I was completely done in by the time the kids went back to school and nursery, but not done in enough to have friends to visit from MotherGeek and also spend a day at Silverstone watching the Touring Cars.
Left; Leah and Sydney enjoying lunch at Blists Hill – Right; Capturing Touring Cars
October
This month I had SO so much fun with photography, by now I had completed both the beginners and intermediary photography courses and I am now feeling so much more confident with my camera and settings. I enjoyed practising in low light at Ironbridge for the Night of Heritage Light and also photographing the fireworks at Drayton Manor Park.
November
At the end of November it was declared that EON were closing down Ironbridge Power Station, it was now running in its final hours. Oh a sunny afternoon before the school I took a drive out to try and capture the power station before it was completely closed down.
December
Its only fair I mention Christmas, Santa did a good one! Can you tell?
It was good capturing out year, my photography is going from strength to strength and I am looking forward to seeing what my photography and blog bring in my direction for 2016!
Happy New Year x
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