Well the holidays have come to an end and the children are back at school. I will admit to enjoying a completely lazy day last Friday as the two big ones were at school and the little one was at nursery. I did the housework and was planning an essay but my TV was on, not a glimpse of Mickey Mouse, a strain of Hannah Montana or the cries of Muuummmmyyyy filled the house.
It has now however become apparent to me just how quickly Lucy is growing up. She has for a while been very good at making her feeling clear and she is quite capable of communicating what she wants, what she doesn't want and when she expects to get it. She has slowly begin to realise that throwing a tantrum is not going to get her anywhere, not that it stops her trying of course! She barks her orders ' I want ...' and expects to get it. The word no provokes a reaction varying from tears to screaming but her skills of negotiation need some work;
'Mummy I want to play Mums and Dads with Heather and Matthew'
'Sorry Lucy, they're at school.'
'Well let's go and get them.'
'We can't we have to wait until they're finished,'
'But I WANT them.'
'Well only a little while to go. Would you like me to play with you?'
'No, you're stupid!'
Oh well at least I tried!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Happy New Year
The New Year has been ushered in with a blaze of noise and colour and it was lovely to watch the fireworks in London on the TV, even if the ones locally did wake Matthew and ensured he saw the New Year in with us. I can't help thinking back 11 years to a flat in Pimlico, where I had just been to a party, one that would change my life as I had just met my future husband. We had stayed up talking most of the night after sharing a snog under the fireworks and a rather large amount of fireworks. I had insisted after he asked for my number that he had to ask in the morning when we were both more soer and he did.
What followed was a few months of late night phone calls, often resulting in banging on the wall from my family who weren't as interested in my new romance as I was. What with teacher training and working at the weekends I don't know how I even fitted it in but by Easter I was living with James and the following Christmas he proposed. I had never really believed in fate before but the randomness of me going to the party, ending up walking with James to watch the fireworks after getting separated from my other friends and us clicking so well seems like it was meant to be.
Three kids and a lot of ups and downs later we are still together and preparing to move our family to a bigger house in the New Year, fingers crossed. Lucy will start going to nursery school in September and Heather will be in Year 3 not forgetting Matthew will turn 5, a lot of big events to look forward to already.
This brings us to the resolution list but this year I am not making any, I always try to be the best wife, mum and friend to those around me. I have given up calorie counting, I am happy with my weight and even if I did lose any I can't afford to replace my wardrobe and we can't all be super models, I always bemoan the fact that I don't read, write or study enough and aim to do better and I still want to learn to play the piano as the two tunes I know don't even impress the kids any more as Heather now has a bigger repertoire.
As we are due to move I am not writing seriously until then as I will be busy packing and unpacking, in the mean time with the help of James I am trying to re-vamp my website as I want to include this blog, samples of my writing for both adults and children and so on in one place. I am also aiming to complete a few cross stitch projects as the children want Princess Belle, Marie the cat and Lightening MCQueen for their new rooms when we move so that will take a fair bit of time as well as the OU courses I am still studying, not a lot then!
What I have resolved though is to make the most of what I have, have fun with my family and give them a wealth of experiences and happy memories. I am not going to keep setting goals but rather get on with scoring them! Enjoy 2011 everyone and I hope your wishes come true.
What followed was a few months of late night phone calls, often resulting in banging on the wall from my family who weren't as interested in my new romance as I was. What with teacher training and working at the weekends I don't know how I even fitted it in but by Easter I was living with James and the following Christmas he proposed. I had never really believed in fate before but the randomness of me going to the party, ending up walking with James to watch the fireworks after getting separated from my other friends and us clicking so well seems like it was meant to be.
Three kids and a lot of ups and downs later we are still together and preparing to move our family to a bigger house in the New Year, fingers crossed. Lucy will start going to nursery school in September and Heather will be in Year 3 not forgetting Matthew will turn 5, a lot of big events to look forward to already.
This brings us to the resolution list but this year I am not making any, I always try to be the best wife, mum and friend to those around me. I have given up calorie counting, I am happy with my weight and even if I did lose any I can't afford to replace my wardrobe and we can't all be super models, I always bemoan the fact that I don't read, write or study enough and aim to do better and I still want to learn to play the piano as the two tunes I know don't even impress the kids any more as Heather now has a bigger repertoire.
As we are due to move I am not writing seriously until then as I will be busy packing and unpacking, in the mean time with the help of James I am trying to re-vamp my website as I want to include this blog, samples of my writing for both adults and children and so on in one place. I am also aiming to complete a few cross stitch projects as the children want Princess Belle, Marie the cat and Lightening MCQueen for their new rooms when we move so that will take a fair bit of time as well as the OU courses I am still studying, not a lot then!
What I have resolved though is to make the most of what I have, have fun with my family and give them a wealth of experiences and happy memories. I am not going to keep setting goals but rather get on with scoring them! Enjoy 2011 everyone and I hope your wishes come true.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Christmas 2010
So the big man has been for another year. Boxes, the odd bit of wrapping paper and this highly irritating silver coloured ties used to secure toys into boxes adorn the living room showing the signs of three happy children. The Tv is on but no-one is watching it. Noise indicates they are playing with their new toys and the constant question;
'can you open this?' is repeated as they move from one new toy to another eager to explore their new things. They were fairly restrained getting up at 630 is not uncommon. They had their stockings and then the special golden boxes Santa had left for them. These had been provided by a special friend and the kids were enchanted, not only were their names embossed on the boxes but on the silver train inside along with the dare we had travelled on the Santa special. The ticket with believe on made the image complete as they rang the bells to show they did believe. that moment captured what it was about, the magic and innocence of childhood, the ability to believe in a fantastic story and allow yourself to be carried away by it.
As we sat down to dinner and surveyed the toy shop our living room had become it struck me how lucky we are. The children had been lucky enough to receive a vast array of gifts from friends and family, they have no idea that some children would give anything to receive just a fraction of what they had. A lot of people we know have not had such a good year and it made me think about how lucky we are to have three healthy children, friends and family around us and with luck a new home in the new year. Without doubt for me has to be the best Christmas present if them all.
'can you open this?' is repeated as they move from one new toy to another eager to explore their new things. They were fairly restrained getting up at 630 is not uncommon. They had their stockings and then the special golden boxes Santa had left for them. These had been provided by a special friend and the kids were enchanted, not only were their names embossed on the boxes but on the silver train inside along with the dare we had travelled on the Santa special. The ticket with believe on made the image complete as they rang the bells to show they did believe. that moment captured what it was about, the magic and innocence of childhood, the ability to believe in a fantastic story and allow yourself to be carried away by it.
As we sat down to dinner and surveyed the toy shop our living room had become it struck me how lucky we are. The children had been lucky enough to receive a vast array of gifts from friends and family, they have no idea that some children would give anything to receive just a fraction of what they had. A lot of people we know have not had such a good year and it made me think about how lucky we are to have three healthy children, friends and family around us and with luck a new home in the new year. Without doubt for me has to be the best Christmas present if them all.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Strictly Santa snowy special
Yesterday we had a real treat, we went to Colne Valley Railway to visit Santa on his steam train special. The children were very excited as they had (thanks to Aunty Nicky) received special invites with golden tickets in beforehand. I had a little trepidation as I knew that snow was on the way and by the time we left the first flakes had started to fall.
We got there with no problems at all and met up with our fellow travellers. The kids were actually listening to some extent and soon it was time to board the train. We were in the royal carriage and it really was luxurious, huge wing back trains and tables where the kids could colour in the pictures and mazes that Aunty Nicky had brought with her.
We were soon joined by a jolly elf who warmed the kids up and got them shouting for him to appear, and he soon did. He spent a fair amount of time chatting with the children and making them feel really special and you could sense the excitement as the children were allowed to open their presents early. Matthew was enthralled with the steam train itself and Lucy enjoyed the attention from all the people, baby Henry loved the decorations the carriage was kitted out with.
When we got back to the station we had been told that snow was rapidly approaching so we made a fairly hasty retreat. The journey back was two hours and averaged ten miles an hour and we saw lots of spins and accidents so were grateful to be home safely.
The evening brought the final of Strictly Come Dancing. We allowed Heather to stay up and watch it as she had followed the whole series and supported Kara throughout. She was delighted when she won. Whilst we were waiting for the results the other celebrities performed a number sung by Adele. This caused a number of questions. Heather wanted to know who the singer was as she had been talking when she was announced. She initially thought she was Duffy but we assured her three times that she was called Adele.
'Did she make my computer then?' Heather piped up.
I managed to squeak out a no before joining James in laughing until I cried to which she asked;
'Are you laughing at me?'
We got there with no problems at all and met up with our fellow travellers. The kids were actually listening to some extent and soon it was time to board the train. We were in the royal carriage and it really was luxurious, huge wing back trains and tables where the kids could colour in the pictures and mazes that Aunty Nicky had brought with her.
We were soon joined by a jolly elf who warmed the kids up and got them shouting for him to appear, and he soon did. He spent a fair amount of time chatting with the children and making them feel really special and you could sense the excitement as the children were allowed to open their presents early. Matthew was enthralled with the steam train itself and Lucy enjoyed the attention from all the people, baby Henry loved the decorations the carriage was kitted out with.
When we got back to the station we had been told that snow was rapidly approaching so we made a fairly hasty retreat. The journey back was two hours and averaged ten miles an hour and we saw lots of spins and accidents so were grateful to be home safely.
The evening brought the final of Strictly Come Dancing. We allowed Heather to stay up and watch it as she had followed the whole series and supported Kara throughout. She was delighted when she won. Whilst we were waiting for the results the other celebrities performed a number sung by Adele. This caused a number of questions. Heather wanted to know who the singer was as she had been talking when she was announced. She initially thought she was Duffy but we assured her three times that she was called Adele.
'Did she make my computer then?' Heather piped up.
I managed to squeak out a no before joining James in laughing until I cried to which she asked;
'Are you laughing at me?'
Monday, December 13, 2010
Nativity -aah
Last week the children were in their school play. It was the first time they had both been taking part in the same play. It was interesting how they cam to have their parts. Matthew had been given the choice of being a star or an animal and had decided that he wanted to be a sheep and volunteered and was indeed a sheep. Thank goodness as black tracksuit bottoms and a white t-shirt made for an easy costume. Heather, on the other hand had dithered about and not volunteered but was instead allocated to the musician role. This meant that she had to master a range of percussion instruments as well as the song words, and perhaps most annoyingly Jingle Bells on the recorder.
Lucy had to accompany me to the play and I was quite nervous as littlies are not really meant to be there and the last time she saw Heather doing something she spent the entire time shouting her name until taken out, however this time she was really good, perhaps helped by the raisins and sweets I had stashed in my bag to prevent any tantrums.
All of the children were wonderful, the lines were delivered clearly even if the shepherds towels were trying to escape from their heads or the keyboard kept cutting out and the children had to sing without accompaniment, isn't that all part of the fun? Matthew was concentrating very hard on his sheep dance and I have to admit to having a lump in my throat when Heather delivered her line in the rap all by herself, she was looking right at me and I was very proud, even the Jingle Bells rendition was impressive. It is lovely to see them taking part in something and taking pride in it and it was well supported which gave the children even more pride. A lovely afternoon and well done kids!
Lucy had to accompany me to the play and I was quite nervous as littlies are not really meant to be there and the last time she saw Heather doing something she spent the entire time shouting her name until taken out, however this time she was really good, perhaps helped by the raisins and sweets I had stashed in my bag to prevent any tantrums.
All of the children were wonderful, the lines were delivered clearly even if the shepherds towels were trying to escape from their heads or the keyboard kept cutting out and the children had to sing without accompaniment, isn't that all part of the fun? Matthew was concentrating very hard on his sheep dance and I have to admit to having a lump in my throat when Heather delivered her line in the rap all by herself, she was looking right at me and I was very proud, even the Jingle Bells rendition was impressive. It is lovely to see them taking part in something and taking pride in it and it was well supported which gave the children even more pride. A lovely afternoon and well done kids!
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