Rach's Ramblings

Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary!

2011-05-19T12:34:00.000+01:00

Oh dear, my poor blog seems to have been a little neglected - my last post being in March, and probably included something about me saying I was going to make more of an effort and post more frequently - I can't remember is that's what I typed or not - my memory isn't that good!

Anyway, my reason for posting today is because today is our (mine and Scott's) 10th Wedding Anniversary. 10 years! That has seriously flown by and it doesn't seem like that long at all.

We were married in St Oswalds's Church in Lower Peover, near Knutsford and then our Reception was at the Hunting Lodge, at Adlington Hall.

10 years!!!!!!!! OMG!

I dug out my craft supplies to make a card for Scott and a card for my friend's little boy who turns 1 this weekend. I didn't however, take any photos - I forgot that bit! You can't have everything - it's a miracle that I'm even posting on blogger!

Last weekend was my nephew's naming ceremony. I was asked to make a memory book for him for people to write messages and advice in, and his parents will give the book to him on his 18th birthday. Again I forgot about the photos! Doh!

Right, I'd better be offski. I'm in the middle of tidying and sorting through my craft stuff - I struggled to find what I needed and I need a good sort out.

Bye for now - I'll try to post again sometime before Christmas!

Racing for Life!

2011-03-11T18:40:00.000Z

For a couple of years now, I've debated whether or not to take part in one of the Race for Life events held throughout the country. Each year, I've talked myself out of doing it - probably been more scared of the exercise involved more than anything. But I've decided that this year I AM going to take part, along with my 2 sister-in-laws and we've signed up!!!

I need to do a bit of training to get ready for it, so hopefully aside from raising some money for Cancer Research UK, I can lose a bit of the wobble I've got going on! Hurrah!

So, if anyone would like to sponsor me for this event, then you can do so here!

Thanks!

Rach xx

I'm home!!!

2011-02-21T09:28:00.000Z

***HaPpY dAnCe***

OK, so it's only for half-term week, but it is sooooooooo nice to be home! Apart from the fact that I'm meant to be getting us ready for painting in a couple of weeks, but ... did I mention I'm home?!! Yay!

I drove up with the kids and 3 dogs (our lab, Dylan, and the in-laws 2 mini schnautzers), in a very full car with all our bags and stuff we brought with us!

Yesterday was spent as Sunday's should be, and used to be - with my Mum!

But today, I need to be good and get some work done, which means that I shouldn't be here, typing this, that I shouldn't be on Facebook today, or playing Angry Birds on my phone - but we all know I will be!

Maybe I won't be polishing my halo today!!!!

Birthday Girl!

2011-02-09T14:11:00.000Z

Last week we celebrated Caitlin's 2nd birthday. As her birthday fell on the Monday, we had a little party for her on the Saturday, and my Mum came down on the train for the day.

We took her for a walk up to see their new school, and the Junior school that hopefully Charlotte will start at this September, and to the pre-school that we hope Caitlin will start at in January next year.

Then it was back to Nanny and Grandad's house to start making sandwiches for the party at lunchtime.

It will be no surprise that Caitlin had a Peppa Pig cake, and that most of her presents followed the Peppa Pig theme - including a fancy dress costume. SO CUTE!!!!

There were lots of tears from poor Charlotte, when it was time for my Mum to go back home, so the next day I took her out for a girly afternoon. We went and had coffee and cakes at Costa (although Charl did have a smoothie instead), and then to the park. Then the following day, she had her hair cut ready for school photos which are being taken today. I think she felt very grown up!

It won't be long before we see my Mum again. The kids and I are heading back to our house for the half-term holidays. I was hoping to have a trip there by myself so that I can get a few jobs done without the kids, but my in-laws are going away and so I'll have the 3 kids and 3 dogs (Dylan and in-law's 2), with me - so I don't think I'll be too productive. Still it will be nice to catch up with friends and to see my Mum.

No, your eyes do not deceive you!

2011-01-26T11:30:00.000Z

Yes, this is a blog post WITH scrapping layouts included!!!

No, you haven't stumbled across the wrong blog by mistake! Oh and no I'm not ill!

I took advantage of some much needed 'me time'. With no scrapping space to turn into chaos, I have to bring everything I need downstairs in the evening to sit at the kitchen table, and then clear it all away afterwards. A bit of a faff, but for now it will have to do.

I've had these photos printed out to scrap for some time, which explains the little baby in the first layout. I can't quite believe that this little lady will be 2 on Monday!!!! The borders at the top and bottom of the page was made by cutting strips of BG Gypsy paper (which I've had for ages and use for little bits and pieces). I then drew on stitching, but it doesn't show up on the photo. I saw this idea ages ago in 'Creating Keepsakes' magazine and always wanted to try it.

This picture of Cameron was taken in July 2009, when he took part in the 'Big Toddle', to raise money for Barnardos. Afterwards all the children had a Teddy Bear's Picnic on the grass outside, so I guess the weather must have behaved that day! It isn't the best photo of the layout - in fact none of them are. It is such a grey miserable day that the only way that I could get a bright picture was to use the flash, which then bounced of the photos in the layouts - so no flash and it all looks a little dull. They aren't really - I promise!

I'm not sure what the papers are in this layout - they are scraps of papers that I've got left over from previous layouts and just put back in the paper box.

This layout, is based on sketch 85 from the 'Twisted Sketches' blog. The twist for this sketch is 'white'. This photo, I'm pretty sure, was taken in Autumn 2008, and after a hard day playing, Cameron fell fast asleep on the sofa, using Charlotte as a pillow.

The papers I used are from American Crafts. Old papers that I've had for a while, but hadn't yet cut into. I'm glad I did, I'm really pleased with how this layout turned out. Simple, but effective.

Right, I'd better get on with some jobs - there is a pile of ironing in the basket with my name on it - oh great!

Thanks for looking!

Another change!

2011-01-14T20:57:00.000Z

OK so I seem to change the look of this blog more often than I acutally post blog updates! Ooops!

So we're well into 2011 now (well it is 2 weeks old!). The kids have settled back into school well, although we did have a 'blip' with Cameron the first few days, when I was worried that something was going on, and he really wasn't happy about going to school. But, this week all has been fine and he's back to his usual self.

This evening, Charlotte had a friend over to play and stay for tea. We survived and more importantly, the house survived. With not living in our own house, and being at my in-laws, I do worry constantly about something bad happening, but thankfully it didn't. I was very surprised to find that the kid's bedroom wasn't a complete tip, especially after orders from the MIL, I had tidied it all up this morning to make sure it was 'spotless' for Charlotte's guest this afternoon - why!?! I'm pretty sure my efforts have been wasted on a couple of 7 year olds, but I'm a good girl and I do as I'm told (sometimes)!

Next time it is Cam's turn to have a friend over - now I know the room would be destroyed after that play date - I've seen the mess he can make on his own!!!!

I've got a Mum's night out next week, which I'm looking forward to. This is rearranged from the beginning of December, when the snow stopped everything. Looking forward to an evening of normal conversation and no Peppa Pig! We have Peppa Pig overload in this house, thanks to a certain Miss Caitlin, who is obsessed with Peppa.

Speaking of Caitlin (or Boo as we call her at home), she will be 2 at the end of January! 2 OMG that is scary. I'm getting ready to start potty training her, I'm so done with changing nappies now, I've had 7 years of it, so I hope she obliges and takes to the potty without too many problems - hmmmmm I can hope!

xx

Happy New Year!!!!

2010-12-31T20:59:00.000Z

WOW, 2010 went by in a flash!

Christmas was erm - different. For the first time ever, I didn't spend it with my Mum, and that was really hard. But, on Boxing Day, I drove up to Mum's with the kids and we're with her until Sunday. We've had such a brilliant week, Mum has loved spending time with the kids and they've been spoilt by Grandma. Trips out shopping, to the cinema, out for tea, eating too much - fab, fab, fab!

The diet definitely starts on Tuesday!

Anyway, wishing everyone a Happy New Year - lets hope its a good 'un!

xx

It's cold outside!

2010-12-02T17:58:00.000Z

Blimey, not sure I needed a snowy scene for the background to my blog - I'm sick of the sight of snow, but I thought I should try to be a little bit festive.

I think I must have forgotten that I had a blog - it was feeling very dusty and neglected - must try harder! Maybe a New Year's Resolution?? Eeek!

xx

Greetings from Surrey!

2010-09-25T09:01:00.000+01:00

Well, I'm here. The kids have started their new schools, and every other weekend I'm back home doing a bit more packing and sorting ready to put the house on the market.

Charlotte and Cameron both started at the same school, which they settled well into, but we were put on the waiting list for a place at our catchment school just up the road. A week after they started school, we got a call to say that Cameron had a place at the school we'd been on the waiting list - yay! But, no place for Charlotte.

After going to view the school and chat to the Headmistress, there was nothing to think about. It is a lovely school in every respect and so Cameron started at his new new school, which he loves. In the meantime, thanks to different start times, it means that when I need to, I can do the school run on my own and get both Charlotte and Cameron to school on time. Charlotte is on the waiting list for a Year 2 place, but if that doesn't happen, we've applied for her to join the Junior School next door to Cam's school next September, so fingers crossed she gets a place there.

Caitlin in the meantime has settled well into the new routine and we're looking into toddler groups to go to so that she can make a few friends of her own.

One thing I knew to expect here was the expense of everything, but I still find it ridiculous. Especially looking at house prices - put it this way, I could have a mansion and a butler for the price of a semi detached down here! OK, slight exaggeration(!), but stooooooopid prices all the same.

Unfortunately, a couple of days after moving the kids down, Sophie, our Westie dog fell ill. At the ripe old age of 14, we knew that she'd had a good life and that something could happen, but you still feel a little unprepared for it when it does happen.

Poor old Sophie, we believe suffered a massive heart attack. We knew when she went to the vets that she wouldn't be back, but it was hard to see her like that, and I tried to keep the kids away and stop them staring at her - why is it that kids just HAVE to look?!

So, now we just have Dylan. At least at the moment, he has Millie and Jack, who are Scott's parents dogs to keep him company, but he still misses Sophie.

I think that is pretty much it really. Not much to update on so far. We're getting on OK, but is it home? - NO! Do I want this to be home? - NO! I'll just have to make the most of the times when I can get home to see Mum.

Bad Blogger - Again!

2010-08-20T08:35:00.000+01:00

OK, so by now I've given up on trying to be a good girl and blog regularly, because it just isn't going to happen.

I'd be lying if I said I hadn't been up to anything over the last month, because I have - I just haven't got any photos to go with this blog post - so it's going to be pretty dull (sorry about that!).

Charlotte and Cameron had their last day at school and nursery. Not just the last day before the summer holls, but their last day at this school EVER!!!!

I'm not sure who was dreading it more, me or Charlotte, especially when she realised that she won't be going back there in September, she was in floods of tears. On her last day, I had to pick her up from school early as we were flying out to Menorca that day, so I decided to collect Charlotte at the same time I collected Cameron from Nursery. Saying goodbye to all Cam's nursery teachers was bad enough, but when I went to collect Charlotte, I was faced with a classroom on crying children!

We only found out about the new school places, the day before we went on holiday - nothing like it all being last minute. Now we're trying to get all the bits of uniform we need - most of it being with the school logo and only available from the uniform shop near to the school - so that will have to wait for another week.

So like I said, we went to Menorca (end of July/beginning of August). We had a great time, and the kids loved it, especially the pool. It was also a bit of a reunion, as we met up with some friends who we haven't seen for about 7 years.

When we got home, it was time to really knuckle down to some serious sorting and boxing up of things - but I'm really bad at anything like that. I've been putting it off and now I need to get sorted and either hide a lot of stuff somewhere or I need to get boxing, because Scott is coming home for the weekend, and intends to take some boxes of things back with him after the weekend! Ooops!

Last Friday, I travelled down to Cardiff for the weekend, where I met up with Scott and we went to a friend's wedding. It was a lovely day, the bride looked gorgeous and the venue was beautiful. As it was another Pilot who was getting married, I got to meet up with some of the people who have to put up with Scott at work!

I was going to drive there and back, but decided that getting the train would be a lot easier. So that is what I did, and my Mum had the kids and the dogs for the weekend. I'm now returning the favour, by looking after Mum's dogs this weekend, while she is off to Blenheim Palace for a dog show and a girly weekend away. I don't mind though - she has a 10 week old puppy called Louis, who I'm going to hide away on Monday when she comes to collect them all - either that or I might see if I can swap him for Dylan (labrador). Wonder if she'd notice? ......

Oh well, I'd best stop babbling (a) because this is probably boring, especially without pics and (b) this isn't getting boxes packed!

No doubt I'll be back in another month, when the news will be that we've moved, the kids have started their new school and I've lost my marbles!

Toodles!

Mister Maker

2010-07-18T15:32:00.000+01:00

If you're friends with me on Facebook then you'll already know about this, but Friday ended up being rather bizarre.

As usual, I took the kids to school and nursery, collected Cam at lunchtime and then when we got home, I saw what looked like a rescue pick-up drive past with a brightly coloured car and trailer on the back, with Mister Maker written on it. We watched it drive past, but didn't go out as it had started to pour with rain. Then I didn't really think much of it.

The rest of the afternoon was pretty normal. Delivered a few Avon orders, then went to collect Charlotte from school and then off we went to her swimming lesson.

When we got home, there were loads of cars parked outside our house and in the cul-de-sac that we live on the corner of, was the BBC filming Mister Maker in his little car!!!!

We got to watch the BBC do a bit of filming, which the kids loved, and they had their photo taken with Mister Maker and got his autograph!

Not our usual sort of Friday!

I managed to take a few photos, but only a couple of them here - blogger has been messing around with photos for some time and I can't be bothered to argue with it!

Blogging ... It's all alien to me!

2010-07-02T19:45:00.001+01:00

I am soooooo bad at this blogging lark. Each time I blog, I promise myself to make it a more regular thing and then nothing!

Actually, my online time has decreased significantly over the past few weeks. Popping on here and there for a minute or 2. Admittedly, I was spending too much time online, doing nothing much in particular, but there you go.

I'd like to say that the same I haven't spent online has been put to more productive use, but it hasn't. Well, unless you class the constant phone calls to Surrey Council about school places productive, which I guess it would be if I were to get any sort of answer out of them.

The dreaded move that I was hoping wouldn't happen, IS going ahead, but with no school places for the kids as yet, I'm staying put for as long as possible. The plan at the moment is for the kids and I to move during August, but to make trips back home to decorate and get the house ready to be put on the market. I just now really want to get the schooling situation sorted out so that I can prepare the kids and so that they can say proper goodbyes to all their friends at the end of this term.

Tomorrow we're having a birthday party for Cameron. His birthday isn't until the 12th July, but this weekend is the only 1 close to his actual birthday when Scott can make it home. This will be the first time since the last week of May! I haven't told the kids that he's coming home as we've no idea what time he'll arrive, but it will be a great surprise for the kids.

So I'd better make a move - party bags to sort!

Toodles!

Which bright spark?!

2010-06-08T20:50:00.000+01:00

Decided that the schools should be off for 2 weeks this half-term, instead of the usual 1.

Yes I know that it is always like that around here, but seriously, they don't know the damage they're causing me - and this stupid rain isn't helping!

Conversations like this don't help:

Charl - Mummy, Caitlin looks like a Mermaid doesn't she!

Me - Errrr, if you say so.

Charl - But without the Mermaid tail.

Me - So she doesn't really look like a Mermaid at all does she Charlotte?

Charl - No Mummy!

Last week the weather was gorgeous and the kids played in the paddling pool. Even Caitlin had a dip and thought it was great. But then towards the end of the week, Caitlin came down with a sickness bug, that Charlotte then had over the weekend. Keeping everything crossed that everyone is now better and sickness free, and that Cameron doesn't start with it.

Hey ho!

Not much else to say, so that's all folks!

Alien Abduction!

2010-04-17T18:58:00.002+01:00

That has to be what has happened to the real me because I've just completed my 4th layout this week! The one that I completed a couple of nights ago I can't share as it is for a CJ, but this one I did today, making the most of the peace in the afternoon while Charlotte and Cameron were playing in the sun and Caitlin napped.

Normally I'd have been enjoying the sun myself, but I think that my hayfever has hit early this year and my eyes are itching and driving me mad, so I stayed indoors.

Anyway, this is my latest layout, of Caitlin at a day old. I've used some old BG papers (Lily Kate I think), and various brads and bits of ribbon that I had.

This week has been great for getting out in the garden. Last weekend, while Scott was home, we made the most of it and had a big clear out. Caitlin watched from her highchair, having lunch while we worked.

Cameron played more than helped - well unless it meant he could get really mucky and then he was very helpful!

Nothing like a bit of child labour!

Today I put Caitlin's hair into a ponytail. It looks pathetic! But cute!

Loving the garden!

My girls!

Gorgeous girl - but you can't see the devil horns on this shot ;)

Sorry for the strange photo layouts - blogger is messing around at the moment and usually when I first post them the text appears over the photographs. Very annoying! Only the ones that I uploaded to post from Picasa seem to be in the right place, but they only upload photos taken on the same date. Arrrrggghhh!

It can't be!

2010-04-14T18:12:00.000+01:00

But it is!

Another layout, only a few days after my last one! You see I'm just like a bus, nothing for ages and then 2 together (although I think if you were waiting 9 months for a bus you'd be more than slightly miffed)!

So, this time I used a sketch from the Twisted Sketches blog, and this time the sketch was to use orange. Well I erm ticked that box!

I did struggle with this layout, I used patterned papers from different manufacturers, but I don't know which ones (bad me!). I had a go at making my own paper flowers, using a technique that I saw on the Pink Paislee blog. They aren't great, but I'm happy with how they turned out for my first go!

I scrapped a photo of Caitlin that was taken last July when I was weaning her. This was her first taste of carrot and she was less than impressed. Still I found it amusing and grabbed the camera! Ha ha ha!

Right, I'd better go, the big 2 are arguing over Super Mario Brothers and Caitlin is emptying the kitchen cupboards - again!

Roll on bedtime!

TFL xx

A Story!

2010-04-10T09:46:00.002+01:00

Are you sitting comfortably? Good, then I shall begin.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, I used to scrapbook. I used to spend my evenings sticking paper and photos to more paper with glue. Sometimes adding inks and flowers and doodling or journalling to add effects to the finished page.

Then, one day I stopped. I'm not sure why - but for the purpose of this story we'll blame children (oh and maybe the fact that my craft desk has been in such a mess for ages, that I couldn't possibly get near it to do anything creative). In fact, so embarrassed of the lack of craftiness on this blog, I removed any mention of scrapbooking, card-making and even photography from the 'About Me' blub on my blog profile.

So, I decided that enough was enough. That the conservatory needed a big clear out and so that is what I did. I move furniture, I cleared through all the papers and toys and whatever else had found itself in there and I recycled, rehomed and tidied away until I could finally walk around the room without risk of injury, but also so that I could now see my craft desk.

As a reward I thought that it would be rude not to at least try to play with some pretty paper and glue, and so yesterday afternoon I had a bash.

Now with it being so long since I've actually scrapped anything, I found it quite difficult to get started. I struggled to pick out the papers that I wanted to use, and then I didn't know how I wanted the layout to look. But once I'd chosen the papers (Spring Fling from an old Sarah's Cards kit), I used up some of the scraps of papers that I'd had left over from old layouts and cards and I also cut into a new sheet of paper that so far I'd struggled to work out what I wanted to do with. So I cut out the tree from the bottom corner of the sheet and used it to frame part of the photo.

So, despite not really loving it as it was in progress, I'm quite happy overall with the final layout.

I've picked out some more photos that I want to scrap so I'm hoping that it won't be 9 months or so until I manage to complete another LO.

Thanks for looking!

The End

Meet Elmo!

2010-04-04T22:01:00.000+01:00

First of all - Happy Easter! Hope you haven't scoffed too much chocolate! The kids are all set with chocolate supplies that should last them for quite a while! Along with chocolate, they also got some new clothes from my Mum and from Scott's parents. Charlotte has some gorgeous dresses that will be lovely for our holls in the summer. Cameron got some new jeans and t-shirts, including a Bowser t-shirt, which he has wanted for ages since seeing it in Mum's Next Directory catalogue. Caitlin wasn't left out and has 2 gorgeous new dresses, 1 is still a bit big for her, but hey it will last all the longer!

We went over to Mum's for a roast dinner and then spent the afternoon and had tea with her too. The weather hasn't been great, so we didn't get out and about. But we did get to play with this little guy ....

ELMO!!!!!!

Mum's new 12 week old puppy, who she brought home on Friday. He is just soooooo cute, with a little bit of white still showing on his nose, but hopefully that will blacken out with time.

Hope you've had a lovely Easter! Enjoy the bank holiday tomorrow - fingers crossed we don't have typical bank holiday weather!

It seemed like a good idea at the time ...

2010-04-03T14:18:00.000+01:00

As many of my plans and ideas do, but when I start them, I either get bored or just wish I hadn't started.

I've decided to have a massive spring clean/de-clutter/furniture rearranging session starting with the conservatory, which is where our dining table is, and where my craft desk is. Now you can't actually see my craft desk because it has become a dumping ground for just about everything and I'm so fed up of the mess in that room in general when the kids just go and get their arty farty bits out and now my poor table is multicoloured from all the paint/pens and goodness knows what else that has left it's mark.

So, bright idea number 1 - move the book case out of the conservatory and into the garage - where all the kid's arty bits will be stored, along with some of time. That way if they want to use something, they have to come and ask me for it and can't make a mess without me being warned of it and prepared!

So, I emptied off the book case. You're not talking a little thing either - flipping great tall thing with drawers at the bottom and it's heavy! So mid-move on my own, I'm thinking maybe it isn't a good idea and that I might struggle to get it down the step into the garage - or I might break the thing completely. But it worked and the book case is now in place.

Now I've moved the sideboard to where the bookcase was. But it is a horrible looking thing. I really hate it, so I want to move that into the garage too, but before I can do that, I need to sort out the garage - and all of Scott's fishing gear that he NEVER USES - well how can he seeing as he lives in London?! But in the meantime, I've got my Mum's hostess trolley (that we only ever use at Xmas), blocking the door to the downstairs loo - piles of books that were on the bookshelf in the conservatory and I'm wishing that I could click my fingers and do a Mary Poppins! Why oh why do I have these ideas, or rather, when do I start these things when Scott is away, rather that when he's home and can just sit and watch me and my bright idea unfold into chaos!

Oh dear! Guess I should get back to it - it isn't going to sort itself! Shame!

Oh I'm happy dancing!

2010-04-01T18:41:00.000+01:00

Today we had some great news about Cameron's school place for September this year. It is a world away from how I felt this time 2 years ago when we got the news of Charlotte's offer here.

Cameron has a place at the same school as Charlotte. He will be going to school with some of the children he's made friends with at Nursery. A few of them are going to other schools in the area, but his closest friends are going to be in the Reception class with him. Yay!

Well I say yay! Scott could still mess it all up with his talks of this potential move to Surrey or Kent as he's now suggesting - erm just as expensive and even further away from home! I meanwhile am looking at Rightmove for houses for sale that are within walking distance of the kid's CURRENT school. Hmmm talk about not being on the same page as each other. Not sure how this one is going to play out or who will be victorious in the end, but as it stands, we have school places for our 2 monsters here and nothing in Surrey (although a letter about a school place in Surrey for Cam should be arriving soon).

Ho hum!

Anyway, today is 1st April - April Fools and of course nobody managed to trick me at all. No I didn't fall for any jokes. Oh and if that Miss Jen tells you otherwise, she's fibbing :P ha ha ha

Today the kids and I went to Ikea where we met up with Jen, James, Josh and Sam, Helen, Evie and Oliver and Lou, Harry, Drew and Freya for lunch! We had a great afternoon, didn't spend a fortune, although I always see lots that I like when I'm there, I think I'll remember that and will show Scott so he can donate his credit card to me and then I forget what I've seen. MUST remember to write things down!

Right, I'm off to wrestle the karaoke machine away from Cameron, it isn't that his singing is bad, I just can't stand to hear the same songs over and over again!

Time for a new look

2010-03-29T19:48:00.000+01:00

So I'd had my old blog look for a while, and as I really liked the 'blog in a box' I bought this new one ages ago - in fact I think I treated myself to it last year for my birthday - in June! But as you can't rush these things, I've only just got round to using it.

Still can't fathom out the post separators, not sure if I ever will, but it looks OK as it is.

Wonder if this will prompt me to post more often - or even do something crafty?! Woah - steady on!!

xx

There's no stopping her now!

2010-03-18T19:37:00.000Z

Yesterday Caitlin really found her feet and started walking alone more and more. She's been walking for a while, taking a few steps here and there, but if she's needed to get somewhere quickly, like seeing the living room door had been left open and wanting to make a run for it, she'd always get down and crawl. But, yesterday it just clicked and then today she's walked more and more.

She's feeling VERY pleased with herself :D

I do have a video of her strutting her stuff, but blogger won't let me load it :(, not impressed!

A new blog!

2010-03-06T14:08:00.000Z

I've set up a new blog for my Avon empire!

Thought it would be helpful to have somewhere to post and advertise about the latest offers and new products available.

So here it is!

Just a quickie post for now, as not all that much to update. Still seems strange without Shelley :(. Off out to walk the dogs before it starts to rain!

TTFN!

xx

Ahoy There!

2010-03-02T22:29:00.002Z

What's this? 2 posts in as many days? I must be ill!

Today, Charlotte went to school dressed as a pirate. Years 1 and 2 were taking part in a pirate day and so I attacked an old pair of jeans that had seen better days with a pair of scissors, and made a treasure map and bandana for her, then with a few other pirate bits, including a drawn on moustache and stubble, she really looked the part.

She did turn a few heads in Tesco this afternoon! ha ha ha

I'm shattered!

2010-03-01T10:24:00.003Z

The last few days haven't been too great. At the start of last week, things were ok. I joined up with Avon in an attempt to get in a bit of extra 'pocket' money - so if you need some new lippy, give me a shout lol!

I had intended on handing out my first lot of brochures on Wednesday, but with panic tidying and cleaning to be done before my mum in law arrived, that didn't happen and then Thursday I was heading to hospital for my operation to remove my IUD.

So, Thursday, I had to be at the hospital for lunchtime, and when I got there, I had to give blood again as the bloods they'd taken at my pre-op appointment had been disposed of as they'd been taken more than 7 days in advance for my operation date (hmmmm so why take bloods at the pre-op appointment if they know this is the case?). I'm not the most generous of people when it comes to giving blood. My veins aren't great and it took 3 attempts to get the blood they needed from me.

I asked the nurse if she knew if I'd be rescanned or xrayed so that they could see exactly where the coil now was. The last xray that I had was in November and back then it was in my upper abdomen, so there was every chance that it had moved since then. But they didn't rescan me, and off I went to the operating theatre. This isn't the first operation that I've had. As a child I had several operations on my foot as I was born with a club foot, but I find it so weird that you go from feeling wide awake to then waking up in a different room and everything is done and dusted, or not as the case is.

They can't find the coil. I was told that they'd looked all around my uterus and they couldn't find with - well duh! I could have told you that you wouldn't find it there, and then they said they looked all around my abdomen and it wasn't there either. I know they did have a good look around because I'm bloody sore now all over my tummy area where I've been poked and prodded. But this now begs the question of where the hell is the coil? The Dr suspects that it is near to my bowel, but on Thursday didn't want to proceed and start operating further without the assistance of other surgeons.

I had to stay in hospital overnight on Thursday and then the Dr who had operated came to see me on Friday morning before I was discharged to explain what had happened and what he had found and apparently I have extensive endometriosis, which is surprising considering that I have 3 little monkeys!

So now I'm waiting for another hospital appointment for around 6 weeks time to go back and discuss what is going to happen about the coil and about the endometriosis, which explains a lot of the pain I've been having for quite some time and that I'd just put down to being unlucky with bad periods every month. I'd hoped that Thursday would be the end of all of this, but it isn't and it seems that things are going to be dragged out for quite a while longer :(.

On Friday night, Scott came home. The last time he made it home was for Caitlin's birthday at the end of January, and then we saw him the following weekend at the wedding, but since then he's been so busy at work that he hasn't made it home. The kids were sooooooooo excited to see him, but there was a very grey cloud overhead. Our gorgeous dog Shelley who we've had for about 10 years from a rescue centre hasn't been well for some time now, and with her back legs going from under her a few times and her becoming incontinent, the horrible decision to have her put to sleep had to be made and Scott took her to the vets on Saturday. It was awful. We've lost fish and hamsters, but Shelley is the first of our woofs to go and it hurts like hell :( :( :(.

Poor Charlotte is just distraught, and Cameron doesn't really understand. He asks when Shelley is coming home. I've had to put her bowl out of sight and its taking some getting used to that I'm only putting 2 dogs outside instead of 3.

RIP Shelley!

xxx

All dressed up

2010-02-15T19:38:00.004Z

Last weekend we went off to Swansea for my brother-in-law's wedding. As Scott was working before the wedding, that meant that he would travel from Surrey to Swansea and I was left with the delightful (ahem!) job of driving to Swansea with the kids. Oh that was fun!

I drove in tandem with Scott's Uncle, so I wasn't completely alone and we stopped off on the way down for a picnic in the services car park, which the kids thought was great! By the time we EVENTUALLY made it to Swansea, we had about half an hour left to go before we made it to the hotel, but it was in the middle of nowhere and it was pitch black. I'm just so grateful for sat nav, because I didn't have a clue where I was, couldn't see a thing, windy narrow country lanes and Charlotte in the back of the car shouting that we were lost!

But, we made it! Woo hoo!

The wedding was an early one - they got married at 10.30 am (erm great - I have me and 3 kids to get ready!), and Charlotte was a bridesmaid, so I had to make sure she was looking especially gorgeous.

The hotel was right by the beach and they chose to have some pictures on the beach (did I mention they're mental?!), it was a lovely sunny day, beautiful in fact, but it was FREEEEEEEZING!

After the wedding breakfast, they showed the rugby match between England and Wales. In fact rugby was the theme of the day and that is why they specifically picked 6th Feb to get married as the groom (Kev) is English and the bride (Nici) is Welsh.

The whole day was fantastic, and we made it through relatively tantrum free (Charlotte did have a slight diva moment).

So I leave you with a few little pictures. Please excuse any with me on - I hate having my photo taken.

Cameron looking very smart in his suit - but not sure what is going on with his expression. He seems to have forgotten how to smile!

Caitlin looking lovely. You can't tell in this photo, but she had the cutest pink dress on.

Not strangling her brother! ha ha

Charlotte and Me!

Princess for the day!

The MacLeods! (Left to Right) Suzie, Adam, Cameron, Mac, Charlotte, Nici, Kev, Di, Scott, Me and Caitlin!

Scott, Caitlin, Cameron and I with Scott's Auntie.

Had probs getting these photos into the post, so hope it publishes OK. Fingers crossed it works!

TFL xx

The Birthday Girl!

2010-02-02T21:14:00.004Z

Do you think she looks any older??

Here is the little birthday girl opening up some of her presents - an art she mastered well on Christmas Day, and she soon remembered what she had to do after a little help from Charlotte and Cameron.

Her new wheels! Yes a motorbike! Not from us I hasten to add. We went for the sensible (boring) option and bought her mainly clothes (boooooooo!). At the moment she's way too small for it, her feet are no where near the ground - but she looks so cute!

Later on we headed over to my Mum's for tea, but by this time Caitlin wasn't feeling too well. Full of a cold and not happy - definitely not fun on your birthday, so big sister Charlotte helped her to open up her presents.

Her birthday cake!

See cake makes everything better, even when you feel pants!

xx

Last day as a 0 year old!

2010-01-30T10:00:00.010Z

My gorgeous little baby girl will be 1 tomorrow - yes 1 already!!!!

Today I've got cake baking and present wrapping to do ready for the birthday girl's big day!

So here is one of the most recent pictures I've taken of my 0 year old!

Not a great start!

2010-01-22T10:21:00.002Z

Well, today is the 22nd January (which was my due date with Caitlin last year!), and this is my first post of 2010! Not the best start, I was hoping to get back into the swing of this blogging malarky. Ho hum, must try harder!

I'm actually on a bit of a spring (erm winter) cleaning spree at the moment. Scott is now away, living in Surrey and so I've decided that I'm bored with the furniture where it is and the walls being the colour that they are and I want to change it. Only problem is we're pretty restricted on where we can have most of the furniture and I daren't move too many things, especially on my own as I'm likely to break them!

So, I'm decluttering and steam cleaning everywhere at the moment, and I'll fill Scott in on my plans when he comes home at the weekend, which will probably be the last time he ever comes home again for fear of being handed a paint brush and a list of DIY jobs to be done when he is here! Well I don't want him thinking he's coming home for a rest and to see his family now do I!

I now have a date for my operation - 25th February. At the moment Scott is away working then (typical), so he needs to see if he can get some time off around then to help out with the kids. But my MIL has offered to come up and stay with me for a few days anyway, so the kids won't be locked in a cupboard on their lonesome with bread and water.

In just over a week, Miss Caitlin will be 1! Being the diddy dot that she is, I'm not sure that I'm ready for her to be a 1 year old. We're not going to have a party, just a little birthday tea and presents, which I'm sure her big sister and brother will help her to open. Grandma will of course come over to help with the chaos that usually takes over our house on a daily basis!

Still little action crafty wise - I really am useless. But, I'm going to get my spring cleaning spree out of the way, or get bored of it and come to my senses, and then hopefully I will have a bit more time to get some scrapping done (if I can remember what to do that is!).

I think I must have blinked!

2009-12-31T09:59:00.004Z

And missed 2009 - seriously it seems to have flown by so quickly, that of course might have something to do with 3 little people taking up all my time, but I'm not complaining - well maybe I am about my lack of scrapping and blogging, but hopefully I can do better in 2010. (Hmmmm is that two thousand and ten or twenty ten?!) (**Two thousand and ten for me**).

2009 has been a heck of a year! So here is a little review of a few of the things that have happened (would include pics too, but blogger won't let me at the moment - probably sulking with me for ignoring it for so long!).

Caitlin was born back in January, on 31/01 at 04.51 am, weighing 7 lbs 5 oz (can you believe that she's 11 months old today!!!!).

Cameron started Playgroup, where he joined in with the Big Toddle to raise money for Barnardos, and he went on his first school trip to Stockley Farm! Then in September he started Nursery 5 mornings a week at the same school that Charlotte goes to. He's having a great time, taking part in the Harvest Festival assembly, during which his class stood up to sing in front of the whole school, and he's recently played the part of a sheep in his class Nativity! Very cute!

Charlotte completed her Reception year at 'big' school and is now in Year 1. We also had our first tooth fairy visit, when her bottom front 2 teeth fell out at the end of August/beg January, and she finally got a swimming lesson place and has been doing great, achieving her 5 metre badge, just before Xmas! Charlotte also played the part of an Angel in the Infant Nativity Play. My in-laws were visiting at the time and so they got to come along to watch her performance too!

In May, Scott, Caitlin and I jetted off to Mauritius for the most amazing holiday and the Wedding of our 2 close friends, James and Edwina. We has a fab time, but I missed Charlotte and Cameron like crazy, who had stayed at home with Nanny and Grandad, who were on school run duty for 2 weeks!

Scott's Manchester base closed down in May and so to keep his job, he had to move to Antwerp. It definitely hasn't been an easy few months, with pay cuts and extra outgoings to pay for a flat over there, but he moves back to the UK in a few weeks and will be based down in London. Still not ideal, but better than it has been!

What about me? Well, I've decided that I'd like to go back to work, after 2 years as a SAHM, I feel like I need to do something for me. I love being at home with my kids, but .... well I'm sure you know what I mean. So far the job hunt hasn't been so successful, but I'm not stressing over it and I've started to work behind the bar of the pub I used to work in before I had the kids. I don't work there all that often, it isn't easy to co-ordinate with Mum/Scott to cover childcare, but I have a giggle when I do.

Then there was Christmas! I stressed so much about getting everything sorted and ready, especially as Scott was away pretty much to the last minute, but now its been and gone and is all over, I can't help but think what was I worrying about!

The kids had a great time, which is the main thing in my opinion. As long as they have a great time then that is all that matters. It was of course Caitlin's first Christmas and she had a great time ripping the paper and eating it! That girl is easily pleased, and we need to find homes for all the toys/games/clothes etc that Santa brought for them all!

So, 2010! Scary to think that 10 years ago everyone was in a panic about the millennium bug. Scott's parents threw a big party to see in the new millennium, and the party also became a bit of an engagement do for Scott and I.

Now we're starting to think ahead to Caitlin's first birthday at the end of January, and then Scott's brother is getting married in February. Charlotte is going to be a bridesmaid at the wedding and is so excited about it. Cameron starts big school in September - eeeek! I'm not sure I'm ready for that one!

I'm waiting to hear from the hospital for a date to go in for an op to remove a coil that perforated my uterus and is now somewhere in my abdomen. Not serious, but an inconvenience.

Like I've already mentioned, Scott starts working down in London in January, and he'll be staying at his parents house so that it won't cost him to rent a place. Of course, this means that he'll only get to see the kids for maybe 6 or 8 days a months and to do that it will mean a drive from London to Manchester or vice versa if we drive to him. So .....

I think we might be moving :(. I really don't want to move. My Mum is here, I don't want to leave her. I can't even think about it without feeling sick, but I'm not sure what options we have. So the plan at the moment is that I will stay put here until the end of July and then I will move down with the kids to Scott's parents house, where we will stay while we house hunt down there and sell our house up here. We've sent off the school application for Cameron and have forms to complete for Charlotte's school place that I need to send off around Spring time.

So big change *MIGHT* be happening. It isn't set in stone, and I'm keeping everything crossed that something happens and we don't have to go. Watch this space!

So, I hope everyone has a great New Year! See you in 2010!

Lots of love xxxxx

Still Alive!

2009-12-09T23:28:00.003Z

Just busy trying to get xmas sorted - really must get round to WRITING some xmas cards!

Life is a bit all over the shop at the moment and so blogging has been the last thing on my mind. But I'll be back soon - I hope!

It would appear ...

2009-10-24T08:50:00.010+01:00

... that my blog mojo is still missing! I read other blogs on a daily basis, but mine is feeling sad and neglected.

So why the lack of blogging activity from me?! I don't know. I mean the last couple of weeks have been eventful, there have been bits to blog about.

I just feel like I've lost all oooumph for my blog. So, I must try to make more of an effort! In fact that's the case for all things crafty too. Recently the only things I've been doing are baking - birthday cakes, the first for Scott's birthday and then the one for Charlotte's birthday.

I had planned on making my Christmas cards again this year. I made them last year, but I think that was probably down to having time to make them after I fractured my foot. There wasn't much else I could do! That is a bit of a drastic measure to go to in order to make my own cards though, so I guess unless I'm suddenly inspired to make them, I'll be buying my cards this year.

** See this is a perfect example of my lost blogging mojo - I started this post at 08:50 on Saturday morning (24th Oct), and here I am, early hours of Sunday morning - finishing it off! **

Anyway, back to my update of what we've been up to recently.

Charlotte turned 6 on 13th October (eeek - how did that happen!), and the Sunday before her birthday, we had her party. 25 screaming, excited kids - it was chaos, and needless to say, the party was NOT at home! But a great time was had by all and she got SO many presents - a very lucky girl.

On her birthday, Grandma came over for a birthday tea - yet more cake!

For her birthday, we got Charlotte a new hamster. This time she chose a girly and this is Rosie, the latest member of the clan! Isn't she a cutie! Her eyes aren't really scary red LOL.

Cam is loving Nursery school, and this week he had his first Harvest Festival assembly. The Nursery class stood up and sang in front of the rest of the school - it was so cute!

This video was taken at home, singing the song from the Harvest Festival :D

Then this little lady, well she's becoming more and more adventurous by the day. Wriggling out of her pushchair straps and standing up in her pushchair. I couldn't believe what I was seeing! Next week she'll be 9 months old - how quickly has that gone!!!

So a brief update! Hopefully it won't be so long until my next one!

xx

Just the cutest!!!

2009-10-07T21:38:00.002+01:00

I saw this a while ago, but tonight a friend posted it on her Facebook profile.

Oh so cute!

Oh so funny!

Enjoy!!!

xx

Happy 36th Birthday Scott!

2009-09-30T10:27:00.003+01:00

Happy Birthday Scott!!!

Ha ha ha, he won't be too impressed about the photos I've used. He did warn me not to put them on Facebook, but he didn't say anything about my blog! Not that he reads it anyway!

Oh and the freaky red eye - that's his birthmark. That eye always looks red, but even more so when he's tired/drunk/hungover - so pretty much any normal day :P

Shhhhhh don't tell him I've shown you the pictures!

xx

RIP Wilbur!

2009-09-13T23:22:00.002+01:00

Remember this little guy who had an adventure last xmas. Well today, we sadly say goodbye as he's passed on to that great hamster wheel in the sky :(.

He was a little cutie, the kids loved him, he was a friendly little thing (unless you were Scott and then he'd take a chunk out of you - ha ha ha, I liked him all the more for that. When I fed him last night he wasn't really interested in the food and he normally shovels it all into his pouches as quickly as he can and this evening I found that he'd died in his sleep.

I'm really not looking forward to breaking the news to Charlotte.

So RIP Wilbur! I'll miss you eyeballing me for food when I'm chopping veg for tea!

xx

Lost my blog mojo!

2009-09-07T19:24:00.005+01:00

I've lost my blog mojo. I started this post about 2 or 3 hours ago!

So I'm forcing myself to update my blog - against my own will, I'm twisting my own arm, which makes typing very tricky, unless I press the keys with my nose - ouch!

I'm not really sure what to say in this blog post. So excuse me while I ramble on between photos.

Last week, Charlotte's 2 wobbly teeth came out - thanks to a bit of help from Daddy. Her teeth have been wobbling for ages, and one of them in particular was barely hanging in there, but she wouldn't pull it or bit food properly while it was there - so out it came, and the one next to it!

Of course we had a visit from the Tooth Fairy that night and she left 2 £1 coins! Lucky Charlotte! I don't think she'll be so hesitant about pulling out a wobbly tooth from now on - not now she knows there is money involved!

Gappy grin - sort of, she already has her 'big teeth' growing through.
Look where my teeth were!
Envelope with note to the Tooth Fairy (envelope was so her teeth didn't get lost under her pillow).
Baby teeth! Maybe Caitlin could borrow them, she's yet to get any teeth! LOL
Money, money, money!!!
Cameron also wanted to show off his teeth, copying his big sister!
Caitlin, despite not yet having teeth, doing a pretty good job with a rusk :D
Caitlin is doing so well with solids, in fact given half the chance if she's close enough to grab at your food, she will do!

So back to school tomorrow! Well Charlotte is back to school tomorrow! Uniform is sorted, packed lunch is sorted. I'd best get to bed soon, I've got to make sure I'm up to get everyone out of the door on time!

Not sure if you all know about Tesco Photos - check out their website here. When you register with them, you get 40 6x4 prints for free (usual cost 7p per photo when ordering less than 149 photos or 3p per photo when ordering 150 or more). Then, you can either have them posted to your house and pay the postage fee, or you can collect store (selected stores only). I have 2 stores close to me, both of which allow me to collect my photos 1 hour after submitting my order! 1 hour, how fab is that - and that doesn't cost a penny! So tomorrow, I'm collecting my order of 36 photos, which comes to a grand total of zero, zilch, nothing, nada! Yay!

So, now I'll have photos, which hopefully I'll be able to scrap with, and then I'll be able to blog the layouts! That's the plan anyway!

xx

I've had enough of the school holidays!

2009-08-26T19:49:00.002+01:00

School holidays are BAD

BAD!

BAD!

BAD!

Why?! Well, because today, I found my first grey hair (sob!), and I blame the school holidays and having to entertain 3 children (OK 2 children, Caitlin is easily pleased!), all day every day!

I am NOT impressed!

I will be booking myself in to have my hair cut and coloured very, very soon! I almost considered buying a kit the next time I'm at the supermarket, but a few years ago I had an erm 'incident' with a home colouring kit, and instead of it going a lighter blonde, it went orange!

So salon it is! Preferably, without 3 children in tow!

OK, going to drown my sorrows in chocolate!

Damn you school holidays!

I Heart You!

2009-08-18T12:14:00.002+01:00

I really do! LOL xx

Last night, for the first time in AGES, I sat down at my craft desk and I did a LO!

I based it on Sketch 010 from the Twisted Sketches blog. I had most of it stuck down last night. But I was still playing around with the title, so I came back to it this morning to finish it off and to photograph it - always much easier to do in daylight.

I did wonder if it needed more adding to it, I'm not really sure if it is missing something. But then I didn't want to add to it and go over the top. Less is more! Especially as I've used one of the gorgeous (biased - me?!) photos that Kirsty took of Caitlin and I back in February this year.

The papers I used have all been dug out of my stash. I've had them for so long and only used little bits of them here and there - mainly for cards. The papers are Autumn Leaves and the title is all chipboard. The challenge to go with the sketch was to use at least 1 tag on the LO. The chipboard heart is a tag. After I'd covered it with the paper, I put a brad through the hole in the tag and then through the LO.

Hopefully I won't be as long until my next LO - I think my LO total for 2009 is at a total of 4! Pathetic!

TFL xx

So Cute!

2009-08-14T21:59:00.000+01:00

I love this little girlie - she is sooooooo cute!

Took this snap of her tonight while she was having a bit of play time on the changing mat and had to share.

Her hair is looking like it has a strawberry blonde tint to it, but it doesn't really look like that IRL.

In car related news - I HAVE MY CAR BACK!!! Woo hoo! I can get all 3 children in the back of my car again - hurrah!

Yesterday I started to make an album for a friend that is to be used as a Guest's Comments Book for a holiday home. I made the covers, cut down the inner pages and went to punch the holes in it to bind it using the BIA - bit of a problem - the covers are too thick to fit in the BIA. Nightmare, so I'm now using book rings - or ribbon. Not sure which way to go with this now, so I've just left it as is for the time being. Honestly - my first bit of craftiness in ages and I make a balls up of it.

Poor little Cam has been to the Drs today. When he woke this morning he was all fine and dandy, but about half and hour after he got up, I noticed he'd come up in blotchy type spots all over his tummy and back, around his arm pits, the underside of his arms and down his legs. He hasn't been ill in anyway, but they have been itching him.

As the day went on he was getting more and more spots, and I phoned the Dr who told me to take him down this afternoon to get them checked out. The Dr thinks that they are hives and he's had an allergic reaction to something. Just no idea what he's had a reaction to - no change in detergent or fabric conditioner, nothing new to eat. He was just sitting there, and these spots appeared, quick as anything.

Very strange. So anyway, he's been prescribed antihistamines and we'll see how he goes on over the weekend.

Never a dull moment!

A great day out - but rubbish photos!

2009-08-12T14:01:00.001+01:00

On Friday the kids, the husband and I went to Stockley Farm to meet up with Marie and Louise and their kidlets.

We had arranged to meet there at 11 o'clock for when it opened and so I prepared the picnic the night before and got all our bits sorted so that we'd have plenty of time in the morning. Fab! Only problem was the husband, who 1 minute was coming, the next minute he wasn't - you know what they're like! Anyway, he finally decided that he was coming with us and started to get himself sorted - but that meant we were half an our late in leaving home and then we had to go via the Post Office! So Marie and Lou went on to the Farm and we caught up with them later - much later by the time we'd stood in the queue for the tractor/trailer ride from the carpark to the farm.

Hey ho! We made it there eventually.

The weather was fantastic. I'd worn jeans so that I didn't scare anyone with the sight of my legs, so I felt like I was cooking. It was lovely to catch up with Marie and Lou and the kids all played together.

After having our picnic lunch, it was time to see some animals. Usually my camera is busy clicking away when we're out and about, but I seem to have slacked in the photo taking department recently and I've only got a few snaps.

We had a lovely time - thanks again girlies xx

Testing

2009-08-11T20:50:00.000+01:00

Just trying out Picasa for uploading my pics to my blog.

So here is Miss Caitlin Carrot Chops - looking unimpressed! LOL

Yay - it works - I think!

Got my babies back!

2009-08-06T18:19:00.003+01:00

Late this afternoon, Charlotte, Cameron and my Mum arrived back from their holiday to Llandudno. Sounds crazy, but I swear Cameron has grown while he's been away! They've all caught the sun and have gone a bit blonder!

So, we're all back to normal now, 3 kids, 3 dogs, 1 husband, 1 hamster and a few fish! If you can call that normal?!

Caitlin was very happy to see her big sister and big brother, maybe now she'll be in a better mood - she's been Miss Caitlin Crankypants today - definitely a title for a LO which I really must get around to doing soon.

During one of her happier moments today, I did take a bit of video of Caitlin playing in the baby walker, which we dug out for her this week - she's even found out that she can move herself around the room in it!

So 3 children to bath tonight, and then a picnic to sort for tomorrow. We're off to Stockley Farm, to meet up with Marie and Lou and the kidlets. Really looking forward to it, although word of warning ladies - the husband might be coming along too - thought safety in numbers - he can be in charge of looking after the kids and we can gossip! Shhhhh - don't tell him though! LOL.

xx

It's true what they say!

2009-08-05T21:38:00.003+01:00

Not too sure who 'they' are, but anyway, they say 'time flies when you're having fun!'.

Very, very true!

This afternoon I've been over at the Trafford Centre with Miss Caitlin and we met up with Kirsty for a spot of lunch, chatting and shopping. We had a lovely afternoon and it wasn't until Kirsty's hubby phoned her that we realised the time - 5 o'clock! We'd met at half 1 (well 1.45 ish) and it seriously only felt like we'd been there for about half the time.

The last time that Kirsty saw Caitlin was when she came over and took the gorgeous baby pics for us. Caitlin was 3 weeks old then, and she's now 6 months, so Kirsty saw a BIG difference in her. Caitlin had lots of cuddles with Kirsty and was extra happy as Kirsty fed her her bottle - well it would be rude for us to eat and not feed the baby too! LOL

This morning, we went to collect a hire car which I'll have while my car is off at the garage being repaired after the bump I had a few weeks ago. As I was driven into the back of, the repairs/car hire etc are coming off the other driver's insurance. However, when we got to the hire car place, we were told that the insurance company had only authorised the lowest range of car (ie the smallest), which would be fine if it were only me using the car, but please explain how I'm meant to get 3 children (including a baby in an infant carrier seat) and a pram into a Peugeot 1007 that has bugger all boot space in it - it isn't going to happen.

So, after a phone call to the insurance company, they agreed to upgrade (we could have upgraded and paid ourselves, but why should we have to pay?), and we have been given a Corsa. Still not huge, but much better and more space for me and the kids. Or so I thought - when I got home, tried to get the wheels base that the infant carrier sits on, into the boot and it won't fit - eeek! So, I'll have to see if the small fold up stroller will fit in - otherwise Friday will be fun - carrying a baby around Stockley Farm all day!

Never straight forward is it!

A chance to win some goodies ...

2009-08-01T11:40:00.001+01:00

Pop over here!

Leave a comment on the blog, mention the giveaway on your own blog and you never know ....

Goodies, goodies, goodies!

xx

This little cutie ...

2009-07-31T20:28:00.003+01:00

Is 6 months old today!

How did that happen?!

I'm not ready for my baby to grow up yet - STOP GROWING CUTIE!!!!! Otherwise I might have to get really drunk one night and do the 'deed' again and get preggo again!

Tomorrow is Scott's sister-in-law's 30th birthday, so I made a little card for her ...

I saw something on t'interweb about using the Cuttlebug with felt and I gave it a go. I'm really liking how it turned out. I think I'll be doing that one again :D.

OK, packing to be done - Charlotte and Cameron are going away for a few days with my Mum and so I need to get their clothes sorted.

Not sure that I'm getting the best part of the deal as I'm looking after all of Mum's dogs - 5 biggies and 2 puppies as well as my 3! Ooooh fun - Rachel, 10 dogs and a baby! Way hay!

xx

What? Why? How?

2009-07-28T19:12:00.003+01:00

Ok, maybe someone can answer this question for me, but my blog now appears to play music - erm how? I haven't added it - or is that another feature of buying a blog design ready done? I'm lost. Not sure I really want music on here, so would like to know how to get rid please!

A couple of people have asked about the spotty icing ...

I had a bit of a faff because I didn't have any circle cutters - I now have a cutter for the larger circle, but not the smaller ones, so need to work on that - anyone know where I could get a 1cm circle cutter from for baking?

Right - icing ...

Split your fondant icing in to 2 blobs - colour each half a different colour of your choice. I used pink and green.

Roll out the icing between greaseproof paper or cling film, until it is about 4 mm thick, so that you have 2 rolled out bits of icing.

Making a random pattern in the icing, cut out 1 cm circles of icing and place the cut out circles from one icing sheet into the holes made in the other coloured icing sheet and vice versa. With me?

Then recover the icing sheets with the film or paper and roll again to about 3 mm thick, so that the 2 colours bind together a bit.

Then using a 6 cm cutter, cut circles out of your pattern to put on top of your cupcakes, brushing with a little apricot jam before patting down to make sure they stay in place.

Mine didn't look all that great, but you got the idea of what I was trying to achieve. I think I'll try it again once I've found something better to use than a food colouring bottle cap to cut out my smaller circles!

Anyway, hope my destructions didn't confuddle you too much!

xx

Spotty cupcakes!

2009-07-23T23:34:00.004+01:00

So long since I've last posted - almost 2 weeks, but this is only a quickie post.

I have photos from our day out to Knowsley Safari Park to share, but I need to sort through them all and can't be bothered to do that right now. If you're my buddy on Facebook, you'll probably have seen them already as there are a few on there.

Anywho! Tonight I've done a spot of baking - for the ladies at Cam's playgroup. I've made some spotty cupcakes, which seemed like a great idea at the time, before I realised that I don't have any circle cutters! Had a look in Tesco and they don't have anything like that in there - flower cutters, yes, but I already have those. So I had to improvise. They don't look great, but they're OK.

For those people who asked to see piccies of the racing car cake that I made for Cam's birthday, have a look here.

Right, better go, being organised as ever, I still have some last minute cards to make - get a feeling its going to be a late night!

xxx

Happy Birthday Cameron!

2009-07-12T22:08:00.002+01:00

Cameron is 3 today!

Happy Birthday to my gorgeous little guy! Love you lots!

xx

Cake! Done!

2009-07-11T18:59:00.004+01:00

And I didn't have to rush out to buy one from Tesco, which means that my attempt hasn't been a complete disaster. Although perhaps I shouldn't say that until after it has been tasted!

Still, the cake is baked, the cake is decorated and it does actually resemble what I intended it to! Up until yesterday, I was planning on making a monster cake, seeing as that was what Cameron had been asking for, but then all of a sudden, he changed his mind and requested a racing car cake, so this is what he has now got. If he changes his mind now - TOUGH!

Charlotte is already putting in requests for the sort of birthday cake that she wants. So far she's requested a pony cake, a doll cake and a fairy castle cake - hmmmm might be expecting rather a lot there Charl, oh well we have until October, so plenty of time to decide!

Right, last bits to get sorted for tomorrow!

Oh, almost forgot - anyone got any ideas why my blog suddenly plays music? I haven't added it, or at least I don't think I have?!

xx

This time 3 years ago ...

2009-07-10T17:42:00.003+01:00

Labour had started, but Cameron still wasn't planning on arriving until 2 days later!

To give you some sort of idea of the situation - I was very hot, very fat, very uncomfortable, in pain and in a REALLY BAD MOOD!!!!! Does anyone remember how hot it was during the summer of 2006? Of course I know that Marie and Lou do, because we all complained about the heat together!

This picture was taken when I was 2 days overdue with Caitlin, which was in January this year, so not nearly as hot as 3 years earlier, but you get the idea of how I was feeling - I mean, look at my face, or rather don't - it's scary. I think that might be the most unflattering photo I've posted of myself online! Eeeek!

So, a certain little man is getting very excited about his birthday on Sunday. Grandad is arriving tomorrow and on Sunday we're (me, Charl, Cam, Caitlin, Grandma (my mum) and Grandad (S's dad)) going to Knowsley Safari Park or at least that is the plan if the weather co-operates!

Tonight I'm cake baking - hmmmm this could be a disaster and I might well be making a trip to Tesco tomorrow to buy a cake instead!

xx

Big Toddl'in

2009-07-07T17:18:00.003+01:00

Today Cameron's playgroup held a 'Big Toddle' sponsored walk, raising funds for Barnardos. As Cam doesn't usually go to playgroup on a Tuesday, we went along at 11, kitted out in wellies after the downpour there had been this morning and we were all set to toddle!

The children had to do 10 laps of the field/carpark area (minus the cars), each lap doing something different, so 1 lap they did backwards (that was interesting!), 1 lap carrying a cup of water (again, interesting - if they didn't drink it, they spilt it!), 1 lap with a bean bag on their heads (in fact Cameron thought he'd repeat the backwards walking on this one, so walked backwards with a beanbag on his head! Who says boys can't multitask!). You get the idea!

At the end of it, the children were presented with medals for taking part.

He's very proud of his medal, and so he should be! So far he's raised £40 for Barnardos! Not bad at all Cam!!!

xxx

Catching Up!

2009-07-05T09:59:00.005+01:00

The last couple of weeks we've had a few things going on at school/playgroup. I've remembered to post the photos onto Facebook, but then when it comes to my blog, it gets forgotten - poor old neglected blog!

So, a brief update ...

Thursday 25th June was Charlotte's sports day. In fact, it was her first sports day as the one at Nursery last year was cancelled due to it being a complete wash out. So off we trundled to watch her, Cam, Caitlin and I, with food and DS to bribe Cam into sitting still!

Charlotte enjoyed herself, so she really can't take after me because I used to hate sports day, but perhaps the hatred will come in a few years time? Fortunately no Mum's race! If there had been, I'd had to have fed Caitlin - hungry babies can't wait!!!

This Tuesday just gone, Cameron and I went to Stockley Farm on a trip with his Playgroup. I'm not sure what he was more excited about - going to the farm or the fact we were travelling by coach!!

I haven't been to Stockley Farm for a couple of years, the last time I went, we met up with Auntie Lou and Caroline and the men and mini people. We had a great time then, and so I was looking forward to going back, and this time Cam was big enough to appreciate it.

Yesterday I got on with the job I've been putting off for ages - moving the cot and moving Caitlin out of the moses basket and our room and into the cot in her new room that she now shares with big sister, Charlotte. It felt very strange last night when I went to bed, to see the empty moses basket. managed to get a couple of snaps without waking her!

Her first night went well and she slept through! Fingers crossed that will continue!

xx

Stuck for ideas

2009-07-02T16:10:00.002+01:00

We're getting close to the end of the school year and the big summer holiday. This obviously means that it is getting to teacher pressie time, not only for Charlotte, but for Cameron.

I am completely stuck!

There are 3 teachers in Charlotte's class - 1 main teacher and 2 teaching assistants.
There are 8 teachers at Cam's playgroup - 6 main ones and 2 helpers who help over lunchtime rather than when Cam is there. Out of the 6 main teachers are his 2 keyworkers, who are the main ones who look after him.

So what do I do? Who do I give pressies to? What do I give?

Oh and it has to be CHEAP!!!!!

Ideas please - easy ones!

What month are we in??

2009-06-28T22:26:00.002+01:00

OK, before you read any further, I'd better warn you that this isn't a happy, happy post - I'm having a whine and a rant and I'll cry if I want to :P

Seriously, the number of colds I've had recently, I'd swear it was Jan/Feb not June, almost July. I'm getting seriously hacked off with this. Scott is complaining that its too hot and I'm wrapping myself up.

I'm losing my voice, I'm so croaky - that part Scott isn't complaining about, although I do think he's deliberately getting me to repeat stuff because he finds it amusing. Any robot movies coming up that they need voice-overs for? I'd be perfect!

On top of that, Caitlin is starting with a cold, Charlotte is showing signs of getting a cold too and Caitlin and Cameron have both got eye infections - thinking conjunctivitis, so hi-ho, it's off to the Docs we go first thing tomorrow morning.

Today was a bit different from our usual Sunday. We normally take Charlotte for her riding lesson and then as we're half-way there (wooooaahh living on a prayer!), we normally go onto my Mum's for the afternoon. Well today, Mum woke up with a bad head, so I headed home, doing some food shopping on the way and then getting other jobs done ready for tomorrow. I spoke to Mum who said she was much better and that we could come over, so off I trundle with the kids.

We're almost there, and we're at a roundabout. I started to go, but then stopped because a car was coming, a bit quicker than I thought it was, but the bloke behind me on his bike goes straight into the back of me. He was fine, got straight up and checked his bike - just a few scratches. We swapped numbers and got 2 witnesses to it, but since then I've spoken on the phone and he's getting a bit funny about it all. I just feel pants about it. I had the 3 kids in the back of the car, who were all fine - Cam and Caitlin slept through it all, and Charlotte thought it was great - she loves a bit of drama - guess what she'll be telling everyone tomorrow at school!

So, that is my whine. We'll see what tomorrow brings when I have to speak to this bloke again - I soooo don't want to speak to him - I'm a wimp and I want it to all go away, but there is damage to our car on the bumper, and regardless of whether or not I stopped sharply, he should have been watching what was going on too. In fact, I don't think that he planned on stopping himself - if I'd carried on, he'd have whizzed over the roundabout and cut the car up - if he wasn't planning on doing that, he'd have stopped. He said on the phone that there wasn't any damage to my car because he didn't hit me - well he did - I have the damage on the bumper to proof it, and we were shunted forwards when he hit us after being at a complete stop.

Oh well, I can play it over and over as much as I want to it isn't going to change anything - it's just poopey doopey.

Pppttttthhhhhhhhh

Rant over! Heading to bed because I'm COLD!!!!!

xx

Birthday card

2009-06-20T10:08:00.003+01:00

As I mentioned yesterday, Charlotte is going to a party this afternoon and so this morning I made a card for the birthday girl!

I used Sharon's card sketch as a basis and the following supplies:

Pre-folded 5 x 5 white card
'Make a Wish' stamp by Willow Design Stamps
Pink Ribbon
Patterned paper from my stash - think it was from Lakeland when they stocked crafty bits.
Flower embellishments that I got free with a magazine. The range is called 'Charlotte'.

I coloured the stamped image in with watercolour pencils and added bits of glitter to her as well - well she is a fairy after all!

I need to do another card today. Tomorrow is my cousin's birthday and seeing as I completely forgot about it and haven't yet made it - she isn't going to get it until Monday/Tuesday next week - ooops! I have a memory like a sieve - seriously!

TFL!

xx

Fancy a freebie?

2009-06-19T18:36:00.003+01:00

Of course you do! Check out Jessica Sprague's website for details of a 2 week long photo editing course.

Registration opens on Monday! Who'll be joining me?

xx

Roly Poly and Wibbly Wobbly!

2009-06-19T12:28:00.003+01:00

Yes, I've been watching far too much kids TV and I'm quoting my fave characters :P

Nope - roly poly! That is what Little Miss Caitlin did yesterday for the first time, and I was the only person to see her do it, even though we were all in the same room! I'm not sure that anyone believes me because when I rolled her back onto her belly to see if she'd do it again, she let me know quite vocally that she'd had enough of that and wasn't going to play! Oooh my little diva! Oh well, their loss! I saw it ha ha ha!

Wibbly wobbly! Charlotte has her first wobbly tooth! I can remember finding it really funny when I was little to wobble teeth in front of my Mum who hated it, and now I feel exactly the same. It gives me the heeby geebies when Charlotte wobbles her tooth, and of course she thinks its really funny and does it all the more!

So we'll be expecting a visit from the tooth fairy in the near future - hmmmmm I wonder what the going rate for teeth is nowadays - think I used to get 20p, but I'm guessing that won't do! Doesn't she know that we're in the middle of a credit crunch!?!?

Not much going on crafty wise. I'm still in a scrapping drought, but I have made a few cards, I just never seem to photograph them - must remember to do that. I do have a card to make later today for a party that Charlotte is going to tomorrow, so, providing that the card doesn't look pants, I'll take pic!

Right, lunch to sort, ironing to iron and Father's Day present to make!

Toodles xx

NOT IMPRESSED!

2009-06-16T13:43:00.003+01:00

So yesterday evening we had a big thunderstorm. Charlotte wasn't too keen on the thunder - although I think it was a good excuse to delay bedtime.

Anyway, it piddled down, and our stooooooopid leaky conservatory roof - leaked - over my craft desk!

I've spent this morning throwing out things that got ruined - NOT AMUSED!

So, I'm thinking about moving into the garage, but before I can do that, I need to clear through all the rubbish that we've stored in there.

Grumble, grumble!

Nothing much ..

2009-06-14T18:28:00.002+01:00

To say, but just wanted to share this ...

Love those beautiful big eyes and squishy baby cheeks :D

xx

Want to win some goodies?

2009-06-06T16:04:00.000+01:00

Then check out this blog giveaway here!

xx

A new look!

2009-06-06T14:36:00.002+01:00

Like the new look? I decided that I'd had enough of the old look blog and fancied a change, but every time I attempt to make a blog header myself, I end up scrapping it and putting up with what I've already got for a little while longer.

So, I headed over to Sweet Shoppe Designs, and treated myself to one of Zoe Pearn's blog kits. Instant fabbiness!

There are a couple of bits I want to play around with - text colours and also I tried to include a post divider in the html code, but so far that hasn't worked. Hmmmm, I'll play around with that another day.

Right now, I'm feeling pretty pants. I started with a cold yesterday and today my head is pounding. All I really feel like doing is going to bed, but no chance of that - not with 3 children to look after. Also today is my birthday, the kids are much more excited at this than I am, and want to go out to buy a cake and balloons - erm no! LOL! So the most excitement for me today will be a trip to Pets at Home to buy some hamster bedding, then an early night to see if I can shift this cold.

Scott is now in Antwerp for 10 days, looking for somewhere to live. The credit crunch has hit VLM and they've now closed all their UK bases, meaning that if Scott wanted to keep his job, he has to move to Antwerp. At the moment we're not too sure how things are going to work and how often he'll be away, but it will be for at least a week at a time and then he'll be home between 4 and 7 days before he's back away again. Definitely not ideal, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that the industry will start to pick up again soon and then more companies will start advertising vacancies and he can get a UK based job again.

Have a good weekend!

xx

LOVING this weather!

2009-06-01T12:12:00.004+01:00

Wow, what fab weather we're having. Great for sitting out in the garden and topping up the tan. The only problem is I really need to cut the grass, it is so long, the kids are in danger of running out into the garden and disappearing! I can't believe how long it grew while we were away and I've been to lazy to cut it since getting home, but today is the day .... I think :P

Yesterday afternoon we were over at my mum's as we always are on a Sunday afternoon. The kids wanted to go to the park, but we suspected that it would be really busy in the afternoon and probably too hot for running around so we waited until after tea and then we went once it has started to cool down a little.

The weather was still fab, and the kids had a great time. Cameron was running around all over the place, not really sure what to do or to go on first, while Charlotte made a bee-line straight for the zip cord, her new favourite thing at the park, and that is the only thing she went, the whole time we were there!

Of course I took my camera with me and took a few(!) piccies! Here is a small selection ...

Yesterday, this little lady turned 4 months old! I can't believe it, 4 months has flown by.

Right, I'd better sort some lunch, and then cut the grass - oh joy! I let you know if I find the kids out there!

xx

Printing out photos

2009-05-27T17:06:00.002+01:00

OK, so this isn't exactly my usual type of blog post, but I'm after a bit of info from the people who read my blog.

Do you print out your own photos for scrapping or for any other purpose you might want/need a photo? Or do you order them online or get them from somewhere like Boots?

If you do print them out yourself, what size photo paper do you use, and what sort of printer do you use and would you recommend it? Are the inks you need a good price to replace?

Fanks! :D

xx

Hello, hello! Remember me?

2009-05-26T19:24:00.003+01:00

I vaguely remember blogging here at some time or another, but I've been MIA for a few weeks. Although in my defence I do have a pretty good excuse - I've been here ...

Scott, Caitlin and I have been to Mauritius to see our friends, James and Edwina finally tie the knot after 14 years together. We had an amazing time, I took sooooooooo many photos, and I will share some of them here once I've sorted through them, and I'll upload more onto Facebook.

But for now, here are just a few more of the beach at our resort and a purdy flower. Oh and check out my wonky photo taking - obviously I'd been on the all-inclusive booze before getting the camera out on that day! LOL

I was reunited with Charlotte and Cameron yesterday, who I missed sooooooooo much. I've been a blubbering mess at times over the last couple of weeks and I was so happy to see them. We've had lots of kisses and cuddles and I'm looking forward to spending the next 2 weeks that they have off school and playgroup with them, so I'm hoping for some good weather!

So a short post for today, but hopefully normal blogging service will resume soon and now I have lots of lovely photos I can get back into the scrapping lark again! Well I can hope!

xx

Hanging my head in shame!

2009-04-30T13:22:00.002+01:00

Oh seriously how useless have I become at this blogging lark - in fact I think I'm scrapping more at the moment than I'm blogging, and I'm not really doing much of that either! I can't even blame Caitlin for my lack of blog activity, I'm just useless - what more can I say!

This isn't going to be much of an update. Just a quickie before I feed Caitlin. But just to update on the holiday confirmation - well yes we did get something in writing, Scott just neglected to tell me about it - typical! Then a few days ago, we got our e-ticket info through so we're all set - well apart from the packing that needs to be done, and the last of the shopping to be sorted. I'm off out to the Trafford Centre tonight, once the kid are tucked up in bed to get the last bits we need.

A couple of weeks ago, I had an evening out with my friend, Alison to the TC. We had tea out and we did some girly shopping, looking at dresses that I could get for the wedding we're going to (had I mentioned its in Mauritius :P). Alison was also looking for a dress for a wedding that she's going to, so off we went for a couple of hours of child-free shopping. OMG how weird is that - going out without kids - great fun, but I did feel as though I'd forgotten something!

Anyway, while we were out, I saw a dress in Coast that I fell in love with - then I saw the price - £175! OMG I seriously can't afford or justify spending that amount of money on a dress. Especially as I might not wear it more than a couple of times, and certainly only when I'm on holiday. It was a maxi dress, so not something I'd wear on the school run! So I came home from that shopping trip, in love and bummed at the price tag. My fab mum did offer to buy it for me as an early birthday present, but like I say, I can't justify the price tag, especially when it isn't something that I'd wear everyday.

Alison is very generously letting me borrow a lovely dress that she has from Per Una, M&S. Again a Maxi dress, with purples in the print - very difficult to describe, but a multi-coloured dress. So I have that, but I've also seen a bright Turquoise blue print dress in Next for £40, so I think I'll see about getting that and then take 2 dresses away and have a choice as to which to wear for the actual wedding.

Anyway, like I said, this isn't a long post - in fact it has ended up longer than I intended it to. But I've found as I started typing I could go on, but someone wants feeding!

xx

Men?! Seriously?!

2009-04-15T13:07:00.002+01:00

OMG, surely I can't be alone in thinking that men can be just so ...... stupid?!

Maybe I'm over-reacting, making too much of it, but I don't think I am. OK you're probably wondering what the hell I'm going on about, so ....

In a few weeks, Scott, Caitlin and I are off to Mauritius for 2 weeks for a wedding. Charlotte and Cameron are staying at home (not alone), with Scott's parents, who are staying at our house for the 2 weeks, and will take the kids to school/playgroup.

Anyway, lets just say that this holiday isn't exactly cheap, and this isn't the ideal time to be going on such an extravagant holiday, what with the current financial cock-up we're living with at the moment. So I have on more than 1 occasion, suggested to Scott that we shouldn't really be doing this, and maybe we should cancel, only to be shot down, told that if we cancel, we lose practically everything we've paid. I don't think its just the money situation that causes me to hesitate over this, but leaving the kids - I've never been away from them for more than 2 nights and I'm not looking forward to it, I know that I'll miss them like crazy :(.

But, on holiday we are going, and I shouldn't complain because the hotel we're staying at looks beautiful, is all-inclusive, and it will be fabulous time, spent with lots of friends who we love. So, this week I'm looking at info on the Internet about the climate, what to pack etc etc, and start thinking about the flight times etc. Now this is a 12 hour flight (OMG!), and we'll have a baby with us, so usually on my 2.5 hour flight to Menorca, I have held Charlotte and Cameron when they were both babies, but we can't hold Caitlin for 12 hours. I know that Scott mentioned when he booked the holiday, that a carrycot would be provided for Caitlin, but I wanted confirmation, but didn't find much on the website. So my next idea - look at the booking confirmation that we've had through.

So I go a searching in Scott's study - well, if you can find anything in there, it'll be a fluke - the room is a tip, paperwork all over the place, and I didn't find anything at all about the holiday. So then I thought I'd try his email - see if we'd got confirmation online? Nope, nothing. So then I asked Scott about it, after all, we've paid a deposit on booking, and then the full balance was paid back in February, so we must have something - a receipt for our payment? Nope, nothing. According to Scott, we've not received anything in writing about our booking - not when we booked the holiday to confirm what we've booked, not when we paid the balance to confirm that we were all paid up.

Now Scott doesn't see why I'm getting worked up about this. I said, how does he even know that we're booked on this holiday? His response, well they've taken the money - well FFS of course they've taken the money! But we've nothing to show that our money has gone on this holiday and not straight into some dodgy kipper's pocket?!?! He doesn't understand why I want to confirm info about the flights and exactly when we're travelling etc? Why wouldn't I - I mean he's a pilot for goodness sake, doesn't he realise that we sort of need to know when to be at the airport by? Oh and according to him, it isn't unusual to not get any sort of confirmation - what a load of rubbish - you'd get a letter or an email for sure! And what if we don't have a holiday booked and we've paid out this money on nothing - he shrugged it off - he'll contact Barclaycard and they'll reimburse the money - BUT THAT ISN'T THE POINT!

Seriously, if he had a brain cell, he'd be dangerous! I've pestered him so much about this, he's relented and will phone the company he booked with (booking was made over the phone), asking them to email/fax/post (anything!), our booking info through to us.

This is the last time I'm leaving any sort of booking with him - he can pay for these things, fine, I won't stop him doing that - but being in charge of booking things and getting things organised, no chance!

OK, rant over ... for now! I'm just waiting for this to all turn round and bite us on the arse. I really hope that I'm overreacting and that it all turns out OK, but at the moment, I could throttle him for being so stupid!

Snuggly puppy cuteness!

2009-04-14T21:57:00.003+01:00

So on Easter Sunday, my Mum's dog went into labour. We knew that she was expecting 6 puppies, as Mum had her scanned. Poor old Truffles was looking mighty naffed off for a few days now (yes dogs can look naffed off)! She was very round, very waddly and for a few days had been restless, a sure sign that things could be about to happen. However, when labour did start, nothing really happened. In the end, my Mum had to take her down to the vets to get her checked out and they had to give her an injection to help her to deliver her pup as she wasn't contracting.

That was the case for each pup, she wasn't contracting and she had to have an injection to help her out. I know that Mum isn't looking forward to her Vet's bill when it comes through! Anyway, she got Truffles and her puppies home. All of them beautiful and looking no worse for wear after their ordeal, 4 girls and 2 boys. 3 of the 6 had been breech births.

We left them alone for Mum to feed and bond with her babies for the most part, and also knowing that Truffles probably wouldn't appreciate too much interference. But, we did get some photos ...

For the rest of the day, we spent the afternoon cooking a lamb roast dinner and then stuffing ourselves with that and yummy chocolate gateau. I definitely ate too much - but it was sooooooo good.

Yesterday morning, my mum phoned me to say that unfortunately 1 of the puppies had died overnight :(. A little girl, no idea why, perhaps she had some fluid on her lungs from the birth that hadn't cleared, maybe she hadn't been feeding, we'll never know. I told Charlotte, not really too sure how she'd react, but she took it surprisingly well, asking if the puppy would be in heaven. Only later when she was watching Springtime with Roo did she get upset when one of the characters was upset in the film. I think that was all to do with the puppy dying, and her letting her emotions out. But she's been fine since.

Mum said that if she liked, they would bury the puppy in the garden and say goodbye, and then plant some flowers to mark the spot where the puppy is. I mentioned this to Charlotte and she likes this idea, although she did ask if she could dig the puppy up when she wanted to see it and speak to it - erm NO!!!!!! We'll see - maybe that isn't such a good idea after all! Eeeeek!

Today, I've managed to do a layout, but no photo as the lighting is pants. I'm not sure about it. Not really liking it that much at the moment, but I'll have another look tomorrow and see what I think then.

Tomorrow I'm off out for some tea with a friend. We're planning on going to the Trafford Centre (without children!!!!), and then we're going to do a bit of shopping. I'm looking out for something to wear for a wedding that I'm going to in May in Mauritius. Even if I don't see anything tomorrow, it will be nice to have a look around the shops, without worrying that the kids have run off or trying to find them when they're hiding in the racks of clothes! Don't you just love shopping with children!

No, me neither!

xx

Hoppy Easter!

2009-04-12T08:08:00.006+01:00

Charlotte and Cameron were really excited to get up this morning to see if the Easter Bunny had been to deliver any Easter Eggs for them. He certainly didn't disappoint! As well as Easter Eggs, he brought clothes from Nanny and Grandad and undies from Scott's Auntie and Uncle.

We're off to my Mum's later for a Sunday roast (we're having lamb), and to see if the Easter Bunny has been there (I'm pretty sure he will have been!).

Last night, I decided to attempt making chocolate bunnies using a mould and melted chocolate. Well, to start with, I don't think I had enough chocolate to do this properly, so I only ended up with 1 successful bunny, which Charlotte and Cameron will have to share between them. The melted chocolate that I had left over, I used to make cornflake crispie cakes (always a hit).

I also had a go at making a paper flower, using instructions/template I found on the CraftSanity blog. They're basically paper snowflakes, but with a stem and leaves added to make them flowers. I'll definitely make some more, they look great and would be fab hanging down from the ceiling! Also check out the fabric Easter Eggs by Retro Mama - they're fab! I really must get in with this sewing lark - there are loads of fab projects that I'd love to have a go at.

This is my attempt at the paper flower, the kids are going to give it to Grandma today.

Friday saw the start of Operation Potty Training with Cameron. Previously, I've sat him on the loo/potty when I've been running a bath for him and he'd either manage a wee or nothing at all. But, Friday was Day 1 and I have to say, so far, not bad at all. The odd accident, which is to be expected, but the majority of the time (touch wood/fingers crossed), he seems to be getting it! Yay!

Charlotte is great at encouraging him too, although I think that has something to do with the chocolate buttons that are on offer as a reward when he manages to go to the potty!

He loves his big boy pants - very proud of them! He gets very excited to tell everyone that he's wearing pants and not a nappy, so he's looking forward to showing Grandma later.

At night he wears a nappy until he's dry all night through (which he was last night!).

So, hopefully we've got the timing right with him and things will go well.

Happy Easter, hope you all have a lovely day!

xxx

Little Princess

2009-04-05T08:58:00.003+01:00

I'm sure most people are familiar with the Little Princess cartoon. It's very good, very amusing and one of the few children's cartoons that I can watch without being driven to scratch my eyes out! (Max and Ruby anyone - how annoying is that rabbit - I REALLY WANT TO SLAP HER!)

Anyway, the other day Charlotte and Cameron pulled the last of our remaining xmas crackers. Charlotte put on the hat and ...

I definitely see a resemblance. I think the unbrushed hair helps LOL.

What do you think?

Have a good day, enjoy the sunny weather!

xx

T.U.B. (Totally Useless Blogger)

2009-04-03T22:33:00.009+01:00

Yes, I win the award for being a totally useless blogger - almost 3 weeks since my last post!

I'm hanging my head in shame :(.

Well, Caitlin is 9 weeks old tomorrow (eek!), time really is flying by, and my gorgeous baby girl is growing so quickly - she's outgrowing some of her 0-3 month clothes, not so much because she's getting tubby (although she does have the cute baby rolls at the tops of her legs - love em!), but she's getting long. I don't think she'll be sleeping in her moses basket for much longer, which means she'll be in the cot and out of our room - noooooooooooooooooo!

On Tuesday of this week, I took her to the Docs for her 8 week check-up and her first set of immunisations :(, oh I hate taking my bubs for their jabs, but of course, it needs to be done, but still, you feel so cruel! But, she did good. Of course she screamed, but after a dose of calpol she was fine - in fact I think having a syringe with pink goo put in her mouth bothered her more - she really objected to that, and she slept well that night. The next day she was quite sleepy, but now she's back to her usual smiley self.

Here are a few more (nearly 9 week photos :D). My faves are the ones of her in the travel cot, which we have set up downstairs. Funnily enough, she naps better during the day, downstairs, with all the noise going on, than she does upstairs - scared of missing something me thinks! She has a mobile above the travel cot and she loves it, she will spend ages just lying there looking at the animals on her mobile, chattering away to them - so cute!!!

A couple of weeks ago we had a visit from Lou and Xander. It was so great to see them, we've not seen each other in so long. Lou brought some beautiful hooded towels that she'd decorated for Caitlin with beautiful pink ribbon and hearts. Thank you so much Lou! They've already been put to good use and I do have some piccies of Caitlin wrapped up in them, which I'll post when I get them off my phone and onto the puter.

So, the clocks have gone forward, yay for the lighter evenings, and over the last couple of days, yay for the fab weather we've had. I've actually ventured out into the garden and made a start on tidying it up, today I cut the grass. There is still a lot to do to get the borders looking presentable, but I've made a start, so I'm happy with that. I took a few piccies yesterday of some of the signs of spring in our garden. One of my faves is the Camelia, which was my Grandma's. I inherited it after my Grandma died in 2004 and every year it flowers beautifully.

Cam made the most of the weather by having a little picnic outside.

A couple of weeks ago, I got a new mobile phone, and I've moved from Orange to O2. I decided that as I get loads of annoying junk texts and pesky calls to my old number, that I'd ditch that and keep the new one that came with the O2 phone. Anyway, this phone is fab - it has a 5 megapixel camera with zoom and flash. In fact, the options on the camera aren't far off what you'd expect on any ordinary digi camera! Plus, it takes video, which on my little mobile phone screen looks really clear - once uploaded to the puter and in large size, it is a little grainy, but hopefully I can upload a couple of vids that I took yesterday of Charl, and I'll see how they look on here.

The first one (if it works), is of her goofing around, making me laugh - the norm for our house! Then the second video, well she starts off goofing around, going on about big bums or something like that, and then she starts singing Barbie girl! Very funny - her fave You Tube video is of Robert Unwin, the Chicken Guy from X Factor, who sang Barbie Girl for his audition! LOL!

Fingers crossed the videos work!

Right, marathon post completed! Well done if you've made it through the whole lot!

xx

Saturday afternoon scrapping!

2009-03-15T09:30:00.001Z

No, not fighting (good job the title to this post wasn't "Saturday Night Scrapping"). Nope, yesterday afternoon I sat at my craft desk and did a LO. Albeit a very simple, straightforward LO, and its a scraplift from an old issue of CK. But I'm happy with the result, and I love this picture of Cam.

Hope that I'm on a roll now and that more LOs will follow! Fingers crossed!

TFL xx

'Makes My Heart Smile' Blog Award

2009-03-04T21:46:00.004Z

The lovely Leigh has awarded me with this little blog award!

Thanks hun xx

Isn't it cute! Anyway, I have to pick 10 people to pass the award onto, so ...

Jen
Trina
TL
Helen
Marie
Lou
Sharon
Lou
Suzy
Rach
Sue

Sending this award onto you!

Ooops - that was 11, oh well, I'm sharing the love!

xx

Smile! Oh and something you won't be expecting!

2009-03-04T16:22:00.006Z

So for just over a week now, we've been getting definite smiles from Caitlin, when we KNOW it ain't just wind LOL. Anyway, they're sooooo cute, heart meltingly gorgeous and this morning I managed to get some snaps of her smiling away.

Awwwwwww

Cam wanted in on the photo action. He's loving having his photo taken at the moment. As soon as I've taken a picture he wants to see what it looks like.

So onto the part you won't be expecting.

Would anyone like to have a guess at when I last did any scrapping? Lets just say that if you were to search through my blog posts, you'd have to go a fair way back.

It was in fact back in October of last year, when I scrapped a LO of Charlotte's first day at school and one of our dopey dog, Dylan. It isn't as though I haven't touched any glue or paper since then, because I made the majority of our crimbo cards and I've made a few cards this year too - I've just forgotten to take snaps of them and post them on here - bad me!

Anyway, finally getting round to the point ... I'm taking part in a CJ that a few of us from the Bumps and Babes SG Thread on UKS are doing. So, I've made my album, put together a sign-in page for everyone to complete as they do their LOs and I've done my LO!

Shocking I know, but I've really enjoyed doing it. It did take some time because my craft desk is in such a mess, I really need to tidy it up, but I'm hoping that now I've done 1 LO, I'll get back into the swing of things and more LOs will follow!

So, here are a few pictures of my album and LO.

Front Cover

Back Cover

Sign-in page/tags

Left page of my LO

Right page of my LO

I used my Bind-It-All to punch the holes and I'll bind together when it is all completed and arrives back with me, so for the time being it is held together with a couple of book rings, making it easy for people to open up to decorate the pages.

Thanks for looking!

xxx

Decisions, Decisions

2009-02-27T16:10:00.002Z

So last night, Kirsty posted a few of the photos from yesterday's shoot on her blog - OMG - I know I'm biased here, but how gorgeous is my baby!!!!

In the early hours of this morning, while feeding Caitlin, I was sat in bed, with the laptop, looking through all the photos that Kirsty took yesterday. I love them all, I got a bit weepy (it's my hormones OK - that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it), and I have absolutely no idea how I'll be able to pick and choose between them all.

I'm spoilt for choice!

xxx

Strike a pose!

2009-02-26T17:32:00.003Z

It's official, Caitlin is a scrapper's dream! She's more than happy to pose for the camera ... and just as well!

We had a visitor this morning - Kirsty came over to see us, to meet Caitlin, and of course she had her camera with her :D. Lots of chatting, photo snapping and baby cuddles. We had a great time!

Kirsty even baby sat Caitlin while I went to collect Cameron from playgroup. I can't wait to see the photos that she took. I did see a few on the camera, and there are some gorgeous ones (biased? me? noooooo!) :D.

Anyway, I got a couple of snaps of Kirsty having a cuddle with Caitlin, although why I waited until just before Kirsty left, I don't know, at this point Caitlin had decided she'd had enough of the camera and was getting tired, but she had been awake for over 2 hours at this point and had done so well.

This afternoon I've been to the Registry Office at the Town Hall to register Caitlin's birth and get her birth certificate, so we can now get her passport sorted. It's daft really, her passport photo won't look anything like her past her first birthday!

Anyway, off to get the monsters in the bath!!!!

xxx

A bit of a photofest!

2009-02-20T00:08:00.006Z

Oooh so it's been a few days since I last posted, so a bit of an update ...

Saturday was Valentine's Day. Due to a lack of pennies, we kept it very low key. I made cards with the kids for Scott and he surprised me with a perfume gift set. A new perfume for me - Daisy by Marc Jacobs. Soooooo lush!

Monday morning, I went round to Jen's house with the kids. Charlotte and Cameron had a great time playing with James and Joshy, while Jen and I chatted, and Sam and Caitlin slept, drank milk and were all round cuties :D.

On Wednesday, the kids and I headed off to the Trafford Centre for a meet up with some of the girls from the UKS Bumps & Babes thread. We met up with Jen and Sam, Helen and Oliver and Trina and Chloe. We had a great afternoon, we had a bit of lunch, did lots of chattering and we got a few photos of the afternoon, although unfortunately not before Jen and Sam had to leave :(, but we plan to meet up again, so I'll make sure I get the camera out earlier than I did!

No idea what I was doing with my camera, but unfortunately I didn't take the best photos, so apologies. Doesn't stop these little babes looking just as gorgeous as always though.

Helen and Oliver
Trina and Oliver
Cam the Man!
Oliver
Chloe, sleeping beauty
Charl
Somehow I didn't take any pics of Caitlin that afternoon! So, I made up for that when we got home LOL.

Today, the Health Visitor came to see us and weighed Caitlin again. She now weighs 8lb 6oz! I did a bit more playing around with the camera again today.

So, like the title of this post says, a bit of a photofest. Some piccies that I will definitely be printing out to scrap with - yes I really did say scrap!

Right, time to head off to the land of nod!

TFL xxx

Cute snuggly baby pics

2009-02-13T21:37:00.004Z

I'm afraid you're going to have to humour me - seeing as I'm not scrapping at the moment (things must change), my blog posts will be full of snuggly cute little baby pictures!

These were taken a couple of days ago and you can see how much she's changed already!

At least I'll have lots of cute piccies to scrap with when I do manage a LO!

Thanks for looking xx

My little princess

2009-02-05T21:28:00.003Z

Now I have 2 little princesses, but 1 is somewhat bigger than the other, but oh how she dotes on her. I'm amazed at how gentle and loving both Charlotte and Cameron are with Caitlin, they want to hold her, kiss her, cuddle her, helping with baths, nappy changes (THAT surely won't last!).

Anyway, my last post on Sunday was rather brief. I'd just got home from the hospital, but now I've got a little bit of time to tell you about Caitlin's arrival.

I was booked for an induction on Sunday 1st Feb, but really wanted to avoid that if I could. I'd had a sweep on the Tuesday before, but I really didn't think that anything was going to happen. The majority of any twinges I'd had before all seemed to stop and I wasn't feeling anything like labour was looming. On the Friday morning, I'd had a lie in, Scott's Dad had done the school run with Charlotte and then dropped Cameron off at playgroup, so I was still in my PJs at 11 o'clock. We had a panic at playgroup pick up time because Scott's Dad had thought that pick up was 45 minutes later than it was, so I rushed to get dressed and then dashed off in the car to pick Cam up. Of course he was fine, getting a bit more attention at playgroup wasn't going to worry him.

When we got home, we had a bit of lunch and I decided that rather than go out and about around the shops, I was going to take it easy at home. FIL was sorted for picking Charlotte up from school (and had the time drummed in to him), so I didn't have to go out anywhere. At about 2 o'clock ish, I started to feel strong braxton hicks contractions that didn't last very long, but kept on coming every 10 minutes or so. As the afternoon went on, they got stronger and longer and fell into more of a regular pattern. I didn't say anything to anyone though as I didn't want to be asked every 2 minutes if I thought I was in labour. It wasn't until tea-time when I said that I thought something might be starting to happen. Scott had planned to go out for a couple of drinks with a friend of his who was going to stay over at our house on the sofa, and was going to bring his dogs with him so that they weren't home alone. Nothing like a full house.

Anyway, I didn't have much appetite, so I just had a bit of toast to eat and then after Scott had gone out, I decided to have a soak in the bath to see if that helped a little with the pains. As soon as I was out of the bath, the pains were much stronger and I knew that this was definitely the start of labour. Scott hadn't even been out an hour before he was getting a call to come home. We made arrangements for his friend to stay at someone else's house and his dogs stayed at ours. By the time Scott got home, I was ready for trying to get some sleep, but that didn't work, the contractions were too strong to sleep through, so I came back downstairs to sit on the bouncy birthing ball which was the most comfortable position for me to be in. Scott was watching Mamma Mia (!). I then asked him to start timing the length of the contractions and the time between them, something that it took him a bit of time to understand what he was doing - honestly, he can fly a plane, but he can't time a contraction! Eventually, we figured out that they were 3 minutes apart, lasting a minute each time, so we phoned the Delivery Suite to ask their advice about whether or not to go in.

The midwife that I spoke to didn't sound too happy about being disturbed, perhaps she was hoping for a quiet night, and her suggestion was that I stay at home and see if I can cope for as long as possible before going in, but the pain was pretty intense and I wanted to go in to get checked out to see if things were progressing. My mum-in-law drove us to the hospital and we went to the assessment rooms to see what was happening with me. We were met by the midwife we'd spoken to on the phone and she was as cheerful to our faces as she'd been on the phone!

When they checked me, I had already progressed well and so I was taken down to the Delivery Suite and asked what pain medication I thought I'd want - EPIDURAL!!!!! But I was told that I'd be waiting at least an hour as the anaesthetist was in theatre. So I started with the gas and air, but by this point the contractions were coming on top of each other, so I asked for pethidine and for my mum to be called to come. Our new midwife (who was lovely!), went away to sort the pethidine, but then heard some bizarre noises from me and she came back to find that I was pushing and that baby was almost ready to be born. So no drugs for me!

Caitlin was born about 50 minutes after we got into the Delivery Room, and only 90 minutes after getting to the hospital. My mum didn't make it to the hospital in time for Caitlin's arrival, she got there about 20 minutes later, and got a shock when she walked into the room! When she was born, Caitlin was still in her sac of waters, which apparently is good luck!

So it all happened rather quickly in the end, but she's perfect and we can't imagine life without her now. This afternoon we had a home visit from the midwife, who weighed her again (the first time since Saturday), she now weighs 7lb 13oz, she's gained 8oz in 5 days! So feeding is going very well! Unfortunately, she seems to have picked up the cold that we've all been suffering with for the last week and last night she did struggle to settle down to sleep. Fingers crossed for a better night tonight.

Anyway, I'd better publish this marathon post - someone is waking up for yet more food!

xxx

I'd like you to meet ...

2009-02-01T21:25:00.003Z

Caitlin Anne, who was born on Saturday 31st January at 04.51, weighing 7lbs 5oz.

We arrived home from hospital this afternoon and she is just perfect!

xxx

Panty panty poop poop!

2009-01-26T21:02:00.003Z

Woe is me! Yes, I'm feeling very sorry for myself. My lovely children and husband have passed on their snotty cold to me and to top it off, I can hardly speak. Of course, this little fact is hilariously funny to Scott and the kids! One is not amused!

I had a check-up with the Midwife today, and having been told at my last appointment 2 weeks ago by my Midwife that if I hadn't popped by today then they would do a sweep (lovely!) to get things moving. So I go all geared up for that and ready that things could happen tonight/tomorrow and we could have a baby very very soon. Except today my Midwife isn't there, and the one who was there, wouldn't do a damn thing. Apparently it isn't procedure to do a sweep before you're 7 days overdue, so I've got to wait until Thursday for a home visit to get my sweep.

OK, so we're only talking about 3 days, but to an overdue preggo bird, you might as well be talking about the whole 9 months all over again. If seems and feels like an eternity! I swear, I've never cleaned this house so much as I have over the last few weeks in an attempt at fooling this baby that I have the nesting instinct and that labour should start imminently! I've eaten so much pineapple that I'll never order a Hawaiian pizza again, and in future my gammon steaks will be naked!

So, I'm off to clean the kitchen (again), it's already been done once today! Then I'm not sure what I'll do - is it mad to wash the car in the dark?!

Oooh ETA - the delicious Sawyer was back on our screens last night with a 2 hour helping of Lost - fabby! Have been looking forward to this for ages, and what do I do?! Fall asleep! Although not before having a good old drool at the sight of Sawyer's naked torso! Perhaps it was that yummy sight that caused me to faint! Hurrah for Sky+ eh!

Can't sleep!

2009-01-24T03:40:00.003Z

Nope, not having contractions, got really horrible heartburn and now I can't get back to sleep!

Anyway, thought I'd share this ...

The lovely Rach has awarded me with this, thank you hun xx

I'm not sure if there are any rules with regards to passing these awards along or not, so just in case there are, I'm awarding it to ...

Mariek
Lou (Garlics)
Lou (Life Most Ordinary)
Leigh

Right, off to see if I can get back to the land or nod ...

xxxxx

No baby yet!

2009-01-23T16:57:00.002Z

I'm still here - I'm still pregnant!

This little one isn't showing any signs of arriving soon, and it's due date has been and gone!

I've got an appointment with the Midwife on Monday, which was made 2 weeks ago and I was really hoping that I wouldn't be needing it, but it is looking more and more likely that I will.

Come on baby - get out of there! It's time your Daddy did some of the carrying around!!!

xx

A week has gone by ...

2009-01-19T20:43:00.002Z

Since my last post! Eeeeek! Can't believe it!

It would be lovely to say that during the last week I've had my baby, but I haven't. My due date is this Thursday so 3 days to go, but seeing as the other 2 were both overdue, I'm pretty sure this one will be too. Not particularly thrilled at that prospect as I'm soooo done now, but these little people have a habit of arriving when they want to.

Speaking of arrivals - my cousin finally gave birth to a little girl on Tuesday 13th January at 5.30 pm. Over 48 hours after going into hospital to be induced, Dixie Jane made her entrance into the world, weighing 8lbs 9 oz. Congratulations to Danielle, Neal and big sister Gretel.

Now if this one is planning the same wait for me, we'll be falling out before we've started! I know I've given this one a bumpy ride, falling down the stairs etc, but ... 2 weeks overdue is JUST NOT ON!!!!

So, its a waiting game for me, both Charlotte and Cameron have colds. This morning it was just Cameron, but Charlotte has come home with the sniffles too, and I just hope that I don't get it, could definitely do without being a snot bag.

My hospital bags are packed and when I saw the Midwife a week ago, my blood pressure was back down to normal. I don't go now until a week today (26th), which will put me 4 days overdue. I really hope that I won't be needing that appointment, but with every niggle and twinge that I get, it is kind of hard to not get excited and think that this is it!

I can't remember now if there was any other reason for blogging, other than a whiney post about still being huge and not having a baby yet! See that's what pregnancy hormones do for you - you lose your marbles! Oh well, I'm sure if I remember, I'll post again. Hopefully before another week is through, and hey who knows, if I don't get round to posting - it's because I'm busy having a baby!

Messy Fun!

2009-01-11T20:26:00.004Z

This afternoon Charlotte and Cameron have been to a birthday party. The birthday girl was my Cousin's daughter, Gretel, who turned 3 on Monday. My Cousin however wasn't there. Today she is 12 days overdue with her 2nd baby and the hospital insisted that she had to go in today to be induced, which must have been really tough for her as I know she really wanted to be there today.

Anyway, the party was at a Fudge Factory. We were warned that it would be messy, so not to dress the kids up in their best clothes. When we got there, the party started with the children decorating their own chocolate bar with piping bags of melted chocolate and lots of sweets to add to the top. Well I think Cameron actually used up a whole piping bag on his bar, he had a great time! Charlotte made a chocolate and sweet volcano, a little less messy than Cameron's :D.

After the choccy bar decorating fun, it was time for something to eat, and then a game of pass the parcel - always a hit, unless you're Cameron and you're still in rip it open mode from Christmas - we didn't quite get the pass it along part of the game.

Then it was the chocolate fountain part - more mess! Skewers (not the best idea with young children), loaded with marshmallows were to be dipped in the chocolate fountain. More fun! More mess!

Yummm!

The kids had a great time, fell asleep on the way home and then when they got home they wanted their pieces of birthday cake - do they ever stop?!?!

Off to see the Midwife tomorrow afternoon, mainly to check my blood pressure, which was up at my last appointment. I'm ready for meeting this baby - not very organised, but I feel ready now, so any time would be good - listening baby???

xxx

They did good!

2009-01-10T15:15:00.002Z

So the end of the first week back to school and playgroup and they both did good!

Cam started playgroup on Thursday and he had a great time. Did a bit of painting and playing in the sand, and then when I went to collect him, they were playing outside so I got to see him running around like a loon after all the other children. He didn't quite 'get' what queueing up was for going back inside and decided that he'd prefer to run around a bit more, but when I went in to collect him, he'd got a new book bag, which he proudly carried to the car and then refused to put down once in the car.

All the excitement must have taken it out of him though, because in the afternoon he fell asleep for an hour or so, which usually I dread, because it means that he won't settle at bedtime, but Thursday night he fell asleep again no problems.

Yesterday was his 2nd day at Playgroup and again he was really excited to be going. When we arrived, he was saying 'Paygoop, yay!', so always a good sign!

When I arrived to collect him, they were outside again and I noticed that he was wearing his spare clothes - hmmmm an interesting morning! He'd been playing in the water area and although he had an apron on, he'd managed to soak all his clothes and then soak his spare top that I'd sent in. So he was wearing his spare trousers and a Playgroup top!

No nap in the afternoon and he still seemed full of beans at bedtime - hmmm go figure?!?!

When I collected Charlotte from school, she came bounding out, really excited. We're 'Star of the Week' again, this time for excellent key words work! So proud :D, so we have a badge and a certificate again, and she couldn't wait to get back home to show Daddy and to phone Grandma and tell her all about it.

This afternoon Charlotte is at a party - I could have stayed but opted to escape for a bit - finish off bag packing, which is almost done and dusted, but so far, all I've managed to do is make a brew and start blogging. Oh well!

Both Charlotte and Cameron are partying tomorrow, my cousin's daughter turned 3 on Monday and it is her party tomorrow afternoon - at a Fudge Factory - they're making sweets - hmmmm joy, that won't be too messy will it! So I think I'll be taking my camera for that one - and LOTS of baby wipes.

My cousin is also expecting a baby, her due date was 30th December, so she is now well overdue (and I suspect more than slightly pee'd off!). So tomorrow could be very interesting - labour starting off - sweet making. Hmmm very messy indeed!

Right, off to pretend to do something for another half hour or so before I go to collect Charlotte!

xxx

Growing Up!

2009-01-07T17:41:00.004Z

Tomorrow morning, this little man, goes for his first time at Playgroup, which means that as Charlotte is at school too, I get 2 and a half hours of child-free time. Of course, that is only for as long as I'm a parent of 2 and as number 3 is due in 2 weeks time, I won't be having much child-free time for long.

Oh well! Still, Cameron is very excited about going to Playgroup, he's been running around telling anyone who'll listen that he's going to 'Paygoop morrow'. He's going to be doing 2 mornings per week - Thursday and Friday, then in September he starts Nursery school - eeeeeek!!!

Talking of number 3, I made a feeble attempt at taking a bump picture on Saturday, and this is how it turned out - headless again, but bump just about in the picture - my arms aren't long enough to hold the camera at arms length and get me all in! So this was bump at 37 weeks and 2 days.

Really, it could be any day now that baby arrives. I just hope that nothing happens over night tonight as I really want to take Cameron for his first day, and Charlotte has a party on Saturday and then both Charlotte and Cameron are off to a party on Sunday, so labour is going to be pretty tricky to fit in at the moment. But, I guess that isn't going to worry bubs, they'll arrive when they want to.

As far as hospital bags go, well I've got the stuff for baby packed, just nothing for me sorted yet - so I think that is my priority for tonight - get that sorted!!!

I did try to post this earlier this evening, but for some reason blogger wasn't playing ball, and I've lost part of my post. Seeing as I can't remember what it was that I'd typed (and obviously not very interesting), I won't bother trying to remember what it was to type it again. I'm going to chill out and pack my bag - or maybe a case and then go on the run for a couple of weeks and leave Scott in charge at home. Perhaps NOT!!!

xx

2009!!! And we have snow!!!!

2009-01-01T12:07:00.003Z

Well - a little bit.

But of course the kids were eager to get outside this morning, so we wrapped ourselves up and out we went - my toes are still thawing out!

So Happy 2009, from 2 funny faces :D xxx

Happy New Year!

2008-12-31T15:00:00.002Z

I can't believe how quickly the last 12 months has flown by. Tomorrow we're in 2009, the year that I'll be having my 3rd (and FINAL) baby, the year that see Cameron start play-group (on 8th January), and in September he starts Nursery - eeeeek!

In May we're off to Mauritius for James and Edwina's Wedding, so as soon as this baby is born, I'll be trying to slim down to fit into some fabulous, expensive outfit that Scott will have to buy for me (not that he realises this yet).

I hope to have the motivation to be a bit more creative once the baby has been born - although I'm not sure how I'll find the time to do anything. I might even try to get a bit more done on my IACW A-Z album. I shockingly only managed A and B, so if I don't do anymore, I'll be changing the cover of my album to read A-B of Me!

So, as Scott is away at the moment, tonight will be a quiet one. Mum is coming over soon with the kids and we're going to have some yummy pizza for tea and will probably watch a movie, before Mum has to get home to her dogs (especially before all the fireworks go off). So, whatever your doing tonight, lots of Happy New Year wishes from me, and I hope that 2009 is a great year for everyone xxx

The Christmas Adventures of Wilbur the Hamster!

2008-12-27T21:49:00.002Z

Ho ho ho!!! Hope everyone had a lovely Christmas and that you're just about recovering from it all!! I feel shattered - we hardly had a hectic Christmas, but I think the build up to it all and then when the big day is over, it finally hits you.

We had a lovely Christmas, our first one at home, as usually we go over to my Mum's for the day, but this year, she came over to us. I honestly expected Christmas Day to be an early start, but I was awake at 8, had to go to the loo and expected the kids to wake up - but no, so I went back to bed and had a bit of a read, while I waited for the kids to wake up. 9 o'clock came and went and my Mum phoned to see if the kids were having fun opening their presents - erm no, they're still asleep and I'm going to have to wake them in a minute - this is ridiculous!!! So, by about half 9, the kids are awake and downstairs we go, and blimey the look on their faces when they saw all the pressies that Santa had delivered! It took a fair while to get through everything, but they managed it and I managed to make a note of all the people we need to send thank you letters to - hmmm that'll be fun!

My Mum arrived late morning and helped me with the Christmas dinner, which was soooo delish. We had beef and all the trimmings, and then after dinner, the kids opened up their presents that Santa left at Grandma's house - OMG, we really need a bigger house!!!

After Mum had gone in the evening, I was putting the kids to bed and there was a knock at the door. It was our next door neighbour, and I could hear him asking Scott if we had a guinea pig or a gerbil. No, but we have a hamster - anyway, next door they have movement sensors that pick up if anyone is between our 2 houses (as that was the escape route, when we were broken into a few years back), anyway, all afternoon, something had been setting off the movement sensors. Our neighbour went out to investigate and caught a glimpse of something running around, so that is when he knocked on our door. Scott went outside and they heard something rustling around, looked down and there was sat our hamster!!! OMG!!!

Now I'd actually spent the whole day worrying that something had happened to our hamster - I hadn't yet realised that he wasn't in the cage, but had noticed on Christmas Day morning that he hadn't ate his food, so I was hoping that he'd just buried himself and he was fast asleep. I kept checking in on him during the day, but nope, the food was still there (obviously). Oh dear, a sick or dead hamster isn't really something that I want to deal with and tell Charlotte about, especially on Christmas Day. So, I thought I'd wait until she'd gone to sleep and then deal with it.

We've no idea at all how or when he escaped, but suspect that one of the kids had left his cage open (which up until this point, lived in Charlotte's bedroom - now it is safely downstairs where we can keep an eye on them), so we think he escaped and then they closed the cage again, without realising that he'd gone. On Christmas Eve afternoon, I thought I heard something move around in the cavity wall, and we now think that is how he's made his escape - then spent the night outside. I can't believe that he wasn't eaten or didn't freeze his little hamster balls off - although he wouldn't have starved - we threw the reindeer dust outside the front door, which consisted of hamster food and glitter, so he had something to nibble on, although I'm now expecting glittery poops from him :P

So there you go, The Christmas Adventures of Wilbur the Hamster! I think he wanted to get a glimpse of Santa!

Yesterday, safe in the knowledge that Wilbur was in his cage, we went out with my Mum to a Panto in Manchester. We went to see Peter Pan and it was great! The kids did really well to sit through it, it went on for much longer than we expected it to, and towards the end, Cam did get a little restless, much to some stuck up woman's disgust, who threw us a dirty look. Earlier, I'd stopped Cameron from hitting her with a light up sword that he'd got. Wish I'd let him twat her with it now :P

Afterwards we went out for tea and stuffed ourselves (again!), so today has been really lazy - I haven't the energy to do much other than make a brew!

I've now less than 4 weeks to go until my due date, I'm not expecting this one to arrive early as neither Charlotte or Cameron were early (Charl was 13 days late, and Cam was 3 days late), but today Scott went away on a skiing holiday to Italy and he won't be home until the 4th Jan, so this baby is NOT allowed to make an appearance until Scott is back home!!! Plus, I still haven't packed my hospital bag!

Right, another brew and bed me thinks!

xxx

He's on his way!

2008-12-24T20:48:00.003Z

Yep, hopefully by now my little monsters are fast asleep (yeah right!), they are so excited - well Charlotte is, Cameron is just joining in with the excitement because it looks like fun!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, hope you all have a wonderful day tomorrow xxxxx

Remember - no peeping!!! xx

Ready for the big day?

2008-12-22T13:44:00.002Z

Nope not here!

Yes the tree is up, I've decorated the cake this morning, but I've still got to make Scott's Christmas cards (from me and one from the kids). There is still some pressie buying to be done, although the kids are all bought for and they're the most important people to buy for. I just need another couple of bits for Scott and then some for Scott's side of the family. I'm off out later with my Mum to do the rest of the food shopping (should be fun!), and we were planning to go out today to get the last pressie bits while Scott is off work today, but so far that hasn't happened and I'm due to see the Midwife in a little while, so it probably won't happen today - unless Scott fancies braving Stockport all on his lonesome - ha ha ha I doubt that very much!

On Friday, I went and had my hair cut, which I haven't had done in ages (since just before my birthday in June), so it was looking a right old mess - well you saw the bump picture. The only pic I've got of my new do (which is the same cut as I had last time), I took using photo booth on Friday - no idea why I look so miserable, so apologies! LOL

Right, I'd better get a move on, otherwise I'll be late for my appointment with the Midwife! Just over 4 weeks to go till my due date - eeek! I'd better pack my hospital bag and get some baby clothes washed and organised! But maybe, I'll get Thursday out of the way first!

xx

Hideous photo!

2008-12-17T16:22:00.003Z

Eeeeek I think I should go back to posting headless bump pictures, but today Scott took a picture of me (34 weeks, 6 days pregnant) and it is awful! So pretend there isn't a head on the photo - much less scary!

Ooooh incidentally - this won't mean anything to many people, but for Mariek and Auntie Lou it will - 34 weeks +6 is the exact same stage I was at when we met for the first time at the BW meet up in Telford! Spooky!

Been and bought the marzipan and icing for the crimbo cake today - wonder if the marzipan will make it onto the cake before I scoff it all and have to buy more?

I guess not!

Yummy cake!

2008-12-16T09:54:00.008Z

Well I hope its yummy. Last night I made our Christmas cake, a bit later than I'd planned to do it, but recent events put a rather large spanner in the works. So yesterday I got the ingredients and then last night after the monsters had gone to bed, I started on the cake.

OMG the smells from that kitchen were lush! It is a LONG time since I've made a Christmas cake, the last one was when I lived at home and made one with my Mum, so this is my first cake on my own. Just hope it tastes OK!

I used a recipe off the BBC Good Food Website - Simmer and Stir Christmas Cake. It was really easy and there wasn't a lot of washing up to be done afterwards - something that always puts me off when I'm baking - the amount of pots and bowls that I seem to use in the process.

I'm not a fan of candied peel, but this one has it - guess I'll be picking those bits out. If it turns out OK, and I decide to do it again, I'll probably substitute the peel for something else.

Toasting the nuts! Ha ha ha

Ready to go in the oven!

The result!

Not quite to Nigella's standards I'm sure, but once its got marzipan and icing on (provided I don't scoff all the marzipan first), I'm sure it will be fine.

While the cake was baking, Scott asked me if this was a trial run - erm no, this is it. To which he replied that he wanted a slice now, and he'd go out to buy the ingredients that I'd need to make another one - tough titties MacLeod, you'll have to wait! :P

While I was at Tesco getting the ingredients, I spotted these cake tins which were reduced. 2 tins for £2.50 - bargain!

The bottom tin is now home to the cake, and I'll make some mince pies to go in the top tin. I made some Eccles cake style mince pies last year, that were really yum - but all mince pies are yum, so I think I'll make some of those. If I make lots, I can freeze some and have some in the tin ready to eat!

Just hope Christmas dinner turns out well - eeeeeek!!!!

xx

Decorating Grandma's Tree!

2008-12-15T16:57:00.009Z

Yesterday we went over to my Mum's house and the kids got to decorate the tree. For a small tree, it now has A LOT of decorations on it, and it did start to lean to one side under the weight LOL!

Mum and I were sat on the sofa to the side of the tree and we couldn't really see where the decorations were being placed, so then I moved around to the front and ....

In particular, this area of the tree - obviously the right height for both of them.

*Today in Tesco we saw a big Xmas tree - I'm sure Mum's tree had more decorations than that one did! LOL*

Adding yet more decorations to the tree - as if it needed it!

Posing next to her erm masterpiece!

The finished product, and fibre optic Santa - a favourite with the kids - I WANT ONE TOO - he's so cute!!!

We still need to put our decorations up, I was hoping to paint the living room before we put the tree up though, but that isn't looking like its going to happen before Christmas - oh well, a job for Scott in the New Year before bubba arrives! LOL!

xx

Doing a jig!!!

2008-12-12T16:47:00.002Z

OK, not literally, because that would look a bit odd. But I am celebrating - I have 2 feet again!!!!!

OK, I've always had 2 feet, but today I had my cast removed and I can wear shoes again! Feels very odd, a bit sore, but so much better!

Looking forward to a soak in the bath later :D

Elf Name

2008-12-10T16:55:00.002Z

Ha ha ha - just seen this over on Sharon's blog and I thought I'd give it a go too.

Your Elf Name Is: Fuzzy Hot Chocolate

Son of a nutcracker!

What's Your Elf Name?

Ooooh I like it! :D

xx

Sorry Ek!

2008-12-09T13:09:00.004Z

Ha ha ha, no you're eyes are not deceiving you, I've changed the look of my blog - yet again! I think this is the 3rd change this week, but I am quite liking this look and I'll be sticking with it for a while - well until after Christmas, because lets face it, snowmen in June don't really work do they? Or maybe they do - all depends on where you live I suppose!

Anyway, I've taken a few pics of some of the cards that I've been making, surprisingly the light isn't too bad today, so I snapped away quickly before it went all dull again.

I've made these cards using scraps of patterned papers that I had left over - I'd kept them, intending to use them on layouts, but to be honest, they were stuck in a box and I'd forgotten that I had some of them. Some of the papers are christmassy ones, some aren't, but I'm pleased with how they've turned out. I've still got a few more to make, so I might sit down and get them done tonight/tomorrow. My Mum has asked me to make a couple of cards for her, so I'll make a start on those this afternoon.

xx

She sang her little heart out!

2008-12-08T22:09:00.003Z

Awwwwwww, tonight we went to watch Charlotte in the infant nativity play. It was sooooo cute. All of the Reception class were dressed as animals, and Charlotte was a cow. I had laughed at the thought of this before tonight, but when we were there, I have to admit, I was welling up. I think she made a very cute cow, but I am biased, what parent wouldn't be?

Not the best photos, but I will try to scrap them at some point. When she saw us (Me, Mum and Cameron), she was beaming and she sang her heart out. Very enthusiastic with the dance moves - watch out anyone in elbows reach LOL.

A bit of red eye to remove - any ideas if I can do that in Photoshop? I tried to do it in iphoto, but wasn't too successful!

xxx

Oh my - what a joy she's been today!!!

2008-12-06T18:06:00.006Z

Oh blimey - she's been on form today. A true brat, and she's driven me mad. Countdown to bedtime now - woo hoo!!!!

Today, we went to John Lewis at Cheadle with my Mum as Santa and his Reindeer were due to make an appearance there today. So, we got there just after 10 this morning and headed downstairs to the toy department to look for some crimbly pressies for my cousins' children and a few stocking fillers for a couple of other little people. We also looked at the Christmas decorations, and saw 2 huge Reindeer statues for sale - for indoor or outdoor use, priced at £1,500 each!!!! Erm, I think NOT!

Next to the Christmas Decorations, was the Fairy Godmother, who was reading Christmas stories to the children, so Charlotte and Cameron both sat down to listen for a while, and afterwards they had their photograph taken with her.

Things were OK up to this point, and then they all went pear-shaped. I think our well-behaved child was left with the Fairy Godmother, and we were left with the grumpy grotbag that she continued to be for the rest of the day! I've gritted my teeth so much today!

We then went outside the store to find that Santa's Reindeer were tucking into some hay, and that a few people were queuing to see Santa, so we joined the queue. It was great timing because after only a 5 minute wait, the big man himself arrived (although not so big - needed a few more mince pies in his belly). The queue ahead of us was only short and soon it was our turn to meet (firstly) one of the Reindeer. Check out the slapped arse face on a certain somebody ...

Needless to say, she didn't want to speak to Santa (although she did want a chocolate from him), so no snap of Charl with Santa, but I did get one of Cam with him.

Just a shame he isn't looking at the camera - think he's telling Charlotte to stop being silly, and waving his chocolate at her - ha ha ha, look what I've got!

After seeing Santa, there was another Reindeer to see.

Then it was back inside for lunch and a cuppa! Woo hoo!

We did manage to get a few christmas bits bought, before heading home with very sore feet. So I'm looking forward to a lazy evening in front of the telly - Strictly and X-Factor and pizza for tea!

Photo Booth Fun!

2008-12-05T20:25:00.003Z

This afternoon, Charlotte spent some time playing around with Photo Booth on my Mac. She did get a little carried away, so here are just a few of the snaps she took LOL!

This evening, Charlotte and Cameron have both written their letters to Father Christmas, which we'll post tomorrow. Funny how the things they've listed are things that Mummy suggested (hmmmm I wonder why :P).

xx

1, 2, 3, Awwwwww!

2008-12-03T17:48:00.003Z

OK, so 2nd post of the day, but Charlotte and Cam were cuddled up together on the sofa, watching telly, and this is how I found them ...

I can't wake Cam up, I tried to wake him for his tea, but he's completely gone!

Must be hard work being cute!

xx