Sugar & Spice (and a little something nice!)

Emily's haircut

2012-02-17T06:17:00.000-08:00

Emily has asked me for a while now if I would let her have her hair cut short, the answer to this has always been no, but yesterday when having our haircuts I said if she wanted then yes she could! She decided to have half of the length cut off!! I just thought, if she wants to then I should let her, after all it can grow back. After it was done she went to look, (on the way both her sister Megan and her friend, laughed saying she looked funny - they weren't meaning to be horrible or to upset her) but of course she started to cry saying everyone will hate it and laugh at her!!

She has overcome this, luckily we meet some of her friends throughout the day who all said they loved her hair. I was dreading it but I really like the hair cut.

Before

After

Bathtime!!

2012-01-11T14:13:00.000-08:00

I do love having a bath every night, it's away for me to relax and unwind from the day. Well last night I went to have a bath after I had finished doing the house work to find this.....
I do love Emily, she had even put a lamp on in there and put my towels ready. (she has used bath crayons)

My Cowboys!

2011-12-05T13:15:00.000-08:00

The shirt that Ethan is wearing I ordered a while ago but it was out of stock. As Ethan wanted it I left it on order but total forgot about it as it was a while ago, well it turned up last week. When I put it on Ethan, I told him to look in the mirror to see what he thought, he came running back to me shouting - 'I'm a cowboy, I need my gun and hat, I look like Daddy!!' I had to laugh as he did, as Paul a few weeks ago had a works party to go to were he had to dress up as a cowboy. Paul didn't really want to dress up but after searching for an outfit, I came across his shirt for £5 for next outlet, and a hat for £3. He looked the best Cowboy there, many of his work mates dressed in plastic gear which is what Paul didn't want to do. Well if im allowed to say, I think he looks good!

Eggs

2011-08-28T08:34:00.000-07:00

When I went shopping a few days ago, I needed some eggs to bake a cake (only 1 cake). They had free range eggs on offer (9 for the price of 6) so as we like eggs and I eat normally one a day and also wanted to make Ethan a cake for his birthday this week, I brought three boxes. When opening my boot after returning home, the bag with the eggs fell out and out of the 27 eggs over half of them were cracked!!!

So as not to waste, I popped them in the fridge and that night had omelette for dinner, made two sponge cakes, a Victoria sponge and a big batch of Brownies!! Oh yes, how good to have cake in the house…………… at first, Oh how sick of cake we all are now!!

Camping 2011

2011-08-24T12:24:00.000-07:00

We love camping and really looked forward to our annual camping holiday to Wales. And in typical camping holiday style it rained half our time there!! 5days out of 10, the other 5 was ok weather; it was only the last two days that was lovely sunshine.

The third night in, we had a storm, and I have to say I am suprised our tent was still standing by the morning. Over the last six years there has been a storm every time but nothing like this. It felt like the tent was going to break at any point with how far the wind and rain was pushing the tent side ways!! By the morning at least four other campers had packed up in the night with broken tents, aren’t I thankful for a great Outwell tent which after six years is still standing (leaking a little now though!).

I love Mid-Wales, the beautiful green countryside and valleys that are fantastic to visit and walk around. I love the fascinating history within the valleys - I love it when we come across derelict buildings up in places you just think why did they live here, and coming across old walls that are built up hills over 200m…Why!! And yes some of you may be thinking, yes why…why do you like finding these things. I would just love to dip back in history and spend a day up the hills of Wales, and see why people would live up there. In some places you know why as there is a reason you can see/read about, like the goldmines derelict buildings we came across on one of our trails.

Sometimes I wish I had a better camera to show you in picture quality just how beautiful this land is. Here are some from one of our walks.

The Tyddyn Gwladys Walk.

Random man Gold panning! This home is over half way up the hill that we were walking and is only accessable by a single track road then by a gravel lane - it is really in the middle of nowhere! How a fire engine got up here and manged to turn around is amazing. Not sure when the fire had happened but when visiting up here last year, people where in this home. The bottom of a bridge that we walk over, the top has been reinforced - luckly!! Derelict Goldmining buildings. The kids love checking the derelict buildings out. What some of the derelict buildings use to look like. Stopping for lunch. A Random house (well derelict house).

The burnt out home from the otherside of the river. The man panning! Emily nervous about crossing a wooden bridge!

Growing our own vegetables

2011-08-21T07:11:00.000-07:00

I have always wanted an allotment but with moving around at the moment it is just not viable. So the next best thing was to use a bit of the garden that we have and try our hand at growing a few veg. So since March we have prepared a small patch in the garden and also grown veg in tubs. As I haven't posted any pictures of this, here are some taken from the start to now.

Paul starting to make our patch.Megan making sure all the worms where ok!

Ethan helping daddy after school.My small patch!Paul making the kids their own boxes too.Nearly done.Making the scarecrow.Megan planting carrots in her box.Awhile later!!!
Some of our lettuce plants and what is left of our strawberry plants. Broccoli. Our first lot of thinning carrots. A pear from the pear tree my friend Jen gave us. Some lettuce and tomatoes Megan picked.Finding potatoes! Carrots, New potatoes and Blueberries from the bush Jen gave us too.Megan with our 2nd lot of potatoes.

We have been so pleased with what has grown - even though my timings were not great, as I really didn't need 10+ broccoli's all ready at the same time!!! At least my neighbours enjoyed them too. And I know I like lettuce but not for every meal! Next time I will be prepared more...read...know what I'm growing; for example finding out after cutting 10 broccoli heads off and digging up the plants only to read two days later that after you've cut off the main head, side sprouts grow, I would have had more!! Well we all have to learn! Next year I will have a plan.

One last thing that I have learnt, is not to have strawberry plants at dog eating height! Ollie took a fancy to the strawberries and every time one would start to turn red she would eat it!

Internet

2011-07-20T13:00:00.001-07:00

Over the last few years the Internet connection we have had, has just been rubbish. Since moving here we have tried three different companies but the Internet connection is sooooo slow. Nine times out of ten, we just give up after waiting ages for web pages to load or the connection just breaks all together.

Around a year ago I looked into joining BT who said they couldn't offer us any better than we have. I love it where we live but Internet wise we live at the edge of the phone exchange which means we have the weakest connection. Over the last few months we have watched BT do work around the area renewing cables so I thought I would give them a call last week and just ask what they could offer us now.

For those that know me I'm not very technical and don't know the terms that are right when it comes to Internet knowledge, I just know I want the Internet and I want it to work!! Well lets see if you can understand what I'm trying to say... With BT, a customer can receive up to 20MG speed, we get 3.5MG... you might think that that is rubbish but that is fantastic compared to what we have received up until now!!!

Tonight for the first time when going on my friends Jen's blog http://jengrantmorris.blogspot.com/, I waited only seconds for her blog to load instead of ages. (As said nine times out of ten I give up and turn the computer off after waiting sometimes up to an hour (if Jen has posted a look of pictures))

I have until tonight normally checked friends blogs, checked and sent emails and shopped on line on a Thursday on my mobile at the swimming pool using their WiFi!!

Emily is Eight!!

2011-06-23T12:39:00.000-07:00

I’ve been meaning to write about this, since the 4th June. It was a special day for our family… Saturday evening, our Emily was Baptised by Paul. I'm crying while writing this, just thinking about how time flys by. It just doesn't feel like eight years ago, that our first child was given to us by my Heavenly Father. She is a precious gift and I'm so grateful for her. I'm grateful that she decided to get get baptised, it was a very special day for Emily, she was so excited. I am also grateful that Paul was able to baptise her.

Here they are both dressed in whiteMummy and EmilyOur familyEmily with MeganPaul and Emily with both sets of GrandparentsEmily with Megan and so friends she invited Here is a poem I like.

Washed Clean - Boyd K. Packer

In ancient times the cry "Unclean!"
Would warn of lepers near.
"Unclean! Unclean!" the words rang out;
Then all drew back in fear,

Lest by the touch of lepers' hands
They, too, would lepers be.

There was no cure in ancient times,
Just hopeless agony.

No soap, no balm, no medicine
Could stay disease or pain.
There was no salve, no cleansing bath,
To make them well again.

But there was One, the record shows,
Whose touch could make them pure;
Could ease their awful suffering,
Their rotting flesh restore.

His coming long had been foretold.
Signs would precede His birth.
A Son of God to woman born,
With power to cleanse the earth.

The day He made ten lepers whole,
The day He made them clean,
Well symbolized His ministry
And what His life would mean.

However great that miracle,
This was not why He came.
He came to rescue every soul
From death, from sin, from shame.

For greater miracles,
He said, His servants yet would do,
To rescue every living soul,
Not just heal up the few.

Though we're redeemed from mortal death,
We still can't enter in
Unless we're clean, cleansed every whit,
From every mortal sin.

What must be done to make us clean
We cannot do alone.
The law, to be a law, requires
A pure one must atone.

He taught that justice will be stayed
Till mercy's claim be heard

If we repent and are baptized
And live by every word. . . .

If we could only understand
All we have heard and seen,
We'd know there is no greater gift
Than those two words--"Washed clean!"

Learning to Slow down

2011-01-20T14:39:00.000-08:00

Well here I am after over 18 months without an entry. I just felt like tonight I needed to write about something I’m learning over the last few weeks, something that I only wish I had listened to myself 8+ months ago, something that I need in my life and my families.

And that is slowing down….. I just think about this time last year how I felt there was never a spare minute in the day; it was taken up by the PTA at school, Playgroup work, Weight Watchers meeting/work/leadership training, Children’s clubs, Ironing, Housework, Dog walking, Church calling, School runs, Swimming etc etc etc. Everyday just never stopped; everyday in and out the car running from here to there, rushing bath times and bedtimes.

That is one of the reasons that helped me make up my mind about giving up being a leader for Weight Watchers. I had all these great ideas of having loads of time on my hand, being able to do things I had wanted for a while (writing on my blog for one!!).

Did that plan happen, no, life is still as much the same, maybe not as hectic but life’s not where I thought it would be or have liked.

I look back to how life was 4 years ago when we lived in Preston and none of the kids were at school. Oh how much I lived life back then, even though there were still busy times. But how great was the time, I would just bake with the kids when they wanted, we would paint all the time, get the saucepans and utensils out and become a music band, read when ever they wanted to, go on walks to the park, meet friends, go to mother and tots groups etc. Life was just so easy.

Then we moved here and Emily went to school, life changed. I felt it was important that the kids did some kind of clubs, and before we all knew it, along came, dance, karate, rainbows and swimming. Gone went the days that I loved getting the paints out and painting not only pictures on paper but painting our arms, feet or even our hairs.

As I said, I had so many plans when I finished work, I wanted to start scrap booking again, sort out the cupboards, walk Ollie loads, exercise, get back on track with my weight, update photos around the house, update our blog etc. But things just always seem to get in the way.

I have tried so hard to really think lately about all those things I was looking forward in doing and decided to take a step back in some of the things that I do. I finally after 20 months of being treasurer at Ethan’s old playgroup took the decision to stand down (I’ve been on the committee 2 ½ years). I have spent some much time there (on average 1 ½ days+ a week). I have been really pleased of myself for doing this and I finally finish at the end of next month. For those that know me though, know that this was such a hard decision for me, not that I want to still be their treasurer but that they keep on asking me to stay on, that they need me – normally I would say yes, because that’s what I do, say YES to anything I’m asked to do. It was so hard but I did say NO and it felt so good. I just kept thinking of all the things I want to do, to catch up on. And keeping that in mind, its helped me say no to a few things this last few weeks – to two job offers (one a the kids school and one at the local playgroup), having a bigger rule with the PTA and spending another afternoon at school. Do you know what? It feels good to say no sometimes!!!

I have been reading a book from my friend Jen (slow reading it!!!!) called ‘Not So Fast’ by Ann Kroeker. It has just been what I have needed lately to really try living at a slower pace. It has also made me think of not only slowing my life down but that of the kids. They just always seem tired and I have finally figured out why…… It’s their busy lives. Emily for example on top of her school hours, has been doing; tag rugby, netball, brownies, swimming, then her homework and reading, fitting in bath times and leisure time. No wonder my little 7 year old is tired. In this book, Ann Kroeker talks about what our busy schedules are not only doing to us, but our kids, that as parents we feel it’s important to full our children’s lives with clubs. She asks, ‘What are we doing it for? us or them’. She quotes a letter given to incoming freshmen attending Harvard, encouraging them to take leisure time rather than packing their schedules with so many activities that they have no time to think. This section called ‘Slowing Down Childhood’ has really helped me, so when it came round to signing up for clubs again this month at school, I didn’t give Emily a helping hand in her decision on signing up for tag rugby and netball. If I’m honest, I forced her hand big time last term to join these clubs. All she wants to do is come home and draw, play, go to the park, cook, paint etc. not being rushed from here to there.

Let us slow down, lets us give our kids a childhood that they will enjoy. Let me go back to not stressing when they want to make a tent in the bedroom, when they want to paint, when they want to get out every my little pet shop animal lining them up around their room. Let me not think of the mess they are making but of the fun they are having. Let me have time to enjoy their childhood and say no more often so I have time to enjoy their childhood. Let me remember how great it was to have been given them in my life, to laugh with them, to play with them, to cry with them, to love them and enjoy them.

I know I still have a long way to go, even tonight I told Emily I hadn’t got time to read her a chapter of James and the Giant Peach which we are reading together, no real reason, just no time ( I did have time, I just wanted her in bed). So as I said, I know I still have a long way to go to get that slower pace of life, to go back to being a calmer mother.

Our stay at Grandad and Nana Dawn's

2009-05-16T14:52:00.001-07:00

We went to stay at my dad's and Dawn's over the Easter week, as I thought it would help take the Children's mind of Paul going on tour. At my dad's the house is always full of people and very busy so I knew they wouldn't have time to get upset. We did lots of fun things, apart from the Easter egg hunt on Easter Sunday, the activity the kids enjoyed the most was going to Carding mill valley(http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-cardingmillvalleyandlongmyndwere) were they put their wellies on and splashed in the water, counted sheep, walked Ollie and Dawn's new puppy, and just have fun with Nathan. I love Carding mill valley, when I lived at home I would visit here loads with my family, then as I got older I would visit with friends and go for walks and picnic's. I really enjoyed taking the kids there as its somewhere I loved as a child.

Helping each other

Megan
Look more sheep

They loved going over the bridges

Ethan getting wet

Nathan

Ethan enjoying the outside

Ollie

This is Oscar Dawn's new puppy. When we stopped to have a rest and let Ollie play in the lake, Oscar decided he needed a rest too and found the perfect spot... Ethan's back and then Megan's. Well I guess it is more comfortable than the hard floor!

Thanks Dad and Dawn for the great visit, the food, the bed, the Easter eggs - which did help with the weight loss!! Thanks

Our visit to Grandad and Nana's

2009-05-16T14:17:00.000-07:00

The kids had lots of fun visiting Paul's parents. We meet John, Amy and Malcolm and went to the museum, which the girls loved. The museum was a great little museum and even better it was free!! They had a Easter treasurer hunt were we had to find clues around the museum which the girls had some much fun running around searching for them. After the museum we went to the park and back to Paul's parents were Megan had so much fun making Malcolm laugh. She just loves babies and loves playing with them.

Megan

2009-05-14T14:00:00.000-07:00

Every time it is Megan's turn to do family evening/bedtime prayer, she waffles on but I love listening to her telling her days story and when it comes to blessing people she always goes... 'daddy, daddy, mummy, mummy, emily, emily, ethan, ethan'. I have never asked why as its her prayer and I just let her say what she wants, well that was till tonight. Nearing the end of her prayer she stops and pauses and then says, 'I would like to say my blessings now, please Heavenly Father bless daddy, daddy, daddy, mummy, mummy, mummy, emily, emily, emily, ethan, ethan, ethan' When she Finally finished, I asked WHY so many times WHY (It does drive me mad she has to say it more than once and tonight being even more!) I just melted when she told me her reply, 'Well mummy, it's because I love you all twice as much as anyone else and today I love you all three times as much, so I have to say it three times so Heavenly Father knows'. Just how lovely is that. I will never again sit there thinking, hurry it up stop repeating our names.

Cotswold Farm - take 2

2009-05-07T13:57:00.001-07:00

This was our last outing before Paul left to go to Afghanistan, we allowed the children to have the Wednesday before he left off school, so that whatever we did it wouldn't be to busy. When we went with Steve and Frances a few days before the weather was a lot nicer than this visit but it didn't matter, We are had a lovely time.

You can see how windy it was

Cotswold Farm

2009-05-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

I wanted to post some pictures from our visit to Cotswold Farm, with Steve, Frances, Cameron and Sienna. I really love the Cotswold Farm, the farm is so clean, the staff is really friendly and best of all they don't charge any extra for the tractor ride etc.

I have been to so many farms when they charge you for anything extra they can. The staff here are really friendly and are really helpful.

They have a nice sandpit area that is covered

There is a woodland trail for the kids to do A maze with questions to help the kids find the way out, Ethan and the girls were a bit foxed, but they loved it, there is look out points for them, tunnels, quiz questions My little boy In the petting corner, they have rabbits, guinea pigs, lambs, goats, baby chick's and ducklings, etc. The kids can see eggs hatching, feed the goats and lambs It was such a nice time to go as they had the nursery barn were all the lambs were being born. There are tractor rides, indoor play barn, bouncy pillows (which I love!!!). And as I like this farm so much I brought annual tickets. http://www.cotswoldfarmpark.co.uk/

My new hair style

2009-05-07T12:33:00.000-07:00

I went to the hair dressers yesterday and when I asked what I wanted done, I said I wanted a fringe - thought I would try something different.

I'm a bit unsure, what do you think?

Weight Watchers

2009-02-18T13:53:00.000-08:00

So how am I doing with Weight Watchers... I really do love being a leader, I get such a buzz when a member of my meetings get to Gold. I just love helping them with their highs and lows. I have realised though how some people are just not ready to loss weight. When I first went through my member card box (off the old leader) I found that I had a least 10 members that have been coming for 2-5 years and still weigh the same OR even heavier than when they first came that many years ago. I just can't image it, when thinking about it all I think about is the money... £5.50 a week over years, what a waste!! Every week I get the same excuses, 'I've just not tracked' 'I've been too busy' 'I've eaten out a least twice and had a birthday party' (this one being the best) 'I just haven't got into it yet!' - What after 2+ years you haven't got into it yet! I really want to say 'WHY waste your money, come back when your ready'. I really don't mean to be hard here but I really just don't see why they come. I have lots of members who come and after some weeks stop coming because they aren't ready, saving their money they say until they are ready. BUT what do I do, give them the same amount of support, care and love that I give all my members.

It hasn't all been easy though, I have a few members who just moan, moan, moan at me. The room is too cold, the queue is too long, they haven't lost weight (even though they have been out twice and not tracked etc etc etc), I haven't got the bars they want, there is not enough chairs in the middle row where they want to sit (even though there are chairs available on the other rows) etc etc etc. I just smile and try to be understanding; I'll make sure the heating is up higher next week, I'll make sure there is a few extra chairs in the middle row for you. BUT do I, no, the heating is fine and I can't fit anymore chairs on that middle row but next week they don't notice those things and instead moan about something else. There is just no pleasing everyone.

And how about me, with my points/maintaining/weight loss. Since losing my weight, 44lbs, I have managed to maintain my weight loss until I became a leader! Why you might ask? I have always been weighed every week until I became a leader, and it was being weighed that kept me on track. But now as a leader I am only weighed every 2 months! My goal weight is 9st 2lbs and for over a year has been around 8st 12lbs to 9st. For me this is a ideal weight, I have found this a realistic weight for me to maintain. But as I said this was before I became a leader. I was weighed the end of sept/mid nov/last week and my weight is gradually growing higher. I'm now 9st 1lbs. You may think that is ok, still under my goal, but when I was weighed back in sept I was 8st 10lbs and I did go up to 9st 2 1/2lbs. I have just found it so hard to maintain and now loss those few extra pounds that I have put on. And I know why... it is not being weighed. I always tell gold members to weigh as often as possible if not every week as if they don't at least 6 out of 10 will be back within 1-2 years after gaining a little weight if not going back to their starting weight.

Somebody said to me, so weigh yourself, I have and it is still now working, I really feel that I have no one keeping an eye on me. So it is for that reason that I have gone back to meetings as a member!! I have joined another leaders meeting every Wednesday morning kicking myself back into gear before that weight grows on and on. So I'll keep you up to date on how I get along.

So what tips can I give you if you are one of my friends who go to meetings;
1. GO to meetings and if you can STAY.
2. Eat your filling foods; remember those 5 portions of fruit or veg day.
3. Drink that pint of milk a day. (this is something that I have learnt to do - it has been hard as I'm not a milk drinker)
4. Remember your fluids - 8 glasses a day!
5. Track, Track, Track

Emily

2009-02-17T14:43:00.000-08:00

Well, Emily came into the living room to me saying 'Wow mommy look at my face, don't I look cute!!' So do you think I said 'yes'... I think the look of horror on my face said it all, straight away she said, 'Sorry, sorry, I didn't mean it!!'. After telling her off, I had to take a picture before I scrubbed it off for her!! She is very luckily that I love her! (its pen)

Malcolm

2009-02-17T14:30:00.000-08:00

I have been meaning to post pictures of Baby Malcolm; Emily, Megan and Ethan's first cousin on Paul's side. (John and Amy's first baby) since he was born but well...... Better late than never.

Congratulations John and Amy he is a beautiful little boy. I hope he bring you many hours of joy and happiness.

Megan's 4th Birthday

2009-02-17T14:12:00.000-08:00

I just can't believe that Megan is now four. We had such a nice little family tea party. She got a camera and some new little outfits for her baby. The only thing that she asked for was, (in her own words) 'can I please have my hair straight like yours mummy, please, as it is a special day, my birthday'. How could I say no...

Ollie playing football

2009-02-17T13:50:00.000-08:00

When you watch this you will see how small Ollie is, he loves balls and loves playing football with us. It just amazes me how fast he has grown, here is he not much bigger than the ball, were no balls can go under him still leaving room.

Emily the star

2009-02-17T13:40:00.000-08:00

Emily is the second star from the right. I never saw her in her school play as when I went to watch her in the day she didn't want to join in. This is from the evening when Paul watched her.

Christmas pictures

2009-02-17T13:00:00.000-08:00

Here are just a few pictures of Christmas time with the kids. We had a great Christmas, there was just us over the Christmas period (our first on our own as a family).

Here is Ethan putting the fairy on the tree. He loved decorating the tree as this year he helped - last year being to little.This is the nativity play at Ethan's pre-school, (Megan goes once a week). As you can see I also have a role of a King with Megan. Ethan was a sheep but did not want to join in. We had so much fun doing this nativity, it was very cold though as it was outside in a stable!

Megan playing an angel in her pre-school nativity.

Ethan very excited opening his first Thomas the tank engine present. I love this picture, it just shows how much he loved the gift Father Christmas gave him!

Emily loving a Pink Puppy present that Father Christmas gave her.

Dora super babies were the only present Megan asked Father Christmas for, so she was sooooo happy when she got them.

Ethan waiting for Paul to open a new mini train for his track.

The girls hugging each other (wearing the presents that Nana and Grandad gave them), saying thank you for the presents they got each other.
Megan playing nurses while waiting for her Christmas dinner, she was so pleased with the table as Daddy and her set it up.
The children had such fun over Christmas (even though we had no car!!!)

Look what we found under our ChristmasTree!

2009-02-17T12:40:00.000-08:00

After a lot of; shall we, Yes/No/Yes/No... Finally deciding Yes, we got Ollie our New Chocolate Labrador.

The children love him, taking him out playing in the garden, taking him for walks on the lead (around the garden, as at this time he hadn't had his injections so he wasn't allowed out). I wont lie, it has been really hard work, waking in the nights to go outside for the toilet (the first 2 nights I had very little sleep - a dog crying is very very very loud!). Then there is the poo clearing, the feeding, and the biting! But it's still great.

Time just flys by...

2009-02-17T11:58:00.000-08:00

Paul is just sitting by me, and said, half your blog entries are 'I haven't had time to do my blog'!!! How true he is, as I was just about to write a entry to that effect!!!

Well I'm ignoring him and I'm still going to write that... Since my last entry I have had good intentions to be better and more up to date. But once again, this is the first evening I have had time to sit down before such a late hour and without a headache to be able to catch up. Work is taking so much time up, more than I thought and I will be happy in a few weeks when I drop my Weight Watchers meetings down from three to two. (I am only a temporary leader at one meeting - should have been two months but by the time I finish it will be three and a half months) I do love this meeting but it takes me around 40minutes to get there and the same home.

And then the kids have been ill, again!!! What joy! Ethan had the flu, for a 2 year old, it took alot out of him. On friday they took him into hospital as he just didn't want to wake up, he slept for 2 1/2 days in total. He was only in hosp for 9 hours but they wouldn't let him home until he had been a wake for a few hours. He fell asleep 10am (after only being awake for 1 1/2 hours) Thursday, they took him in hosp 10am friday - he finally woke up (not happy about it) at 4pm friday so they let us leave a 7pm, fell back to sleep with minutes of leaving hosp and slept till 10.30am staurday, then eat like a horse as he hadn't eaten since wed morning. He is looking better and feeling better too.

Well my aim is to post an entry that will update you with our family life since christmas and then post aleast once aweek (more so for Paul as he is leaving for 7 months in around 5 weeks and I need to keep our family blog up todate for him).

How long has it been...

2009-01-10T15:14:00.000-08:00

Once again I can't believe that it has been so long since posting, a friend said that writing on her blog was like writing in her journal, a once in a while event. Well I know what she means now, writing on my blog was a regular event, that as time has gone by, the postings have got fewer and fewer until stopping all together for a while, then the cycle starts all over again. This sounds so much much like my journal keeping.

I would love to say that 2009 will be different and I'll be perfect and keep posting, but I wont promise anything, I'll just keep trying my best and hopefully I'll still be posting this time in 2010.

Girlie Party

2008-11-04T13:52:00.000-08:00

Thanks Frances for yet another lovely party. These are some photos from our very girlie Sex and the City movie party at Frances's. It was a party were we all dressed up, eat great food and spent time with great friends. What a great night!

Weight Watchers

2008-11-04T13:14:00.000-08:00

I promised a few people that I would post some before and after pictures weeks ago but wasn't able with not having the laptop. So here they are:

BEFORE

(it is so hard to find any good before's as I really didn't like having photos taken)

AFTER - 44lbs lighter!

(these are some photos I have found)

As soon as I have some time I will post my weight watchers journey.

It's been so long...

2008-11-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

I can't believe that once again I haven't posted for over a month, but I'm pleased to say that this time it's not really my fault... Paul broke the laptop! I still feel though that it is my fault as when I was using it (sitting on the sofa) I asked Paul to plug the power lead in (I was being lazy and didn't want to get up and do it myself - even though I was nearer!!). Well while he was plugging it in, he hold on to the screen (with his fingers) and went to stand up... big long crack down the screen!!!!! £75 and 3+ weeks later I now have it back.

That will teach me, next time when I need the laptop plugged in
DO IT MYSELF!

Clothes swap party

2008-09-27T12:24:00.000-07:00

I was just going through some photos on a chip that I found in my bag, and I came a cross the pictures from the clothes swap party that I went to in June!!

Frances is so great, she holds these clothes swap party's at her home, not only having us in her home but also, putting on games and food. Thanks Frances for another great party at your home.

Food, Food, Food.

One game - we had to make outfits out of the clothes there, to a theme.
Wedding theme.Chocolate tasting game.Frances showing off some of the clothes
Me modeling the wrost outfit I've ever seen at a clothes swap party! (I think it had been hiding in the back of the wardrobe for the last 25 years!)

The clothes that we don't take home, are donated to a Women's refuge.

30 Things about ME!

2008-09-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

I tell Paul that I love him a least ten times a day. (yes sad I know).
I don't sleep well if there are dirty dishes in the sink.
I hate having a junk drawer but I find it hard to part with meaningless crap.
I don't like milk, but I do drink it as I think it is good for me.
I hate it when Paul is away;
I eat healthier when Paul is away.
I always check the backseat of the car if I'm alone at night before I get in the car!
I have lost 40lbs thanks to weight watchers.
I move a room around and then move it back, (to Paul's dismay - I moved the girls room around twice last week and guess what, it is back the way it started).
I don't have big toe nails.
I think it is really rude when people whisper in front of other people.
I dance around my living room with girls singing.
I can never find a pair of trousers in the right length.
I love high school musical. (or is it, I wish I was 16 again so I could fancy Troy from it (I'm to old to fancy him now)).
I sing my heart out in the car when I'm on my own.
I love Brussel Sprouts, even raw.
I love camping, even when it rains.
I love trying new recipes;
But I always try the recipes with pictures first.
I'm a rubbish speller and I have to ask Paul ALL the time how to spell things (which he hates!).
I hate cobwebs;
and little spiders on my washing line.
I buy magazines, but it takes me weeks to read them.
I miss living by my friends.
I hate getting rid of clothes, even if I don't wear them, (that's why I love having my friend Frances visit, as she helps me decide what I should get rid of).
I love Christmas CD's, and we play them loads over Christmas.
I love leaving mince pies and milk out for Father Christmas, (Paul).
I LOVE baths.
I HATE moths.
I really love my family.

Megan's Hair

2008-09-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

I feel really sorry for Megan most mornings, as over night her hair becomes a birds nest which leaves our morning hair brushing time, 9 times out of 10, a nightmare with her running away, crying, and telling me she wants straight hair. We do use a detangler spray but her hair is so knotty at the back that it only lessens the pain!

Well Yesterday she asked sooooooo nicely if just today could she have hair like mummy! I felt so sorry for her, I decided to straighten it, which is something I wouldn't normaly do. (due to her young hair and very hot straighteners).

This is how she looks with straight hair. How cute. She was so pleased with it, she first spent 15 minutes in front of the mirror admiring herself and through out the day she would return to that mirror for another look!

Ethan's 2nd Birthday

2008-09-03T13:09:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe Ethan is two (sunday). I know everyone says this, "it just feels like yesterday they were babies", but it does. He had a good day, but he has just started not wanting his picture taken so we didn't get any good photos of him.

Ethan telling Paul he is too slow in opening his presents.
The look!!
Ethan doing his new train impression.

Our Camping holiday - Dyffryn Wales

2008-09-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

Once again this year we took our summer camping holiday in Wales. We really like the area that we go to, because it has lovely beaches, nice places to visit with the children and the camp site in really friendly, nice and clean.

This summer we went for 10 days and out of these it rained for 9! (the rain was on and off through out the days - BUT, the evening were heavy rain and wind). Did this stop our fun - NO, we had so much fun visiting a castle, caves, farms, and riding trains. We also had loads of fun on the beach with the children in there rain coat and wellies.

The Children enjoyed their selves and we enjoyed ourselves. Here are a few pictures out of the 321 ones we took. We are looking forward to next year!

Our first train ride in Llanberis. Our first farm visit, Megan feeding the cows from a distance!Ethan cheating at golf!

Our only none rainy day-the beach, my Dad, Dawn, Nathan and friend came to visit. We took full advantage of the sun and went to the beach.
Dawn and Ethan

I love this picture of Ethan, I think it just shows how much fun he was having.
Ethan loving stamping sand castles Dawn is trying to make.
Emily enjoying herself.

Our annual Tywyn train ride. We love going on this train, there are loads of stops, with waterfalls, walks, a park and museum.
Ethan doing his choo-choo impression.

The girls keeping themselves warm-in the tent.
Harlach Castle. If you look closely, you'll see Paul, Megan and Ethan at the top of the castle. (there is no way you would get Me and Emily up there!)

More dark clouds coming our way!
Another visit to the farm.

The Beach.

Ethan loving pulling his sea weed around.
Megan paddling.
The next two photos are Paul and mine favourite, The girls had so much fun making pictures of themselves.

EmilyMegan

Finally...

2008-09-02T13:56:00.001-07:00

...Jen, i've posted pictures of our new table for you. I made this table cloth out of wipe-able material, and made it so it fits perfectly on the table so it wont move around while the children are drawing on it.

Emily learning to ride her bike.

2008-09-02T13:29:00.001-07:00

Emily has been asking for around 8 weeks for us to take her stabilizers off her bike so she can learn how to ride her bike without them. Finally the end of last week we took the plunge and took them off (which she cried about!!! - I really don't understand her). Well anyway after half a hour she finally wanted a try. And how great did she do, within 30 minutes she was riding up and down on her own, with just a little help from us by holding her seat until she had put both feet on her pedals. Well by today, she can start on her own and even turns. I'm really chuffed, she is so proud of herself.

The Modern day phone!

2008-09-02T13:22:00.000-07:00

The modern way of calling each other!! Everytime Megan and Ethan go outside and find the hose pipe, they talk to each other through it.

Geo Caching

2008-09-02T12:44:00.000-07:00

Finally we had a nice summer day on Saturday and decided to take full advantage of this and go geo caching. We went on a local cache in the village. The children love this activity and it is also a nice way of being out in the country side, with a nice treat at the end. http://www.geocaching.com/ Looking for bugs...
We found cache number 1...

The old canal...
Looking for cache number 2...

We found cache number 2...

Looking for cache number 3...

Muffin tin meals (cake tin)

2008-09-02T12:21:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Jen for the great idea of Muffin tin meals (i don't have any muffin tin's so i used cake tin's). The children have loved this, they seem to eat more and enjoy choosing what they want in their tin's.

This one is made for Megan, and Ethan had the same. Of course Emily wouldn't eat many of the above items and when I first started making Megan's tray, Emily was having a melt down thinking I was making it for her. So I made the below tray for her.
A living room picnic.

Sick bowl

2008-09-02T11:42:00.000-07:00

Thanks Jo and Paul for our new sick bowl!

Bank holiday weekend we went to visit a few friends from Farnborough, we had a really nice Sunday visiting our old ward and then going to Adele's for a BBQ. It was so nice just to spend time, chat and the children to meet each other and play after such a long time. We then stayed over at Jo and Paul's, having a good night chatting. Well thanks to our daughter Emily our visit was cut short, as the following morning Emily decided to empty her stomach contents over Jo and Paul's futon, then in a bid to save their other furniture I grabed the first thing that I came to in their kitchen, their large mixing bowl which was on the side. As Paul (Jo's Paul) has a thing about sick, he gave us the bowl as a souvenir and to save our car from sick if Emily needed to be sick on the way home.

Well Ethan has taken a little liking to this bowl and has decided that it is a chair!!!

Single parents

2008-09-02T07:09:00.000-07:00

While Paul was away, not only did I take the children to Telford on my own but we also went on a few day trips - Avon park and Drayton Manor park. These days out were great and the children and I had loads of fun but made me realise what life (days out) would be like if I was a single parent.

I found that I couldn't take many photos as I was tying to watch all three children, and when Megan and Ethan wanted to go on rides, I had to take Emily even if she didn't want to. And did I get to go to the toilet, NO... I just couldn't get all three children in one cubical. And what a nightmare when standing in a queue for half an hour only for one of the girls to say they needed the toilet! I didn't have anyone to save our space so we would lose it and ending up going back to the back of the queue. It was a nightmare.

How do single moms do it?

It has really got me thinking about that first time Paul will be going away for 6 months, what life will be like. (the most he has been away is 3 months so far). It has also got me thinking about Paul and all that he does.

If Paul is around, he'll get up with the children if it's before 6.50am and I've had a bad nights sleep with Emily, he'll start breakfast most morning, help dress the children if he hasn't left yet, brush teeth and hair, help with shoes and coats. Mondays he comes on the morning school run, helps make lunch or washes if lunch is already ready, most days he'll put Ethan in bed while I take Megan to school. Paul and one of the girls always set the table while I dish up dinner, Paul's clears the table and washes up nearly every night, helps tidy up toys before bath time, one of us baths while the other drys and dresses. One of us does stories and singing while the other put Ethan in bed. Then there is the Landry, extra tidy, ironing, etc etc etc. which we share.

Yes I'm the one who cleans the cupboards, makes beds, polishes the sides, does most of the Landry and ironing, cleans the bathroom and toilet, cleans the fridge, etc etc etc.

BUT without all the things that Paul does, look at how much more my load would be. He is a great help and support everyday and I love and thank him for that.

So do I look forward to the times when Paul's away, the answer in NO. Not only do I miss and appreciate the things that he does with the house and helping with the children, but I miss the evening when we chat and cuddle up on the sofa to watch another CSI or Ray mears (yes i hear you, I don't really watch Ray Mears, I just read a magazine while Paul watches!)

So all you out there that are single parents not by choice, I admire all the things that you do, all the hard work that you do alone.

Our visit to Telford

2008-09-02T06:58:00.001-07:00

While Paul was away, the children and I went to stay at my niece's Stephanie - Thank you loads for putting us up. We didn't take the car, we used buses instead. The kids loved getting buses, as were we live now there are no buses. These two pictures were taken at Telford town park.

Emily's first sports day.

2008-09-02T06:45:00.001-07:00

I know that I should have posted these weeks and weeks ago but better late than never. Emily had such a good time doing the races and loved cheering those on when she was watching. I was so proud of her, she enjoyed herself and didn't care if she can first, second or last.

Emily came 1st in the sack race, second in two other races, finished different places in a few others and last the the balancing race, BUT she was the only child who didn't run and drop their ring, she took her time and was soooooo please that she never dropped it one - she got a special sticker for being the only child who did this.
You can see how much fun she was having in this picture.
This was the siblings race. Megan loved it.

I'm still here!

2008-09-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

Yes I am still here and haven't disappeared off the face of the earth!!! I'm just very rubbish in setting time aside to have time on the computer, but i promise I'll try harder.

We will miss you Hilarie and Luke

2008-06-22T07:16:00.000-07:00

This was our last time that we got to spend with my dear friend Hilarie (and Luke!) before they moved on. I have only known Hilarie for 5 months but it feels like i have known her all my life. Hilarie if you are reading this, you are truly missed.

My Five Year Old!

2008-06-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

I just can't believe that Emily is now Five! I felt really sorry for her, as she was really looking forward to her birthday, but she had been up nearly all night ill. She enjoyed herself though.

Megan really wanted to get Emily a funny musical card... She found it very funny!

Emily's 5th Birthday Party

2008-06-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

Emily’s 5th Birthday Party - 31st May 2008

I know it is a bit late posting these pictures but you know me I never post things when they happen!!

I left Paul to take photos… so there isn’t any that show you how we decorated the house. Emily decided that she wanted a Princess party and only invited girls. We were meant to have the party outside but with how the weather has been lately plans had to change and we had to bring the party inside. When the girls arrived they were greeted by Emily, who brought them into the living room to make a necklace until all the other girls arrived. The Hallway had a large pink full length mirror with a small table that had little girl makeup on for them to apply a little if they wanted, (well that was the idea, but, Megan put on a little to much). We put up lilac full length curtains so it would look like a little girls beauty room. They got to check themselves out in the mirror! There was also large Disney princess cut outs around the downstairs of the house.

After all the girls had arrived we had them all sit down in the living room where we had hung from the ceiling loads of hearts and stars that Emily and Megan had made. It looked really nice as they had put glitter on them. I started the party by reading the story the princess and the pea, then we played ‘find the pea’! I had made 4 pink pillow cushions, (to keep the girls pink theme!). I chose two girls at a time, they had to close their eyes while I hide the peas (two green tennis size balls). The girls then had to try sitting on each cushion until they found the pea and became a really princess. They then received a certificate that said their name on it and that they were a real princess. (thanks to Frances who printed and laminated them for me). The girls really enjoyed this. We then played music bumps (a classic game, we had to have it). They then had a girlie game of pass the parcel. Then came the game of Kiss the frog to see who could change him to Prince Charming! (the girls really enjoyed this game).

By this point Emily was fast ASLEEP!!! (about a hour before the party she said she was tired and didn’t feel well) while the other girls was playing she just laid on the sofa and before we knew it she was asleep.

I then got them to play the game poison apple, they all sat in a circle and passed two poisoned apples around, dropped off by the wicked witch! They aim of the game is when the music stops you haven’t got the apples, as the girls got poisoned they went into the dinning room to get some dinner. I had also made individual jellies that they had with cream and toppings. I did wake Emily up here as we were going to do her cake after they had eaten.

We than did Emily’s cake (which yes I hear some of you say, I sure she has had that one before, she has but wanted it again!)

The girls then went upstairs to find a special pink ball and the queens missing necklaces in the ball pit (a very small one as the other swimming pool was too big). They then got to exchanged them for a sweetie necklace and watch. We then did party bags and goodbyes.

Even though Emily had gone to sleep, she really enjoyed herself and all the girls had fun. And yes she wasn’t well, she missed most of school that week and didn’t even open most of her presents until the following weekend!! (Not like her at all).

Thanks to Frances and Hilarie who helped.

4 to 5 year olds!

2008-05-15T12:36:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here thinking about my day with Emily. And what a day it has been, moody, moaning and sulky. My day started off, with 'I want my breakfast in a cup the the living room, no not in the kitchen, i want no milk, i don't like you, why wont you let me do what i want, your mean, it's not fair...........' it went on and on and on. All this because I said it was time for her breakfast, yes me a mean mummy thinking of her health, and her having breakfast before school. After half a hour of moan, moan , moan i walked away to have my new found 16year follow me, so I locked myself in the toilet, just to contain myself before i killed her. Well what can i say, the five minutes I spent in there was endured with Emily on the other side of the door, in between moaning saying sorry. I finally unlocked the door, and said as calm as i could, 'you can have breakfast at the kitchen table or go to school without'. I calmly walked into the kitchen put some breakfast in a bowl and put it on the table - NO MILK I will add. And guess what, I got moaned at for not putting milk in the bowl! I just laughed, this after being moaned at least 50 times that she didn't want milk. After being told again it was my fault that she was now sad, I smiled said 'I do love you' and walked away.

Do you think my evening got any better... NO. I've had the moaning about the park - over half a hour; Moaning a McDonald's (to tired to cook - need sleep) because I put her fries on the napkin the wrong way and we got the wrong toy - 15 minutes; Moaning that I put her light on her tooth brush - 10 minutes; Moaning it's bedtime etc. etc. etc.

I really feel that some days the minutes that she spends moaning at me weighs out the minutes she doesn't. Paul said tonight 'it's just a age thing, she's grow out of this soon'. I sat there, memories flashing before my eyes... this moody moaning thing has been going on for nearly a year. I remember phoning Paul up last July, telling him that he had better tell her to be nice or i was going to throw her out the house, as she was acting like a 16 year old.

SO it's been nearly a year, WILL IT EVER END?!?!

I have decided, I really don't like this age... luckily me I have another two to go through this!!!

2008-05-15T12:28:00.001-07:00

Pachelbel Bedtime - SWC Films

My friend Jen posted last year a youtube film, and it comes to mind right now.

Our Skinny Boy

2008-05-15T11:03:00.000-07:00

Ethan has been sick since Saturday, and didn't eat anything for nearly 4 days. He has just started to eat a little yesterday afternoon. He really hasn't been himself and just wants cuddles off either me or Paul. He has lost loads of weight and now looks really skinny. I just wish I had a before (half clothed) picture so you could see the difference. I'm just so pleased that he has just started to eat and finally stopped being sick.

2008-05-10T16:19:00.000-07:00

We went to visit Steve, Frances and the girls also last weekend. We visited a really nice country park (don't remember the name), there was a really nice lake and park with water areas and sand. As always it was fun to spend time with Steve and Frances.
The girls making their castle. Cameron and Emily took alot of pride in making this, they seached everywhere for little stones and sticks to decorate it. Megan of course tried a number of times to knock it down!

At the Farm

2008-05-10T15:44:00.000-07:00

While visiting Paul's parents we went to the farm, Ethan just loved the animals. He wanted to feed them all. The girls had loads of fun spending the day with their Nana and Grandad. Here are some pictures from our day.

The girls loved trying to milk the cows (pretend cows), and we loved watching the them, it was really funny every time they missed the buckets and hit themselves in the face.

Great Grandparents

2008-05-10T15:33:00.000-07:00

At the weekend we went to visit Paul's grandparents. The girls love to visit them. The children all enjoyed playing in their really pretty garden, racing around, eating their biscuits and looking at their really old car collection.

I Love this picture.

2008-05-10T15:20:00.000-07:00

This is the scene i witness nearly every morning, the children waving goodbye to their dad. They all get really sad when their daddy has to leave for work. Ethan runs straight to the window to wave. I love the fact that they love him loads and miss him when he is at work.

It snowed!!!

2008-05-10T15:11:00.000-07:00

6th April 2008 - (yes a bit late in posting pictures). IT SNOWED... when the girls and i woke up we was amazed to see it had snowed - in April. We hadn't seen snow at all over Christmas. We got dressed and went straight outside to play in the snow before it had time to melt. Ethan loved it, he was too young last year to understand snow.

We even made a snowgirl!

New hallway cupboard

2008-05-10T15:02:00.000-07:00

I have meaning to post this picture of our new hallway cupboard for weeks, sorry Jen i know you wanted to see it. Yes it is from ikea.

Does it ever end?

2008-05-10T13:37:00.000-07:00

The time is now 9.40pm and I've just made myself sit down to do some long over due entries on our blog. As I'm sitting here I'm thinking how my day/evening has gone. We have had a really good day, been out to one of our local lakes to have a picnic, went swimming and then had some friends over for dinner tonight. Nice day i can hear you say... yes it has been a really good day. But what comes after the kids are finally in bed. Very unusually for us, the children went to bed later than normal as we had friends over, which started our clean up later.

Paul is outside with the girls as they are sleeping in the tent, so this is how my evening cleaning up has gone... Firstly i sort out the laundry and put a wash on, then was the first load of dishes, clean the table, vacuum the dinner room floor, tidy and clean the first two kitchen sides, move on the living room to put away all the toys, than on to the hallway and tidy up there moving the swimming bags upstairs to sort out in a minute or two, move on to the downstairs toilet where i need to clean the sink as Megan was a little to happy with the form soap early on, at this point thought i would just check Ethan, walked into his bedroom which had a awful smell - he was sleeping in a pool of sick all over his bed and him!!!, now this adds to my jobs, wake him, undress him, bath him, clean his bed, put him back into his bed, wash all the sick of his bedding/PJ's/bears etc., clean the bath, move onto the upstairs hallway just to move the bag from early on, back downstairs, put the first lot of dishes away, wash another load, vacuum the toilet/hallway/living room... by this point I've had enough, so here i am sitting on the sofa on the computer, looking around me, there is still one loads of dishes to be done, a few toys on the sofa, all the sick things to be washed, the swimming bags to still be sorted out, the kitchen floor to be mopped and the ironing for church.

Does it ever end? There is always one load of laundry to do, toys to pick up etc etc etc.

It's April

2008-04-19T15:12:00.000-07:00

And look outside (yes i can hear you, it's dark and you can't see anything!). Well i mean whats happening with our weather? It's rubbish... One day it's lovely (compared to what we normal have at the moment), then the next day is pants.

Monday and Tuesday i went to visit my niece Stephanie;
when we got there on:
Monday, it was really nice, all of us in cardigans on the bus walking around the local area and town - good weather day.
Tuesday, started off ok, was going to go to open air museum with the kids but behold the heavens opened and it not only rained it poured and added an extra HOUR to our travel home.
Wednesday, nice warm day, cardigan weather again - outside playing.
Thursday, miserable cold and really windy day.
Friday, kind of ok day, coat weather but no rain.
And then we move on to: Saturday, we had planned on going walking... rain, very cold, very windy, horrible horrible weather.

I just wish it would make up it's mind, IS it coats, hats, gloves and wellies OR is it cardigans?

Face Book!!!

2008-04-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to go and set myself up on Face book for a while (some friends keep moaning at me to sort myself out on it), well today i finally did - kind of. First of all it took me a while to understand all the different things that you can add. Then secondly i realised that it's really a whole new world... People have their whole lives on there, i have read and caught up with people i haven't spoken to for a while - it's been great. I don't get it all, but I'm sure some of my friends will help me along the way.

Out walking

2008-04-19T14:50:00.000-07:00

The girls love walking around the area here. There are some many nice walks around the lakes. A friend was telling me that there is over 50 lakes within 10 miles from the camp. I think that we have only been to 6! we've got a few more to go. (this photo was taken 2 weeks ago)

Ethan's funny faces

2008-03-29T15:33:00.000-07:00

Ethan is just so cheeky at the moment, every time i want to take a picture of him and i tell him to smile, he just pulls a funny face at me. These are just a few from the last few weeks. The faces he pulls really makes me laugh.

Our first Geo cache

2008-03-29T15:20:00.000-07:00

Paul has wanted to try geo caching for a while, so finally on a wet cold windy day, we went to find our first geo cache. To find out more about geo caching http://www.geocaching.com/

Well the girls loved it, they said we were going treasure hunting and thought it was great to find their little box of treasure. The whole idea behind geo caching is to help people get out into the county side and enjoy walks with a bonus at the end. When you find the geo cache, you have to fill in the log book and then take an item and replace it with another. I guess i have not explained it really well so just visit the site to found out more. It was a lovely muddy walk which the girls loved. I enjoyed it, they enjoyed it and so did Paul. An all round enjoyable activity for the family.

Megan's Twin...

2008-03-29T14:55:00.000-07:00

They say that everyone has a twin somewhere around the world, but the likely hood of us meeting them is very slim. Well... Megan has meet her twin already.

This is Maddy, Megan's new best friend who is visiting here for 5 months from the states. I am really shocked at how much the girls are alike. Not only could they pass for sisters more than Megan and her own sister Emily, but they act just like each other too. They talk really loud like each other, they both love Dora, they like the same food, they say the same things; you really have to be around them to realise how much they are like each other. I think that it is really nice that they have meet each other (mainly for me, as i really get on with her mum).

Megan

2008-03-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

I was just sitting here waiting to wake Paul up at 11pm to his night of work, thinking about my new name Megan has taken upon herself to call me... Gone are the days of Mummy, it has been replaced by Momma. Just thinking about it makes me pull funny faces at the word Momma. She sometimes would call me it, copying the only way that Ethan can say it, but her friend Maddy calls it her Mom and when Megan called it me once in front of her she thought that the way Megan says it was really funny and cute. Maddy is American and thinks Megan's English way of saying things is really funny. The word Momma then became a funny word for Megan and with the help of Maddy, who would say to Megan 'say it Megan'. Megan then started to say it all the time... Last Monday, 'Momma i want you, OK Momma, Momma can i have an apple Momma, Momma i need the toilet OK Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma, Momma...' Aagghh!!!!!!!!!! I really have learnt to hate the word very quickly. I just want to beg her on my knees, 'please call me Mummy'.

Hamster cage!!

2008-03-15T13:33:00.000-07:00

The girls really wanted a new hamster cage for Rosie. After spending over a hour picking one of ebay (no-one could agree on the same one), we finally choose one and quickly paid for it before anyone changed their minds. Well the joy of choosing one was short lived when it turned up today. Ok i could deal with the colour change - we wanted green and a blue on turned up, i could even deal with the 40+ individual piece (that was after a few words i can't repeat!!), but what i couldn't deal with, was after putting together a cage you needed a degree in cage building for, one of the last piece for the roof was broken... scream, scream. So the cage is now sitting on top of the cupboard in the kitchen and not in the girls room. The worst thing is, is that i have to take the thing apart to put back in the box to return it... scream, scream!!

Our first visit to see baby Jaiden

2008-03-15T13:22:00.000-07:00

This was our first visit to see Stephanie's new baby son, Jaiden. The girls were over joyed to hold him. I just can't believe that Stephanie is old enough to have a baby. It still seems like yesterday that i was playing around the garden with a young teenager. In away things haven't changed, Stephanie still watches the cartoons and loves making fairy cakes.

Jorja, Megan, Emily and Cameron

2008-03-15T13:05:00.000-07:00

I have been meaning to post these photos for months (taken just after Christmas!!!), but for those who know me, sometimes it takes me a while to catch up on organising my photos. And yes i can hear you laughing Jen!

The girls all have the same PJ's on, brought for them by Michelle, and don't they look cute.

A really good cheap Car Wash!

2008-02-15T13:01:00.000-08:00

Our car hasn't been washed in months, and believe me it looked bad, dirty wasn't the word. So i decided that we needed to go and get it cleaned. After seaching for hours for a car wash that was cheaper than around £10 (around here all the car washes are hand wash ones only), i decided that we would have a family activity in car washing. You might think that this would be more hassel letting the girls wash the car, than just paying the £10, but i can tell you it was well worth it. First of all when you are on a budget that is tight enough as it is, spending £10 on the car is a lot. Plus within a day or two of school runs the car would look the same, as there is massive building work going on by the school so everyones car gets mud and dust on from the road. Secondly, the kids loved it, we bought them their own sponges and as you can tell from the pictures they loved it. Of course the car didn't really look any cleaner, (paul cleaned it when the kids went indoors)but they laughed trying. They wet themselves, each other, paul and me. I really see this being a new summer activity for the girls.

Being a Mother.

2008-02-15T11:53:00.000-08:00

I really love being a mum, mother of my three great children. I love watching them play with each other and giving each other cuddles and kisses. I love playng games with them, going out for walks, feeding the ducks, reading stories, etc. Being a mum has loads of rewards.

But as with any reward scheme there is a long process to get the rewards. (ie. Tesco - the more you spend at tesco's, the more rewards you get back)

The long process of being a mother is hard work. There is all those sleepless nights, poo'ie nappies, children shouting at you, not eating their dinner after you have spent the last hour cooking it, the crying and screaming, the messy rooms, drawings on the walls and sofa. And there is also all the other things they do...

I adore Ethan, but he is a checky little boy, who just before he does something wrong, he grins at you and then does it. (ie. He was playing with a metal large cooking spoon, came over to Emily who was watching telly, standing there staring at her for a few seconds, he then smiles at her and then hits her across the head with the spoon.)

Meagn is my checky little monkey who mothers Ethan so much sometimes i forget that i'm his mother and i think Megan is. She crys for 45 minutes if emily forgets to give her a kiss in the morning when she goes into school... And 45 minutes of crying - loud crying can give you a head ache!!

Emily is turning 14 years at the moment, who thinks that she knows best no matter what and if i say she is wrong, shouts and screams at me!

But even so, i still love them and cherish them.

Being a mother is worth loads, even with all those low points, i'm glad i am the mother of Emily, Megan and Ethan. x

My new Hair cut

2008-01-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

Before (me with baby Jaiden)

I have been wanting to have a change in my hair style for a while, but have been to nervous to do so. But thanks to Frances who took the plunge and changed her hair (and looks great) a few weeks ago. She gave me the confidence to do it.

After

Is it worth it.....

2008-01-31T11:34:00.001-08:00

I really wanted to clean the bathroom without Megan and Ethan getting in my way, so i put both the kids in the girls bedroom and put the stairgate at the bathroom door so they couldn't get in. (the reason for this, is when they tried to help me last week, it was a nightmare, not only did it take me 3 times as long but having to continually move things from ethans reach was a nightmare). So here it begins, i clean the bathroom in record fast time as i have no children around, it feels great... until i then walked into the girls bedroom and find this!!

My happiness turned into shock and horror... (and what you can see is a small amount, their beds where a mess, there was toys all over the hallway etc.). So what did i do, i calmly put the toy tent up in ethans room so they would play in there and i started the clean up job.

So was it worth it? letting them play while i cleaned... the answer here is NO. Yes i got the bathroom done in record time and it looked great, but the clean up of toys took longer than when i let them help me.

The girls christmas plays...

2008-01-24T13:14:00.001-08:00

Yes i know it's the 24th January 2008, but i still wanted to share the girls christmas plays with...

Emily as a snow dancer. She loved doing her first school play.

Megan as an angel in her first ever play.

Megan

2008-01-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

I haven't added a post for a few months (partly not having a computer for some weeks). So i was looking through some photo's from the last few months, i came a cross this photo of megan in her apron that my friend jen made her. She wears it loads, while helping me cook (helping!!), while eating, drawing etc. she loves it. So thanks Jen for making my little girl really happy x

Halloween - Smells!

2007-11-05T13:34:00.000-08:00

This is Megan craving her pumpkin... At the moment she has a thing about smells and as from the picture you can see that she thought that pumpkin smelt. She did not remove her hand until we had finished and put it outside. She just kept saying "Yuck, smelly"

The girls getting ready for Halloween.

Some more pic's

2007-11-05T13:30:00.000-08:00

Friends

2007-11-05T13:22:00.000-08:00

A week a go we had the pleasure of a few friends staying; Frances with Cameron and Sienna, And Michelle with Jorja and Isaac. It was so nice to spend time together before my dear friend Michelle and her family leave us to start a new life in the USA. Here are a few pictures of Megan and Jorja, i just hope that they will be as good friends as their moms. Michelle we love you, good luck x

How easy to please

2007-10-21T13:55:00.000-07:00

Ethan is so easy to please at the moment, it's great. All you need to do is hold him by the light switch - turning it on and off, every time he acts so shocked. He also thinks me placing my nose on his head is really funny - he just laughs and laughs. The kitchen utensils - he loves them, he opens the draws pulls everyone out, plays with them and then puts them back... teaching him to tidy after himself. He loves the baskets to climb in and out, empty raisin boxes, the cat etc. etc. etc.!!

His most favourite (none toy - cheap entertainment) thing is to empty the kids shoe boxes, take the top boxes off the unit and then climb into the bottom boxes to bounce up and down on... he can do this for over an hour!!

Isn't it funny how children find boxes etc. better toys than those we go out and buy from the shops. Christmas should be very cheap in our house this year, I'll wrap a few boxes from Tesco for the kids - they'll love it!

Tiredness

2007-10-13T13:50:00.000-07:00

I have never been so tired as i have been the last few weeks. My days seem to start a 5 to 5.30 every morning as Ethan is waking up early. By the time i have come back from my first school run of the day, i feel like i have done a full days job. It just never stops... house work, washing up, bath times, school runs, pre-school runs, cooking lunch, dinner, feeding the pets, ironing etc. etc. (and yes i can hear you Jen... ironing why do it!!).

I just don't know how people run a house hold and work at the same time. One of my best friends Frances works and still manages to run her home and keep it in ship shape as well as look after her two children (one whom still doesn't sleep through the night). She still even manages to organise Great Girlie weekends, have guests ALL the time and hold a church calling. Frances if you are reading this i think your a star.

I think that when you have children they should come with warning labels on them (for loads of things) but for me today, a warning on the lack of sleep they need, in turn the lack of sleep we get in meeting their needs of their sleeping patterns. Yes i do love my kids, but tomorrow i will love them more if i get more than 5 hours sleep tonight... pleeeese!

Some of you might ask, why am i still up, well Paul starts work at 12 and needs to be woken up at 11pm so I'm his alarm tonight (only as i worried he wont wake with his alarm as he is really tired too, work and kids for him - lots of night flights).

So here is hoping Emily sleeps through the night (she has for 4 nights - YES) and Ethan sleeps till least 6am.

Jasper

2007-10-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

My cat has changed since moving, he has gone from a cat that only comes home to have food and sleep when the children aren't at home, to a cat that wants to stay in all the time, sleeps in the girls bedroom, lets Emily pick him up and even lets Ethan touch him! This he never did before we moved and he would normal run a mile when Ethan would crawl in the room.

Well his new thing in sleeping in the girls toy washing machine. (the picture is of him sitting as every time i tried to take a picture while he is sleeping he sat up).

My X Factor Star

2007-10-13T13:09:00.000-07:00

Ethan makes me laugh loads at the moment, he loves the girls toys... anything from their baby dolls to the girls dressing up things (mainly their toy flowers). His new thing to play with is the tape player, he loves it. I think he is getting ready to star on the next X Factor!!

My little man, he is so cute and loveable. When he was born we were told that he would bring our family closer together and bring us joy. He has done and does bring us joy everyday. We love him that much i can't explain, he is our little star.

Ballet...

2007-10-09T13:44:00.000-07:00

Emily and Megan trying on her new dance outfits for their ballet classes. Megan loves her class sooooo much, they dance around using bears and stuffed animals. I asked her the other day if she still wanted to go, she said 'yer, its great mummy, i love it'. Emily also loves going but was harder to please with her blue outfit, she really wanted to wear pink but her class colours are blue. The timing for the classes are a pain as the girls go to different classes, 3.30 to 4 and 4 to 4.30, but watching them enjoying it so much is worth my hour sitting in the car (or walking - depending on the weather) trying to keep Ethan happy (and one girl at a time)... Fun it is !!

Emily's first school disco

2007-10-09T13:33:00.001-07:00

How cute does she look. Emily was so excited about her school disco, she has talked about it for days and chose her own clothes (this was her final outfit after about 5 different ones).

When i look at her, i just get all chocked up at how grown up she is looking. Both Paul and i just can't believe that this is our little girl.

I was at the disco (on the tuck shop) watching her dance with her friends. She enjoyed herself so much.

Time...

2007-10-09T13:20:00.000-07:00

Where is the time going... can you believe it, it's October already!! Christmas is not to far a head.

I was sitting down (a very rare thing) thinking about our camping holiday in the summer - what seems only a few weeks ago and how much i wish we could be there now, when all of a sudden i realised that it was just over 2 months ago and that since then i have moved (which i keep forgetting sometimes - as yesterday i had a mad moment where i thought i might just pop round to Jen's!!)

It also doesn't feel two minutes from when the shops had their Christmas sales on (last year) to where we are nearly back there again, Christmas is near - SORRY to all those who are in denial about this, but yes Christmas is only 11 weeks away!!

My girlie weekend

2007-09-23T12:53:00.000-07:00

What a fab weekend... A few friends and i got together for our last girlie weekend before one of my closest friends Michelle leaves us to start a new fantastic life in America. We as a family wish Michelle, Kris, Jorja and Issac all the best, we hope this move will bless you all, we will miss you loads. X

Friday night, I left the children in the very safe hands of Paul, while i went to let my hair down. Frances as always organised a great night, starting with chocs and a great girlie weekend handbag cake. We went to Bistro live in Milton Keynes, where we had a yummy 3 course meal, followed by a music quiz. We then let our hairs down dancing (my i add on the tables) to a live band followed by a DJ. When arriving back at Frances we enjoyed ice-cream, cakes, chocs etc. etc. etc. We talked talked talked until 4am when deciding that maybe we should go to sleep. Saturday consists of waking early, getting ready, top down on Steve's car cruising to spend a day of shopping... and what a day, eating chocolate donuts and 5 hours of shopping. BUT none of us brought anything!! (sorry a few DVDs) Not for trying though. We enjoyed a nice meal together before saying our farewells. Thanks Rebekah, Michelle and Frances for a GREAT time, i love you all and look forward to out next girlie weekend in NEW YORK!!

(I'll post photo of us later... all i can say is we look really foxy)

2007-09-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

Well both girls have had their first days at school.

Emily got a bit nervous as we walked around the play ground to her classroom, but soon was walking off with new friends. She has yet to do a full day as she gets really tired by lunch time.

Megan just shocked me on her first day at pre-school, she couldn't wait to put her uniform on (just a t-shirt, but she thinks it's great!), she ran straight in, sat down to play with play-doh, turn around waved and shouted bye mummy bye. My heart just stopped, she didn't even give me a second thought just a wave.

There was me, my heart breaking as this was my second baby of the day to start her first day at school/pre-school and i was just dismissed. It was the first time i really wanted one of the girls to get upset (normally i'm saying, don't be silly i'll be back soon and you'll have a great time), i wanted one of them to give me a hug and say "it's alright mummy, you'll have a great time without us!

I love the girls so much that yes i do miss them when they are at school but i love it, that they are growing up and learning and growing every day. I am really trying to enjoy everyday that i have them with me at this age, but i do look forward to the days when i have longer to wipe snotty noses, change nappies, dress them, etc etc etc

My first post!!

2007-09-09T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Isles family

Well finally here i am trying out my new blog... lets see if i get it right.

I would like to thank my very dear and one of my best friends Jen for all her help in designing this, my blog and showing me how to manage it.