Am now addicted to Pinterest. In particular, the household organisation pictures. I keep collecting ideas, and sway between feeling slightly sick at the obscene levels people will go to keep things organised, and being in awe. Of course I haven't got time to actually implement any of the ideas. I saved a washing up liquid bottle yesterday to make into a phone holder, but the bottle hasn't even dried out yet, and no doubt if I got as far as making it, it would end up looking like something one of the children had knocked together!!
I've bought a slow cooker. The idea here is rather than saving time, I'll be redeploying time. In order to avoid cooking during the hectic hour between coming home from school and bath time, I'm striving to get the slow cooker going earlier in the day, to give me a chance of getting things done like hearing Elizabeth read, sorting school bags, washing up, putting away washing, feeding Charlotte - the usual. So far I've made a rice pudding, lemon curd (which curdled - fail) and last night it was sweet and sour pork. There's a '5-a-day tagine' cooking as I type, which should be ready for jacket potatoes later on.
We've had the windows in the hall and shower room measured up for blinds, roller blinds. The idea here is that because the windows are so narrow there should be no 'overhang' blocking out light, to try to increase the light currently finding its way into our relatively gloomy hall.
I'm thinking of writing a book. Started thinking I ought to write things down for my sister, my musings on Motherhood, then wondered if I could write a book, then talked myself out of it wondering whether I actually have any worthwhile knowledge, then wondered if I could start with a blog... not sure. Maybe.
Got to go out on the school run in a very short time, so will be off.
Wednesday, 30 January 2013
Friday, 18 January 2013
A snow day
But not a snow day, as we've already had to go out on the school run, have got to pick up Edward from nursery in about an hour, then contemplate doing it all again later when Elizabeth finishes Tops Play, unless the school announce they are closed. Which is unlikely. Because although it is snowing quite a lot and quite a lot more is expected, apparently it is a rare occurrence for the school to close. So we're just on pins waiting for news that probably won't come... I think there has been a lot of snow in South Wales, and the Met. Office has issued red and amber weather warnings. People are panic buying. But life is just carrying on as normal here. Albeit cold. It was 14 degrees yesterday, mildly warmer than when the boiler wouldn't work the day before and it was 12 degrees. Brrr. Not too bad when you're dashing about cleaning and tidying, but poor Charlotte's hands were like ice...
Thursday, 10 January 2013
summary of where they all are....
Elizabeth
Well, this little girl isn't a little girl any more! She has been behaving more like a 'stroppy teenager' of late, but hates me saying that. She is still incredibly slow to motivate e.g. to get dressed in the morning, or to get her pyjamas on in the evening. We still get quite melodramatic tantrums, usually over some perceived injustice. Last night was a prime example, she went into meltdown because she thought Edward and Sarah should have been made to tidy up the playroom more, but in reality they had been tidying and she had been sitting trying to evade the tidy up police!
She has had some really good behaviour over the last couple of weeks, and helps out with Charlotte generally... She no longer has a bath at 'bath-time', copying Edward with a shower. She has got quite long hair now, and is very proud of the fact that she does so much sport (PE, Tops play on a Friday and swimming lessons on a Saturday morning). She is in the school choir and looking forward to doing a concert with her Grandad's choir before Easter.
Edward
This little fellow is approaching his 4th birthday now. He is able to tell the time using the iPad game he works on every evening at bath time. He isn't that keen on sitting drawing and writing, but has produced some good pictures e.g. of a police station or a hand monster. He works quickly and efficiently, turning out 20 or so Christmas cards in one sitting, or a batch of hand monster pictures - the complete opposite of Elizabeth. He is gentle and kind with Charlotte, but argues constantly with Sarah and Elizabeth. He loves rough and tumble play, and has so much energy. He has 'cheeky' behaviour, but gets very upset when told off. His 'cheeky' persona belies a more sensitive soul methinks.
Sarah
Approaching two and a half years, and a 'big girl' now, wanting to do what the others do. Her language is coming on but there are so many things she says in her own unique way that I will so miss once she speaks 'properly'. "Me like x, me no like y"... Her best bits every night are "Helping Mummy, Helping Daddy, playroom, me play...". She wakes up fairly early at the moment, and is on the go until her nap at around 1pm, when she goes out like a light. She loves 'Far Ah' (Charlotte), 'Garo' (Edward) and 'See Bo' (Elizabeth) and loves playing with them in the playroom. She still loves wearing hats, and is happier going on the school run in the double buggy now that she has a buggy snuggle to keep her warm.
Charlotte
Charlotte is just over three months old now. On November 27th she had her tongue-tie snipped and since then has pretty much been sleeping through the night. We seem to be out of the phase where you worry that they need feeding constantly, and although she does tend to feed every two hours she can go for longer periods in the day. Since just before Christmas she has been napping more in the day, about 1 hour to 1 and a half hours after waking up we put her down in her 'downstairs cot' which has migrated from the playroom to the 'art room' and she sleeps for small stretches. I've been out without her a couple of times in the evening and once or twice on the school run in the last week or so when husband was off sick. Lots of smiles and some giggles, and last night did tummy time and held her hed up very well. Superstar!!
Well, this little girl isn't a little girl any more! She has been behaving more like a 'stroppy teenager' of late, but hates me saying that. She is still incredibly slow to motivate e.g. to get dressed in the morning, or to get her pyjamas on in the evening. We still get quite melodramatic tantrums, usually over some perceived injustice. Last night was a prime example, she went into meltdown because she thought Edward and Sarah should have been made to tidy up the playroom more, but in reality they had been tidying and she had been sitting trying to evade the tidy up police!
She has had some really good behaviour over the last couple of weeks, and helps out with Charlotte generally... She no longer has a bath at 'bath-time', copying Edward with a shower. She has got quite long hair now, and is very proud of the fact that she does so much sport (PE, Tops play on a Friday and swimming lessons on a Saturday morning). She is in the school choir and looking forward to doing a concert with her Grandad's choir before Easter.
Edward
This little fellow is approaching his 4th birthday now. He is able to tell the time using the iPad game he works on every evening at bath time. He isn't that keen on sitting drawing and writing, but has produced some good pictures e.g. of a police station or a hand monster. He works quickly and efficiently, turning out 20 or so Christmas cards in one sitting, or a batch of hand monster pictures - the complete opposite of Elizabeth. He is gentle and kind with Charlotte, but argues constantly with Sarah and Elizabeth. He loves rough and tumble play, and has so much energy. He has 'cheeky' behaviour, but gets very upset when told off. His 'cheeky' persona belies a more sensitive soul methinks.
Sarah
Approaching two and a half years, and a 'big girl' now, wanting to do what the others do. Her language is coming on but there are so many things she says in her own unique way that I will so miss once she speaks 'properly'. "Me like x, me no like y"... Her best bits every night are "Helping Mummy, Helping Daddy, playroom, me play...". She wakes up fairly early at the moment, and is on the go until her nap at around 1pm, when she goes out like a light. She loves 'Far Ah' (Charlotte), 'Garo' (Edward) and 'See Bo' (Elizabeth) and loves playing with them in the playroom. She still loves wearing hats, and is happier going on the school run in the double buggy now that she has a buggy snuggle to keep her warm.
Charlotte
Charlotte is just over three months old now. On November 27th she had her tongue-tie snipped and since then has pretty much been sleeping through the night. We seem to be out of the phase where you worry that they need feeding constantly, and although she does tend to feed every two hours she can go for longer periods in the day. Since just before Christmas she has been napping more in the day, about 1 hour to 1 and a half hours after waking up we put her down in her 'downstairs cot' which has migrated from the playroom to the 'art room' and she sleeps for small stretches. I've been out without her a couple of times in the evening and once or twice on the school run in the last week or so when husband was off sick. Lots of smiles and some giggles, and last night did tummy time and held her hed up very well. Superstar!!
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
post-Christmas...
Husband had three weeks off for Christmas, but the 'run-up' was hectic, with two nativity plays, a visit to his Gran in Cannock, shopping for the 'nice bits' at Waitrose in Newport, and a meet up with friends at Pizza Hut... Then came the 'mock Christmas' with my family on the Saturday, after we'd seen husband's sister and family the Sunday before. Elizabeth was sick that morning, and spent the day in bed, sleeping. Not the greatest start to the Christmas period!
After the 'mock Christmas' (buffet lunch, takeaway tea) we had in-laws around on the Sunday, then Monday was Christmas Eve. We managed to walk around the corner to church for the crib service, then home for tea, and the stockings were duly hung up with a bowl of water for Rudolph and some ginger wine and a mince pie (after a day of baking - stollen and mince pies) for Father Christmas.
Christmas morning saw stockings opened after 8am (they all slept!!) in our room, then as the dinner got underway the 'tree presents' were gradually opened. Sarah loved her 'kit'in' which was wrapped under the penguin blankets in the playroom. Edward had an airport, and Elizabeth had a top/tights/skirt as requested, and dolls house furniture, a book, and various bits and pieces. They both had 'Hex Bugs' which are now in quarantine because they keep getting lost - Sarah has lost hers!
After Christmas we had a gentler period where we stayed home and generally took things at a slower pace, but Edward got ill by the weekend, and Husband started the descent into 'flu on the Saturday. Dave and Claire visited on the day before New Year's Eve, but that was the beginning of the end. We had to cancel the birthday trip to the in-laws because husband was in bed ill, and he stayed there until the following weekend. I honestly found it such a difficult time. I was working over-time to keep up with all the washing, cleaning and cooking, and we had lots of rows because of (a) tiredness (b) illness and (c) my disbelief that he could really be that ill - really? to warrant so much time in bed??!! Lots of hastily looking up 'flu on the iPad and reading discussion threads on Mumsnet about recovery from 'flu and 'Am I being unreasonable to want to leave my husband over his 'flu?!' Tired not the word.
The week after that Elizabeth returned to school, Edward returned to nursery the next day, and here we are on Wednesday with our new computer which arrived yesterday... husband at work today for the first time. Edward watching Mr Maker, Sarah asleep, Charlotte asleep. First time I've had to breathe and sit down and and catch up with myself in ages.
Now keen to get moving with making some money on E-Bay, researching career options, finding out about holidays (possible mobile home with Keycamp or similar in Brittany or similar??)... for now just content to have booked dentist appointments for us all. Have made enquiries about Charlotte's christening, have got the nappies in the wash, and and the washing in the tumble dryer and the dishes done, been to the Co-op for the Weetabix and bin bags, oh the glamour!!
After the 'mock Christmas' (buffet lunch, takeaway tea) we had in-laws around on the Sunday, then Monday was Christmas Eve. We managed to walk around the corner to church for the crib service, then home for tea, and the stockings were duly hung up with a bowl of water for Rudolph and some ginger wine and a mince pie (after a day of baking - stollen and mince pies) for Father Christmas.
Christmas morning saw stockings opened after 8am (they all slept!!) in our room, then as the dinner got underway the 'tree presents' were gradually opened. Sarah loved her 'kit'in' which was wrapped under the penguin blankets in the playroom. Edward had an airport, and Elizabeth had a top/tights/skirt as requested, and dolls house furniture, a book, and various bits and pieces. They both had 'Hex Bugs' which are now in quarantine because they keep getting lost - Sarah has lost hers!
After Christmas we had a gentler period where we stayed home and generally took things at a slower pace, but Edward got ill by the weekend, and Husband started the descent into 'flu on the Saturday. Dave and Claire visited on the day before New Year's Eve, but that was the beginning of the end. We had to cancel the birthday trip to the in-laws because husband was in bed ill, and he stayed there until the following weekend. I honestly found it such a difficult time. I was working over-time to keep up with all the washing, cleaning and cooking, and we had lots of rows because of (a) tiredness (b) illness and (c) my disbelief that he could really be that ill - really? to warrant so much time in bed??!! Lots of hastily looking up 'flu on the iPad and reading discussion threads on Mumsnet about recovery from 'flu and 'Am I being unreasonable to want to leave my husband over his 'flu?!' Tired not the word.
The week after that Elizabeth returned to school, Edward returned to nursery the next day, and here we are on Wednesday with our new computer which arrived yesterday... husband at work today for the first time. Edward watching Mr Maker, Sarah asleep, Charlotte asleep. First time I've had to breathe and sit down and and catch up with myself in ages.
Now keen to get moving with making some money on E-Bay, researching career options, finding out about holidays (possible mobile home with Keycamp or similar in Brittany or similar??)... for now just content to have booked dentist appointments for us all. Have made enquiries about Charlotte's christening, have got the nappies in the wash, and and the washing in the tumble dryer and the dishes done, been to the Co-op for the Weetabix and bin bags, oh the glamour!!
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