After a night spent tossing and turning, barely able to get more than an hours sleep at a time in my excitement, I was awake most from about 5:30 onwards. I heard the children get up at 6:30 but they were trying to be quiet so I shouted them in to start the fun but that wasn't until around 7am! It's become a tradition now that I get very little sleep on Christmas Eve, and doze off in the late morning.
We did our usual emptying of the stockings on our big bed. Rowan didn't want to bring his in, I think he was annoyed that he hadn't got what he had been asking for, for months in advance ("a drum set with a star and a circle") but he was content eating the chocolate that I had put in Liam's stocking.
Frazer was over the moon at getting a slinky and loves his 'farty putty' - it's a pot with goo in that farts when you squish it down. Scarlett was delighted with all her jewelery and her toy phone that held makeup and applicators. I had put a set of camera macro lenses in to Liam's stocking, and managed to stay quiet about knowing full well that it wouldn't fit on the lens that Liam had and either he didn't notice (unlikely) or he did and kept quiet so he didn't upset me.
Along with my stocking bits, Liam gave me a few presents that wouldn't fit - I got really spoiled this year!
After a while we stuffed everything back in to our stockings and trouped downstairs. I made sure that I had my camcorder on and recording already and Liam went ahead with his camera. On the stairs the children stopped in surprise - the cut out snowflakes we had made and I had hung from the ceiling went completely unnoticed - the living room door was completely covered with wrapping paper - the same paper that Father Christmas had used this year!
The idea was for the children to burst through it, circus style, but Frazer insisted on using his sense to check a corner to make sure that the door wasn't shut behind the paper first! Once he was satisfied, they tore through and were pleased to see that they had their main presents from Santa (guitars for F&S and drum set with star jingle bells and circle maraca for R) and that on the tree there were loads of crackers to pull and plenty of candy canes - which was lucky because Scarlett had decided last minute that she wanted candy canes in her perfectly written Christmas list! I'll bet Santa had trouble finding those last minute - they were sold out everywhere....
We opened present after present after present. I tried to make sure that we opened Father Christmas gifts, then had breakfast before opening the rest. Then we played a bit. I was shattered and desperate to have a nap and a Lush bath - my secret santa had given me a mini lush set! Perfect as Liam hadn't got me any. But I only really had the time for one or the other, as we had to get off to Liam's parents at some point. In the end I got neither but had a shower!
Off to see the in-laws now, with Liam moaning about how late we are. Considering I really wanted Christmas at home and it was his suggestion to spend less time there this year (using Tonks the puppy as an excuse to get back for) I considered his mutterings a little annoying. Things calmed down after we were there a while though. We had to bring 4 forks this year - there's always something, Pauline (MIL) is known for it! Always borrowing plates, cutlery, tables and/or chairs for Christmas dinner, as they are not used to catering for 10+ people normally!
They do make a lovely Christmas dinner, and his parents are lovely people, though I do feel odd there at times as they are just one of these families that makes me realise I'm not actually all that 'mainstream' in how I live my life and bring up our children. But loving to us all and lovely to be around (until Granddad starts 'pull my finger') - just not Christmas how I'm used to celebrating it. No TV (so no special shows, no Queen's speech and Scarlett has to miss the ballet - this year I was stressing over the Doctor Who special, which we ended up missing), no music, no board games (or any games!) and not really that much to talk about. It's just food and opening presents really, and I'd just like to try Christmas at home, our way for once.
But it was made all the more bearable because I knew that this year, Boxing day would see us at home (usually at in-laws, as we are every Sunday and usually new years eve too) and with friends over and my mum and brothers! Yeay!
As I am adopted in to the family that fostered me when I was a teenager, I've not been able to spend time with my family at Christmas. In fact I've only ever spent one Christmas day at my mum's, though once she came up to the in-laws and that was really lovely. We always go to PILs, and my mum is always at her mum's house on Boxing Day - and I've never been to her house.
Anyhow, we got home and played a bit. It was bedtime for the children really, but they'd had barely any time to play quietly and appreciate their toys. I think the passed out when they finally got in to bed, they must have been so tired. We downloaded Doctor Who that night to watch the next evening.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Saturday, January 5, 2008
the lead up to Christmas
Late I know! As usual, but Christmas was fab.
We have a tradition of putting the tree up on the first weekend of December - December 1st this year happened to be a Saturday - so we were early in to the festivities this time! We didn't manage to get all our decorations up for a while though, and I didn't even bother with ceiling decorations. Just some tinsel around the doors, stairs and on the TV, stockings hung along the passage stairs and our Grotto pictures from through the years. I'm disappointed that we don't have any from 2002 or '03 but I'm trying to dig through pics we have of the children at around Christmas time instead.
Christmas was busy, but very nice. the nativity was lovely - Scarlett was a star and Frazer was a sheppard. Frazer was doing percussion so got his name in the program, which is quite hard as the speaking parts are so hard to come by at their over-subscribed school. Because Scarlett is in reception, all the children in her class have birthdays at around the same time (they have two reception intakes, so they are slit in the year until they reach year one) and because of this Scarlett had rather a few parties to attend in the lead up to Christmas!
For Christmas Eve we followed our normal tradition of meeting up at Auntie Laura's house - I've done this since we were best friends at school, and our friend Jenny is always there too. I'm trying to convince Jenny to buy my lot pyjamas for Christmas each year - because they get to open these presents (only the ones from Jenny and Laura) on Christmas Eve and it gives them something nice to wake up in on Christmas morning! She did great this year and found them quality pyjamas that all came with little matching toys! Frazer has Daleks, Scarlett has Dora and Rowan has Dinosaurs. jenny also bought the sweetest of cards - it had a 'Me to you' tatty teddy picture on, with a tree decoration attached.
Laura bought Scarlett a Barbie DVD game (you use the doll as the controller) which we have yet to try actually - oops! Frazer a car loop-the-loop toy and Rowan a 'build your own' Thomas train. Where she outdid herself though, was their 'gift tags'! Each had a boxed slab of chocolate with their names and a message iced on, and curly ribbon attaching a candy cane to each - how sweet!
At Laura's, us adult girls exchanged our gifts too. We have arranged it now that we have a stocking each, and it is up to one of us to fill them for another. This year Jenny put my stocking together, which meant that I was filling Laura's one. I put in nostalgic bits like Care Bear lip balm (pink lemonade flavour!) and glitter hair spray, along with things like makeup and LOTS of chocolate. I owe her a Lush bath bomb though, as I forgot to put it in! Jenny is a big kid and has to open all hers when she gets them - Laura and i like to save them for Christmas morning, but we open one each on the Eve. I opened a lovely little Chilli Pepper make up set.
Liam met us at Laura's after a while, after we had stuffed ourselves on Laura's mini buffet and chocolate fountain (filled with Galaxy chocolate - yum) and then we moved on to the cinema, to watch our Christmas Eve film.
~~~by the way, this is a fantastic idea, it occupies children through the evening when they would normally be completely hyped up waiting for Christmas and by the time we get home they are shattered and pass out in bed!~~~
We went to see a Disney film called Enchanted, it's not Christmassy as I prefer, but there wasn't really a festive film on that looked good. We all had fun, well, until Rowan got a bit scared of the dragon, then he at on my lap and fell asleep. Still all having fun - until he wee'd on my lap! I couldn't believe it - he was still fast, fast asleep and wouldn't rouse, so I had to shut up an put up until the end of the film. boy was I thankful that jenny had given pyjamas! At least he had something to walk home in.
Once home they all got changed and helped me to make Reindeer Food. Auntie Sarah had bought a sachet (oats with shimmer in) and since there wasn't much, we mixed it with some oatmeal, a spoonful of sugar and some hundreds and thousands. We of course took up the obligatory carrot, mug of milk and mince pie too!
We hung up the stockings in their room as usual, and as normal - but more this year - I swore that we would NOT have them in there again, it's too intense and Father Christmas has to try so hard not to wake them.
I'll leave it there for now and let you know that happened Christmas day later - hopefully!
We have a tradition of putting the tree up on the first weekend of December - December 1st this year happened to be a Saturday - so we were early in to the festivities this time! We didn't manage to get all our decorations up for a while though, and I didn't even bother with ceiling decorations. Just some tinsel around the doors, stairs and on the TV, stockings hung along the passage stairs and our Grotto pictures from through the years. I'm disappointed that we don't have any from 2002 or '03 but I'm trying to dig through pics we have of the children at around Christmas time instead.
Christmas was busy, but very nice. the nativity was lovely - Scarlett was a star and Frazer was a sheppard. Frazer was doing percussion so got his name in the program, which is quite hard as the speaking parts are so hard to come by at their over-subscribed school. Because Scarlett is in reception, all the children in her class have birthdays at around the same time (they have two reception intakes, so they are slit in the year until they reach year one) and because of this Scarlett had rather a few parties to attend in the lead up to Christmas!
For Christmas Eve we followed our normal tradition of meeting up at Auntie Laura's house - I've done this since we were best friends at school, and our friend Jenny is always there too. I'm trying to convince Jenny to buy my lot pyjamas for Christmas each year - because they get to open these presents (only the ones from Jenny and Laura) on Christmas Eve and it gives them something nice to wake up in on Christmas morning! She did great this year and found them quality pyjamas that all came with little matching toys! Frazer has Daleks, Scarlett has Dora and Rowan has Dinosaurs. jenny also bought the sweetest of cards - it had a 'Me to you' tatty teddy picture on, with a tree decoration attached.
Laura bought Scarlett a Barbie DVD game (you use the doll as the controller) which we have yet to try actually - oops! Frazer a car loop-the-loop toy and Rowan a 'build your own' Thomas train. Where she outdid herself though, was their 'gift tags'! Each had a boxed slab of chocolate with their names and a message iced on, and curly ribbon attaching a candy cane to each - how sweet!
At Laura's, us adult girls exchanged our gifts too. We have arranged it now that we have a stocking each, and it is up to one of us to fill them for another. This year Jenny put my stocking together, which meant that I was filling Laura's one. I put in nostalgic bits like Care Bear lip balm (pink lemonade flavour!) and glitter hair spray, along with things like makeup and LOTS of chocolate. I owe her a Lush bath bomb though, as I forgot to put it in! Jenny is a big kid and has to open all hers when she gets them - Laura and i like to save them for Christmas morning, but we open one each on the Eve. I opened a lovely little Chilli Pepper make up set.
Liam met us at Laura's after a while, after we had stuffed ourselves on Laura's mini buffet and chocolate fountain (filled with Galaxy chocolate - yum) and then we moved on to the cinema, to watch our Christmas Eve film.
~~~by the way, this is a fantastic idea, it occupies children through the evening when they would normally be completely hyped up waiting for Christmas and by the time we get home they are shattered and pass out in bed!~~~
We went to see a Disney film called Enchanted, it's not Christmassy as I prefer, but there wasn't really a festive film on that looked good. We all had fun, well, until Rowan got a bit scared of the dragon, then he at on my lap and fell asleep. Still all having fun - until he wee'd on my lap! I couldn't believe it - he was still fast, fast asleep and wouldn't rouse, so I had to shut up an put up until the end of the film. boy was I thankful that jenny had given pyjamas! At least he had something to walk home in.
Once home they all got changed and helped me to make Reindeer Food. Auntie Sarah had bought a sachet (oats with shimmer in) and since there wasn't much, we mixed it with some oatmeal, a spoonful of sugar and some hundreds and thousands. We of course took up the obligatory carrot, mug of milk and mince pie too!
We hung up the stockings in their room as usual, and as normal - but more this year - I swore that we would NOT have them in there again, it's too intense and Father Christmas has to try so hard not to wake them.
I'll leave it there for now and let you know that happened Christmas day later - hopefully!
Sunday, November 4, 2007
after Samhain part two
OK, not the day after but this will have to do. I just wanted to jot down what we got up to :o)
We walked home from school an the world was wonderful. The Earth had a clear crispness in the air, yet it wasn't that cold out. I tried to capture the glorious colours in the leaves of the trees in the park; I've heard that trees are especially beautiful this year because of the wet summer and mild Autumn.
The pictures I got weren't wonderful, but not bad I suppose. The children's pics were cute though. On our way through the park we collected some of the prettier fallen leaves and I pulled up some Ivy (saying thanks as I did so and now) and we took them all home in mama's big string bag to decorate our home with later.
I'm working on getting Rowan to walk home now - he's three and will be at nursery next year and I don't want him arriving in a pushchair! So trying to strengthen his legs meant it took ages to get home. Once in I sent the children upstairs to get changes in to what ever costume they wanted and I set straight on to yet more gingerbread! We had already made loads recently; I only have a recipe for a big batch and don't know how to lessen the quantities, but it's yummy so who cares! We had eaten loads and I was worried that we wouldn't have enough for the trick or treaters!
So about half an hour, 2 batches of baking and plenty of flour marks later, my three returned. Took this long because Scarlett had lost her witch costume under the bed! Frazer decided to be a skeleton and Rowan was spiderman. Scarlett enjoyed her brand new witch hat, which was a bargain so I was pleased.
We had 'Witches Stew' for dinner - which ended up being a stew I chucked together in the slow cooker and left on while at the school. Missed out a load of bits we didn't have so chucked in some random stuff to make up for it - lol! This included some of the turnip that I had carved in to little jack o'lanterns. Liam popped in around now - unfortunately Hallowe'en this year fell on a wednesday, which is when he teaches Kung Fu. He's a 2nd degree black belt now and I am so proud of him! He might be going for his 3rd soon, but this means he really need to up his training - missing him already!
Anyway, after dinner I served up the scrummy pumpkin pie that Liam had cooked the night before - we had it with maple syrup whipped cream - soooo niiiiceeee *drool* Scarlett and Rowan didn't entirely agree with me (Rowan chopped his up and didn't eat, Scarlett only had a very little) but Frazer ate two servings and wanted more! I said no because it's just so sweet and he'd been munching on cookies too. The pie was made with the innards of a pumpkin I had carved the night before - I stayed up stupidly late but was very pleased with the result!
We only ended up with two lots of T&Ters, the kids Loved it! They really get in to the spirit of sharing out our cookies and weren't fussed at all at the idea of going out ourselves. At one point we knocked at our neighbours doing a reverse T&T - to give them some biscuits! lol
Back home again and before dinner we shared some fruit in the front room; cutting apples in half across the middle to show the witches' stars in the middle - did you know that's why people always cut from top to bottom now? It used to be frowned upon (or even considered evil) to cut across the middle, as 5 pointed stars were a sign of witchcraft (hehehe!)
We also had pomegranate - a sign of life and rebirth and of the underworld - I told the children the story of Persephone and Hades earlier in the day and was pleased that they remembered most of it. Of course we ate more gingerbread! They were shaped like witches, ghosts, pumpkins and bats.
After this I had to send the poor mites off to bed, they really didn't want to go, and said how much fun they had - Scarlett (bless her!) asked if I thought Christmas would be as fun, so I guess it was a great success. I'm so pleased.
We walked home from school an the world was wonderful. The Earth had a clear crispness in the air, yet it wasn't that cold out. I tried to capture the glorious colours in the leaves of the trees in the park; I've heard that trees are especially beautiful this year because of the wet summer and mild Autumn.
The pictures I got weren't wonderful, but not bad I suppose. The children's pics were cute though. On our way through the park we collected some of the prettier fallen leaves and I pulled up some Ivy (saying thanks as I did so and now) and we took them all home in mama's big string bag to decorate our home with later.
I'm working on getting Rowan to walk home now - he's three and will be at nursery next year and I don't want him arriving in a pushchair! So trying to strengthen his legs meant it took ages to get home. Once in I sent the children upstairs to get changes in to what ever costume they wanted and I set straight on to yet more gingerbread! We had already made loads recently; I only have a recipe for a big batch and don't know how to lessen the quantities, but it's yummy so who cares! We had eaten loads and I was worried that we wouldn't have enough for the trick or treaters!
So about half an hour, 2 batches of baking and plenty of flour marks later, my three returned. Took this long because Scarlett had lost her witch costume under the bed! Frazer decided to be a skeleton and Rowan was spiderman. Scarlett enjoyed her brand new witch hat, which was a bargain so I was pleased.
We had 'Witches Stew' for dinner - which ended up being a stew I chucked together in the slow cooker and left on while at the school. Missed out a load of bits we didn't have so chucked in some random stuff to make up for it - lol! This included some of the turnip that I had carved in to little jack o'lanterns. Liam popped in around now - unfortunately Hallowe'en this year fell on a wednesday, which is when he teaches Kung Fu. He's a 2nd degree black belt now and I am so proud of him! He might be going for his 3rd soon, but this means he really need to up his training - missing him already!
Anyway, after dinner I served up the scrummy pumpkin pie that Liam had cooked the night before - we had it with maple syrup whipped cream - soooo niiiiceeee *drool* Scarlett and Rowan didn't entirely agree with me (Rowan chopped his up and didn't eat, Scarlett only had a very little) but Frazer ate two servings and wanted more! I said no because it's just so sweet and he'd been munching on cookies too. The pie was made with the innards of a pumpkin I had carved the night before - I stayed up stupidly late but was very pleased with the result!
We only ended up with two lots of T&Ters, the kids Loved it! They really get in to the spirit of sharing out our cookies and weren't fussed at all at the idea of going out ourselves. At one point we knocked at our neighbours doing a reverse T&T - to give them some biscuits! lol
Back home again and before dinner we shared some fruit in the front room; cutting apples in half across the middle to show the witches' stars in the middle - did you know that's why people always cut from top to bottom now? It used to be frowned upon (or even considered evil) to cut across the middle, as 5 pointed stars were a sign of witchcraft (hehehe!)
We also had pomegranate - a sign of life and rebirth and of the underworld - I told the children the story of Persephone and Hades earlier in the day and was pleased that they remembered most of it. Of course we ate more gingerbread! They were shaped like witches, ghosts, pumpkins and bats.
After this I had to send the poor mites off to bed, they really didn't want to go, and said how much fun they had - Scarlett (bless her!) asked if I thought Christmas would be as fun, so I guess it was a great success. I'm so pleased.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Gods I'm miserable!
I dont know what's up with me but I'm trying to put it down to hormones. Not sure how true it is, could have been PMT if my period didn't start a couple of days ago...
Anyway, I just can't seem to pick myself up. I'm tired and lazy and have too much to do. the poor dog is deserving more than sh eis getting, Rowan just wants to watch TV all day and the house is not getting tidied - let alone flyladied.
I have horrible net addiction at the moment (yes, worse than usual) and I ust can't be bothered to eat healthily to lose weight, though I know I'll be gutted when I'm fat. I just try not to think about it and keep eating! All the Halloween goodies didn't help with that though...
Liam has been told he might be going for his 3rd degree black belt this December. This means that he wants to go out training loads again. I really dont mind and i know how important it is to him. It's just it's Friday today, but it wont feel like it - I wont get that Friday feeling knowing that Liam is on his way home and we will all be together for the weekend. He's been out for a few Fridays recently, I do miss him.
mind you, I'm being a miserable bugger so he probably can't wait to get away!
Ugh, off to school now. The plan is to attempt a back carry with rowan so that he will have no buggy to insist on when coming home. I must not carry him back or I'll be falling asleep before the kids do tonight!
Anyway, I just can't seem to pick myself up. I'm tired and lazy and have too much to do. the poor dog is deserving more than sh eis getting, Rowan just wants to watch TV all day and the house is not getting tidied - let alone flyladied.
I have horrible net addiction at the moment (yes, worse than usual) and I ust can't be bothered to eat healthily to lose weight, though I know I'll be gutted when I'm fat. I just try not to think about it and keep eating! All the Halloween goodies didn't help with that though...
Liam has been told he might be going for his 3rd degree black belt this December. This means that he wants to go out training loads again. I really dont mind and i know how important it is to him. It's just it's Friday today, but it wont feel like it - I wont get that Friday feeling knowing that Liam is on his way home and we will all be together for the weekend. He's been out for a few Fridays recently, I do miss him.
mind you, I'm being a miserable bugger so he probably can't wait to get away!
Ugh, off to school now. The plan is to attempt a back carry with rowan so that he will have no buggy to insist on when coming home. I must not carry him back or I'll be falling asleep before the kids do tonight!
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The day after Samhain. Part one
I'm sooo tired. I have about 3 quarters of an hour until I get off on the school run and I need to go tidy up really. But what I really want to do is sleep - half an hour would do wonders for me.
But I'll end up staying online and achieving nothing if I dont get off now...
Sleep it is then, but I do want to let DH know what Lush bits I want first.
ElaineXX
But I'll end up staying online and achieving nothing if I dont get off now...
Sleep it is then, but I do want to let DH know what Lush bits I want first.
ElaineXX
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Yeterday
A long day but a good one!
We started the day with the usual rush for Ballet; Scarlett has lessons on Saturday mornings, it's not actually that early but we struggle to get out of bed! I wanted to walk the dog while Liam took Scarlett, as the park is near her class. Of course as usual I couldn't get the boys and myself together fast enough to leave with Scarlett and Liam, but we left soon after. I'm putting the amount of time it took to get ready down to lack of help - Liam was out with friends that hadn't all been together since school and got in after 3am.
The park was chilly, but one of those perfectly clear days. Tonks didn't do too bad at staying away from other people - I really worry that she's going to terrify someone, especially when she's bigger. As she's a lab she will get quite big, but she wont mature mentally until she's about 3 years old - she'll be fully grown at about 2!
Frazer and Rowan completely soaked the bottoms of their trousers with the dew in the grass, but it was beautiful. We found an area behind a hilly bit, so Tonks couldn't see people on the path so much. I wanted to work on her recall so I had the whistle with me and a pot full of chopped up hot dog sausages! She was doing really well, so I thought Frazer could give it a try. I took Tonks off about 15 metres i think, sat her down facing Frazer and held until he blew the whistle. It was a bit of a risk because;
a) i need Tonks to respond to the whistle or else it will undo the good work we have achieved so far
b) Frazer gets very nervous about new things, so if he couldn't do it right he would get upset.
As it turned out, he made a valiant effort. the only problem was that the first time he tried he did the 'pip' noise at first and when she changed her mind about going to him he did long blasts which had no effect at all on her.
I explained to him that he *must* do the pip noise, as I'm going to save long blasts to teach her other things, like lay down. I was pleased though, that she didn't respond to the long blasts, and I do know that the pips can be hard to achieve.
Second time around Frazer did much better - he followed what i said and when Tonks got near to him, then slowed down, he turned and ran, still pipping away on the whistle! He gave her a stroke and hot dog bits when she got there too. He did this one or two more times and it went well. the only problem is that where I was the one holding her to wait for the whistle, and she thinks i am the whistle blower, so would be unsure whether to stay with me or go to him (if that makes sense!)
Anyway, we were at the park quite a while (Tonks not doing great at retrieving but never mind) and then I got fed up waiting for Liam and Scarlett to meet us. Couldn't be sure of the time as I dont have a watch and my phone is lost (that's a sob story I wont go in to) but my camera said they should be done by now - if the time was right on it!
We met them on their way home, then got back, did the weekly shopping and home for lunch. As we had been out fairly early I thought I'd stick on a family film for a family rest. Frazer picked Peter Pan - his all time favourite and Liam and I fell asleep! Me for longer, much to Liam's annoyance because he was the one that had been up late ht night before! He woke me up saying that we had to leave for the party!
Z's 2nd birthday party was that afternoon, and all of us were invited. It was at a really nice venue overlooking the river - I want a party there! Especially as it is near to the school; if we do a kids party at home it's quite far from where most of S&F's classmates live. Problem is you have to be or know a tenant there to get it - but I'm still planning! lol
We were an hour late for the party, but still the first to arrive! The children all had fun, but I got really p*ssed off at a brute from Frazer's year (so 6 or 7 yrs old) that shoved Rowan (who is a small 3 year old!) off a seat during musical chairs then blatantly denied it even though I argued. I didn't drag it out too much though - I was too angry at his bl**dy mother who sat and watched, SMILING! Grrrr.
anyway, we had to leave the party to get home in time for the game. We took the Thames path for part of the way; it was beautiful. The clear night air showed the lights up perfectly on the river and Liam got some lovely shots of Tower Bridge. i got a family shot with my camera which is nice as we dont often get them!
I think the children were very happy and excited to be out while the world was dark, though it wasn't actually too late really.
Home just in time for the Rugby World Cup Final. Rushed the children in to bed and they were all asleep within minutes. Liam ordered an indian takeaway that we munched on while watching a mildly depressing England defeat. I do think that was a genuine try, as do most people I suspect, but never mind. South Africa played well, it's just a shame we didn't get to make world cup history but successfully defending the title - we can try again in 2011.
Today I am successfully doing nothing much at all while Liam and Frazer are at Kung Fu. I am already regretting it so I'd better get off my bum and get stuff done before our Sunday trip to the parents in law's house.
We started the day with the usual rush for Ballet; Scarlett has lessons on Saturday mornings, it's not actually that early but we struggle to get out of bed! I wanted to walk the dog while Liam took Scarlett, as the park is near her class. Of course as usual I couldn't get the boys and myself together fast enough to leave with Scarlett and Liam, but we left soon after. I'm putting the amount of time it took to get ready down to lack of help - Liam was out with friends that hadn't all been together since school and got in after 3am.
The park was chilly, but one of those perfectly clear days. Tonks didn't do too bad at staying away from other people - I really worry that she's going to terrify someone, especially when she's bigger. As she's a lab she will get quite big, but she wont mature mentally until she's about 3 years old - she'll be fully grown at about 2!
Frazer and Rowan completely soaked the bottoms of their trousers with the dew in the grass, but it was beautiful. We found an area behind a hilly bit, so Tonks couldn't see people on the path so much. I wanted to work on her recall so I had the whistle with me and a pot full of chopped up hot dog sausages! She was doing really well, so I thought Frazer could give it a try. I took Tonks off about 15 metres i think, sat her down facing Frazer and held until he blew the whistle. It was a bit of a risk because;
a) i need Tonks to respond to the whistle or else it will undo the good work we have achieved so far
b) Frazer gets very nervous about new things, so if he couldn't do it right he would get upset.
As it turned out, he made a valiant effort. the only problem was that the first time he tried he did the 'pip' noise at first and when she changed her mind about going to him he did long blasts which had no effect at all on her.
I explained to him that he *must* do the pip noise, as I'm going to save long blasts to teach her other things, like lay down. I was pleased though, that she didn't respond to the long blasts, and I do know that the pips can be hard to achieve.
Second time around Frazer did much better - he followed what i said and when Tonks got near to him, then slowed down, he turned and ran, still pipping away on the whistle! He gave her a stroke and hot dog bits when she got there too. He did this one or two more times and it went well. the only problem is that where I was the one holding her to wait for the whistle, and she thinks i am the whistle blower, so would be unsure whether to stay with me or go to him (if that makes sense!)
Anyway, we were at the park quite a while (Tonks not doing great at retrieving but never mind) and then I got fed up waiting for Liam and Scarlett to meet us. Couldn't be sure of the time as I dont have a watch and my phone is lost (that's a sob story I wont go in to) but my camera said they should be done by now - if the time was right on it!
We met them on their way home, then got back, did the weekly shopping and home for lunch. As we had been out fairly early I thought I'd stick on a family film for a family rest. Frazer picked Peter Pan - his all time favourite and Liam and I fell asleep! Me for longer, much to Liam's annoyance because he was the one that had been up late ht night before! He woke me up saying that we had to leave for the party!
Z's 2nd birthday party was that afternoon, and all of us were invited. It was at a really nice venue overlooking the river - I want a party there! Especially as it is near to the school; if we do a kids party at home it's quite far from where most of S&F's classmates live. Problem is you have to be or know a tenant there to get it - but I'm still planning! lol
We were an hour late for the party, but still the first to arrive! The children all had fun, but I got really p*ssed off at a brute from Frazer's year (so 6 or 7 yrs old) that shoved Rowan (who is a small 3 year old!) off a seat during musical chairs then blatantly denied it even though I argued. I didn't drag it out too much though - I was too angry at his bl**dy mother who sat and watched, SMILING! Grrrr.
anyway, we had to leave the party to get home in time for the game. We took the Thames path for part of the way; it was beautiful. The clear night air showed the lights up perfectly on the river and Liam got some lovely shots of Tower Bridge. i got a family shot with my camera which is nice as we dont often get them!
I think the children were very happy and excited to be out while the world was dark, though it wasn't actually too late really.
Home just in time for the Rugby World Cup Final. Rushed the children in to bed and they were all asleep within minutes. Liam ordered an indian takeaway that we munched on while watching a mildly depressing England defeat. I do think that was a genuine try, as do most people I suspect, but never mind. South Africa played well, it's just a shame we didn't get to make world cup history but successfully defending the title - we can try again in 2011.
Today I am successfully doing nothing much at all while Liam and Frazer are at Kung Fu. I am already regretting it so I'd better get off my bum and get stuff done before our Sunday trip to the parents in law's house.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Tenth Anniversary!
Last night DH and I celebrated our tenth anniversary of being together. We've only been married a year but stuck like glue for much longer! Everything seemed to go so well - I'm almost surprised nothing terrible happened.
We took the dog for a loooooong walk to tire her out, bought DH a funky new shirt, dropped children off at MIL's and I took half an hour to get ready to go out (someone please tell DH this isn't actually that long!?!!!)
We had set the video to record the rugby - and we resolved to try not to find out the score until we got home! (yeah, right) then went to Leicester Square (one of my favourite places in the world and where we first went on dates) and ate at Wagamamas - never been there before; I felt overdressed and a bit lost but it was yummy!
First thing we did when we left the restaurant of course was to find a TV and check the score There was 7 minutes to go and England were *just* ahead! Whoopee! Liam wanted to find a cash point and of course in those 7 minutes the whole of London's West End erupted twice more! We were just hoping desperately that we weren't standing next to a french bar or something After this we did lots of walking, people watching, soaking up the atmosphere of a glorious Rugby win (lots of SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT being sung and minor annoyances from the England football supporters, who though pleased with the Rugby win, chose to turn it in to their own celebrations not at all rugby style!) then went to a night club called Sound.
We danced, danced and danced - and my husband is surely the only person I know that can turn the Prodigy in to almost foreplay and then I returned the idea when Salt 'n' Peppa's 'Push It' came on - an old favourite that Liam has had men shake his hand afterwards in the past I must be an explicit dancer...
Of course we got home and the night got better. And of course this morning I proved I was worth coming back to bed for ;o)
Life is good. Who'd have thought that 10 years down the line I could be so happy? I was so miserable before I met Liam but together we are fantastic and if you're not jealous after all that, you should be! Liam is very, very good to me!
ElaineXX
We took the dog for a loooooong walk to tire her out, bought DH a funky new shirt, dropped children off at MIL's and I took half an hour to get ready to go out (someone please tell DH this isn't actually that long!?!!!)
We had set the video to record the rugby - and we resolved to try not to find out the score until we got home! (yeah, right) then went to Leicester Square (one of my favourite places in the world and where we first went on dates) and ate at Wagamamas - never been there before; I felt overdressed and a bit lost but it was yummy!
First thing we did when we left the restaurant of course was to find a TV and check the score There was 7 minutes to go and England were *just* ahead! Whoopee! Liam wanted to find a cash point and of course in those 7 minutes the whole of London's West End erupted twice more! We were just hoping desperately that we weren't standing next to a french bar or something After this we did lots of walking, people watching, soaking up the atmosphere of a glorious Rugby win (lots of SWING LOW SWEET CHARIOT being sung and minor annoyances from the England football supporters, who though pleased with the Rugby win, chose to turn it in to their own celebrations not at all rugby style!) then went to a night club called Sound.
We danced, danced and danced - and my husband is surely the only person I know that can turn the Prodigy in to almost foreplay and then I returned the idea when Salt 'n' Peppa's 'Push It' came on - an old favourite that Liam has had men shake his hand afterwards in the past I must be an explicit dancer...
Of course we got home and the night got better. And of course this morning I proved I was worth coming back to bed for ;o)
Life is good. Who'd have thought that 10 years down the line I could be so happy? I was so miserable before I met Liam but together we are fantastic and if you're not jealous after all that, you should be! Liam is very, very good to me!
ElaineXX
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