Little Miss Twinkle ...

Mum - I look like I've got a bird's nest on my head!

Thank Heavens for Little Girls.....

Without creating a battle of the sexes argument, it is probably safe to say that the men in our household (this includes the fury boys too) create the majority of the work for the girls:

• Random cups or plates (they're not fussy) left by the side of the bed/sofa (again not fussy on location)
• Pants abandoned - thankfully normally left either in the bedroom or the bathroom (could seriously scare some guests away if they were left downstairs ;) )
• Copious amounts of food and drink consumed - hence lots of shopping, washing up and clearing away
• Football, football, football requires snacks, lifts and transformation of dirty to clean washing
• Wet towels abandoned where ever fit (you can see that there is a lot of abandoning)

The list goes on.........

Thank heavens for daughters.  The other day Mr and Master S had vanished for the afternoon on another sporting event which left us girls to finish the ironing, cook tea and tidy/clean up.  Happy to help - Little Miss S put on her apron (obviously been watching too much Cinderella! ) (I do hope I'm not coming across as an Ugly Sister ;) )and helped to tidy, given the task of sweeping the kitchen floor she did just that and after that she then swept the hall floor and then then playroom floor and then she even started sweeping the stairs (despite the fact there is carpet on the stairs!). She has obviously been watching her Mother well because she did a fantastic job and as a reward she got 50p!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Man of the Match!

We have a little Man of the Match in the building!

We have a big Daddy and big Mummy who are so proud of our little Man of the Match.

Well done William!

After a busy morning of football what do you think the Man of the Match does in the afternoon? Rest, sleep, watch TV - nope - starts another sport - this time Cricket!

Tap Tap Shuffle Tap

It has been an important and exciting day today.  Very exciting.  Very very exciting.

Last week Lucy started Tap and Jazz dancing for the first time. She loved it but most importantly she loved the fact that we had to order some tap tap tap shoes!

Every day the first question asked was "How many more days until I get my tap shoes?". When you're only five years old a week seems like forever but gradually the days have passed...

7 Sleeps

6 Sleeps

5 Sleeps

4 Sleeps

3 Sleeps

2 Sleeps

1 Sleep and........

NO SLEEPS - HURRAH - WHOOP WHOOP!

After school we got to dance class early and thank-fully the dance lady had a big bag ready on the counter for "Lucy". 

Inside the bag were numerous boxes of black tap shoes, different sizes, different styles etc. The kind lady told Lucy to sit down - she sat down, face full of expectation and excitment. Then using her experience and knowledge the lady picked up one black box - "let's try these" she said and opened up the box.

The smell of new leather shoes crept out, wrapped in tissue paper, the shoes looked so new and fresh - perfect. Lucy's face was beautiful - the biggest, widdest, happiest smile was beaming up at me - she was already in love - the style, the heals, the look of the shoes but there was more to come, they fitted perfectly and looked like they were meant for this beaming five year old.  Tap, tap, tap - this little girl had found the magic and was tapping away - delighted at the sound that each step was making.

And so we brought the tap, tap tapety shoes and after ballet I had an eager five year old, rushing to put on her tap leggings and new shoes - and again the smile and delight as she skipped off to her next class.

After the class I had an energetic and beaming daughter return, still smiling, still beaming but eager to show me what the shoes can do - the sounds, the steps, the shuffles - tap, tap, shuffle, tap, hop, skip...............

Birthday List

Now that Christmas is out of the way, Lucy can concentrate on the next major event in her diary - HER BIRTHDAY!

Following in her mothers footsteps - she is a list girl, list for guests, lists for themes and lists for PRESENTS!

So far, her wish list consists of (in this order):

1. A new television for her bedroom

2. Her own (and new) mobile phone so that we can phone her direct (????!!!!)

3. Perfume!

Crikey - she's only turning 6!

The Gospel According to Lucy.....

Driving home one night Lucy stated the following:

I can see Grandad in the sky shining down on us - in his star costume

What weekend?

I've been siting here pondering, at what point in my life did I lose my weekends?

It's just that I'll admit, I'm luckier than most only working a four day week so that I have a three day weekend but, well, it just......goes. I spend all week looking forward to the weekend and then in a blink its gone!

Let me enlighten you.

Got up Friday morning, took the children to school and then went on my Friday run with Da Ladies! Following the run, a quick shower, trip to the shops to purchase a new baby present for a friend while at the same time I picked up some cupcake baking goodies which I knew the hungry troops would devour, then onto the dentist followed by a big food shop. Once home I managed to grab some breakfast come lunch at 2,45pm before dashing to school to pick the little troops up. The rest of the day was a blur with tidying, tea, unpacking and putting away shopping etc.  Any female reading this will probably by now be nodding their head in understanding and agreement at how the days vanish with nothing significant actually being achieved! I never even made the cupcakes despite buying all of the frosting and sprinkles!

Saturday and Sunday took on a similar pattern - by the end of the weekend between us we had been to bowling lessons, four parties, out for breakfast, popped into town, had family to visit and done the usual weekend chores.

I'm left feeling whacked by Sunday night although the pace has to quicken to ensure that packed lunches are pre-made, school uniforms are washed and ironed, reading books are read, spellings are practiced, homework is done, swimming kits are ready and that's just the bits for the little troops. Never mind Mummy and Daddy.  I am sitting with a pile of work that still needs looking at, a desk that needs clearing and a house that needs tidying ready for the week ahead.  The final burst of busyness leaves everyone craving another weekend.

What happened to those weekends pre children when the pace was slower, you were allowed to be lazy and selfish and the day just went by in a haze of peacefulness. Instead the days fly by in a whirl of craziness.

When did children come so busy? Activities, parties, socialising - no wonder we live in such an IT environment - they start early and need everything to keep their social actives constant.

Why do we do it.  We do it because it is the norm to be so busy and maintain so many commitments.  We do it because as a result are children are happy - they are developing and building new skills, meeting new people and building friendships but also practising juggling a busy life in preparation of later years!

And finally, it was confirmed to me today, at party number four Lucy was bowling with five other boys - she was going up and bowling beautifully, a great stance, good swing and straight arm - and the top score - a Dad turned to me and said "she's fantastic, much better than all the boys" - standing out amongst the boys I realised how well the bowling lessons were paying off - it was wonderful to see the benefits of the lost weekend!

Just watching the Take That Progress Tour - the boys are definitely like a good wine - get better with age ;)

Resolution Crazy!

Happy New Year!

It’s the first of January today 2012 and as well as numerous Happy New Year good wishes, hugs, kisses and alcoholic toasts there are the resolutions.

A friend of mine recently posted on a well known social network site:

“Has anyone got any New Year’s resolutions” as they had none.

Lucky them I thought, I have lots and do every year. Obviously I’m not as content as some and always wanting to change things or strive for perfection.

I then pondered the issue, should resolutions be private? Should they be shared and discussed, this may have a direct impact on the success of some as loved ones could provide essential additional support, help and guidance. But what about those private ones and then does it get complicated if you share some and not others? What a quandary resolutions can be.

As always, I’ve got lots and like always I start off determined to succeed on all fronts. Then again, there is no point having resolutions if you don’t think success is an option.

My first resolution is to continue my blog so here I am! Great start! Going well.

Other resolutions include:

• Be more organised – keeping my office tidy so that I can actually enter it would be a good start!

• Keep on top of paperwork.

• Don’t collect text messages – sorting out 600 text messages when I got my new phone was not an easy exercise.

• Spend less time surfing the net.

• Spend more time reading.

• Dedicate time to “me” – liking this one ;)

• Do the children’s homework punctually rather than leaving it until the night before – need to instil better work ethics in the children than I have in myself (I have always been a night before person and certainly believe in cramming!).

• Keep my bedroom tidy rather allowing it to look like a room full of mole hills.

• Keep up with my running and exercise regime with Da Ladies!

• Try to eat more fruit and vegetable.

• Build on cooking skills.

• Lose some weight – 1 stone target!

• Read and pass on my 100 plus magazines that have been there for the past 5 years!

• Buy a bike, learn to turn corners (rather than getting off and physically moving the bike) and take the family on fab bike rides.

I think it is going to be a busy year but then life would be boring if we had nothing to do!

I Love Interflora!

Something really magical happened the other day.

I was at work, working away when someone came in with a massive arrangement of flowers for me.  An arrangement made up of all of my favourite flowers. 

It wasn't my birthday.  It wasn't a special occasion.  It wasn't our wedding anniversary.  They were................ just because...........he loves me!  My favourite kind of reason.