Great Grandad

He's the oldest man I know and he's my Grandad! And he was 92 on Sunday.

His memory isn't like it used to be, and its sometimes difficult to understand what he's saying, but there's no doubt in my mind that he's really proud of his family.

And we're proud of him.xx

Party Time!

I love Lorraine!

I'm SO not a children's party girl!

I've got three children, and only once have I done the party myself - all the other parties have been celebrated at various ball parks in Sheffield. I just haven't got what it takes to make it fun! In pass the parcel, I just have them whizzing the parcel around to get it over with - there's no entertainment or excitement - it ends up being a chore for the kids!

So this year when we started thinking about a party for Sam, I decided we would pay a children's entertainer. I got a few recommendations from some Mum's from school - the first one quoted me £200 for 2 hours, the second £80 for 1 1/2 hours. The £80 one was definitely more appealing. £200 is just too much! With food and party bags on top, people must spend a fortune.

But when I told Lorraine I was going to pay £80, she said "Don't do that - kids parties are so easy - I'll do it for you!" She's like a dream sister-in-law!

So here we are. We decided to have a joint party for Sam and Leah, not that I was thinking we would get it over and done in one or anything! I just thought they'd enjoy being together!

And the star of the show was Lorraine. (I'm waiting for my mum to email a photo of her - she had the best one.)

She put her hair in bunches, wore tights with shorts over and stuck lollipops to her t-shirt for prizes! And she got right in there - she danced with the kids, pulled faces with them and had them whooping and cheering.s

Our favorite part was making the cake! Lorraine had the kids put all the ingredients into a bowl and they mixed it all up. It included flour, toothpaste, shampoo, soap, curry powder, leaves, food colouring, eggs (shells included) everything yukky and smelly! They mixed it up, then put it in the oven Lorraine had made.

She got them chanting magic words, and swaying and singing until she checked the oven and it had changed into a tiny fairy cake! So she put it back and made them sing some more, and when they checked again, a huge birthday cake appeared! As if by magic!

The only bit I was responsible for was preparing the pass the parcel - and I even managed to mess that up! Megan and Josh started screaming with laughter when they saw the naked Trinny and Susannah picture that we used to wrap the parcel! You can't be expected to read every page of your pass the parcel, can you??

The Piniata always makes me nervous - swinging that big stick in a room full of kids is just asking for trouble! Luckily we had no casualties! And I can't help smirking at the kids diving for the sweets like they've never had sweets before - it doesn't seem right and they look like savages, but it makes me smile!

The kids had fun, but I have to say, I'm glad its over for another year!

St John's Summer Fair

Mum's been to visit 3 times since we moved. The second time she came happened to coincide with the school Christmas fair, and she spent a fortune with the kids!

This time just happened to coincide with the school Summer Fair, and just about the same happened! She picked the dates, not me!

Megan and I had to arrive early because she was dancing in the Arena! Megan goes to four clubs at school this term - country dancing, jewellry making, gynastics and cricket. The country dancers were doing a performance at the summer fair so we were keen to be there to see her perform!

More importantly, she was partners with Jade. This of course adds to the whole experience for an 8 year old. And may explain why she had a huge grin on her face through all the dances!

As soon as her dances were over, she disappeared with her friends and her bag of money from Auntie Irene (see, she resisted the temptation to blow it all at Southend) and we didn't see her again until we had to hunt for her at the end!

Sam and I HAD to stay and watch the next performance though, because Imogen *giggle* from church was in it. And just look at these pictures of her - can you blame Sam for going all giggly when we even mention her name?!

Sam DEFINITELY has a crush on her - he has great taste! Dawn and Karen watched on, but I think they really wanted to get in the arena with their kids.After watching all those performances, Sam was ready to go and bounce off his energy!

At christmas mum won a meal for 2 at a local pub on the tombola. And better still, she babysat so me and Liam could go.

She only managed it again! She won a lunch meal for 2 people up to the value of £40 at the Blue Strawberry in Hatfield Peverell! And apparently its really posh there! Its a shame mum is leaving on Monday so won't be able to go with me. Can't wait to do that one! Thanks Mum - keep it up!

One Request

My Mum just had one request while she was here - a trip to Southend! My kids love going to Southend and they rave about it to her so we picked up Megan and Sam from school on Friday, and sped straight to the beach.

We had to make it VERY clear to the kids that we weren't doing Adventureland - that is the main reason they love Southend - but its just too much to pay £22 each for a wristband!

Luckily for us, the park closed quite early, so all discussions ended!

Instead, we headed for the sandy play area (Southend being mostly pebbly) - we're all amused there! Me and Mum looking for life in the sea with the kids nets, Megan building a sand boat, and Sam and Leah playing on the climbing frame.

It actually started to rain when we left Danbury, but we figured it would be nice just a have quick blow on the beach and maybe some chips. We didn't bring the kids a swimming costume or anything - no one would be that crazy...but Megan was feeling torn! She had 3/4 length jeans on that just didn't let her paddle enough!

So it wasn't long before they came off!

Still modest, with a top covering her bum, she was frustrated that I hadn't brought her cossie!

And it wasn't long before she was down to her pants! Even without Liam here, she couldn't resist a quick dip - and it has to involve swimming so her shoulders are covered. Its in the rules!

The down side is having to get changed behind a towel when you're slightly damp - you always need a hand with that...or a few sets of hands in possible!

Auntie Irene had sent the kids a big bag of coins, mostly coppers, so we let them go and have a flutter in the Southend arcades - controversial! Of course I realise that they are dens of iniquity, but our little cherubs were in safe hands - mum and nanny! *cough*

So this picture is (of course) of Nanny forbidding Leah from playing the fruit machines, not lifting her onto the seat, then passing her the coins and then teaching her what buttons to press!
And this is Nanny blocking Leah from the change machine, not getting more!
Its too late for Megan - she's on the slippery slope! She looks a bit too comfortable there - tut tut!
You've been sprung, you bad Nanny!
Friday is treat day, so we saved the treat for the way back to car - Megan and Leah picked a 99 and Sam went for a toffee apple. Me and mum took a risk that the Rossi's shop would be open near the car - it was worth it - I LOVE Rossi's ice cream, especially when they dish it up with a flat spatula rather than out of a machine! Seems to make it taste so much nicer!

Feeling Better

Looks like Leah's feeling better!

This is her first meal for two days so it seems like she'll be better for her party on Saturday.

If if you're wondering why she has a plaster on her head, its covering a 3 day old cut. She banged her head on the worksurface in the kitchen 3 days ago. Mum couldn't find any plasters (I was out - mum was the responsible adult, tut tut!) and actually, it didn't need one. I don't like plasters which is why she couldn't find any - I'd rather the air got to it and dried it up.

Today we visited Auntie Lorraine for a birthday party planning meeting. She took Leah off to the kitchen to get her a drink, and Leah came back with a massive plaster on her little forehead, even though the cut is almost healed up! I think my kids could persuade Lorraine to do anything. She didn't get a plaster from Nanny, she didn't get a plaster from me, but she knew Lorraine was a sure bet!

Let's see if Lorraine is still the golden girl tomorrow when I have to rip it off!

Look Who's Arrived!

At last, Nanny's come to visit and we're all thrilled. Leah's really getting the most benefit from having her here 'cause the other two are at school all day. She's hardly left her side! In fact, she's so keen to spend time with Nanny that she's caught a stomach bug and been sick and had a high temperature, so she can't go to preschool!

In a moment of boosted energy, she managed to go in the garden and have a little play...and then flopped back on the setee (Leah, not Nanny!).

Despite all these symptoms, Leah hadn't been sick since first thing in the morning on Thursday, and I REALLY didn't want to miss our date with Delores! We had arranged to go to Moza, the All-you-can-eat Indian in Basildon. Its one of our favourite places to eat, but mum's never been to an A-Y-C-E Indian before and I knew she would love it.

But then with Leah feeling ill and all that, surely the last place you would take her would be to an Indian, wouldn't it??? You'd be more sensible than that wouldn't you! It seems that the Grandma's aren't 'cause here's the evidence of their irresponsiblity:

Okay, it wasn't their decision to still go, it was mine! I persuaded myself that Leah had perked up enough to take her, even if she didn't want to eat much...so she just had 4 chips...then threw up all over the floor in the middle of the restaurant!

Kids, eh! Irresponsible mums, eh! Delicious indian, eh!

Awwwwww!

It's Tuesday and I'm supposed to be tidying up ready for my mum's arrival - she's staying for almost a week.

But how am I supposed to concentrate when this is going on outside?? Every time I walked past the window, I'd see our baby blue tits peeping out of their box. Of course I had to take 500 or so photos of them rather than hoovering!

This little one would keep peeping out, waiting for his mum to come back with goodies (well, "goodies" if you're into bugs and caterpillars!). He wasn't scared of me at all. I had to use my zoom lens (thanks Uncle Mike) but even so, I was really close!

I'm sure my mum will understand - I know she a fan of Spring Watch!

AAAAAAAaaaaarrrrrrrrgggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh - I'm turning into Bill Oddy!