Peace at last

I feel like the bear in the story. Been looking everywhere for a bit of bloody peace and quiet but, with hubby being out on a course in London, it was no-where to be found. Until now.
He's back and I'm upstairs in my bedroom under the duvet while my bath runs (one thing I love about this cold weather is that our heating (and therefore hot water) is on permanent so I never find that there isn't QUITE enough hot water to have nice hot bath (and I don't like them any other way)). Not sure on the rules of using double parentheses…. oh well.

Its not been a bad day to be honest. I was moaning on Facebook this morning about the fact that Ben (that's hubby's name - may as well out him too as my identity has been mostly outed) was out all day on a class thing for his MBA. I hate being left with the kids all day. Its not that I don't want to spend time with them. And its not that I don't want to spend time on my own with them. I'm happy with both scenarios but I don't like it when a) I don't have any choice in the matter, b) its for a whole day, c) it means I don't get a lie in. So I was having a grump on there about it. Just saying I'd been "dumped" for the day. I didn't say much else. And lots of people piped up telling me to not look at it as a bad thing, to enjoy the day with my kids. You know when you know they are right but you just want to punch them in the face??? Even when you love them dearly… lol. Anyway, once I'd got over some of my grumpiness, I got myself and the kids ready and headed out with the sledges. I dragged them while they sat on the sledges, over to the football field near our house, and then we did sledding down the hill. When they seemed to get bored of that we built a little snowman and they threw snowballs at each other (and me) for a bit. After a while they both looked very cold. Lala's hat had fallen off in the house before we left and I hadn't noticed so she wasn't wearing a hat (it was because we kept being almost ready and then I'd remember something else I needed…) and their gloved hands were covered in snow and cold. So I dragged them in the sledges back to the house to have hot chocolate and stripped off their wet trousers putting dry stuff on them. Had a little hot chocolate for myself too. Was yummy.

We also played spaceships (me, Joshua and Lala each have a spaceship - star wars lego kind - except Lala's was just a few blocks thrown together by josh quickly as I told him Lala had to play too (she wanted the space ship I had). We all chased each other round the living room going "pow pow" and "pew pew" (the noises that spaceship guns make). We chased the dog around with tinsel (Lala wanted her to wear it but Tia wasn't that keen). We had a very short sleepover when I decided to take Lala up for a nap and Josh decided he wanted to come too…. Which ended with neither of them going to sleep. They had monster munch and biscuits and lollies, shepherd pie for lunch, nuggets and chips for dinner, popcorn…. More biscuits….. Lala has done 3 (or maybe 4) poo-ey nappies. I've also played with Lala's dollies with her, tried to get her to pick up her lego pieces that she threw all over the floor (a whole box worth), had a quick nap with Lala in her room (on her insistence) after changing her nappy. I think that pretty much wraps up the day's activity. Other than being climbed on, pulled at, prodded, jumped on, shouted at. Just a normal day at home with kiddies.

Which is why I was very relieved when Mr Hubster arrived home. After a day like today there is nothing better than just retreating into a quiet room. She says listening to the dog barking repetitively in the kitchen below. Sigh. Hubby can deal with it once he's put Lala to bed, which he's doing right now.

I think me and JJ have nits. In fact I know Josh has them as I saw one on him yesterday. We need to treat us all tomorrow I think, but this will probably involve a trip to the shops to get some more Hedex or whatever its called as I don't think we have enough (I have a lot of hair).

So peace and quiet, even with a husband in the house to look after the kids, is not really attainable. The dog is barking its head off, Joshua is screaming cos he doesn't want to go for a wee - he says he wants to take all the toilets out of here and send them away. I might put some earplugs in…..

So….. my non-alcohol January has gone out of the window. It started last saturday with a glass of wine that Ben and I both felt we deserved. I was only able to drink about a cm of that glass and poured the rest back in the bottle. Then I had a glass on Thursday night. Friday night (last night) I had a small brandy. Today I'm on my 2nd Glass of wine. Poured the first while I was cooking the kids dinner. Took me about an hour to drink it. And the one I have now is to keep me company in the bath :). I've also not done brilliantly on the healthy eating this week. Thursday I had some M&M's and a caramel biscuit thing. Last night I had a chocolate digestive and some torte thing that Ben bought. My resolve seems to slowly be diminishing day by day. Today I have snacked pretty much all day. I didn't really have a proper lunch but I had two bowls of muesli and some rye bread in the morning and I nibbled on some of the kids dinner. Finished their chips with some hot sauce. Had some popcorn. Just feel like I've been grazing. Must get back to healthy eating next week. And try to stay off the calorific nibbles - even if they are "healthy". I'm currently addicted to these seedy crisp breads. They come in a little cellophane bag and they are by a Doctor somebody. Will try to find them online to show you a picture. There is one that is pumpkin seeds and Emmental. They are just GORGEOUS. But they are £2 something a bag (of 6 I think) and they are very moreish.

Wow. That was a nice bath. Very hot. Didn't bother washing my hair or shaving my legs or anything. Just was enough to soak up the hot water. However, now feeling a bit worse than I was before. Cold-wise.

Is later again. Am fully stuffed with naga chicken curry. Watching Silent Witness. So gonna sign off now. Nightie night. Here are some more pics:

Weekend antics

What a knackering weekend. But a great one!

Saturday lunchtime I went for my personal trainer session.

Today started with Rugby Tots at 8.40am. I REALLY could have done with a latte afterwards, but I managed to resist and came straight home to chill with Lala (while Ben was doing Joshua's rugby class).

After lunch we took the kids on a long walk (longer than intended really). I didn't realise quite how muddy it was going to be. And also I only wore a jumper - no coat as I thought we would be walking a bit faster. However, when Lala demanded to be carried (15 kilo 2 year old) I was quite glad of having no coat. My trainers which were relatively new (not much used anyway since I got them) got soaked through and my feet were wet inside them. Lala fell over in the mud and got covered in it. The dogs jumped in the pond and are now locked up in their room until they are dry. At the end of the walk we stopped at the kiddy park near our house (this was how we got our kids out on a walk - they are rather lazy buggers - probably get that off me if I'm honest - we promised them playing in the park at the end of the walk). They had a good go on the slide and swings. I took a tonne of photos and then we went home for hot chocolate and, for me and Lala, a change of trousers.

I have to say, after a long cold muddy walk, a hot chocolate in a nice warm house is absolute bliss! I think that's the thing about exercise and working hard. Nice stuff when you don't feel you deserve it, isn't so nice. Or it is but then there's the guilt. Talking of guilt, I gave in on my no alcohol thing last night. We both decided that we would have one glass of wine each on a saturday. No more than that. Just one glass. It was nice but I couldn't drink more than an inch of mine. Probably less than that! I poured the rest back in the bottle ready for next Saturday. It was nice though. I figure, no point drinking it for the sake of it. Plus I'm sure a little red wine occassionally is actually meant to be good for you.

I'm now having a cup of tea in the kitchen while the kids watch a bit of TV in the sitting room. Hubby is studying for 45 minutes and then I'm going to have a nice hot bath. I so need it. My legs and bum are killing me. My arms are a bit sore too.

Now its later. Have had my bath. Was GORGEOUS. Just what I needed. Then hubby went to use the bath water and when he came down it was bedtime and we got them ready for bed together. I read them a couple of stories. I always feel a bit like reading a story is the LAST thing I want to do. Its taken Joshua about 30 minutes to go to the toilet and brush his teeth and we've had to change Lala's nappy while she ran around the bedroom refusing to stand still. However, when I do read them a story, I really find myself getting into it. Particularly if its a book I had as a child. Tonight we read this one:

The writer shares my mum's name. Probably shouldn't say that but my anonymity is shot now anyway! lol. My mum used to read this one to me and my sister when we were children. I love it.

Some pics of the weekend:

Deciding on the best place to put her Rugby Tots sticker

Posing in the woods

Out romping with the doggies

Being a bit distracted by the puddles

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!

Synchronised swinging

Detox Day 7 - General Ramblings

14:34 - Its getting a bit boring recounting what I eat everyday so I'm just going to summarize. Its pretty much the same as what I've been having the last few days. Had muesli when I got into work (15 minutes late - back to the flipping grind stone where traffic is concerned), some nuts to snack on, for lunch: salad - lettuce, cucumber, tomatos, spring onions, red onion, walnuts with chilli olive oil and balsamic vinegar to dress. Then some of my homemade oat cakes which I've just scoffed. I wasn't in early enough to pick up some free fruit (they have it free in bowls in our offices but I don't like the apples they have and usually by about 9.20am that is all that is left - all the bananas and grapes have gone). And I'm trying not to spend any money so haven't BOUGHT any fruit. I do have some homemade houmous and veggie dippers (cucumber & celery) to snack on a bit later but will try to wait until 3.30pm.

Over the weekend we had no problem sticking to the diet, although I have to say I did rather miss a nice glass of wine on Friday and/or Saturday night. But I know I'm feeling better for not having it. Having mentioned that I felt all bright eyed and bushy tailed on a few mornings (normally I am like a bear with a sore head), this morning I was back to feeling tired again. Although I think that was because I struggled to get to sleep last night. Hubby was, erm, pestering me but I held my ground and eventually he went to sleep and I stayed awake and alert like a rabbit out needing to check for predators. Which is funny...

I'm loving the new laptop. I ALMOST brought it to work with me so that I could play with it at lunch... but thought better of it. Besides I need to wait until the case and cover arrive for it.

I'm DEFINITELY having an early night tonight. I'm actually going to set my alarm on my phone so that it goes off at 9pm. I'll go have a bath and then be in bed by 10pm.

20:35. That plan to have an early night went out of the window as the kids are still messing around. I've put them back to bed about 3000 times and its getting very annoying. It just wears you down. When you do get down from ANOTHER trip up the stairs to put them into bed, all you can do is flop on the sofa. I'm not even sure I have the energy to write this. I still have to do a load of laundry sorting and folding before I go to bed and if I want to go to bed early still that means I can't have a bath as I tend to spend about 45 mins in there. Plus 10 to run it. I can't even have a cup of tea cos we have no tea bags. My lovely hubby has gone out to do a shop. Hence why its me doing all the running up and down stairs. Left Lala (the main culprit of tonight) to cry it out as fed up of her messing around.

If I had any energy or brain function left I would probably have started this blog talking about the weekend and what we got up to. Saturday wasn't anything special, but Sunday the kids went back to rugby tots and then in the afternoon we took the dogs for a walk in Frensham Pond.

Today was the first proper day back at work for most people which meant that traffic was awful. I dropped Lala at her childminders first - the one that's had the baby recently. I had put Lala in a very special dress which was actually mine when I was her age - proper vintage. I figured it was her first time meeting the baby and it deserved a special dress. I have a gorgeous photo of her actually HOLDING the baby which actually made me cry seeing it. I'm so proud!!! I didn't get to meet baby until the evening when I came to pick Lala up and honest to god, I couldn't put her down. I wanted to run off with her!!! She's so cute and diddy. I also got a picture of me holding the baby and Lala next to me posing with a smile. I have asked permission to put them up here. If she says yes, I'll add them. - addendum - I created a whole blog post as I felt it was warranted! (and I got permission) - Here it is: Meeting Baby Tilly.

Some pictures from the weekend:

Rugby Tots

More at Rugby Tots

Give me your iPhone, Mummy (not a frigging chance Larlee)

Nutter dog Tia

Joshua enjoying the "beach"

Kisses from girl

Kisses from boy. I am so blessed!

Tea and bed methinks.

Meeting baby Tilly

Written on behalf of Lala on meeting her childminder's new baby

Today I met Baby Tilly. I was first very confused about what she was doing in my spare living room.

I observed her from a safe distance for a bit.

I did a bit of colouring for a bit while I pondered what the point of Baby Tilly was.

I also watched the Never Ending Story....

In the end I decided that I rather liked Tilly and that its really rather okay if she stays.

Mummy, Tilly & me:

3rd birthday party

My god its hot in this office. Had a brilliant day today in the end. But guess I should start with last night.

Went out to dinner with a friend last night and 3 of her friends, 2 of whom I'd never met before but who are both very nice. The other friend I met at a previous dinner out with this friend who I've known since I was at 6th Form College. Anyway, lets say my friend is called L and the friend of hers that I met previously is M. L is an absolutely lovely caring person. She invited me to a party to celebrate her graduation I think it was and at that party/dinner, I hit it off with M. She is bubbly and funny and has two small kids like me. I don't get to see her very often nowadays as I'm working full time (nor do I get to see L much either) but I'm so glad I made the effort to go as it was a right giggle. L picked me up and dropped me back so I was able to have a few glasses of wine and let my hair down.

I got back around 10.45pm and pretty much went straight to bed. Hubby was watching something that I wasn't really interested in and I was quite knackered to be honest. Hubs came up just before 12 and we went to sleep. Joshua crawled into bed with us at some point in the morning and I was too tired (and maybe drunk to care - and who doesn't like snuggles) and then at 7.30am Lala came and found us. Hubby got up at that point and put the telly on for her and gave her the iPad and she played quite happily for half an hour or so. Then Josh woke up and hubby got up with them and gave them brekky.

I had such a lovely lie in. Often if I've had too much to drink I can't sleep but maybe it was that I had a nice cup of tea before bed or that when Josh got into bed with us I went to find my water bottle (which always seems to end up in the kids room). But I slept really well and didn't feel too bad when I was woken up later. My sister was due to come over to drop off some handmade chocolates she had made for me to give to my childminders. I thought it would be a nice touch - them being hand made - even if not by me. So I was called to get up cos my sister was there. After she left I decided to ring my mum. I'd had a bit of a text row with her last night and I won't go into the wheres and whys because really its all down to misunderstanding. I love my mum and I didn't want to hurt her so I rang and made up with her. Later on I got the kids to record a video for her to thank her for the bunk beds that they bought her. Here is the video. I've spent ages messing around with my YouTube account trying to sort this out!!! Grrrrr

So this morning, got up, saw my sister (still in my jimjams as literally had to jump out of bed to see her). Gave her money for my chocs. Said goodbye. Rang my mum, made up. Then chilled with the kids for a bit. We ended up watching StarWars. And my son, who HATES watching anything other than cBeebies or Nick Junior, and thinks that the Gruffalo is scary, eventually started enjoying it. Well, I say eventually. It was only after about 5 or 10 minutes but 5 or 10 mins of a 4 year old screeching at you to TURN IT OFF can seem a lot longer.

Had a really nice lazy sunday morning. Lala went for a sleep but didn't ACTUALLY go to sleep. Then it was time to get ready for the 3rd birthday party we had been invited to. We were going to leave Lala at home because she has not been 100% and I thought it might be too much for her but I'm SOOOOO glad I took her. We got there and they had a lady up the top of the house - in the converted loft. Massive beautiful house in the expensive area - bankers or something (making horrible judgements about seemingly very nice people - well, we all do it don't we!?). This entertainer was brilliant. She had them all jumping up and down and dancing and playing games. My son wasn't sure at first but Lala joined in right away. She LOVED it!

All ready to go - she even managed to keep her hair clips in for 15 minutes after arriving!

Getting all involved in the waving and clapping

Shhhhhhhh

Sleep time!

I'd like a woman like that entertainer woman to live in my house all day long and entertain the kids for me. Not that I am even there as I work full time. But wouldn't that be fun? Actually it would probably end up a bit tiring. Nothing like settling down in front of the TV after a busy day of jumping and clapping and dancing and running around.

Honestly it was so sweet.

Gonna sign off now as I think I need to make the most of the fact that its Sunday night and its going to be Monday tomorrow. Sigh. Another week. Another 5 days of commuting. Actually 4 as I'm working from home Friday as its my son's nativity thingy.

See you all later. xxxx