Happy birthday James.

Last Tuesday, my lovely little boy turned 7, no longer little. Thankfully he still like cuddles and snuggles up against you on the sofa, enjoys sitting on my knee at any opportunity and insists that I help him with his lego.

He is no angel, but he can be helpful, funny and charming. He is clever and friendly and a fantastic big brother. We are so luck he is in our family as he brightens it up everyday.

His birthday party was at home and minecraft themed, cake, balloons, games and lots of friends and food.

Oh dear, sweeties gone.

Sneaky Izzy. Popped her in bed, I went downstairs. I heard her get out of bed and go into our room, the back to her own room. Then her hear her do it again. Few minutes later,  she came downstairs. So I popped her back. While hunting for her menagerie of teddies, I put my hand under her pillow only to feel something lump on the inside of the case. When checking it was full of Smarties. She had been sneaking into our room, where there was a tube from Christmas still hanging around and collecting them. Anyway, I let her eat them, snuggled her back in and when back downstairs, with the smarties . Minutes later, I hear the patter of feet going to our room and a sad voice saying"Oh dear, sweeties gone." Then off she goes to sleep.

Christmas 2018

Penny was up at 3.45am luckily there was a slight nod to the fact Santa had been (she didn't bring her stocking in) then snuggle sleepily in between us. Which meant I go no sleep for the rest of the night.

James pops up with an excited "Santa been". Bit dismayed at us shushing him as Penny was still asleep. 10mins later they are both ripping paper off. Katie popped in to join us (quite a bed full).

They woke Izzy at 7 to open hers. She has yet to understand the Father Christmas leaves presents but she certainly know who Father Christmas is. 

Then flying downstairs to a mass of presents. 

James - Nexo lego, Minecraft toys and books and a tablet.

Penny - large Barbie house, mermaid and fancy dress.

Izzy - Ice cream cart, Peppa pig and robots.

Mummy - coffee machine, handbag and gin.

Daddy - London trip, blanket and books

Katie - dress, and tools

Rod - truffle food and tools

Katie and Rod went home and we headed for Christmas dinner at the Red Lion. It was yummy. Poor Grandad didn't get a look in at his cheese board though.

Afternoon more presents and games. 

A busy day but very enjoyable. 

Boxing day we headed to John dads. For tea and more gifts. Then John mums on the 28th. FoLlowes by a party on New Years day with Hol and Vic and families. Lastly Col and Marley. 

Now the decorations are away and the last of the food is being munched. Today the kids and me went back to school. It is all over too quickly. 

Christmas past

When I was little one of the best bits of Christmas was seeing the huge (there was three of us) pile of presents that Father Christmas had left us. We also had a huge stocking or in our case pillow case which had PJs, slippers, books and our new Christmas day clothes in.
Morning was normally an early start with my more excitable sister waking us up with a cry of "Santa been" Sometimes I would wake up briefly in the night and feel the weight of the stocking on my toes then snuggle back to sleep knowing he had been.  One year much to my sisters horror I slept until 9.00 and she had to wait down stairs with the gifts not allowed to open them untill I emerged.
Around 4ish Col wold wake, yellow, go to Mum and Dads room only to be sent back to bed. Half an hour later she would try again with the same results by 5.30 Mum and dad would have given up on trying to sleep and say that she can open her stocking. At this point Katie and I would get up (no heating in our house so never go out of bed too soon) and we would all go into their bed and squish in. Pillowcases would soon be unwrapped. Dad would let mum out one of his gifts. Mum would then get up and lit the fire and put the oven on. We would probably be sent back to bed for a bit.
Downstairs we would have to wait for everyone to go in together Mum and dad already in the room. As a grown up I not understand that this was too see our faces when we saw all the presents. They were always bundled high and all three would be m8xed up together so you had to find yours.
We would all out them different. Col would rip the paper off, cast aside the gift and go straight to the next. I would take my time and look at each thinges. I always be the last one to finish. The advantage of this being that the other would look on enviously however, if there was a gift where the others got the same Col would past me the presents and say what was inside until Mum yelled at her to stop.
At lunch family would visit (as we got older we took in turns visiting) and Mum would feed us the proper Christmas dinner. Then it was more presents, this time family once. As I got older this became my favourite part. It was nice seeing people unwrap gift from you. From quite young we alway brought mum and dad a present. One year we was allowed to buy Dads on our own in Woollies. 
Then tea would be cold meat and salad the best bit being the seafood platter. After that board games until late.

Christmas it nearly here

The kids are now off school and a mixture of chaos and illness has entered the house. Poor Penny missed her school pantof and play due to tummy bug and her dreadful cough. Izzy now has it and my clothes has a constant slimy trail along them.
The kids are bouncing off the walls, but luckily they are eager to help around the house. They all like dusting, hoovering and baking.

We have an activity advent calender, everyday a different Christmas craft or activity, though if I'm feeling a little lazy I do pop a sweet in. So far we have vi sited reindeer, Father Christmas,  made a Christmas cake and decorated it, made gingerbread men, did a treasure hunt, saw the light switch on, grew crystal Christmas tree, made fudge, made and painted tree decorations and door hangers. Still a few things to go. Including making reindeer food, hot chocolate gifts and the all important gingerbread house.

They say thing come in threes. Well our heating has gone just when the snow hit, the washing machine packed up, then we has problems with Currys replacing the new one which arrived damaged. The car is also playing up and I never know if it will start or if it will have heating. Brrrrr

Deciphering

Sometimes my children seem to speak a different language and it some working out what they are on about.

PENNY
Was asking Penny about her day and she said she had been "singing to the Grandmas. Grandma there, Grandma there (pointing) Grandma there, in the nut place" etc. Couldn't work it out. Turns out she had visited Chestnut Street care home and sang.

JAMES
It is minecraft jargon, @ps, command blocks, super speed potions etc

IZZY
Random gippering with the odd word thrown in. Even harder when she is upset and crying to work it out.

Proud of Penny

Penny got star of the week last week. I know that by the end of the year every child will get it for something, but is it is absolutely fab that she has got it. She received for reading and phonics. It is amazing how quickly she has progressed since September. She is now spelling and reading basic words. One of her favourite games at the moment is to play teacher, so she must be enjoying school.

In other news James has his first wobbly tooth. With the amount of apples he is eating at the moment it will soon be out.

Cbeebies Panto Fun.

We are not in a Christmassy mood, thanks to a trip to see Cbeebies Panto. I was lucky enough to get tickets from the lottery draw. 376,000 people applied for tickets. So we were thrilled to get to see it last Saturday.

It was an early start as we gphad to travel to Leicester. We also had to wear our party dress and Christmas jumpers. Only mishap was we forgot the kids coat and had to buy Penny.a new one. We thought we were looking at a morning of queuing, but thankful they were well organised and we waited only 40mins before we were issused with ticket and seat numbers. After that we wandered around the Snow Queen themed activites that Cbeebies had put on. 

There were people dressed up in strange and odd costumes. Penny was a little shy to begin with, it was all a little too different for her. We did a treasure hunt and collected letters to win a prize of a swashbuckler set. A quick stop of popcorn, lunch and a coffee for me and Col, then we made crowns and headed outside. Outside was a snow storm, which my lot loved. We all had a go at ice skating for the first time. Starting very carefully using the penguins to balance. Marley quickly skating off, having no fear of tumbling down. James and Penny also ditched the penguin to have a go on their own. It was loved by all of them. They had a go in the circus hut, juggling, hoops, spinning plates and diablos.

Then it was back to the theatre for the show. It was great. We saw lots of our favourite characters, including Mr. Tumble and silly Cook and Lime. We were taught a song and the actions and joined in during the preformance. The kids loved it. We are all hoping to spot ourselves on telly when it is shown at Christmas. 

Afterwards we braved going to a Vietnamese restaurant. The kids got to eat with chopstic,s with Penny thought was great. She has taken some to show her teacher. 

It was a great day. All of the children behaved fantastically. We are really proud of them. 

October Half Term

So much for a quiet week, chilling out.
We have been to Wheelgate park for a Halloween treat, rides and play. Followed by bowling with Grandma Janet. James won. We have made halloween pumpkins. Visited Holly and Beth for a play. Been to Whisby nature walk and picnic with Marley and Col. Penny has been horse riding and James has been experimenting.
Busy busy.

Gluten Free, lactose Free, Chocolate brownies.

As chocolate brownies go these are one of the best recipies I've tried, normal and gluten free. These are my go to treat for Penny and I often pop one in my handbag for her if we are out and I think there won't be a sweet option for her.



100g Chocolate. I just a dark lactose free one.
2 eggs
100g caster sugar
50g Gluten Free Self Rasing Flour.

Melt 75g of the chocolate and leave to cool.
Whisk the eggs and sugar until it has double in volume and pale looking.
Fold the cooled chocolate into egg/sugar mix.
Sieve in flour and choco powder and fold in.
Put into a lined and greased tin.
Bake 180 for 20mins.

WOW. We got tickets for the Cbeebies Panto.

2 days ago I got an Email stating that we hadn't been unsuccessful in getting tickets of the Cbeeies panto production. Not really suprising as masses of families apply. This year was the first time we have entered the draw for ourselves, normally we enter on behalf of my sister and have no luck.
However, last night I get another Email saying we have won 5 tickets, yay go us.
The panto is at Leicester and is the Snow Queen, right up Penny's street. The only sticking point is what to do about Izzy. The show states that it is recommended for over 4s, due to mild peril. Also, it is a long day of hanging about. You have to queue to get a wristband because you are no guaranteed a seat in the theatre. Then you have to queue to get a seat as you are not issued with a seat number. No sure it will be a fun filled day for Iz.
So excited.

4 reason why I hate toy advent calenders.

I love, love LOVE the run up to Christmas. The lights, the sparkle, the gorgeous smells and being able to wear boots.

One thing I absolutely hate is the toy advent calender. The chocolates are bad enough. Last year we left it too late to get a dairy free advent calender for Penny (not made that mistake this year, one is already tucked away) so we improvised, using a paper picture one and giving her some Haibo every morning. Was this good enough, no, no and no. We had tears and tantrums until one morning I hid it until she sorted herself out. James on the other day lived and breathed for that tiny, chocolately goodie. Every morning instead of bursting in our room with kisses and a cuddle it was 'can I have my advent calender'. Grrrr

Which bring me to toy advent calenders and why I hate them.

1. It is just greed, greed, greed. I'm sure the same thing was said about chocolate one when they first cames out, but compare £1 chocolate to £20. It a huge different especially with three little darlings to buy for.

2. The toys are crap. The lego ones consists of a few brick that you have to guess ehat they vaguely look like. You know you will be sweeping them up with the wrapping paper come boxing day.

3. Once again, greed. My lot get enough stuff at Christmas. Yes, they get presents from Santa, Grannies, cousins and next door (they are super lucky). They also get parties, Santa trips, panto trips, Christmas days out.

4. They are everywhere, at some point my kids will twig (especially now James can read) what they are and ask for one. I will put my foot down.

I have also mentioned that the family advent calender won't happen this year as it is too much for three children. This is a fabric one, most of the time it contains things like, make gingerbread men or house, make reindeer food, make cards, decorate the tree, party games, visit to Santa. Stuff we do anyway, sometimes there maybe a lolly in there or a chocolate. We alternate it sometimes with the children. It worked last year but though it would be too much this year with three of them. James was disappointed and saud the best thing was making the gingerbread house. So looks like we are doing that again.
Beaver are doing a reverse advent calender, ever session we take a some food and near Christmas it gets given the food bank. I like this idea, except I keep forgetting yo take stuff in.

Gluten free, dairy free Apple blackberry crumble.

Penny tummy seems to be playing up. So we have tigthened up the gluten free diet to compensate for the few times she does have gluten at school. She is also lactose intolerant.
As James had picked a bag of apples at Stick Grandmas house, I spend time this afternoon making an apple and blackberry crumble.

I never have much success in crumbles where the crumble cooks on top of the fruit, so in my recipe you cook the crumble on a baking tray, it goes more biscuity than crumble.

Apple and blackberry crumble.

Crumble

120g gluten free plain flour
120g dairy free butter
60g brown sugar
60g caster sugar

Crumble the flour and butter until it looks like breadcrumbs (this can be tricky as I used dairy free marg and it was very soft, so some of it went into doughy lumps. Don't worry it will be fine). Mix in the sugars. Place on a baking tray and bake for 10mins at 180. Take out and break down the bigger lumps with a fork. Bake for a further 5mins or until brown.

Cup apples into slices, place in the pan with 5tbsp water, 1tsp cinnamon, 1/2 tsp ginger and 1/2tsp nutmeg and 2tbsp lemon juice.
Cook gently until soft, add blackberrys.
Drain the liquid, place the fruit in a dish and add about 3tbsp of the liquid.
Put the crumble onto.
Place in the over for 20mins or until liquid is bubbling.
Serve.

I would freeze the crumble made up. You can freeze the cooked fruit. The crumble topping will keep for about a week in an air tight container.

PS the picture is only a small dish, only a few of us like it so I tend to make a small one for us and Stick Grandma, then make one up later in the week.

Our little girl is 2.

Happy birthday to our youngest, Izzy.

You are such a sweetie. Easy going, happy, contented little thing.
You coming running to me, when I've finished work with the biggest hug, smile and kiss.
If I go out of the door to a different room for 5mins, when I come back you great me like you have seen me in ages.
You play happily on your own and with your big brother and sister.
When we pick James and Penny up to school you run to them, like a slow mo love scene in a film, eending in a gigantic hug and kiss, especially from James.
You are into everything, drawers, climbing.
You copy Penny like a hero worshipper, you are very luck that most of the time Penny will play with you and is happy to drag you around with her.
I love listening to you and Penny talk in the mornings, even though you have limited speech, Penny seems to know exactly what you are saying and responds back, both chatting away.
You are starting to comft people when they are sad. You pass Dolly to Penny when she is upset and stroke people gently.
You can count up to 10 impressing everyone around you and say please and thank you.
You find new things fascinating, whether it is a spider, fly, leave, stone, broken car wheel or the bin. You say a soft "wow" and investigate.
You are my darling and I love you more than ever, I'm looking forward to watching you explore the world around you, growing and learning and finding your way.

Happy birthday.

Parents Evening (between the lines)

Parents evening tonight, all was good, no problem. Here are a few things that was said and I have read between the lines.

Penny

Takes her role as one of the older one very seriously and help run the class. (Bossy).

Has recently widened her friendship group. (Fallen out with her firend and has had to rethink who she plays with).

Her confidence had increased. (She has got louder).

James

Is eager to finish his work. (Rushes and can make mistakes).

Increase in confidence. (Louder).

Likes to share his ideas and always thinks he is right. (Thinks he is always right whatever anyone else says, even when proof is in front of him).

Thankfully these are only minor things and both children are doing well, settled in nicely and are happy. James is enjoying lessons and sharing his ideas and show enthusiasm. He reading is coming along nicely. Penny is bubbly, confident, she listens well and responds appropriately.  She is doing well with her phonics and numbers. 

Both John and I are very please and proud of both of them. They are doing brilliantly.

Wrinkly fingers

Izzy has just had her bath. Getting out she was very insisted that her toes hurt.
Had a look couldn't see anything. Then her Dinger (finger) hurts. Then the other finger. She kept looking at it saying it hurts and ow.
Finally I figured it out, she was distressed at the fact her fingers had gone winkly from the bath. She had just gone down to Daddy to show him her fingers.

Cornwall. A grown ups holiday.

Last week, I was able to escape for a few days away to Cornwall with Mum, Katie and Rod. Despite feeling incredibly guilty at leaving the kids, we had a really good few days away. Bit of worrying start as my car was playing up so we had to have a swap about. Mum and I drove to Katie Wednesday evening to break up the journey. We arrived by Thursday afternoon and  headed straight to the Eden Project to make the most of their free returns ticket. After a wonder round we headed to find the pub we were stopping at. It was tucked away in a quiet village down some pretty hairy one track roads. The apartment was lovely.
Rod had pre-booked a meal at Rick Stein seafood restaurant. The meal was lovely, super expensive, but so nice. It was somewhere I would never have gone to and absolute extravagant treat. Mum and I shared a huge seafood platter with razor clams, oysters, mussels, a whole lobster and crab, scallops and all sorts of yummy seafood.
The next day we visited the Lost Gardens of Heligan. I enjoyed here more than The Eden Project. The vegetable gardens were stunning and the talk with the garden was really interesting. We also visited Mevagissey on a search for rock for the kids. We had a look at the sea and a trip to the pub. That evening we eat at the Kings Arms where we were staying. I enjoyed the pie and mash there as much as the Rick Stein meal, it was lush.
A lazy morning, the next morning followed by more Eden project and that evening a Beer festival. I stuck to cider, mango begining one of the nicest. As we couldn't get a taxi back to the pub we decided to brave the rain, dark and incredibly narrow road and walk back. We ventured of track down a brideway, squeching through mud, puddles and goodness knows what else. Thankfully, the landlady of the pub happened to drive past and offered us a lift.
Another lazy morning, mainly due hangovers, followed by packing up ready to go home. We had a bit of lunch at a pub near Bath and headed home. Had a really nice time.

DIY painting nightmare. (Don't buy Homebase Home of colour paint)

Our house is painted Almond white throughout, it has been since we moved in 5 years age. However, in each room there is a child height dark smears, sticky hand prints and marks where battering toys on the wall is a fun activity. Time for a freshen up and a change of colour.
As I'm pretty ropey at DIY I thought I would start in the bathroom, which contains a green bath suit, so it need all the help it can get. I decided not to venture to far from the Almond white so headed to grey. I thought I could bling it up with a glitter mirror and yellow accessories. I picked Homebases, home of colour paint in Dove grey, thinking it was a bit cheaper, how different could paint be?
From there it starts to go down hill.
The colour instead of a slight grey is quite dark making the small room look even smaller. The paint is absolutely crap, crapity, crap crap. When it is painted on instead of staying on the walls it moves around and comes off. I started sing a brush because there are lots of nooks and cranies but changed to a roller. The rollor was a slight improvment but I ended up with more on me than the walls. Changed to a paint pad which is better but the paint just seems to not want to stick or dry. The edges and corners which I did with a brush are completely a different shade compared to the rest of the walls. Considering I'm going over Almond white paint I thought it woukd only take 2 coats, I'm currently on my third and I can still see white peeking through. It is driving me up the walls.

Lesson learnt, don't buy cheap paint. Especially, Homebase, Home of colour.

Idiot child.

I think the youngest maybe a bit of a special Ed. She is currently going through phase of shoving stuff up her nose. Today it was sweetcorn, it had me in a panic before John  managed to get her to blow it out. Despite being told no she is still going at it.
They other two didn't do this. I'm having to check her nose most days as I think she has stuffed something up there. Peas and sweetcorn are also off the menu for a while until she stops.

Izzy

Today Iz and I visited Dad. He has just had a hip op and can't get out. So we went to entertain, though Iz entertained more than me. She charmed him with her "pleases" and impressed him with her count up to 6. She isn't overly chatty with other people but today she was top form.
However, she did let it slip in Pizza Hut by crying and running round, however a balloon soon sorted it out. She hasn't let go of the balloon until bedtime.