Top Ender Giggles - The olden days

Top Ender was going up to her room to play on her computer, whilst I was working and Daddy was going to take Baby Boy out on Daddy Son Date Night.

"Your very lucky Top Ender, I never had a computer when I was your age!" said Daddy
"Were you born in the olden days then?" asked Top Ender

I'm not crazy! I just have a really really really good imagination!

Top Ender and I have a lot of games that we play together, that tend to drive Daddy crazy. You see Top Ender and I have very active imaginations.

For years when I babysat children I created imaginary worlds and situations to play in. I once took a group of eight children, with my sister, on a walk to a park and we pretended that we were walking through a zoo. As we went along we looked at each enclosure and watched what the animals were doing. This group of children are now young adults and I am still in touch with most of them. Those that I am still in touch with have mentioned this walk to me, and how they could really see the animals in the enclosures.

Of course there were no enclosures or animals just my very active imagination which all young children naturally have.

The thing is my imagination never left me.

I have invisible pets that I tell stories to children about that cause the parents to look at me as if I am mad because I appear to really believe the things I am saying...But that's because I do really believe the things I am saying! I mean I have two invisible pets dogs (although Top Ender now has one too) a whole group of monkeys and I am thinking of getting a few sheep. I use to have an invisible hippo called Holly, but she ran away and I had an invisible Gorilla but I haven't seen him around for a while. I think he moved out. Or maybe he got married. Hope he didn't get married as it would of been rude of him not to invite me to the wedding.

Top Ender has her invisible husband and children to contend with. She has a rather large number of them (children that is, there is only one husband) and often has to tell her invisible husband to stop being so silly or she will divorce him again. She divorced him the last time because he jumped in a puddle and got mud all over her dress. Apparently she wouldn't of minded had they not been going to his Grandmothers wedding...

It's fun to pretend like this. I mean who wouldn't rather watch a group of monkeys play whilst waiting in a queue at the Post Office? Or who wouldn't want to take an invisible dog for a walk on the beach in the moonlight? Admittedly walking to school with an invisible gorilla does get you some funny looks from the others who can't see the invisible gorilla, but you win some you lose some.

One day I will write a book about the invisible things that I see and earn my fortune but it will have to be anonymous... I might get put in a nice soft walled cell otherwise!

Sleeping like a Baby

Last night I slept like a baby. Not that peaceful sleep that you see in adverts and hear about in Baby Books, but a proper Baby sleep. I know that it was a proper Baby Sleep because I am Baby Boy. This is what happened last night.

7pm Mummy started the bedtime routine for Top Ender and me. She got us washed and brushed my teeth whilst Top Ender did her own. Whilst Mummy put a nappy and a sleep suit on me, she let Top Ender get dressed into her pajamas on her own. When Top Ender came downstairs she was wearing her pajama top and her pink legwarmers, but no trousers or shorts! I thought it was funny as Top Ender kept wiggling her bottom and Mummy pretended to be annoyed, but I knew that she was just pretending!

7:30pm Mummy told Top Ender and me the story she calls Number 161 The Tale of Rose Red and Snow White whilst she gave me some Booby milk. I have heard the story so many times before but Top Ender and I like it. Top Ender pretends to be Snow White and I pretend to be the Bear/Prince.The only thing about this story is that we don't use the book anymore and so I can't see the pictures. Mummy thinks this is a good thing because there are some scary stories and pictures in the book. What does she expect from Men called Grimm?

7:45pm Top Ender goes to bed and Mummy puts a sleepy me in to my cot. Mummy goes out of my room and into Top Ender to tuck her in and give her a kiss. I go to sleep too, but have a few minutes of moaning because I am on my own.10pm Mummy comes up to bed. I know she does because I heard her shutting the stair gate at the Top of the Stairs. I call to her sleepily but she doesn't come into me. I know that she is probably sitting on her bed watching me on the Baby Monitor TV. I think it is funny that she watches me on TV and sometimes wave to the camera.

10:30pm I start crying and calling to Mummy to come and see me. When she comes in to me she doesn't talk she just picks me out of the cot and sits down in the rocking chair and cuddles me close. I start singing "Dah da da" because if Mummy isn't going to speak to me I shan't speak to her either! Mummy knows this tune means I want more milk so she settles back in the chair and starts to feed me again. Just as I am starting to get really comfy and doze off she takes her boob out of my mouth and puts me up on her shoulder as she puts her boob away. She pats my back and then puts me back into my cot. Our eyes have adjusted to the lack of light now and she smiles at me as she goes out of the room as she sees me waving to her.

12:35am Daddy pops his head in my room to check I am okay and to give me a kiss goodnight as he has just got home from work. I smile as he kisses me, but I stay fast asleep as Mummy will tell Daddy off if he wakes me up. I know that Daddy goes into Top Enders room too as the slight tinkle of the wind chimes on her door handle can be heard.

1am I have the same habit as Mummy and Top Ender as sometimes I talk in my sleep. Mummy says that when I get bigger she will know all my secrets. It is funny because if I start talking, even quietly, Mummy wakes up. She says that she is tuned into hear me in case I need her and she doesn't need the baby monitor... which is a good job seeing as it is turned off! The thing is Mummy says is once she is awake it takes her ages to go back to sleep.

1:30am I decide that I am too hot and so I kick my blankets off. I know Mummy knows I do this because when I kick my blankets off I always kick the bottom of the cot and it makes a big banging sound.

1:45am I decide that I am too cold and cry until Mummy comes in and puts the blankets back on me.

2am I decide that I should start singing the songs that Mummy is teaching me. Mummy is teaching me Christmas songs my favourite is Jingle Bells. I don't know all the words, but I like the bit that goes "Hey!" and so I start practising that one. I sing it for ages, so I can be sure that I have it right for when Mummy sings it to me tomorrow. I thought I could hear Mummy and Daddy giggling, but I am sure that it was just one of the cats.

4am I decide that I am lonely, even though I was asleep until two seconds ago. I use to call for Mummy by shouting "Mama, Bad Baba Mama!" but now I have decided the best way to get her attention is to scream and cry. Mummy comes into my room really quickly as she doesn't want Daddy and Top Ender to be woken up. I snuggle into her whilst she calms me down and hushes me back to quiet and sleep. When she puts me back into my cot I start crying again, so Mummy pats me on my bottom and strokes my head. I don't like this and I don't know why she does it every night, so I show I am annoyed and stand up in the cot and start to try and climb out whilst crying louder and louder. Mummy sighs and picks me up again and sits back in the rocking chair. I cuddle in to her and listen as she falls asleep whilst rocking. I cuddle in closer and fall asleep too.

6am I am never sure what happens after me and Mummy fall asleep in the rocking chair as the next thing I know I am in my cot and I want to get out of it again. I shout for Mummy who stumbles into my room, looking like a monster from a horror film I accidentally watched once. She is so silly and instead of going to sleep when she goes to bed at 10pm, she stays up reading her Scriptures or writing in her diary. I have heard her say to Daddy that she can't sleep without him in the bed. I don't know why she needs him in the bed. I could sleep in the bed with her! Mummy says that she needs a bit more sleep and says I can get in the bed with her and Daddy. I like this as whilst I am dozing I get away with poking Daddy. I poke him a few times before he turns over to look at me. I quickly pretend to be fast asleep and Daddy kisses me, before I snuggle into Mummy again.

7am I wake up and decide that Mummy should wake up too so I tickle her under her chin and giggle"Tickle tickle!" until she wakes up. Once she is awake she quickly gets out of bed and takes me downstairs. She says that Daddy needs more sleep, before he goes to work again.

11:30am I feel tired. Probably because I was up so much in the night so I think I should have a nap. It annoys Mummy because it is right over lunch time, but I don't care! I'm tired doesn't she know! Anyway I'll wake up after an hour and a half, unless Mummy decides to have a nap too; in which case I'll wake up as soon as her eyes close...

3:30pm We are taking Top Ender swimming and so I decide that I should probably go to sleep in the pram for a half hour, so that I don't get bored. I know that Mummy wishes she could fall asleep as quickly as me, but she will get her chance to sleep tonight!

I had better go as Mummy is just doing the dishes before she starts the bedtime routine tonight and I don't want her knowing I was here!

Wordless Wednesday - A Selection of Calorie Free Cakes!

Here are a selection of cakes that have been made over the years by me for various events! They are now all calorie free, so enjoy!


If you want to see more cakes that I have made then please have a look here at the ones that are on my Flickr account - http://budurl.com/rypd

Top Ender and Baby Boy Giggles - Thank you!

Top Ender and Baby Boy had been given a balloon by the lovely lady in the party shop last Wednesday, Top Ender took hers upstairs to her room when she went to bed.

On Thursday morning when Baby Boy was feeling a bit grumpy (from his rude awakening of Top Enders rather loud rendition of "Big Red Combine Harvester") she fetched the balloon for him to play with under Daddy's supervision on his (and Mine!) bed.

Baby Boy likes to hold on to the ribbon and bump the balloon on the ceiling before letting the ribbon go and then catching the ribbon and pulling the balloon back down. Unfortunately on one go Baby Boy wasn't quick enough and didn't catch the ribbon before it was beyond his reach. Top Ender fearing for her ear drums grabbed the ribbon and passed it back to him.

"Thank you" said Baby Boy incredibly clearly
"Thank you? Your the best baby in the world!" said an impressed Top Ender

Not sure who was most proud me and Daddy or Top Ender!

Top Ender Giggles - Class divide

"So tell me about School Top Ender" said Daddy
"What do you want to know?" asked Top Ender
"Anything!" said Daddy
"Well I sit on the triangle table, some sit on the circle table and some sit on the hooligan table."
"Top Ender do you mean hexagon?" said Daddy trying to stifle the giggles
"Yes Daddy" said an indignant Top Ender

Knowing the children in Top Enders class, I can't help but feel that I know who sits on the hooligan table.

What is Santa bringing this year?

So with back to school over and everyone back into the swing of things, it is time for me to start thinking about what Top Ender and Baby Boy would like for Christmas from the man who dresses in red and comes down the chimney.

Santa looks rather happy in this photo taken outside the TV studios last December doesn't he?

In our house Santa brings gifts that are left upstairs under the trees in our rooms and in the stockings left on our bedroom door handles. He brings things like colouring books, hairbands, one or two toys, a few sweets, new underwear, a new Christmas outfit and all the bargains that I scour everywhere throughout the year for he has his elves search for. I think he gets a good deal.

All the gifts from us and friends and family and other magical creatures (chocolate monster who brings chocolate and The Christmas fairy who brings gold packages tied up with rainbow ribbon, surely you have read The Rainbow Magic Fairy series?) are under the tree in the Living room.

Red gifts are Top Enders, Blue gifts are for Baby Boy - No tags or reading skills needed! And I know I said under the tree, but they kind of spread out down the room.

After a toy launch that we went to the other day however Top Ender is now asking Santa for Harumika from Bandai.

Looks good huh? Pink and purple packaging appeals to the child in me!

I must admit that I was a little dubious about it, as toys like this get put to one side until I am able to help Top Ender because I am worried about her cutting things (I cut my hair when I was her age, with blunt green witch scissors) and she likes me to make sure things look good before she glues them down. But we went along to see what it was all about.

I changed my mind as soon as I held the mannequin because, in my humble Mummy opinion, this is the fashion toy to get for the budding Vivienne Westwood or Stella McCartney, because no needles, thread, glue or scissors are required!

There is a slot rather like a letterbox on the back of the mannequin. This slot has a silicon flap that the fabric is pushed into (using the spatula that is in the pack) and it holds the fabric in place (Genius!) and then there are stickers, gemstones and belts that you can add on to further customise your design.

Joanne over at Parent Dish was there with her nine year old daughter (she was very polite by the way Joanne!) and this toy appealed to both of them and they were both listening intently to the instructions of how to make some celebrity styles on the mannequin.

Top Ender was in heaven and made this Miley Cyrus inspired outfit;

and this Cheryl Cole inspired mini dress;

and this which is her own design for a evening gown

So Santa if you are reading this, they are on sale in John Lewis and all good toy stores and the starter pack is only £19.99... unless of course you are the winner of our first ever competition!

That's right I have a set to give away! To be in with a chance of winning this fab prize, just answer a simple question, the answer to which can be found somewhere in this post!

And now for the important bit I shall put all entries into a big hat and Top Ender or Daddy shall draw out the winner on the 1st of October and we shall post the winners name here and email them too!

Oh and please leave a comment after this post, so that I know you have entered and if you don't already subscribe to my RSS feed or follow me then consider doing that too and whilst I am in the mood click here to vote for me!!!

Wordless Wednesday - Spot the Difference at the Happiest Place on Earth!

Top Ender Giggles - The idea is growing on me!

"I need to come up with an idea for my Halloween costume Top Ender" I said
"What about a witch?" said Top Ender
"Well, I am trying to think of something really cool" I said
"An ice cube?" said Top Ender
"Something related to Halloween Top Ender" I said
"Mud" said Top Ender
"Mud?" I asked
"Mud is what pumpkins grow on" she said
"No Top Ender, just No" I said

Top Ender Giggles - Fading for Bob

Top Ender and I were watching the Television together when an advert for The Biggest loser came on TV. Top Ender has a fascination with this programme as she enjoys the concept of word play of a loser being a winner and she has a little thing for Bob.

"The Biggest Loser? No way!" exclaimed Top Ender
"Yes, but we don't get that channel so we can't watch it I'm afraid" I said
"That's okay" she said and slid to the floor where she lay down
"Top Ender get up off the floor. Top Ender what are you doing?" I asked
"I faded. That's what people do when they get excited" she whispered
"Fainted Top Ender, people faint not fade"

Wordless Wednesday - One year changes Everything!

Top Ender Giggles - They don't like it up 'em!

"Mummy? I don't want to go down anymore cold isles" said Top Ender
"Okay Top Ender" I said
"Or freezer isles" said Top Ender
"Okay" I agreed
There was a pause and you could see Top Ender thinking things over
"Mummy?!" said Top Ender
"Yes?" I answered
"I don't want to go up them either!" she smirked

This led us both into fits of laughter and a dirty look from the woman on the deli counter! I guess that she 'Don't like it up 'em!'

Wordless Wednesday - Sleep is for the weak? More like the week!