Daddy Date Nights

When Top Ender was 20 months old there were only two places that she was taken...

Thats right Mummy took her to Gambardo's and Daddy took her to the computer shop and her concept of amounts and time wasn't all that great either...

It wasn't exactly true however as Top Ender was also taken swimming (as you heard Daddy saying there) and it was only a few months later that I suggested that once a week Daddy and Top Ender went on a Daddy Daughter Date Night and do something fun on top of the weekly swim session.

When I first suggested the Daddy Daughter Date Night I think that Daddy thought that I was a bit odd (Haha, I heard that). Then as he thought about it it made him feel sad that he didn't get enough time with Top Ender that he had to set aside special time to spend with her. I remember him commenting that he felt like he was being looked at with pity, that he felt he was look at as if he was divorced or a single parent and he didn't like that.

He was however very pleased that Top Ender wanted to spend time with just him!

As time went on it became second nature that DDDN's (Daddy Daughter Date Nights) were nights that we didn't plan anything else on (well I did, I watched naff TV and ate snacks and had relaxing baths) and Top Ender was allowed to stay up a little later than normal if needed.

They started just going for little walks sometimes to local shops and the shopping centre. Taking a slow walk round looking at things they might like to buy, playing with the toys in ELC and John Lewis and buying mini sausages from Marks and Spencers to share sitting on the seats outside.

Sometimes they would go to a local lake and walk round that talking about the animals and plant life they could see. Sometimes they would stop off and buy food from a Take away or some picnic foods which depending on the weather they would either eat in the car or as they were walking round.

As Top Ender started becoming even more independent she would ask to go places. Toys R Us, Ikea, The park, Swimming, The Library, The Cinema. It wasn't about the amount of time, it was about the quality of time.


Sometimes they would just watch a movie at home with popcorn and banish me upstairs for the evening. It wasn't important if they went out or stayed in , it was the time spent together that was important.

One on one time. Quality time.

It became even more important to them when Daddy started working two jobs. Even though we only had precious few hours together over a couple of evenings the DDDN's didn't get cancelled. Top Ender and Daddy loved the time they spent together and they had this great bond and nothing was going to stop this.

Of course DDDN's have now evolved into days out and weekends away. They have been to Airshows and to London and camping and theme parks and Museums and have come back full of little in jokes that I don't understand.

And I'm not jealous.

It was my idea that they spend more time together.

Okay so I'm a little jealous.

And now Daddy is going to start having regular Daddy Son Date Nights with Baby Boy.

But I'm not jealous...

Valentines Day on the cheap

If you didn't read my January Christmas Club post at the start of the week, you might not of realised that I am preparing for Valentines Day with Top Ender and Baby Boy in the evenings, making decorations and cards and getting ideas together for gifts.

Last year Top Ender and I made Gluten Free Gingerbread biscuits for Daddy (and us!) and Top Ender decorated them using icing pens.

And of course the ever so lovely Daddy left me a trail of heart post it notes to my new-to-me PC in the Kitchen, which is useful for tweeting whilst cooking, looking up recipies and part of my plan to have access to every room in the house via a PC....

Top Ender was a lot easier to please with a packet of Heart Shaped cheese twists that she had spotted in the Supermarket (and Baby Boy got a packet too) along with what ever dinner it was that she fancied that evening.

This year of course we shall make some gluten free Gingerbread to decorate as we did last year, and I am sure that Daddy is planning something for me (You are right? If your not then I have a list of ideas here that you may borrow and if none of those take your fancy then can I please have a hand sorting out my microphone levels?) and as Daddy isn't going to be at work during the day this year we shall plan some during-the-day-child-friendly-activities to do.

But as I mentioned at Christmas and when we were talking about giving to Charity what happens when you have little or no cash to spend?

Well you come here of course and get some ideas!

The following ideas are all things that will have even the most cynical of those amongst us (about Valentines Day and the commercialisation of the day, not just those who are cynical I haven't found a cure for that yet) celebrating or at the very least thinking which one they would like.

1.) Breakfast in Bed.

Its a known fact that any meal that hasn't been cooked by the person eating it tastes better. What is a not so known fact is that any meal eaten in bed also tastes better. Especially if there is a tray, a little flower in a vase and the person has had a lay in.

2.) Breakfast out.

Its not frugal! I hear you cry. Well you aren't going to the right places. Go to Ikea, go to the local Supermarket, go to the local Farmers Market! There is always somewhere that you can go that will do something cheap and yummy! Heck even Macdonalds do bagels and porridge if you don't fancy a "cooked" breakfast!

3.) Brunch.

Is it breakfast or is it lunch? Who knows, but there is something nice about brunch and being lazy eating a selection of whats best from breakfast foods and lunch foods!

4.) Stroll to the pub.

A walk together to the pub, with a chill in the air will get you a bit of exercise to burn off your pint or G&T or what ever your tipple is! Its a casual laid back drink and spending time with each other. Win win!

5.) A walk in the countryside

You know in magazines how you always see a couple holding on to each other with rosy cheeks, woolly jumpers, gloves and scarves (but no coats or unbrellas or small children or dog poo in sight) and think that could be me. Well make it you today.

6.) Window shopping or people watching.

Go to the local shopping centre (or arcade or high street) and walk along looking at what you could buy, or who you would buy the things on display for. Just don't take a debit or credit card. Alternatively sit and watch the people who go by. You could try and play a form of bingo and have to spot a kissing couple, an old couple, a married couple... I'm sure you get the idea!

7.) Bargin hunting in a £1 shop

Set a price limit and then go in the £1 shop and try and buy the best gift for the other, or the most tacky, or the most I-can't-believe-they-sell-this-so-I-brought-it-for-you-to-prove-it gift. The winner can get a bar of chocolate or a kiss...

8.) Picnic lunch

Picnics make any food taste better (its one of those things everyone know like eating in bed and someone else cooking as mentioned in idea number one!) and it doesn't matter where they are, on your bed, on the living room floor, in the car, at a park, in the woods... the ideas are as endless as your imagination!

9.) Make food together

When Daddy and I were first dating we had a meal that we loved to make together. Each of us would chop and mix and prepare side by side and our meal would taste wonderful (because both of us cooked it) or maybe it was just because we were too busy staring into each others eyes we didn't taste the food!

10.) Do a jigsaw together

It doesn't have to be a jigsaw, it could be a wordsearch or a crossword or any project that you like. As long as you do it together and don't start arguing (thats why I haven't suggested a board game!) then it will be something that you enjoy and will remember fondly!

11.) Read to each other.

Daddy use to read to me everynight. He has a voice for radio (and commercials on the telly) and it is lovely to be able to listen to your loved one read a book (or poem, or newspaper) so that you can share a few moments together. Plus it always helped me fall asleep.

12.) Write a poem to each other

I am terrible at poetry, my old English teachers will tell you. Give me a piece to critique and I am fine, but ask me to write something and its terrible....BUT writing a poem to your loved one needs to be from the heart and anything written from the heart is beautiful.

13.) Have a meal at home

Instead of going out to a restaurant for a meal, cook one at home. You can plan your favourite meal, you know that it will be cooked wonderfully and if you combine it with number nine it shouldn't take a lot of effot. Of course this also works if you want to order in a Take Away. Just don't expect Chinese, as this Valentines is also Chinese New Year, so most Chinese Take Aways (if not all) will be closed.

14.) Watch a film together

Rent a video or DVD, buy a cheap one from the £1 shop (not *that* kind although they do sell those in our local £1 shop) or from the Supermarket, borrow one from the Library or choose one from your own collection (no not *those* ones!) and sit cuddled on the sofa, or bed, or floor and share a bowl of popcorn or chips and dip.

15.) Spend time together with no distractions

Turn off the TV, your mobile phone, your computer, your pager, your fax machine or anything else that you can and talk to your other half. If you run out of things to talk about then talk about a shared memory or something that you have planned. Oh and don't worry it doesn't have to be all day, it could just be half an hour!

16.) Learn to say I love you in a different language or write them down

I gave a jar of slips of paper to Daddy for Christmas the year before last. On each slip of Paper it said I love you, but written in a different language. Either learn to say it or write them down, it is something that is simple but effective.

17.) Take a photo

There are two ways to do this, you could go out and buy a cheap throw away camera and take silly shots of you both. As it is a disposable you will have to have them developed, but that adds to the excitement and also means you can't delete them as you would on a digital camera. Of course if you trust yourself you can do it on a digital camera. The other thing that you could do is take some more intimate photos. Everyone seems to have the old passport style photos of them and a loved one kissing, you could do the same or get more erm adult...

18.) Make a mix tape

"How original!" I hear you cry, but think about it a CD or tape or Ipod playlist of music that means something to you both is always nice to have and nice to listen to!

19.) Write a love letter

Write down just how much you love them, how you want to share your life with them... the things you would want to hear and the things you know they would like to hear.

20.) Do your partners least favourite chore

I hate doing the ironing and putting away clean clothes, I would know how much Daddy loved me if he did them for me.

21.) Love Cheques

You know how this works right? The I owe you one back rub, foot massage, cuddle, snog....

22.) Go to the bookstore and have a coffee and read books

Its fun to go to bookshops and browse books, especially if you have a bookstore that has a cafe too. Pick a book for each other or have to find a book that is something to do with romance or another theme!

23.) Give them something they need, a note pad a pen, new socks, new undies...

This will allow them to remember you when using something that isn't clutter!

24.) Buy some flower seeds

Cheaper than a bunch of flowers, last longer and is more fun as you get to watch things grow!

25.) Make paper flowers

Again cheaper than a bunch of flowers and they look great... try clicking this link to find ways to make them!

26.) Frame a favourite photograph

Maybe it is a photo from number 17, or maybe it is a photo from your wedding day, or mabe even one that they would of used in the Sticky Fingers Photo Meme... get it framed and it will be a hit!

27.) Make a Scrapbook

This can be done so quickly and easily. If you need ideas follow this link or make one for free using Picnik

28.) Treasure Map

A bit of local knowledge, a tea bag and a lighter and you can make a little map to a treasure... or a place to have your picnic, walk in the park or even to John Lewis to have a cookie!

29.) Memory box

Create a memory box together, place photos, letters, cards, old cinema tickets... you get the idea.

30.) Things I love about you

This was one of my most favourite things that I did with Daddy. We wrote down ten things that we liked about each other and ten things that we liked or that made us happy (like reading a book, having chocolate) and then we put them in a frame and gave them to each other. If we wanted to make ourselves happy we could read a reason why the other person loved us and if we wanted to make them happy we could read a thing to do. We still have them now!

So here my 30 things to do for Valentines day frugally.... just look out for my things to do for Children on Valentines day this weekend!

Wordless Wednesday - Bunny Blind Date

(I know its supposed to be Wordless, but pretend you can't see this, thats why I have made it small and everything. Top Ender has had Daisy for several months now (almost a year) and it was decided that for her Birthday she would make Daisy a husband. Daniel was made at Top Enders Birthday party at the start of the month and as you can see we did the reveal in true Blind Date style! They are still dating, but will be going at it like... err Rabbits once they are married this spring....)

Burns Night - A Mothers Ramblings Style!

Today is Robert Burns birthday, and so traditionally today is the day where there will be a celebration of his life and poetry works... altough a Burns night can be held on any day you like.

My Mum is Scottish, and so I grew up knowing about Burns and about his poems and even memorised one which my Mum taught me (To A Mouse, on Turning Her Up in Her Nest, with the Plough) and I can only say in my fake Scottish accent (I say fake as I am 100% English and my Scottish accent is very dodgy) but I have never been to a Burns Supper.

Tonight however I will serve neeps and tatties (mashed turnip and potato) with mince and onions to my teaghlach (Yes I know a few bits of Gaelic, the best bit when I was growing up was learning Gaelic swear words to use during school until we got a Scottish Teacher and luckily she laughed it off) and we shall have a mini celebration of Burns.

Luckily I know the proper format of the evening thanks in part to a conversation with my Mum yesterday, a long ago conversation with my Gran (who even after living in England for about 44 years never lost her scottish accent!) and of course a Wikipedia search which is;

Start of the evening (General socialising, so in other words normal in our house)

Host's welcoming speech (Me explaining what is going to happen and The Selkirk Grace)
Entrance of the haggis (which I won't do as I know what it tastes like and I don't like it and the poem is sooo long and hard to make funny!)
Supper (the affore mentioned mince, neeps and tatties)
Immortal memory (a quick bit about Burns)
Appreciation (will be skipped)
Toast to the Lassies (About women in general and Top Ender and I)
Reply to the Toast to the Lassies (About men in general and Baby Boy and Daddy)
Other toasts and speeches (Hopefully a quick Thank you Mummy!)
Works by Burns (My party piece)
Closing (Bed time!)

So tonight, if you are celebrating with a Burns supper or not please do raise your glass and think of a great Scottish hero.... or my Gran who will always be my Scottish Hero.

How to buy gifts for tricky people

On Christmas Day my Mother In Law had popped round to see us and to swap gifts. Whilst she was here Daddy had to quickly use the Carpet Sweeper (or the hodduhuduhduh as it is known in our house thanks to Eddie Izzard) and she made a comment about how she didn't have one and would like one.

"Brilliant!" I thought

I made a mental note for a future gift for Mothers Day or Birthday or one of the other million reasons there are per year to show apprecation for those around us and carried on enduring enjoying her visit.

It was decided between Daddy and I later that day, that because she has been having a bad time of it of late, that we would purchase one and take it round on New Years Day, a clean start to the New Year sort of thing.

So we took it round on New Years Day and discovered that she had already brought one...

It was the Digital Camera debacle all over again, but that is a story for another day.

It was with thanks to my MIL that I made sure that I wrote down my unofficial rules that I try to follow when buying gifts as I do through out the year and they are;

1) Will this add clutter to someones home or will they use it?
2) Is it something they would like?
3) Is it something they might have already?
4) Is it something they have asked for?
5) Is it something they would buy for themselves?

And I also want to remind everyone to start thinking about the Christmas Club, which will start on the 25th of January!

Top Ender Giggles - Death by Top Ender

"Sorry, but Mummy is suffocated on my bedroom floor"

That got Daddy running upstairs quite quickly, but he soon realised he didn't need to worry as he could hear me giggling into the carpet.

You see if we rewind back 15 minutes you would see that Top Ender had been throwing a bit of a strop in the car. It got to the point where she was repeating "Turnaround" every few seconds.

After a minute of this I started singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart" well actually Daddy did because he knows the words better than me (Can you say Karaoke King?) and whilst Top Ender was still in a strop at least she had the decency to giggle at our OTT performance.

When we got home it was suggested to Top Ender that she might like to go upstairs to her room for a little while. I went with her and we sat cross-legged on the floor talking until she had calmed down. She climbed on to my lap to give me a hug and in doing so accidentally banged my head on the bedframe.

I decided to pretend to have been knocked out.

Top Ender knew that I was pretending and so did a couple of silly things to try to get me to react like ticking my very ticklish feet.

I didn't react.

And thats when you entered the story!

Top Ender Giggles - Well you never call me!

"Top Ender, can you please go up to my bedside table and get me my mobile phone?"
"Okay!" she answered

Top Ender returned a few minutes later with my alarm clock...

When you can't afford to give

I stopped watching the news years ago. It seemed that everyday there was something terrible on the news and I would fret on things that were not in my control. I don't like hearing about people being murdred, children being abused or about Terrorists who have blown up innocent people because they think it is the only way for their voice to be heard.

I get my news online, I know that if the title of a piece looks like it is going to make me upset that I don't read it. Of course that doesn't stop me hearing about big disasters. I first hear about the Haiti earthquake on Twitter. I knew from the trending topics that it was something that I was going to fret on.

I knew that I would want to give to the people of Haiti who will of lost family and friends and homes and the ability to carry on with a normal existance.

And Bloggers responded loudly with donations at a specially set up Just Giving page. Currently the donations will allow four (nearly five) Shelter boxes to be given to the people in Haiti.
 

But what about when you can't afford to give?

Without going into personal details we can't afford to give money to charity. We like many others are in a position where our budget is balanced with our outgoings and incomings matching exactly.

So what can I do? Or what can you do if you are in a similar position?

1) Give your time. You might not be cash rich, but you might be time rich. A local organisation might need help for an hour a week or a month. They might need more, but will accept what you can offer them.

2) Give your expertise. Have you got a skill that could help? Look at what you could do that might help someone, even if it is something you feel is silly such as being able to organise a committee!

3) Give what you can. I give all our old clothes, toys, bed linens, books and countless other things to local Charity shops. Just because I can't give money doesn't mean I can't give things.

4) Use Charity gift services. I love Oxfam Unwrapped. For the people on my Christmas list that I want to buy something for, but don't know what to get them or have been told not to get them anything I buy something from there. It makes me feel good and the person I have brought the gift in the name of. You can even use your Tesco clubcard points to buy Charity gifts.

5) Use a Charity credit card or better still as Martin Lewis on MSE says use a Cashback Credit card. Charity credit cards mean that for any money spent on your credit card that the named charity gets a percentage of what you spend. However a Cashback credit card will give you a better return percentage and will give the cash back to you. Which you can then donate to a charity. You could also do this with cashback from other purchases from cashback websites.

6) Buy things that you do buy through a charity portal. There are so many online stores that give commission to web sites that drive traffic to them and if you are making a planned purchase why not see if you can help a charity at the same time?

7) Spread the word, just like I have done in this post. Let other people know about a charity that they might be able to support if they have the funds. Highlight a cause and you will be giving.

I am sure there are other ways that you can give and I hope that you will tell me in the comments of things I may of forgotten or not know about and if you can afford to give please, please, please, please do.

The Best Holiday Ever...

We have been on lots of holidays Daddy and I. We stayed in a tent in Wales when we had really only just met.

There was the time that we went to Greece (our Honeymoon) and swam in clear oceans and hired a little motorbike that when we were riding on it we were overtaken by people walking.

Then there was part two of our Honeymoon where we went to Geneva and on our first night it snowed and we woke up to a beautiful wonderland and we spent a fortune on a trip to Mount Blanc, but it was worth it because we had out own private tour guide.

There was the trip to Paris, a few more to Wales, one to Scotland and countless others that I have probably forgotten, and even if I got a visual reminder then I would still swear blind that the event never happened... not that that has happened or anything (Good job Daddy never comments on this blog!) because my memory is great and I never forget anything. But none of these were my best trip ever.

We have been on a few with Top Ender too. A few more to Wales and other various parts of England but none of these were my best trip ever.
It wasn't the first trip to Disneyland Paris with Top Ender and Daddy.

It wasn't the second trip to Disneyland Paris with Top Ender and Daddy.

It was, however, our trip to Italy in 2007.

Daddy and I knew where we wanted to go and we knew we wanted to set our own schedule. We wanted to see all the things that you have to see in Italy and so we made a list of all the places we wanted to go and then plotted them on a map. We ended up just doing the North of Italy and are planning a second trip back so that we can do the South!

We drove from the West coast to the East Coast taking in Pisa, Venice, Verona, Lake Garda, Sirmeone, and up the Monte Baldo in Malcesine. We spoke Italian (badly), ate great food and enjoyed some brilliant weather. We stayed in some great hotels and some not so great hotels. We watched cartoons in a language we didn't really understand, but didn't care because we did it together.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa, Top Ender wearing a Venetian mask,

The balcony of Juliet (had Juliet existed), Us at Lake Garda,

Top Ender watching Cartoons in Italian, Us in Venice

We ate iceream in the sun, we spoke to old Italian men and women who thought Top Ender was adorable because she had fair hair and tried to speak Italian, we worked out what "L'Accesso Non E Consentito A donne in gravidanze" meant (Access is not allowed to pregnant women) because it applied to me and Daddy found out that the Italian motorways are fantastic to drive on!

This holiday was the best holiday ever, it was full of all the things that for us the best holiday ever should contain. This is the holiday I dreamt about and is the holiday all other holidays will no doubt be compared to... until our next best Holiday ever!

Top Ender Giggles - And Goldilocks ate it all up!

Daddy looked in the cupboard and decided that breakfast for Top Ender and Baby Boy would be porridge seeing as the snow was still quite thick on the ground.

He was helping Baby Boy to eat his when;

"This doesn't taste right Daddy" said Top Ender
"What do you mean?" answered Daddy
"Mummy makes it with flavour" said Top Ender

Daddy did tell me, but grudgingly so.

Wordless Wednesday - What on earth do they do on Daddy Daughter Dates?

Top Ender Giggles - Its a compliment, honest!

"Mummy, when I am older I am going to be ruler of the world and hold contests for seeing who the most beautiful person is... and you will win." said Top Ender
"Ahh! Thank you Top Ender" I said feeling all smug
"I'm going to make it so that only ugly people are in the competition" clarified Top Ender

And thats the reason why there is this embarassing photo of Top Ender's accompanying this post.

Its a Small World after all, especially if you go by Train...

Victoria over at Its a Small World After All is hosting a Car Sick Carnival (Part 2) and it is all about Holiday Travel. That sounds like the sort of thing that you would want to avoid reading around teatime doesn't it?

Well if it is teatime and you are reading this post you might want to stop and come back later because I am going to be talking vomit.

I was always sick in the car as a child. My parents joked that there wasn't a lay by I had left a carrier bag of sick in south of Watford Gap. This confused me as a child because we lived in Garston which is right next to Watford and I had no clue where the gap in Watford was... it was only many years later that I realised Watford Gap was an entirely different place to Watford (around 67 miles North to be exact), just don't tell anyone okay!

For all of those who are either not from the UK or like me and useless at knowing where things are A is Watford and B is Watford Gap. And look Milton Keynes is on there, which is where I live now!

So when Top Ender was born (Top Enders Birthday is just after Christmas) I was hoping that the be-sick-in-a-lay-by gene skipped her. Her first long journey in a car was great (we went from point A to the East Coast, see where it says Cromer? Move down a tiny bit and you have where my Nan lives) and we even managed to get to Bognor Regis (South coast) without incident!

In fact my story doesn't start until a few years later. After we had discovered that Top Ender does have the gene that causes emesis just by looking at a car that has been on a long journey...

Technically it was after Christmas but don't spoil it by letting on right?

For Top Enders Second Birthday we went to Disney Land Paris. All three of us were so excited and we traveled by car to Ashford (Kent!) in daylight (helps stop people being car sick don't ya know) and stayed in a hotel before driving the short distance to the Euro tunnel the next morning. Top Ender was delighted to be on a train and spent most of the two hour journey awake.

She did manage to fall asleep about a 15 minutes before we got to Disney Land Paris and was really grumpy when she woke up until she realised where she was.

Anyway cutting the long rambling story short we had a great holiday with highlights including The Genie getting a bit hands on with me on Main Street (and Robin Hood did the same in a Restaurant), Daddy being abused by Pluto and me knowing that Its a Small World was going to be important one day...

So on the last day we knew to be careful with what we ate because we didn't want to be sick on the train on the way home. All day we were great, we made sure not to eat sweets and not to drink too much and we were ready as the train pulled in to get on and to be on our way home.

And Everything was fine.

Until...

Top Ender was having a bottle of milk. She still liked to have a bottle when she went to bed and we were trying to keep the routine as much the same as possible. Top Ender cuddled up to me and had some milk whilst Daddy and I carried on talking about things that have since been forgotten (by me at least).

There were other children in the carriage, but Top Ender was the youngest. This fact isn't important until later, so remember it.

A few minutes passed between Top Ender drinking her milk and what was the most disgusting shower I have ever had. Top Ender turned to me and threw up all over me. I was covered in what ever food her stomach had partly digested and regurgitated milk.

The sound in the carriage was so quiet it was deafening. We cleaned up Top Ender, and me and the seat, and the table and a bit of the window (as a couple of parents looked on fondly remembering when they too had to deal with chunder covered everything and commented after I apologised that it was okay, they remembered the times they had dealt with similar situations) and as our bags were with us we were able to partly change clothes so we didn't smell of sick and look like a pot of cottage cheese.

Remember I mentioned that Top Ender was the youngest in the carriage? This is where is gets important.

For the rest of the journey we sat in some spare seats in the carriage where the older children couldn't see us. It was as the smell permeated the small space that they all started to complain to their parents about it and about Top Ender having caused them this issue.

"Next time we will go by Plane" said Daddy.

Which we did.

Baby Boy Giggles - And thats all I have to say about that

On New Years Day we were driving to my Mother In Laws house to drop off a gift (for that story look here at Buying Gifts for difficult people!). Top Ender and Baby Boy were in the back chatting away to each other whilst Daddy and I were talking about the plans for the day.

"Mum-Mum? asked Baby Boy "Mum-Mum? Mum-Mum? Mum-Mum? MUM-MUM!" he repeated

I turned around in my seat to face him the best I could

"Yes Baby Boy?" I answered

"Burp!

The whole car then errupted in laughter, at Baby Boys perfect timing!

Wordless Wednesday - 1st Birthday and covered in chocolate!

This is my youngest Niece (and her Mummy who is my little Sister) as she was on her First Birthday. Isn't she beautiful?!

Mummy Giggles - New Dinner Ideas

Late one night I was sitting on the sofa and Daddy was on the PC. I was making a meal plan for the next month and called over various choices to Daddy to veto

"Would you eat" I started "ahh poo!" I exclaimed as my neck suddenly clicked in an arkward position
"No, I don't think I would want to eat our poo" answered Daddy

Top Ender Giggles - A Bit of Roughage?

"Muuuuum! Baby Boy has licked one of my cakes with Sandpaper on the bottom and I don't want it now!" said Top Ender.

After stopping laughing I let Top Ender go and get a new Brownie with rice paper on the bottom from the pot in the Kitchen.

Top Enders Birthday

Today is Top Enders Birthday, so please excuse me if for not being here. As an apology here is Top Ender on Birthdays past!

To the most wonderful, kind and beautiful Girl we know!

We hope that today, and everday, you get all the good things you deserve. That you always have enough love in your life and that you know that we are here for you at any time you need us.

Grow up happy and well and keep all your dreams and ideas alive. Make sure you brush your teeth and don't worry about things that you can not change.

Be patient about growing up and don't try to force it, or rush it. Enjoy every moment whilst you can and eat lots of your favourite foods.

Remember that boys (other than those related to you by birth or marriage) are yucky and we get to meet all boyfriends before you go on a date with them and I promise not to ask them if I should buy a hat.

Love Forever

Mummy, Daddy and Baby Boy xxxxxx

Top Ender Giggles - Back in Time

Top Ender came into mine and Daddys bedroom early in the morning to find out if it was the morning and she could play on her DS. She quickly realised that it was as Baby Boy was sitting in our bed with us having a chat about his favourite things (Doors, Cars, Chocolate and Boobs but not necessarily in that order)

"Everything is black and white early in the morning isn't it." stated Top Ender to nobody in particular

Deciding that her observation hadn't been given the attention it deserved she tried again

"Mummy? Everything is black and white like the Olden days in the morning isn't it?" she questioned
"Top Ender, things were in colour in the Olden days, it was just pictures that weren't" I answered
"Really?" she asked in genuine shock "I didn't know"

High Five Meme

It always surprises me when I am tagged by other bloggers with Awards and Meme's and the most recent one The High-5 Meme was something I was surprised to be tagged with not once but twice! Sandy at Baby Baby tagged me as did Aly at Life's Laundry. Both of these blogs have been on my blog roll for a while and I love reading their posts... talking of which if you haven't seen what Uncle P gave to Sandy's boys for Christmas then you don't know why Top Ender is dead jealous and wondering if she could marry a two year old.

So Thank you to these lovely peeps for tagging me and not just because the rules say I have to thank you!

Anyway back to the Meme, after thanks I have to list my top five highlights of 2009 and then tag five people who I would like to here their top five highlights...

So in no particular order here are my Top Five!

1: Baby Boy learning to walk and seeing his first steps. That morning I didn't know that anything special was going to happen. I joked with the teacher that if Baby Boy did walk that I would like it documented, but I really didn't expect it to happen. Having him walk to Top Ender and then kiss her was one of the best things ever not just of this year! I could go on about the things that he has done this past year, but it would be a very long list!

2: Getting a great job. It is hard for me to believe that it was only this past May that I started my job. It feels like ages ago, but as I explained to Daddy the other day, I know that I am good at my job. I don't need anyone telling me, I don't need the facts and figures I just know. And I like not having to worry about work. Don't get me wrong I loved my last job and met some great people (who may or may not be reading this post lol) but the politics of it all were just so horrid!

3: Spending time as a family. I know that this is a generalisation, but honestly this past year having spent time as a family group has been great and I can't wait for warmer weather to come round again so that we can start spending time together outside again. The walks that we went on every weekend were one of the highlights of my week and if we have another water fight in the garden can we use warmer water?!

4: Now stick with me on this one. When Daddy went to Chile it wasn't a hightlight, but it was the time that we spent talking to each other via webcam and on instant messanger and then when he finaly came home they were the highlights. Getting to see Top Ender and Baby Boys faces as they saw him on the computer screen just showed how much they love him and then when they finally saw him when he was back it was just great. So missing Daddy whilst he was away not a hightlight, but seeing him again when he came back was!

5: Telling everyone my weight and doing something about it. Starting the Yummy Mummy with No Tummy Challenge for me was a milestone in my life. It was me turning around and stating loud and clear that I knew what I was doing was wrong and that I was slowly killing myself. It was something that changed my lifestyle and made me realise that I want more than this out of life.

And that is it. So I am going to tag

Tara at Sticky Fingers
Anna at Part Mummy Part Me
Claire at Being a Mummy
Diane at DianeDenmark and
Catherine at BabyGenie