Bank Holiday Chill Time

15 hours sleep for BB last night but a rude awakening for me by 7YO - "Mum, the dog's pooed all over the floor in the kitchen!"

Just what you need to start the morning!  Not even the chance to have a cuppa first as the way to the kettle was blocked my two brown stinky mountains and a stench that seemed to hover at nose height.

Three carrier bags, half a roll of kitchen paper, two thirds of a bottle of disinfectant and a liberal spraying of air spray later and the kitchen was restored to it's usual level of disarray.

Made the decision that I really can't put off returning to the Slimming World way of eating for another day.  The bathroom scales are telling me I've put back on a couple of pounds, weigh in is tomorrow, so action stations today!  It's so tempting to not go tomorrow, but I really do need to shift this weight so the self control needs to kick in.

Survived a potentially disasterous trip to McDonalds with my order of grilled chicken salad and Diet Coke, resisted the usual nibbles of the Happy Meals and managed not to drool over DH's Big Mac Meal!

Now sitting snuggled on sofa with the boys, BB napping and feeding again, 7YO playing some violent sounding game on the DS and DH braving the supermarket for bread and essentials.  Struggling with the homemade sausage rolls calling me from the fridge but as BB is asleep on me, moving isn't an option but resisting sending 7YO to get them!  Will my will power holld out?..........

Survived the sausage roll temptation and behaved for tea with JP, beans, ham and some low cal coleslaw.  Still don't think it'll make much difference tomorrow though!

All had a fun evening and finally finished unwrapping Ben's Christmas presents - I wonder how many calories you work off playing the drums on Rock Band Hero?

Well time to finish my cuppa then off to bed x

I love Boxing Day!

Had such a lovely day today!

Got up late, even BB slept in and 7YO was so busy checking out all his new games on the DS that peace reigned in the house until I decided at 10.45am that BB really needed to wake up - he'd gone to bed at 8pm so I really do think that 14 3/4 hours sleep is enough for any 19month old little boy!

Made a small breakfast of toast and tea for everyone then had a fight with the pressure cooker!  This poor piece of kitchen paraphernalia has been sitting on a shelf in my kitchen for the last 5 years - sadly longing for it's chance to show what it can do, only being moved for a dust down occasionally, otherwise shining dimly and longing to be used.

Of course, no instructions are left so tried a mad "Google" search for how to use it - really not much use but as my father in law swears by his pressure cooker to cook gammon joints, I felt obliged to give it a go.  One hour later we had a lovely gammon, egg, mash and carrot lunch - nom nom nom - the best Boxing Day lunch I can remember!

After the washing up, time for a trip to the local park and how cold is it out there!  Managed to stay in the house since Christmas Eve Morning, and then within 5 minutes my hands were throbbing.  Had a really good hour playing on the swings, see saw, roundabout and climbing frame.  No one else around so funtimes behaving like I'm 7 again!  And then I needed to test out the remote control helicopter and Vectron Wave - the kids can't have all the fun!

Then onto sausage roll making and buffet tea before cuddling up on the sofa with a bit of Lego building and Wii Rock Band Hero.

All in all, a lovely, relaxing and fun day!

Monday Success........

Boys off to school fine this morning - major success as no fighting, complaining or tears.  Dropped off at school in time, complete with the mountain of my homework completed (other mums with school age children I am sure will sympathise with the massive number of letters to complete and return to school - takes longer each week than the children's actual homework!), lunch made, uniform all ironed - a very satisfying feeling when it all goes to plan. 

Not so hopeful about tomorrow morning, although there's no lunches to be made as they are both having hot lunches, Tuesday is the day for PE, violin lesson and after school football. 

The  big question is will the missing football boot be recovered?  How frustrating - within 4 hours of buying a brand new pair of boots, one has run away.  Also, will the boys remember that the strange things in their kit bags are ankle protectors, not special gloves to protect their hands?  And, will they remember to put their football socks on before they lace up their boots?  We seem to have a long way to go to make any sort of footballers out of them!

Made it to Tumble Tots today, despite BB snoozing after the school run.

He didn't really seem in the mood after his nap and wanted to spend most of his time bouncing on the trampoline - I could have stayed at home and he could have bounced on our bed!

Lunch was delicious and I felt like a proper wifey and mummy!  Homemade chicken soup with freshly baked bread.  Disappeared very quickly!

Pretty quiet evening - hoovering at dad-in-laws while boys were at Boys Brigade then a successful and peaceful bedtime.  Now just hoping we have a better night than last night!

Home Sunday Roast...........Yum!

Already the end of another weekend - on the up side, the chance of some quiet time with the older two at school, downside, the hectic school runs, after school clubs, packed lunches............

The best bit about Sunday:- home cooked Sunday Roast - homemade Yorkshire Puddings, stuffing, chicken, roast potatoes, mash potatoes, cabbage, baby sweetcorn, gravy, bread sauce.  Last weekend, as the 9YO and 7YO were away with their dad, we decided to have a lazy lunch and visit our local Weatherspoons. One day, we'll learn our lesson and not keep trying!

It wasn't particularly busy when we arrived (approx 1.00pm) and managed to get a table straight away.  We chose our meals (2 of the larger Sunday lunches with half chicken, 1 child's roast beef).  After waiting half an hour, our meals finally arrived at the wrong table (the waitress even took the child's meal away from another child!), and what a disappointment!

The half chicken was very overcooked, the drumstick was inedible as the meat was so dry and crunchy.  The rest of the meat had a very strange cardboardy after taste.  The Yorkshire Pudding was not like the picture, it was 2 slices of a large tray Yorkshire, not 2 individual puddings.  The vegetables were bland, and we had to ask for more gravy, which was served in 2 pots more suited to serving butter than gravy!

And what a contrast to today - even if I do say so myself!

Quotation of the weekend:-

In the card shop:

  "Look mum sparkly table confetti"

"I don't think your friend's mum would be impresseed"

"But they have them for a marrige and for Entanglement....................................................... I think you meant Engagement.

Need to crawl up to bed now before I delete what I've typed!

9YO in Crisis!

AAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!

9YO Son reverting to a 2YO!

I always find dealing with my eldest child a challenge - he's the first one to experience each stage of life - and the one who was affected the most by the separation 6 years ago, and who also appears, on the surface, to be most similar to his dad.

The last few days have presented a new challenge and one I wasn't expecting.  At the slightest frustration, he's been bursting into floods of tears and really crying like a 2 year old again.  I would have been much more prepared for this if he was a girl and approaching "That Age", but he's always been pretty calm and responsible, and at 9, I would be really, really surprised if it was hormones kicking in for him!

Today's episodes started by not getting the remote control for the radio in the car, and the second, 3 hours later, because 7YO brother wanted to read the same catalogue at the same time. It starts with the sharp intake of breath, then the wobbly bottom lip, breathe out, whimper, whimper then wail - accompanied with water works, stomping and hiding - a great example for both younger brothers!

So.............. left it for a couple of days as the outbursts have been relatively short lived and I know that he normally opens up if something's bothering him but now I'm worrying about him behaving like this at school, so time to find a different approach.  I made sure from the outset that he hasn't any problems at school, as he has experienced bullying from a lad in his class, but this seems to have stopped since the start of term.

Discussion with OH about it then trip upstairs to the bedroom for "A Chat"..............

So "Why are you getting so upset, what's bothering you?"

Definitely not a bullying problem as the normal culprit and 9YO are currently friends (Don't you love kids' friendships!).

Asked if he has a problem with anything to do with BB, and immediate disdain that I should even think that (As if the BB could do anything wrong in Big Brother's doting eyes!) - but from my point of view, concerned that he was now feeling pushed out as BB grows more of a personality.

Next attempt was, are there any concerns with BD (Biological Dad - always very polite and neutral about him, anywhere near his boys, EX - Evil Ex, and worse, away from them!).  9YO started crying and saying that "Dad is going to go to court to make us live with him and I don't want to and it makes me cross".

Well - here we go again.  I often find it absolutely incredible that anyone would mess with their kids' heads like this, but then I remind myself that he did such a good job on me.  9YO is such a sensitive thing and so wants to please everyone.  He really loves his dad, which is the reason why I've ensured they've maintained excellent contact, but 9YO won't stand up to anyone, hence why I'm so careful not to put words in his mouth.

Spent quite a while talking through why no court in the land would force the boys to live with him as he has a history of smacking them and foul language beyond belief.  Also, asked him to think how he would react to someone crying and behaving like he has been.

Anyway, only time will tell if any of this has worked!

I'm sure there will be plenty more opportunities in the Blogging future to catch you up with EE details and problems which have followed!

Enough for tonight - bring on tomorrow's challenges!

First Blog!

We've landed in the "World of Blog"!


I'm sure with a few late nights of playing we'll work it all out!


In the meantime -  a little about us:


Me - mum of the family, aged 33 and mainly a work from home mum


Dad - hubbie, aged 33 (my toyboy - all of 9 months younger! Lol), works for a food company doing something with computer systems


Son 1 - 9 years old, in Year 5 so sitting 11+ next September, my son, hubbie's step son


Son 2 - 6 years old, in Year 3 - struggling a bit in school, pretty hyper, my son, hubbie's step son


Son 3 - 1 year old (born May 2009), mummy and daddy's baby boy, and as the youngest, spoiled by everyone


More info as we go along!