Romance is dead...

Well it's not dead, but possibly in need of life support in this house!  Paul had forgotten that it's our 10th wedding anniversary this year and has arranged to go on his annual boys' golf weekend on the weekend of our wedding anniversary.  After much deliberation I told him he could go but that it was going to cost him.  When he asked what it was going to cost him I replied "diamonds"!!  One of his friends did suggest I could go with them and caddy for Paul.  Strangely enough I declined this "kind" suggestion.

Valentine's Day is always a bit of a non-event in our house.  I do think that having one day when you're supposed to tell someone you love them is a bit silly when you should really be doing that more frequently once a year!  Added to that is the fact that the one and only time Paul and I went out on Valentine's Day itself for a meal, we had the worst meal we've ever had.

This year though Paul managed to surpass himself by leaving the purchasing of a card until the day before. Needless to say he was in a bit of a rush and the selection of cards was less than impressive however I'm not sure that excuses this error

Oops!  It's a good job I've got a sense of humour.  Mind you I don't know why I was even surprised as the very first Valentine's Day that Paul and I were together he forgot completely.  How we've made it to our 10th wedding anniversary is a miracle!!

Right I'm off to choose some diamonds...

A Project

I keep reading other people's blogs and finding that they are doing a project of one sort or another.  I like the idea of a photographic project myself - something quick and easy that can be fitted into my hectic life.  So here's my plan - to take a picture of Max and Penelope every week and put together a little slideshow at the end of the year to see how they've changed.  These photos don't have to be fancy and posed - just ones that capture them - oh and preferably in focus!


I'll keep you posted as to how I get on as I have a sneaking suspicion this may have fallen by the wayside come the second week of February....


Right off to find my camera - wish me luck!

Moments

There are some moments which mark big stages in a baby/toddler's life.  Y'know the ones - smiling, sitting, food, teeth, walking.

And then there's the smaller ones which, whilst not so important, still mark watershed moments.  Here's a pic of Penelope having her first chocolate at about 11 months.  She wasn't putting on any weight at that stage and I swear it was all a ploy to get chocolate early!

And here she is this week with her first bunches.  Okay they're the tiniest little bunches in the world but they mean she is no longer a baby and very much a little girl

It might not be a big moment but enough to warrant pause for thought *sob*

Plastic explosion

There has been an explosion of small plastic pieces in our house over the festive period.  Lego, it seems, was all a small boy wanted for Christmas.  He already had a considerable amount already and we have now added to his collection

If you remember this post, the icing on the cake was the Lego Fire Boat, shown on the right of this picture.  It didn't arrive until the Wednesday after Christmas as Granny and Grandad had got it for him.  Unfortunately that meant an upset little boy on Christmas morning as "I told Father Christmas I wanted the Fire Boat".   I had to keep reminding him that perhaps Father Christmas had left presents at Granny and Grandad's house.  Note to self - when a small boy keeps saying he wants something, Mummy must remember that it is required on Christmas morning and not three days later!

It seems though that all this Lego is not enough as, when we returned from a visit to my parents, the new Lego catalogue was lying in wait for us.  Cue much "I really want that" "and that" "and that"....

All I have to remember now is not to stand on any small bits that will inevitably get scattered about.

A brace of bears

I got a bit crafty before Xmas thanks to Jo's pattern and here's four of the bears waiting to meet their new owners

I made seven in total but despite my best intentions they weren't all ready at the same time.  In fact the bears for my nephews J and N were only finished on Boxing Day evening!  To personalise them a bit further I embroidered the name of the recipient round the tail

I had lots of fun doing them but, in my crafting naivety I completely over ordered the stuffing.  Note to self - 3kg of lightweight stuffing is more then enough for seven bears, do not therefore order 6kg!  I barely (if you'll pardon the pun) took the top of the first bag so either I need to make lots more bears or everyone will be getting cushions!


I do enjoy having a project but I'm not very creatively minded and I am genuinely in awe of Jo's talent to make some of the most beautiful things.  Here's the stockings she made for Max and Penelope

I can however follow instructions very well so I just need to get Jo to post some more patterns (hint hint nudge nudge) and I can then craft away.  Perhaps however I could just get Jo to teach me how to make cushions.......

Feeling Festive

We're starting to feel all Christmas-sy here.  Obviously the plethora (I love that word - note to self must use it more) of advent calendars help but the tree is now up and the pictures duly tinselled!


Last weekend we went to North Wales to go on the Santa Special on the Llangollen Railway.  This was our third annual trip and I feel that now qualifies it as a Christmas tradition.  The first year we went, we went with J and her family.  Last year we went with J and family and also with K and her family.  This year it was all of us again, 11 in total, for the trip on the steam train, coupled with presents for the kids from Santa and mince pies and mulled wine for the adults.  I think next year I need to remember to sit next to J so I can eat her mince pie!!!  After a stop at Lapland for a photo op with Santa, it was back on the train to Llangollen and time for a long lunch in the Corn Mill.  We all had a lovely day and will be back again next year - well we've got to make the most of it before the kids decide they're too old for it.  Max looks less than impressed with Santa in this picture but, by contrast, you'd think this was the first time Paul had ever met him!!

We were made to feel even more festive this week with Max's first school nativity.  I made his shepherd's outfit myself.  Partly to see whether I could actually make a decent enough job of it and partly on the grounds of cost - well I had the material already so it seemed a waste not to use it.  I was really pleased with the embroidery sheep detail and even toyed with the idea of putting "Shepherd" across the back, simply because I could, but decided that was probably a step too far!

The nativity was lovely with all the children waving as they spotted their parents in the audience.  Max was able to see us and he sang beautifully which, if you remember this post, was a feat in itself.  It just goes to show how much he has developed, and how his confidence has grown, since he started school in September.

So we're all feeling nice and festive - how about you??

An excess of advent

Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?  At the moment we have five advent calendars on the go:


Penelope


A chocolate one from her great-auntie.  It only took her until 2 December to work out that chocolate came out of the calendar each morning and I now get pointing at the calendar coupled with "more"


Max


A chocolate one from his great-auntie.  Max is slightly disappointed that Penelope gets to eat her own advent chocolate this year.


A Lego one from me and Paul.  He has come to terms with the fact that he couldn't open every door and build everything immediately upon receipt.  


For all of us


Every year the German markets come to Manchester.  You know Christmas is on its way when they start putting up the stalls.  I bought an advent tree from one of the stalls this year.  I am assuming that the way it works is that you add a new decoration each day, but it didn't come with any instructions.  Needless to say Max has co-opted this as his own and is in charge of putting on the daily decoration.  When Penelope is old enough I can see I am going to have to enforce a strict alternate days rule.


And me


I have what I laughingly call my "diet" calendar.  I like an advent calendar with pictures.  One year I had a calendar with the most random set of pictures (including a elephant with a sprig of holly!) and every year I hope the experience will be repeated.  Sadly I appear to have a generic angels and shepherds one this year.  Max also gets to open my calendar but only once he has given me a kiss and cuddle!


So essentially Penelope has one and Max has four.  More is definitely more when it comes to advent!!