Dubai

Ok so it's been a while since I posted anything. In my defence we have been away on holiday but that only covers a fortnight's worth of absence. I guess life has just got in the way for the rest of it.....

We went to Dubai for our hols and it was fantastic. We stay with our friends - the fantastic T and M and their lovely kids M and H. Holidaymakers could not want for better hosts. T and M moved to Dubai about 18 months or so ago and an annual visit to Dubai (we went last year too) is a great excuse to see them. I have to admit though that Dubai wouldn't have been on my list of must-go places. It just seems to conjure up images of sand and oil without a great deal to see. If we hadn't been going to see friends then I don't think it would even have registered on our radar as a holiday destination. Yes ok there is a lot of sand but there's also a surprising amount to see.

Alright if you like a lot of old stuff then Dubai isn't the place for you but if you like everything to be a bit over the top then you'll enjoy it. Everything is a bit bigger than you'd expect from the Dubai Mall with its hundreds (possibly even thousands) of shops and a massive aquarium to the Burj Khalifa - currently the world's tallest building.

Here's a few more snaps of some holiday fun

The other benefit to staying with friends (other than the great company) is the fact that if we didn't fancy doing anything then we could lounge around and let the kids watch CBeebies, without being confined to a hotel room. Sometimes doing nothing is nice and relaxing as there's no pressure to be going out and seeing stuff.

The only problem with going again next year (if T and M will have us) is that we'll have to pay for a seat for Penelope. On the other hand at least I'll have a free lap and be able to eat my in-flight meal. Same time next year T??

Painless pinning

I don't know about you but I've only just discovered the world of Pinterest.  To the uninitiated it's like a virtual scrapbook and you just post pictures (preferably with links) of anything you fancy.  Many hours can be wasted looking for interesting pictures, quotes etc to "pin" on your pinboards.  You can even follow other people's pinboards and see what is inspiring them.  Essentially though I think that in the virtual world everyone is more interesting/creative/stylish when in reality they are probably pinning dressed in PJs (just me then? oops) and can't crochet for the life of them (just me again? ah well).

It has to be said though I am getting some great ideas for Penelope's bedroom (for when she moves to a big girl bed some time later this year) and for birthday cakes.  I'm also going to save pictures for links for birthday presents, rather than buying presents 8 months ahead of time, as I did earlier this year.

What I really want to do though is be getting married again as every other person is pinning fabulous wedding ideas.  Mind you, if you remember the last post, divorce was a possibility.  Perhaps I could get Paul to agree to renew our wedding vows - after all he has a LOT of making up to do!!

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.......