Sunday 29 April 2012

Daunting task ahead....

I must entertain not only two toddlers on a four hour boat journey but also a husband with a short attention span.

Eeeeeeeekkk!!!!!!!!!!

At least I've got the girlies sorted, well at least I hope I've got them sorted with a colouring book each, a drawing pad each, some stickers and a whole load of crayons, but the hubbie is a different matter all together. He can't sit and read the way I love to, he can't go for a dander because all three of us would have to go with him incase he sees something that he must absolutely share with us, and I can't push him over the edge of the deck because knowing my luck we won't be allowed out.

I'll have plenty of snacks with me, we can get cups of tea and juice on the boat and as a last resort I've a secret stash of chocolate already in my bag just waiting on the first squeal of grumpiness to be heard (this more than likely will be from the hubbie and not the daughters).

I'm completely and utterly dreading the boat in the morning.

Saturday 28 April 2012

4 black bags full



Was feeling brave and I finally have cleared the comfy, slouchy clothes I've been wearing since I was pregnant and continued to wear right up until yesterday I'm ashamed to admit. They're all packed up and ready to be taken to a charity shop.

I have been a slummy mummy, not the yummy mummy I should be so clearing out all of those clothes is the 1st step to yumminess!



I'm trying to not snack as much unless it's the fruit and veg I give the girls and instead of turning to fizzy drinks I'm trying to drink tea (don't take sugar in my tea so I don't have to worry about cutting that out of my diet) and water which is quite easy to do because I tend to drink a lot of water during the day anyway, it's just when I'm out and about that I rely on fizzy drinks.

Exercise is a bit of an issue for me because I keep hurting my back/slash hip (I feel down the stairs about 4 years ago and hurt myself pretty badly and my body likes to remind me of it now and again) so I'm doing what I can including using the Wii Fit Plus and dancing about the house with our girls which is very easy to do because they love to have a bop about the place.

And with us going on hols on Monday to Haven Holiday Park, Craig Tara, then I'll also get a lot of walking done so my bum will appreciate all of my effort, I hope!!

Wednesday 25 April 2012

How to tell I'm a home alone Mummy

For my tea

For my viewing pleasure Carmine Giovinazzo in CSI: NY

All rounded off with a cuppa and a lovely cinnamon bun whilst curled up on the sofa wrapped in a cuddly blanket.

Ahh peace and quiet!!

Blog Envy

I read the instructions and advice (four times), I completed each step slowly and carefully, I swore a lot, threatened my laptop with everything from being doofed across the floor to allowing our toddlers at it, but still I cannot seem to add widgets etc to my blog. I cannot add anything personal to make it seem more mine than just a template already set up.

I have complete and utter blog envy, I torture myself looking at what everyone else has but cannot manage for myself.

I'm going to leave it for a while, maybe when I return to the design of my blog I'll be in a more positive frame of mind and more willing and able to attempt what has been so far the impossible and turn it into the possible and have the blog I'd like to have.

If that fails I'll just have to ask someone nicely, bribe them with home-made chocolate brownies or call in a favour and get them to do it for me. I'd rather do it myself though, the sense of accomplishment would be wonderful!


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Monday 23 April 2012

I'm married to an oul' fart

Hubbie turns 38 this Thursday the 26th and already he's complaining about how old he's getting.

He's been looking at all of his grey hairs (he's got loads, almost the same amount as his 74 year old Dad and it's really bugging him).

He's starting to talk about how old he's looking when he sees himself in the mirror.

My response to his moaning - I start giggling and call him an oul' fart.

Not the most supportive I grant you but I just cannot help it, if he stopped reminding me that I'm turning 30 this year then maybe I'll be a bit more sympathetic but until then all I can do is hide my giggles and make sure he has a brilliant birthday with the 3 gorgeous ladies in his life.

Thursday 19 April 2012

1001Sheets.com - Free Piano Sheet Music



Just found this online and I'm loving it. Can't wait to spend some time reading through all the sheet music that has been added and I look forward to downloading some pieces to play.

Maybe inspiration will strike for what to play at my niece's wedding!

Reasons to be Cheerful - 19.04.2012






Reasons to be Cheerful at Mummy from the Heart

Thank you as always to Mummy From the Heart.

I'm not sure what to be thankful for this week. Hubbie lost his job, he's pretty down about it and I'm starting to feel the strain trying to keep moral up for both of us.

So in light of all the depressing stuff that's happening in our household this week I think my reasons to be cheerful should be completely frivolous and just for a giggle to put a smile on my face, and hopefully a smile on yours as you read it.

1.
Housework is getting done!!!
With Hubbie out of work it means our house will be spotless (well as spotless as our monsters will allow anyway!). He's already gutted the hot press, he's washed every dish in the house, the living room floor has been cleared, today he's finishing the ironing and on Sunday, weather depending, he's going to be doing some gardening for me.
Now if only I could get him to cook every meal I'd be a lady of leisure about the house.

2.
We have a kingsize duvet for our double bed.
For anyone who shares a bed with a quilt hogger you'll understand the bliss having a larger quilt for your bed than is necessarily required.

3.
Stickers!
Stickers are the currency of choice in our house and if it wasn't for these delightful sticky pictures I'd never get a minutes peace, especially on the days our girls don't nap. Our girls go crazy for them and I'm not sure what we would've done if we hadn't discovered them months ago.
Thank you sticker makers wherever you are, you've helped preserve my sanity (well for a little while longer anyway).

Tuesday 17 April 2012

Hubbie lost his job today

Needless to say he's devastated and so am I though we knew it would be a possibility.

I only work 8 hours a week because we can't afford childcare for our twins and that's definitely not enough to get us by.

Haven't a clue what we're going to do but it looks like I'm searching for a full-time job and we'll just have to work out the childcare if I'm successful. As for Hubbie, I'm starting to search for him as well but he's in a terrible state right now.

Just hope I can be strong enough for the both of us.

Monday 16 April 2012

Disney Channel - good or bad?

Special Agent Osu never listens and actually endangers himself during training - should we trust him to teach our children how to do things?

Mickey Mouse says 'Uh-huh, yeah' - do I really want my girls to grow up thinking that's the proper way to speak?

Curious George always gets into trouble and never gets reprimanded - is he teaching children it's ok to be naughty because you'll get away with it?

I know they're only cartoons and a bit of fun but the more I see of the Disney Channel the more I'm loving Cbeebies (nothing to do with the fact I've a bit of a crush on Mr Bloom and Justin Fletcher, it's all for the good of our twins, of course :D ).


Thursday 12 April 2012

What a day....

...can't wait to get out into it!

view from the porch

out the back

lovely blue sky

Reasons to be cheerful



Reasons to be Cheerful at Mummy from the Heart

Thank you Mummy from the Heart.

1.
The bin men arrived!! This in itself isn't all that thrilling but knowing the nappies my monsters have produced the past fortnight I'm so thankful the bin men weren't late or off because it was getting rough out the back!

Roll on potty training is all I can say, it'll mean fewer nappies in the bin!

2.
I didn't have an asthma attack. This time last week I couldn't breath and was halfway to having an asthma attack but thank goodness for my inhalers and both my Mother-in-Law and my Mummy for taking the girls for me so I could look after myself instead of chasing about after the monsters.

3.
Speaking of the monsters, they are one of my reasons to be cheerful. They're healthy, happy and in the mood to mess about just like they should be. Stuff any mess they make, it can be brushed up, as long as they're having fun that's all that matters.


I look forward to reading everyone elses reasons to be cheerful

Wednesday 11 April 2012

Titanic Belfast



We have been to Titanic Belfast and thoroughly enjoyed it (despite the fact I cannot stand hearing about the Titanic which is unfortunate considering I married a Titanic nut!).

We had gotten hubbie tickets for Titanic Belfast as part of his Christmas present and I thought that I was being clever and picking the last Saturday in March thinking that the initial rush would be over, of course I didn't read it right and ended up choosing the opening day, my goodness what a crush!


Hubbie enjoyed himself immensely and I enjoyed all the history surrounding Titanic, the era it was build in, the work involved, the people associated with the building and operation of the ship, just didn't like the bit about it sinking and especially didn't like reading about the body of a two year old boy being found - this definitely struck a chord with us as our twins are now two and it greatly upset us.

For the interactive ride there was a very long queue, it was having a few malfunctions not surprising considering it was the 1st day of the exhibition but we stood for well over an hour waiting on it. The staff, or crew as they were called, were as helpful as could be, offering to take us on to the next bit and maybe coming back to see the ride later if we wanted but we said we were ok to stand, and then a while later more crew came up and asked again if we wanted to skip it offering us 50% off vouchers on our next visit because of our delay if we did want to move on.

The gift shop was pricey, but then they always are in places like this, some lovely pieces of jewellery and Belleek had some gorgeous pieces that I would've loved to have brought home but 1. we couldn't afford them and 2. we don't have anywhere to put them so we just had to leave them be.

The one thing I'm sorely disappointed over is that we didn't get to see the staircase, it's not part of the exhibition so I understand why lots of people are up in arms that one of the guys from JLS got to see it and tweeted a pic of himself infront of the staircase:

So unfair and it makes me wonder why the staircase is part of the advertising if it's not open for public viewing. Just goes to show that the paying customer isn't that important, it's the hype that celebrities can bring is the real issue here. 

Maybe someday we'll all get to see the staircase because really that's the one thing I was most looking forward to.


 



 
 


Empty Office



Work is closed this week because of Easter and I'm the only one in.

If I wasn't off sick last week on the one and only day I work I wouldn't be in either, I'd be at home preferably still curled up in bed whilst hubbie takes the kids to his Mum's for the day letting me have a day to myself after the mare of a day I had yesterday (dunno what was up with our girls but the terrible twos were rearing their naughty little heads).

Instead of enjoying the peace and quiet I'm in work about to try and keep busy in work for 8 hours in complete silence because I cannot get my speakers working on my computer. Not amused.

So if any of you are out enjoying the sunshine think of me stuck in the office, with only the tick tock of the wall clock to keep me company, slowly counting down the minutes until I get out of here.


Saturday 7 April 2012

Baking up a storm

Going to the in-laws for lunch tomorrow, which will turn into an all day thing once everyone arrives and though we're all having a proper lunch, teatime is a very casual affair with just bits and pieces put out and everyone helps themselves as and when they want to.

My Mummy-in-law already has a load of the party foods from Iceland for teatime and one of my Sis-in-laws will also be providing things like that whilst the other Sis-in-law always brings her pasta salad (it's very yummy) but I never get to bring anything, I always get told that they have everything they need and I don't have to worry myself.

My answer to this is to bake something so naughty and so tempting that they'll forget about everything that's already there and just want to eat what I've brought.

I'm bad, I know.

Usually I just get told to bring one of my cakes and I'm usually ok with that but lately I've been told not to bring anything, I'm starting to wonder if they're doing it on purpose just so I will make something naughty for them.

So on my baking agenda today we have, oat and raisin cookies, pavlova, meringues, chocolate brownies and maybe something else if time allows.

Thursday 5 April 2012

Guilt

The Committee Member for our area put the latest Prayer Diary and Communion Token through our door last night and as I sit here reading through it I'm filled with guilt that I haven't been to Church in quite a while.

Everyone says it's understandable what with our girls not sleeping through the night and most nights not going to bed until at least 11pm but still I should've been making more of an effort.

I try to be a good Christian and I know that I'm not but I also know that as long as God knows I'm trying that's all that matters, what others think of me isn't important.

Wednesday 4 April 2012

Wordless Wednesday


2 year assessment

Just off the phone with our health visitor's assistant arranging appointments for our twins to have their 2 year assessments.

This will be an interesting 40 mins.

Unless any either of my parent's in law come down on the train the morning of the appointments I'll be taking the girls myself so that definitely means double trouble!!

Have to say I'm a little surprised because the last time I was talking to the health visitor she told me that they came out to the house to observe the toddlers in their own environment rather than their office so I was expecting her to ask when they could come out instead of us coming in to see them.

Oh well, where it happens doesn't matter as long as it happens.