Did you hear about CyberMummy?

For those of you who aren't bloggers or who don't read more than one British Parent blog (that's what I am classed as BTW) then you probably have no clue about a really big event that's coming up in July.

CyberMummy is an event where Mummy (and Daddy) Bloggers can get together to network, learn more about the art of blogging, the technical side of things and lots of other things that get geeks like me excited (Want me to talk stats? Yeah I didn't think you did). The only downside to it was how was I going to fund my ticket.

I managed to do something really clever, I managed to get sponsored. You see I tweeted this;

And two days later I was contacted by a sponsor who wanted to pay for my ticket! So now I am proud to announce that I am a Huggies Mummy! I have some lovely co-bloggers also being sponsored by Huggies and they are;

A place of my Own
Bump2Basics: Random Musings From an American Mom in London
Baby Genie
Glowstars
Me, the Man, and the Baby
Perfectly Happy Mum
The Alice
Wham-Bam!
Young & Younger

And of course this wouldn't be possible without Huggies!

Top Ender Giggles - Sign of the times.

Daddy was sitting on the sofa next to Top Ender when he asked if I had heard a news story about a group of teenagers who had been told accidentally they wouldn't do well in their GCSE's with some ranking thrown in about them for good measure.

"Some of the students had been quite upset about the news and a few of them fled home in tears" said Daddy
"Where they all went straight on to Twitter and tweeted about it" said Top Ender.

They probably did too.

Wordless Wednesday - I must go down to the Sea again, to the lonely Sea and the Sky

Top Ender Giggles - What were you expecting?!

Top Ender, Daddy and I had Chinese for Dinner on our Family Night. Top Ender had been very brave and had tried a few new dishes. She must of got bitten by the trying something new bug because she saw Daddy's bottle of Fanta and asked him if she could try some.

"Of course Top Ender, here have a little taste" said a disbelieving Daddy (as Top Ender doesn't like us to even look at a fizzy drink)
"It tastes like Fizzy Orange Juice!" said a surprised Top Ender
"What did you expect?!" laughed Daddy

Top Ender Giggles - They look good enough to eat...

Daddy spent some time in the kitchen baking some cheese scones over the weekend as he found a new recipe using his wheat free flour. Once they had come out of the oven, Top Ender came through to the kitchen following her nose.

"Look Top Ender these are my new Wheat Free Scones! What do you think?" said Daddy proudly
"They're great!" Top Ender enthused "You're going to love them!"

What did we do over Easter Half Term?

At the start of April I posted about What we want to do over Easter Half Term.

I posted a list of things and it is repeated here with what we managed to do in the bolder font!

•Create a time capsule (to be opened in the Summer)
•Go on a treasure hunt
•Go for a walk in the woods
•Go to a farm
•Go to an indoor play centre
•Go for a picnic
•Go to the local Manor House to walk round the gardens
•Go to see our local Shopping centres indoor display (its a Village Green this Easter)
•Stay over at Granny's (well Top Ender will)
•Have Granny over for Easter Sunday Lunch
•Lay the flooring in the clubhouse and make it bug proof (Top Enders request!)
•Make some net curtains for the windows of the clubhouse
•Make an Easter collage
•Sort out our toys and books to give to charity or the local women's shelter

I don't think we did too bad!

Christmas Club - April

Its almost the end of the fourth month of the year, Easter has been and gone and taken with it the first third of the year. Its time to be thinking about Spring Cleaning and working in the garden and getting ready to come round my house and decorate for my birthday and whilst you are doing that I'll get round to clearing a big space for all the gifts you are all bringing for me...

May for me is a big month as not only is it my birthday, and my Mums birthday but it is also Baby Boys birthday and my sister's third daughter is due! May has actually caught me a bit unawares this year, and just a few nights ago I told Daddy how many days were left in April and not even realising that I was giving myself a countdown until I turned Twenty-One Twenty-Two Twenty-Three Twenty-Four (I can get away with that right?).

I am looking this month at starting jobs that annoy me at Christmas and having extra daylight makes a lot easier. This weekend we have tackled the garage. When we moved in three and a half years ago there were a few things that the previous owner left in the garage that we kept thinking that maybe one day we would use them. Things like the off cut of our kitchen work surfaces (If I had said bunkers who would of known what I meant?), a couple of cracked floor tiles and some ceramic tiles that don't match anything in the house to name but three. This weekend we got down and dirty and took these items down the tip along with a lot of other things that we no longer loved or needed!

The two other main jobs for the month are to add some hooks to the front of our house above our bedroom windows and to give the loft a sort out. The hooks are being put up so that the Christmas lights will be more secure this year, doing it now means we don't have to worry about the weather or timing nearer to Christmas! Sorting out the loft is because anybody who has been in their own loft at the height of summer or winter knows how hot or cold the rooms can get!

Now whilst this might not be the most obvious Christmas preparation it is fairly straightforward. Anyone who has ever tried to hide a Christmas gift knows that a clean, decluttered area to hide a gift in means that it won't be found by the person it is meant for and will be found by the hider come the time to exchange gifts!

And a quick reminder, whilst I know that the children have only just gone back to school after the Easter break, the May Half Term is rapidly approaching so make your plans now! And as always if you do write a Christmas letter don't forget to make a short note now so you don't forget what you did this April and take a look at some photos that you might like to add in to the letter too!

The Little Dish Review

I was contacted by Little Dish on Twitter and they asked if Top Ender and Baby Boy might be interested in trying some Little Dish meals. I managed to convince them that they wanted to send me lots of dishes so that I could get the playgroup Mums and children round for a taste test session after playgroup.

I don't think they thought me greedy as they sent me a cooler pack filled with meals (and crayons and balloons and little activity books) and so when the Mums came round after playgroup I threw the meals into the oven (and a cake) and carried on the chat where we found out a lot about each other.

All I am going to say about the chit chat is that its always the quiet ones, that I am proud to know these women and my list is now longer. I might talk about my list in a blog post one day... then again this is a family blog!

Back to the food.

We had several meals to try and there was enough that each of the children had a little bit of each meal and us Mum's could try some too. We had;

Salmon and Broccoli Pasta Bake
Chicken with Vegetables and Giant Couscous

Pasta Bolognese
Cottage Pie and
Chicken and Butternut Squash Pie

Luckily I have two ovens and so everything fitted in nicely. The smells coming from the oven whilst the food was cooking (for 15 minutes) were very tempting and even when the dishes were taken out of the oven I had to say I was impressed, the food didn't look like it was shop brought but looked like something that I would make in a fit of domesticity.

The Mums spooned some of each dish on to a plate for their child and then the fun began.

It was a mixed bag of reactions to the dishes with the Salmon and Broccoli Pasta Bake being identified by most of the children as the one they didn't want to eat (by spitting it out) and to be honest it did smell well fishy... yeah I know its a fish dish and it should be fishy but it was just too fishy! (although after everyone had gone home I ate the rest and found it to be really nice once the flavours had settled)

The Chicken with Vegetable and Giant Couscous was a success with one little one using it to decorate a drawing he had done whilst waiting for the food to be cooked! I have to say that Baby Boy did like this (which pleased me a lot as I was the only one in the house who liked couscous before this taste test!) and this is the one that we will be buying again for a treat for him!

The Pasta Bolognese was very nice and with Angus Beef Mince and five pureed vegetable it almost resembled one I would make (I hide more vegetables in mine!)  as was the Cottage Pie although the topping of sweet potato and parsnip was a little strange for a few of the little ones (I liked it!).

The last dish was the Chicken and Butternut Squash Pie which everyone liked Mums and children alike! I almost didn't get to taste this one as after the initial taste tests from the Children and Mums there was a queue to get seconds. Luckily I managed to nibble a little from Baby Boys plate and could agree that it was very scrummy!

All the Mums had a good look at the packaging and loved that it was so clear to read, there was no added Salt or Sugar, they are nutritionally balanced and have clear allergy information. When Top Ender came home she also loved that inside the sleeves were pictures to colour in and she loves the illustrations on the front especially the unicycling cow!

The range can be brought at Tesco, Waitrose, Sainsbury's and on Ocado.com and if you are looking for a healthy ready meal for your kids I would recommend these!

My Playlist.

Over at Who's the Mummy? Sally tagged me in a infinite play list meme. You are asked to list five songs that you would listen to for the rest of time; Could listen to for the rest of time.

I started thinking. I got a list of twenty, reduced it to ten and then managed to reduce it again to five. These are my five.

Always a woman to me by Billy Joel. This song describes me, well my idea of me. Every time I say that Daddy makes a comment about how it isn't true that I am not as mean or cruel as the woman in the song, but I see myself in the lyrics. And I like the song.

Rock N' Roll Nerd by Tim Minchin. You have to love Tim Minchin, its the law (really before the election was called it was passed and if you break this law you have to pay a huge fine to me). I was going to put down Canvas bag but Rock N' Roll is the one that made it to the list of the final five. You see if I was talented it would be about me!

Song for a Grounded Angel by Joshua Kadison. This is actually Top Ender and Baby Boys song. You see it was playing when Top Ender was born (and should of been playing when Baby Boy was born but it wasn't so we will just pretend okay) and I really do pray for them only beautiful things.

Beach Baby by First Class. This song is the exact length of time it takes to drive from the local Tesco to my road. Yes I know that it is sad that I know that. I would of loved to have been an American teen like the ones portrayed in this song.

Written in the Stars by by LeAnn Rimes and Elton John from Aida. This is my heartbreak song. It reminds me of a time and a place when I thought I knew everything and instead I discovered that loving hurts sometimes.

Now for the taggings. I am going to be naughty and tag Daddy from A Mothers Ramblings and Single Mummy and Mediocre Mum and Bringing up Charlie and Being a Mummy and Top Ender too!

Top Ender and her ipod which has more than five songs on

Top Ender Giggles - Its like a Muffin!

Auntie popped by the other morning and the first thing I noticed was that her bump has changed shape. She confirmed that the Baby has dropped and lifted up her top to show the new basket ball shaped Belly.

It wasn't until later that evening that Top Ender brought up what she had seen.

"You know Aunties Tummy?" she asked
"Yes." I answered
"Well her belly button has popped out instead of being inside!" she exclaimed
"Yes it has" I confirmed
"It looks like a Muffin you know" she stated "All big on top and sticking out!"

I really don't want to eat any Muffins anymore. Maybe if I don't I could look like Auntie did before she was pregnant!

Wordless Wednesday - A Day out with Daddy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top Ender Giggles - Different languages

Top Ender was walking next to me in town, both of us enjoying the sunshine.

"Mummy?" she asked pausing before taking a breath and then spilling out "If the language that we spoke wasn't this language and then I made up a word in the language that we don't speak now but did speak then do you think that the word I made up might be from this language that we speak now, but wouldn't speak then?"

I wanted to answer in just one word in contrast to her sudden pouring out of words but instead I said;

"Well Top Ender, you are really smart so I think that you would be able to make up the entire language that we speak now but wouldn't speak then."

She seemed happy with that.

Top Ender Giggles - A, B, C, D, E, F, G...

"Quick, Top Ender give me a letter!" I said
"Err, erm, err, Nanny B!" said Top Ender
"Top Ender I said a letter!" I giggled
"Oh. Erm C then!"

Top Ender Giggles - Memory of a Goldfish

During the Easter Holidays Daddy took a day off so that we could have a family fun day. We had a few ideas of what it was that we would like to do, but didn't have anything definite planned. Top Ender and I were sitting on the sofa and we asked her what she would like to do.

"Go to 360?" she asked
"No, it will be busy and it isn't something we can do as a family!" Daddy answered
"Well then we might as well just stay at home and watch TV all day!" she snorted back

Top Ender flopped back into the sofa and after a quarter of a second sat back up

"Right, well I am bored now, so lets go out!" she brightly breezed

I love this photo of Top Ender, she is always pulling funny faces... she's not like me at all!

The End of Mummy Daughter Date Night

It's not just Daddy and I that make silly videos, I even get Top Ender in on the action!

(or you can watch it here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9ExwBP2ZB0)

Top Ender Giggles - She's going to be a cheap date

Top Ender and I were at home alone and so when she asked if she could have a drink and something to eat I went to get it for her.

I brought through some Fresh Orange juice and some snacks. Top Ender had a mouthful of the orange juice and exclaimed;

"Its like a party in my mouth!"

Baby Boy Giggles - Copy Cat

Top Ender had the hiccups and after a few attempts of me trying to help her to lose them I gave up. I was a little tired and so lay back on the sofa and closed my eyes for a second, whilst Top Ender cuddled in.

A moment later and Daddy jumped beside me and screamed "BOO!" at Top Ender to try to get her to lose her hiccups. Of course she wasn't frightened but it did make me yell a rude word;

"Shit!" I screamed in fright suddenly waking up from a rather pleasant dream about certain TV Characters
"Did I frighten you?!" laughed Daddy
"Yes! I was asleep!" I answered, looking round to check if the children might of magically missed my swearing.

A few minutes passed.

"Daddy?" asked Baby Boy
"Yes Baby Boy?" answered Daddy
"Boo Baby Boy Daddy?" he asked
"Okay Baby Boy" answered Daddy going on to call out "Boo!"
"Shit Daddy!" giggled Baby Boy looking at me

Baby Boy Giggles - His Bedtime Routine

"Night night Baby Boy" I say as I kiss his Forehead and switch on the lullaby sheep
"Mummy?" asks Baby Boy
"Yes Baby Boy?" I answer brightly knowing whats to come
"Where's Top Ender?" he says
"In bed Sweetheart waiting for me to tuck her in!" I smile at him
"Where's Daddy?" he says
"At work Sweetie!" I say with my nose twitching as I smile again
"Top Ender with Daddy?" he questions
"No, Top Ender is in bed and Daddy is at work" I answer softly
"Daddy bed with Top Ender?" he puzzles
"No Daddy is at work" I answer again
"Love Top Ender and Daddy" he answers happily as settles into his pillow "Love Mummy" he says sleepily
"We love you too Baby Boy" I answer quietly as I leave "We love you too."

Wordless Wednesday - Just one scoop!

Make us...

Its that time of the month again where Heather at Notes from Lapland and Karin at Cafe Bebe challenge those interested to come up with a vlog for a competition. This month the title was "Make us something" and so we made this vlog!

Or you could go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r3RqoMchoo to watch it!

Baby Boy's New Bedroom

Its nearly Baby Boys Birthday. He will be two and as such I am going to have to stop treating him as a little Baby and start treating him like a little boy.

Look its my ickle baby!

The first step in this is by making his bedroom more suitable for a Boy than a Baby.

I started by putting Baby Boys name on his door.

I went to bed that night and lay on Daddy's side of the bed so that I could see Baby Boy's name on his door. I was so proud of this small action of mine and the reaction of Baby Boy when he first saw it and was told it was his name.

He looked at me and then at his name and then back at me and said;

"Mummy, ME!"

We also put up a photo frame from Ikea (its the one that looks like a strip of film) with some pictures of Ducks in (again they are from Ikea!) as he loves them. He shouts "DUCK!" at them and then giggles.

We put up a picture of a Leopard that his Nanny painted and gave him at Easter and a square blue pin board, which we are going to add postcards and other bits to as we go along. Lastly there is an old movie print from Finding Nemo on the back of his door which we have to say Goodnight to every night;

"Night Feesh!" Baby Boy says touching each fish in turn with a kissed finger
"The Fish say Night night and mwah to you too" I answer

I know that it is only a few small changes but its changes that mean that I am already able to see hidden underneath the Baby curls a little Boy... My Little Boy.

Top Ender Giggles - Well they all live upside down you know!

Top Ender and I were watching Spirited Away as our Friday night film (if you haven't seen it then rent it, buy it, borrow it from a friend its a great film). The film hadn't been on for long when Top Ender asked about the Spirits and if they come out at our night in the film.

"If they come out at night then now must be the time they have breakfast" she stated

"I guess so Top Ender" I answered

"Maybe all the Spirits are Australian..." she muttered to herself

I thought it was a Japanese film.

A Perfect Day

Today is Sunday, my normally perfect day. Now I know that as a Flybaby I shouldn't use the p word, but honestly Sundays are brilliant in our house. Sundays are the day that we spend together as a family, the day that we don't need to rush around to the shops or do things that we don't really want to.

If everything goes to plan then today we are going to have a picnic in the Gardens of a local Manor House after I have finished work and the children and Daddy are back from swimming. Tonight when I am back home, I will hopefully look back on today and see that today was a perfect day.

If it wasn't however I shall just remember that I was tagged in A Perfect Day Meme by Single Mummy and that in my head this is what happened...

I wake up at 7am to Daddy getting up to see to Baby Boy and taking him downstairs so that I can have my extra hour (or two) in bed before I start work. I will spend the first hour either sleeping and making use of the whole bed or reading my book and playing on my iPod Touch... possibly even tweeting!

An hour later and I will be needing to pee.

I shall go downstairs to the bathroom, stopping off at the under stairs cupboard to pick up some freshly laundered towels, and well pee. Then of course I will jump in the shower and wash my hair with my expensive conditioner which I only use on Sunday mornings. After getting out and brushing my teeth to make me feel really clean I shall put on my make up before going back upstairs to get dressed.

I will be back downstairs at 8:40 and Baby Boy will of course want some milk and so we shall have a quick cuddle on the sofa whilst I am eating my breakfast and Top Ender fills me in on the events of the morning so far. She will then willingly go off to get washed and dressed and get her bag ready for swimming. Baby Boy will have had his fill and will go off with Daddy, (who has got dressed whilst I was eating and feeding) to get dressed and washed.

I will then start work. I will work for three hours and whilst things are quiet I will read blogs, reply to comments on my blog, answer my emails and tweet. At some point whilst I was working Daddy and the children went out. They were going to go swimming, but they will also go to a park after they finish at the pool and I will be able to see what they are up to from the Tweets that Daddy will send. When they come back they will empty the swim bags themselves and Top Ender and Baby Boy will nearly be ready for lunch.

We will throw the packed picnic bag into the car, make sure everyone is strapped in and drive to the Manor House.

The sun will be shining.

Whilst we are there we will wander around the gardens, looking at the flowers and the trees, following the clues as set out in the little guide book and reading the detailed information panels around the gardens. Both the video camera and the Big digital camera will be out and Daddy and I will be taking great photos and videos of Top Ender and Baby Boy and of each other. We will take at least one photo and one video on timer of all of us together.

We will sit down to our picnic in a nice sunny spot and after our lunch we will wander round the gardens a bit more and then head back home. Late in the afternoon we will fire up the BBQ and have Salmon and potatoes roasted in foil on the BBQ and as it is my perfect day Baby Boy and I will have some corn on the cob to munch on too.

After the bedtime routine and the children have gone to bed Daddy and I will sit out in the last of the evening sun, chatting about anything we can think of or more than likely playing a game that we have invented during the day. As it starts to get chilly we will go back into the house and decide to watch a bit of TV in bed where I will fall asleep before the end of the programme and the perfect day will end.

The Meme about what makes me happy - Or Sorry Single Mummy!

I have known Single Mummy for several years now. As I mentioned the other day (in my April Meme) I first met her when I was pregnant with Top Ender... Well I say met her, I haven't actually ever met her in person!

Anyway because she is lovely she tagged me in two memes and I haven't done either of them. So I am going to do one of them now. The Meme about what makes me happy

I have to list ten things that make me happy so....

1 My Family. Yes I know it is a cliche, but really they do make me happy. I am a better person when they are around.

I want to be a better person when they are around. I want to be the better person for them. I want to be the best so that they can be the best, yes I know that I might control things a little too much, but I try to make things fun at the same time.

2 Watching TV shows that Daddy says he doesn't like (but then gets annoyed if I watch them when he isn't around). There aren't many that this happens with, but he does like to dip in and out of a few of my addictions! I also like that he lets me watch the Sci-fi ones on my own without asking me what is going on every five minutes!

3 A glass of Dr Pepper. I love the stuff. That is all I will say on the subject!

Okay you twisted my arm! I love to drink the stuff cold, I love to drink it hot. I love the smell and the taste and now that almost every vending machine in the UK stocks it, I feel that my life is complete! I so wish that there were some places in the UK that had it on tap as there is in the USA. In fact I wish I had it on tap here... wonder if I could get it hooked up like the Gas and Water and Electric?

4 Work. I really enjoy my job. I think I do a good job and I know that some people appreciate my efforts! I know I complain about it, but that is part of the good! Having a good moan but not doing anything about it, is so very British!

5 Flowers. I love flowers, all kinds. I love to smell them, the colours, the shapes. I really need to buy myself more flowers. I need to play with flowers more often.

6 Reading. I love reading. I remember once when I was quite young reading a Sweet Valley High Book and needing to pee. For some reason I didn't do my usual trick of taking the book with me to the toilet. As I was sitting on the toilet I started to get upset because I was going to miss my TV programme. For some reason I had forgotten that I was reading a book and had thought that it was a film. That is how all books are for me. The people become real or there is a movie like quality to them. I like to be able to escape to another world.

7 Music. Any music, I will listen to Mongolian Noseflutes, Tuvan Throat Singing, Acid Jazz or Eurovision entries. Heck I even have a favourite Tweenies CD and a favourite song. This is why I like Glee so much! I also really love Musicals, I sometimes wish that I lived in a Musical. Wouldn't it be neat to just suddenly burst into song and nobody look at you as if you are crazy?

8 Fly Lady. Yes, she makes me happy. Why? Because it thanks to her that I kind of have routines in place. It because of her that I understand myself better. I know that I like lists, I know that I respond well to encouragement. I know that I just need to be a little kinder on myself and a little harder in equal measure!
9 Showers. I love getting in the shower. I love trying to get everything washed before my timer goes off and I love the once a week take as long as I want shower. Ahh. I am not going to describe too much about the shower as I know what key search words will bring up this blog if I mention getting soapy in the shower. Darn it.

10 Friends. I actually think that I am getting some friends. I think that I have opened myself up enough to make people realise that I am not a complete loony, but then again shown enough loony for them to realise that I am just like them (Hello collective Playgroup Mummies!). And also they have nice houses. In fact I am going to move in with them even if they don't want me to... Actually scratch that I'm not moving in with them all, just going to flip a coin and steal a house!

Right so I don't know who has and who hasn't had this one, so if you would like it then you are tagged and if you would let me know and link back to me I shall update this page here and link to you!

Cousin Giggles - Well I imagine it would

Top Ender and Baby Boys newest cousin is due in just over a month. Big Cousin and her Mummy (Auntie) were talking about various things when Big Cousin came out with;

"Do you know that babies come out of your bumbie? That's why you cry when they come out."

Bumbie is Big Cousins word for bottom.

Auntie was in no hurry to explain that she was a little south of where the baby is going to come out and has decided that she will really make sure that Big Cousin is fast asleep before watching another TV programme about labour and delivery!

April meme: All About Springtime

I was tagged in a meme about Springtime over at Ready for Ten... well actually Top Ender was as the meme is about asking children six questions about how the world changes in spring, and the things they can do outside in Spring.

The questions are;

1. How does the world change in the spring?

2. Lots of babies are born in the spring. Where do you think baby animals are born?
3. What did mummy do before you were born?
4. Spring is a good time to play outside. If you and mummy could spend a whole day playing outside, doing anything you want, what would it be?
5. Did you know we moved the clocks forward onto British Summer Time? Why do you think we do this?
6. How long is it until summer?

So Top Ender and I decided to make a video...

(Or you can go see it here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1M30QKj73k)

And now I am going to tag the following two children (who I know are a similar age to Top Ender because I met their Mummys when we were pregnant!)

E who belongs to Single Mummy - I promise to do your Memes!!!

Daniel who belongs to Wee Wifie because if I remember rightly he is a great little character

And the lovely Flea who belongs to Who's the Mummy? because she is just fantastic!

Girls don't forget to go and add your link to the McLinky linky link at the Ready for Ten website and you don't have to do a video, you can type your answers!

Wordless Wednesday - Ugly

If only it had been a Starbucks I could of used my favourite Simpson's Quote.

Top Ender Giggles - Well we *could* do that...

Top Ender and Daddy were talking about what they could do on a Daddy Daughter Date Night as they had missed their Saturday Night Date.

"I want to go to the cinema!" said Top Ender
"We could watch a film at home Top Ender; We have lots of films." said Daddy

"Well we could do that Daddy, or we could read from our Bibles!" answered Top Ender

Baby Boy Giggles - Sometimes you have to learn for yourself

Yes it's a chilli that Baby Boy is eating, he wouldn't give it to us, so we let him try it.

He's a braver man than I!

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday is almost over. Frost is on the TV and the leftovers from the Roast Lamb that we enjoyed today are calling to me.

We have Easter Eggs coming out of ears and I have more bunches of flowers than I have vases for. In fact I have had to rescue a glass jar from the recycling box to put a beautiful bunch of Roses from my Mum in.

All the Grandparents have seen the Grandchildren today and have watched delighted as they have eaten some of the chocolate they have pressed upon them (because the children were oh so reluctant to eat yet another piece of chocolate) and the children are now in bed, dreaming happily of Bunnies and Grandparents who bring more chocolate than they have ever seen.

So please excuse me, but I am off to snuggle on the sofa (Yes in my slanket) with my beloved Husband and to be thankful that we got to share this together.

Happy Easter Everyone!

In honour of Nanna's Chocolate Bunny who is missing its bottom.

The 4am Project.

Last year 4am was a time that I was often awake. I would either be listening out for Baby Boy to wake up wanting milk, or actually giving him the required milk.

I am not sure how I first found out about the 4am project, but I do know that I left a comment on the blog saying that I was up for joining in. I mean I was going to be up anyway! Karen let me know that she was pleased to welcome me aboad.

You see her fascination with 4am came when she was driving at 4am and was just taken with the different view that she was getting. Without cars and people in the way you look at things differently.

So last year on the 3rd of April, I went to bed with my camera next to me. On the 4th April at 4am I was planning on wandering around the house taking various photos of either the children or what was outside.

But I kind of forgot to set an alarm.

And Baby Boy slept through the night.

This year however my alarm is already set!

Another reason why I should have an iPad!

Last December I wrote a post about a brilliant website that Daddy had used when he went on a Business trip to Chile. Using your web cam you could record a story that you can then email to a loved one to watch whilst you are away.

The website was "A Story Before Bed" and I got some great news from them this week when the iPad is launched properly tomorrow they are going to have their very own app that will be launched at the same time!

Now I love the whole concept of A Story Before Bed, and I love my iPod Touch (which the A Story Before Bed app for is going to be launched soon!) and as I love the sound of the iPad... I just need someone to give me free, let me product test, donate to me, let me win in a competition buy me one!

What we want to do over Easter Half Term

Top Ender and I have been planning our Easter holiday schedule. We have decided that we want to do something different everyday, which is hard because with the British weather there is only so much that we can do!

We have decided however that we will;

• Create a time capsule (to be opened in the Summer)
• Go on a treasure hunt
• Go for a walk in the woods
• Go to a farm
• Go to an indoor play centre
• Go for a picnic
• Go to the local Manor House to walk round the gardens
• Go to see our local Shopping centres indoor display (its a Village Green this Easter)
• Stay over at Granny's (well Top Ender will)
• Have Granny over for Easter Sunday Lunch
• Lay the flooring in the clubhouse and make it bug proof (Top Enders request!)
• Make some net curtains for the windows of the clubhouse
• Make an Easter collage
• Sort out our toys and books to give to charity or the local women's shelter

We think that's enough to be going on with, but who knows what we will get up to!

I'm Magic and know Everything!

"Mum you know that Easter festival that lasts eight days for Jewish people?" asked Top Ender

"Top Ender do you mean Passover?" I answered hoping that I was right
"Yeah that one!" she answered
"Jewish people don't celebrate Easter. Passover is a different thing altogether." I answered
"Oh. Well there is a book about it you know." she said
"Well the only book I know that is about it is the Bible. Its in Leviticus." I answered
"Yeah that's the one." she answered
"Well we could read it together if you like..." I said
"Mummy? Are you Jewish?" she asked
"No, Top Ender I am LDS, a Christian." I said
"Well then how come you know so much about it all then?" she asked
I didn't answer her seriously, I just laughed that "I'm magic and know Everything!"
 
I should of told her that before she was born I went to University (for one year, but it still counts, I couldn't afford to stay for the other two) and studied Religious Studies, Theology and English.
 
I should of told her that in order to understand my own faith and to know that my faith was right for me that I should understand other peoples faiths.
 
I should of told her that with all the books that I have read in the past I have picked up a fair bit of knowledge about lots of things.
 
I should of told her that one day she would know lots of things too, but I didn't. 
 
I wanted her to believe that I know everything, that I am the sun and the moon, that I know the Tooth Fairy, The Easter Bunny, Jack Frost, Father Christmas (and his wife), The Chief Elf, the answer to the hardest math problem she can think of, that I have read every book and I know every song ever written.
 

I didn't tell her because I wanted Top Ender to still believe that I am Magic.