Sweet and sour.

Well I had my pre op today at the hospital. My op is planned for Monday 13 Sept. I have been waiting 6 months for this, and cannot wait till it is over and done with. So i can go back to being a Mum that plays with her kids instead  of watching them. You see i had a prolapse of my internal organs in March (14 to be precise, it was mothers day - in the UK). So i am pleased it is being done finally. I am a bit saddened though as it is David's birthday on the Friday and it is touch and go if i will be home with him. I will be so sad to miss him turning 11.  So i am torn between being honest about my health and any pain or lying my butt off to get home! I am not cancelling the op, but i really have to be well enough to be home on the 17th! Heres hoping i can do it.
Speaking of David, he is back to school tomorrow. His last year at junior school.  This time next year he will be sporting a blazer and tie for school, i have a year to prepare for this. Somehow i do not think that will be long enough!                                    

Ok so a bigger update (with pictures) on all of us!

Ok so i have shared to ups ans downs, highs and lows of Becky's flying life, I guess i better let you all know what the rest of us are up to or you will start to think she has hijacked my blog!
So get yourself a coffee (maybe a Thermos) and a biscuit (or four) then take some time to catch up on the rest of us!
Rich has been working SO hard. He is an amazing husband and father and takes his role as a provider to his family very seriously! There was a point we really were ships in the night. And I missed him. Lots.   
Still in August we went on holiday together, with the children... my parents, my brother, his wife and their two children! Time together in a converted barn in Devon. It was lovely. The weather was kind to us, if you don't count the thunderstorm on our arrival nor the fog on our departure!
It was so lovely to spend time away from home with Rich. Seeing him relax a bit. Watching him enjoying time with the kids. Snuggling with him at night, hearing his relaxed breathing.  

I have been ill pretty much all of this year, well since March 14th (UK Mothers day to be precise!). I need surgery. I am getting my surgery. 13th September is my planned date for it.  It feels like it's been a long time coming! And i will be able to blog more, what with being off on "sick" leave. I will be home for between 10 days and 6 weeks depending what they do to me. ha ha.don't you just love surprises?
 I am still enjoying my job and we are now planning to move house. hooray!
  
So what can i tell you about Rae? Well she is still doing amazingly well at school. She took one of her GCSE (UK exams) exams early and has chosen 13 in total to study over the next two years. The average is 8 or 9. I hope she can find time to a) fit it all in and b) still have fun being a kid. I guess time will tell.
She is now playing the Sax, Flute and guitar as well as her singing lessons oh and doing her music theory exam.
It was great to see her relaxing on holiday:

Laughing in the garden in Devon.

    

Walking along the shore.

Becky has also been doing well at school. She is choosing her GCSE options this year. Eeeek! I am NOT ready to go through ALL that AGAIN!

She has a beau in her life, the lovely C. He is good for her. I like him. He keeps a close eye on her at school for me with regard to her blanking out. 

Becky and her beau C.

She spent a LOT of time in the sea while we were on holiday...

About to start a water fight with Uncle Andy.

Losing at the water fight!

So we move to to youngest member of the clan. David, has surprised me lately. He is thoughtful, helpful, caring, funny and about to enter his final year at junior school. That's right I am nearly the mother of 3 children in senior school. YUK!

He is still my baby. He cannot be nearly 11, despite what his birth certificate says. In typical boy fashion, when we asked what he would like as reward for a good year at school, he asked for... drumroll.. wait for it..

2 Giant African Land Snails. Oh dear Lord.

So welcome to the family... Dory and Crush! (Photos soon of those two!!)

David thoroughly enjoyed our holiday and spending time with Dad and Grandad. With all the girls at home he does like some "man time".

Surf Dude!

First Geocache find of the holiday!

Looking good kid.

And so that my dear friends is you all caught up with the comings and goings of me, him and them! I will really try harder to post more often. Promise!

                                        

                                           
  

What a week...

Well it has been an interesting week for us. Rebecca has decided it is time to start flexing her teenage wings, unfortunately she flexed a little hard and i had to get the clippers out.
It was hard to deal with it all really, she is normally a fairly easy kid to raise but i have issued a punishment this week that is aimed to reel her back in... no going out, no PC and chores as and when i demand request with no questions asked! She is hating every minute of it, as am i for making sure i stick to my guns. Still if it hits my point home, it's a job well done!
Rae has now taken on learning another instrument - the guitar to go along with the flute, sax and singing lessons!
She has a bit of a Midas touch when it comes to music and I cannot claim she inherited any of it from me or my husband!
David is going to Swanage from the 7 - 11 June, with the school, so today we bought him some summer clothes and walking boots i had to get him age 12 / 13 clothes, he is only 10, he is so tall.
I helped a friend T to buy some bits for her new house was nice to see the new pad and be able to offer her the help she needed.

Tomorrow i am booked to do a photo shoot of a friends little boy L so will post photos when i have taken them.

So i currently look around the house and cannot decide whether to ignore the housework and read a few blogs or get off my butt and do something!

I like her style!

I have a wonderful friend with whom i have a "deal" of sorts... I drive her to and from work and she allows the kids to stay at her house after school so i don't have to pay a taxi to take them home. It works for us. Becky collects David from school and they walk to my friends house where Rae meets them later after whichever music club she has attended.
So it is Friday afternoon, I'm counting down the last couple of hours when my daughter rings..with a due sense of fear and dread i take the call and i have the following conversation:
"Hi Mum, i have picked David up.. but well he is REALLY hyper, i think i should take him for a walk through town to calm him down!"
(just a minor point to note: David is not a child we could ever describe as hyper...the word i would use is more like lethargic!!)
"Oh really, and just what would you do in town honey?" I reply trying not to chuckle at my darling daring daughter.
"Uh, you know Mum.... just, you know... walk, to wear him out.. after all i don't want him being hyper in B's house.. it might upset the goldfish!!!"
Well you know what i caved in... I let them walk in town for a short while, giving them a time to be at the house. I just had to admire her style and tenacity on this one. We have talked about how David is NOT now, nor has he ever been, hyper, so i can't wait for the next request application to be filed.

Life was so much easier then:

I ♥ faces....

Ok there are two categories this week..pets and pouting....

Here is my pouting entry, David when he was small, he was begging for the camera!!:

and here is my pet entry! Hobbes drinking the tapwater from the bath!!
(i promise i was not on the toilet to take this, nor do i take my camera to the bathroom with me..
i did however sprint down the stairs to get said camera, praying like mad he would not move!)

Pre Op and Extreme socks!?

Okay weird title?? Well it is, that was my day..weird!
I had my pre op - the nurse liked me enough to give me her email address and direct phone number at the hospital, because we live fairly far away (i thought we lived close but apparently not!), and if i need her after the op Rich can email or call her direct for advice! WOW how cool is that?
I am "normal" too..she must have seen some real whack jobs today if i am considered normal! haha.
As far as the op goes it will all be a surprise! They may do..nothing..just look around, find not much and come out or they may do a full hysterectomy {other end of scale} or anything in between. I am okay with that if i am honest. I'd rather they find something than nothing to explain the pain but i'll go with the flow..not too much choice when i'm sedated is there really?? LOL

David did a speech at school today and scored 38 out of 40 which is fantastic for a boy who hates being in the spotlight. Go David.

Becky got told off at school, wait for it..because her socks are long. Yes you read it right! Apparently they are "extreme" and show a lack of conformity. Excuse me?? Apparently children should not stand out so much at school, they should conform so she has been banned from wearing her skirt. Now if her socks were rainbow coloured..i might agree. If she hadn't lost so much weight she looks downright awful in her school trousers i might agree..but when she looks quite sweet in her navy skirt and socks i am putting up a fight! Oh and if she had not been wearing the socks since September {not the same pair we do wash them!} then i might agree! But when my baby girl who has legs that make Bambi look chubby chooses these socks...


I am happy to let her wear them, and will fight her corner when she is told she is too extreme! I am meeting her head of year tomorrow after school to discuss this and other issues such as her health and tiredness. I am not cross about this..bewildered perhaps and even a little bemused..and if i am honest i am a lot amused!

Caption Contest..

ok ok i know i'm pushing my luck here because so many folk run these, but i love the following photo of my two youngest {see below}. They were messing about when we went to Petersfield Heath last Sunday after Bex took her drama exam.

So what do you think is happening???

{I may offer a small prize for the one that makes me laugh the most!}

A 3 in 1 post!

**Update to below... Becky got a DISTINCTION in her drama exam - 89%*** Very proud :D

Cheap shot title i know but I'm going to be posting about the 3 kids in one post!!
So where to begin really,
Rae and Becky are doing well at school, rehearsing for Bugsy Malone (school show) most evenings!
Rae just had her braces colour changed again this time a lovely jade green colour that i L♥ve!


Becky is full of flu, but is maintaining her weight at last! Back to the Doctor soon to see where we go with her next as coeliac has been ruled OUT! Much to my relief!
She took her graded drama exam at the weekend, we should get the results this evening.(will post when i have them!!)


And David has been doing well in school too. He continues to just trundle through life at his own pace with his own agenda! Here he was this morning ready for school, they were having Roman Day so you guessed it he dressed as a Roman Soldier!!And that as they say is that!!

I think i'm gonna like it..

at my new place of work! I start on the 11th March and after spending the morning there today i can honestly say i am looking forward to it very much. It is not as fast paced as my current day, meaning the children spend more time being children and less time being shepherded from one thing to the next. There is more time to play with them doing the things they choose to do and not making them do things that you plan or expect them to do. aaaah, listen, that is the sound of me..relaxed!
I have enjoyed my current job, the kids have been great, and i will miss them and the parents greatly but i will not miss all the paperwork or paperwork for paperwork's sake! Where one sheet should do we are using 3 or 4 and it takes us away from time spent being with and education in a fun way. I guess the fun has been sucked out of it and when that happens it is definitely time to move on.
David spent the morning at the kids club today (run at my new place of work) and i was a little worried how he would get on as he is quite shy normally but he was swimming this morning and after that did a dance session and hockey. By the time i collected him he'd made friends and was having a blast! I am really pleased about this as he will be spending his mornings/days there during the holidays. And the wonderful things is that it is at no extra cost to me. WOW i am so lucky.
So that's me all happy and chilled now!
Hope your day goes as well as mine is today.

My son the weather man!?

Watching my lovely son this morning I felt a surge of pride. There he was, ready for school, sat on the sofa watching TV. No dear readers, not the usual Nickelodeon / Disney channels but my dear smart son was watching Sky news! WOW my boy was learning about the world. Taking it all in. Listening to tales of woe, inspiration and disaster. As the weather came on he sat a little more upright. He was interested in a big way. He listened to the weather man, nothing was going to distract him. I smiled to myself and thought bless him, he will be a weather forecaster one day!


Then we had the following conversation..

D- "Mum, there sure was a lot of snow last night huh?"

Me - " Yes mate, but we had a lot on Monday and Tuesday and had 2 days off then didn't we?" (see I'm a fairly clever Mum and can occasionally read the inner workings of his little mind and the minute he asked i knew where we were headed).

D- "Yeah we did........So I guess we don't drive to Alton (10 miles north of our home with very little snow) via Plymouth (only 188 miles to the west with 8 or 9 inches of snow!) to get to school then?!"

The things they will do for another snow day!!!

Pick n Mix post.

Bit of a mish mash post here, lots of little bits going on around here.
The girls auditioned for the school show of Bugsy Malone last week. They have been told that they both have parts, but which parts are tbc! Becky made me promise to tell you all that she is only 1 of 3 year seven children given a part! She is so pleased with herself! So *yaaay girlies!*
They are also both auditioning for solo's in the school Christmas concert. Rae will also be playing her sax, can't wait to see that, singing and playing, haha!! (she didn't find that funny either!)

David is playing the Christmas thing BIG this year! Lots of star wars and lego, so when i said he might not get it all he replied with:
"oh it's not all from you Mum, I'm asking Sants Claus for this and this, and you and Dad can get me this and this!"
Darn that kid is far too smart!
He is hoping to be a narrator in the school play, one with only one line please! For a child who is so confident at home he sure plays a shy lad at school really well!

I have been psyching myself up for Dec 1st and the FIRST run! As well as that i have a confession to make!
I worried myself sleepless for two nights trying to decide if i really am capable of being a good teacher, will i qualify etc etc. Self doubt, gets you every time there's something big to do and i have enough self doubt to go round all of us!
My parents say i can, my hubby says he believes in me, the kids think it's awesome, i have two friends that teach both say I'd be great. So why don't i believe it all? Is it because if it all goes wrong i wont be too disappointed?
I spoke to M and J today and they both told me to behave and put my mind at rest. So M and J i thank you from the bottom of my heart and i WILL take you up on all offers of help (which have been duly logged!).

Not quite moving house!

Over a year ago now Rich and I decided that the children needed space. More space in our cosy compact quarters! So we had a huge change around upstairs. We moved out of the biggest bedroom in the house to make way for the girls as they are growing so fast we figured they needed a lot more room to dance with hair brushes, to play instruments and have friends over. We moved David into the girls room, the middle sized room, as he too needed room to build with his Lego, fly his star wars space craft, drive his action men around and generally be a boy that loves to play with his toys! So that left Rich and I in the teeny weeny littlest room! I kid you not! The bed is a double, one side is against the main wall, the other is a foot away from the door! We fit 2 sets of draws in there but it's been ok as really we only sleep in there and do not need to use it like the kids do.
Well we have decided we are ready as a couple to upgrade. Which means someone has to downgrade! David has that privilege bless him. So we are moving into his room, where it will be wonderful to be able to walk around our bed once more, he is getting the closet room, on the promise of his own PC and a new PC desk! So today is mini moving day. When we are all done and all is clean and tidy and how we like it, i will take photos and post them. I'm not doing before pictures as its a real mess up there LOL! Sorry!

Coolest teacher EVER!!

I went to parent teacher night this evening with Davids' teacher Mr.W.
David has settled well into his new school! Mr.W can't figure out Davids favourite subject "because he tries so hard in all of them!" WOW i am so proud of my little guy! His work is much better this year (in my humble opinion anyway - the quality and quantity) and he is "a lovely, pleasant, kind and honest member of the class!" He has to start using conjunctives in his work now!
His teacher is also having him tested for dyslexia as he can spell really well verbally but when writing gets all the right letters in the wrong order, so we need to see is he is dyslexic or if his brain and thought processes are too quick for his hand! Either way we will be able to help him with some strategies with it all!
He has made some good friends, who are nice children and Mr.W is pleased with the friendship they all have:)
And to top it off, the Lunchtime Ladies have put his name forward to sit on the TOP TABLE next Friday - this is the good behaviour table, they have a name place and a V.I.P tag :) He is so pleased!
I honestly think all of this is in part the fact that his new school is smaller, and he is responding so well to having a male teacher!
So all in all a great start for my guy, i could not be more proud of him right now!!

New look!

Well i have gone for the Autumn theme on the blog! Hope it doesn't confuse too many folk! LOL. We are taking David laser questing shortly for his birthday treat followed by pizza hut! Sould be a lot of fun. Am taking the camera, I hope all the politically correct brigade don't stop me using it! Grrr! So i will add more later when we return!!

Kids in their get up!!!(it was pitch black!)

Pizza hut...
Rae had a HUGE salad!

David had his very own pizza!
Becky tried eating a jalapeno chilli!! ROFL

And he had an Ice Cream mountain (make it yourself!)!

The Little Guy is 9!

So today is the last day i will have a child in single figures! Yep the little guy turned 9! And what a day its been!!
He woke at 6am (quite a decent time really when i think how excited he has been!!) and opened his presents!
I collected him from school to be told...
"I answered a question RIGHT today and got sent out!" (i am slightly perplexed but anything is possible so i go ahead and "ask"..)
"Oh ok, so what was the question??"
"What do girls use more than boys?" (With a due sense of fear and dread i ask..)
"What was your answer, baby?"
He smiles at me like only a 9 year old, youngest of 3, only boy can and said
"BRA!!"
While i feel he was correct i explained whilst stiffling much laughter that it was not an entirely appropriate answer ...but was the correct answer??
"Well Mum it was really boooring...... Hair Straighteners...I like my answer better!"
I had to laugh bless him! Welcome to being 9!
Still upon meeting his teacher i was pleased to hear that David is well and trully one of the gang, he has a reading age of 11.6 years and works well in class, can be talkative but "is just a nromal kid!" I am so proud of him! Mr.W thinks that David is a delight to have and he is doing really well.
So we get home to more parcels and cards!
He had quite a haul! Even got the new Man Utd 40th Anniversary shirt that only came into the shops yesterday!! Lots of star wars lago, and mp3 player, warhammer (from Uncle Lee..the GOD!!), notebooks, pens, more lego..money, gift vouchers....dressing gown and two new horrid henry books!

the warhammer tank thing (i know all the names LOL)

The Man Utd Shirt!

Reading the cards!

The Dressing Gown!

Return of normality and a family truce!

OK OK i have been really slack lately! But i have been doing my own studies, working, assisting with homework, listening intently to Davids hourly birthday wish list updates and the household chores!
The first week back at school has nearly come to an end. All 3 kids are really happy and are doing well!
Becky is getting merits left right and centre from her new school. Rachel is having an audtion for the gifted singers choir at school. And David..well he surprised me the most! This time last year i was told that he had the reading age of a 5 year old....he worked really hard last year..he must have! His teacher tested him this week and now a week shy of being 9 he is a free reader! He can read any book in the school library and is off the reading programme! I am so proud of him! His current book is by Sandy Toksvig, called Hitlers Canary. He is really enjoying it!

And to top it all off, when i thought my youngest two would be fighting each other for years to come..a truce has arrived! No words needed.... If Becky bends down to his level to talk to him...this is what she gets.....

Back to school blues!

So the kids are back to school. Well two of them are anyway! I took these photo's for the grandparents!! Rachel hates hers but i think that is her age! The last one of David is "the hair" and how it was when he left this morning!
I am sure i am one of the only parents that hates seeing them go back to school! It hasn't helped that the youngest two started new schools today.
I watched Becca walk away with her friend, off up the hill and can admit i had a small tear in the eye, i was not too bad as i knew she had a friend and is the sort of kid to just get on with it..and if i am really lucky she wont have let her mouth get her a detention on day one!
David was another story! He is a fairly quiet little man and will watch for a while before making judgements on who he might like to have as a friend. He is reserved and insular at times. So i waited with him. He seemed tiny again. And i really felt my heart strings pulling as a waited with him. I went over where i would meet him and where to look for me. Then before he went inide i asked if he wanted me to kiss him (sometimes it's just NOT cool, i get that!) and he looked up at me with his huge brown eyes and said "yes please Mum"...four paces later my poor friend is handing me a tissue from the same pack she had used when we watched the girls go off!
I couldn't look back to see him..if he saw me crying he'd get upset, so my poor mate had to give a running commentary on how he lined up and went inside and that he was okay!
So now i am looking forward to 5 past 3..so i can collect him, hold his hand and ask how his day was. And tonight we bake cakes...me and my boy. Becca will be on msn with her buddies like usual.
So please 3pm come fast cos i want my kids back!

Brother sister relationships!!

On her blog, Octamom asks the question "what age should siblings stop bathing together?" (if at all).
Well mine stopped doing that years ago..but then i had a blinding flash (rare for me!!)..
When i usually take the kids swimming we change in a family change room (space for one reason and i can keep an eye on them!)...
Until about 3 weeks or so ago when we were changing and David (bless him) looked at one of his sisters (no name to spare blushes) and exclaims quite audibly, "wow look you have hair..you know..THERE!" If i wasn't half dressed i would have left the cubicle but i just turned away stifling laughter!! Poor sis' went all shy and flustered and wrapped a towel around herself until i could take the little darling out!! I did find it funny, and still do..how was he to know? LOL
Poor sis' was mortified..but i realised then that we would no longer be sharing a change room....another sign that my kids are growing up faster than i think i would like!

My poor little guy!

There has to be a downside to being the only boy in the house, the youngest of 3 and not sharing a room with anyone. Well today i felt for him!
It began yesterday, the girls and I had a great time re arranging their bedroom, sorting rubbish, old clothes and changing the room around...its more pre-teen now. We had such fun doing it and it it looks great and gives them way more room to do their thing in!
So it's all sparkly and tidy in there! As i am having a bit of a lay in with Rich i overhear the girls put a movie on their tv/dvd player. Then a little conversation goes like this..
D: Can i come in a watch with you?
B: NO! Get out.
D: I only want to watch, i wont make a mess.
B: No you can't come in.
D: (sadly) Ok. I will be in my room if you change your mind!

That would have been enough for me to let him in!! LOL Poor guy! I had to call him to my room for a cuddle. He went off and played with his lego till we got up! I think a tv in his room is next on the agenda....one with a timer LOL!!

School reports, Prize Day and Broken Bones!

Well i am noting the date! Friday 11 July '08 is possible my best day this year so far!
Becky and David headed off the their new schools in Alton as i headed off to Guildford to see the fracture clinic about my hand! The MRI from last Saturday was back and apart from one minor "blip" on the scan i am "free!!" I can now carry on as normal but if it still causes pain by Oct i may need a small op to see whats going on. But for now, and the summer holidays i have two cast free hands!
I collected David from his new school, to be told how polite he is and that he had just got on with is day with no fuss at all! That's my boy! Bless him, i know he was nervous in the morning but when i got him back he loved his new class, and all the things they had got up to! Mr Williams (his new teacher) is "Great Mum", he does the best P.E lessons! So one happy kid in the bag! LOL.
we trundled along to collect Becky to see how her day at senior school had been!
She loved her lessons and her tutor, Miss Reed (who is getting married in 3 weeks - she has a huge poster in her class counting down the days!!) is really great, she is called Becky too and my Becky thinks she "rocks".
She had a great time doing science and got a merit for R.E. I think the best bit though was when her big sis' bought her a cookie in the school canteen and all Rachel's mates let her hang out with them. That was a highlight for her! I love my girls and how they look out for each other!

So i get home after listening to all the info and more to school reports for Becky and David!
Becky's was awesome! I was astounded by her! Another straight A student in the house LOL!!
All the teachers like her and she is a delight to be around. Everyone gets on with her. She has worked hard all year but most of all she is likable and polite and fun to be around! WTG Becky!
David's report made me cry! I think this year is the first time ever a teacher has really understood my son. He is getting A's and B's for his grades which i am just so proud of as he finds school a struggle at times. But his social report was the bit that sent me into floods! His teacher said he has a mildy eccentric side to his personality that will get him a lot in life but others wont see it! He is shy, has only a few close friends but with them he has immense fun. But most telling is that he finds it really hard to fathom other kids and when that happens he withdraws like a snail into a shell. She really hit the nail on the head with him. He is bright and fun but its on his terms!! LOL
So as you can imagine i am bursting with pride over my two youngest!
Then I open the mail! Days don't come by like this too often! :)
Rachel is being given an award on Prize Day for the most Exceptional Effort awards in her tutor group for the year. She is getting an award from her year staff and a little bash after school on the 21st - Pizza and drinks! Then on the 23rd she is getting an award in front of the school and parents on prize day, from the Headmaster! I am equally proud of her.
My kids never cease to amaze me i am just so proud of them all.
Am off to make my head a little smaller now! LOL.