Forgive me, I am a bad bad blogger!

I know it feels like forever since i sat here and tapped away on the keys. It seems like a lot has happened to me, to us but i have not had the energy nor the inclination to write. I guess i lost my way in the blogging sense. For a little while i have sat here and wanted to type but nothing sprang to mind. I see a lot of you onFB and catch up or read your goings on from there. And although i may not comment i do still read your blogs! SO i guess it is time to put fingers to keys and reciprocate.
So July.. was it really that long ago that i last typed? Whats been going on here then. Crumbs. Lots!
Ok ok so you want a little more detail than that.
Let's go monthly:

July: Saw me return to work FULL time for the first time in 14 years! I am loving it! Really, really loving it! I am a receptionist at British Car Auctions Europe head office!

August: saw us on the Isle of Wight, a small island off the South coast of the UK. We spent the holiday with Richards family. Oh i got my NEW camera from my Dad! A CanonEOS 350D. I L♥ve it!

September: Saw David turn 10! All the kids settled back in to school well and are still happy.

October: Rae turned 14 and Becky became a teenager! Rae is doing extremely well in school and music! Becky is also doing very well. We are still having on going Epilepsy tests for Becky... (explained more in Nov!).

November:
I am diagnosed with life threatening allergies to some fresh fruits and vegetable (but am OK if they are cooked!) So i am given epipens! It is all good fun!
Becky had a sleep deprived epilepsy test today. We stayed awake for 24 hours (not easy in the slightest!) so that she could sleep during her test! She is currently sound asleep on the sofa. Results in two weeks.

And that is a very quick run through to now!

So now i am determined to be a better blogger! I am back, keen and raring to go.

The blog is a bit sparce but i am working on refreshing it! Watch this space!
For now here are some photos of my friends new baby girl, taken with my new camera this past weekend:

Happy Mothers Day {UK!!}

Yes indeed it is Mothers Day over here in the UK! What a lovely day it is too. The sun is streaming through the house {showing all the dust and hand prints on the windows}. I was woken by my three wonderful children, one carrying a card, one bringing breakfast in bed and one had been out in the garden and handpicked some daffodils for me! They are also buying me a DVD but it is not released until tomorrow.
I am about to take the girls to school for a Bugsy rehearsal, Rich is off to work so David and i will just be hanging out and watching some t.v.
So to all the UK Mums out there - Happy Mothers Day to you all.x

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!!

The way to world peace.

Well nearly! We have been doing some work around the house today and this evening Dad told the kids they had been such a help that they could have a MacDonald's (not had one for months and months!). So they were really pleased! So after eating their meals they were offered a pudding! Both girls wanted an apple pie. But oh no there was only 1 (yep ONE) left. Who should have it, would on of them give in to the other? No way! They resolved it with 3 rounds of rock, paper, scissors! The girl at the counter thought this was great! So did i until they proudly told me that they both have the same crush at school! So on Sunday nights they r,p,s to see who gets to fancy him for the week!! If only every dispute could be solved like this!! They just made me smile.


Becky went to the Dr. again today. We are waiting on the coeliac results still, next is diabetes tests and then onto the paediatricians.

Have a great week.x

We're having snow much fun!

Thought i would pop some photos of what we got up to today :) I have really enjoyed spending the past two day with the children. But i did get a little upset when we were out in the snow this morning and a bit of a storm blew up. I begged them to let me take them home but they refused!
Here's what we did today:

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!).

My Christmas gift plans!

All we seem to hear about in the news lately is credit crunch, businesses failing, banks suffering, how to cope with the pressure of Christmas on a shoe string etc etc. It hits home when in one business 2 people are made redundant and everyone else must take a 10% pay cut from Jan 01 2009 (not where i work, but someone close to me.). I was chatting about this with a work colleague, who seems to think because we work in a Nursery we will all be ok. She cannot see that if parents are made redundant the first thing to go will be the childcare..so we lose the children and so on until we are over staffed and we all know what comes next. I have often wondered how my place of work has such a sharp turn around of staff. Having been there just over 2 years i have seen 20+ people come and go. I have questioned it privately. But only now am i glad that so many have left and moved on. It means that i am one of the longer serving workers and therefore i won't be one of the first out. Selfish, yes. Self preservating, yes. But no, it does not stop the worry.
Then i got to thinking about Christmas and coping with the family. So i have come up with a list of gift ideas that will work for me!!

1.My children will have their usual allowance spent on them.As we saved for that!
2.Rich and I are NOT buying for each other, not a thing..we want a new house
next year so we agreed on this!!
3.Nieces and Nephews..are all getting Books..3 for 2 offers everywhere.
Makes sense to me!!
4.Sisters / Brothers ect ect..The classic "photo in a frame!" and maybe some wine!
5.Parents - Photo in a frame and i am splurging getting books made for them!
6. Other children (friends of family) home made cards, gift vouchers for
sleepovers with the kids!
7.Friends - photo in a frame (so versatile!!) and vouchers for babysitting!

So hopefully it wont break the bank this year and we can enter 2009 even if not in credit!! We have collected our store points (Nectar vouchers) all year so they will pay for the Christmas food, Turkey etc etc!


Some of the Christmas cards to put home made vouchers in for Christmas this year.

Something made me sad today....

There aren't too many things that really shock me, crumbs i was a soldier once. There aren't too many things that make me real angry or disappointed but today i overheard a mother and her child and i was just devastated for the poor kid. I do not know them, the child goes to my sons school. That is where any relationship with us ends. But as we were waiting to meet the girls, David and I stood by a tree outside the school gates. It was not raining hard but the awful fine mist that soaks you through! The child arrives at it's mother (term used so loosely here) and the conversation goes:

mother: "Why the f*** are you late?"
child: "My teacher wanted to see me. I got star of the day!" (child sounds quite pleased with self)
mother: " who gives a f*** I'm soaking wet, lets get f****** home."

My heart just broke. I do not know these people but i was so sad for that child. Star of the day is something earned, for being good, working hard and pleasing your teacher. It IS something to be celebrated not thrown away and stamped on. While the child had no certificate to speak of, it must have been truly crushed that its hard work did not please it's parent. I was absolutely astounded how a lady posing as a mother could be so cruel. So what she was wet, so what the child came out a little later than usual, is that not totally made up for by the teacher deeming it necessary to praise the child for its achievements?

My poor son looked at me and said
"That wasn't very nice was it Mum?"

I just hugged him. The hug of a Mum who loves her child whether good, silly, naughty or mean. He is my son and i love him regardless. Don't all Mums?

I hope the childs father was a little more receptive to the child's news.

So little person, whoever you are, I am taking a moment out of my day, even if you never ever read this, to say Well done to you. For being star of the day, for getting an award that was well deserved because it was well earned. be proud of yourself, I am proud of you.

Two little fish went swimming one day...

The kids had a swimming lesson tonight and as it is half term and halloween they were having one to one lessons because the other children didn't turn up!
Becky managed to gain her 600metre badge, and David the fish moved up another group! He is now a level 5! His lessons change to a Saturday morning now but he is just SO proud of himself. And to top it all he got his 50 metre award!

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!

Your week is up...give 'em back!

Well tomorrow the silence will be broken, there will be bags on the floor to trip over and noise, blessed noise!! Yep, i survived the week and i am going to get my kids back :D I cannot wait!
The girls have been fine, they always are, they ring daily and tell me they love and miss me...then i hear all the things they have been up to and guess, they haven't missed me that much, but it's OK because they at least have the heart to tell me they have missed me!! David HAS missed me! I know this because he has phoned secretly with his mobile (thanks Dad it's been a lifesaver for my little guy.) to tell me he misses me and can't wait till Saturday!! I LOVE my son heaps!! he he.
I have missed them a lot but i have to say i have been quietly pleased to watch my favourite Olympic events in peace, without the who's who and what country are they from game!
I can't wait to see them though. And then tomorrow Becca gets her new guitar from Grandad (my Dad) so i have the camera ready for it!! She earned it this past year at school doing SO well in her Sat's so i really hope she has fun with it.
So now i am off to enjoy the last of the peace...while it's been lovely i am really looking forward to noise and laughter.

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.

Kids or Fish!

No not an option in a restaurant!
The kids all have swimming lessons on a Friday night and three weeks ago David moved up to a level 3, well last night his teacher watched him and said "David, you are too good for my group, go up to the next one!" So now in just 3 lessons ( and no extra swimming due to my arm) he has been put in level 4! He was so pleased with himself! Rachel is a level 6 borderline 7 and Becky moved up to a level 7 last night too! She is over the moon because they use all the bricks and do somersaults under the water and swim through hoops (sounds like a dolphin show huh!). I am just so pleased for them all, doing so well!

On Thursday David was star of the day from his teacher too, so he bought a teddy bear home and had to write a diary entry of what they got up to!

My parents told him to stop telling them all his achievements because they cost them too much money! They put money in piggy banks for the kids when they achieve things.

He really seems to have matured lately and i am just so proud!

On a funny (ish) note, he came out of school yesterday and said "Mum did you know you are a female dog?" I said "no i didn't, why am i a female dog?" His reply was "Well E***** said i am a son of a bit**!" Well i didn't know whether to laugh or cry! My friend overheard and just roared with laughter! Thanks Mandy for all your help LOL. We left it with, "Well that's not very nice, so you just don't repeat it ok!"

Have a great weekend all :)

End of year tests and SAT's!!

Well my two girlies have now finished a week of tests and exams for the end of year!
Rachels results will be out with her school report next month and i am not worried about them at all!
Becky just finished a week of SAT tests. She amazed me this week. I expected a bit of stressy attitude from her, i got none! She was perfectly happy to go into school early with the other year 6 children as the teachers had arranged a period of dance for the kids to help them relax and unwind before setting to the tasks in hand! So huge thanks to the school for that - she loved it!
I have no worries about her results, she has worked really hard and is expecting above average results ready for senior school in Sept!
So this week they will probably do some fun stuff before the half term break.
Then it is only 7 or 8 weeks until the summer holidays! Scary!
So if we are in Oz all the kids will be starting afresh and if not, then they will all be at school in Alton and we will have moved house (i hope!).