TTT.....

[AtLongLast]

OTT / self-indulgent I know, but Toddler Twin Tantrums..... aaargh! Just as well they're so cute too. Ds2 was v funny today wiggling his bum singing uh, uh Bobby' in response to me dancing round the kitchen to Bobby's girl'...

Long time no post!

Hope everyone's well and had a good Easter. I am midway through a 2 week MIL visit so time alone is scarce. We're actually having an alright time, although it's smarting a bit that my first two weeks with the girls in nursery (each Thurs/Fri) are spent entertaining her. She's great with the girls though, so that's all good. Interestingly though, she is VERY strict with them and it's bringing up loads of funny feelings, she's the only person I know who feels free to tell my children off in front of me... We had a talk about it quite early on and I told her that she needs to understand that some of the things she thinks they need to be corrected on we just don't bother with, which is why they look at her like she's half mad...

Kate - sorry to hear about Alexa's grim shoe story! I am almost phobic of getting shoes which make the girls feet hurt, and me not knowing because they can't (or don't) communicate it. To answer Cerub's question re. Crocs, I resisted them last summer because I think the girls really were too young to be able to 'get' what they needed to do with their feet and therefore keep them on. This time round not only did they leap towards them in the shop (having barely even seen them around, I'm not even sure they knew what Crocs were) but they instantly wanted to wear them all the time, jumping around, scaling the stairs, running in the garden... and not once has a shoe come off, or they've tripped or fallen. I wasn't expecting that - they're not exactly averse to such accidents no matter what they're wearing on their feet. SO my boring conclusion is that they are very easy for them to wear, and don't require flexing of the toes/whatever to keep them on. I just don't think a young toddler is savvy enough to care to do that just for the sake of wearing something they want to wear. If that makes sense...?

Hi Lottie - totally agree with the Crocs - every time mine have ever had new shoes (older DD's included) they always take a few days of tripping over every 2 seconds to get the 'hang' of the new shoes - with Crocs there was none of this! I always think they must be so much comfier as their feet can spread out as they would if they were going barefoot - which is supposed to be the best way for the them. Its funny because I'm a teeny bit obsessed with having the girls shoes fitted properly (like you, I think its because of them hurting and not being able to say) but with Crocs I wasn't bothered about that at all. We love them!

Glad to hear that the MIL stay isn't going too badly! Its so hard when you have people come to stay to help out with the DC's, and how they discipline them. TBH, I prefer it when other people do discipline, rather than me nipping up to put things away, and then come back down and they pathetically say 'Ohhhh, Kate, I hope you don't mind me saying, but one of the DTr's pushed the other... I had no idea what to do?' - I just find that annoying. I say this, but we've never had MIL to stay - she just wouldn't want to. If she did she would happily parent the way she would, i.e if she thinks something deserves a smack, then she would smack them and proudly say 'Well, I wasn't going to let her walk all over me like that!' - And yes, that would infuriate me, so I can see how you feel. I am quite glad that DH basically hates his M, she is just so strange. I don't really know what I'm talking about now! Haha, sorry!

Nah, my MIL is strange too. She's really getting DH's back up, which means he's skulking off a lot, avoiding her. We've just been discussing it in the kitchen, because THAT means I'm left having to entertain her 24/7. Which is already driving me a bit mad, and we're only five days into a 2 week visit

Was daydreaming over these sensible summer lovelies for the girls, or perhaps in a 'less me' fuschia. But what's going on with that price??! Surely Start Rite shoes are relatively reasonable?! Also one downside to Crocs - beware one and all - is that now they've got them, I seriously doubt my ability to get them into ANY other form of footwear all summer. ALL - I feel your welly pain now!!!

Oh god, I hate the MIL entertaining - the few times that my MIL would come for the day, DD's would always be at nursery and DH would be 'called into work' I feel your pain, but on a much lower scale! I can only think of shopping really!

Love the pink ones - but I can't work out if they've got a cork sole? We've had a hard sole like that before and because DD's can't bend their feet in them, they find it really hard to walk in. Can't believe how much they are for Start Rite!
And yes, whatever weather the girls beg for their crocs! I wish you could buy the woolly inserts separately!

P.s have any of you ordered from smallable before? Just want to check they are all okay? (I admit to getting a bit paranoid about shopping online from shops I don't know!) Have fallen in love with this dress for eldest DD

en.smallable.com/dresses/13575-kiara-dress.html

and this one maybe for whoever

en.smallable.com/dresses/13240-irina-stripes-dress.html

Not sure on the sizes with that though - DD1 is a small 5YO, (6 in june) so the 4/5 would be too small but the 6/7 would drown her. I would normally get age 5 for DD2 aswell as she's so tall. Anyone know what the sizing is like?

I've ordered from them far too many times to admit to DH and they are v reliable. I think they even have free delivery until the 19th...

Those dresses are gorgeous. One thing which is great for you is that you must get loads of wear out of the things you get for your eldest DDs - I never can bear to spend too much on a single item because once it's been outgrown, that's it. Do you think those taupe shoes are too boring? I fear that now the girls are in pink and red crocs I'll never be able to get them to wear the boring colours I prefer them in.

PS: re sizing - I've been caught out a bit with this in the past. They are French and a lot of the sizing is quite small, but do check because they tell you on the site what certain brands call an 'age 2' or whatever. I bought loads of stuff in the sale for them in T2 only to find that for many of their brands, that means 86cm which in the UK generally means 18m...

I like those shoes Lottie I'd get the taupe

I like them too tarti but not sure I could ever justify the price. How did your two get on with the Start Rites they had before? I bought those Lottie ones but they were hardly worn, perhaps I should take my cue from that. They never liked wearing them and I think (once again) that I bought badly - they are beautiful shoes and looked good on, but once they had a pair of shoes that were a bit 'prettier', a pair of sensible navy ones were never going to get a look in. I see the future years of shoe-negotiation ahead and it isn't pretty....

Mine wore theirs to death but the only other pair they had at that stage were velcro-fasten trainer types a la JJMB, so they didn't have much choice...
I think it's harder to stick to my Cruella style two-pairs-only approach in the summer as they also need a summery option to wear with dresses and without socks, something for schlepping about in the garden (crocs?), something for all the fucking incessant weddings and parties, something for the beach (crocs?) etc etc etc. Hmm looks like I'm talking myself into some crocs...

God, shoe-negotiation. We are experiencing the first rumblings of them having opinions about what to wear and it ain't pretty.

Crocs are a good option but beware the fact that they won't want to wear anything else. A friend just pointed me in the direction of this lovely shoe site and I'm now thinking about getting some of those plimsoll type things, plus their Crocs, plus a pair of sandals - and that will be it for summer. I honestly don't know whether I'll be able to get them to wear anything other than Crocs though, Juliet still wants to wear hers in bed and she's had them over a week.

DH has just announced he needs to work v late every evening this week, which means it's MIL and me all day and all evening, EVERY DAY. I feel this is above and beyond the call of duty!

Haha, nursery have just put up a notice directed at me detailing shoe requirements for various weathers . Still virtually imposible to separate ds1 from his wellies though he will (on occasion) give in to ds2's Thomas sandals (2 sizes too small). Ds2 is happy to wear his Crocs but ds1 isn't all that fussed.

I'm lucky in that MIL is lovely though we only have the children in common. I would be non too impressed at having to entertain full time & luckily dp understands how crap I am on that score. Way above & beyond call of duty. I hope you're getting lots of time to yourself at the weekend in compensation Lottie? Sounds like you need to flex your own skulking skills .

Ooh love that website Lottie esp these

papouelli.com/shop/product/vivi/#

Esp as they go down to teeny sizes for DTr's - I do think I'm looking too far into them though... each sandal has 2 buckles... DTri's can't do buckles themselves - 16 buckles before we can go anywhere in the summer?! Am I over thinking shoes?!

Was expecting to be going back to Clarks for some convenient, sensible but still cute sandals... well this is what we are up against..:

www.clarks.co.uk/c/girls-sandals#Size-is-4bdinfant

We are all for comfort, but I'm sorry, I am not putting DD's in any of them.... better start thinking of other ideas before summer is here!

Wouldn't be impressed on the MIL front - even if shes lovely, thats a long time to spend with her! Can only suggest for the evenings that you rent some films in?
Glad you and your MIL get on okay ALL :)

I had a lovely weekend in Harrogate for my birthday, ate lots, the girls were fairly well behaved, it was just nice to be somewhere new

Shoes, the girls Saltwater shoes arrive this weekend, absolute bargain at £20 a pair as we had them delivered in America and a friends parents is bringing them over. I think I might buy some canvas JJMB type shoes as well and hope that will be enough for the Summer.

I've done your links Kate, you just need to put and at each end of the address
www.clarks.co.uk/c/girls-sandals#Size-is-4bdinfant

papouelli.com/shop/product/vivi/#
I love the Vivi ones, perfect for my little Vivi god, it's just so expensive isn't it, and I only have 2.

at the MIL situation, can't you just leave her to babysit and go out and paint the town red

MIL UPDATE

Just been to pick her up, she went for a walk and has fallen over and seriously hurt her ankle. Is it unbelievably selfish to already be thinking 'oh great, now I get to look after an incapacitated MIL for the next 9 days???' :(

Poor woman, she is very embarrassed and clearly in a lot of pain.

Oooh sorry LVB I still don't know how you 'rename' links (if that makes sense...

I'll try quickly on here before I make a fool of myself elsewhere

Clarks ones

But seriously - none of those are even half decent sandals :(

Vivi ones are super cute

Can't believe I can get the DTri's tiny sizes in such cute shoes.. shame they come at such price!

Lottie Oh god, how did she do that? I feel quite sorry for her! At least now you can leave her at home with it elevated and wrapped in ice to make it better whilst you go out shopping by yourself!

I wasn't telling you off Kate

New Site for perusal has anyone bought anything from Half Pint Chic? They do designer children's clothes sales, worth keeping an eye on I think.

LL bloody hell, your MIL is going to be even more work now , I'd be getting you DH to take some leave

I DID IT!!!

LVB you wally, of course I didn't think you were telling me off! I'm always forgetting to link things - and have never 'got it' with the 'renaming' business!

Am signing up to Half Pint Chic as we speak...

DH and MIL at A&E currently. Gah.

Signed up to that site. Btw Happy Belated Birthday LVB and glad to hear you had a fab time in Harrogate. I've never been on account of it being Too Far North

Right, off to make fish pie (anyone ever made the Jamie version with chili and lemon - it's divine - suppose I'd better make myself useful while Rome burns...

Oh shit Lottie What has she done to it?!

I signed up too - is a bit lame at the moment... is this just momentarily until another sale do you reckon?
Guess its like a childrens 'Secret Sales' :)

Oooh fish pie sounds yummy! + =

lol Kate - well done . Glad to see girls bring some of the shopping pain of boys. I thought they were so much easier to buy for but I think I might be in for an education...

Silver lining (?)... dh not working late tonight then Lottie... I hope she's OK. I really want to like fish pie but I just Can't Do Fish. Did do Jamie's chicken satay last night & it was yummy. Got home late so needed the 30 min meal timing to work. Dp asked why I didn't just nuke the emergency curry I bought for later in the week. Doh .

Made the mistake of pondering our luck with all being healthy for a few weeks. Ds2 has been a little off colour for the last couple of days & poor soul was up before shivering / fever/ vomming. Cleaned, calpoled & cuddled then told him I was putting him back in cot but would stay with him. He asked for his blanket as I put him down & waved me off with a cheery `bye bye'. Bless him, I nearly cried. So sweet.

Have you got the 30 min book too ALL? I haven't made anything from it yet, always get grumpy about the fact that he says things like 'after you've chopped the veg, take the meringue out of the oven' so you can't decide to leave one dish/course out and know how long to cook each bit individually. I am a real latecomer to Jamie's food though, really resisted getting one of his books after a friend worked with him and told me he had minions to do everything for him, including coming up with all the recipes. Having said that, I do now find his recipes strangely appealing, they DO work and I very often get lots of comments on those dishes.

Top tips for all you other domestic goddesses - I made these two things over Easter and they were absolutely AMAZING. Bloody easy slow roast lamb with fantastic gravy here - seriously one of the best roasts I've ever made, and the easiest. On a slightly less healthy note - also made this incredible chocolate cake which was easy, v v v rich, and worthy of real celebration cakey type occasions here - it was the 5 stars from 660 reviews on BBC Good Food which got me!

Note to self: I am very dull

PS: Thanks for MIL concern - it's looking like she's broken a metatarsel. I know this because I've done it myself and recognise all the symptoms/lumpy swelling. Just waiting for a doctor to confirm my findings ... it could mean she goes up to stay with her sister prematurely. I do really feel for her, it is horrendous doing something like that whilst on holiday (she's here from Canada for a month) and if it IS a fracture, means she'll be in a cast for a few weeks.

PPS: ALL sorry missed the bit about DS2 being ill. Poor poppet. Mine are making my heart swell too at the moment, they're just so incredible, our little soldiers, aren't they? Mine have both been ill and have horrendous coughs. They moan about it less than a certain male member of the household moans about his hint-of-a-sore-throat.......