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'...

Hm, no not sure what we did counts as 'spoiling Daddy'. The girls made him a card at nursery and I was going to get him a present from them, but on Thursday he made a real song and dance about what a stupid rip off made up celebration Father's Day was, and how he didn't want any presents or bought cards Oh well, that's one less job I had to do!

I'm right in the thick of holiday-booking at the moment (a week in the UK quite soon, plus 2 weeks in September somewhere forrin), and it's driving me mad - finding somewhere I think looks good, then chancing upon some bad reviews on Trip Advisor or similar; sometimes think there's such a thing as too much information. Also just really find myself swinging between different options, as though I can't decide what sort of family we are and what we will like. I started looking at CP but they had very little availability and I couldn't get over how expensive the nice looking accommodation was. So then we were back to going to Cornwall and... I'm now torn between a "luxury" family hotel (am thinking it'll be a sea of Boden and also not really my thing) or a place which is half-hotel and half- self-catering. We wasted so much money on food for the girls which they ate none of when we went to Cornwall in the spring... really want to avoid that. Onto the holiday abroad in September, again wanted somewhere with childcare but also so shocked at the price of the 'nice' places. Have finally found somewhere in Crete without childcare but which looks very family friendly and hopefully will book it later today.

Other than that, we've given up with the potty training, or did I already mention that? Just got too stressful for poor Juliet, who I think was enjoying her potty success until she realised there was a correlation between being good at going on the potty and us refusing to give her a nappy. She got most upset at the thought that nappies were going to be taken away from her so we're leaving it for a while to 'reset' the experience.

Just had 'one of those experiences' in the park where you come home after a few minutes with two wailing children wondering why you bothered......

Oh Lord I hate the park mucky. Good idea re. sacking off the pants & potty for a while to make it a fresh start. I cannot face it until I am cast iron sure they are both ready and it will take a week .

Hmmm. Father's day I was so hungover DH took them out on his own for the day What an asset to the family I am
Mind you he's away half of this week and next so it could be considered payback time...

Girls very cute at the moment but also have had some truly awful tantrums (sounds effects from the Exorcist, that sort of thing) and they can be each other's worst enemy sometimes. Well, often. But to hear them saying they love each other when I'm pottering about in the kitchen, or saying "Hello gorgeous!" or "c'mon cheeky chops" to their dolls, or making DH traipse round the house after them carrying their bags and wearing beads and a feather boa... it warms the heart that's for sure.

In other news am half heartedly househunting again although I know really that we can't afford what we want until they get the free nursery hours next September. Do enjoy looking though!

Oh meant to say I totally agree about the horrific price of holidays. Our CP lodge was lovely and was serviced every day - which contributed greatly to the feeling of actually being on holiday - but the Pils paid (was half term, so ruinous) and I wouldn't have shelled that out myself. Really really not.

Re. childcare while you're away, I'm remembering your experience last time you went away (I think) when you came back saying actually the answer to feeling frazzled and irritated was to spend more time with them not less, so maybe the Crete place without creche or whatever would actually be just the thing...

Completely agree tarti and glad you remember - it's DH who angles for the childcare more than me... but that's just like it is at home - he never thinks that sometimes it can be more stressful handing them over to other people but that's because he never takes it on as his responsibility. The place in Crete is close to the airport, right on the beach, and has great food. Also came runner up in Conde Nast Traveller award for being best value style hotel (I am so shallow and so easily pleased when I hear the words 'Conde Nast' ) so hopefully I'll get to squint and put earplugs in and convince myself half-heartedly that this is like holidays were pre-children...

Right, must get on. Place a tip.

PS: Lovely to hear about your current cutey-isms. They do indeed melt our icy hearts, don't they?

muck - I can totally feel your pain :( I hate 'those times'.. I decided to take DD2 and trips to the Zoo today. They were all really good - had a sudden downpour but didn't affect us.. etc etc. Were about halfway around the whole walk and the girls know the park is coming up - I let them stop for 10 minutes, then crack down and say they can have the last slide etc. Well, I've never seen anything like it - they looked like a pack of bloody wild animals. All 4 girls kicked right off, screaming, kicking, throwing themselves on the floor - definitely their worst triple tantrum yet. I tried all the bribing etc, so in the end I had to be evil mummy and grab 1 at a time and just shove them into the buggy - kicking and screaming. Haven't had to do it for a while and it took ages! Just when you're about to plug the straps in, they arch their backs and you're back to Square 1. Repeat X3. DD2 decided that she would go for it too - only she did her usual half laugh/half scream thing and was running away; when I would finally grab her she would literally hang off me. Anyway stuck DD2 under my arm (she is one large 4YO) and marched the rest of the way around the zoo, ignoring the flailing animal under my arm who was laughing but screaming 'NOOOOO, NEVERR!!'
I can laugh now nearly , but I was absolutely seething - verge-of-tears angry. The whole ordeal was about 1.5 hours .
I gave them one hell of a 'disappointing' speech when we got back in the car, and all 4 were not allowed to play DS/iPad/watch telly for the rest of today, and tomorrow.

Anyway, sorry, I'm just pretty pissed off with them to be honest :(

Tarti I love your DD's 'Hello gorgeous' I just love it when you secretly listen to their conversations and hear them say the funniest things! Have got a brilliant mental image of your DH traipsing around after your DD's!

We've left it a bit late for our holiday - still no idea whether we're going to take the plunge and go abroad, or whether we should just stay in the UK and go to CP, or similar...

P.s, FWIW, I definitely agree with Tarti regarding the childcare issue.
If I'm absolutely, completely honest, I've never really seen the point in creche's in hotels - I understand maybe one morning if parents want to go and do something 'adulty'; but its when people put their children in the creche all day everyday...
Saying that, maybe I shouldn't knock it til' I've tried it

Hmm, I kind of know what you mean in theory but - it can be blissful. We did it a couple of times for 2 hour sessions in Cornwall - it wasn't a great set up and we didn't do anything much with our time, so I ended up feeling guilty and not really enjoying it. In contrast, we booked them in for 4 mornings per week in Greece and in the second week we even booked them in for two whole days (9-4). There was something incredibly indulgent about both DH and I scooting off to the local beach which had waiter service and great food, and sipping cocktails, reading our books, and even - gasp - canoodling in the sea. The childcare was fantastic and the girls would skip in merrily each morning, so it didn't feel like depriving them, and it meant when we went out in the afternoons we really enjoyed it, rather than it feeling like I don't feel as much of a need this time, although that is in part because I think it's next to impossible to find the kind of hotel I like (small, independent, stylish) which also has good childcare - unless you're prepared to spend big-time. The place we went to in Greece had great childcare but the accommodation was a bit crap and I wouldn't go back.

Anyway could talk about this for hours because we're knee deep in discussions about the pros and cons of all types of holiday but are probably opting for both Cornwall and Crete without childcare - time will tell if it's possible for me to come back feeling relaxed!

Don't get me wrong i would do it for the odd morning/day if we went somewhere which offered it, mainly because I'm a COMPLETE sunworshipper and with two redheaded toddlers I am pretty much buggered on that front for the next 16 years

Family holiday to Iceland anyone?

Oh no, not One of Those Outings! Yet to have one on my own with them yet, but only a matter of time I'm sure. But we have had `one of those days' at home today. Saw the 14hours or so of whingefest stretching ahead of me at 5.30am and it didn't set me up well for the day. Luckily boys seem to be on the mend this afternoon & will be in nursery tomorrow pm!

Good plan on the potty thing LadyM. I wouldn't call what we're doing training - just taking their lead really. Neither have been out without nappies. Ds2 did find the pack of big boy pants' today and I think it's dawning on them there is life without nappies. We went through a does X wear glasses' convo the other day and following it with a `does X wear nappies'. Apparently Mummy and Daddy are too big for nappies .

Discussing holidays here too as it occurred to me we'd yet to plan anything & it's getting a bit close to school holiday & it's daft for us to do anything then when I can actually do term-time this year. Probably not anything amazing though. Looked at PP World & may do that & either book a cottage or take the tent & spend some time in the New Forest. We really need a new tent but dp is keen to wait til next year. Reckons we'll get a bargain on his dream tent at the end of ths season but can't see it happening.

Iceland would be fab tho Tarti . I don't mind sun or not though.

Kate just visualising you at the zoo! Sorry I can imagine it was horrendous, you are brave going. To be honest I don't do enough with the girls outdoors on my own as I terrifies me! In some ways I'm jealous of my friends with singletons as one is just so portable I limit our excursions to friends/families houses, shopping if they are asleep in the buggy or we go to a brilliant enclosed park, which is a big running space, fab for toddlers. I don't do the normal Park on my own, I got given some reins, might have to try those

Am pretending to be watching Italy vs Ireland with DP at the moment, drinking again, just can't keep to any diet/ exercise plan, I just procrastinate too much lazy!

Mucky remember the hotel in Cornwall you nearly went to, The Polurrian?
I had a friend up this weekend and she was raving about it, she does training courses for hospitality staff and said it's one of the nicest hotels she's been to in Cornwall. That the photo's don't do it justice and the manager was a star.
I'd also recommend The Sands , we had a fab time there, loved that we could do children's dinner put the girls to bed and then go and have dinner on our own using the listening service. Another place that's very child friendly is The Bedruthan Steps prices can really vary though!
I found some fab places in Majorca if you are still looking for abroad?

Tarti same here in regards to devil children, my two are just so daring with everything, it's exhausting! f at the moment has a black eye, fell off the bed and a big scab on her forehead when she launched herself self out of the back door . Lovely moments too in that they always share their food, and feed each other whilst having dinner, maybe that's their Italian side! Although it is not the same story when it comes to toys and the IPad!

All I bought DP a top and a card, but a friend of mine invited us over for a 'craft' play date so the girls and her daughter could make cards. We made a huge mess, all the girls just played 'Boo' which is basically hide and seek without any hiding so we made our own cards and passed them off as the children's efforts

Hope Cerubina is having a nice holiday

LVB Strictly no laughing! I must have looked like a woman possessed - triple buggy with all 3 of them kicking and screaming at each other/me/life; and then a huge 4YO under my arm also kicking and screaming - and the fact that I pretended refused to let it bother me and carried on marching as though I wasn't the mother to these 4 animals Lovely girls!

You should definitely get out and do it, its so much easier once you've been out a few times. The more you stress, the stressfuller it is, but if you just relax and 'go with the flow' ( ) then its all fun! Definitely do the reigns - they make life much easier too! Don't be jealous of your friends with singletons - let them be jealous of you in the fact that you can take your 2 out and make it look like a breeze.
To be fair, I would probably keep mine in more if I could cope with it! I get a bit stressed and grumpy if we don't go out and get fresh air and a bit of a run around!

Annywwaayyyy, is our 3 girlies 3rd birthday tomorrow!! Have spent the day wrapping some brilliant pressies that they will totally obsess over! DH and I have been doing last minute shopping all day, and generally talking our girls and how lucky we are :)

Happy 3rd Birthday to the girls!!!!
Thanks I think you are right, I do need to get out more, hope you have a brilliant day of celebration tomorrow

Aww Kate Happy Birthday to your girls. What have you got them? What kind of cake are they having? I'm birthday obsessed.

On a completely unrelated note, how inappropriate is it to wear cream (well "oyster" officially, but wtf is that...) to a wedding - BE HONEST, I haven't bought it yet! Also one of the weddings I'd be wearing it to would also include the girls who would be 2.5yrs. It's a bad idea all round isn't it...?!

Lavita I'm a bit of a scaredy cat when it comes to taking them out places alone, when it would involve getting them out of the buggy. Have had a few nasty moments near roads etc which have put me off. But actually my worst ones have more been about embarrassment in front of people at them making a scene and me not being able to put a stop to it straight away, which is a pretty lame excuse when I put it like that.
DH is much more gung ho and has far more fun with them because he doesn't balk at the idea of having to pick them both up and carry them rugby tackle style back to the car screaming all the while. To be fair he is physically capable of this whereas the bigger they get, the less I am... Anyway my point is I'm sure Kate is right and it's better just to get on with it. I need to take this advice too though.

Thanks ladies - it looks like Christmas all over again!

Their main present is a Maxi Micro each - quite a big expense for 3 of them, so that is the main thing and they are absolutely desperate for a scooter so will love them.

We've got a few other main presents that are to share, but I've also got them some more bits that are specially for them - rather than just buying 3 of the same thing which I tend to do just to stop the arguments - so what I know they will like the best. I got them these super cool disney light up spinner things - normally I would just get 3 Rapunzels or something, but I've tried picking their favourite princess and hope for no tears!

I got those Pascal's that I linked upthread

Quite a lot of dress ups in various characters

Lots of crafty bits - theyre obsessed with that kind of thing at the moment, especially colouring.

We did want to get them something big between them - maybe something for the garden, but we just couldn't think of anything. Plus, by the looks of our living room tonight, they've got enough

I'm birthday obsessed too Tarti - I just love it!

We've gone for a pretty sweeeet cake actually - is an amazing Rapunzel one! Its one person that they all agree on (bar some CBeebies shit) so we went for that. Is going to have their names all around it, and is a proper 2 tier job as we have quite a few coming to their party on Saturday.

Can't wait til the morning!!

Wow, lucky girls Kate - Sounds fab. Happy birthday to them & have a great day / party.

I'm only really starting to take boys on short buggy-free wanders now. Usually just to nursery but we did go to post office the other day on the promise of puddle jumping & that's what kept us going. They've been ok tho it's difficult when 1 falls over & needs knees kissing better. Took ds2 to feed ducks the other week & it felt manic enough keeping an eye on him/water so not sure I'd try with all of them yet.

Dd appears to have boys' germs now. Luckily we were running late this morning so it was dp who was thrown up over rather spectacularly & who did clean-up .

LVB - thanks so much for those recommendations - in fact Bedruthan was the one we've been been looking at. I've just booked it. Although we've had a bit of a shock in that DH has lost his job. He seems okay about it, and in fact was really hating it recently, but budget cuts etc etc mean he's leaving in a month. So now we're going to take a deep breath and go away anyway when he finishes mid-July - although the instinct is not to go anywhere and save the cash 'just in case' I also think we just bloody need a break and it will do us all good.

Kate - HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the girls! I would write more but you're probably lost beneath a sea of wrapping paper... Bet they're beside themselves today - I can't wait for the next 'round' of birthdays/Christmas/etc because they just 'get it' so much more now. Although was funny with the cards they made for DH for Father's Day, which were intermittently called Daddy's present, Daddy's special card, Daddy's birthday card, and 'oh no! my party bag!' when E thought she'd broken it.

I totally understand re. being worried about going out with them, although know from experience I always feel SO much happier when I do stuff like that. I found the few months after they were comfortably walking the hardest on that front, because you feel like you have all this freedom, but actually they don't know to listen to you yet and can't be relied on to do what you say. Now at 2.6 the girls and I can walk down the street on the pavement, not holding hands, and I feel quite comfortable a lot of the time. I'm still not brave enough to go far without the buggy although like you tarti - DH is much more adventurous on that front and often goes off on little excursions (normally to the little chocolatier around the corner actually, funnily enough ) with them to show them off.
We're off to a new soft-play event I found last week which is held in a local pub and which has - gasp - a bouncy castle. My god the girls were beside themselves. So they're asleep happy in the knowledge that we're doing that later. And yesterday I went to a toddler Capoeira class, free and organised by the local nursery in a church hall. It was fantastic. So definitely finding my niche with all that a bit more. Although not to the actual extent of making any friends, mind you...

Mucky so sorry to hear about your DH's job , I'm sure he will find something else quickly, things always happen for a reason, hopefully he'll move into something he prefers. You'll love Bed Steps, it's an ugly old building from outside but the interiors and location are outstanding!

I'm sure you make friends once you start doing things regularly like soft play etc, I didn't do NCT, Then wished I had as I had no friends in this area, the friends I've made, I met whilst having the girls weighed at the children's centre. I took the plunge it's a bit like dating and asked 2 mums who I'd met twice before, if they fancied doing lunch. We went out the following week and have all been friends ever since so don't be shy

I got talking to an Aussie girl at playgroup this morning who has a little boy similar in age to F and V, she is pregnant with triplet girls! She seemed so calm and laid back about it all.

Hope you are having a lovely day Kate

Muck Really sorry to hear about your DH's job too - but sounds like you've both made the best out of a bad situation; its definitely good to think of lots of positives.
Yes I really was being drowned by the wrapping paper this morning. They were sooo cute though - we came down and turned the lights on and they all went all shy and embarrassed, apart from A who shouted 'Yessssss, my buffdaaaay!' - we decided to save scooters til last because we knew that they would just want to be on them straight away. We needn't have bothered as they were obsessed with the first thing they opened! They were just beside themselves with happiness; they kept looking at us grinning as though they couldn't believe it. Scooters went down an absolutely storm, they opened them at the same time and they got super hyper and were running around the housing screaming and shouting 'Scooootterr!' When they'd all calmed down a bit, E came up or a cuddle, she grinned and said 'Its a bit like Fismas (Xmas) isn't it Mumma!'

3X Maxi micros was quite a big expense (hence being their main present) - but we thought it was silly to get the Mini's because when the Maxi is at its smallest setting, its the same size as the Mini - so you might aswell get the Maxi to grow with them.

LVB Get this aussie girl to come on here ASAP! Sounds like shes doing brilliantly, but feel free to send her my way if she wants to know about anything.

Smallable sale anyone?

Onto more important matters than my DH losing his job () I keep meaning to ask - tarti - did your Saltwaters arrive for the girls and are you happy with them? Mine have been happily tripping around in their silver sweetheart ones and so far getting lots of compliments.

Kate - the birthday(s) sounds fab. I don't want to google those scooters now, we got the girls the mini ones months ago and they're only just starting to use them ("wheeeeeeeeeeee, look at me mummy, LOOK AT ME!" ) so I'm hoping they'll get a bit of use out of them. They are expensive, aren't they? I was gutted that when we got them and took them to the park, thinking the girls were going to be really excited, all E could do was look glumly at other children with their bicycles and whinge moan that that was what she wanted instead I'm now thinking we might do bikes for their 3rd birthday...

Do any of you have those garden trampolines? Are they worth getting? We have quite a wild garden with lots of overhanging trees, etc (and bloody foxes running rampant) and I'm a bit worried that within weeks it would just become full of insects and dirt and that I'd be the one having to go in to clean it and... well, I'm a big old scaredy cat on that front...

LOL LVB - I have already made two orders! The first one with the 30% code last week, and am actually sending most of it back. Made another order today, loving the sale, so much available. Made a pact with myself not to buy anything that was more than £20 and managed to fill my boots quite nicely

I did shove this black lurex jumpsuit in the basket at just over the £20. I do wonder sometimes what I think I'm doing when I'm on that site...

Like that Mucky pain with the nappies though!
I'm a bridesmaid next weekend and am wearing a jumpsuit, it's nice though, very loose looks like a long dress until you walk. Those of you on Facebook will no doubt see the photo's

I bought 2 of These dresses one grey, one navy, just realised they had the violet too but it's too late now. I've bought aged 2, not sure how big they come up?

Oh but it'll only be for "occasion" wear (I say that as though we have occasions to go to... ) so to hell with nappy convenience I say

Love that dress btw...

Girls at nursery. I just got called 'sexy' by a passer by in the street. Admittedly he was a mad homeless person stumbling out of a greasy spoon, but still.....