July 2009: Only &*%$ days till Christmas!

[alibobble]

hey all! Thought I'd start.

Good grief Lydia - I'm so very sorry about your Dad & your sister - will your Dad get better with time or is it all a bit unknown yet? That's really very sad - you're having a rotten couple of months. Thinking of you xx

(((Lydia))) xx

Oh Lydia so sorry!!! Hope things look up.
(( ))
x

Lydia I can't believe all your sad news, so sorry hun, I do hope that you are ok. I think dh is off to the states in the next few weeks so I will ask him if he can get the doll for you? Big hugsx

Ali what is a beetle drive!? Always looking for new ideas! The quiz night was brilliant if you ever want to do one it is a doddle and we raised £400. All you need is someone to read out the quiz. I get them on line and then committee members make the food. It is byo booze so you don't need to bother with licences etc. Another tip is that Boden always give us a £50 voucher to use in the raffle. I will give you the ladys name to write to if you want?

We are all ok here, busy as usual. DH is home for 11 days which is lovely. Having him here does mean that I don't get half the domestic stuff done that I need to though and I always feel a bit like I am chasing my tail!

DD and I are in the process of making 80 fairy cakes for children in need. She is Pudseys number one fan bless her so it is fun to see her having such a good time making these cakes. One more batch to make when she gets home from school and then the icing frenzy begins!! She is going to sell them at school tomorrow.

Re Christmas, Max is getting a radio flyer wagon, the old metal ones. DH got it in the states so nice and cheap! He loves pulling things around so I think he will love it. It gets harder for the big kids, ds wants an ipod touch!!!!!!! and dd either wants a gerbil or dave the funky shoulder monkey, bless her! I know which is more likely!!

Anyway dh just about to get him from the school run with the big kids so need to lik busy!

xx

Lydia - So sorry to hear about your dad and sister (((hugs))) xxx

oh lydia you really have been through the mill hug
Hope things improve.

Last night I ran out of nappies and DH didn't get back from Tesco HQ till gone 10 so I wasn't going out then, so this morning Alfie went on the school run with 2 muslins folded cloth nappy with a swim nappy on top to keep it all together. Nescessity is the mother of invention eh? It worked though znd he kindly pooed in it too ahhhhh!
My nephew has had a big op today to remove a growth on his cheekbone poor lad. He's only 4 :(

Hello Lovelies!

Its been such a long time since I have posted! I have been lurking, but real life is just so exhausting and busy right now. After work, I come home to make dinner, then run out to pick the babies up from nursery, back home to eat, do homework, chores, and get the kids off to bed by 9pm. DH is home by 8:45pm. I then get to work on laundry, lunches, and getting other things ready for the next day. I am usually in bed by 11:30pm (which needs to be earlier but somehow it has happened). I am up at 6:30 the next morning to start all over. Throw in time at the gym plus appointments, and its chaos! The weekend are spent grocery shopping, taking kids to Italian school, and errands. I wish I could find the time to sit at the computer and just unwind! I usually end up in bed with my Ipod lurking. Its too tedious to type out a long post, so I wait.

DS1 is also keeping me busy with the problems he is having at school. We took him in the spring to be tested by a doctor, and they found him to have generalized anxiety disorder. It means he gets nervous and anxious about new situations, tests, people, places. Its affecting his grades, so I have been meeting with his teachers and trying to come up with ways that will help him to cope. Its stressing me out! Then at home, I am constantly getting after him to his chores, his homework, follow house rules. I dont know if its just a boy thing, but I am at the end of my rope with him. Sigh.... rant over.

So how is everyone? How is the Christmas shopping/baking? I am almost done the shopping, and the baking plans have been made (its a full day event for me!).

Tonight I am working some overtime doing security work, so that I can pay for the shopping I plan to finish this weekend! LOL

Anyway... I am home on my lunch break. I am fortunate that all the schools I teach at are within 20 minutes of home, so I am able to come home to do chores and laundry have lunch!

Lydia so sorry to hear all your sad news. Hope your sister is well and dad is also on the mend. They sell Cabbage Patch dolls here as well, if you would like me to check to see if I can find any?

Baby I have to say you must have to be super on top of things with 4 children and work! WOW. I thought as the little ones got older it would get easier but it seems to get busier. DS1 is 5 yrs old and with school work, playdates, footie and swimming, and so on I have to constantly write things in the calendar/to do list.

Xmas Tristan has got the click clack track and some little trucks. That will be it for him. Is that mean? We just live in such a small place and there is so many hand me downs for him re toys.

Xmas part 2 what is everyone getting their other halves? DH is getting from me some whiskey and a book. But I need a "main" present. I was thinking an acupuncture treatment (he has a bad back and foot). Last year it was a ticket to see his fav premiership football team...year before that was tickets to the theatre. Any inspiration would be great.

Bakerella Love their ideas. May do some for the Xmas fair.

Evening all. A small interlude of peace whilst ITNG is on Hetty has her face about 6 inches from the TV screen.

Xmas - not getting Hetty much TBH. Got a little wooden train & track from Ikea & some of their fabric fruit & vegetables. DSIS is passing on an ELC kitchen. Then I've ordered a couple of bits from ELC in the 20% off sale thing - just some bath crayons & bits. I agree it feels a bit mean, but I figure she really doesn't know what is happening & the house is full to bursting with stuff already. We get lots of stuff passed on from the nephews so it seems a bit bonkers to buy loads of stuff. As for DP we've agreed not to buy again (same as last year). We'll go out for a nice meal instead. I get so as I don't know what to buy him. Seems a bit Bah Humbug of us I know, but it takes at least some of the stress out of it. I will have a ponder though MissP. Men are so hard to buy for I reckon.

QF - had to laugh at the makeshift nappy

Home is like a tip at the moment. We've git visitors on Friday night so I'm hoping I can get it sorted between now & then! Don't have much energy in the evenings though. At least it will be dark when they arrive so I can shut the curtains & ditch cleaning the windows off the list

Fundraising - we once did an "in-car" treasure hunt which was hilarious. We followed it up with a BBQ. Was in the summer & it was really good, but I'm not sure who put all the clues together.

Baby - hope you can get some help with DS1's anxiety, can't be nice for you all.

Birth - changed hospitals for the birth this time, to the one more local. I was worried about bad weather & Hetty & traffic & stuff. Anyway all is fine so far until I noticed DP isn't allowed in the hospital until midday It was from 9am last time

Better go & cook tea. Snow forecast for us northerners later in the week chuffing well hate the bloody stuff!!

hi all. Up to my eyeballs in cake. Have cleared a drawer in the freezer just for all of it. Good thing is that I've made it all with real butter etc so cos of my lactose intolerance I'm not tempted to eat it! So far done 2 choc tortes, 2 banana choc loaves and just experimenting with the mini christmas tree shaped cake tins! Madness.

presents all who aren't getting much for LO's or DP's - lets face it, we all prob have loads of stuff already and it's true most of us have houses that are full to bursting all the time. I wouldn't feel guilty. I'm trying to get a present both can play with cos otherwise beth will end up with another thing we have to keep out of becca's reach hence happy land. No idea what to get Pete though he says he wants some leather gloves so that sounds easy!

baby no idea how you do it! I feel like i'm juggling and I've only got 2!

snow really? Eeks. Must make more of an effort to watch the weather forecast!

Yippee! A mate coming to us on the Friday visit is now driving instead of sleeping over Means I don't actually have to clean the upstairs at all now or at least ready for Friday night anyway Soooo relieved. I was wondering how on earth I was going to fit it all in TBH.

Happy baking ali! I'm sure the house smells lovely. Where are the Xmas tree shaped tins from? Have you tried the silicon bakeware? I'm sorely tempted to give it a go (must stop watching QVC ) BTW I'm thinking of aquadoodle for Hetty - nephew has the big mat & he loves to get streeetched out on the floor with it. So I think I'll put it on the Xmas list for one of the Aunties & Uncles to get for her. I need to clear out a drawer in the freezer for pies.

Jetli: Thinking aqua doodle for becca from grandma. Great idea. The cake tins were from hobbycraft. Tad expensive but look super. So tired tonight, can't be bothered baking again. Save it for thurs I think. Ddi 3 hrs solid last night and been stamping out shapes from florentine tonight. Crazy days.

QF I had a good laugh as well over the nappy in a pinch story! Mother's can be very resourceful!

Ali very that you have got so much baking done! I will be doing my binge-baking in a few weeks. Bakerella is one of my fave sites, so may have a peek on there to see if there is anything worth trying. I make about 16 tins of cookies every Christmas to give out to friends and neighbours. Its a huge job since I bake about 8 different kinds of cookies and it takes me a full day, but I love it!

Jetli Don't blame you for changing hospitals. I dont have any winter babies, but I would have hated having to worry about weather on top of everything else on the day you go into labour!

Snow We have had a small sprinkling a couple of days already, but so far, nothing is sticking . Compare that to the poor souls in western Canada that have had several dumpings of 10cm and more (not to mention frigid temps). We have gotten off quite easy so far. This morning I awoke to 15 degrees Celcius!! Its going to drop to -2 tonight, so a little crazy.

prezzies I have to agree with the not going too crazy with the babies. We have gotten Marco some clothing (which he is in desperate need for since no hand me downs), a Talking Woody doll and a few little cars to go in his stocking. Sofia's gifts are about the same. Our house is filled with toys from my sister, so I really dont need to get more. The 2 older DCs are getting a little more since thay appreciate things more. We are doing a minor update to DD1s room for Christmas. She is getting a new bed spread, and girly chandaliere, and we are repainting one wall to have an accent colour. Small things, but will make a big impact and make her room more grown up (she will be 13 in a few months). DS1 will be getting a digital camera since he has begun to express an interest in photography and its something both his dad and grandad enjoy.

So I have had to reschedule my surgery for summer :( Work was giving me a hard time since I would need time off as well as time spent on light duties. I was told that my new position would be in jeopardy (since it is only a 1 year temporary spot). Since I did not want to take that chance, I have rescheduled for June and I was told I will have no trouble taking the entire summer off son paid sick leave. Thats a plus. It just means I will have to be careful not to make my situation worse. Sigh... always complications!! Why cant things ever be easy!! LOL

So how is everyone else?

Hi everyone, haven't posted in a while and haven't had the chance to lurk either as rl has been quite crazy. DH has been home and it throws my schedule completley, but it has been good.

Baby hope the ds is ok, it is such a worry as they get older and seem to get so much more complicated. Hopefully between you and the school you will be able to make things easier for him xx

Things are getting busy here for Christmas, school plays, discos etc. They all involve some fundraising so I am having a meeting next week to sort it all out. It has crept up on me and now I am going into overdrive!!!

I have my friend who lost her hunsband last Christmas coming to tea tonight. He and her son are in a bad way, it is so near to the anniversary and they are finding it almost impossible to cope with. It must be so hard for them, especially at this time of year with everyone else getting excited about Christmas. There is a small group of us who are trying to keep her busy with lucnch, coffee, dog walks etc during the week so that she doesn't have too much time on her hands to think.

Baking, I have made my christmas pudding, christmas cake and some lovely little mini christmas puddings (there were 4 but dh and I couldn't resist trying one!!!) I need to make a cake for the Village Christmas fair on Saturday so might try bakerella for some new ideas!

Anyway I hope you are all ok, Happy baking Baby and Ali!

Baby - you're like superwoman, don't know how you keep up.

Presents - I went through all the stuff I've bought and wrapped the boys stuff last night. Noah has got this toy story ride on, a dancing teletubby, a teletummy teletubby, some in the night garden mega bloks, a giggling bouncing cow thing, some crayons and colouring book, some toy story books and some toy story pj's.oh and some Christmas pj's for Christmas eve.

Noah's baptism is on Sunday so I'm trying to get sorted for that. I need to have a good clean round at some point cos people are coming back to our house after church. Need to go shopping for food and drink too.

Was hoping for snow til I realised I would have to work in it so not so sure now, I was on maternity leave last year so could play in it. Not that keen on working in it.

Patchy I remember last year when your friend's DH passed away. Christmas is such a hard time to be jolly when there is sadness to deal with. She is very lucky to have a friend as yourself.

Fundraising we are selling tickets for a £1 for the children to see Polar Express in the school hall after school next week. So far I have sold 3! I would have thought there would be more interest. I am finding getting involved in school stuff very hectic and some people have such lethargic attitudes towards getting even the teeniest involved.

Baby how is the snow in Canada? The are forecasting it here but not sure if it will hit the South of England (London where I am to be exact). Hope not. It is a pain to do the various school runs on foot.

Phoenix boo to having to work in the snow. How are you finding it now the temps have dropped? Are you excited for Sunday?

Jetli How is Hetty now at nursery. Have you got time off during Xmas? I bet you can't wait for your next mat leave.

Ali please do some of my baking, lol.

QF Lydia and everyone else hi

snow - were apparently due some here. Can't say i'm over the moon it just brings extra work (bah humbug)
As for crazy temps, a friend of mine in Calgary had pics of her thermometer yesterday reading -29 :O
Christmas. Dh and I are buying each other new dressing gowns, how rock and roll ae we :D
Hsve bought ds a secondhand ds with games for £45 bargain! Then realised Ds and Dd were just going to fight over it so managed to get one for Fin too £45 with 28 games. Dad pleased with that! They came with cases etc too :)
Alfie not getting much click clack and a tractor thing he likes in b&ms suits me!
Only person I haven't bought for now is my delightfull mil... No idea what to get her at all. Doesn't help she is doing my head in at the mo. Says she can't come on the train, yet t's so easy she only has to change at manc picadilly and it's just the next train no platorm change. Hole journey only 45 mins grrr. Then she complains shes lonely. Well get some friends then! Have suggested WI apparently no because they are too clever they have been on eggheads lol and I suggsted she join her local church (she used to go regularly) no she can't go on her own ahhhhhhhhhhh! OK rant over but you get the pic!
Have bought Michael Macintyres book for my bro. So tempted to read it 1st :D
Sorry any typos on phone can't check.

Forgot to say about dh's pressie for whoever asked. We don't really buy each other lots and anything he gets me I have to either buy it myself or tell him what to get . This year i've got him a new car stereo, electric toothbrush and a dressing gown. So far i've got a dressing gown from him, that i picked myself and i've been going on about wanting an Ice watch and when i said the other day that i might order one he said just wait to see what santa brings you which means he's getting me one :o. Are all men this useless?

MissP - work is very cold. Lots of layers needed. I suppose we can't really moan cos we get to work out in the nice weather and we get to shelter in our vans in between collection points.

Morning all. About 15 snowflakes blew around in the back garden for 10 minutes & now its gone hope that's the last of it cos I could do with going out later & I'm petrified driving in snow.
QF - top bargain with the ds's Commiserations about the MIL - mine recently "invited herself" to spend Christmas Day with us. DP put her straight She'd hate every minute of what we have planned & would be rude to everyone which puts me on edge & spoils it. They're a pain when they won't go out though. Nan has recently started on some proper dementia meds & the Dr. also upped her anti-depressants - the result was she went back to flower arranging & WI & Stitch and Bitch class and as a result is much, much cheerier. They were all really pleased to see her at her classes. Of course the -dementia means she doesn't remember that she's had almost a year off but there you go. Once they lose confidence travelling & stuff it makes life so much harder doesn't it.
patchy - gosh I'd forgotten about your friend until you mentioned it poor woman. Must be so hard.
phoenix - best of luck for Sunday I'm sure it will be lovely.
Hi MissP - still hit and miss at nursery. She barfed yesterday, after her tea. When I picked her up she was all wow-y. So we're confined to barracks today. But there's been no more sickness & she seems fine in herself. Sometimes she's OK sometimes not, sometimes hysterical

Anyway gotta go as she keeps fiddling with the keyboard so best get off the PC. Hi to baby, ali et al

with my mil it?s pure lazyness. She just expects everyone to drop everhthing for her. Shes only 65 but acts like an 80 year old.
Have found the perfect pressie for her though today, fleecy wellie liners (shes always whinging about the cold) and one of these silicone cake mould thingies. (quite fancy one of those myself actually)

Had bad news last night our pastors 9 year old daughter has a large brain tumour. They are hoping to operate but it's so scary and sad. It has realy made me think about how lucky I am to have 3 healthy kids.
Making a lasagne to take round this pm as she is being transfered to Alderhey so a long drive for them. The only thing I could think of to be of any help. You so want to do something but really there isn't a lot you can. Sorry feeling a bit :( about it today.

QueenFee so sad to hear that news, especially a child and at this time of year. Great idea on the lasagne front though, I always think that a meal they can eat without thinking is a huge help and it is made with such love. Thinking of you xxxx

Oh QF that's awful. Lasagne is a good idea. If they can operate, that's a good thing - my friend's tumour was inoperable which is very common. Removal is the best thing. Oh dear, poor family x

QF sorry to hear about your pastor's daughter. Lasagne etc great plan. Sometimes you just need to fee like you're doing something whilst not getting in the way. Are you close to their family. Don't forget to pray. Re your bro's book: I'd be tempted to read it first too... just don't crack the spine, he'll never know!

Snow none forecast here yet thankfully. Much more likely to rain than snow in manchester. Have the penines to blame for both.

patchy I remember you telling us about your friend too. It must be v tough esp on the first year.

wow better go in a mo becca has taken off her nappy and is bare bottie'd in the lounge!

Last night did my first night at the 14-19's group at church. Was utter madness and I'm not sure what I've let myself in for deciding to help run it! I think some of them need to be sat on the naughty step!

cake managed to deliver first batch of cakes to school today. Started making pop cakes this evening. They smell really good, I'm so tempted to try one but it's not worth the stomach ache! Deliver the pop cakes tomorrow and that will be that. I'm not sure I want to see another cake again... who am I kidding!

THE BAKING IS OVER! [does a little dance]

Now off to bed. work 9-7 tomorrow [yawn]