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

[alibobble]

hey all! Thought I'd start.

Hi everyone. It is very quiet on here, I hope everyone is ok and not too stressed about Christmas!

We are all ok, despite the endless tantrums Max is having at the moment. He is sweetness and light and then suddenly throws the biggest paddy, rolling on the floor, hitting, scratching and the new one head butting! Nice!

I am pretty much organised for Christmas, shopping done and I did a big supermarket shop today. I am organising a big school party on saturday in aid of Winston's Wish, the bereavement charity who have been such a massive help to my friend and her son. We have 46 kids coming and it is quite a big thing to organise. My main stress is that dh is away and my mum has promised to come and look after Max, but now with the threat of snow she is making noises about not coming. It will be a nightmare without her help! Anyway it is all in a good cause and hopefully will raise lots of money for the charity. It is the anniversary on the 21st

Anyway lots to do so I have to rush. Big hugs to you all
xx

Hey everyone
I feel very unorganised in comparison. I got the flu on Sunday and today is the first day I could actually walk about. I have never ever felt so rotten in my life. My temp had been soaring, I was soaking through clothes from the sweats and was a shivering mess. I didn't even want to get up to use the loo and nearly asked DH for a nappy! Seriously. UGH. I have not had a flu like this since I was a child.

I am now behind on Xmas and there is snow expected this weekend/next weekend which will make it harder to catch up. I wish we were just on holiday.

I also got my first AF! 7 weeks after my last feed.

QF is Alfie showing signs of wanting a bed? I haven't even thought about this scenario. When did our babies become toddlers?

Patchy hope the snow holds off and your mom comes.

Jetli was Santa good?

Off to do a school run. I am excited to get some walking in since my friends have been helping me during the week on this.

Hope no one else got this flu!

well he threw himself out of his cot a couple of weeks ago so I am no longer happy that he is safe.
Patchy well done and good luck for the weekend.

Hi just doing a bit of catching up. had today off work to do last bit of christmas shopping and finally got all together. was great to be able to go without the kids. Have been on the go all day and even tidied up the conservatory a bit. We shall see how long that lasts. it's a glorified dumping ground.

We did an amazon shop for loads of stuff the other day but Pete got free trial of amazon prime (must just remember to cancel it) so everything delivered super quick.

Jetli: Hope all ok with you and the snow doesn't cause ant unforseen circumstances! I agree, be careful on the ice. It's ok here at the mo but threatening for Sat or sun. It;s our really big carol service on sunday and we have stalls outside and mulled wine etc. If it's a white out it'll be a disaster! Will look very festive of course but rather dangerous esp as someone has to shimmy up all the trees to put lights up etc.

OPatchy: Hope your mum makes it across and party goes well. What a nice way to support your friend.

Gotta go and get girls. Hope you all have a good one this year. Still no tree here. Contemplating where I can put it so becca doesn't wreck it. And to think last year I was worried about hte cat and baubles!

Ali - We've bought a 3ft tree and stood it on the sideboard out of Noah's reach :o. We'll attempt the 6ft one next year :)

hi all
Hope your all surviving this mad weather
-12 here at 10 this morning and -3 in my utility room. Needless to say not much washing being done!
I'm all fluey today and 2/3 kids are ill. Thank God for cbeebies on days like this eh?
I still have a couple of pressies to get and food for the monday christmas dinner I am doing for my in laws.
Baby whats the weather like in Toronto?

Still at work here. Only one more day to go though, before the break. Tis absolutely bloody, bloody freezing cold but NO MORE SNOW FORECAST - YAY!!! Most of the shopping is done - maybe just one or two more bits of food required & that will be it, but my local Morrisons is open until 11pm this week. I nipped in for stamps last night at 10pm and it was complete bliss - barely a soul there at all (although the staff looked forlorn in their reindeer antlers). So I shall sneak off late at night if deemed absolutely necessary.
Hope you're feeling better QF

Hi everyone. Its been a busy week here. The party was a huge success and we raised £330 for Winstons Wish which I was delighted with. It was the anniversary last night of my friends husbands death so very sad for everyone. I have had a candle burning for him for the last couple of days and feel very sad every time I look at it. A group of us are going to her house tomorrow for a party tea with the kids as a kind of pre christmas, post anniversary bash. A lovely idea and very brave of her.

DH was due back from work on sunday and got stuck away. He will hopefully be back tomorrow but goes again on thursday. Less than 20 hours at home. Then hopefully back by 8.30am on Christmas day. he had better be as we will have his dad here from Christmas eve and if he doesn't get back I may end up killing them both!!!

My mum was supposed to be coming here for a Christmas meal tomorrow as she is at my brothers for Christmas but told me yesterday that she is going to his early as he can come and pick her up tomorrow and she is too nervous to drive. I was so , she didn't seem to take into account that yesterday was monday and of course I had done the shopping and cooked loads of stuff for it! AAARGH! I always come second to my brother. She had the cheek to say that she was always going to upset someone in deciding what to do over christmas ie she is happy to upset me! Bloody families!! We are supposed to go to her on the 27th and I feel like telling her to stuff it. Sorry for the rant!

I took the kids to the panto today. We had bought the tickets ages ago and so I decided to go even though DH is away. It was fantastic. I had booked a box, at no extra cost, got it cos I booked early. What a result. Max couldn't get out, we had loads of space and the children felt like royalty! Such a fab idea with a baby! Can't recommend it enought. He just sat eating crap, watching a bit and playing!

Anyway off to chill with a glass of wine infront of the telly! Hope you are all ok xxx

Just popping on to quickly wish you all a very happy christmas [fbear]

Merry Christmas everyone

yes happy Christmas everyone

Happy Christmas all!

Phew - the entertaining is over. Just 48 stone of leftovers to deal with now. Stilton recipes anyone? No-one touched the cheese & of course much as I would cheerfully demolish the whole lot, along with a festive red wine, I am sadly barred for the time being... Delia has a stilton soup recipe, & Nan used to have a recipe for stilton & celery scones which were lush, but unfortunately the dementia has put paid to that particular delicacy!! I shall freeze it in smaller bits I reckon. DP is soldiering on with the remains of the trifle - good lad Phoenix - the Cannonhall party pies were brilliant - can't recommend them enough to be honest, & I can be very picky when it comes to meat pie I bought their gravy as well with a view to tarting it up a bit, but it really didn't need any tinkering with at all - lush indeed.

jetli: See if this link works for stilton recipes. And yes cheese freezes very well

goodfood stilton recipes

Works a treat that Ali - thanks very much

on the stilton website they have a lovely recipe for am easy stilton pasta that I use. Tis yum and great for a quick midweek supper. I sometimes chuck in some left over chicken too.

Thanks QF

ladies have you any tips on weaning a toddler off breastfeeding when they clearly don't want to be weaned? Its starting to drive me mad so time to stop. On a normal day/night were down to 4 feeds in 24 hours. He refuses to go to sleep with bottle or cup of milk. Wont rock or be patted ahhhh! Don't really want to leave him to scream as I know I will just cave. If dh could just put him to bed it would help.
What are you all up to for new year. We are having a quiet one still trying to get over the flu!

I'm afraid I went down the yelling route with both of my on all sleep training fronts. Not much help here I'm afraid! Hope you all get over the flu. It's dreadful isn't it? My 2 are finally getting over it. rearranged to see pete's parents for new year as too ill to travel on 27th. Beth has hardly eaten anything fora week. Much better today. At least it's made us all rest which after a term at school I think she needed anyway. Am missing her needing a nap but not all the rest of it! :)

Quiet NYE here too. We're going out for tea about 4-ish & then feet up for the evening, probably with Jools.
Sorry QF - Hetty pretty much weaned herself off the boob, so I've no experience. She's happy with a cup of fridge cold milk (won't entertain it hot) which she starts in the evening bath. DP does most bedtimes though now. She gives me a kiss & waves & says bye-bye & then her takes her to her cot. We have tried her with warm Horlicks recently which she quite likes - maybe something like that would help?
We're in need of some fresh air Ali - I'm sure being stuck indoors with the heating on all the time doesn't help with all these bugs & germs. I just wish it wasn't so bloody grey & grim outside!

All the best for 2011 :o

Morning all - happy new year!
Hope everyone is well.

Back to work tomorrow

gosh it's quiet on here at the moment!
I am trying to get Alfie to sleep again ahhhh this is doing my nut it's taking him ages to drop off. Been sitting here am hour now:(
I finally feel human again and managed to start the post christmas exchange present shopping trip. The kids were glad to get out they haven't hardly been out the house all hols.
Big kids back to school on wed. I'm seriously thinking of sending Alfie to my mothers for a week to wean him

Belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.

The break was so so as I was ill for nearly 3 weeks! I'd have a day of "feeling better" the slump back to bed a day later with aches and fever. My temp finally broke on the 30th - just in time for me to indulge in a couple glasses of fizz for NYE.

As the home was germ filled for the most part we did not socialise (bar Xmas at inlaws and Boxing Day at my parents) so now I have a home full of cheese, booze and chocs. I guess no virtuous Jan for me.

QF Tristan weaned himself so not sure what to say re the BF. Does Alfie eat with the older 2? I found that the main reason Tristan stopped BF was because he simply wanted to eat/drink like his older siblings.

Jetli how many weeks have you got? I am sooooo broody so will have to live through your experience.

Ali going to check out the recipes. I have to do something with all this cheese!

Patchy Phoenix how was your break? I(and anyone else lurking.....)

missp, sadly Alfie already eats me out of house and home. He eats with us as a family. Uses a fork and spoon sits at the table as he refuses a highchair and an open cup as he refuses a sippy cup as he wants to be just like them! However he refuses to give up his milk!
We had swine flu and it was the same, one day you felt a bit better the next you couldn't move out of bed again.

Hi everyone
Well it is still quiet on here, I hope that everyone is getting back to normal now and that you all managed a good Christmas.

MissP ours was a bit like yours, the kids were ill all over the holidays and I was ill over Christmas, I am feeling a bit robbed! We had a good run up to Christmas but I came down with this flu thing on the 23rd and didn't feel human again until NYE. Very dull! It didn't help that DH worked all over the holidays, I think I just got myself very run down.

Anyway, we still had fun but like you MissP I still have a house full of food and DH isn't helping to eat it as he has gone on a diet!

The kids went back to school yesterday and I think DS was ready although he didn't want to go! He is being quite stroppy at the moment and winding DD up a treat!

I am starting to go to a new music class with Max tomorrow, he loves dancing and singing so I am sure he will love it. I feel stupidly nervous though! I hate being the new kid!!

QueenFee I hope you manage to wean Alfie. He does sound very grown up! I suppose they are all growing up though aren't they. I was booking a camping trip for the summer today and the man asked how old the kids were...I said 9, 7 and a baby and then realised that actually he would be 2 in the summer....always my baby though!!! Max will feed himself really well but thankfully I still have him in a hugh chair, although at every opportunity he climbs on a normal chair!

Anyway, off to veg on the sofa, I have terrible insomnia at the moment and have found myself still awake at 3am a couple of nights. By this time of the evening all I want to do is switch off and watch tv!!!

Hi to everyone xxxx