Children At Play or Who Moved the Cheese

[Admin]

Hello.

Hope you had a constructive talk with H enya, and hippy I hope your chat with your DH included him grovelling at your feet...

Been lovely here again today after a great weekend spent half outside. First third of the back garden looking reasonable for the first time since Spring and another sunny day expected tomorrow so might get a bit more done then

enya, hope you manage to have a productive chat. Don't undervalue yourself iyswim.

hipster hope your chat resolved things to your satisfaction too!

Admin welcome back from trip, glad you had a nice time.

Star your pics are so lovely, made me teeny bit teary looking at them . Tattoo on your back is amazers! Are you planning to have a picnic any time soon?

Bibi - you have to to be CAREFUL of yourself. I am delighted you are doing so well with your new venture but I also think you plunged right in while in quite an emotional state (egged on by us of course ) and it sort of rocketed and you have barely had time to surface for sleep since. So with full time job plus busy family life plus other stuff lurking in the background, you HAVE to heed OldMaCrisp's candleburning business. OK? I don't often do pf stares but I might have to resort to one. Did you have any further chat with cm?

Wotcha Crips

trying to do some dissertation work but not feeling the vibe. The bit of stuff I needed, I cleverly saved onto my memory stick, only to find when I got home that my work computer has encrypted the file so now I can't open it at home! . Bollocks to this.

enya how did it go today? Hugs for you

hippo how about yourself? Has dh stopped behaving worse than like ds?

I agree with you ursula that star's tatt is amazing! Thats why I asked if it was real, coz it looks fab!!

bibi cripsy albs TS blue fgyorn wotcha!

Whoops happyhair, never mind, at least you have a v good excuse for bunking off work this evening Are you back on track after your run-in with the stuffed shirts the other week?

Am currently glowing like a belisha beacon after my first go on an exercise bike in months but more like ! 10 weeks to Christmas on Friday everyone FUCK SHIT AARRGHHHH. Can you tell no planning has gone on here???

I am not meant to be on here. I have very little time before shuffle the girls back out the door for a parent meeting at the preschool. Tonight I am being treated to dinner and a discussion about cooking for the kids. The kids will be watched but must be fed at home prior to arrival. Too funny isn't it! How much do you want to bet I end up feeding them fast food on the way there?

Shiney, where is the picture of your new hair? I'd like a looksee because I'm considering hairstyle options.

Star, was it you or Stalkings that had tat work done by Hannah, the artist that use to be on LA INK?

Feeling amazingly homesick for my mom and grandmother. Guess that's the price I have to pay for visiting that side of my family this weekend. Feeling slightly judgmental too. Why would you NOT attend a family members wedding if in fact it were held IN your own town? It was surprising how many family members didn't show. Made me proud I drove 6 hours to be there if only for a few hours.

Have I told ya'll how much I love my kids. DD1 is an avid reader. I'm going to need help filling her time with books. She breezed through them like they are nothing. I think I'd like to keep giving her my Kindle to read because I am quite fond of the low environmental impact it has. What are some cool British chapter books she might like. We are quite fond of Clarice Bean. Are there other girly adventure ones???

OH and DD2 is such a fun munchkin. She loves to play and hang out and sing AND EAT. She's too cute saying, "come on mom!" or "let's go!". She's settled into to preschool like a dream and loves loves loves it.

Didn't I say I'm not suppose to be here........

Enya I hope the talks went ok.

Crispy another quiet day for you then

Fjygorn I have to admit I assumed from your fb status that the redness was down to the sun not the exercise.

Admin the dd's sound amazing. Sorry can't be of help on the book front as I think my knowledge may be a little out of date . DS also being very cute (although still not sleeping well - grr). We had to pop to the doctor yesterday afternoon and as he was such a star and we were seen immediately (for once) I asked him if he'd like to walk along the river to the playground as we were in no rush to get home for dinner. His response 'Yes Mummy let's do that'. I think all the people nearby wondered what I was laughing at - it just seemed like such a grown up thing to say.

Hope doc visit good Merlion how nice to hear of the baby lurve going on, or should I say toddler lurve. I am in the throes of it myself too. ds just endlessly sweet and interesting and saying surprising things. The other day he said "this is ds1's. I'll leave it on the table" and I went it seemed so adult. Well obv he didn't say ds1. And last night he said "Good night television. Have to go to bed now". Poor boy, he is not allowed to watch television, perhaps he is trying to drop a few hints to his cruel parents...

We made a mobile yesterday or the day before of leaves and sticks and things from the garden and kept prodding it and saying O look at my mobile - I know it's not the most advanced thing ever but every time he said it I was practically weeping with pride. Yes, I know - my period must be due .

Morning all

we had arather crap night last night our cat has what we think was a massive stroke and died on DH's lap Cat was running around chasing his sister when he suddenly stopped and DH called me to see what was wrong, the vet arrived too late for anything except tea. DD1 vcame down this morning and instantly asked for him, how do you tell someone so small that her cat is gone? I told her that he has gone to heaven and it is very far so he won't be back. She smile and asked if he would see kangaroos and monkeys on his trip!

Will catch up ater she is at nursery and DH has done the hole digging - I can't be around for that I might be a snivelling mess - he was our baby when we were told we wouldn't have any

blueberry I'm really sorry. I know it's sod all comfort but it is nice that he died running about and then sitting on dh's lap. Hopefully dd1 won't question too much, it's lovely that she accepted the long trip idea.

oh blueberry, you poor thing. so so sad. it sounds like he was a happy cat to the end though so hoping thats a little bit of comfort
your little P is such a lovely little thing

enya thinking of you

ursula your mobile sounds beautiful! and you carry on exploding with pride (T is nowhere near that level of communication!)

you too merlion

sorry, lost train of thought..DS has just run into the room using one of my tops as a broomstick He might not be talking much but there's nowt round with his imagination!

back in a sec

blueberry oh no:( I still remember the sadness when out cat went missing when i was 7, and when my doggy had a stroke when i was 16 (in fact i cried at school .

admin Well - sounds like your dd1 is like my dd. she is an amazing reader. her only trouble is she needs to be encouraged to stay on a book and finish it - she has a habit of rading a few chps, then starting a new one etc. I know some people function like this and happily read multiple books at a time but i just don;t get it so have been trying to encourage her to read them through. it is working and she is getting immense satisfaction form it.

But, lists of books: I will ask dd later to dictate me a list (k is 6 isn't she? how long til she turns 7? - trying to get content appropriate to reading level - hard when they are good so young)

They are v v repetitive but girls over here ADORE the Rainbow Magic series. of which there are close ti 100. i thought dd would never let go, but suddenly a developmental leap happens and they read other thngs too, kepeing these for comfort reading.

some other British classics: milly molly mandy, my naughty little sister, the Roald Dahl books. dd loves Diary of a Wimpy Kid (American -her and dh jut saw the movie too). and she is obsessed with some pre teen books :Jacqueline Wilson (going to a book signing on Sat if our ticket turns up (complicated - a friend of a friend got it for me and has posted it but it has not appeared yet ) and Cathy Cassidy.

Will get dd to give me a definitive list though there are various series based on things little girls like: fairies, ballet, puppies and kittens, horses.

Oh Horrid henry is good too. and for non fiction stuff The Horrible Histories books for example.

merlion i love it when they say such definitive things like that. My ds's speech suddenly lapt on over the summer. He was at the one or two, maybe 3 word sentences for ages and then suddenly his mouth just overtook him. Thing is, as with dd, good language coupled with being tall, makes them seem older and everyone who does not know us well assumes he is at least 3:(. So clearly assume he is v naughty and tantrumy for such a big boy. Dd was like blueboy and P E R T (as was)'s dds so ds still seems a bit behind to us, which is wrong as he has overtaken some of his little friends. Bless him.

So proud of them both. Yes dd can be an utter c*w but she is also extremely loving and has sooooo much whizzing around in her brain.

speaking of dd - i hsve her home . she felt sick last night and has had a sore throat fro a few days (rest of us have had small colds so not surprising) but she seemed to under the weather i decided to keep her off. funnily enough she has perked uip, so as soon as dh is back from his meeting i am taking her in . she will be sad if she misses her after school club (last one of it as they have to give others a chance after half term - is animation so done in IT room, so only as many spaces as computers).

she and i are off to Aberdeen on Sunday to visit a friend. Hoping to meet bibi. (any ideas bibi? my friend tells me there is a science museum type place and she wants to take us there - would that be somewhere to meet, or what?). Looking fwd to some time with her and with my friend but am getting wobbly about leaving my litre ds:(

Oh bbbb how awful . One of our cats had to be put to sleep when DD was a baby; I thought my heart would break at least he died having fun (and without incurring massive vet bills) Must confess to be that your vet would come to the house, none of the ones round here would do that. Take care

albs I hope DD continue to feel fine and doesn't mind going back to school.

DS is on a speech explosion at the moment too, it's great, although he is getting stroppy with it! Yesterday he kept saying 'my don't like mummy' but I know he does, we went to the supermarket and after he had got bored of trying to pull my top down and flash my boobs to the other shoppers he kept wanting a hug and is very fond of saying 'luff you mummy'

Can't seem to get awake this morning, DC didn't wake up until half seven when their alarm went off so we were a bit rushed this morning, and forgot it's school photo day today so DD will be continuing the tradition her mother started 36 years ago

So those of you with still early risers take heart, it was not very long ago that DS wouldn't go past 6am.

He is now eating his second breakfast...

Hope you all have a lovely day

The tradition of having messy hair in her photos I meant

BBBB so I don't know what I'll do when our finally go. I hope you are all ok.

Doctors visit not so great I'm afraid. Measuring 6+1 which is not far off my calculations but although could 'see' heartbeat couldn't hear anything. Have to go back at 9 weeks now. Am trying not to be worried but can't help being so.

hugs merlion know worrying times but have all my fingers and toes crossed for you xx

bbbb so sorry to hear about your cat.. as everyone else has said at least he went happy hugs xxx

still having on going discussions with "h".. thanks for asking new legume my dad is ok, still having alot of floaters in his eye but can see well so fingers crossed.. my poorly uncle is now dying so its a case of waiting by the phone and have found yet another lump in my breast so off to to docs thursday .. need so good news please ..

albs hope dd is feeling better..

waves to everyoe else xxx

enya no, not more for your load:(

dd is at school . wicked mummy. she had perked up and was happy to go. Early night tonight i think (then i am orf out for a takeaway night - woo)

merlion, do not fear. we are with you no matter what. i read only this weekend about issues with sonograms. all say if something doesn't appear right, redo it in a few days and best redo it with a completely different machine. (((hug)))

blueberry, i do think your lovely cat passed in an amazing way. that's how i want to go...having loads of fun then. my sympathies to you and your family.

albs, she will be 7 in february and is really an advanced reader so reading 7/8 yr old things for school work. i have a dahl book coming with this school book order and i looked through some of the horrible books this weekend, they are available on kindle. i think it's time to get her a library card too so she can borrow more. she is allowed one book a week from her own school library but she tends to check out crap. she does need assistance and enjoys it. she too is a multi-book reader but so am i. i get to a point in one where i'm bored, lay it down, start another, get an inkling for the first, go read it some more, so on and so forth. it's all good in the end i suppose.

i am baking! i used a special someone's carrot cake muffin recipe. i used two mini casserole dishes in the homes i can turn the mess into a mini carrot cake. i have store bought sourcream icing to frost it with. fingers crossed.

i also have a roast in the slow cooker.

last nights nutrition class at the preschool gave me a swift kick which will hopefully last more than a day.

carrot cakes cooling. one feel apart2

w/hich01 lifeft me with a good bit to -sampleit ta/stes-

good

guess who is helpng me type?**

wee typist removed.

she is now dismantling my kitchen again.

bibi, i used your recipe but added a tsp of vanilla extract. they do look good as loaves so i may not frost them.

off to balance the very unbalanced checkbooks.

Wotcha!

Have been getting myself worked up about idea of hippy school next year. Am going to put the big two on the waiting list on the assumption that Cameron's free school thing goes ahead. DS2 will go to local pre-school and if he turns out to have SN, I know it is the best place for him. There would be some complicated arrangements and carsharing with friend but only for a year then he could join the others.

DS2's hearing test on Thursday. I'm still not sure if he has SN and his vocab is increasing but the rest of his language is not increasing in sophistication imo. Will just try and get on as many waiting lists as possible once this test is over.

Enya Chin up pet.

Admin Instead of frosting them, do a drizzle of lemon juice, zest and icing sugar and glaze them.

Silk that's not a bad idea. Actually I wish I just had some powdered sugar. They taste a lot like the apple cakes that I get at the bakery (although less apple more carrot since there's NO apple and LOTS of carrots). I'm kinda proud of myself really for achieving what I achieved. It was slightly messy (i'm a clutz in the kitchen) but all the dishes are in the dishwasher, clean now. I think they would make could gift loaves (note to self: by little loaf pans).

Where's the brownie recipe that's made it's way around the group. Blueberry, it's your recipe I believe. I should try that next.

Bibi, do you make an apple cake? Is it anything, ingredients wise, like the carrot??

Silk, very good on the hippy school front. I am .

Enya, was the last lump a fibrous mass or something else? Very sad about your uncle. When it rains is pours is an UNDERSTATEMENT. Is H being supportive even with the talks? Sounds like he really wants to hang on to you.

Admin Stick some regular sugar in a coffee grinder or blender. LOL at the mess, you would be in 7th heaven cleaning my kitchen, I think . I use a lot of Pampered Chef stoneware which you can't use detergent on, so they tend to stack up somewhat.

Last call to join my scifi bookring as mentioned on secret gang area. The book in question was chosen out of hundreds of entries in a competition, prize being getting published. It's quite sparse scifi, looks blokey at first but it's actually more Margaret Atwood-y ladies' scifi, with more in the line of relationships and characters than long descriptions of technical equipment.

ladies it's been a shite day. a very lovely friend of ours committed suicide by hanging himself. I was told by another friend while I was at work so have been sent home. DH and I just trying to get through getting the girls to bed.

sorry, I haven't even caught up.