dec 2008- Who will stonk it in & be crown queen of the thread?

[HRHvagolaJahooli]

He we are ladies though I may need to change my name as royal title may be stripped.

oh JJ sorry for the crapola night. DS was a terrible sleeper so all I can do is sympathise and say it WILL get better. How old is E now?

Yes I do agree that 3 littlies is a lot for anyone to manage, experience or not. Did you say it was a man that had organised childcare? I seriously doubt DH would have given a second thought to what would happen if all 3 children kicked off at the same time. Men's brains don't work like that. What time does E nap? Could you get her to sleep in the 3.30-6.30 slot, so that you might feel better about her being with childminder?

JJ Sorry you had a bad night. I woke up at half 4 this morning and I was lying thinking it wouldn't seem as bad if I had been woken up by one of the boys as then I'd have a reason.
I also think 3 little ones might be quite difficult to cope with especially if the person has no experience.

JJ I feel your pain on the sleep front. For me a good night is only up three times. BUT DD2 has a comforter and she wakes up screaming when she can't find him in the night. I have put 2 of them in with her for last 2 nights and she has slept through. Was incensed this morning when DH said two was a bad idea as increased the need for Dr Quack (name of comforter!). Told him where to go.

I would still go on the holiday as you never know, it might be brilliant. Maybe don't sing the first day and help out with childcare and see how it works. Will probably put your mind at rest. 3 adults is quite a bit for that many littles and the older ones will be pretty self-propelling. Hopefully you'll be pleasantly surprised and it'll be lovely.

I am struggling going up and down stairs due to achy thighs!!!

JJ, I think whether or not this arrangement works will depend on the 21 y old. You won't know that til you meet her. One of my babysitters is 20 (and has been doing childcare since she was 17) and I would happily recommend her to look after 3 "new" children, and littlies at that. OTOH, I am not sure my dear husband could wrangle a new 2, 1 and e and he has 3 of his own!!

What will the non singing parent do? Could the granny not take over the babies if it gets too much? If it were me, I would meet her, see where they were actually going to be whilst she was caring for them and decide then. Total poo though for your hols.

Huge sympathies on the sleep too. It is a total bitch. Can you have a quiet day and try to recharge a bit? I bake when very tired as the kids like it (even M), we have done something rather than just loll around and we can all eat the proceeds after. All boxes ticked.

Beans, you are superwoman. Don't overdo it! I am quite envious actually. Another pal is in the 10k Race for Life on Sat and I wish I was doing it with her. I saw her new kitchen yesterday and it was AWESOME! She bought knobs from Fulham (huge choice, natch) and a quartz worktop and her old Magnet kitchen looked like something out of a mag. I am turning into a kitchen bore.

Off for drinks tonight to a veg friend. The children and I will make cheese straws for me to take. Yummers. Had a huge row with DH this am. He forgot to set an alarm, moaned as he overslept, couldn't find a shirt to iron (so find one the night before and iron it then, you fool) then shouted at me as I handed him a cup of coffee. Wish I'd thrown it over him and his clean shirt. Total arse. Will have to keep up radio silence all day. WOn't be hard.

Have a good day everyone.

Hello Beans. If painful up and down stairs, go on your bottom! THat's what I had to do after the marathon (walk not run). Am going to make the quiche thing for SUnday lunch as reckon will be too hard to manage it at a stand up and shout.

I agree the big ones will look after themselves. If the 8 yr old is sensible s/he will club up with 5 year old so granny will be at a lost end. IME the older the granny, the younger they like the babies. I reckon that's E sorted.

or even a "loose end". Sorry, no brain today.

3 for me so I really am out now.

Oh no JJ, that is a bummer about the childcare. How easy is E in the day these days? As I think I would leave my two (but H is past the screamy for no apparent reason in the day stage and not yet at the tantrum stage so q easy. ) in the situation you describe even if I was a bit nervous about it, particularly if a) they were nearby and b) the granny and older children were with them too. i reckon it could quite easily be fine.

Inspired by our new thread 'sports guru' beans I have just been for a 4 mile run, very pleased. Shins feeling good after my rest, hip still a little sore though.

Actually beans I've been meaning to ask (and vag when she's back) have you lost much weight from running?? I am defo more toned and less wobbly and a few people have said I look thinner but I've not actually lost any weight.

Oh and it seems 40 degree wash has buggered one of the earpieces in my Ipod. Seems Apple have something to work on...best email them and let them now its shortfall

know...doh!

Summer - Glad you are feeling better and up for shredding. I hope you like it. My mum is Swedish and my dad was English. I've never lived in Sweden but we did spend every summer at the farm when I was a child. I hope things can be sorted out regarding the farm, as it would be very sad if it had to be sold.

Beans - I confirm your DD2's genius status, you must be so proud. Wish there was more talk going on here from DS. Hope the run goes well on Saturday.

JJ - That is a bit worrying about the childcare and I would be v annoyed in your position. Beans's advice sounds sensible.

DB - Glad the shins are better. I hope the hip improves. Going back a lot, did you get a Zumba DVD in the end?

Right, must really finish the packing!!!

Well feeling a bit more cheery having just had a kip while e had her first 'nap' of the day from 8.30 to 10... The granny is mum to e's godmother, and she and s's godfather are also there, the 12 8 and 5 are theirs, she's quite youthful and perky and keen to get stuck in with the stuff older kids do, but may be up for a quiet bit of walking baby in buggy,you ndver know! Will enquire of godmother what she thinks, cunning idea there sybs. Yes, it was a bloke who orgamised it, well the guy running the course anyway, he is dad to10 and 5 so presuma ly thinks his kids are past worrying about! My big concern on the safety front is there's a socking great lake and swimming pool on the grounds, what with S's self control being minimal and E crawling all over the shop they'll need quite some looking after... But granny definitely a good idea, that's made me feel a lot happier aboutnthings.
If all else fails, we just tell the guy that his one-to-a-part pieces may not work if me or dh is needed for looking after baby, but that's kind of the point of the week working up to a concert. Ah well. At least there will be stinky cheese, yummy food and lots of wine to take the pain away

You must all stoP being so keen about running! And people mention this 30 day shred thing, I presume you don't actually just bung a cheese grater on your wobbly bits even though that's how it sounds?!

JJ: I actually know a nanny in Paris who might be free - any good? My knowledge of French geog is most patchy. Let me know - will also try FB message.

Lady: love your descr of jungle garden. The worry of house judging stems from growing up in a properly dirty and untidy house that I hated bringing people back to. In reality mine is pretty average I reckon though there are some grim bits.

Nolda: your Swedish hol sounds blissful, despite the family stresses.

JJ Good to hear that you are feeling happier about the childminding situ while you are away.

Nolda Yes I did get a Zumba DVD (well DH downloaded me one). I was knackered after they did the run through of the moves. I found a class locally which was okay but I felt I was too concious to give it as much 'oomf' as I did when I was on my own in the lounge though, so it was pretty tame and I stopped going.

Deids - no, I haven't lost any weight, but have had the comments on looking slimmer and I feel better, so I guess I must be toning up and converting into muscle, which is heavy. I seem to remember that's what Vag said some weeks ago on here? Thighs are pretty fucked now. Ouch. Never mind.

Where's Trace by the way? Any news from anyone? Is she on hols? And Trudy?

JJ - I think it sounds like the granny is going to be worth her weight in gold and will be great on the holiday.

Just been down to see a friend in Surrey - it's so nice down there. They're literally IN the country. Heavenly.

Sybs - must say, I wish you were doing the 10k with me as well. I am rather worried that I have knackered myself out for it by doing that vast run last night. I just wanted to make sure I could do it, if you know what I mean. Friend I've just been to see is a personal trainer and she said I was nuts to have done run last night. Doesn't mean I won't be able to do it on Saturday, just that my time will be even slower. Oops. BUT, a sick, twisted part of me, really enjoyed the run last night and I can see myself doing it again regularly. I am turning into a weird healthy person. How odd!

Girls just snoozed all the way in the back of the car, then transferred them to bed and they're still out cold! Brilliant. AND I just ate a mint magnum. My life is complete.

I have just had 8 - yes, 8 - kids over for lunch and play. House looks as if the bomb has gone off. Dreadful.

Today's top tip - when having kids over, keep the grownup bedroom door shut. Hm, too late alas. Screw the cheese straws. I'lll take crisps.

Effie thanks for message, have replied.

Sybs sod the crisps, you need gin and tonic!!!

Why oh why would you have 8 children round??? Sybs, you are a goddess!!! I just two 2 year olds and two 1 yr olds here for supper and bath. Quite enough!!!

PS Am necking beer while DDs neck milk. I figure I can't drink tomorrow night pre big run so might as well get stuck in tonight!!

Aspi sorry to hear about DD's tooth. My DD has had endless problems too despite me being quite strict about sweets, juice etc. In her case it's partly genetic as my mother has rally weak teeth, and that's exacerbted by Herefordshire water not having fluoride in it. Se's had loads of fillings and a tooth taken out due to an abcess. Awful for her and as you say, mortifying when you're so good about teeth and oral health.

Lady I'm a big tweeter, more so for the business but personally too. I go under the name of missis (but the usual way of writing it) Cordial. I found a LadyThompson on there but I don't think it's you! Glad to hear you're enjoying the house so much. I love our bedroom too. We can't do anything to the decor as we rent, but with SS moving out this Sunday we're moving various things about which will make a positive difference. We're just move from a jungly garden which tbh was just too much work without a raft of specialist equipment, and our landlord got shirty with us for letting it get too overgrown - this is the man who'd cheerfully let the house fall down as long as the garen was perfect.

Beans I've been drinking more coffee lately, but the proper stuff, which doesn't make me feel weird but I do notice the caffiene rush. It's coincided with a spate of late nights and early mornings/broken nights so caffiene is my new best friend.

Deids I am the queen of the boring bargains, ie not Manolo Blahniks at half price, but daily stuff at a good price. I got 18 Petit Filous for 19p when Msons was closing on Tues night! Got lots of other bargains too, including two pairs of knock-off crocs for M at £1.50 a pair (the next two sizes up) and today trainers for him in Primark down to £3. Happy shopper am I. I often go to Aldi but now I'm a seasoned comparison shopper I know they aren't always better than Msons on either price or quality, so I often end up going to both, but it keeps M amused.

JJ sorry to hear the holiday's not looking so good now. I like singing too but apart from a stint with a choir and brief flirtation with a band, I've never done anything with it.

Oh dear sybs. My DH is being a bit tricky too atm but I know it's all to do with SS going.

sybs You crazy woman!! Having said that DD has her 5th birthday party in a few weeks and I have....24 kids coming round What the hell have I done! Admitedly I will have help from some of the mums. I invited lots thinking they wouldn't come as it was the school holidays (which is what happened last year) but nearly everyone has replied and said "yes". Pray for sunshine ladies then I can kick 'em all in the garden.

Cheers beans I'm having a beer or two myself tonight!

Two nights of sleeping through has spoilt me. Up 5 times last night. Little beggar. Mercifully it's only up, settle and back to bed, so only moments at a time. Just hate broken sleep!!!

Off to Wimbledon Park water fountains this morning. Girls love paddling in them.

Body starting to recover from weds run. Still stiff though!

How was everyone's night?

Oh, bad luck Beans, that sounds miserable. Make sure you get James on child watch tonight ahead of your big run.

Went to vegetarian party. Twas lovely and culminated in an impromptu disco. Great fun. Feel a bit fatheaded now though. And bitten to buggery - had forgotten how much mozzies like me. Ouch. Oh dear. Got lots of jobs to do today as well. Plus another pair of kids coming for tea. I am storing up return invites for when we have our work done and need to get taken out for tea every night for 4 weeks. I forsee plenty of pizza express.

It's cleaner day today so I will have a lovely house for about 10 mins til the kids wreck it again.

Have a good day everyone.

Morning all,

beans I know what you mean about just having 'broken' sleep...you feel so cheated. Defo get DH to get up tonight before your big run - what time does your race start?

Well, yesterday aft we took DS's nappy off, and he managed to both wee & poo on his potty. So today we start again...first thing he did when I took his nappy off this morning was do a massive poo on the carpet. Anyway, since 7am we have had half a dozen wee's on the potty and for most he put himself on. Wish me luck its going to be a long day...I'm already tiredof clapping & Hi-5's

Oh and we have a playdate thismorning for a couple of hours at DD's friends. Should I just put him in a nappy while we are there? I don't want to confuse him but last time I put undies on him thats when he got mixed up. I'm thinking its too soon for his big boy pants yet....