Start your runners (talk) and your new jars of Jam, 'tis the season-almost.

[Vagolajahooli]

Here we are ladies, time for all that talk of christmas table runners and chrissie deccy colour combos. And will we be getting some new Jam in this thread! Maybe not quite.

Beans must be hard. At least they can be shown photos and all have such good memories of him.

Ds has started asking about grandpa etc and "didn't he want to live with grandma" exactly what I predicted would happen about the age now. This is a lot if my resentment with mil I think. She had made it such an evil subject and won't even discuss it with anyone. We'll I like him and if no one is prepared to say anything, I'll always say what I think of him as I ve no reason to think otherwise. And as for sil - she'll never get it as she never had kids

Beans that's tough about the photos. DS had no recollection of MIL, yet does still remember my GPs which is tough on DH.

Rubes sorry I had to laugh at 'legoland/leg of lamb'. Not so much fun for you though. We just been to cinema and it's right next to waitrose. DH suggested we went in to collect some stuff. But I just couldn't bear the thought of it with both DCs. One is usually okay but both together is a disaster waiting to happen. Have a large one, strictly soon.

Wine poured Deids. Massive relief after ordering 6 bottles if something I've never tried before and it's drinkable yay! (6 bottles to get 25%off) Dh home any minute. About to hand over all kiddie related duties. That said they are all fed, bathed and milked so only teeth and reading for ds. Think I've covered most if the painful stuff will do dinner then it's strictly & XFactor

Totally get that avoidance taking two to the shops. Disastrous. Kids with zero sleep, dd ill and hi hormone pill at wrong time of month didn't work out well. It was a shambles. Tomorrow's a new day...... Mil bday! [sigh]

Luckily my Mum lives round the corner from school. So I can pick DS2 up and go there and not have to go home and out again. The clubs start on the 20th so only a few weeks of it before DH gets back. DS1 loves them, especially art. He loves doing drawing and painting.

It's the dinner that's a problem. I never remember to get chicken etc out of the freezer to put in the slow cooker. So we tend to have pizza or chicken nuggets.

Children fed strictly on.

SOrry for all the hideously behaved children. Mine are being remarkably good today. Prob because DH in his guilt gave them a tenner each. So with pocket money they had been saving DS1 had £20 inc his tooth fairy money and DS2 £15. I decided in my stupidity to drive under the M25 and go home via Lakeside. An hour later in Smyths toy shop and I was losing the will to live. But cheered my self up by purchasing loads of crap from M&S for the next few days.

Can I also have a little boast not told my local friends as it causes school gate angst. But DS1 has been moved into Yr3 for his phonics and spelling as he is doing so brilliantly. The teacher told me he really is a lovely boy who is rather clever.

So sorry not to come back and update re DH and LA. Obviously he has gone. There was one hell of a barney on Wed eve. It transpires that they had wanted him to do LA - SF - Connecticut then on to Toronto. In the space of 10 days. Thank god he said no way to that. I am terrified that I will go into labour while he is away. Even though I know this is super unlikely. It also look like he will be in NY at the end of Jan. I have told him if he is in the city we got married in for our anniversary and I am not with him there will be hell to pay. No idea what i would do with 3 children to make sure I was there though.

Going back to the after school activities my 2 are ridiculously busy. Really think something will have to give in the NY. Especially as we have to drive everywhere at least 30 mins. Makes for a very tiring end of the day.

Dh home. Strictly sky plus -ed 80's dance party in full force.

I meant its a nice thought that the dads know/meet the GC's in some way. Must have been hard hearing Dd2 ask who he is. It makes me sad to think that the boys have no emotional connection with my dad, he is just some distant relative to them. My friend who died 7 years ago his girls where 1 & 3 years when he died and they have no recollection of him and that breaks my heart.

Rubes the leg of lamb made me snort, sorry but that is so funny. Hooray for lots of vino.

We were supposed to go to a miniland here for their 'illuminations' but it was raining so we met a friend and her kids for pizza instead. The kids were ok-ish but I think the restaurant was happy to see the back of us.

Sorry cross post Jam. Could you take DS3 & leave the other two with inlaws?

Sorry beans I meant nice that it feels as if the dads have met them in some way. I'm sounding mental now.

Vag I nannied for some boys whose mum died when they were quite young. They dont have loads of memories of her so I always try to talk about her when I see them to keep a bit of memory for them.

Unfortunately after the Sth Africa debacle with the boys I am not happy to leave the fellas with the inlaws to go away. Also FIL having an op in a couple of wks which will leave him very immobile for a while so dont think it would work. I guess I could leave some food out for them and pop a key on a bit of string so they could get in and out the house.

Do they need to go out?

Just to school. But you know they are pretty good lads so am sure would be ok. Especially if I left the telly on.

What happened with the sth Africa trip jam? Remind me. Urgh right my evening most going to start, and I'm knackered after my stayin alive moves.

My bloody nose is completely blocked. Moan moan moan. Feeling very annoyed.

Sam Bailey, outstanding tonight.

I really need to go to bed but some cocksuckers keep letting off fireworks and the dog is going mental.

Kayz poor you apart from flying solo, this is the worst time of year to feel crap I think. It is warm enough to still kind of get the kids outside but when you feel crap who wants to go out!

Rubes Jam's DS' were unwell when they went away last time. We are going to Berlin for a few days at the end of the month and I'm starting to have wobble about it. I think I might keep them both off school for the couple of days before it to reduce the chance of them catching anything. Might start boosting them up with vitamins too.

I'm about to jump on a train to Amsterdam for a laydees day out with a couple of good friends. Should be nice and relaxing.

Kayz poor you apart from flying solo, this is the worst time of year to feel crap I think. It is warm enough to still kind of get the kids outside but when you feel crap who wants to go out!

Rubes Jam's DS' were unwell when they went away last time. We are going to Berlin for a few days at the end of the month and I'm starting to have wobble about it. I think I might keep them both off school for the couple of days before it to reduce the chance of them catching anything. Might start boosting them up with vitamins too.

I'm about to jump on a train to Amsterdam for a laydees day out with a couple of good friends. Should be nice and relaxing.

Oops sorry posted twice!

didn't watch Strictly or Xfactor last night. Watched Ironman 3. Really enjoyed it.

We've been for a lovely family walk today in Hatfield Forest. amazing fun. The big girls were so good and had such a laugh. The dog behaved beautifully and DD3 slept through the whole thing. Perfect! such a gorgeous cold day. then a picnic on a bench by a lake. happy days.

and girls so hungry they ate all the enormous portion of spag bol I gave them. whoop whoop!

now sitting on sofa with DD3 conked out on my knee. I know I'm breeding bad habits. I need to start settling her in her cot. not sure how to do it. just can't face the screaming that will ensue!!

PS DH also doing a v noisy bath upstairs so DD3 wouldn't be able to sleep at all.

I love Hatfield Forest Beans go there all the time. She is still super weeny I wouldnt worry about having her up and in bed and settled.

Another place for us to meet up Jam! we can walk our weenies together in the new year. It is glorious when the sun shines.

And you're right about not worrying about where she goes to sleep yet.

Am watching The Escape Artist episode 2. terrifying.

I spent most of that programme hiding behind DH.

I have just eaten a share bag of doritos, sour cream and salsa for dinner. Fatty emotion. I did make a massive chick pot pie with lots of veg and cauli cheese for a late lunch so thats ok isnt it??

Ahhh I see Jam / Vag - I read it as though something happened that the in-laws did while you were in Sth Africa Jam, made you not want to leave them in charge again or something. Am I correct in thinking you just don't want to leave them with anyone at all in case they are ill whilst away?

Beans, sounds like a postcard perfect day - then it was when I saw your pics on fb!

I cooked a lovely 3kg leg of lamb, infused with red wine, garlic and rosemary, plus crème fraiche mashed potatoes, honey roasted parsnips, broccoli and carrots for mil bday - call me Nigella
mil had a nice day, and managed to be kept out of the kitchen, but the passive aggressive behavior raised it's ugly head again with the subject of Christmas and the rest.... [sigh]

Someone fell off the treadmill again at the gym this morning! twice in a week I've seen this happen! what are the odds.....

it was a lovely day but bloody chilly.