December 2006- where they've grown so much we spend more time talking about our lives than our children

[Indith]

Well that and our pregnancies and other non-dec '06 children

Tis a good thing I feel.

Margo you've made me laugh! Oli - think you messaged someone else on FB - I have no photos on here do I?? Didn't think I did anyhow - I am a C though, will hunt you down now.

And thank you everyone for the offers of Xmas organising. Makes me feel all useful for a change! It really isn't that hard you know. I just get bits all through the year if I see something nice/a bargain and put them away. By the time I get to about now I have most things. And I stock up on wrapping paper and cards in the sales so I can start wrapping - you don't need Xmas paper really, just red or green or silver or gold plain wrap will do with a bit of ribbon. And then once that is out of the way I start on food and either freeze it or buy things that will keep. I've bought mincemeat this week, and will hopefully make mince pies this weekend and freeze them. That way I don't have an expensive December and a hopelessly poor January.

Terrible twos definately begun here too.

AQ/EV - I know those dragging along the floor tantrums all too well lately. I am struggling to carry DD as much as she would like and if I'm carrying anything else can't manage her as well anymore. And I'm with Margo and Castles, I feel the pain of every mother of a tantruming child. I also find the children hilarious, they just come out with so much sense really when you think on it. And I love the way they scream and stomp and then stop occasionally to gauge the response before continuing. Now, I can honestly admit that I do exactly that to DH most days, just in more subtle ways

Ah, school ground politics and the PTA poseurs. Love 'em (it's probably only our PTA that are like that, but honestly. You'd think they were court attendants or something ) I just plaster a big grin across my face as I enter the school yard and the rest of the mums think I'm either utterly vacuous or mentally ill. Which may be why we don't get so many playdate invites ... Come to think of it, playdates aren't really the thing here. Maybe because it's such a small town?

OK Oli, think I've sent a request to you. Know who everyone is on there I think except I.G. and the other C - the other C must be Eli then??

But who is I.G.? Arrghhh, brain melted.

I know its late (by my standards) but I'm totally confused too.

Yes, I am a C - if a C is the initial of my name, as opposed to something else?! But I promise I've had no messages - unless, OMG, that explains it!! God, Oli, I'm so sorry - I thought you were a very ex friend who phoned me out of the blue a few weeks ago (to my horror): her name actually is Ollie/Oli - but I was sure she had no kids, so was utterly baffled by the photo of a mum with lovely baby next to the message on FB

I did also wonder how she'd got younger since I saw her last, and prettier...

I was ignoring you, absolutely - but didn't know it was you. Oh lor, I don't know whether to laugh or hide in shame!

Speaking of shame, EV, it might help to know that dd2 also had a meltdown in the playground at pick up time today (its her naptime, almost, and she hadn't had lunch). I have no clue about playground politics, but definitely found it rather wearing and will do all I can to feed her pre-pick up tomorrow.

Oh, and dd1 has finally displayed signs of starting-school-fatigue in the form of behaving badly/madly this evening...in spite of having had a really nice morning. Ack.

I can not for the life of me work out who IG is either - Margo, do you know?

Eli, I am laughing at you quite a lot . Bless you, I won't take offence! I would say thank you for the pretty compliment but I don't know how much of an old boot the RL Ollie is! At least that's sorted now. Phew .

I'm quite lucky in that I already know most of the mums of ds1's classmates - he's best mates with the alpha mum's ds so I'm kind of (involuntarily) included in the glamourous PTA yummy mummy posse (I have to say, I am strictly NOT one of them, being a good few stone overweight and too lazy to get up early to do hair/make up etc). It's not too in crowd/nobodies because it's quite a small village but there are a few politics I have to be careful of. Being me I blithely carry on with no idea of most of it, which seems to work!

Eli, ds1 is a full on nightmare after school, even thogh it's only 3 hours at the mo. I might put him on ebay when he goes full time next week .

It's all so interesting this school thing isnt it. I am pleased to have a playdate lined up, and I have asked another mum today if they want to come over to us but her son is quite shy so we're going to play it by ear.

AQ - You dont have to invite all of the class. And imo anyone that does is crazy. When DD is crazy I intend to let her have 2-3 friends from school and then 3-4 of her 'old' friends. Numbers may change but it will be no more than 8 in total. If you are having a joint party than split those numbers into 2 between the kids. Make sense? Or no?

DD came out saying she didnt have a good day today. Further questioning showed that as I had given her a carton of juice and she only had half of it she didnt know what to do with the carton (as it would have leaked in her lunch bag). I am under strict instructions to provide Tropicana Go's (she can re-seal the cap) until I have asked the teacher what to do with half full cartons. Very dramatic stuff

When DD is crazy? I meant when DD is 5

How much time have you got AQ? Agree with BP: big smile, deep breath and eyes down! I hate this whole 'playdate' malarky. The friends I like are the ones who all come over (whatever age and sizes): the DCs all play and adults (friends) chat. I hate the "can you have tarquin for 2 hours on thursday after school" shite and then they return the favour. I have decided not to get involved this year. I have plenty of friends who I want to see and so do my DCs.

As for parties. Ask DS who he wants to invite from school - set a limit (say 15) and when he reaches it say "no more". Or do the whole class like lots do in reception and instead of pressies just ask them to put £1 or 2 in a card. Don't whatever you do, invite everyone except 1 (really unpopular) boy for example. I think that is disgusting behaviour and happens alot in DS's class. There are always going to be huffy mums/children but just rise above it and breathe

Oooh, I could write a book on playground politics. Maybe I should ...

Agree about playdates Castles. Next week me, DD1 and DD2 are ALL going

Tarquin - now thats a name we haven't yet considered

I'm a C too Eli so lets hope it was initials eh!

Oli, you do not laugh alone, I promise, just ask DH

Also, I vouch for your playground tactics - I have no clue about politics, am horribly unobservant (as I've just proved) so don't notice the cliques for at least a year, and therefore don't get caught up in much. Works for me!

As for playdates, I love the 'everyone comes round' sort when I like the mums, but have to say there are a few of dd's friends from preschool that I quite happily did dd-swaps with, because I am no more interested in drinking coffee with them than they are with me They're quite nice, I think, just nothing in common.

I wonder if we're the same C, LenniEd?

Castles, reassuring words re parties - dd's class is (gulp) 42 atm, though split into morning/afternoon till Xmas (and into two classes thereafter, have been panicking about that in the Primary section) so no way would I invite them all!

You are both the same C, both spelt the same, which is the same name and spelling as my middle name (are you still with me, Eli? ).

AQ??? Have you gone and multiplied?

That's nice to know Eli and Oli

Ooh, I hope she has, I want to know what girl twin is called. If she hasn't we should have a rule that she must make her presence known on here before 10pm everyday.

I want to know too Oli - the suspense is killing me! And I definately agree with the rule - AQ + twins confirmed present and correct daily would at least stop me from getting ridiculously excited about it all everytime she is away for an hour a day

That said, if I was that pregnant with twins I would be safely tucked up in bed well before 10pm each night.

I seem to drop in here at night and just giggle at what you lot have been up to during the day Mistaken identities being my particular favourite today.

The flight attendant on tonight's flight presented my regular tomato juice without my having to ask for it today. That used to happen to me in my local pub, FGS - I think I must be travelling too much

Blimey, BP, you are travelling a lot Though I would rather travel a lot and get unasked for tomato juice, than travel almost-a-lot and not. IYSWIM.

I think its bed time.

But not before I agree that AQ, if she's still encapsulating twins, should check in daily for the sake of our group anxiety levels

WAving goodnight to fellow Cs and everyone else...

'encapsulating' now that's a nice word I should use more often.

Night all

No AQ still?

Was just telling dh that AQ could go at any time now

ds1's belated birthday party is this saturday. We are doing a cave-themed party at the local children's museum and I have done a total copout and ordered the cake first time ever I haven't made one but just couldn't face it this year. I drove an hour and forty minutes to work at a different office yesterday as there was only one patient booked at the one here Everyone says the economy will pick up after the election. I certainly hope so!

Raises right hand and chants 'must report into dec 06 HQ every night so they don't worry'

Still here, just in a lot of pain last night so did go to bed early for once!

Jabber, do hope things pick up and buying a cake is not a cop-out!!! What I do every year, not being Olihan I can cross-stitch, did I mention that, I think it ought to be added to the skills list...

I quite agree, AQ must report to us at regular intervals and instruct her dp to text me should there be any news to report.

The teething child from hell has turned into a snotty, teething child from deepest, darkest hell. Discovered yesterday that I was mistaken, he doesn't just have 2 canines left there is another set of molars too. Trust me a child with a stinking cold who is simultaneously sprouting a back molar and 2 canines is not good company. Espeially not when screaming non stop for several hours at night.

He is also now tugging at my sleeve and complaining. His fault for spitting out most of the medised I gave him a bit ago. Plans of a quick nap at the keyboard have been thwarted.

Ikea just phoned to say they'd be here at 10. BT coming between 8 and 1. If they come now I may be able to have a potter and see if it calms this one down......hmmm....