radical cross stitch, theological debate, Easter bunnies, changing bags,and a baby brother...it must be June 08!

[spongebrainbigpants]

Welcome to our new thread .

According to ds1 (scientist in the making) it is 4 inches on top of the play house, and 5 inches on the ground in the backgarden. It is really deep and the roads are appalling, even the main road is covered with loads of abandoned cars and a couple of accidents.

Unfortunately it is not good snowmen building snow though. You can't form a snowball it is too crumbly. The kids are a bit gutted about that.

DS1 was a late May baby but didn't start school until easter. This meant that he only got one term at reception, but at least he was ready to start. The government has stopped schools from doing three term intakes now (they withdrew funding) so J will have to start in january. Better that than september though.

Although the boys are only 16 mths apart, because A is a Summer baby and M an Autumn one, they will be a whole two school years apart. M will be at a huge advantage academically and socially because of being one of the oldest in his year. State schools are v funny about holding kids back and it drives me mad - children shouldn't just move up from one year to the next according to age, but when they're ready (obviously within reason - I'm not suggesting we keep someone in YR until they're 11!).

We've had snow here - wonderful! Piccies on FB .

Deb, such a shame about school - bah humbug by the sound of it!

My boys are 17 months apart, but DS1 is December and DS2 May, so they are just 1 school year apart. So for poor DS2, as well as being one of the younger children in his year, also has to cope with having some teachers straight after DS1 when DS1 is top of his class and very confident. There should be no shagging in March (Christmas babies) or in autumn (summer babies)

The people I ordered DS1's party bags from have told me that they are stuck in snow and can't get my order to me until next week. It's fine for the stocking fillers but obviously no good for the party (tomorrow). But how many of you have a joke shop at the end of the road? I've stocked up on severed fingers for tomorrow

I'm being overly casual about this party and haven't even checked paper plate supplies. He is going to be 10. I can't believe that I have been a parent for 10 years. Should have got the hang of it by now! This time in 1999 I was sitting in a waiting room at UHC at the back of a queue to be induced.

Help - I cut Luke's hair myself last night in the bath 'cos he looked like a duck and now he looks like Boadicia

Oh - that interview for the OU job? I heard from them today - they would have hired me but enrollment is too low. I'm relieved, my self-esteem was taking a beating when I thought I hadn't got it. This is an oh-well-such-is-life thing and I'm feeling so much better tonight than I've felt for the past week.

Rolf except for Scotland - then whatever you do don't shag in March because then it's a Christmas baby and the youngest in the class. that being said, December is the most popular month for birthdays at DS1's nursery.

Happy Birthday to your DS tomorrow!

We've just been out in the dark looking at lights and delivering Christmas cards, schools out, and we've some snow here too (not as much as down south though). It is feeling like Christmas!

Amber laughing . You can always take clippers to it and make it short all over. I tend to do that to DS1 (but I let Fraser keep his lovely longer hair).

not to worry Amber, in a couple of years you will look back at his dodgy haircut and remember it with huge affection.

I don't have that problem as J's hair is so curly it just lies on his head in tight spirals. If you pull it out it is about 4 cms long on the crown but less than a cm everywhere else. I am waiting until it all gets to a decent length before I get it cut which means he occasionally has very big hair days.

He has had a really high temp today and has a hectic flush over his cheeks. He is also bloody miserable, poor chap. We took him out to see the snow but he was just so unhappy we had to bring him straight back in.

I'm a January birthday so At 4 1/2 was one of the youngest in my year as it was in Scotland. I always did well at school but probably struggled with the social side. Can someone explain the reception class/year 1 thing to me. I've only ever known school to start at Primary 1.

Very hungover today after yesterday's Christmas party. Snow here, but we've not had the chance to take S out in it yet. Will be spending the weekend doing chores and tryng to get organised for Christmas. Only 7 more sleeps

Even nursery commented on his 'bob' today. What have I done? I have friends round tomorrow too. I am wondering whether a regular hairdressers can cut babies hair and if there is one that can do it tomorrow morning! I daren't take clippers to it as I know he'd look like a concentration camp victim.

Aberdeen - good to know they wanted you!

BQW - I missed my party tonight. Too much of a pain to get home from.

Amber - been there done that. Just remember this joke:

Q: What's the difference between a good and a bad haircut?

A: Two weeks.

P has recovered from his very short and wonky fringe. Lots of hairdressers are happy to cut toddlers hair, probably not a trendy salon though. Get Mark to take him to a barbers. Here there is even a childrens hairdresser at an upmarket childrens shop. They have a fish tank to distract the victims. If Luke's hair is now a bit on the short side though there is probably no point in paying to get it cut as they will have nothing to work with.

Sitting in the car heading to Glasgow and contemplating some Christmas baking... purée whinegums or any one else, I'm thinking of making Nigella's cheese stars and having a bas at her min mince pies/ apple pies. Anyone made them before or know how long they keep for? I wondered if I could freeze the cheese stars before baking and then just defrost and bake as needed?

Oops, I don't think DH is impressed that I'm on MN while he drives so best go for now! Hope you're all having a good weekend!

Hi BQW - hope your trip is fun!

We had Luke's hair cut - his first ever! It looks great - just like a proper little boy bless him.

Just waiting on 7/8 guests to arrive. Eek!!!!

I'm back - 12 guests are in, they drove from the UK and had horrendous journeys but they're here at last and seem very nice.So business side is sorted, very cold here, I was skiing with the boys this morning and it was -13 , we had to stop for hot choc and then came home it was toooo cold. Tree has been chopped down and it looked quite small in the garden compared to the other very big trees - it's about 9-10 foot , the boys have decorated it, well S and T did it, Ethan just shoved as many baubles down the front of his dungarees as he could.So now all I have to do is get our house clean and tidy and kick Stefan out of his room for Mil, she arrives on Tuesday in time to make me a cake for my Birthday on Wednesday.

Sybil - sorry J is still poorly, Ethan is rough in the mornings at the moment, 1 dose of calpol and he's much better but I know J doesn't like it, do you have anything else that he prefers.There's swine flu in the village now with a few at school with it, I'm trying to hide my head in the sand about it and convince myself that the cold weather will stop it spreading(who am I kidding?)

Amber - is there a photo on FB of L's new haircut?

Spider - are you all ready for both sets of grandparents? When do they descend?

BDQ - Reception= Primary 1

Abdn - glad to hear that the OU wanted you but couldn't have you!My boys are still at school until Wednesday.

Folf - happy birthday to your ds1, how did the fingers go down?also any sign of the £1?

sorry - Rolf not Folf

BadQueenWenceslas I made some of Nigellas mini mince pies today and they are so tasty they will be lucky to last until tommorow!

Were they easy to make goingto? I'm a very novice baker! I've been searching for a mini tartlet tray today without success, would a mini muffin tray do?

Just finished most of the wrapping which is good. But coming down with a cold which is not so good! And have forgotten everything I wanted to post so will just wave at everyone instead! Oh, Deb glad your guests arrived ok.

Deb - not quite ready but we have a big list with jobs that we need to do each day. DH now finished work for the holidays so we are feeling quite festive. Getting the tree today. Jealous of the skiing but not in minus 13, December skiing can often be a bit like that though. I remember thinking I was going to die in minus twenty at the top of Zermatt in December. Urghh.

I made Nigellas spice cake from the Christmas section of domestic goddess on Friday. I didn't cook it for quite long enough but it tastes pretty good.

As I type I'm nodding blearily at DS2 as he's telling me all the things he's hoping to get for Christmas. He's going to be one disappointed boy I'm afraid. I really need to look at all the stuff I've bought as I'm sure there will be obvious gaps.

DS1's party went very well and I think they liked the severed fingers. No sign of the £1 coin though

Sybil NHS baby paracetamol tastes different to the pink stuff. It's yellow. We get it free from care at the pharmacist, or whatever it's called. DD1 won't touch the stuff, she likes her drugs to come with branding, but DD2 doesn't mind it.

Deb -13 . Our house is freezing (the upstairs rads were taken out for the plastering) but not quite that cold. We are in love with our hot water bottles.

Marking my spot - A said his first proper word yesterday, it was . . . . . "book" .

[proud mummy and teacher emoticon]

He then said his second - "baby"! Bless him .

Hope you're all well x

Book is a great word! Well done Alex!

I will take a pic of Luke's hair but it's not as good today as it's stnding on end where he slept on it.

PS I like Folf - it's festive Rolf!!

Had a thoroughly nice time yesterday with 8 - yes 8 people for nibbles and drinks. * may as well be a million for me as we do no entertaining at all. Old family friends, their kids and partners and their kids! Luke had a wonderful time playing with a 6 year old girl Astrid.

Luke has started saying hello, night night and goodbye to everything now. Allooooo Daddy, night night Mummyy, bye bye rabbit - where's the video when you need it?? I'll tell you - not charged up and at the back of the wardrobe - naughty daddy.

BadQueenWenceslas - very easy to make. I just used a small muffin tin.

I've not posted for ages, don't know why, would like to claim I have been busy doing lots of exciting stuff but that isn't the case, more like just lazy.
I made some of Nigella's cranberry and white chocolate biscuits this morning, now I have to keep checking they are taste alright, don't want any dodgy ones to get through my vigorous quality control.

I'm feeling vaguely organised for Christmas, just got the meat and veg to pick up from farm shops, will do that on Christmas Eve, and a couple of bits to get from the supermarket (not looking forward to that bit). I have a big box of Christmas food I have been stashing away and I went through it last night with DH to check we had everything, half an hour later he pipes up that he is hungry and wants some chocolate, I pointed out we didn't have any and he replied with "We do in that box", he got told to keep his hands off!

Going to attempt to finish wrapping presents this evening, not got much for DH and am feeling a tad guilty but he is very bah humbug about Christmas presents so I shouldn't worry myself too much.

Wow Debs -13! It was -4 here and that was cold enough.

J is still not really talking, DH thinks he says "door" fairly regularly but that would be an odd first word

J is fussy about his calpol too, I'm sure we had normal calpol from the NHS for ages but recently we got some that was different which he turned his nose up at, bought some from the shop and that is fine.

I've found for haircuts the clippers are the easiest thing to use, on the longest setting. J sits surprisingly still while I do it. Using scissors is a nightmare as he keeps turning round and nearly having his eyes poked out, plus it ends up all different lengths, not doing that again.

Better go, J's woken up from his nap.

Just did my online christmas shop. Gulp £178. That thread about asking for money for Christmas lunch? I can see where she's coming from. I'm hoping DH's parents clue in and offer a bit of money. they have offered to buy us something for the house but after all the money we're spending on entertaining them, what I'd really like is groceries.

Both boys sick today - DS1 was worse yesterday though. Fraser's been in bed for over two hours. should I check on him or let him sleep...

It really adds up doesn't Abdn. You should have a chat to your DH and tell him to be prepared for any opportunity to say to his mum 'oh, we spent nearly £200 on food for today' and hope she then coughs up. If he is not prepared he will probably just say 'don't worry about it!' and then kick himself. They probably think you would be offended if they offered you money so I think just try to drop it into the conversation. I think it is absolutely fair for the cost to be shared between groups of adults. I don't agree with £25 a head as per the other thread (just seems a bit cold) but everyone should chip in cos the cost really mounts up. We are having all my family next Monday and everyone is bringing something (and three of us are pregnant so not much booze being drunk either!). I have never offered my parents or PILs anything for doing Christmas though . I know they would say no. Maybe we will offer MIL this year.

It's a shame about the job but great that they wanted you. Well done, glad you feel upbeat about it.

Amber, I was pmsl about Luke's hair. Glad you like his look - we take T to the barber's and he always looks so smart.

T has learned to say 'wee' when I am on the toilet . He also says 'down' when he means up (on my knee)

Sponge, that is great news about Alex's words. Did you ever get his hearing checked? My DH's brother has a little boy who has just turned two and he doesn't have any words at all yet. They are thinking of going to get his hearing checked. He didn't walk until he was 21mo either, so perhaps it's connected..?

sponge DS1 said his first word at 18months just like A. He never shuts up now.

neenz the problem is that if DH suggests they chip in they will either not pick up on the hint or be offended. I really can't win with them and tonight I'm absolutely miserable about them being here for Christmas. Upset about money too - on top of the food and wine (not included in that £178, DH did that earlier) DH is taking time off work which means we're out £600 just for that. I know I should be glad they are spending time with the boys but honestly I just resent how much they're costing me. I need to stop tallying it up in my head - and just think of it as the cost of being with my wonderful DH (who is not like his parents this way at all).