August 08 - We three kings of orient are, one in a taxi one in a car..

[steaknife]

...one on a scooter beeping his hooter, smoking a fat cigar

Apologies to the goodly and the good amongst us.

I think she is coming on her bike actually TS LWFH you sound like you are coping wonderfully. I found things very much easier with 2 once our routine was back on track for the Sept term. I, and DD1, knew where we should be, what was happening each day and once you factor in feeds/meals and naps, it leaves little time wonder how you are going to fill your day entertaining two. Glad your mum was a big help and left you loads of scrummy food

cece poor O and you with illness . Hope you are both on the mend soon

dizzy hope you are having a lovely evening with friends, but please save me a slice of the famous whit choc cheesecake [fgreedy]

Looked at the weatherforecast again today and it appears we are right on the meeting point for the rain coming from the SW and the freezing temps coming from oop north. Bingo, snow

Wotcha ladies

Have had a boring afternoon at MIL's whose main effort at being Christmassy for us was some crackers it is just no fun without drinking . Her road is like glass with ice, we are getting a bit sick of it now tbh, with no thaw in sight, but managed to get home without crashing so that's a bonus especially as I forgot to turn my lights on for about 200 metres honestly how do you remember it all...

Got tired of waiting on DH so I smashed put the damn tree in it's box. I swear I think he says "I'll do it later" because he knows if he doesn't do it in a certain time frame I'll do it without him. He's kinda on my shit list today as I left for one hour of pilates and one hour of mandatory grocery shopping with instructions for him to help DD1 pick up her room and be ready for her play date upon my return. Her room was a disaster and she was still in pajamas. Apparently he was too busy smoking up the house while attempting pancakes (after I'd already provided breakfast). He's walking in the door this moment ....be back later........

But TS it's still Christmas your poor tree. That's the trouble with putting the decs up in November I suppose, no wonder you are sick of the sight of them. Ours will be up another week yet

Evening all

Had a 'friend' of DH's over for lunch I was dreading it as the last time we heard from him was when he texted DH at 11pm the night before our wedding saying if he couldn't bring his new girlfriend he wasn't coming to the wedding. So rightly so I have not forgiven him for letting DH down. Him and DH have been in e-mail contact for a few months and Dh invited them for lunch. It wasn't too bad his wife is sweet and their little boy is 8 weeks younger than DD and she loved the fact that he isn't walking so she was in charge!!

HP - I still forget to put my lights on occasionall but do regularly forget my handbrake so always park my car in gear.

Sazzles - Be nice and share your snow.

DD opened another present today and she loves her buggy she put her muzzy and polarbear in and demanded 'walk, out, wellies' When DH said not outside she threw the most almighty strop.

hots my dear, you need a Volvo, they turn their own lights on . DD1 now reminds me i have to put the lights on when i drive the Landy

TS Just give DH 'the look'. He'll know he's in the doghouse. Twunt

oops just rain for you i think. Sorry. DD1 had a big strop here today when i stopped her from playing with marbles. She did then discover bouncy balls and a hard kitchen floor and was happy as Larry

Ooh Oops Was the wife the new girlfriend in question or were you able to achieve a little smugness about it all having been for nothing?

Longway Well done, you sound like you're doing fine there. Friend of mine managed to avoid being alone with her two tinies
for at least 2 months! We'll be here when you need us.

I've had a nice day, took the big two out to the common with friend and her DS, gorgeous pub lunch out (game casserole!) and this afternoon I have done some excellent toy rubbish chucking to clear the bedrooms a little for the grand switcharoo. Don't know when it's actually going to happen though, kids are now excited but requires DH's assistance with dismantling, moving and rebuilding both beds. So next Christmas then.

HP my Tahoe has auto lights too. As a matter of fact I've no idea how to over ride that feature but I know you can.

Sazzles DH is clueless. He thinks I'm silly for wanting things done a certain way or at a certain time anyway.

I must say it is NICE to have my house reclaimed.

DD1's play date is still here. Thankfully they are playing nicely but seems a very long while. I did lunch and now I'm wondering if I should prepare dinner too.

Reese seems to be doing well today. Her diapers are starting to look more normal. YEEHAW!! However they still stink.

What are everyone's New Year's Eve plans?

Glad it is not just me with the lights [phew]. I also realised when I got home that we had driven all the way with the internal ight on... I am vey proud of myself actually that I have got my nerve up to drive in the ice, and it has been much better than I expected. Silly MIL, who has been driving for years has decided not to go to SIL's at all, despite being expected on Christmas day and being nephew's only remaining grandparent, because she is scared

Buckets your day sounds fab. Am looking forward to a bit of toy-weeding myself [evil]

Hots, my mum and dad couldn't get into our drive - wheels just spinning and is very scary so well done you for attempting it . Tonight we have parked the Landrover over the entrance to the drive to try and keep it clear of snow if we are deluged as it becomes treacherous

TS is it Reese's teeth causing the stink? I would just prepare dinner and keep smiling, or if not, turn to the margheritas

We are having a party here for new year with 13 people. I think we may have jinxed it with 13 as the weather looks like we might only be 6

buckets can you come and toy weed for me please as it seems too much effort . We did take down the stair gate today though so a nod to decluttering i feel

Hots well done, it is quite justified to be proud I think.

TS no plans really for NYE - nice supper and nice wine planned but we don't need much excuse for that round here . If we're awake until midnight it'll be a surprise.

Sorry to hear about the poorly ones. DD has been quite revoltingly snotty over xmas, don't know if that's still a reaction to her flu jab or just a coincidence. Combined with being in a travel cot at the grandparents for the last couple of nights, she hasn't slept that well and so today was a right grump - suspect suddenly being left alone with boring old mummy and daddy had something to do with it too She has not been that bothered about any of her presents but having lots of people around pleases her immensely.

Thank you thank you THANK YOU to my secret santa. As I already suspected when I saw the wrapping, you are a very thoughtful, creative and talented woman! As I opened the parcels I was and to realise that my secret santa had had the exact same ideas as me! (Except better executed and with the generous bonus of a gift for DD ) DH was most confused, oh, he said, did you all agree what to send?! No, I replied, but me and my santa are mystically in tune... Now he thinks the Aug08ers are even weirder - probably menstruating in sync like a bunch of nuns .

Wow you are brave taking down the stair gate, after DS' tumble down my mum's stairs on Saturday ours will be staying up for a loooong time.

We are going round the corner to friends on NYE afternoon, we will 'celebrate' 12 o'clock at 5pm then come home and try to stay awake until the real 12 New Years Day will hopefully involve lovely friends from Norfolk coming for a massive food/drink fest, yay!

Sounds like we all did well with our Secret Santas , mine was lovely and thoughtful too . Thank you Buckets for organising it.

Oh yes, thankyou to my Secret Steaky Santa for my lovely personalised gift. Sadly already raided by DD1 for dressing up

hots we haven't closed the gate for a month or so, plus have a door where it was so we can just close that if really necessary

DH & I are taking turns to go to our cool neighbours' NYE party, though not sure how that's going to work TBH. Think we will fight over who gets the last half and if I go first and get pissed I may refuse to swap.

Then we are hosting a hangover party on NYDay. Offering buffet lunch, coffee and/or drinks to some v local friends and families who will be able to stagger along. Plus my Dbro may bring his brood (think Lord of the Flies but friendly) which will be nice as we are crap at keeping in touch even though they came back from Australia. Potentially 18 adults and a great many children. Hmm, when I count it up like that I may need to buy more food.

That's sensible girl-children for you

My mum and step-dad were horrified/amazed/impressed at the sheer duracell bunnyness of DS when we were there on Christmas Day - two hours on a normal Saturday barely scratch the surface of his va va voom [exhausted]

right, no talk re Hogmany please - some of us will be at work keeping you all safe from criminalsand drunks

nice day with visiting family who had a near breakdown (as usual) on the drive here as there was some snow but we've eaten toomuch and played some dance thing on the Wii and the singstar - dnephew wouldn't play as he was beaten at the dancing thing by DD2 so that was a strop and a half

Longway sounds like you're doing really well - give M a huge sniff from me

hots you're doing great with the driving

CC get well soon wishes coming your way

toy cull happening here very soon too, my house always feels a lot lighter once its done!

right, am off - I feel the need to organise something and if I stay on here I'll end up booking flights to somewhere for something we can't afford

Buenos Aires?

Birmingham flights cheap
Free accommodation
Endless supply of white magnums

Sadly weather and culture probably not beating Buenos Aires though i will have to admit [bugger]

Sazz once I have had a bit more practice you are high up on our list of people to visit

And plenty of parking and wine too hots

LOL although I did an almnost perfect bay park during my test, I have not done one since, preferring to find two nose-to-tail bays I can drive straight through {fblush] so I hope you have plenty of room...

And I am not coming unless there is wine

No chance to catch-up as yet, but wanted to pop on to shake some belated Happy Christmas pompoms and set out some Happy New Year bunting.

Lovely Christmas in Paris. ILs lovely as ever and fab hosts with the most incredible food and drink. Having missed out on the excessively wonderful cheese and wine two years ago I more than made up for it . MiL has shingles and has prob had another small stroke so was not on good form . She did her best though and DD1 in partic. had a lovely time just being with her.

Despite horrendous predictions, flights on time in both directions. Were busy counting our blessings as we pulled out of the carpark where the car had been encased in ice. Sadly left half of a tyre behind and spent the next 3 hrs waiting for the AA in -5. Helped hugely by lovely staff at nearby petrol station bring hot chocs etc. for the girls but still not great.

Drove through -9 and suspect DH's car has some nasty damage underneath it after about 10 miles of driving over frozen snow. Real heart in the mouth stuff but DDs asleep thank goodness so haven't learnt a new and colourful language from her parents . DH great though. I def. couldn't have got us home in those conditions. House in one piece but BiL helpfully turned everything off at the wall before he left but included the Sky box off at he wall before he left and now have no Gavin and Stacey. Harumph.

Blardy hell it's cold here. -5 outside and steps outside the front door 2 inch thick ice. 10 day old snowman still there.

DDs just fab over Christmas. DD1 enchanting and so utterly wide-eyed about it all. DD2 her usual laid-back self trundling around with a lovely smile on her face making the occasional excited moo, miaow, woof or baa at a passing animal or picture of.

Now have Dsis and her family arriving tomorrow until 2nd. Looking forward to it, but suspect I won't be around much, so a bientot for a while longer.

evenin all.

HP you are v brave re the driving.

Sazz you are using the sleep mask all wrong if small person has requesitioned it. It is intended soley for retireing to boudoir avec le gin et tonic. While DH cooks dinner, bathes babes and opens fiz. Should I have sent written instructions for him for you?

I had a fantastic night tonight with friend that I haven't seen in 20 years - lots and lots of talk and laughs, they only left because he was falling asleep - I did offer comfy cosy blankets so me and her could keep talking.

Sample conversation topic - her mum offered her her used vibrator. [fwahhhahahahahahah]

Poppy What a nightmare with the car but glad you had a good time up til then.

Kurt has been making this wooo wooo noise that I am sure is supposed to be "To infinity and beyoooond!" DH is a bit, esp since he doesn't even say wooo wooo.

Really should get dressed today. Have been further decluttering the playroom-to-be and the kids have been pottering and playing with rediscovered toys etc. Will have to really get in a groove with this playroom to keep the toys looking nice or they just won't get played with. I have no excuse now Kurt is a proper toddler and if I'm not going back to work I have to give DH something that he would miss if I did (eg happy kids occupied above and tidy house below.)