Jan 09 Summer sun, peachy bums and... toddler tantrums..

[120]

New thread here...

Thanks HKZ, I took some of the cocodamol they gave me for my foot and some ibuprofen for good measure.

at the price of a clutch for a Ford Focus.

Ds came out of year 3 with 3a for reading and 3b for literacy and numeracy. He tested age 12 plus for reading and 11 for spelling as well. Apparently he scored 3a across the board in assessments, but his classwork brought it down. So he is working at a good level and above the national average, but has essentially only moved up one subset for literacy and numeracy, as he came out of year 2 with 3s across the board. He's always progressed well academically before and I'm really hoping it was just a bad year that we can put down to experience, but want to be prepared in case its the start of a slow-down/decline. His classwork bears absolutely no resemblance to the work he does at home with me and definitely doesn't reflect his ability, I was very shocked when I saw it on Open Evening.

Tea, at my dses parties when they were that little we did a craft activity with them, then had the food, then put on some childrens music and let them play - they were happy as larry.

At one party we decorated wind up eggs and bunny or chick masks (it was an easter theme) at another everyone made and decorated their own kaleidoscope and paper windmill thing. I bought them from Baker Ross, but the Early Learning Centre do similar stuff. I also made sure I'd printed plenty of free colouring in sheets off the net and provided a big pot of pencils and wax crayons so the shy/quieter ones could sit and colour in if they wanted to.

Party bags don't need much at that age. As HKZ said, perhaps just a small pot of bubbles, a piece of cake and some stickers, or one of those small packets of playdoh. If they are all girls, they will probably love a cheapy plastic bracelet.

I've never done pass the parcel, as its such a pain if everyone expects a gift in each layer. I love 120's idea of a lucky dip though.

Hello all, fallen off threads I'm on so just a bookmark.

Having some major RL issues at the moment with myself and DH, off to our first Relate session tomorrow, yup its that good!

I have tried to read and catchup but just too overwhelmed.

HZ- have agreat hol and moose when you go soon.

Big waves to everyone else, I hope to be back and have not forgotten you all. Will be on FB so keep in touch x

pat. i hope relate helps. we are here if a bit of venting ever seems like it would be useful.

dog...?

tea, had a look at your aibu, you're really not, you sound like you are doing a brilliant job.

moose, i'm sure it's a bad year for ds1 rather than anything else, didn't you say he had a less-than-optimal teacher this year?

enjoy holiday, hkz

refusal to go sleep hell continuing here, teeth on the cusp of arriving, and brownish snot. not sure whether this is something i should worry about? she seems fine, energy-wise.

waves to everybody else

stripey.. I feel for you. DD was an absolute mare. I really recommend getting a strategy and then sticking to it like glue. It usually takes about 3 days to 2 weeks for them to change. Not if they are ill though! Dr ferber sleep book my one of choice. I went through hell for 18mo then realised I didn't have to, was just too soft. Did start the training the week she was getting teeth though, as didn't realise, so took the full fortnight (meanmummy).

Pat. I'm so sorry to hear it. Was wondering where you had got to. Please do come on and vent if you need to. I have so many friends who have had to have some councelling after kids as it really does serious damage to your relationship. Lots of (((((hugs))))). Don't feel you have to keep up with all of us, me, me, me posts are great and let us know you are ok x

Moose, I'm with you on pass the parcel. much prefer the chocolate game.

Pat, sorry to hear things are so hard for your at the moment. As Stripey said, come and vent if you need to and as 120 said, don't feel you have to come on and read everything either. Just let us know if we can do anything to support you. ((hugs))

Stripey, yes you're right, ds1 had a truly abysmal teacher this year. She was off sick for over six months and he had a really nice supply teacher. Then she came back but has been off 1-2 days a week ever since, resulting in a stream of teachers and TAs covering the class. She was also a complete wimp and completely unable to control the class, as well as being completely disorganised and constantly losing things, such as ds's confidential home/school contact book. Needless to say, she didn't get a card or present off me at the end of term. Ds did choose to write a notelet to her though.

Poor C struggling with her teeth. Dd is also struggling with her molars and is barely eating and fighting sleep at the moment. We are having to be really firm and consistent with her. Tis just a tad wearing.

120, I only saw the chocolate game for the first time a couple of months ago. I'd love to have a go, but the boys at the party ds2 was attending got so over-excited by it and the mum ended up having to break bits off for them because they kept bursting into tears.

Chocolate game?

BTW already scrapping ideas and noting down yours instead. Anything for an easy life

Pat - I'm so sorry to hear things are tough right now But glad you are getting some help with Relate ((hugs)) from me too x

ah. that doesn't sound like a good version! I think for the little ones it should be individually wrapped chocs and that they have to roll a number over 3 and put on a hat and scarf before they can unwrap it. The crying reminds me of the apple bobbing we did at a friend's third birthday. When the first kid got an apple out by using the stalk, the dad went and cut off all the stalks (wtf?) as it was too easy. Duh. Needless to say no-one after that got an apple.

We are having literal nightmares here with H. He wakes up every two hours or so during the night shouting 'Mummy' until he wakes his sis. Last night I went and slept in the bottom bunk eventually so I could get to him more quickly and was rewarded with the gem 'Mine, mine, mine, no yours, Eee-oor' followed by 'mummy mummy' wailing as he woke up. Think it must be developmental nightmares, but I must admit that had me laughing this morning. He is getting his molars too, but would that give him nightmares? Haven't been dosing him up. Maybe that would help. Not sure with him as he has a pretty high pain threshold (as when he was crawling round the balcony with a shredded toenail leaving a trail of blood behind and hadn't noticed). Weirdo.

Must go to bed. Night all.

They had an enormous bar of dairy milk which had been kept in the fridge and was then put on a tray in the middle of the circle. They then had to throw a 6, put on a hat and gloves and break a piece off with knife and fork before the next person threw a six.

They are 6 years old fgs, there was simply no way they could do it in time and they weren't strong enough to snap the chocolate with a knife and fork anyway.

Your version sounds better, but am not sure 3 year olds could unwrap chocs whilst wearing gloves without a lot of help from mum.

Dd seemed to start having either nightmares or very active dreams a couple of weeks ago and regularly sleep talks now. This morning when I was trying to get a lie in we had, 'pippin' 'dadeee' 'eow woof' and 'quack flap'. Would have been funny if I hadn't been so tired and had a horrible sinus headache.

Am off to bed meself now.

Night.

yes, definitely no gloves for the little ones. sorry to hear your headache perservered.

Tea, that brownie thread is still going! Hope you are feeling a bit better about your DP.

Hi all.

Struggling to catch up - but Pat, sorry to hear of your troubles. I hope today is positve ((((hugs))))

Morning Tree.

I'm feeling sorry for myself this morning. Stuck at home with 3 dcs and a gammy foot. I almost cried when dh went to work earlier. [pathetic Moose emoticon]

Still, have managed to make breakfast for everyone and the boys are washed and dressed. Just dd to get dressed now - oh and me of course!

I am daft really, its isn't all bad, as dh went in early so he could come home earlier tonight. He doesn't usually get in until 6.45 ish, but should be home at 5.30 with any luck.

Uh-oh, I can hear sounds of little boys trying to kill each other in the room above my head. I guess that's the holiday properly started then!

Poor old dd really yelled out when she was eating her porridge this morning. Asked her if it was her teeth hurting and she said yes. Poor little thing really sobbed.

I went to buy her some new sleepsuits at the weeknd, with a Mothercare gift card I've had since her birthday. I can't believe how big they are. She is just about still in her 6-9 month ones, but they are getting tight on her feet, however the next size up are huge - and I'm talking a good few inches taller than she is! She'll probably be in them by the time she's three!

Such a pain, as I don't have the cash to buy her any more, hence using the gift card. I may have to order her some from Next, at least I know 9-12 isn't ridiculously too big for her from there.

I shouldn't be sitting here, I have so much to do if we are going to be ready for our holiday. Don't feel a bit like doing any of it though.

Hi all,

Long time i know. I bet all the little ones have grown so much!

How about musical chairs for a party game or musical statues?

Finley is talking lots these days, way more then my dd did did at 18 months. We put him in the bottom bunk this week, it's been interesting to say the least.

Sort of dreading September when he starts nursery two afternoons a week. He is quite clingy and hates being left so i expect alot of tears when he goes.

morning

mm - yep let the hols begiining my girls fight alot!!

hkz - oh no about clutch

pat - good luck - me and dh went to relate a few years ago really worth it

Computer on a go slow.

Dd1 is at nannas, and H is asleep. Just had toast and tea

My washer is broken, and I can't remember where I got it!

Moose, I have now given up trying to make myself do things I can't face. It's too hard!
I spend a lot of time musing on the tip that is my house. Yet last nigh, after a long day at work, I got home and spent an hour hoovering, mopping and bathroom cleaning. I didn't mind at all, I was in the mood and it got done easily.

Maybe await your 'doing' mood. You ahve them, you often pop on and have a huge list of things you have busted that day

We are dead similar.

Right. DD2 has no toys and is now at the stage where platic light up noise makers really impress her. Sh eis no longer impressed by my lovely wooden fruit, wooden pull alongs, and Sophie la Giraffe.

What's good for our babies? I get overstimulated by the argos cataloouge, and we don't have a toy shop in my town. Just a TKMax, and that is a bit hit and miss. Debenhams is too expensive!

Hello Sparkle!! How are the diamonds?

DS is enjoying Vtech things now like their little laptop and other noisy things

I've been putting on lots of peppa pig and charlie and lola to show how well siblings can play together. seems to be working so far. they were playing 'glass of water' this morning . I was told to go as I didn't understand the rules.

Hello Sparkle! loooong time no see. My boy is very clingy at the moment too, but is a little ray of sunshine with everyone else. Cries as long as I'm in sight, then absolutely fine. Little buggers blighters.

Hi Miss Sparkle, lovely to hear from you.

My dd has decided she is totally freaked out by any cuddly toy that talks, eg her upsy daisy doll and elc talking/singing teddy. She absolutely loved them until very recently, in fact they were her favourites for a while. I think its because when we went to visit the ILs (where she is ill at ease anyway because she really doesn't like FIL) they insisted on getting out these two crazy cuddly toys, one a 'mad cow' that laughs hysterically/maniacally and shakes.vibrates and the other a really scary looking thing that has a motion sensor and keeps waking up unexpectedly and singing/shouting happy birthday accompanied by lots of yelling an clapping. I told them I didn't want them to get them out, as she wouldn't like them, but they did it anyway. They did it again this weekend when we popped in - what's wrong with some people do they think "Oh, I know this terrified the poor child last time she came, so let's do it all again." They are really offended that she's doesn't seem to like them as well.

She doesn't have many flashing or noisy things to be honest. She likes her brothers' old leap-pads and the fridge phonics thing that sings the alphabet and tells you letters as you put them in, but that's about it really.

This morning she was building towers and knocking them down with ds2 and then they had a lovely tea-party with invisible food. (He was feeding her with an empty bowl and spoon and she was saying "mmm, yum-yum".) She's currently forcing him to draw picture after picture on the colour doodle.

120, dd is exactly the same. When I had to leave her with Mum for ds1's IEP review and the meeting with the Head, she was screaming the place down as we left and had such a heartbroken look on her face through the window. Mum says she stopped crying as soon as we got off the end of the drive and were out of sight and was happy as larry from then on.

hi ms sparkle gr8 2 hear from you

hi mm

tree - dd2 who is 18 mnths has the following

happyland fairy boot
fire station
farm
toadstool
she luvs putting the fighures in and out
the farm and firestation have sounds she luvs pressing them

she luvs balls has a small squishy one
adores cars
she has
small wooden ones ans had elc whizz around garage luvs pushing those plastic cars 2

luvs her tomy eggs
her big iggle piggle and upsy daisy that sing
general cuddly toys especially her big miffy

today hasnt been too bad

have done colouring with them both and been out in the garden for fresh air 2

Moose check your e-mail when you have a mo x

Thanks for the toy tips.

Well, I took her to town. Bg mistake. She was a horror. Took her to TKMax and Boots, she was on the rampage in both. It was hideous.

PIl never got in touch about having her for a few hours, and dh and I argues withng 5 mins of him getting home. So all in all, not the relaxing zen day I was supposed to be having. If I have 6 weeks of this, plus work every evening I may go insane.

dd2 was so utterly bonkers she couldn't really look at the toys. She only responded well to one thing, I VTEch teddy thing that shouted about numbers etc. It was £22 so I was a bit reluctant to buy it tbh.

AM going to have a look on ebay......

On plus sides, lovely pil did drop around a new iron, bless them, and my washing machne that broke at 10am, suddenly fixed it's self at 4pm. SO there you go.

Feeling glum.

Moose, the play between the kids sounds so lovely. Bless ds2!

Good luck with party planning Tea. We got a party pack of little playdoh pots, and put one of those in each bag. Rather than lots of little stuff. I think it was half price at SAins or Argos or somewhere.

hi tree - meant to say buy her toys online
amazon best place and cheapest i get loads from there we dont have any shops here in town apart from elc i buy online

hi dog (trout) lol

my mum over today

looks very dark here!!