Snowacise

Walking in the snow with a four year old in a buggy is surprisingly good exercise and should help keep one trim.

Shovelling snow from your road is good exercise and should help keep one trim.

Going to aqua when you've done the walking and shovelling is good exercise and should help keep one trim.

Now, where's that doughnut?

I've no idea where I'm going wrong.

Winding up the kids

I love winding the kids up with a goofy tale now and then.

This evening while sharing a tray of cheesy salsa nachos I entered into a conversation with Andy about how years ago, did he remember the scientific experiment held on a group of cows who were fed cocoa beans with their usual diet to see whether they would ferment in their udders to create chocolate milk?

Quickly catching on, he embraced the joke and heartily agreed it was a great experiment.  The children were fascinated.  Seeing them being gullibly drawn in I then extended the story  to include the cows that were found munching in a strawberry field, and how scientists were so impressed with the results of the cocoa bean batch they wondered if strawberry milk could be yielded from this group.

I was doing well, I was keeping a straight face.  It was a struggle.

I crumpled when I told them the banana experiment went wrong because the cows couldn't peel them with their hooves.

I adore their faces when they realise they've been pulled a fast one.

The Folly of Expenses

Along with 99% of the population I've been less than impressed with the latest MP scandal of over-rated expense claims.

But my failing trust in our blighted leaders was replaced with hearty (and a little cruel) laughter at the list produced by The Sun of all MPs who had been caught with their little fat fingers in the sweetie tin. (I add an aside here that yes, I do read The Sun online - it makes for an entertaining five minutes!)

And where were my chortles directed? At the bold statement that John Prescott had claimed amongst other things, two broken toilet seats.

It's good to see it's not just the economy straining under the pressure.

Note To Self

When you have an itchy eye, remove your glasses before you rub it. Then you won't get a big finger smudge on the lens and scratch the side of your nose with the bridge support.

Goofing About

Sam insisted on trying my glasses on tonight.

He fills me with more laughs and smiles than there are bubbles in a bottle of fizzy pop.

Car Snooker

Heading down the M4 to get to Jubilee Church on time for the kids event Pyramid Rock, we decided to make use of the rush hour traffic to our advantage and embarked on our favourite travelling game.

It's a simple game that even the youngest members of the family can join in with. All you have to do is remember the order that snooker balls are potted and find cars in that order.

Find 7 red cars in a row, then 1 yellow, 1 green, 1 brown, 1 blue, 1 pink and 1 black.

Sometimes when the elusive colours are nowhere to be seen, I relent and let them find a lorry with a cab that particular colour or maybe a trailer or something similar. Usually we get stuck on pink, but today we got through two rounds - our best result ever.

Hushing Him the Biblical Way

Andy and I have for many years, spent a lot of time together in the kitchen. Before the children arrived we would spend hours together baking and making, clearing up, and generally enjoying putting a few meals together. Some days we'd cook for hours making enough batches of everything to put in the freezer for those busy, 'can't be bothered to cook tonight' days. We both miss those days and are trying to rebuild them again, which is hard when you have four little people all wanting to help!

Throughout this we have often messed around hiding ingredients, putting away something when we know the other one is about to use it, washed up utensils and put them away, turning heat down on the stove, turning it up - all that kind of juvenile stuff.

So, today, whilst preparing a salad the pots of crispy toppings were out and twice Andy put a pot away. Twice I retrieved it from the larder. At this point I told him to leave them out as I was about to use them, only to realise after he told me, that the pot he put away was a new one and the old one was already open ready to be used. At this point I jokingly told him to shut up.

At which, Madeleine, who all through this has been watching her brother in his culinary quest, commented, 'Mummy, you shouldn't talk to Daddy like that. It doesn't say in the Bible that you can tell your husband to shut up'. Totally bemused by this I asked her what instructions she thought were in the Bible for a wife to use in this situation.

Her reply.

'You must tell him to be quiet'.

HA HA HA!!!!

The Naff Ones Are Always The Best

I often get sent e-mail jokes or have stuff loaded to my Facebook page. I have no control over them being sent. Often they're smutty or have sexual connotations and whilst really I shouldn't laugh, I do find myself having a sneaky snigger now and then. (Which I know is not what I should be doing - but face it and admit it, we're all guilty).

But I do have the power to hit delete, which I'm finding I'm doing more and more these days.

However, it is refreshing when you get sent silly ones like this.

"The latest Chinese diet cookbook by Wai Yu Mun Ching".

*snort*

The Trouble With My Eggs

My friend Michelle very stupidly, err, I mean kindly looked after the children on Saturday while Andy and I went about the business of sorting out new mobile phones, picking up furniture from IKEA, booking carpet salesmen to come and visit the house........ No mean task when there's four of them munching their way through your larder!

But not only is Michelle a fantastic friend who's supported me and my husband through our separation and subsequent reconciliation, she has also usurped me on the egg cooking front. Not only are her dippy eggs better than mine, according to Eleanor, but Madeleine has now declared my fried eggs aren't up to scratch either as Michelle's are 'fluffier'.

So, if anyone knows how to 'fluff up' a fried egg. Please let me know. Cheers!

A Tax Too Far

Forget global warming.

I don't even care if fuel prices double again.

I can cope with the soul destroying credit crunch.

I can even forego a pair of shoes.

Actually, no, I can't.

But a tax on chocolate!!!

That's just cruel.

I may be gone a while - I feel a warlike effort to stock up on cocoa based essentials overcoming me.

The sharpness of youth

I've got to hand it to him. Joshua may be on the talented and learning register for his mathematical ability, but his sense of humour and sharp wit aren't far behind. You never quite know what's whirring in his cogs, but today's offering was pure class.

I'm giving up all things sugary for Lent - or things that lean that way. I'm boring, I can't think of anything really useful to do.

So this evening, I was completely sucked in when Joshua sat casually next to me, flicked through the TV channels and asked, "Mum, how much would it cost for a child minder to look after me for six weeks?". Not too worried about this question as Joshua can't get through a day without at least twenty questions I nonchalantly replied, "I don't know, probably quite a lot. Why?".

Now Joshua is not one to rush his conversations. He communicates at times in depth, other times in snippets. I thought this was a snippet moment. Until he dropped this one. "Well Mum, seeing as it's Lent, I thought I could stay at home for six weeks as I'm giving up the right to learn, so I won't be going to school for 40 days.".

Then he looked me square in the eye and flashed me that gorgeous cheeky smile of his.

He'll go far that boy. Cheeky little monkey!

Getting the Whole Picture

I really should learn that when turning the television over I shouldn't get all emotional and tearful when a couple are being interviewed.

I shouldn't feel sorry for the man of the couple when they talk about how much he'll be missed and how much everybody loves him and how his departure will leave a void in their lives.

I really should check the TV screening and check it's not a documentary about terminal illnesses but a stupid daytime programme about a couple deciding whether to stay in the UK or emigrate to Australia.

Time to get the hair dye out again.....

Chillin' and Larkin'

Usually my Sundays are spent flitting around like a wingless fairy clearing up the mess from Monday to Saturday and preparing for the mess that will ensue the following Monday to Saturday.

But next week is half term, the children are off school and I'm off work for the week, so no need to iron school uniforms, check book bags, double-check homework, clear bedrooms and so on.

Just a day to chill and relax and what better way to start the day than with a bit of larking around.

Angry faces

Sad faces

Silly faces

Shocked faces

Happy faces

The Curse of Spud Guns

Sam has a spud gun. I thought it was quite a good little stocking filler for a three year old.

But, whilst teaching your children to clear up after themselves is a good thing, it doesn't always pay off when they find the most inappropriate places to put their leftover shot out ammo.

Distractions

For the past two days I've tried to work from home. After every half hour or so I have to give up because Sam seems to be having a mental few days.

How can I concentrate when he behaves like this? You need sound.

More Fun In The Snow

A well aimed one straight in my face by my lovely eldest son!

Making the snowman

After shedding scarves, gloves, hats etc. this is where we found Samuel. He'd sneaked upstairs, filled the sink and climbed in - to warm his feet up!!

Junk Is Fun

After coming in from the snow to dry off and warm up, ready for another session this afternoon, the children dug out some boxes and cardboard tubes and got crafting.

It's amazing what children can create with cereal boxes, toilet roll tubes, metres of sellotape and endless imagination.

Joshua and Eleanor with their TV, Playstation and remote controls.



Sam with his robot, who just happens to have a multitude of tummy buttons!!

Expecting Trouble?

If you're thinking of breaking into my house tonight - think twice.

He's armed and dangerous.

When You Think Mum's Not Looking

I don't do mornings. I'm quite happy to stay up through the night into the morning, but not so good at getting up in the mornings. That's why I like to get everything ready the night before; lay out school uniforms, line up school bags and set the table for breakfast before I go to bed.

I have to have it this way or else the children would never get dressed in time or have anything to eat for breakfast. Joshua's in charge during breakfast time as when they're eating I'm usually in the shower. But when they've finished and I'm fresh and ready for the day I kick in to gear and set about clearing up before we leave for school. It's a pet hate of mine to leave dirty dishes by the sink for hours on end and I don't react well to coming home to it a few hours later.

So, a certain little boy thought he'd save on the washing up this morning as he knew I'd put the dishes away. Obviously still feeling a little peckish he thought he'd help himself to a second helping. This was after he'd sneaked off into the larder, grabbed his supplies and hid round the corner.

Then he offered his sister some and there they stood, with Sam telling Eleanor to eat what was left in the packet, while he'd be happy with what was in the box.

Then he noticed I'd been watching him. One look at that little face and I didn't have the heart to tell him off. Little punk.

Note To Self

Before hitting the sack at night, take your eye make-up off.

That way, in the morning when you're still half asleep you won't mistake the nail polish remover for eye cleanser.

Man, that stung!