Santa Letters

Yesterday Bel wrote her letter to Santa.
She was very excited about dong this as it would be her first proper one as she has now learned to write and kinda spell things.
I had given her the tesco online catalogue to look through first (note: If doing this with child this catalogue has smaller toys section than argos!) and then told her she could write 3-4 things down.
She has no written it and states that she would really like a nintendo ds, a lego pyramid and a proper wooden guitar. She then wrote Diolch which means Thank you in Welsh so that (in her own words) "Santa knows that I am trying to learn Welsh Mummy!". Neb then told her that Santa may not bring all her asks as there were lots of girls and boys in the world.
We have now told her that I will take her letter into work tomorrow (or today!) and put it into the post at my work. As we are going Xmas shopping tomorrow, I will then post back her letter from Santa. I've got a great template that I got from the Cancer Research shop in the sales last year. I'm going to get one of my work colleagues to fill it in for me!

As well as doing this, Bel asked if we could also email Santa to check he got it (!). Bel is very into emailing especially after we scanned some pics that she did of Grandma and Grandpa and she got to email them!

So, last night after she had gone to bed, I typed into Google- Can I email Santa? - and up popped this wonderful website www.emailsanta.com.

If you have kids who can read and who wish to know if they have are on Santa's naughty or nice list, would like to vote on who gets to lead Santa's sleigh and many other fabulous things then this is the place to go.
Tonight we will show it to Bel and watch her little face light up!

BNM
x

Friday Fun Fact 9

As I'm a bit late on the Thanskgiving front (sorry, had to write minutes yesterday!), I thought I would do a Thanksgiving based Fun Fact.


So I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving and did you know:

Did you know that Benjamin Franklin wanted the Turkey to be the American National Bird?

Anyways I hope you all enjoyed your Turkey and now that Black Friday is upon you that you don't go mad on the Xmas shopping - me I'm going on Tuesday!

Love to you all

BNM
x

Why are awards like buses?

..because you don't get any and then several appear at once!!

Now, when I mean several I do just mean 2! On Monday you heard about my Zombie Chicken award (thanks again to Make do Mum - I now also have free a chocolate voucher) and today I read that Hot Cross Mum has deemed me worthy enough to receive the 'Honest Scrap' award. Like Hot Cross Mum I too read it as Honest Crap because I think that's what I'm making you poor readers read!!

The rules of this award say that I have to tell you 10 things about myself which you don't already know and pass it on to other bloggers you want to know more about.

Now as you know, noone (apart from W+W - see Shhh no one knows) and I mean noone else knows that I blog but as its you and if you all promise to Cross Your Heart and hope to die I will let you in on some of the BNM's secrets!

1. I don't look like my blog pic all of the time (have you not seen it - its hidden down there past the Tweets). I only look that young after being made up by a Zbdart! I normally look like I've been dragged through a hedge backwards!
   
2. I am always hungry and would probaly eat a horse (if one happened to walk by)
   
3. I don't do mornings! (Can anyone please let Car know this - tried telling her that 5.30 isn't nice but its not working
   
4. I love cheesy music. I have several tapes of cheesy stuff and now have a spotify cheesy music list! (I'm not putting you through it, don't worry!)
   
5. I don't have sealegs - I would love to take Car and Bel on a local cruise around the bay but I would probably throw up!
6.  I have never been on an aeroplane. I was 18 before going on a train!  So if anyone wants me to review a flight I'm all yours!!
7. My nickname was Funky in school and I had a going out on the town song!
8. I am not a tidy person and never will be. Unfortunately Neb isn't either so when MIL comes to visit we have two days worth of mega tidying.
9. I love watching Grease, Dirty Dancing and High School the Musical. (see 4 above). I tried to make Bel watch High School and she didn't like it
   
10. I'm Welsh and I'm proud but don't ask me to mutate words as I can't (never have)!

Anyway I'm passing this on to these following bloggers

Is There a Plan B?
More than just a mother (her Ballymory post made me pmsaol!)
Kids and Daiquiris - she's giving up alcohol!

There were ten in a bed

... and the little one said " AND TIGER MUMMY"!

Really, no wonder Car doesn't sleep through.
This evening when I put her to bed we had to make sure they were all there:

There was : Mrs Miaow ( a blue cat), Pinguin ( won by Bel's at Exmoor Zoo for me!!), Monkey (Car's present from us at Exmoor Zoo!), Fimbo (well I think that's who it is- the green and yellow one from the Fimbles!!), Koale (koala bear that did sit on my desk in work!!), Panda, Daisee (Who other than upsy daisy!), Hippo ( a pink hippo courtesy of my dear friend who passes on all her junk, lovely stuff to me), Teddy (flat, bendable ted courtesy of Neb's Uncle I) and last but not least MMouse (Mickey Mouse to you and me!!)

They all had to be lined up in the right place, all tidy and together. Then she had to say Night Night to them all.

This will have to stop, she is still in a cot and it is getting full in there!!

Zombie Chicken

Yeah, I have been given a new award.

Make do mum who is in her own words begging, making and not stealing her way through motherhood has been so nice in passing this on to me.

So what do you ask is the Zombie Chicken Award - well The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken – excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all.

I can't belive that I've been given an award where I am deemed to be graceful but hey who I am to know. (If you asked Neb or my Dad if they thought I was graceful they'd laugh at you - my dad still laughs when anyone calls me a lady!!)

Anyway I know need to bestow this on 5 other people so the people I have chosen are:

Gigi's ramblings - an American with a sense of humour!

Tattie Weasle - I've newly discovered her and I love this blog

Tartan Mammy  - us celts have to stick together you know!! 

3 Bedroom Bungalow to let in Crazy Town - another Yank in Crazytown - I promise I'm going to do a Dear So & Soon

 and finally to Workingmumonverge as she is poorly and needs to get better soon!

I hope you all enjoy the zombiness, I am away to stop Car from stealing all the "CUSHIN MUMMY"

Bye for now

BNMxx





 

Cash to name babies

I named both my girls relative easily who am I kidding it was hard and several books later ... well we had a name for Bel but it was a stand by name as I was 100% sure she was a boy. I'd done the chinese astrology test and the ring test (all very scientifical you know) and so was shocked she was a girl but had a name ready anyway just in case.
With Car, I felt different and because of this again I thought we were having a boy. but as Bel was old enough to help us pick names we decided to ask at the scan. Car though had other ideas, she was being very uncooperative and so for a while Bel decided that she would be a Peter. (This was a favourite name of hers at that time- several goldfish had the same name!!)
I then had a scan as they thought I may need to have a C section due to being huge (think tank size) but at scan they saw lots of fluid so didn't do C section but we did find out that Car was a girl and help we had no name.
I then decided we'd give her a Welsh first name and an English second which was opposite to Bel who had an English first and Welsh second. So out came the books. Finally, after many lists and odd names, we decided on Car. Everyone happy and Bel could say it.

So while I was reading the news just now I noticed this

Cash to name babies for Mussolini

A far-right Italian party is offering 1,500 euros (£1352/ $1,900) to parents who name their children after the fascist dictator Mussolini or his wife.

The small Movimento Sociale-Fiamma Tricolore (MS-FT) party denies its gesture is racist and says the names Benito and Rachele are merely "nice".
 One parent must be Italian and the cash incentive is available in five areas of southern Italy and is designed to help the region's low birth rate.

So if you are stuck for a child's name, make up Italian ancestry and  move to southern Italy. The weather there may be nicer than here.

BNM
x

Friday Fun Fact 9

Well its Friday again folks, so here we go again

As last year's Christmas fact was well received ( I know trying to persuade my daughter to put Bananas out for Rudolph isn't working either!!) so here's another one:

In the 17th century, Oliver Cromwell made the eating of mince pies on Christmas day illegal.

This law is still in existence so you have been warned.....


Luckily for me I don't like them!!!

Love you all
BNM
x

Vaccinate or not?

If you haven't been living in a cave (or aren't from the UK) then you will have learnt the news that all children under 5 are now to be vaccinated with the Swine Flu vacccine. (see BBC News here)

So there I was last night trying to find information as to whether this virus is safe to give to Car.


And to be honest, I don't know what to do.

BNM
xx

Wordless Wednesday

Button down the hatches, we may be blown away

 

I've bit the bullet...

..and after a month or so (or less) of umming and aaing ( see Decisions, Decisions, Decisons we have bought Bel for Christmas a Nintendo DS.

I hope she will be dead excited as she thinks that Santa has got credit crunchitis and is very skint like her mummy and daddy.

So now I have to get her some games (and maybe some for me too!!). But what to get.

There are so many cool games out there for her, do I go educational or fun or both!!

OH NO!!

BNM

PS I have stopped shouting now and have a sore throat!

x
x

I am shouting lots this week

All I feel like I have done this week is shout at my two girls.

Yes I understand that they wind each other up. But when one starts misbehaving does the other one have to join in.
I have had a few days off work due to Neb's birthday on Thursday and so this week feels so long. I don't believe its Saturday today because it feels like a Sunday
Due to the crap weather we are having, oh look rain and more rain and yet some more rain again we can't take them out. So they are running round the house, driving each other and me mad!!

Hang on they're at it again....

Sit properly, legs do not belong that far up your head...
Car stop having a trantum,
Stop sulking

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGHHHH


My head hurts, I can't take it any more...

BNM
x

Friday Fun Fact 8

Yes , its that time of the week again and time for me to amaze you with my intense knowledge of fun and interesting things.

And as it was Neb's birthday yesterday this fact will be a duck related one as my dear husband loved ducks.

So for you (even though you'll never read this)

Well, I was about to tell you how a duck's quack doesn't echo but after checking apparently this is an urban myth so the fact for today is:

A Duck has 3 Eyelids!!

Bye for now

BNM

xx

Peanuts and Strawberries

No, I am not going mad!! (honestly!)

Bel came home from school today and said that one of her school friends called "his willy" (she whispered this) his peanut and so she had decided to call her fwfw (as we call it) her strawberry instead.

I really like eating both peanuts and strawberries but I don't know if I can keep a straight face doing this now.

What do you're children call their bits?

BNM
xx

We will remember them

Rememberance sunday

They shall not grow old, as we who are left grow old
Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.



We are going to try and have a minute silence in our house at 11. We have explained why to Bel but if it'll happen is something else as a minute peace here yesterday would have been a miracle. Car has decided that the only way to make herself heard is screaming and she will now scream for everything if you don't get things to her NOW!

BNM

Fingers crossed ..

Have you got a budding model in your house. Do you fancy seeing your child as the new face of NEXT.

If your child is between 4-7 and they have what it takes to be a model ( charisma, confidence a willingness to smile !!) then they want to hear from you.

The competition launched on Wednesday here and voting starts today.

I think we will be entering Bel so fingers crossed for us and for everyone else who enters.

School Run (to home) conversations #1

My dh, relayed this to me on the phone yesterday after doing the usual school run.

"Daddy, Beans Make you fart!"
"Yes, who told you that"
"Sam (in my class).. why do they make you fart Daddy!
Neb then starts to thoroughly explain about starches to Bel
Bel interrupts.." Are you sure Daddy"
"Who do you think is right, you or me"
"You Daddy, (slight pause) but not for the whole world because that's God, Jesus Christ and (another pause) Father Christmas"

She makes me laugh so much!


     

Writing Workshop #4

This is a post inspired by by one of the writing prompts from the writing workshop held by Josie@ Sleep is for the Week. I've been meaning to do one since it started but haven't felt inspired. But this week (week 4) I have. Be gentle on me!

My loss

My bed

A place for me to rest my head

My haven for dreams

But no more

My place is lost

To the child that dreams

Into her cot she goes

Where her sleep will flow

Until the midnight hour

To be I roam

My head asleep

To a dream of peace

She screams awake

MAM MAM MAM

I try to pacify

Thrashing and screaming

Pushing and kicking

Mummy not calming

To my bed we retire

To try and calm the terror

She quitens and sleeps

Inch of bed I have my own

As my daughter shares a moan

My husband snoring unaware!

I cannot settle

I toss and grumble

Until dawn

BNM

xx

 

Friday Fun Fact 7

Yes folks, its that time of week again, the weekend starts at 4pm (well that's when I finish work anyway).
 It's time for another Fun Friday Fact

And as its nearly Christmas (49 days away) I thought you'd like this:


REINDEERS LIKE TO EAT BANANAS

They don't like milk, so when you are leaving out Santa's Whisky (Port, Brandy, Vodka (delete as appropriate) and Mince Pies make sure you leave out some bananas for Rudolph and co.

Give Blood

Yes I know Halloween was last week,  so no obviously I have not been eaten by a vampire!

I've just come back from giving blood and am not feeling faint or giddy. I may though use this as an excuse later on when the kids are driving me up the wall.

So please make sure you too GIVE BLOOD

Invention Meme

Bel came home from school yesterday all exicted because she had an afternoon of inventing things ( aka Wallace and Grommit style as it is their 20th birthday this year!) Her star invention was a hoover that sucks duvet up, deposits it on the bed in a pile as a reminder for her to make her bed! (Note - Bel makes her bed occasionally!)

So I was thinking ( yes, I know it doesn't happen often, must be a rare moment!) why don't I start an invention meme up.

So, a la Wallace and Grommit here is my invention.

It would be a machine that would keep Car entertained and calm in her cot at night so that at 12, then 1, then 2, then 4am I didn't have to deal with a screaming banshee who then ends up in our bed - where she takes over my side leaving it impossible for me to have a peaceful night sleep. Oh and this machine would also allow me to have the occasional lie in to maybe 9 o'clock.

Anyway that is my meme and if I could work out what it would look like I would draw it for you but I ain't an artist so you'll have to use your imagination!

I'll pas it on to 6 other bloggers who can then pass it on ( you all know what to do!)

You could use the Wallace and Gromit picture in your post but as I ain't sure about copyright and stuff then you don't have to ( if someone could explain to me about this that would be great)

1. Sticky Fingers 
2. Snaffles Mummy 
3. Really Rachel 
4. Tattie Weasle 
5. The MadHouse
6. Insomniac Mummy 

Anyway I hope you all have fun with this and if you are artisitc maybe you could draw it to and scan it on to your post.

Have fun

BNM
xx

Lunchtime Drinking!!

Hi, I've just come back from having a lovely lunch here with a work colleague who has been working in the same office for 20 years.

I can't believe that she has managed to stay in the same position after 20 years and its got me wondering, what will my life and the children's life be like in 20years.

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November 2029 - Bare Naked Mummy here -live blogging from my workpod in the home office.
Looking back at the rather old posts that I wrote in 2009, they look so ancient, so archaic.
My internal phone rings and a picture of Bel comes up on the wall. Bel is in her doctors surgical gear in the hospital where she works - a stunning 25 yo who loves nothing better than performing the latest transplant on patients. Note since 2015 the transplant rate has increased as animal and artifical organs are now used on a daily basis with hardly no rejection.
As I finish my conversation with her, in strides Car - covered in mud and grass after another day of training for the Welsh Rugby Team. She recieved her first cap 2 years ago and now at 22 is the Captain of the Team.
 After she runs off again my dear husband, Neb comes back from his job. After being unemployed for 3 years back in 2008, he decided to retrain and is now working as a primary school teacher in a local school.
We won the lottery back in 2011 and even though I loved my job, I now work part time in the office and part time in my workpod. Life is loooking great for us and the girls- money is now no object and I can't wait to splurge out on the girls and Neb for Christmas....

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See that's what you get for drinking wine over lunch! Better get back to do some work before I fall asleep at my desk

BareNakedMummy.
xx

Catching Up

I've been trying to catch up with things since the week away. I have done the girls and our washing from the week away already and sometime this week I will try and catch up with the housecleaning. So far we need to do:
the dining room sofa
the spare room ( so maybe sometine Car can have her room!!)
then we will probaly need to do the whole house again but am determined to get this done soon!!

Both kids were tired Sunday night and after a well deserved bath I managed to get time to catch up on the paper. As we have been away I have managed to read a bit of the paper everyday as FIL gets the Guardian. So whilst doing our food shop yesterday I got the Observer. I have managed to read most of it and suprise suprise it seems that the working mum debate goes on!!
As you know from my previous post I am proud to work. If I won the lottery I'd like to work term time only and get the summer and holidays off. I love my annoying ranting students so much so that I am doing a student support module next year. So when I read the Review part of the Observer I just wanted to scream "Will you just leave the subject alone"
"I had it all but I didn't have a life" is one womans story of how she is giving it all in to be a SHM. I have nothing agaisnt SHM's and I think that you are all very mad brave its just I know that as much as I love my kids I would kill them if I had to be at home all the time. I love my job and I love the annoying nice students (honest!). What I did do this morning though is read the comments posted on this article. Some of them are from oh so very patronising people and from single people who have no chidlren and don't understand the ups and downs of being parents, never mind working ones.
Anyway I better stop now before I do go into full on rant mode...