What the shrek??

Oh dear, this is what happens when you leave me alone with cider in the house

Potties,Presentations and Painting

Hello everyone, sorry that I've been missing this week - it has been a very busy one and I keep forgetting what day it is!!

Anyway the week started well as we have managed (yes with bribing) to get Car to sit on her potty (YEAH!!). She will only sit on it for a few minutes and so far we've had nothing in it but I think its a big step and we will persist with asking her to sit on it and then maybe one day in the not so distant future she may decide to pee! At least she doesn't scream as much now.

I've also done a presentation this week for work, a module that I'm doing - it luckily went well (even though I did feel really sick before doing it) and now I only have to wait 18 days before I do the big one for the conference. Still really shitting myself on this one but I did buy myself a skirt today to wear on one of the days:

I really like it and as it has a large waist it makes me look slim - I'm thinking of teaming it with black top and maybe some red beads! What do you think? Still need to work out what to wear to the meal (AAGH) and the other day but am sure I will work something out!

Neb is currently varnishing the fence that we built (with a neighbours help). The girls are out watching him as we speak so your lucky that I managed to post today - I thought it was Thursday and Neb was in pool tonight but its Wednesday isn't it.

Anyway must sign off now before anyone comes back in.

BNM

To Poo in Peace

Aren't you lucky two posts in one day....anyway I digress.

I would like please to be able to poo in peace. Does anyone have any suggestions how this can be done.
I am considering having a lock put on the toilet door but after my childhood of being locked in loos (in my friend Wi's house - she knows the story!) I am wary of getting this done.
But seriously, why do my children need to know where I am 24/7.
Take last night for instance, I'd gone upstairs with the clean washing (Fred the wash pile is no more!) and decided that I needed to visit the facilites to do a poo! I sat on the loo, book ready (tis the only time I get to read!) and then "Mummy, Where are you, Mummy, Mummy" were the screams I heard. Did it not matter that Daddy was downstairs and they could go to him. No, apparently not.
So I answered back "I'm in the loo!", maybe I should have kept quite and made them wait because then the door swung open - "there you are, Mummy , what you doing".
Umm really girls I'm on the loo can I not be left alone. "Mummy come play".

In the end, I ha to finish my poo with an audience so my time of peace was destroyed.

Anyone have any suggestions....

Sorry if this is TMI - BNM

Toddler Taming Countdown

Car has entered terrible twos tantrumtastic days. I thought it would be hell - it has been worse. S
She is an independent monster (its been said that she is like me -and that hair is getting redder so god help us all!) Is it second child syndrome, that they have to be more pushy, more forward than their elder sibling. Or is this just my house?

Anyway after surving screaming and stropping for a couple of weeks I decided that enough was enough. Now when Bel was a toddler you could just stop her tantruming with diversary tactics but as Car is so different this didn't work - believe me we tried when she decided to scream for 45 mins because I dared to put her socks on so we could leave for school/nursery/work! - Yes bad mummy I offered her chocolate at 8.30 in the morning - she didn't want it though and just carried on screaming!

So after a week of screaming tantrums I decided that enough was enough and my poor ears couldn't take anymore! I decided that something needed to be done and as she was too young for the naughty step (she doesn't stay on it!) I tried counting. I told Car that I was going to count to 10 and if she was still being naughty she would go to bed. The first time I tried it we got to 8. It has got progressively better since then and when used yesterday (she refused to get into the car saying she wanted a seat like Bel's and when I said no she started on one - I got as far as 3 and she stopped screaming and said sorry mummy gave me a kiss and a cuddle and got into her seat!


Now if only this counting would work on everybody......

BNMx

The elephant in the corner

When is it time to say enough is enough.

When does the proverbial kick up the ass not work anymore.

Things are done and not done yet there in the corner is our elephant.

Neb has still not got a job. And yet he seems to have given up trying. I try and I try to motivate him but it doesn't seem to be enough. I can only circle jobs/ send them to him via email for so long. I cannot physically apply for jobs for him. But there will come a time (thanks Budget makers) in the not so distant future where my wage will not be enough.

I am a proud person and I don't want to have to ask for help and I love him to bits but what effect is this going to have on my daughters upbringing when we need to constantly say "NO we have no money!". It is not as simple as going to the hole in the wall and asking for money when there is none there.

We need to survive yet I seem to be doing it all.

BNMx

Wordless Wednesday

 Okay so there are a few words ...

This is what was uttered from Car's mouth this morning ... "When I get big I want to be a Bumblebeez!"

Wait a Wee Minute

Yes, this is a problem I seem to be having.
Lately, when I need to go wee I NEED TO GO. And if I don't then a wee bit (sorry bad pun!) will come out.

OMG, Do I need to get some incontinence pads - you know the ones that you see advertised on tv. Like these ones:



Is this something that happens to me - because I'm in my 30s and have two kids. Have I not done enough pelvic floor exercise. Do I need to get some grown up nappy's (diapers!)

I wonder if I'm the only one that has this problem - please let me know that I'm not alone. I'm really worried that I'm going to have to be one of those ladies that need to wee every 5mins.  It seems to happen when I laugh, or if I'm doing the washing up. And as you know trying to rush upstairs if your being shouted at is not an easy chance - give me a second and I'll be there now are not sentences my daughters seem to understand!!

Sorry if this was too much information...

BNMx

Fun for all - REVIEW

I was lucky enough recently to be sent a Play-doh fun factory which was a god send over the half term believe you me. I know it's been lovely and warm but when you have two fair skinned girls and when its been so hot outside what do you do with them. Well, I tell you what we did we played with Play-doh.

The Play-Doh fun factory is a great Play-Doh set with everything fitting in nicely into the pack and as its the 50th anniversary of Play-Doh this year, the fun factory has been made to commemorate the first fun factory.
When I bought it home, Car exclaimed "I love paydoh, Mummy" and has been playing with it every day since - we've even been playing with it at 7am!!
Play-Doh products are non toxic and this was tested out when Car tried to eat some of it. Even though Play-Doh products are aimed at 3+ range, Car who is nearly 2 and a half loves it. Bel has also been making plates of food out of the stuff as well as laughing hysterically at the spaghetti hair.
Playing with the girls and Play-Doh Fun Factory has made me realise that there is some mess I can cope with. I also realised that playing Play-Doh on newspaper (because I was trying to save my tablecloth) is not a good idea as it dries out the Play Doh!!

But please, is it just me or does it really annoy you when they mix the colours too!

BNM

Pillow Talk

I am trying to spend more time with Bel after Car goes to bed. When Neb is out in his Welsh class we have been doing things like cooking, playing educational games on the pc and also playing the Wii.
Last night she asked to spend mummy and me time and to be honest I was knackered so instead of doing anything we lay together on her bed and had a chat.
These are the things I found out - her best friend is J not C anymore as C has declared that she doesn't want to be friends. This has upset her because C keeps on saying it so I've told her to tell C that she doesn't want to be her friend either!
S (boy) in her class is lush but not her boyfriend as he is J(Y2) but J has another girlfriend (Sa)who he is going to marry!! Apparently they have held hands (!!) but not kissed (thank god!!). She is not impressed that J has another girlfriend and asked what to do! I told her to play the field and get another boyfriend (well she may as well start now!!).
I wonder if this is the kinda conversation I'm gonna have with her when she hits her teenage years or will it not be cool to talk to your mother by then. But boyfriends at 6! REALLLY!!


BNMx

Mum, I need that!!

I imagine that these are cries heard by many of us on a daily basis.
Normally its for some annoying toy on telly that a) we've already got b) is something their never gonna get or c) is a great hint for me for Christmas presents!!

Imagine my surprise when a few seconds ago, on nick Jr (getting ready for bedtime Peppa Pig for Car - not that we've seen them all a million times already!!) when Bel asked - Can I have that? As I was blog browsing I looked up to this advert:



OMG.  I had to explain that this was for grown ups to which she exclaimed "But, I have hairy legs and arms!!"
 
BNMx

The Green, Green Grass

I love summer, its my favourite time of year.

The grass is always lovely and luscious and green but whoah how it grows. I'm currently typing this as Neb is cutting fighting the grass (waist high!!OOPS!) in our back garden.
I love the house we're in at the moment as it does have a back garden as well as a small front but I would love for it to be just so. You know the type of back gardens you see with a kids play area, a shed, a vegetable patch  and a place to relax for grown ups.

I'd love for the girls to have a playhouse or failing that something like this:

I'd love to have a patio or a deck near to the house ( a place for adults and children, a place to relax in the evening!):

A shed for Neb to keep his tools and escape to when having three women in the house will get to him (!):

Neb would like something like this:

but I would prefer something like this:

- a place where I could escape too - to get some me space ( with maybe a small cupboard for his tools!!)

And of course a vegetable patch so I coud try to grow some fruit and vegetables ( because you know how I love being patient and growing things)

Unfortunately these may be only pipe dreams as :

 - our back garden is on a slope and will need a lot of work doing to it to be terraced like our next door neigbours
- all of these (above) are expensive and money is not something we have
- neither I or Neb are green fingered.

So, if anyone knows of any (free) garden designers that would help then please let me know. I'm going to close the door soon though as grass is great but it sets off my hayfever!!

I'm gonna leave you all now, with the only song that I can link to this:

Happy Nappies - a REVIEW

So we are not potty training here at the moment even though we would all like to, Car has decided that she doesn't want to. Its really unhelpful of her as I would love not to having spend money on nappies but thanks to the lovely people at Wilkinsons  I didn't have to until yesterday.
Now I am always a bit dubious about own make nappies having trusted Pampers for so long and having a bad experience with a Morrison's nappy - lets just say it leaked everywhere!

But the Wilkinsons nappy's are fantastic. They have launched their own brand of nappy range, wilko baby. Their new range has been designed to provide optimum comfort and dryness for both babies and toddlers of all sizes. 

We received a pack of the size 5 Active Nappies which were plain apart from a Monkey Motif on the front. Car loved the monkey and would run up and demand a monkey nappy please mummy! I loved the fact that the rest of the nappy was white as it meant that when she has been wearing a dress/skirt it hasn't looked silly. The nappies themselves were very absorbent and rivaled her normal night time nappy. 

As the wilko baby  nappy range start form £3.74 for a pack these are definitely ones I'll be buying again when we next visit our local Wilkinsons. Unfortunately these aren't currently available on their website.

BNM

On the shoulders of giants

It's a big responsibility being a big sister.

The things you have to remember not to do - you have to try and be a good girl at all times because you know that your younger sister will copy the things you do whether they be good or bad!

The weigh on Bel's shoulders are immense for such a small girl - we try and make this less immense but as we told her day, You have to remember that Car learns things from you.

This is basically the conversation we had with Bel today when that mighty monster of sharing toys raised its ugly head again. Car is into anything and everything especially toys that don't belong to her!

They were playing nicely, until all of a sudden Car wanted what Bel had and war broke out. "mine, mine, mine" were the calls heard (from both!) until we said "No, Car, share" and then we had the normal end to this argument where Car doesn't get what she wants .... SCREEEEEAM "Mummy, Mummy , Mummy!".
I try my hardest these days not to be there for Hugs and I bend my arms and sit still but she still manages to climb aboard and demand a hug. We explained to Car that she couldn't just have what Bel wanted and that she had to say "Sorry". After minutes of screaming and my inevitable counting to 10 (we seem to get to between 6-8, before Car calms down!) Car apologised to all of us and settled down to play with something else. Bel then realised that she wanted to play with the 'something else' and this is where we had to explain that sharing worked both ways and that Car looked up to her and loved her big sister to bits but she needed to think before she did things because if Car saw it was alright to snatch and not share she would carry on.

I'm a big sister myself but don't remember having this responsibility - maybe its because I had a younger brother that was (I assume) not interested in playing with girl things.

Apparently (according to my readings of the great god Google) being a big sister has a strong impact on your personality and character. I hope that as Bel learns to be a better big sister and shows Car how to do things and shares secrets with Car, she will learn to be stronger in herself. I know that I have a strong character (e.g strong minded and stubborn!) and I wonder if this has come from being the eldest sibling!

Any ideas?

BNMx


BTW you can catch more of me today over with Miss Cherry Red as I promised in mad Twitter moment to guestblog for her whilst she was on her holiday. Go on over you go, have a look...here

Soo not a domestic goddess

I have the book you know, the Nigella one about how to be one but thats just the kitchen though isn't it. I can cook fine and love to cook, I just don't seem to get the time these days to cook something really nice and then when I do the kids normally say "UUGH"!
But what about all the other bits, the cleaning, the ironing, the washing , but especially the cleaning!!

Those of you who know me , know that when things are tidy they are but then leave it a day come back again and you'll see that armageddon has taken place in our house. You know that programme on Channel 4 -"How clean is your house" well sometimes it gets a bit like that! I mean at the moment we have a living room which needs a hoover but could actually probaly do with a new carpet due to having accident prone people in this house. 
I'm sat here now with the living room tidy -but the things that were on the floor are piled high on chairs!! The girls are now back in and instead of demanding to have so and so toy out (which would normally be at the bottom of the pile) they are playing with 4 playmobile characters, a london bus and a snow white dresser which is being a combi tv and bunk bed! How I love their imagination and that Car is now finally getting Bel's.

In the dining room, where our washing machine is (due to having very small gallery kitchen) there is a pile of clean washing which if it gets any bigger will turn into a monster pile! My neighbour across the road has told me that she names her clean washing piles as they never seem to move.

Our kitchen, looks like a bomb has hit but soon I will go in and wash up, make some rice krispie cakes and make the girls supper!


So, maybe I've moments of domestic goddessity (??!) but why is it on my weekend and why can't my husband become a domestic god instead. I mean he is at home for most of the day and with Car in nursery for some of the day he would get more of a chance than me!

BNMx

Just lie back and think of England

Well it's started. The Football World Cup is here - well nearly here in less than a few hours!(unless you've been hiding under a rock you will knwo that)...the continuos adverts on every food item, on tv, newspapers will be full of it . And I'm just meant to lie back and take it all in.

I don't think so, I'm WELSH and we're not in the World Cup - we didn't make it through the qualifiying (suprise, suprise) and the last time we did qualify was 1958 where we made it through to the finals (I asked Google and got the answer from Wikipedia so it may not be right!).

I'm not jealous, I don't support England - I never will. I do love all my friends but they know that I won't. I mean Neb is English (even if he was born in Jamaica) but even he wears Welsh rugby shirts now. His brother Nad has threatened to buy the girls English rugby shirts and I have said that I will burn them. My MIL keeps on saying that I must ensure the girls are aware of both sides of their heritage but I live in Wales so WHY.

I will support any team that play England to the hilt, whoever they may be.

But to be honest with you, the world cup is one thing I will not be watching. Football is a game I do not enjoy or understand - please don't try and explain the off side rule to me it has been tried before and I don't get it. If you want to watch a real world cup then why not wait until next year for the 2011 Rugby world cup. Rugby = the game which is played in heaven!

BNM


PS Here's a round up of the other views on the World Cup that I've noticed in blogland.. If you have blogged about the World Cup then why not add it to the McKLinky here:

1966 - Clinically Fed up - another anti England supporter - its because we're celtic honest!

World Cup Fever: A Rallying Cry - Very Bored in Catalunya - someone has to cheer them on!

England - Mere Bagatelle - just in case you can't remember what the flag looks like, but tell me what part of the Union Jack is Welsh!

World Cup Fever - Almost Thirty Three - well I suppose it'd be hard to miss the party spirit if you are there

Who's the mummy??

Sorry did you think I was.

Um,well you know I thought I was too, you know I gave birth, dress, feed. nurture them but apparently I have been usurped (big word which I think means taken over and if I'm wrong tell me!!) by a 6 year old. Yes, ladies and gentlemen (I know you lurk there somewhere) the new Mummy in the house is Bel.

Car has decided that apparently listening to her mum would be too much like hard work and the terrible twos have hit us hard. After talking to a neighbour whose daughter is younger, I'm unsure whether she has hit terrible twos or whether she's suffering from second child syndrome - if you have a second child who is a monster 99% of the time and only an angel for the short 5% of the time that you are in the company of the others then you will know what I mean.

Anyway, I digress, Car is ignoring me. I tell her off she laughs or kicks out. I repeat myself and she just carries on regardless ...but then Bel steps in and repeats what I've said and she stops, apologizes (!!) and returns to madness normality!!

This is driving me mad and I'm gonna explode. We have had issues of Bel mothering Car before but now its getting worse. I have asked her nicely not to treat Car like she was her mother and she says she won't but then will. Or worse, she will turn round to Car and said (this is something Neb overhead this week) "You can come into my bedroom but if you touch or move anything then you're leaving"!

Great, my daughters are showing their true colours - Bel has turned into SuperMummy  and Car has turned into Miss Bossy Boots. God help me when they turn into teenagers - has anyone got room for me to camp out in please??

BNM

PS. I'm sorry if I've been slow blogging this week but so busy in work I don't know which way is up!

Cluck, Cluck, Cluck

God, no not me, Neb he's so damn broody.

On Friday evening we went to visit my brother R, and his wife S and their new born baby, little N. She was born 3 weeks ago and even though I was meant to visit earlier this is the first time I've seen her. She is so small (compared to my big 9lb2 girs). I mean I held her and everything but didn't feel any sign of broodiness at all.
Neb held her and you could see this smile appearing on his face, and he was all coochy coo and everything!! S my sister in law, looked at him and then looked at me and said he's broody! Oh great.

Yesterday we went to Morrisons and saw some old friends who used to work with Neb.  They are newlyweds (last summer) and are lovely people. I knew that B was pregnant but didn't realise how pregnant she was with 2 weeks left. M and B are both Itlalian and B has a lovely neat bump and Neb again got excited about their imminent arrival. B on the other hand asked me for details about my labours and I told her I'd tell her afterwards. Neb was so happy to see them, especially when I said afterwards to Neb that I'd got some  boy clothes in my drawer (I'd had a dream that R was having a boy -and I was wrong!!), they know they're having a boy and we will visit them when they've had him.

So, Neb is broody and me I'm so not. My girls are lovely but now that Neb is working for a friend on weekends again I feel like I could kill them. My lie ins have gone - so not only by Saturday am I knackered form working a full week, I have to look after two girls who are now in the habit of shouting at each other, ignoring me, and as unhelpful as you can get it. Neb says I'm too hard on them but I need to be the mother and not have Bel repeat everything I say to Car and for Car to listen to her and then ignore me.

The house is a mess and I really cannot be arsed. I'm longing to be me, to be allowed to have a lie in, to forget I have children for a day. Neb goes out once a week (pool) and me, well if I ask I get the "If you have to" moan. Excuse me for even bothering! And then he moans and goes off with the comment "Well you're gonna have fun today girls because Mummy's in a bad mood again"

I do not need that from him. Really!

So when I was thinking that life was getting better, I was obviously so wrong.

There's only one thing I can hope for, "Beam me up Scottie" (or doubting that lets get drunk!!)

BNMxx

Bedtime Stories

Due to the fact that its too light at bedtime or to quote Car "It's not dark outside mummy, no bed. downstairs" we've started reading her a bedtime story. As we love books in our house and have lots of kiddies books then this is not a problem but after reading for the last two weeks, I have come to a conclusion that maybe the books we are reading are not sleep inducing.
Here is what we've read so far:

"We're Going on a Bear Hunt"

This is a great book, but after all the splishy, splashy , stumble trips and swishy, swashy and then the hiding under the bed covers - no wonder Car decided not to sleep









"Aliens love underpants"

Again, another fantastic book, but unfortunately when I started bouncing my fingers on Bel and Car's belly ala an Alien we dissolved into fits of laughter and took ages to get to sleep.











The Ravenous Beast

Probaly not another good book for bedtime but it makes us all laugh .. me, Bel and Neb love being the different voices and Car was in stitches after this one.














A Chair for Baby Bear

We love this book, a different take on the Goldilocks and three bears story - another adventurous book that's possibly not a bedtime story.














Anyway, as you can see our bedtime stories may not be the best sleep inducing tales but it keeps us all happy. Why don't you share with me what your best bedtime stories are and maybe we can find one for Car that'll make her sleep!
BNMx

What's that smell? -REVIEW

 No, its not the nappies in the bin in the corner, or the rotting dead thing down the back of the sofa.

It's the smell of memories. The smell that reminds me of my grandmother. The smell that hits your nose when I opened the pot this evening after it arrived.

Now, I am normally crap at skincare, sorry, no, I didn't mean that... hang on... I have a non existence skincare regime....
Sorry you didn't catch that, I'm not shouting it. OK. You see I hardly ever use makeup so what is wrong with just washing face with soap and then drying it off. Yes, I know your probaly going to all shout at me and tell me that I'm wrong but I am trying.

Anyway, thanks to It's a Mummy's Life , I have managed to get my hand on the cream that the stars use. Yes, Kylie, the Queen of Pop herself has deemed it one of her favourite beauty products and if its good enough for her then I must try it.

So tonight, whilst girls were eating their supper and just after I fed the fat pig (guinea!) I tried it on. It went on lovely, feeling smooth against my fingers and then I sat there for a while watching myself in the mirror. I then washed it off with damp cotton wool balls and my skin felt and still feels gorgeous. 

As this is a new foray into my new regime, I will try and give you updates daily on how my skin feels and looks after using it. If I start turning into Kylie then I will of course post a pic!!!

BNMx 

Family Fun Fun Fun

Hello - I am here, I've been busy in work over the last two days but am off now for a long weekend. I could get very used to these short working weeks you now.. wonder if my boss will allow it!!

Anyway life is full of fun here, we went on a Bank Holiday Monday Mystery Adventure with the girls to meet up with the inlaws. More on that when I get the pics on - probably tomorrow...

After saying on many blogs recently, how I'm not being seen by PR's I have the following things waiting to be reviewed: Playdoh Fun Factory, Ponds Cold Cream and some Wilko Nappies. As soon as I'm with it -tomorrow night then - will write them.

I'm off to the Urdd Eisteddfod tomorrow which is in my area for a day of fun with the girls and then on Friday I will be off to see my new niece for the first time.

Anyways y'all I'm off to eat some food and possibly tweet a bit before going up the stairs to bedland.

See you tomorrow...

BNM

BTW Tomorrow is start of pool season here - so will be blogging and tweeting to my little heart's content as will have custody of laptop!!