A hairy detour

Well that was an adventure!

Tonight - whilst driving home from our regular trip to Fife, we chanced upon a huge traffic jam and decided to take a detour home. BFS drove past our normal turning and used his sense of direction to choose another route. All was going well, and I even managed to pick up our location on my map on my phone to confirm that we were heading in the right direction when - just at the approach to our final junction - the road was closed! A quick u turn found us depending on my map to find an alternative route. I found a wee track road which would take us cross country to meet up with the original road we were aiming for. Perfect. Well, that was until we turned into it and BFS looked at me dubiously enquiring if it was in fact a road and not just someone's drive. I reassured him and we set off along a track which would could make a lot if money on a 'learn to drive a 4x4 course' our freshly cleaned lower sitting rear wheel drive German estate wasn't best placed to deal with such a contoured muddy track. It was hair-raisingly slippy at some parts and eventually, at the top of a hill of mud which had us travelling up mostly losing the back end and sliding sideways, did we get stuck in a trench of mud. Errrr maybe my map wasn't the most reliable tool, but it was definitely a track - just not one for actual cars! 

Anyways - my heart started to beat again after (admittedly) some very skilled steering work from BFS released us from the grip and we set off again along the final stretch of the track. Tracking our movements as I encouraged him that we were just about at the junction...we both looked with despair at what we could see in front of us - a couple of feet back from the road, denying us of our freedom was a flipping rusty gate, with an even rustler chain wrapped around it and the post, tied shut with not one, but three teasingly gleaming padlocks - aaaaaaarrgggh. We attacked the gate at the hinge end, but nothing was shifting this bad boy. The lane wasn't wide enough for a 3 point turn and we both knew how slim the chances were of us making it back through the muddy swamp which we'd already grooved even deeper trenches into with our previous spin of wheels. Sheepishly I returned to the car, rather amazed at how calm BFS was - considering! He plonked his bum back in and then proceeded to start what must have been about a 15 point turn which had the front and rear of the car climbing up the embankments in turn until we finally set free to attempt to retrace our steps and try and make it back with us (and the car) in ine piece. As we approached the squelchy pit and it came into view BFS hit reverse and took an effective 'run at it' - woohoo, we made it through first time. It was a white knuckle ride down the hill though as he just went for it - intent on not getting stuck. He saw that I was in mild panic and pointed out at that point in time he wasn't caring about the car - I pointed out it wasn't the car getting knocked about that I was worried about, it was more us sliding down a ditch at the 'road' side! Anyways - we made it in one piece with lots of 'wow, wasn't that an adventure' to make light of it to the kids, so they couldn't see just how stressed we both had been!

The ride was ever so slightly hairy - not one to repeat, that's for sure!

Oh and we did have a wee casualty - apparently the mudguard that's been hanging off for a bit, decided to stay behind as a little souvenir of our adventure for someone to find one day!

Miner minor

It's amazing how small things can bring such joy and wonderment to toddlers. CC chanced upon my headlamp today (normally worn around my neck whilst night-walking) and decided to adorn it at the table to 'read' his books. Mildly amusing - until that is, he refused to take it off (or turn it off). 

We had a few things to do which brought us out and about in the local towns. He turned heads wherever we went (the local tip, supermarket and council office) where the looks ranged from mild amusement to looks at me as if I were a moron to let him wear it - even a few enquiries as to what it was ?!?!? Pretty self explanatory I thought. The bright light beaming at them being a giveaway methinks...

We then had to take LL to his dance class and go shopping in Tesco's. By then CC had developed his own technique of clicking down the lamp to reach the on/off switch so was showing it off to anyone who would grant him an audience.

Anywho's he's seriously chuffed with himself and off to read under the covers!

On another note I was saddened and very angry to find that BB had been back to his old tricks of helping himself to goodies from the pantry. I am at my wits end as to how to get him to stop, short of putting a lock on the door. After each subsequent episode He has had snack taken away for a week, his Lego boxed up and hidden for over two weeks, banned from attending his beloved beavers and nothing has worked. He just can't help himself, even though I've told him that if he asks he would probably get. It's not the food that is the problem anymore, it is simply the trust and doing what he is told issue. 

Today I laid it on thick as the calm softly softly approach hasn't worked. I very angrily told him that what he had done was wrong and naughty, he didn't think to apologise, so I pointed this out to him. Once he'd said sorry, I asked him to explain what he was sorry for and explain what he'd done wrong. I then told home that I was worried that if he was doing this now and couldn't tell the difference between right and wrong then I was scared that when he was older he might do something worse that was naughty and then he might get taken away and I wouldn't get to see him. 

Really frustratingly after all of this his only response was 'can I make a salt dough sculpture' and when I said there was no way he flipped his lid. Said it was to cheer him up!!! Completely didn't get the point! I stormed out of his room and told him that he was a spoilt brat and that it wasn't all about cheering him up and what was going to cheer up his mummy after finding out that she had a naughty son? 

After I calmed down I went back and explained that it was my job to teach him right from wrong and that I needed to know I was teaching him right as I heard last week about a local boy who's just been caught burgling and he's been taken away from his parents. (True story - but he is 18, a fact which I omitted) and I didn't want that to be him when he's older.

Annoyingly he's otherwise a great kid.

I really hope that something I said to him resonates. What I do fear is that he is just like his Dad because if that's the case,(from what I've been told) I doubt that any of it will...

Campbell's longest sentence

This morning CC just said to LL ' LL make me breakfast' 

To which LL replied 'only if you give me a hug'

CC then ran into the room, gave the biggest hug and they both strolled off together towards the kitchen.

Sweet

A Halloween of many firsts

A day in the life

Just a few markers. 

The tooth fairy made her first visit to Station House this week!

This morning started with a mauled batman figure! (From the top of LL's birthday cake which had taken me an hour to make and which I wanted to keep for prosperity) Thanks BB! 

CC rather cutely decided to be important and independent and took himself downstairs to the breakfast table set by LL. He rather kindly poured everyone's breakfast juice - to the point of each cup overflowing and pissing upon the floor, and once he'd emptied the carton (mostly on said floor) he then grabbed the next carton in the fridge and proceeded to pour custard into his juice cup! Luckily this was the point at which I walked in! 

LL has been taking great pleasure from sniggering during his homework story. The story contains a bumble bee - and he pointed out that bumble bee starts with 'bum' and now giggles every time I say it.... 

We all went to the park and the bike track today. A cheeky stop to get an ice-cream too ;0)

Got the chop!

Teething nightmare!

Nope - not a blog about screaming children in the middle of the night. Actually it's a wee post about the huge anti-climax of awaiting the first tooth to fall out for my poor eldest.

He has been yearning for about a year now for his teeth to get 'wobbly' and his baby teeth to start falling out. His friends have been sporting a gappy smile for some time now, so I was pleased to announce to BB last week that there was a new grown up tooth poking its wee head up behind his front tooth. I spotted it whilst brushing his teeth.

I played it down somewhat as I didn't want some frantic tooth wobbling to ensue, however I did have a mild fear that his front tooth wouldn't shift in time and that his new one would grow in squint.

Nothing more was really said about his new tooth, and seeing that his front one was beginning to wobble a few days later, I was extra cautious whilst brushing so as not to hurt or disturb said tooth.

Until that is.....on sunday, when he casually announced in the car on the way down to take home his sister, that the tooth which was wobbling was no longer there! He had no recollection as to whether it had been when he brushed his teeth that morning, so at some point between having them brushed at 7pm on Saturday evening and 4pm on sunday his first baby tooth had vanished. He was very blasé about it. I on the other hand was gutted. No first tooth for the treasured memory box. I'm ashamed to admit that he didn't even get a note or penny from the Tooth Fairy! I've left it too long to let her know, so he'll have to wait for his next one and he'll just get the money doubled up I'm sure!

After being soooo desperate for it to happen, he shrugged off the lost tooth with a simple 'it doesn't matter' I wish I could be that pragmatic. He definitely takes after his dad!

My room...my rules!

BB is getting territorial!

Idiosyncrasies

Playgroup

Birthday boy

Spoilt rotten

Snowy fun

 

I'm in true avoidance mode - I know I should be doing accounts therefore I am doing everything but!

Today - to shrug off the guilt of choosing to stay inside this week 'doing chores' whilst the boys braved the sub zero temps outdoors in the garden (on the few occasions when they wanted to go sledging) I decided after lunch instead of snuggling up CC for a nap and finding a game to play with LL, that we would all get bundled up for the cold and head forth into the garden together. It occurred to me yesterday that CC still hadn't sat in a sledge, never mind been pulled around in one and then whizzed down a slope. Today was the day to rectify this fact!

All snuggled up with our layers we headed out, grabbed the sledges and I plonked CC in one and started to pull. He loved it! he giggled all the way, and when I managed to get him up the slope (without tipping him out of the back) he was unaware of the joy he was about to encounter... Ooh the giggles as he came fleeing down the hill (about 8 foots worth lol). We went up and down and up and down. Queueing up behind LL each time to take our turn. He even found it hilarious when he did eventually fall out of the back!

Once CC had had his fill of the snowy outdoors I plonked him down for a nap and LL and I set to the task of building a snowman. The snow on top of the moss on the platform was absolutely perfect and rolled up textbook style. To the point where it was quite addictive, and we (I) kept going to see how big it could get. LL attempted to push it once quite big and had no chance! I was at the stage where I had to take a run at it and use full body weight, and sometimes with luck we could keep it going with momentum. Once the body was in position we (I) set to rolling the head. (I have to say the interest had worn off with LL at this stage and he had returned to sledging)

Once a decent sized one had been made and positioned at the foot of Frosty's body, I realised there was no way that, between us, we could get it up onto the body - enter stage left the lads from next door! Luckily they managed to plonk it on for us, so all we had to do was slap snowballs onto Frosty's body to fill him out a bit, and find a nose (pine cone) mouth (chuckies) and eyes (coal).

A couple of twigs for arms and our new addition to the garden was complete.

 

 LL was enamoured (but dwarfed). We returned indoors with rosy cheeks and a sense of achievement. What a great afternoon.

BFS's favourite kind...

This is going to be a picture free blog. In fact it's actually an avoidance blog! I took six hours out of my time yesterday to finally get the Playgroup accounts filed. Yup filed only - I haven't even started the mammoth task of actually completing the cash book and updating the income/expenditure sheets and checking all of the receipts, payslips, invoices and bank statements. A task I'm supposed to be doing now, but instead I thought I'd update the blog. I have a valid reaon for this - I am explaining in advance my absence for the next couple of weeks! I'm going to attempt a month an evening (maybe two at a push) and with about 20 to do to get me up to date I reckon I will be missing in action for some time! The snow hit Station House (and the surrounding area) a couple of mornings ago, and it's been beautiful. I haven't managed however to take any pics (slap on wrist). With temperatures of -9°C throughout the day, the focus has been more on getting from the car to the house as quickly as possible! I'll try and check-in intermittently whilst the accounts are in progress (it's another one of my 'fresh start' tasks I need to get out of the way) but no promises!

Duvet Day!

Well today has been one of mooching. The weather outside is frightful (to quote a famous tune!) so we've swerved any effort to get out in it. I'm not too plussed as I think we've done not too bad in the outdoors stakes this week! The house got a quick once over. BB was keen to earn pennies for chores, but stopped shy when the prospect of tidying the playroom loomed (even with the offer of £1 for doing so!) What he doesn't realise is that he will now have to do it anyway for no monetary reward...

CC has been cracking me up. He's been on top form and making his own fun with skirls and laughter thrown in. He joined in the boys dancing show (put on for my pleasure) and then made an assault course using the sofa and its cushions.

The big boys are now engrossed in Toy Story 3 with some popcorn at their side, whilst CC has his nap. I've got dinner on the go and even prepped the lamb for tomorrows tagine effort.

My small achievement today was clearing out the filter in the kitchen tap. The flow on the cold has been bugging me for ages, and this has made a bit of an improvement!

I was going to take the boys to see Grandma A. in her new home, but we didn't make it. I'm putting into practise my belt tightening and watching the outlay on fuel since I'm heading in that direction at the end of the week anyway!

The Aftermath of Achievement

Just to say - Mr. Barlow exceeded expectations! Unusually the AECC was bouncing and the crowd were on their feet from start to finish. I certainly enjoyed my little night out - and ironically after last nights blog it turns out I'm getting some more precious 'me time' next Friday too (although technically I'm not sure if it counts as the children are in bed anyway!) I'm heading up to see the new cinematic production of Les Miserables with the girls from the village. Looking forward to it!

I didn't even have to ask for any special babysitting favours as BB had already cornered his Grandma and asked when he could get another sleepover, and it turns out the night in question just happens to be the night the ladies are heading to the cinema. I'll be staying too though as we have an early rise to get BB to his swimming lesson back in Brechin.

Today didn't consist of much. I had to take mum to the train station and drop off BB at his pals as he was walking with them to the swimming lesson. We ended up back at their house until 2pm.

I decided on a whim, after my marathon walking efforts in the morning, that I would tackle fixing the handle lever on the pram. It's not much fun trying to push it in a straight line with the handle half up half down, and fully down is too low and hurts my back! I gathered my tools and once the offending lever was taken apart I realised that the metal shim indeed had slipped out (as suspected). I then opened up the opposing side to use it's shim as a template to make myself another one. I used some plastic packaging I had reserved for the job from some xmas pressies, and cut it to size. I had to glue a couple of pieces together to achieve the required depth, but once that was done I assembled everything back together and Bob's your father's brother it works again!

Having started on the pram though, I couldn't let it lie there! The front wheels have been bugging me for months as they had so much stuff wrapped around them (hair and grass as it turns out) that every walk feels like a bit of resistance training. All in an unreachable part, therefore more stripping was required. I took apart as much as I could and managed to cut away the offending foreign objects. It took me a good few hours in the end. The wheels were then attacked with WD40 to free up the mechanism. I managed to get one spinning quite happily, but rather frustratingly the other was completely ceased and no amount of brute force or lubricant was freeing the baby up! More annoyingly once I had re-assembled the wheel, the fittings made it even more stiff. I couldn't work out if I'd actually made it worse? (surely not!) Anywho's I feel a somewhat sense of achievement, but I've left a bloody mess at my heels!

Some me time!

It's something I hear a lot of friends who are mums talk about regularly. There is a lot of concern about getting 'me time' time away from the kids where you can try and retain your identity as an adult. It's not something I get that much of - and I suppose that's what work provides for me. Since BB was born 6 1/2 years ago I think there have been a total of 20 days (when LL was in Playgroup for 3 hours, when I haven't had at least one child to look after through the day (work days and the odd day or weekend away not included of course).

It's not something that bothers me. Being a mum is now part of my identity, and like everything else in my life I strive to do it as best as I can. This does mean that sometimes I have to be harsh with the children, but I'd like to think that this is more than outweighed by the times of fun and kindness. I think finding the balance is what will hopefully mould them to be rounded individuals in their later life.

Tonight I am getting some of this apparently treasured 'me time'. My mum is coming to sit with the boys whilst I get 4 hours to lose myself in music. A bit of eye candy to look at whilst BFS is away is no hardship either (thank you Mr. Barlow). Since I won't be mooching in my own little haze tonight and won't be here to write my memoirs I thought I'd leave this cheeky little pic - just because!

Like the smell of freshly baked bread...

I've come back from the offshore trip with a sense of determination. I feel as though I want to achieve things and get things done, whether that be lose those extra few pounds or spend more quality time with the kids. BFS re currently pondering our priorities in life and I suppose I feel as though I need to justify myself first.

It's only been two days, but the kids have been up dressed and shunted out of the door early enough to either walk or cycle to school, washing has been done, dried and ironed daily and tonight I even made the bread I'm going to use for BB's packed lunch tomorrow. I've made a point of heading to bed just after the kids for the past couple of nights too as I want to catch up on sleep so I can start knocking off the tasks on my list with gusto next week. (The ones I can achieve in the dark evenings indoors anyway!)

Although he says his glass is half full - BFS has been slightly sceptical about my newly resolved self, and he may be right! In his words 'let's see how long it lasts!'

Another New Year, another resolution!

Well here I am once again resolving to blog more and do more pics. Hopefully I can follow through this year as I failed miserably last! As it turns out, having three kids does actually leave you more tired with less energy and time to do the small things. The fact that I returned to work may also add to my pile of excuses!

I'm sure BFS won't be holding his breath, but I do intend to up my efforts. Christmas 2012 was a wonderful quiet affair. We had only ourselves and the kids to entertain, and we managed that with a relaxed dinner and a bundle of Lego and Playmobil building. A visit over to see my mum and brother in the evening topped it off.

I then travelled offshore to the North Cormorant on the 30th and ended up stuck out there - unplanned - until Sunday (6th).

No point trying to play catch up, so it's all here on in folks with a wee pic of CC to kick start it all x