1. Did i mention that i won a competition over at Doris Designs? They sell amazing petticoat skirts that look sensational. I am torn between indulgently getting a adult one which i would to be honest struggle to find a use for…although…. or get a kids one which i would not only have some happy recipents right here in the house but it would also look fabulous on photoshoots. Im thinking i will go for a girls one. But then again….

2.I have finally given up a ridiculous loyalty i had to a swimming lesson company in Liverpool. When i say ridiculous its because they were possibly the most expensive and er…hello..i have three swimmers to pay for…and the pool the girls swim in is a school pool and so has no barriers, nowhere to sit (that isnt wet) and so i spent half an hour a week chasing two toddlers round a pool whilst trying to stop them shoving all the floats and swimming aids into the pool when the instructors take them out…all this whilst raising my body temperature to about 40 degrees and starting to grow tropical plants in my shoe linings.

Why i carried on with this stress…no idea…but i did…..until they put their prices up again and i decided enough was enough and changed to another swim school…

*insert parting in the clouds, sun beaming through and choirs of angels*

This swim lesson is in a school pool less than 2 minutes from our house, it is past 5pm and so OH is home to look after two little non-swimmers. It is over £2.00 cheaper per child a session. Voila…no stress. well…minimal…and a bit easier on the wallet… which is always always good. The kids went this evening and LOVED it. Result all round. 

3. My youngest school kid has been asking and asking to be a 'hot dinner' pretty much since she started school. We have been hesitant because of the cost but this term we relented and let her have a hot dinner…and so far she loves it. Im a bit worried by the faces of the other two when she tells them what she had for lunch. Im thinking their pack ups are starting to look a bit less appealing when there is chicken pie, mash, peas and a cookie on offer. 

4. Sometimes my job can be completely and utterly heartbreaking. 

5. Music this week bought to you by:

at the very start of this video…the walkman the girl is using – OH man, i remember getting that when i was teenager. Hey whoever remembers tapes?

6. My son got the Cars 2 movie for christmas and we must have watched it a billion times by now. My favourite bit? An extra on the DVD, bit of a toy story 3 spin off. Its just a 5 minute ish movie. But we all like it a lot. Go see it if you can. Click Click :0)

7. We are still having meals with some christmas leftovers – that had been frozen i must add – talk about getting your money out of a meal. So far no complaints. 

8. You have to go and check out this incredible wedding photography. Chris is from round here and is quite an extraordinary person both from the point of skilled photography and having a very generous spirit. These are perhaps some of my favourites…right here

9. Moshi Monsters is catching hold in our house? I didn't even see that one coming…whats that? Can we all go to the moshling zoo…..?

10. I really need to go to sleep. We have had no childcare this week. So i think im on about my 49th hour of consciousness…yeah….don't ask me to do anything complicated..like put more than a couple of words together… 

linking in with the ladies…check it out…

hannah

Lucy

Helen

Jo

and not forgetting my blogging super star friend:

theoriginalbritgirl 

my day today has been defined by:

and permeating faint smell of poo…potty training poo…not potty training poo, pooing in pants poo, poo on legs poo, poo on toilet seat poo, poo on clothes poo…poo on wheels poo..

poo.

and no cute furry bears looking for honey and Christopher Robin. 

Nope. 

Also defined by…

elasti-girl climbing EVERYTHING and acting like she is headline act at the circus. 

that child needs a pillow strapped to her head AT ALL TIMES. 

and also defined by getting a little unexpected momentary window on an amazing beginning and thinking that there are some folk  you might think of as ordinary but are in fact superheros minus the cape and x ray vision…

Limping in with my ten today:

1. I mentioned yesterday that our dear friends from Africa were visiting just before new year. I shot a timer shot of us all. (camera balanced on top of the tv!). I have to giggle when i look at this picture. my youngest is for sure giving away the fact that i have just darted into the shot..no? heheh.

and i bet you try and count all those kids up you'll get a different number every time!!

ah..when you come to out house be prepared of the 'how many people can you fit on this couch' game. But their kids look remarkably cool being totally surrounded. love it. 

2. Im not going to talk about sickness today. No. that is all i have to say about that. 

3. I currently really like the Instagram iphone app. Although there are a few sneaky slr pictures that appear which i think is kinda missing the point really. I follow quite a few southern hemisphere folk and over new year it was really fun to see all their firework pics appear half way through our NYE. Especially the ones over the Sydney Opera house. How i would love so much to be there. Then of course there are all the blue sky, white sand, perfect beach…grumble grumble rubbishbritishweather…

4. I don't watch an lot of TV but we both watched the Bear Grylls adventures with the celebrities. Sorry but anyone think that Miranda got a tougher deal than Ross?…although that poo story and the wee wee hot water bottle might have seen me sleeping under the stars!

5. I have a wonderful friend trying to design me a new website for both my personal blog and my photography. I say trying, not because of any failing on his part but because of the appalling amateur client he has in me who asks daft questions and has muddled along so far without so much as understanding 'domain' and 'hosting.' Large case of beer headed his way just for being patient 🙂

6. One of my kids had a long-awaited sleepover at the start of the holidays. We reckon it might have been one of the worst nights sleep we have had in a long time….and we have BAD nights at the moment so thats really saying something.. was it the sleepover friend having nightmares and wanting to go home? NO-SIR, it was every single one of my own acting like a bunch of horses on a windy day….

7. Watching J4 play the other day and noticed her looking sternly at the teddy she had in her buggy for a few seconds then turn her head slightly and say 'oh..for goodness sake!'

8. Music? what would my ten be without a bit of a tune:

very melancholy song. i like it a lot. Also really like the way the video is shot. go have a listen

9. Have you met Siri yet?

10. Finishing today with our sweet 'just turned 6' miss. This is how she wears her glasses at the moment. Her sister sat on them and they have never really been the same….waiting on a new pair but in the meantime…

linking in with the ladies…check it out…

hannah

Lucy

Helen

Jo