A thing I found here

For Today...

Outside my window... a bright cool summer evening

I am thinking... I should blog more

From the learning rooms... you don't know who you've got 'til they're gone

I am thankful for... family; my family

From the kitchen... beef in red wine casserole - mmmmmmmmmmm

I am wearing... jeans and a t-shirt. For a change.

I am reading... The Reader and I think I am going to enjoy it.

I am hoping... to regain my balance

I am creating... pin cushions!

I am praying... to nobody

Around the house... there are slumbering and sleepy boys

One of my favorite things... a warm glass of cabernet syrah

A few plans for the rest of the week... strawberry picking en famille, jam-making toute seule, work, visiting my bro and new sister-in-law back in the old homestead

Here is a picture thought I am sharing with you... not today

post damnit!

In the spirit of trying to blog more frequently here is another entry. I have nothing to report. But I am still here and pleased about it. I have just made friends on facebook with someone I thought I knew from school but I am really not sure about him. He kinda looks like Dai but I am not 100%. It has been about 20 years since I last saw him so I am guessing he has changed a bit and probably grown a bit but the guy in the pics only looks like him a little bit and has the wrong date of birth. He wants to be my friend though! I hope he does not turn into a stalker. Or that I don't turn into one either!

One week to go until Gareth's wedding. I should book the hotel I guess...

Great Day Out

I spent today out with the boys introducing a bit of culture and education.  We took a train to the museum!  It was a fab day and we all enjoyed it (although Cornichon did want to go home when we were in the art gallery!)  We went in the dinosaur exhibit and they both got a bit nervous and Cornichon kept reassuring me "They're not real, Mummy!".  A good day was had by all not least because we were all out all day and did not spend any time hanging about the house which can be fun but does get tough if we do it too often.  Now I am back in work I am going to try a bit harder  to have quality days when we do stuff like this.  I will, I will, I will!

Brilliant birthday weekend

This weekend was spent celebrating Little Pickle's first birthday.  I have been thinking about how our family has changed since his arrival and how much I love being part of a foursome, since the fourth corner of the square came along.  I really feel sorry for people who have "only" one child.  I know that this is totally ridiculous as any one who has a child is incredibly lucky to have even one (I want to say blessed but being non-religious I am struggling for a better word than 'lucky') but that said having two is so rewarding, especially when I spy on the two of them interacting with each  other.  It makes my heart melt on a daily basis and I would never change a thing about it.

It was Little Pickle's birthday on Friday and Mr Gherkin had the day off.  We all went to the new swimming pool down the bay.  The boys loved it (as did Mr G and I) and Cornichon was in his element.  I initially thought that he would be clingy and scared but he quickly warmed up and was off splashing on his won quite quickly.  I really wish I could take them swimming more often.  I think that Mr Gherkin and I will make more of an effort to take them in future as it was so great holding them so they could 'chase' each other in the water.  We went to Pizza Hut after the pool and had balloons and a pizza buffet.  Everyone loved this too especially the ice-cream help-yourself bar for afters!  We then went on to an amusement arcade and fiddled about on the racing machines and Cornichon and Little Pickle loved this - riding real motorbikes!  It did not get any better than that!  Cornichon took a shine to air hockey too.  We saved the birthday cake until we got home and had it for tea and Little Pickle loved it when we sang HBTY to him.  I really thought he knew that the day was all for him and that he felt special for it too.

Yesterday was spent with Mum, Dad and Sister Gherkin and Mr Gherkin's Mum and Dad.  They all came here bearing gifts and I provided another birthday cake and some cookies and biscuits.  We ate junk and drank tea and played with yet more presents and again Little Pickle was in his element.  Sister Gherkin stayed over last night and we went to the pub.  Surprisingly we have never really been to the pub just the two of us before!  It has always been with Mr Gherkin or Mum and Dad.  We resolved to rectify this when she moves here in July.  It was so good to get out of the house without the boys and Jon!  I need to get out more and just be me.  I need to get sleep too and just be awake too.

Bath Night

There are days when I am a good mother; I achieve things, the boys have fun and the house looks reasonable.  Today was not one of those days.  I am not getting enough sleep (not really though any fault of anyone else but myself I must add!)  Little pickle is more or less sleeping through but wakes at 6ish every morning which is fine really compared to waking up 3 times a night but not fine if I don't get to bed until bleedin 1am!  I am going to have a bath tonight (I have not had one for weeks!) and I have been looking forward to it all day.  Beautiful lavender bubble bath awaits me and a good slice of my current book Room For A Single Lady and hopefully an early night.  unless the pesky internet snares me again!  Good night!

Wists!

I have just discovered Wists!  What a fab idea!  I am forever finding stuff I love and covet but forget about them with the click of a mouse so wists seems like a fab idea for me!  I can also tell people about the presents I really want instead of saying "oh, surprise me, anything would be fine" when asked what I want for my birthday!  I could do some really damage to Folksy and Etsy!  How exciting!

Focus

Well I lost 0.5 lbs this week in weight-watchers.  I had no focus all week (so much for my hopes!) but I have regained focus today and yesterday and have a constant reminder to keep me in line - I am painting my nails, on nail a day for every good day when I stick to my tracking.  It has worked for 2 days as I see my unfinished nails every time my grubby little mitts start to reach for the bad stuff and I am reminded how much I want 2 hands full of varnish!  I know it sounds crap but it is working for me so ner ner ne ner ner.

I had such a terrible night's sleep last night it is unreal.  I have been on autopilot all day - thank gppdness my sister came down to help with the kids.  I think Mr Gherkin and I would have bickered all day if she had  ot!  Everything is OK now though.  Little Pickle is asleep here on the sofa with Mr Gherkin and I really really really hope that he stays asleep for a reasonable chunk of the night at least.  Up and down since 0152 is not a good way to start the day!

I bought a pair of curtains in a charity shop on Friday with the plan to unpick them and use the fabric for bag linings.  The fabric is cream with a textured pattern through it and I think it will make good lining material.  I just need to sort out my camera and post some pics!

Really need to get some sleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeepppppppppppp