Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Monday, March 29, 2010
Manic kids
Apparently the chocolate cake they'd just consumed wasn't responsible for this display.
Here's the kids having fun on a wet day in Holt. We'd just been for coffee and cake at Byfords, and were keen for the kids to exhaust themselves, and thus (I hope) sleep well tonight.
Here's the kids having fun on a wet day in Holt. We'd just been for coffee and cake at Byfords, and were keen for the kids to exhaust themselves, and thus (I hope) sleep well tonight.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Norfolk 'n' kids
We've come on holiday on purpose.
We're renting a house in Fakenham, Norfolk for a week. It's a much needed break for all of us, especially Anne who's supposedly part time job has taken up a lot of time over the last few months. Fakenham wasn't chosen as a particularly glamorous location, but as a convenient base to visit other parts of north Norfolk.
We arrived on Saturday with two over-excited kids having a great time exploring the house. Lily has a bunk bed in her room, which is a big hit. In part this is because Peppa Pig has a bunk bed, but it's also because we can drape a duvet over it and make a den.
We forgot that the clocks were changing. This is something that is always an irritation for us, since it messes with the kids' sleep routines. However, being on holiday makes it easier, since we're not under pressure to get our timings back to normal since we don't have a normal routine on holiday.
We looked around Fakenham a bit on Sunday morning. Fakenham wasn't there to greet us since it chooses not to open on Sunday. We did manage to take the girls for hot chocolate, and Anne chose to go into one of the few open shops: a tatty clothes/toy/toiletries shop. I figured she was just going in since it was one of the few places open, but was amazed when she actually started trying things on and after 20 minutes of me trying to stop the kids picking up everything in the shop Anne bought some boots.
To realise how bizarre this is you need to know that Anne a) hates shopping and b) would never buy clothes in a tatty souvenir shop. I really don't know what came over her. She kept saying that the boots were good. Bottle Rocket or something.
As we left I said to Anne "I don't even know who you are any more." And I meant it.
On Sunday afternoon we took a trip out to Foxley Wood for a walk. I think we may have solved the time change issue by wearing the girls out. Lily walked for over an hour, and only started moaning about ten minutes from the end.
This morning we went swimming in Hunstanton (an indoor pool - do you think we're mad?) Lily seems much more confident in the water nowadays (I should hope so after Anne's taken her to swimming lessons for the last eight months) and had a lot of fun.
It's lovely to be able to spend time with the girls without jobs to do, clothes to wash, real life to live. Lily seems to be enjoying herself and Bella is singing, shouting and running around almost constantly.
Having Bella around is a bit like having a random phrase generator. She's spent part of the day listing all the things in our rented cottage which aren't chocolate, and on the way home from Hunstanton in the car, on a very vet and overcast day, suddenly started pointing out of the window shouting "CLOUD! CLOUD!" To give her credit, she was right, but why pick then to notice?
In other news, we can no longer get any good photos of our kids. Lily thinks pulling faces for the camera is The Funniest Thing In The Whole World, and Bella copies whatever Lily does. I think I'd better brush up on my photoshopping skills.
We're renting a house in Fakenham, Norfolk for a week. It's a much needed break for all of us, especially Anne who's supposedly part time job has taken up a lot of time over the last few months. Fakenham wasn't chosen as a particularly glamorous location, but as a convenient base to visit other parts of north Norfolk.
We arrived on Saturday with two over-excited kids having a great time exploring the house. Lily has a bunk bed in her room, which is a big hit. In part this is because Peppa Pig has a bunk bed, but it's also because we can drape a duvet over it and make a den.
We forgot that the clocks were changing. This is something that is always an irritation for us, since it messes with the kids' sleep routines. However, being on holiday makes it easier, since we're not under pressure to get our timings back to normal since we don't have a normal routine on holiday.
We looked around Fakenham a bit on Sunday morning. Fakenham wasn't there to greet us since it chooses not to open on Sunday. We did manage to take the girls for hot chocolate, and Anne chose to go into one of the few open shops: a tatty clothes/toy/toiletries shop. I figured she was just going in since it was one of the few places open, but was amazed when she actually started trying things on and after 20 minutes of me trying to stop the kids picking up everything in the shop Anne bought some boots.
To realise how bizarre this is you need to know that Anne a) hates shopping and b) would never buy clothes in a tatty souvenir shop. I really don't know what came over her. She kept saying that the boots were good. Bottle Rocket or something.
As we left I said to Anne "I don't even know who you are any more." And I meant it.
On Sunday afternoon we took a trip out to Foxley Wood for a walk. I think we may have solved the time change issue by wearing the girls out. Lily walked for over an hour, and only started moaning about ten minutes from the end.
This morning we went swimming in Hunstanton (an indoor pool - do you think we're mad?) Lily seems much more confident in the water nowadays (I should hope so after Anne's taken her to swimming lessons for the last eight months) and had a lot of fun.
It's lovely to be able to spend time with the girls without jobs to do, clothes to wash, real life to live. Lily seems to be enjoying herself and Bella is singing, shouting and running around almost constantly.
Having Bella around is a bit like having a random phrase generator. She's spent part of the day listing all the things in our rented cottage which aren't chocolate, and on the way home from Hunstanton in the car, on a very vet and overcast day, suddenly started pointing out of the window shouting "CLOUD! CLOUD!" To give her credit, she was right, but why pick then to notice?
In other news, we can no longer get any good photos of our kids. Lily thinks pulling faces for the camera is The Funniest Thing In The Whole World, and Bella copies whatever Lily does. I think I'd better brush up on my photoshopping skills.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Paint a little birdhouse in your soul
A fun weekend started with me taking Lily to the cinema to see Happy Feet (she danced throughout) while my mum took Bella for a walk by the River Cam. This gave Anne a break on what she's dubbed Mother's Day Weekend.
Mother's Day Proper started for Anne at 8.30 as the girls presented her with beans on toast and coffee in bed. I should really get the credit for this as I prepared it, but I graciously let the girls lie. They then presented her with a birdhouse they (mainly Lily) had painted. Garishly. But probably better than I'd have managed.
It was a really nice sunny day, which was a pleasant change after all the cold weather we've had lately, so we headed out to the Magog Downs, one of the few hills in the area for a run around (i.e. to wear the kids out). The girls had a great time, having seemingly been shut in the house for three months (at least that's how it feels).
Lily picked up a stick and said it was a gun, and kept running round saying "Shoot gun!" No idea where she's got that from, but I wasn't overly concerned. I was more concerned later when I heard her say, in a sweet manner, to Bella "I have a gun and a sword. Do you want to be cut up or killed?" Oh boy.
A further trip to a playground this afternoon and I'm expecting the kids to sleep well tonight. They'd blimmin better do, since I'm shattered.
Mother's Day Proper started for Anne at 8.30 as the girls presented her with beans on toast and coffee in bed. I should really get the credit for this as I prepared it, but I graciously let the girls lie. They then presented her with a birdhouse they (mainly Lily) had painted. Garishly. But probably better than I'd have managed.
It was a really nice sunny day, which was a pleasant change after all the cold weather we've had lately, so we headed out to the Magog Downs, one of the few hills in the area for a run around (i.e. to wear the kids out). The girls had a great time, having seemingly been shut in the house for three months (at least that's how it feels).
Lily picked up a stick and said it was a gun, and kept running round saying "Shoot gun!" No idea where she's got that from, but I wasn't overly concerned. I was more concerned later when I heard her say, in a sweet manner, to Bella "I have a gun and a sword. Do you want to be cut up or killed?" Oh boy.
A further trip to a playground this afternoon and I'm expecting the kids to sleep well tonight. They'd blimmin better do, since I'm shattered.
Wicked ball skills
I'm not usually one to boast, but Isabel, at two, has the soccer skills of a 35 year old man.
Unfortunately the 35 year old man is me.
Also here
Unfortunately the 35 year old man is me.
Also here
Friday, March 12, 2010
Mother's (Short) Day
Wednesday evening when I got home from work:
Lily approaches me, conspiratorially.
"Daddy, on Sunday please can we..."
Lily pauses. She turns to her mum.
"Mummy, I've forgotten what time."
Anne whispers "Half past eight."
Lily turns back to me.
"Daddy, on Sunday please can we take Mummy breakfast in bed at half past eight because it's Mother's Day?"
I am suspicious. "Did Mummy put you up to this?"
I feel rather bullied.
Anne will probably get her wish, even if she did go about her request in a nerfarious manner. If she's lucky I'll even stop Lily and Isabel from preparing the breakfast and do it myself.
In retrospect half past eight isn't an unreasonable request. It says something that Anne's dream is to be allowed to sleep in until half past eight, and then be given breakfast.
At what age can kids be trusted to get up by themselves, make their own breakfast and watch The Wide Awake Club, leaving their parents to sleep?
Lily approaches me, conspiratorially.
"Daddy, on Sunday please can we..."
Lily pauses. She turns to her mum.
"Mummy, I've forgotten what time."
Anne whispers "Half past eight."
Lily turns back to me.
"Daddy, on Sunday please can we take Mummy breakfast in bed at half past eight because it's Mother's Day?"
I am suspicious. "Did Mummy put you up to this?"
I feel rather bullied.
Anne will probably get her wish, even if she did go about her request in a nerfarious manner. If she's lucky I'll even stop Lily and Isabel from preparing the breakfast and do it myself.
In retrospect half past eight isn't an unreasonable request. It says something that Anne's dream is to be allowed to sleep in until half past eight, and then be given breakfast.
At what age can kids be trusted to get up by themselves, make their own breakfast and watch The Wide Awake Club, leaving their parents to sleep?
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Birthday weekend
Isabel effectively had two birthday weekends. We visited my mum the weekend before her birthday, and she had a cake there, and gifts from my mum and sister. Then Anne's sister and her partner visited last weekend and we had more cake and more presents. These kids' birthdays are mainly for the benefit of the grown ups and their tummies.
Isabel even managed to blow out the candles on this second cake. I think Lily was a bit miffed at that as she was hoping to help out there. Having hit two, the younger one seems to be attempting to grab some of the spotlight the elder has been hogging for the last two years. Lily's enjoying this more-bolshy younger sister so far. I wonder if there'll be territorial issues later...
Isabel even managed to blow out the candles on this second cake. I think Lily was a bit miffed at that as she was hoping to help out there. Having hit two, the younger one seems to be attempting to grab some of the spotlight the elder has been hogging for the last two years. Lily's enjoying this more-bolshy younger sister so far. I wonder if there'll be territorial issues later...
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