me and mine {december}

Daddy is loving

* two weeks off work.

* watching the children open their Christmas presents.

* cooking his first Christmas dinner.

* that Mini Eggs are back in the shops.

* eating chocolate for breakfast.

Mummy is loving 

* the magic of Christmas time.

* dry roasted peanuts.

* Yankee Candle's Snow In Love.

* putting the beautiful girl's hair in bunches.

* lots of lovely family time.

The beautiful boy is loving

* playing with his new play kitchen.

* chocolate coins.

* the book advent calendar.

* flashy light baths.

* all things Christmas.

The beautiful girl is loving

* the Christmas tree.

* cuddling her Rapunzel doll.

* chocolate yule log.

* shouting "Jessie" at her Jessie doll.

* chasing her brother up and down the hallway.

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out of the mouths of babes {december}

beautiful boy: "Oh no, where's my milk? I left it in the lounge."

Mummy: "No you didn't, it's right here."

beautiful boy: "Oh yes, so it is. Phew!"

"Go in the kitchen Daddy. You are being too naughty."

Mummy: "Do you remember what we're doing today?"

beautiful boy: "We're going to see Father Christmas. In a car park."

Mummy: "No lovely, not a car park. Just in a park."

beautiful boy: "No in a car park, with his sleigh."

"Put my milk in the fridge now... NOW! You are being a bit naughty Mummy."

beautiful boy: "Are you ready Mummy? You're going to be a horse and I'm going to be a donkey. Are you ready?"

Mummy: "What are you talking about? What do I have to do?"

beautiful boy: "You be a horse. And then we sing."

Mummy: "We sing?"

beautiful boy: "Yes. We sing songs in Hairspray. Ready? GO! Sing with me Mummy."

(I still have no idea what he was on about!)

"I can't swim like a whale. I can't swim like a whale. I can't swim like a whale. I. CAN'T. SWIM. LIKE. A. WHALE.... I'm going to swim like a goldy-fish. That's what I'll do."

Nanny: "Is that nice hot chocolate?"

beautiful boy: "No, it's warm chocolate Nanny."

Pops: "Did you have fun at Freeport today?"

beautiful boy: "Yes, it went free, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten."

"It's very dark. The moon has gone to sleep behind a cloud."

"Roar Darcy roar! (Pause while he waited for Darcy to roar.) You're not very scary."

(while playing with his play kitchen)

Daddy: "What are you making?"

beautiful boy: "A noise."

Mummy: "What animals do you think you'll see at the farm?"

beautiful boy: "Chickens?"

Mummy: "Yes. What else?"

beautiful boy: "Not elephants and horses."

Mummy: "No. Definitely no elephants."

beautiful boy: "But maybe cows."

Mummy: "You just burped, what do you need to say?"

beautiful boy: "Oh no! Not again!"

Mummy: "I meant 'Pardon me' but never mind."

beautiful boy: "Okay then. Pardon me but never mind."

"I am NOT very happy with you Daddy!"

5

christmas wishes

Christmas always makes me so nostalgic

as I think back to where we were and what we were doing at this time in the years gone by.

And it's also a time full of hopes and dreams and wishes I find,

probably because the end of another year makes me really reflect on what that year has given us

and look forward to what the next one might bring.

At some point over the festive period 

I take a little time to myself to think about what I wish for for the coming year.

My Christmas wishes have come true the last few years

so I'm going to think really hard and make a good one this year.

21

fifteen months new

You were growing up so fast and it was so bittersweet.

2

a bestie day

Friendships are so important.

A good friend can talk you back down when you are livid,

or cheer you up when you're feeling sad.

They are there to hear your worries

and to keep your secrets.

And when you become a mummy,

like minded mummy friends become completely invaluable.

As you travel through the complexities of raising tiny humans

someone to share the trials and tribulations with is a lifeline at times.

8

family frolics and christmas magic

This week we had a very special family day.

We went to visit a very important man in red,

we had special talks with him,

whispered in his ear that the children have been VERY good this year,

we told him what we would like to see under the tree on Christmas morning.

Daddy took a day off work.

Pops did too, so that he and Nanny could join us.

We were all so excited about having a festive family day out,

and our family frolics didn't disappoint.

It's fair to say that our beautiful boy is totally enchanted by the big guy this year,

he's totally absorbed in the Christmas magic.

29

the work of the christmas fairies

Christmas is all about magic.

It's just such a twinkly time of year.

And there has been some impressive magic 

sprinkled in our house of late.

31

your thirty-fourth month

We had always thought you were the most amazing boy ever.

10

wishing for a wooden christmas

I've never made a secret of my fondness for wooden toys.

They seriously outnumber the plastic in this house by a lot

and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Wooden toys are classic and hard-wearing,

they are often more unisex in their design

(which is obviously a big selling point for us)

and are always a clear favourite with our children.

So it should come as no surprise

that Father Christmas will be kindly delivering our children

some toys of the wooden variety this year.

We don't go overboard with gifts for the children,

they are too young to really appreciate them after all,

and instead stick to one main present each.

This year we have had a word with the man in red

and our children might just be getting one super main present to share,

but shhhhh, don't spoil the surprise.

16

his next steps

We are in the very fortunate position 

that since our son was born

I have been able to stay at home with him.

I have relished every second with him

watching him change and grow

watching him learn new skills.

I've been there for first steps and first words

and I wouldn't trade that for anything.

19

next year...

For nearly a year now

a monthly feature on this blog

(and by far my favourite post each month)

has been my Me and Mine post.

A monthly photo of us as a family

and a bit about what we've loved that month.

It sounds so simple,

but in reality the simplest things

are often the bits most overlooked.

36

me and mine {november}

Daddy is loving

* having a new car.

* watching old series of The Wire. 

* rediscovering a love of Twix.

* watching the beautiful girl walk more.

* Christmas music in the shops.

Mummy is loving

* the beautiful girl's cute little toddle.

* Dairy Milk Snowy Delight.

* how much the beautiful boy loves a trip to the library.

* working on the new I Heart Snapping site.

* having one-to-one time with the children on Tuesdays.

The beautiful boy is loving

* watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "rainbow colour machine" over and over and over.

* visiting and choosing a preschool.

* reading The Dinosaur That Pooped A Planet.

* climbing.

* going to the library.

The beautiful girl

* walking.

* sitting in her brother's chair.

* wiggling and dancing.

* going on the swings.

* crackers with nutella on.

36

out of the mouths of babes {november}

"I need a wee wee. And fast!"

"Ahhhhhh, MUMMY! I need to hold your hand."

(holds hand)

"Phew, that was a close one."

beautiful boy: "I drunk the water in the swimming pool."

Mummy: "Oh no, that wasn't a very good idea, was it?"

beautiful boy: "No it wasn't."

Mummy: "Did it taste funny?"

beautiful boy: "No Mummy... It wasn't funny at all."

Nanny: "Did you have fun swimming with Mummy?"

beautiful boy: "It was divine."

at lunch time after he finished his food

beautiful boy: "I'd like something else now please."

Mummy: "Okay, what would you like?"

beautiful boy: "Ummmmmmmmm."

Mummy: "Would you like a breadstick?

beautiful boy: "No I've had enough breadstick."

Mummy: "How about a cracker?"

beautiful boy: "No I'm full up of cracker."

Mummy: "Okay, so are you sure you want something else? Are you full up?"

beautiful boy: "Ummmmm?"

Mummy: "Shall we leave the table?"

beautiful boy: "I'm not full up Mummy."

Mummy: "You're not?"

beautiful boy: "No. I'm not full up of grapes."

Mummy: "So would you like some more grapes then?"

beautiful boy: "Oooh, yes please Mummy."

Mummy: "Come here so I can take your t-shirt off."

beautiful boy: "No Mummy. It's not happening!"

Mummy: "What's not happening?"

beautiful boy: "My t-shirt. It stays on!"

"You are putting me back together again."

he says this whenever we get him dressed

"You are the bestest mummy."

(such a charmer!)

Mummy: "What colour is your hair?"

beautiful boy: "Blonde."

Mummy: "What colour is my hair?"

beautiful boy: "Blonde."

Mummy: "What colour is Daddy's hair?"

beautiful boy: "Brown. No. Dark brown."

Mummy: "Oooh, good one. It is dark brown. What colour is Nanny's hair?"

beautiful boy: "Ummmmm, it's yellow. Like mine. No, blonde."

Mummy: "What colour is Pops hair?"

beautiful boy: "GREY!!!! Just like Wentworth."

"Oh dear. That's so funny. I make myself laugh."

beautiful boy: "I'm going to cut your hair Mummy."

Mummy: "No you're not."

beautiful boy: "Later?"

Mummy: "No, not later."

beautiful boy: "Soon?"

Mummy: "No. Never."

beautiful boy: "Mummy? I'm going to brush your hair?"

Mummy: "Okay, yes. You can brush my hair."

beautiful boy: "With the scissors."

Daddy: "Right, Daddy's got to go to the toilet now."

beautiful boy: "You're going to squeeze a poo and then flush it."

(Daddy nearly falls over laughing.)

"You're my bestest girl in the world that I even seened."

(said to his mama - little cutie!)

"Bye bye swings. Bye bye slide. Bye bye roundabout. See you another day. We're going home for lunch."

19

two plus two equals us

For us,

family life with two children

both two and under,

it is all about twos.

Two boys.

Two girls.

Two parents.

Two children.

We switch seamlessly between our twos,

making sure we all get an equal look in.

Two gives us balance; symmetry.

Two plus two makes us a family.

10

the perfect festive outfits

I love an excuse to get my children beautiful clothes.

With Christmas around the corner

I have plenty of excuses for some lovely coordinated party outfits

so that my twosome look gorgeous for the festive season.

20

fourteen months new

Your fourteenth month saw some big changes.

11

our littlest trendsetter

I absolutely love getting new clothes and outfits for my little ones to try out.

Since becoming a mummy,

getting new children's clothes is now far more exciting to me

that getting things for myself.

There is something so adorable about mini clothes

that I simply can't resist.

12

my motherhood

Ever since that all important p-word

showed up on a pregnancy test 

on that crazily exciting morning in June 2010;

I have been a mother.

And ever since that moment,

motherhood has been both my biggest weakness and my greatest strength.

20

forgotten

I'm a sentimental old fool.

I'll put my hands up and admit to it right now.

I get very attached to anything that I feel has some sort of special story

or has been precious in any way shape or form.

I have kept all sorts of things associated with my babies,

I have memory boxes, special shelves and pretty bags

full to the brim with things that I treasure because it reminds me of my babies in some way.

24

the dinosaur that pooped a planet {what we're reading}

With a title like that

before you even open this book

you know you're promised a laugh at the very least.

7

{the ordinary moments} the many faces of bath time - part two

In the interests of fairness

and being a good mama all round,

after sharing my beautiful girl's bath time faces

it seemed only right I do the same for this cheeky little chap.

In between telling me 

"Don't take my photo Mummy"

he's quite the little poser.

(To all the people who suggested I print the little lady's collage

and put it up the wall;

I think they'll look good as a pair!)

  

12

{our beautiful story} week forty-five

sunday 3rd november

big smiles for the big swings

monday 4th november

great sharing

tuesday 5th november

mummy-and-son-day topped off with some baking

wednesday 6th november

a rare cuddly sleep

thursday 7th november

transfixed

friday 8th november

chill out time with a holiday video

saturday 9th november

magic in her eyes

1

your thirty-third month

We seemed to have been saying it for a while now

but your vocabulary and use of language just amazed us.

5

winnie-the-pooh toys review

We were sent these two Winnie-the-Pooh toys to review

and have been really enjoying playing with them and trying them out.

1

chameleon's colours {what we're reading}

I think one of the reasons that I love childrens books as much as I do

is the beautiful images that children (and their parents) get treated to.

The work that goes into illustrating children's books

is completely incredible.

And I am often drawn to books for the illustrations alone.

12

a hundred hearts

author unknown

17

{the ordinary moments} the many faces of bath time

This little cutie just loves bath time.

She's a total water baby.

She wriggles with delight as soon as you strip her

because she knows that she's headed for the bath.

Bath time is noisy, messy and absolutely wild some evenings.

With water spraying, bubbles flying and hysterical squealing

it's always a great high to end the day on.

18

{our beautiful story} week forty-four

sunday 27th october

surfer hair

monday 28th october

cheeky little cutie

tuesday 29th october

her first oreo cookie

wednesday 30th october

they love hanging out in the trolley together

thursday 31st october 

when did she get so big?

friday 1st november

bath time is just too funny

saturday 2nd november

an evening with friends

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