Apologies To All In East Lancashire!

The freak hail storm this afternoon was all my fault! Bank holiday weekend, an extra day togehter, lets go for a walk and a run in the park;


It was a bit dull and a bit chilly, I made Nathaniel wear a hat to keep his small blonde head warm, it didn't seem so bad, the rest of us in warm cardigans;


Another small boy had his hat on in the sling, I even managed to take a picture of me and Simon with Sebastian, yes I have several chins and Seb does look a bit cross, I think this is due to his hat being pulled down too far (the cross look, not the chins, obviously);

Francesca was a brilliant big sister;

We found masses of wild garlic that smelled so good (think I'll be taking my little trowel in my pocket next time we go);

The children all 'conquered' a small bit of the wood and we had Elizabithia and Francescadom;

We found a butterfly;

And a woodpecker;

We took plenty of nuts but only saw one squirrel, there were just too many dogs about. The nuts may have been essential for our survival as we had to hide out under a bush while the hail fell, Elizabeth commented that we may be there for years (ever the optomist) and we would soon run out of things to eat!

The rain will have filled the river though so it's not all bad;

What did you do today?

Daisie xxx

My Husband Is One Lucky Guy!!

No, really. Not only is he married to the most wonderful woman in the world (she doesn't mind that he lives with me, haha) see, even Twiggy says so and Kath, they both gave me this award;


And father to the four most beautiful children ever born;


But now he has some woman sending him.........

Bread;

Kelly read the review I wrote on the freebie snacks we got to try and took pity on poor Simon and sent him the Toastie loaf he longed for! It is his favourite and I now have a really cool Warbie's box for storing stuff in and will get a buzz all day that when the TNT guy thought he was being funny and said; "Here are love, some bread!" I said "It is actually!" He just looked confused and wandered back to his van muttering!!

Off for a walk in the sunshine, some baby yoga and then maybe home from school via the park, tis rather sunny, better get out while it lasts!

Daisie xxx

My Boys Are So Big

This week Nathaniel and I have been making lovely little pots of goodness for young Sebastian, he loves his food already (only five days in) and opens his mouth like a little bird to be fed then giggles with his mouth full of wonderful new flavours;


I think he may grow to eat all the vegetables under the sun like Francesca and Nathaniel (I have to hide mushrooms!). Maybe he'll find interesting ways of eating houmous like his big brother;


Here's my big boy colouring a Gruffalo picture for his Daddy's birthday;

And my other small man 'eating' Balamory our rag doll and playing us a tune on the shaker;

And following on the Gruffalo theme (what else would you give a man in his forties?) we made little brown mouse cakes for birthday tea;

Anyhoo, things to sew, knitting meetings to miss as I seem to have lost an hour somewhere (Sorry Kath).....?

Daisie xxx

I do love him more than buttons.


Happy Birthday Simon xxx

Fifteen Years Ago Today

I met a beautiful young man with tattooed arms, big boots, biking leathers and sparkling blue eyes for a drink and a dance. The rest, as they say, is history!

So thank you Simon for fifteen years of love and understanding, four beautiful children, two lovely homes (we have lived in two houses, we don't have two!), several clapped out cars, long late night bike rides, cups of tea when I am ill, numerous laughs, lots of hugs, millions of kisses and for being the very best friend a girl could have!

Happy anniversary, I love you so much!

xxx

And Rest....

The last two weeks seem to have been an endless round of sore nipples (although much better since the blisters peeled off), wet (and yellow) baby nappies, visitors, playgroups, art classes, training, school runs and ironing.

Sunday we woke up to beautiful sunshine;


And set off for a walk in the woods;

We spotted squirrels;

And crocodiles;

Looked over fences to see what we could see;

And nosied in the river;

A lovely crisp day, wrapped up warm with a small boy strapped to my chest, a slightly bigger boy holding my hand, two lovely girls milling around (and holding hands when no one could see) and a lovely husband who occasionally got to hold my hand too :-)

There is some knitting on the go and the self portrait I have been creating through the Art-as-therapy group is nearly ready for the grand unveiling, christmas gifts have been thought about and half put into action so maybe I'll be back with something I have created, soon?

Daisie xxx

What A Lovely Place......

....... Blogland is!!

Lynsey came to see me today and snuggle my new boy. She bought with her lovely handmade gifts from the lovely ladies of blog. You know who you are and you made my day especially the one who seems to have been behind it all! I will do a post with proper thanks and pictures of the beautiful gifts but for now I am just here to show you some pictures (as promised days ago).

Elizabeth and her smallest brother at about ten minutes old;


Francesca and a very new Sebastian;


Sebastian on the comfiest shoulder in the house;

Nathaniel loving his new baby;

He was very unimpressed at first and told us he thought the baby was horrid! My heart sank but I think he was just so tired and overwhelmed by events of the day that grumpiness was all he could manage. He loves him now and regularly plonks toy cars in his lap and asks if he can cuddle him.

Here's my sleeping bundle last night at just three days old;

He is very lovely and we are very glad he is here but I am so tired and glad that tomorow is Saturday and I can have a long bath and maybe some extra hours in bed :-)

I hope you all have a restful weekend too.

Daisie xxx

A Day In My Life In Pictures (not)!

Well, when Vonnie had the brilliant idea of lots of crafty Mummies making a record of their crafty day in pictures I thought 'how fun, I'll do that' Today was meant to be that day, great, I thought, I'll have had the baby and life will be getting back to normal. On Friday's we do an adventure playgroup and I am currently doing an art as therapy course in the afternoons. Loads of photo opportunities.

Well the first spanner in the works is that there is still no baby!

So here are a few pics, I will do it properly one day but today was just not meant to be the day.

Nathaniel was first up and helped me make the breakfasts and the lunches;


While the coffee brewed;

When everyone else emerged from their slumber Francesca practiced her weekly spellings;

Elizabeth had a slight strop as she didn't really want to get up (tell me, who does?);

And aliens kidnapped my husband and turned him into this well turned out efficient (not bimbling in the least) college manager;

A small amount of excitement occured at a quarter to nine when the car wouldn't start. The AA man arrived very swiftly and we were soon fixed and on our way;

He was a very nice man, a very very nice man (remember that?)! Nathaniel loved his big yellow van :-)

A little crafting happened in the way of a birthday presnet for Francesca to take to her friend's party tomorrow;

There is a dinner plate, a side plate and a bowl with her name on.

Part of the 'deal' of leaving my bump alone until next week was that I present myself at clinic again today to be 'checked'. So off Nathnaiel and I duely trotted this afternoon, missing my art class. It wasn't my midwife but another one from the team. I didn't get a last ditch attmept at starting labour with another sweep (not that they're my favourite thing but I did think it may help at this late hour) as she didn't think after already having two that another would be helpful. And there I was willing to try anything!

A week seemed a long time on monday but it is friday now and I only have two days in which to be able to have my baby son at home. I am losing heart with the whole thing. I feel like it will never happen. The odds are too slim. And then a hospital delivery brings up so many other issues when it comes to our other children. Too many to go into now, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

We arrived late for the art as therapy cousrse. No one minded, it has happened since the course began three weeks ago because of the bump! We are currently reflecting on aspects of our past, and today was not the day for me to do it really. I have been tearful and snappy and my poor little brain (and heart) is in such turmoil.

But all is not lost!

My lovely friend Jenny brought me round a vanilla slice earlier and I am just going to drown my sorrows in that and a small glasss of merlot, we had a boozey stewie cassarole affair for tea and there was some left over. And you never know, baby may decide to make an appearance and then the midwife on call will think I am a mad alcie! Well, she'd be half right :-)

So sorry Vonnie for not having an exciting day to record in pictures, maybe another day.........

Daisie xxxx

Love Is........

A husband who knows you perfectly and knows just what to bring as a surprise gift;

A small "cheer you up" present as my midwife, despite her best efforts, was unable to deliver my home-birth pack today :-( but my ferratin levels are on the rise, more blood taken today and a final decision won't be made until another blood test next friday.

What a man!!

Thanks Simon!!!

Daisie xxx

Brilliant!!

What a fabulous day we have had!!

It was a bit wet and a bit dull but we set out early to York as the children had bought home vouchers from school so they could get in free to Jorvik, so we had to go really. Simon and I haven't been since we had Elizabeth (bad, bad parents) and it was exciting to see the changes. The girls thought it brilliant and particulary loved the man pooing behind a wooden fence in the street next to the butchers!!

There were helmets to try on;

Even Simon had a turn;

The lunatic smile is becasue he tried to put his specs on over the helmet nose piece and I could barely take the picture for laughing!!

And bone combs and tiny glass beads and amber jewels and intricate metal worked cloak pins and just lots and lots of beautiful things to look at, oh, and many battled scarred boney remains. There were also skeletons that showed signs of lots of diseases, I used this to my advantage to drum home the point that I am not a mean Mummy because I make them eat vegetables!!

We took a stroll, glad to find the drizzle had stopped, and found the biggest church Elizabeth has ever seen;

A rather impressive Roman column;

And a Roman Emporer;

I had a little accident;

But I must say that the accident wouldn't have been so bad without the egging on from my very luverly husband!! The fact that he encourages me helps to disperse the gult.

I have never been into a CK shop and the prices of these things made me gasp! I did manage to find a rather lovely (huge) jersey dress/long top in a really lovely olive green soft jersey that I think I may be living in from now on for just £15. Oh, I've said it out loud! This does not agree with my charity shop/cheapy clothes buying ethos, oh well, I can reasure myself by remembering the shoes that I so wanted in there too but didn't buy (halo back in place-ish).

Then, after more rambling Simon spotted this;

I must confess that at first I was confused as to why my beloved would think I could be excited by a building society, der!!

But then all became clear as he walked me through the door;

These are just two quick snaps I took but all the walls were filled floor to ceiling with boxes and boxes of the most beautiful and unusual buttons I have ever seen. Simon went mad (honest, nothing to do with me) and bought me some lovelies but the light is really bad now (and blogger says I have probably used enough picture space for one night surely?!) so I will post some pics tomorrow after I have taken them to bed and stroked them all :-)

Hope you've all had a good day too?

Daisie xxx

A Shark, A Cat And Lots And Lots Of Rain

The first day of the holidays has arrived!! We all awoke excited only to be dampened slightly by the huge amount of water falling from the sky :-(

I had promised the girls that we would all go to Tumble Tots today as they remember going when they were small and like to reminisce. We went in the car and only walked about 400 yards across a road and were very soggy indeed!

We got out of our wet things and had a great time, Elizaebth tired herself and had to rest on a massive shark;



Francesca then had to pose on the big cat;



Nathaniel had fun with Francesca in the tunnel and then tickled her tummy;

When we had finished playing we kidnapped Simon from work and came home for a late lunch. I left them to relax while I went for my midwife appointment this afternoon (baby #4 due on September 15th for those that asked in the comments that I was very lazy about and didn't reply too), I am in need of some iron :-( if the planned home delivery is to happen so constipationville here we come! On my return I found four very relaxed people indeed;

Just time now for a wee and then we are off out for our tea!! A good start to a long holiday, although some sunshine would be nice!!

Daisie xxx