Hannah's 3rd birthday

It was Hannah's 3rd birthday party on August 2nd and we had her party on the Thursday before. She about 5 friends come round. We had party food, birthday cake, presents, played pass the parcel and played outside thanks to the weather holding off for the day. In the evening family members came round and we had pizza - thanks Uncle Andy - and more presents and cake. We bought her a new car seat which is bright pink, a butterfly cushion, a balamory magazine, and other little bits and pieces. She also had colouring things, a smart denim dress outfit and other clothes, a little suitcase for when she stays overnight with Grandma. It was a long day but she enjoyed it all. I can't quite believe she is 3 years old. Being an August baby means she'll only have 1 more year at home before she goes to school. She will be going to pre-school in September which I think she is looking forward to.

Happy Birthday Josh

It was Josh's first birthday on Sunday (May 25th). We had planned a big family gathering at Rodborough common where there is an ice cream factory but unfortunately the Great British weather was against us and it was just too unreliable to be outside and away from anyone's house. We phoned everyone up and told them that the venue had changed to our house. Then we rang Pete's parents and they suggested we held the party at their house which has a bigger living space and kitchen so we rang everyone again to tell them the new venue for the party (fortunately everyone managed to get there as some of our friends wouldn't have ever been to their house). Dad (Pete's) came over to pick me up to take all the food and birthday cake over from our house to theirs. The birthday cake was Winnie the Pooh holding a number 1 which my Mum helped me decorate using fondant icing - having never decorated a cake with fondant icing before, and to make up for not being at the ice cream factory we had bought some the day before so everyone had a bowl of ice cream.
We had 27 people come over including Josh's friends and aunts and uncles, grandparents etc. He had a really good time with lots of presents to open and play with. Lots of noisy, battery operated toys, new PJ's and clothes.
On Saturday to celebrate his (Josh) last day of being months old he was going through the nappy bag whilst we were in the kitchen getting breakfast ready. Hannah came into the living room and came back to tell us Josh had made a mess. I thought he had just got lots of toys out but NO he had got the nappy cream out of the bag, unscrewed the lid and was smothering it all over himself, the carpet, the nappy bag and all over his hands. He looked a sight and couldn't really understand what all the fuss was about when I started cleaning him up. He has also since then managed to get the lid off a bottle of shampoo and spread the contents over the hall floor. I have to say I am struggling with getting to grips with boys, they are just different from girls. Hannah never did any of that kind if thing when she was little. All I can say is Boys, Boys, Boys.

Holidays and haircuts

Well its been a while since I last wrote and as the title says we've been on holiday. We went to a Christian conference called Spring Harvest which was at Butlins in Minehead. It was really good to get away and be with friends. The kids had their own club to go to in the morning for about an hour and a half, so Pete and I went to the morning bible reading sessions. In the afternoons we were free to do our own thing. We went swimming one day which the kids thoroughly enjoyed, Pete and I went to a parenting class - not that I think we're in need of parenting classes per say but it is always good to get ideas from other people. We had lunch at Pizza Hut one day and Pete managed to eat pizza slices reaching into double figures.....he's a growing lad!!!! In the evenings there was a worship and word session which we got to once or twice but it is also relayed to all the chalets so we didn't miss out too much. It was sad to leave as we had spent a week being with friends almost 24/7.

The hair cuts... well mine was well overdue and I got it cut two days after getting back off holiday. The really momentous hair cut was Josh's. He's only 11 months and has already had two fringe cuts and now has had his first full hair cut and he looks like a proper little boy. He looks so scummy and gorgeous now - even more so than before hair cut. I will upload a photo of his new haircut onto facebook asap cos I think he is just gorgeous.

Well if I dont write sooner I will blog in a months time as it will be Josh's first birthday so I shall let you all know what we did to celebrate.

I'm lovin' it

Yes as the title says I now have a job at McDonalds. I'm working 2 1/2 days a week. I'm a lobby assistant which means keeping the restuarant clean and tidy, and looking after the customers. he can Hannah and Josh are being looked after by Mum. Pete is still busy working on his locks.
I'm enjoying work in the financial sense and the routine that life has become but there are things that I struggle with in the job.

Josh is now a crawling man and uses it as a mode of transport around the house now, he used to just sit in the lounge and crawl to his toys but wouldn't go out of the room but has now realised that he can use it as a way of getting around. Hannah is all sorts of things really. She can be really kind and generous to Josh one minute and then take away toys that he has just coz she can, the next. She is also coming out with lots of big sentences and phrases which make you think where did she pick that up from.

Billy, Milly & Fred

Just a quick update on the fish. We bought a sucky loach and called it Fred, well he lasted about a week I think. We were later told they dont like to cold water that goldfish do, would've been nice if they had told us that in the shop. Billy is still swimming around but I'm afraid to say that Milly passed on this afternoon. I found her head down in the corner of the tank. I fished her out and wrapped her up and had to explain to Hannah what had happened. So it is now just Billy remaining. Good luck Billy.

The car has done it again.

Well its been a while since I last wrote. Not a lot has happend from then until now. I have a job working for 'The Golden Arches', yep I have a McJob. I am a lobby assistant, my job is basically to keep the restuarant looking clean and tidy and the customers happy. I am working 3 days a week totalling about 16 hrs each week. I started on Monday and so far things seem ok, but I have only been there for 2 shifts so I can't really say much else.

Anyway .... the weekend......................
This weekend gone was the church weekend. Pete had the day off and we intended on being there a 4pm ish. Where shall I start.......... the car, the kids. I'll start with Josh.
On Wednesday he was sick, just as I was leaving the house to go to my orientation for my job. He was sick again that evening, on thursday afternoon and then friday morning. I got an appointment for him at the doctors who said it was probably viral. (not a lot can be done in that case) Josh was sick on the saturday and on sunday was under strict orders to have only bread and water. I felt really bad for him as he is only 9 months old but he wasn't sick so it did help.
Now for the car...................
It had sprung a leak in the water and Pete identified the problem as a being a crack in the thermostat housing. After making a few phone calls we discovered we could only buy the part we needed from the dealer at £70. Pete thought he would do his own repair and fixed it with superglue!!!. (I wasn't convinced by this at all) At 3.30 we left to go away. After buying new tyres for the car we hit the road as they say and headed onto the motorway. About half hour later I put the fans on in the car but no hot air was coming out and then suddenly the water light came on and the car stalled and wouldn't start again as it was too hot. This was in the middle lane of the motorway!!!! Fortumately a lorry driver was able to block the left hand lane and let us get onto the hard shoulder where we called out the breakdown people.
5pm the breakdown truck arrives. The traffic was piling up and so a few people were driving on the hard shoulder to get off at the junction quicker. Just as we moved off a car - who was trying to get ahead - pulled out into the truck so we were delayed further with the men taking details from each other. The recovery man took us to his base but couldn't take us home as his vehicle had to be taken off the road. 45 mins later another truck arrived to take us back home.
7pm arrived at in-laws. Mum had got pizza in the oven so we could feed the kids. After dinner Pete got the part for the car and fitted it. (Remember that expensive one from the dealer we had to buy)
9pm finally got the kids loaded into the car and off home.
Saturday at 5am we got up, loaded new things into the car, got the kids up and made our way towards Shropshire. All went well until 25 miles from our destination when the car started ejecting smoke from out of the exhaust!!!!!!! The car very wallawy but it did make it. The weekend it self was good and it was good to go away with friends from church. The car made it back to Gloucester ok although no-one stayed behind us as we chugged out black smoke. I will update you on the problem and when it gets solved.

Life with or without a car

The latest news on the car is it is FIXED. It went into the garage last weekend and now it works all the time. It has been such a relief to have a car that works. I am able to go places without having to plan in extra time in order to get somewhere. It is amazing how much we rely on the car to get us where we want to go. I dont mind using public transport but when you have kids it is easier to take the car if you have one, so I am very grateful to have the car back.

What else has been going on........well I had a job interview for the first time in 10 years. I think it went ok but only time will tell. It is work in a charity shop as an assitant manager, and it would be 3 days a week so if I get it ORGANISATION will be the word of the week. I dread to think how I will get organised but I wont have a choice, but it all depends on whether I get the job or not.

The Kids.............. Josh has been unwell and came out in a rash on Sunday so I took him to the doctors who said he had a viral infection. He is getting over it now although his sleeping at night time could be improved. Hannah is well and there is really a lot I can say about her. She is getting more words in her vocabulary and understand more.