Bonjour!

Well well well ... good evening folks.  How we doing?  Good I hope!  Long time no chat hey ... Must be at least 5 - 6 weeks.  Soooooo, what's been happening?

Ruby turned 1 - to which we celebrated with a few close family & friends - fab time had by all!  The highlight was her cake - check this out!  A big thanks again to our pal Helen at Aardvark Cakes - it was superb!

So what else have we been up to?  The usual play centres, parks, pals houses etc ... in fact we go somewhere or do something every day ..... The new one at the moment from Sally is her shouting at the top of her voice "Mummy is that a man or a lady?" - funny right, but rather embarrasing when she is shouting it at the top of her voice from the back seat of the car, to the dude behind the counter/window at the McDonalds drive thru!

The countdown is still on and is becoming more and more real ........ only 13 more sleeps until our holidays now!  Whoohoooo, but my god so much to do .... the usual wash, iron, pack and sort the kids comes into play - as well as me having the pleasure of "trying on my summer gear" ... don't you just HATE that task!  I do, as nothing ever looks / feels right .... best get my ass into gear really!  Oh I also need to lose that stone or 2 that keeps hovering about!?

Anyway, let me tell you about the MADDEST thing I've heard in a while ..... long story short I was telling a couple of mum's the other day that I'd done a load of washing and I'd accidently washed a pull up at the same time .... As you can imagine what a bloody mess.  My friend then told me that she'd heard of somebody who washes baby wipes and reuses them!  I kid you not this is the truth - as the lady who does this came forward on twitter and admitted to it ............. I'm speechless to say the least and surely there's no wipe left once it's been washed!?

On a more serious note, Parents 2 Bee are doing really well with the sales of our natural products at Harefield Water Gardens ...... We are thrilled and as a thank you we took Sandra (the owner) a lovely house plant.  Only when I'd reflected on my day that night, I did wonder 'is taking a plant to the lady who owns a garden centre a wierd thing to do???!'  .... I guess it's like taking sand to the dessert really!  Anyway moving on .......................

The sun has been here!  At last and how fabulous!  The sun makes eveything feel / seem sooooo much better.  I really do hope this is the start of our summer - as the rain is just yack.  However, today was particularly miserable with us having RAIN all day - but hopefully tomoz is gonna be a scorcher ..... it best had be, as we have a little 'shin dig' planned to celebrate the Jubilee - in a nutshell, booze & BBQ on the front with some neighbours  - beltin!  Sally is so excited as she just LOVES playing out with all the kids in our road.

Talking of Sally let me give you an insight into some of her latest questions ............  Brace yourselves!

• What flavour are mints?
• Does Winnie the pooh have any brothers or sisters?
• How did you get Ruby out of your tummy?  And did she bang her head?
• Do walkers crisps walk?

The list goes on - these are just some of my favourites!  I'm sure you all have some questions like this from your little people - please feel free to share them with us.

In the meantime, get your teeth, fingers, eyes and toes crossed that we get some good weather and keep your eyes peeled for Parents 2 Bee, as the time of year is here where we'll be at lots of school gala's and local craft events.

Enjoy the loooooooong bank holiday ............. be rude not to really!  

Until next time :))

"Thank You Shop Keeper" .......

Well hello and welcome back!  So much has been happening I have only just found time to type!  I guess you are wondering about the title of "Thank you shop keeper" aren't you?  Well let me tell you this is what Sally now thinks I am - I think she honestly thinks I am a shop keeper!  If I give her a drink she says "Thank you shop keeper" - in fact whatever I give her she says it!  How very bizarre!

So you'll recall from last time that when we signed off we were just off to make our Easter Bonnet .... In summary, it was OK .... not brilliant & not dreadful .... Probably used too much glue - but Sally didn't get high from it, so all in all I guess it went OK!

Easter was fun & action packed with friends & family ...... Highlight for the kids was receiving an abundance of chocolate.  Highlight for us proud parents was that Sally gave her dummies to the 'pesky Easter bunny' ..... Something we dreaded - but a week in and we are doing GREAT!  The first few nights she cried for them, now she's forgotten all about them - Horaaay!  I tried to relate to it in terms of giving up smoking ... as for those who have smoked will know that giving up is HARD .... I stopped 4 years ago - only cos I was prego!  Never gone back to it though!  I've often thought about it though ... in fact I craved it dreadfully when I had given birth to Ruby - Bizarre!

The absolute NIGHTMARE of the Easter Hols was that Sally got her head caught in the railings of a wrought iron gate!  We can laugh now, but my god it was HIDEOUS at the time!  She was playing in her pal Alfie's garden and they were pretending to be cats!  As Alfie's cat walked through the bars of the gate and they thought they'd try it too!  Alfie got through and Sally got stuck!  Thankfully Mark found some inner strength, turned himself into David Bannerman (aka Incredible Hulk) and pulled the bars apart and her head popped out!  I can safely say that this has been my biggest parental nightmare to date .... Anybody willing to share one of theirs?

Anyway ................ As we mooch into Spring and the weather is now getting colder!  We are starting on 'house hold projects' ... The key ones are:

• decluttering (Everything and Anything!)
• sorting garden, and
• Making sure that Mr Heron doesn't return to our pond EVER!

Our pond is now 6 years old and for some reason 'Mr Heron' has decided he rather quite likes coming to pay us a visit.  Thankfully Mark has now changed is tactic from shouting "FFS Heron just F**k off" to "Get out of it!" ... How much is that 'Dad language'!   Only today we spied him twice - so the mission of the week is to 'get rid' .... Please send all suggestions on a Post Card!  I'll keep you posted!

Parents 2 Bee are now entering into their 5th month of life - impressed?  I am - as let me tell you juggling 2 small kids, sorting general day to day house stuff & having some form of grown up life is a MAJOR achievement!  Thanks to all who are recommending us - it really is very much appreciated.   It seems to date that the most popular items are:

                           Newborn Hamper

              Natural Products 'Mummy Gift Pack'

Keep up with the good work of spreading the word folks and remember to tell people about our website too www.parents2bee.com

Can't believe I have got this far and haven't told you that Ruby is now crawling!  Horaaay and brill - but my god I am demented!  I spend my day saying "NO" to nearly everything Sally does, whilst watching Ruby and dragging her our from under the table, off the dog bowl, out of the cupboard!  It really is madness!  I've often thought about recording a "day in my life" so I can watch it back and see  what actually goes on, as everything seems to bloody well merge into one!

Before I sign off can I just bore you with how happy our house is that Liverpool have got through to the FA Cup final - it's just the best!  Hopefully Mark will get a ticket from somewhere and go - I hope he does as he's never been to one before.  Anybody else out there cheering for the reds? (Liverpool that is!)  If not, please think of us on the 5th May and cheer us on ... No doubt "chav cafe" will have the flags flying!

Finally for all those who are about to welcome a new arrival in the next few weeks or so - good luck!  Cherish EVERYTHING about it - even the pain!  We're 3 weeks away from celebrating our youngest daughters 1st birthday - I just don't know where that year has gone - I honestly don't.  I guess now is the time to reflect upon the last few weeks of my pregnancy with her and her arrival into our world - makes me smile thinking about it & gives me lots of happy tears...............  Until next time folks :))

Ps.  Thank you for reading shop keepers!

Dear NEXT ......

Please could you show 'real' sized woman in your catalogue - especially in the swimwear section!  Yes the time is here and I am now picking swimwear for holidays.  11 weeks on Saturday until we go to sunny Portugal - so as I type I am now on day 7 of being "good" .... not doing great, as so far have had several huge ice creams in the park with the kids & I'd swallowed a whole piece of toast with butter at a toddler group, then remembered I'm being "good"!  Oh and we had a curry last night!! Hopefully next week will be better - as after all anything goes at the weekend right?

Funniest thing I've heard in a while was last week - when Sally was looking at the fish tank and said "mummy, why isn't that fish drinking his water up, why mummy?" ..... I thought it was hilarious!  Not quite as funny as when I caught her sticking a bread stick into Ruby's ear as a substitute cotton bud!   Other classic questions this week have been:

• What makes us shattered mummy?
• What makes us hungry mummy?
• How do planes stop?

I constantly find myself talking rubbish as I attempt to answer!!  I am sure it makes some sense though!!

I am sure you'll all agree that the change in weather is just superb!  What a HUGE difference it makes being able to be outside all the time - loving it.  I like it when you spend more of your day outside, than inside ..... Even better that the clocks have changed this weekend too - horaaaay!!

We had our first 'Sunny BBQ' of the year today and what a nice time was had by all.  Rubes hung out in her high chair squealing with delight at anything & everything, whilst Sally trolled around in her usual knickers & crocs watering the plants ................. you gotta love it!

Yesterday saw the grand opening of 'chav cafe' - in a nutshell - me and a few neighbours sit out front with the kids, some wine and our deck chairs!  It's been going  for a few years now - we know that it's so god damn chavvy to sit out front, so that's why we named it 'chav cafe' .... let me tell you though, we've had many a good conversation out there!  Some that aren't for repeating either!  What have you guys done to celebrate the arrival of the sunshine this weekend?

Parents 2 Bee continues to generate lots of questions from new mums & I am gaining new followers every day - so don't forget to think of us when your picking gifts for mums & dads 2 bee .... Everybody loves something unique!


So what does the week ahead have in store for us?

• fun in the sun
• ice creams (kids only!)
• questions galore from soon to be 3 year old
• parks, playgrounds and more

The BIG event of the week is the Easter Bonnet parade on Tuesday at toddlers!  We have our equipment to make it - so just need to make it now ................... I'm feeling that this is somewhat of a HUGE parental task - so best get crackin'.

Enjoy the sunshine and be safe ............ cheerio!

Araf!

For those who have travelled to Wales, you will know that 'Araf' means 'slow' and is written on the floor of roads as you approach every bend going.  Still to this day though I feel the urge to shout out 'Araf' when I see it on the floor ..... must be some form of tourettes - I do hope not!

Anyway, hello from Anglesey!  Yes here we are on day 3 of our week away.  So far so good - the house is mega, the weather is great and it's a new adventure for everyone!  Sally is LOVING it and her new word of the moment is 'orchard' .... "Mummy shall we go to the orchard?" ...."Mummy I've been to the orchard with daddy" .... So funny to listen to her and most importantly watch her mooching about the orchard in her knickers & wellies - you didn't think coming away would change her fashion sense did you??!

The build up to coming away was immense - wash, iron, pack .....wash, iron, pack .... for what seemed like days!  So much so that I may start packing for our next jolly in June when we get home!  We also had a little trip to the drs for both girls: tonsillitis for Sally & a viral infection for Rubes.  For those of you with young kids, does it not just drive you insane when the GP says 'viral infection' - honestly it drives me nuts.  Thankfully though they are alot better now and seem thrilled to be on holiday with mummy, daddy and Harry the dog!  Harry who actually turned 6 yesterday!

If you've been reading previous posts you will probably know by now that I'm quite into music - always have been to be honest.  Yesterday I heard a song I haven't heard in years "Mary's Prayer by Danny Wilson" - guilty pleasure or what - love it!  Go and you tube it now - you know you want to!  I've also heard a couple of Michael Jackson songs recently too and just can't believe that he is actually dead.  He was such a HUGE icon when I was growing up - such a shame and what big news that was.

Talking of BIG news, Parents 2 Bee are thrilled to tell you that our 'Natural Products' are now on sale at Harefield Water Gardens http://harefieldwatergardens.com/ - the finest 'Water Gardening Specialists' in the North West - as well as being the home to 'Experience Alpaca' - http://experiencealpaca.co.uk/ - check out their sites & take a visit to see their fabulous range of 'luxury hand knitted alpaca accessories' - they really are sensational and our Parents 2 Bee 'natural products' compliment them perfectly.

So as we zoom into March I can honestly say that I am now feeling somewhat excited at the prospect of lighter nights, spring / summer and of course being outside alot more.  Only yesterday I saw a little old lady walking along the roadside picking some daffodils - it made me smile and think 'how nice - what a lovely thing to do'.  We are very much an 'outdoors' family - in fact before we had kids, our pals would always come over for dinner and bring their coats / fleeces as they knew we'd end up outside by the pond with the fire on!  The outdoor life is something I definitely want for Sally & Rubes, as I grew up on a farm and loved it!  How many of you guys like the outdoor life?

Did I tell you that we are horse racing fans?  Well we are ..... So with Cheltenham starting tomorrow for 4 days we're thrilled!  So please feel free to send me your top tips!  Who know's if we play our cards right we could be millionaires this time next week?!

Moving on to more important things who do we think killed Frank in corrie??  At first I thought it was his mum (still not sure to be honest) ... now I think it's that Jenny or Michelle .... Sad I know and I should get out more, but with 2 kids under 3 nights out are very few & far between these days.

On that note I will leave you with a couple of bizarre facts that I have stumbled across recently:

• 'stewardess' is the longest word that can be typed with only the left hand
• 40% of McDonald's profits come from the sales of Happy Meals
• A crocodile cannot stick it's tongue out
• A horse can sleep standing up

Please feel free to share your 'bizarre facts' too!  That's all folks - have a great week!

What happened to February 2012?

You might well ask yourself the same question right?  Where the hell has February gone to?  It's as if somebody has flicked a switch, fast forwarded 3.5 weeks and here we are about to enter March 2012 - I just can't believe it.

So what's been happening?  On the home front, all is well - the girls are thriving, if somewhat challenging as well .... Sally's latest is to 'wallop' Rubes has hard as she can!  You might well laugh, but my goodness me, poor Rubes is getting plotched left, right and centre.  Hence, they can not be left out of my sight for a second these days - I even have to drag Sally to the toilet with me!  Anybody else in this boat?  I keep telling Sally that Ruby will get her own back one day!

I also think we are in the midst of the 'terrible 2's' - if we aint, well god help my patience (what's left of it!) if it hasn't arrived yet!  Here is a snap shot of my daily vocab:

• Don't do that
• Get off there
• Leave her alone
• Stop it
• I am warning you
• Right behave
• Why have you done that
• Say sorry
• That is not acceptable behaviour

You get the idea?  The most frustrating part is the fact that you have to say these things at least 50 times or more .... That is not an exaggeration!

The funniest part of it is Sally now says "Mummy is this acceptable behaviour?" .... I had to go out of the room to LOL before I answered her!

Only today at the weekly 'mummy club' meet up did we all say how our 'beautiful precious babies' have turned into 'monsters!' .... we laughed about it though and for anyone wondering about 'Sambuca Liz' - she said she is running low on supplies and reckons there's only a few swings left!

A few swigs hey - wish that is all I'd had the other week at one of the neighbours parties .... A 1st birthday party might I add.  It was one of those parties where the host & hostess are 'top admin dudes' - by that I mean 'your glass isn't empty before it's topped up again' ............ Great afternoon had by all - so much so Sally & Rubes practically put themselves to bed when we got home!

We are currently revving up for Mothers Day at Parents 2 Bee ..... seems the Natural products are proving to be a BIG hit and the feedback I am getting is really positive - so if you haven't spoilt your mummy yet, why not buy her a little moisturiser, body scrub or facial wash, as part of her gift.

 Mummy Body Scrub - £5.75              Mummy Papaya Facial Wash - £6.50                                            

Mummy Moisturiser - £5.25

As always this is just a snap shot of some of the great gift ideas we have.  Check out our website for all the latest & greatest www.parents2bee.com

HUGE disaster of the moment is my car - In a nutshell it's 'very poorly'.  Long story short it has been at the garage since Wed and I am still to hear when it is back.  The downside was I didn't have a loan car until Friday night, so that meant I was house bound with the sprats for 3 full days!!  Arrrrgggggh! .. we survived though.

The upside however, is that on Friday night the garage very kindly came up with a loan car for me.  Here's how the conversation went:

Garage to Me: "Hi Kate, just pop down when you can, we've put a nice 4 door family car to one side for you - it'll be perfect for you"

Me to Garage: "Brilliant - I'll get there as soon as my mum & dad get here, as they are looking after the kids"

Everything seems straight forward right?  I then get to the garage:

Garage to Me:  That's yours over there - is that OK?

Me to Garage:  "Errrrrr yes that's fine .... For those who know me well - you will understand when I said it was fine - I was lying!!"  I am now driving around in what can only be described as a 'pizza delivery car' ..... admittedly it gets me from A to B and I am no longer house bound - but on a serious note it is hideousness on wheels ............................

Fingers crossed my car will be back with me ASAP!

Holiday countdown is on - 2 weeks until Anglesey - can't wait!  Trying to get as many holidays in as we can before we are tied to school holidays - boo hoo or what!  It's just so expensive.  I am sure there are alot of you out there who are tied to them already ...... Do / Would you take your kids out of school to go on a cheaper holiday?   I would - whether I'd get them out is another thing though, as I believe it's becoming impossible to do.

My Uni pal finally had her baby - a baby girl, Claudia Rose, she weighed 10lb 8oz and I am dying to hear if she had her naturally or not.  When I found out the news I crossed my legs immediately and pulled aN 'ouch' face.

Tablet Pete (aka my Dad) is back on his travels in Tenerife this time ......... Seems he is doing really well with his 'tablet' and has connected to a local wifi - we've already received 2 emails this week (they only went on Saturday!)

Anyway, suppose I best mooch now as 'stuff' to do - isn't there just always 'stuff' to do!  I wonder what it would be like if there was never anything to do ............... hmmmmm one can wonder - that's all folks!

Happy Valentines!

"Abracadabra!" "Izzy wizzy lets get bizzy!" ... no matter how many magic spells I attempt to cast the ironing still stays there!  Cor don't you just HATE ironing!  It's one of those thankless tasks in life - a little like changing the toilet roll, emptying the bin - It's a chore!

Okay my number 1 pet hate this week is 'people parking in parent / child spaces who don't have kids in their car' ..... this drives me crazy!!  I feel like yelling out of the window "Oi where's your kids?" .. But I don't .... I just drive very slowly and stare at them!  Does this drive anybody else crazy? 

It dawned on me over the last few days that looking after 2 children on a daily basis, makes looking after 1 child seem like a piece of cake (and I thought that was hard at times!) ... Good grief, talk about challenging ... Sally is like an Olympic athlete and runs everywhere at 100mph - this includes everywhere in the house as well!  Whilst Rubes is now just over 9 months and wants to stand ALL day long ... she'll be walking before we know it - I can just tell.  We're in trouble then aren't we??!  I keep thinking about them both walking and think "OMG how an earth will I control you both!" ... All fun & games right?  Or in the words of Miranda (my favourite comedian EVER) - such fun!!

An example of this weeks battles have been:

• Shoes on / shoes off
• clothes on / clothes off
• brushing teeth
• brushing hair (Sally HATES this) - she often looks like Wurzel Gummidge!
• Car seat
• Drying hair
• Eating food

The list goes on ................ It's just a 'phase' apparently!  Bloody 'phase' what a stupid word!

We're still addicted to OBEM and have now got into 'Protecting our children' - my goodness me - it plays on my mind so much it's untrue.  It makes me LOVE mine even more - something I didn't think was possible.

Thinking about Mothers Day at the moment and gifts that us at Parents 2 Bee can offer - here's a little taster of some beautiful gifts for all those mummies out there:

I love Mummy photo frame - £6.99

Complete 'mummy gift pack' - natural products - £19.50

Both items can be bought online at www.parents2bee.com - there are lots of other items to look at too!  That reminds me all the natural product samples have been sent out now, so remember to check out our facebook page to read customer comments / reviews - so far so good - we like!!
Sally has continues to constantly strip off and just mooches about the house in over sized shoes and underwear ... how funny.  Something happened the other day and I said "oh what a rubbish mummy I am" She said "yes you are"  "You need a new head, new eyes, new nose and new tummy!" - I howled!  Not as much as I laughed when she said to me and her daddy the other night "Bye Bye people!" - How funny is that at all!

HUGE faux pas this week - I went to an indoor play area and had a hole in my sock - the SHAME!  I instantly tried to scooch my sock around once I'd spotted it and immediately put the socks in the bin when I got home - as I could just imagine people saying "look how scummy she is over there" .. As I know I'd have said it!

Feeling very thrilled at the thought that Ruby is just over 9 months, so under normal circumstances - i..e if I had a job, I would be coming to the end of my mat leave now.  I can honestly say I am delighted that I am indeed a stay at home mum - which allows me to enjoy her more and more .... lovely.

Date night this Saturday with other half - what an earth will we talk about?!  I am sure we'll be just fine - I just keep thinking how nice it will be to eat a meal a) that is hot for the duration, b) is served to me and c) doesn't have the waft of baby sick looming over it!

Happy Valentines folks - Hope you have fun celebrating!

Kids 'v' OCD .............

This week I have mostly been buying 'plastic storage tubs' .... for all those toys that just keep getting lashed all over the house!  My goodness me .... Kids 'v' OCD .... I honestly don't think I need to go there!!  It simply puts me over the edge!  Least when the toys are in a plastic box it's not as messy!


Sally excelled at swimming this week - really loved it, jumped in off the float and generally liked it a whole load more than last week.  So from now on we say "bring it on to swimming" .... in fact I'm really looking forward to taking her again this week.

We've briefly touched on OCD right?  Can I ask you 'has your car turned into a skip since having kids?' .... I have cr*p EVERYWHERE!!  So this week I thought 'enough is enough' and even the inside of the car has a bloody plastic storage box in it now - 2 in fact!  One for each of the them!  I was amazed at a) how instantly tidy it now looks and b) how much cr*p there actually was!

A friend of mine renamed toddlers to oddlers a few months back - how apt hey!  Don't toddlers, aka oddlers do the most bizarre things?  Sally has become obsessed with mooching around the house in knicks, vest & wellies!  A bit young for the Glasto look you maybe thinking ....however, it keeps her happy - so that's a BIG thumbs up in my book.

She has also taken to saying "that's a nice car mummy" to every car we drive past!  She really is hilarious!  I feel like I've gone deaf when she starts nursery in September.  Yikes!

The big wait is over now and I am DELIGHTED to show off my natural products for Parents 2 Bee ... Here is a clip of the Mummy and Baby Gift packs ... They are on sale at www.parents2bee.com and I guarantee you wont be disappointed!

Mummy Gift Pack



Baby Gift Pack

All natural products can be bought in ones as well - in fact you can buy as many or as little as you like! 

You know you hear old wives tales all the time?  Well a couple of weeks ago somebody told me that if you rub Vick's onto your child's feet, then they wont cough at night.  Yeah right hey?  Anyway, I tried it and let me tell you IT WORKED!!! I have no idea how it worked - but it did.  Sally had been coughing dreadfully all day - for a few days in fact - so I put the Vick's on and not one cough all night!  Has anybody else tried this?  If not, do it!

Ruby has now come into her own and is sleeping for 12 hours a night!  Whooohooooo - we have finally turned the corner!  Wish the same could be said for Sally though .. To be fair she does sleep for 12 hours - however, tends to wake a couple of times in the night for NOTHING!  Admittedly it has got better - she woke alot more when Rubes first arrived - so we are now showing her the 'gro clock' .. in summary, kip when the stars are on - wake when the sun comes up .... SIMPLES hey!  Will somebody please come and tell Sally that the idea is not for Mummy to come and watch the sunrise with her!!

Sunrises hey ... One of my favourite things, that along with sunsets & waterfalls.  How peaceful.  Ahhhh reminds me of the year out I had mooching about Australia & South East Asia in 98/99.  The only places I mooch about these days are in washing machines, play groups, play centres and nappies!  All good though.  I'm defo going to encourage my kids to explore the world - A like Dora the Explorer!

Time is ticking and I really need to do 'stuff' ... nothing precise or mission critical - just stuff that somehow seems to consume my whole day.

Arctic blast is on the way - so crank your heating up, get your supplies in and lets hope there is enough snow to have a bit of fun with our wee ones ...........That's all folks!





Bailey's or Wine?

This is the question I am asking myself as I sit here tapping away .... I've gone for Baileys (more bloody left over chrimbo swag!)


Anyway, hello, hope you've had a good week and welcome back!  For those who are reading for the first time - glad you found us!


I am sure you are all dying to know how swimming went aren't you??  So here goes - Swimming ................ the truth!

• Didn't lose 2 stone in time
• Didn't dive bomb into the pool
• Didn't look remotely glam in costume (they make you look a size zero under water though - so that was fine!)
• Did however enjoy QUALITY time with Sally - which was the main purpose of going, as she wanted to go and she also wanted to do something just me and her.

All in all it went OK - I feel Sally likes the idea of it more than the reality of it ... She clung onto me for dear life for the majority of the half hour, screamed to get out and go for a "wee wee" about 80 times & at the end told me she quite liked it!  Go figure ...........


Anyway, we've joined.  We are now officially on the puddle ducks programme for a further 8 weeks - so hopefully by then she'll be into it!  I'm determined to persevere as I think swimming is important.  Let me tell you though getting dry after swimming is still stupid .... a) you never seem to get properly dry, b) your feet, even though wiped loads, are always wet when you put them into your socks and c) trying to get yourself and a toddler dry at the same time isn't that funny!  The main thing though is we SURVIVED!


Sally's BIG repetitive question this week is "Mummy I might have another sister might en I?"  I quickly follow this up with "Errrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr  Nooooooooooooooo!!"


Believe me I am only (only just that is!) cut out to have 2 kids - I have great admiration for those with more than 2 and even greater admiration for those with kids who work part/full time as well .... How an earth do you do it??!  I grumble to myself on a daily basis about "not done this" .. "need to do that" .... "must sort that" ... etc. and I'm at stay at home mum!  Well I'm a stay at home mum who goes out and about all the time .... Summary of this weeks events are:

• Indoor play centres x 3
• Lunch with pal x 1
• Morning coffee with pal x 1
• Tea for Sally and her pal x 2
• Parks x 1
• Swimming x 1
• Tidy of toy room x 5 million
• Tesco shop x 1
• Toddler group x 1
• Tantrums x lost count!
• Wine x can't remember!

At times its really hard and frustrating - mainly because of Sally and Ruby's ages (2, 9mth) - but once I've sat quietly and reflected on my day, I tell myself how lucky I am to be such a HUGE part of my kids life at this very point in time - as they are only this age once.  Crikey before I know it we'll be in hormone melt down & there'll be tears over boys!  Good grief!


Are many of you stay at home mums?  If so, what's your biggest challenge?  For those working as well - what's your biggest challenge?
One of my pet hates at the moment is the amount of people who think Ruby is a boy!  I just don't get it .... she is nearly always in dresses & tights and has a really girly face.  Even Sally has started saying back to them "It's a girl ... that's baby Ruby you know" .... I on the other hand can't be assed correcting them and just say "yes he's gorgeous - thank you".
A bit of a giddy countdown going on at the moment ... a few weeks til a mini break in Anglesey - I say mini break, it's actually a full week in a rather nice cottage by the beach - perfect for Harry. 


Have I told you about Harry?  Harry is the family pet.  He is our soon to be 6 year old chocolate lab - we ADORE him.  Even in the rain (when he comes in and stomps about with his big wet feet!).  For those with dogs you'll know where I'm coming from .... we've had him since a puppy and he's soooooo lovely - brilliant with the kids.  In fact, he sleeps on the landing in between their bedrooms - he's fab!


The plus side about going to Anglesey is that we won't have to get our "summer clothes" out ... yehaaaa to hats, scarfs, water proofs & big walks ..... really looking forward to it!  The summer clothing dilema kicks in in another couple of months time ... will worry about that then.


You remember me telling you about my dad and his tablet?  Well get this ... he's excelled.  Mum and Dad are currently on a cruise.  To date he has found wifi in Tenerife somewhere and has written a very funny message on my fb wall and today he text me to tell me he has found wifi in Maderia!  Brilliant or what!


Parents 2 Bee - http://www.parents2bee.com/ has gone from strength to strength this week with marketing / advertising / making connections ... I'm pleased - really pleased in fact.  The natural product samples will be going out this week - so don't forget to check my Parents 2 Bee fb page for customer reviews.


Bailey's finished ...... just pouring another - ahhhhh.


Had a really goof "catch up" phone call with one of my pals from Uni this week ... In summary she has just started Mat leave and her first question was "Kate does labour REALLY hurt? ... Is it like it is on one born every minute?"  Diplomatic (as I can be sometimes you know!) .. I said "it's amazing" ... "It's a good pain" .... I'm even laughing at my response!  I didn't like to say "hurts like hell and getting run over is rather more appealing!"  No doubt she'll be reading this soon - hopefully after she's delivered!

Cor what did we think to One born every minute this week?  I thought it was bloody brilliant!!  I cried and cried and cried - what a brilliant real life situation - I've told myself to think about the disabled lady next time I have a moan .... we're lucky guys! 

In fact I've cried twice this week ............ I'm ashamed to tell you what made me cry the 2nd time ... I'll say it quickly "Becky leaving Corrie" ... there I've said it.  How sad am I - what made me cry the most was when she said bye to Roy and Hayley ... I honestly need to have a word with myself!  I bet some of you cried as well - go on admit it you did!

Bored of Baileys now .... moving onto wine - ahhhh.

Think I may have a scan through some tunes before going to bed.  I asked a question on my Parents 2 Bee facebook page this week about "what songs are your guilty pleasures?"  I have so many it's not funny and of course I think I sound like them when I sing them - don't you?

Songs I've heard this week - which aren't guilty pleasures - but are songs I've not heard in ages & I love them are:

• Killing me softly - Fugees
• Living Years - Mike and the Mechanics
• There is a light that never goes out - Morrissey

Anyway, best mooch - wine to drink - have a good week folks.

What flavour are your ......

...... knickers?! 

Yes this is the question that Sally asked her child minder this week!!  When Sandra told me I absolutely ROARED with laughter ... how funny is that at all!

2 more classic comments from Sally over the last couple of days have been:

• Why are our heads on our necks?
  and
• Its on that website over there mum!

Talk about hilarious - we constantly howl at her - love it.  I wish I was 2 and a half again!

So what's been happening?  The usual: play groups, soft play centres, meeting with friends and their kids - which is always great - but my god doesn't your house get trashed!!  Prior to kids I was somewhat of a Monica tidy freak - however, I must admit that this is slowly going, as I find myself tripping over constant c*ap!  And saying 'don't worry about it'.

For those local to St.Helens you'll know what I mean when I say "Sally has now met Jonny Wellies!" .... we saw him the other day in town - my hasn't he aged!!  He still said hello though (like he knows who we are!)

The highlight of the week so far has been seeing my completed 'natural' products for mummy & baby - they look brilliant - even if I do say so myself!  They will be on the web page @ http://www.parents2bee.com/ by the end of the week ... I can't wait for you all to see them.

I'm thrilled that I have already had a lot of interest and will be sending 10 lots of samples out this week - remember to check the Parents 2 Bee facebook page to read my customers reviews / feedback .... Exciting!  In fact whilst your there you can just 'tick' the 'like' button if you haven't done already.

As you know I am a full time mum now and I have told Sally we can do whatever she wants / any day of the week .... I didn't however realise that she was so desperate to go swimming - she asks can we go all the time ... Soooooooooooooo, brace yourselves - we're going!  Yep this Thursday (that'll be 5 sleeps away) Sally & I are going to Puddle Ducks at 10am!  So my question to you is "is it realistic to think I can lose 2 stone in 5 days?" ......... Answers on a postcard perleeeeeease!

Coupled with the thought of going swimming - is the outfit you need to wear to go swimming!  Urgh!  Sally obviously looks cute & ace in her Peppa Pig costume .. I however, will put my costume on ... leg it to the pool, do a bomb into the water & will hopefully not get noticed!!  .... What a visual!" .....I'll fill you in next time as to what happens at the dreaded baths!

Being a mum of 2 I find it fascinating to watch my girls grow ... It's a kind of happy / sad thing ..... Your happy they are growing up - but sad that the are - does that make sense??  Like those of you with kids, I am certain you can recall everything that happened in your labour ....I can!!  And if your like me you love a good old birth story!  Which reminds me at http://www.parents2bee.copm/ we do a fabulous 'labour survival kit' & beautiful new born hampers ... check them out when you get chance.

Seems this blog is proving to be a hit - I am getting loads of good feedback ... You wont believe how many people asked me about Liz & if it was true - you know my friend who used to have a shot of sambuca at bath time?  Well from now on she's going to be known as "Sambuca Liz".  She turned 40 a couple of weeks ago and what a great time we had celebrating.

If like me you are in your 30's ... do I say mid to late - then you'll have heard of 'tablets' and 'skins'.  Words that when I was growing up where associated with Ecstasy tablets and skins for rolling a joint ... God knows what they are known as these days.

Anyway, it seems that those 2 words are back in play.  Only yesterday Mark went "tablet shopping" with my dad and upon departure said "I'll order you a skin from amazon" .... So for those in the know - my dad now has a tablet - you know the iPad type tablet.  Brilliant you may all say - but let me tell you a little bit about my dad and modern technology!!  Like me, he loves gadgets - we always seem to end with the latest gizmo's ... however, he isn't that patient when it comes to sussing them out ... Classic example was when he joined facebook a few years ago - he status read "Mr Webster is in a open relationship!" .. I instantly phoned him - mum answered (so no open relationship there) and told him what he'd done .... His next status update read - are you ready for this?  "Mr Webster is not in an open relationship, it was a scrolling error!" ............ oh how we've laughed over that.

Nearly as much as when Mark phoned my mum & dad's house at 5am to tell them that Ruby had been born.  My dad answered the phone and repeated their phone number!  Do people still do this or is it only my Dad??  ..... We've laughed alot about that too!! 

Before signing off I'd like to know:

1. Do all kids at MacDonalds eat all their chips first? Or is it just Sally! I personally prefer to mix & match!
2. Why do strangers think it's totally acceptable to talk to your children and tell you how nice they are?
   
   and finally,
3. Is it possible to lose 2 stone in 5 sleeps???!

On that note I better place that packet of mini cheddars back into the cupboard and practise the art of breathing in!  Oh my ........... Laters!

When do you stop saying Happy New Year?

A question I have often wondered about for quite a while now .... "When do you stop saying Happy New Year?" ... I quite like the 'buzz feeling' of a new year starting - however, I must admit I do get quite bored with saying it to everyone!  So here we are in mid Jan - how did that happen?

So much has happened already .... Obviously we have continued to attend our soft play centres & toddler groups - which I must admit I am getting quite into them now.  In the beginning it was hard, as I was so used to working full time - but since being made redundant in 2010 - my life is now following a very different path and I like it - in fact I  LOVE it!  To be honest I don't have time to work anymore!  In fact I'm glad I don't as I'd be missing out on conversations like this:

Sally to Me ... "Mummy I don't want to be a toddler anymore"
Me to Sally - "Why not Sal?  What do you want to be?"
Sally to Me - "I want to be a strawberry"

You can't argue with that can you!?  So much better than a work conversation e.g "must be done by Q3 - we'll have budget in 2012 - It's mission critical" ..... blah, blah, blah .... I bet these dudes don't even know who Mr Tumble is - or what time Cbeebies starts & that if you are bored of it you can always flick to Milkshake, as Peppa is on a 06:45 week days! 

06:45 hey .... We've already been up a good hour by then.  Mark is up and out by 6am and the girls start waking around 5.30am onwards ... sometimes Sally will go to 7am - but believe me this is RARE!  To be honest it's fine by me - as we are all happy & healthy - which to me is priceless.

I'm having problems with my car at the moment - so whilst in the garage the other day I managed to successfully bore the mechanic about "Parents 2 Bee" .... Don't collapse, but he was 'interested' - for the sole reason that he is also in the "kid zone".  Something you will only understand once it happens to you.  However, for those currently in the zone, tell people about the fantastic gift hampers on offer at "Parents 2 Bee" - as now you understand that receiving a fantastic gift hamper - is rather more appealing than receiving a bottle of bubbly, that a) will taste fab - but b) will make your next day with the kids feel like hell on earth!

2012 for me is going to be a year of making new contacts, working on my business and doing something different, that is just for me - that means no kids & no Mark - just me.  So I am thrilled to say that I have attended my 2nd WI Meeting!! ........... I can hear the bouts of laughter from here! ..... I bet you are all thinking "Jam and Jerusalem, knitting & old farts who do embroidery .... well you are on the right tracks!!!

Seriously now that is the impression everybody has of the WI - but remember we are in 2012 now - times / things have changed and some ladies just want a social outlet once a month.  I am joining merely because I want some adult conversation - as with me not working that is the one thing I miss the most.  I am also joining so I can network, learn new skills and hang out with like minded people.  If you live in St.Helens, Merseyside and like the sound of it - check out WISH (WI St.Helens / Stand by your Jam!) .... It's on facebook - So give it a go - 'don't knock it til you've tried it!'

Over the past couple of weeks it has been brought to my attention that I have actually interacted with alot of 'Nice folk' - these range from owners of local business, to a group of ladies in a play centre who told me they are there every Friday if I want to go along.  Isn't that a nice thing to do!  I am going to take them up on their offer and will try and go every other Friday, as one of the "mummy club" mum's has told me about a swimming session that we can go to - this is also on a Friday.  Given the fact that Sally will love swimming - we're going ... However, it is necessary to consider that 'baby weight' isn't the easiest thing to shift ... so one thinks it's only fair that ones body (in swimsuit ... ooooh!) is only exposed every other week ....

I must share with you the Best Joke I've heard in ages:
"I put some shelves up the other day and they weren't straight so everything rolled off. My chap told me to go to the library and get a book on DIY. I went in and asked the librarian "Do you have any books on shelves?" She replied, "Are you takin the piss?"

Hopefully it made you smile - made me roar!

If there was an 'outstanding achievement' award to be won in our house, I think I would be the winner!  Sole reason being that I have in fact managed to keep a Christmas Poinsettia (had to google the spelling of that!) plant alive for more than 6 weeks now!!!  Believe me this is OUTSTANDING!  They usually last a couple of days .. must be the mild weather hey.

Yes sunshine and blue sky in January - LOVE IT.  We even played out on Friday ... It was great as Sally pedalled her little bike on her own for the first time - how fab!  For those with kids I believe the best thing you can do for kids is create good memories.  Happy kids = happy parents and vice versa.

My final thought at the moment is "what is worse .... getting a new passport photo after 10 years and comparing it with the old one?"  Or is it "Going to M&S for a bra measurement when you haven't been in years?"

I'll leave that thought with you .......... As I'm still very much in shock over both of these events!!

5, 4, 3, 2, 1 .................. Happy New Year!!

And what a great start Parents 2 Bee are having to 2012 .... We now have 3 major businesses within St.Helens who are willing to advertise our services for free .... what's there not to like about that?! ... Er nothing.

We are also weeks away from launching our very own "natural" products for mummy & baby - so keep your eyes peeled for the launch and don't forget to tell your pals ... Might even be a nice gift for any of your work friends who are just about to go on mat leave?

Talking of mat leave, I had my first stinit of mat leave in 2009 when I had Sally - It was GREAT!  I had the whole summer off, met lots of new people and generally had a really good time.  Only this morning I met up with some of the "mummy club" gang and we got to talking about "how hard it was in the beginning" ... I even confessed to having to ask my sister in law how to make a bottle! 

However, I must share this ... for those of you with young kids, you'll know that between 5pm - 6pm is hell on earth!  The kids are as narky as anything and you just want that extra hour out of them .... I guess people have their own way of getting through this ... I personally just used to do anything to occupy Sally ..... My pal Liz reminded me today how she used to have a shot of Sambuca!  She claims it made the hour less painful and bath time whizzed by!  Of course we howled .... Does anybody else do a shot of Sambuca to get through the last hour??

I guess we're all tuned into 'one born every minute' at the moment .... I just LOVE this programme.  It makes me laugh / cringe and cry .... It brings back all those memories of the 'dreaded labour' and reminds me how amazing it is when you see your baby for the first time.  I had Sally at 37 weeks and remember being so proud / thrilled / elated it was untrue!  Mark and I just sat there sobbing - it was fantastic!  I often think back about the night she arrived and laugh that Mark appeared in the delivery suite with his little rucsac of 'labour swag' wearing a WHITE top ... Just made me laugh.

Rubes also arrived early - 38 weeks for her.  Again we felt like we'd won the lottery when we saw her ... Just perfect.  This time it was different though - as we had the task of introducing her to Sally.  Gosh this was hard .... I remember seeing Mark and Sally walking down the ward to visit Rubes and I and I just burst into tears - uncontrollable tears.  Sally looked so grown up - where had my baby gone?  She was 22 months, but looked HUGE and Rubes looked like a 10p mix she was so small.   The tears soon subsided once I'd grabbed Sally and cuddled her so tightly - I'm sure she stopped breathing for a second!  Anyone else expecting baby number 2 at the moment?  If so good luck and hope everything goes to plan.  Thought of a name yet?

We are now 9 days into the New Year and it is already flying by ..... So I guess people are thinking about holidays, things to do throughout the year.  As per we are on top form with this one.  The 4 of us are going to Portugal in June for 2 weeks .... best get packing for it soon, we'll need that much stuff with a 1 year old & 3 year old!  Then later on in the year we are thinking maybe a trip to Centre Parcs, then away for New Year with our pals and their 2 kids - same age as ours - it's bound to be relaxing!!!

Before we think about next Christmas let me tell you what we have left from last christmas .........

• 6 petits pains .... cos we're always eating them (not!)
• Cheese & crackers (not even opened)
• Long tubes of smarties - not christmas if you don't get a long tube of sweets
• Peanuts & Crisps

So with all that in the house how am I supposed to lose a few pounds (better to be realistic) before holidays ............ The only answer is elastoplast ... I need to get a BIG piece and put it over my mouth to stop me eating it all!

Took Sally & Rubes to the Safari Park last Saturday ............. the highlight was a mouldy older cheddar Sally found in the car and a pheasent crossing the road!  Hopefully next time the HUGE ferocious lion and his pal the tiger will make a good impact.

Breaking news in our house is that Ruby has a tooth!  Whohoooooo ..... she's thrilled!  Her face seems to have changed since it's arrived .... not as much as my face has changed when I went to get my passport photo's done on Friday - OMG!  I honestly could not believe how different I looked from my previous paasport photo - admittidley it was 10 years ago ..... but good grief I was shocked!  These kids certainly know how to age you!  Best not for anybody to agree on this one hey!

Must dash as I can hear my name being shouted "Muuuuuummmmmy!" .... looks like the afternoon naps are done - let the afternoon fun & games begin!