Boys Winter Coats

A friend of mine made a cry for help as she was finding it difficult to buy a boys coat that wasn't black, brown or BORING. . . .what a surprise. For regular readers, it is such a bug bear of mine. Why oh why are boys clothes so boring? My friend wanted a coat that when she walked her son to school in winter, he would be seen and not blend into the winter dreariness. Like many mothers of boys she found it very difficult to find anything suitable.

I found these lovely coats while trying to help her, so thought I would share them with you.

This fabulous jacket is from River Island

BOYS BRIGHT BLUE WAXED YOKE QUILTED JACKET

Waxed yoke, zip through fastening, three pockets and detachable hood.

Comes in Red, Blue and Black.

And the best thing is. . .it is only £30

If you have a little bit more money in your pocket, Barbour have a great sale on at the moment with their lovely Nylon International Waterproof Jacket retailing at £71.47. Still great value

For sizes aged 2-9 

• 100% polyester outer
• 100% polyamide quilted lining
• Machine washable
• Back length: 22-28ins | 56-71.5cm
• Sizes: XXS-M | L-XXL

Terrible two's and Time moving on!

For regular readers,  apologies  for not posting for a while. I have no real excuse other than for some reason my joy of putting pen to paper (fingers to keyboard) left me. I hope to redress this in the next few weeks, I hope with a renewed vigor!

A lot has happened namely my 2 year old has gone from a toddler to a little boy (sob, sob!)

Caterpillar is potty trained (except for the past 4 days, when he decided it was "funny" to poo in his pants) Mummy hasn't laughed much!

Caterpillar has also dropped his sleep, so around 5 o clock is a little fraught in our household! The terrible 2s has hit with vengeance. How can a quiet loving little chap, turn into a tantrum throwing little monster, who blows raspberries at you when you tell him off!

Caterpillar has now moved into LBR room and his room has become a playroom.

Caterpillar is now an absolute demon on LBR scooter. He has the grazed chin and forehead to prove it!

Caterpillar has now started African Dancing and LOVES it. How can two children be so different. LBR absolutely hates noise (if he isn't making it) He still hates music, singing, dance and yet that is all Caterpillar wants to do. LBR idea of Hell is Caterpillars idea of heaven!

LBR is now able to read, really well. In a year he has gone from not knowing all his letters to reading well above his age. It really is very impressive what a good state primary school and  parent involvement can achieve!

Past, Present and putting Ghosts to Rest!

I have just come back home after a fabulous weekend. It is only the second time I have left the boys for the night and as I left yesterday morning with both boys holding each of my legs sobbing that they didn't want me to leave, I left with trepidation.

I was meeting my old school friends from the old boarding school I used to attend. It had been 28 years since I left and so consequently 28 years since I had seen the majority of them.

I arrived at St Georges with half an hour to spare and just sat looking at the boarding house reminiscing about how unhappy I was there. I hated being away from my parents. 12 years old is rather young to be sent away from school. (unfortunately it was necessary as I father moved 5 times in 3 years) When under stress, I still dream I am there and am trying to convince my parents I shouldn't be!

I digress. It was a fabulous trip down memory lane.
We ate supper and knew we were not allowed to get up from the table until 7.00pm, when we ran like Billy Bob to be the first in the TV room, to watch Top of the Pops.
The Ghost stories,
The midnight feasts.
The crushes we all had.

The smell was exactly the same, as was the peeling paint, the clock and prep rooms.

The boarders sitting on the teachers head table in the Dinning Room.

After our tour around the school, we went back to hotels to change for a night of drinking, a lot of laughing and a lot of catching up to do. 28 years of catching up in about 4 hours!

A good scolding at Starbucks

We have a had a stressful couple of days, not helped with me having the lergy, which is like man flu, but obviously a lot worse. (Thanks Louise for that quote!)

I have walked LBR, Caterpillar and the two dogs to LBR school for the past year and a half. I have tied them up outside the school gate, without any problems (the dogs, not the children!). . . until now! Last week a busy body of a teacher took exception to the dogs and couldn't think of a valid reason why they shouldn't be there, the only thing she could come up with was, she thought it was cruel that they were left tied up  for 20 minutes. Yesterday I had another teacher say, "they were not allowed to be tied to the rail anymore as it was school rules!" I explained, I have 2 children and two dogs, you want us to walk to school as much as possible for my children's health, but are now pretty much making it impossible for me to do that. (an hour walking the boys to school and back, then coming home and walking the dogs for an hour twice a day is just not feasible) So they have just made my life a darn sight harder.

Caterpillar and I have been sorting his toys and took a load to the charity shop this morning. I thought we both deserved a cup a tea and a babychino in Starbucks (our local). A new member of staff was on and unbeknownst to me, made his chino with BOILING hot milk and filled a tiny paper takeaway cup. You guessed it. The chino was put on the table, 2 seconds later it was tipped  all over caterpillars tummy, burning him through two layers of clothing. They put a burn dressing on him and told me to lie him down. He was so stressed from the burn and crying he fell asleep, which left me sitting in Starbucks from 10.30 until 12.45 without a drink, a paper, unable to move, with a beautiful  little poorly head on my lap!

It took me until 12.30 until I managed to get someones attention, to get me a drink and a paper. 10 minutes later Caterpillar woke up, with a very sore tummy. 

Mr Independence

LBL went to bed a beautiful 2 year old and has woken up as a completely independent little man. . . .it is driving me mad.

Caterpillar, time to get dressed.

My turn. . . . .half an hour later (and a tantrum if I try and help) he still hasn't got his socks on.

Good Boy Caterpillar, for doing a wee in your potty.

My Turn as he picks the potty up spilling it everywhere.

Caterpillar, please get in your push chair

Walk

No, with have to pick your brother up.

WALK! A wrestle ensues with lots of tears and tantrums.

MY TURN! to do the safety belt up

My Turn, to undo the safety belt

My Turn, to push the push chair.

My Turn, to clean his teeth.

Caterpillar, I need to wipe your nose/ bottom

My Turn, well you can imagine the mess.

Caterpillar, I need my phone

My Turn.

No, it's Mummy's turn. I put it in my back pocket and whilst bending over, he pick pockets me and chucks it on the hard floor. . . .my 3rd I phone in as many months!

. . .and it continues.

Eating, making up his milk, bathing,. . . . it’s a battle field!

Dandy Dijjie

Dijjie have designed some more beautiful baby suits.  It really is a shame both my boys are way too big for them!

How gorgeous is the "dandy doo" below?

Dandy Doo by Dijjie

It comes in sizes    0-3 months, 

                            3-6 months, 

                            6-9 months,

                            9-12 months

and a snip at £20.

The Dandy Doo is super soft and durable. The playsuit, is printed to give the cool but stylish look of dark indigo jeans finished with a dandy red neck scarf.

It has an edgy look but with the practical benefits of a romper. It is nickel-free, with branded poppers on the inside leg for easy access.
it is also machine washable up to 40° to blast all those baby stains!

Its All Change!

It has been a very busy few weeks. LBR has started back at school, the great leap into year 1.
LBR doesn't do change. 
So heading off to school with 2 new teachers (job share) a new entrance and a new part of school(built over the summer holidays) it felt like we were entering into a new world.  The first few days we have had tears. The last few has been really bad behaviour when I pick him up. Its not easy for any of us!

LBL is in and out of "big boy pants" completely dry and clean at home, but as soon as we step out of the house, he forgets he doesn't have a nappy on. To be honest I haven't persevered. He now wants to go to "the loo" so hopefully he has now got over his fear of falling down it! So over the next few days we are going to take the plunge! I will keep you informed!

As you know LBL had his adenoids out in the middle of August. . . the hope was to give the poor little munch a break from the snotty nose, the fever, the headaches. . . .He has lasted 3 weeks and he is full of cold. Really poorly! They were unable to take his tonsils out, because he was too young. I suspect in a years time, he will have to undergo another general anaesthetic to have them removed. I feel so sad for him! i thought i would get a break from snot covered clothes!

Silent Sunday

Eyeing Excellence Everywhere.

There have been a lot of tears shed by myself and The Husband over the past few days. The children have know idea what is going on.

We are again hooked on the Olympics. All I can say is. . . . WOW.    I am so humbled. Life can be hard enough in the best of times, but these young people have looked life in the eye and wrestled it to the ground, kicked it around a few times and worked so bloody hard to achieve these amazing fetes and be the best they can be.  We are witnessing the best of humanity! We are shedding tears by the bucket load!

When we have managed to tear ourselves away from the Para Olympics, we have wondered down to Bournemouth Beach to watch the Bournemouth Airshow. Another spine tingling experience. We actually stood on the cliff top, which made us eye level with the Red Arrows. So armed with my iphone we took some amazing pictures.

Red Arrows at the Bournemouth Airshow

Last year  pilots Jon Egging  and his colleague  Sean Cunningham lost their lives. (Jon, whilst trying to land his arrow after the display at Bournemouth airshow and Sean, in a training accident)  The Red Arrows displays, paid tribute in flight to their absent comrades and to the heroes of Bomber Command. They flew in a formation of seven and once again included  a Phoenix formation, with Red 10, Squadron Leader Mike Ling, telling the crowd: “We miss them very much. This is our memorial for Egg Man and Sean.”  It really was a fitting tribute!

Morning Routine

Momma, Momma, MOMMA, milkoo

MOMMA  MILKOO.

LBL is awake

 

Bottle made, kettle on.

LBL quiet for 5 minutes.

Momma Momma its Time.

Pick LBL up, nappy changed.

 

Teeth cleaned, dressed. (me not him)

Momma, Momma, I'm awake.

I'm hungry, I'm Thirsty.

LBR is awake.

 

I want my Breakfast, I want a drink,

Don't you mean "please may I ?"

LBL  wont leave me alone.

Momma, Help me.

MOMMA!

tired mother

 

LBR please get dressed.

LBL don't throw that!

LBR have you got dressed yet?

LBL I have told you not to throw that!

 

Momma I've spilt my drink,

Momma, LBL has thrown his breakfast on the floor.

Momma can I have another drink?

Momma LBL is feeding the dogs.

 

LBL please don't feed the dogs,

LBR eat your breakfast.

LBL please sit down.

Stop shouting!

 

Momma where is my sonic screwdriver?

Momma may I have a biscuit?

Momma watch this.

Momma play with me.

 

Please everyone can I have 5 minutes to drink my cup of tea?

 

 

 

 

Lighter Shades of Grey

The time is 5.30am and I sit here at my parents house, with LBR sitting on the sofa watching Ben 10. The boys didn't go down until 10.00 pm last night, so I am in for a very tired little boy today. (and a very tired Momma, who is already feeling a little Grey) He is awake because of the excitement of being here and the promise of taking apart a light that has broken. LBR and Grandad are going to try and fix it, which will involve deconstructing and then reconstructing. In LBR world, it doesn't get much better than that! Wires, screws, bolts, metal, the perfect combination.

Genetics is a funny old thing. "The Husband" used to do the same with his Grandfather. We have various bits around the house that they built together. LBR and Daddy will often have a discussion about how electric currents work on a circuit board and how sound and light travels. LBR is really interested in the mechanics of things. What is a tornado? How does it form? (cold air from Canada and warm air from Sth America, in case your interested. . .a fact I have just learnt!) How do the clouds form? What does a Tornado siren look like? How does it sound? What are the electrics in a siren?  All these questions I have absolutely no idea about and to be honest in all my years I have never given a moments thought. (believe me there are a lot of years!) So "You tube" and google have become my new best friends. . . There are also a lot of "ask your Father" in answer!

So for the 10th time this morning, LBR has asked "when will Grandad wake up?" the time is still only 6.40am. . .its going to be a long morning! 

The National Anthem Lullaby

As we walked home yesterday from the beach, LBL started singing, nothing unusual as he sings all the time. But it was his choice of song that was interesting.  The National Anthem. He knows all the words from start to finish. He heard it so many times over the Olympics that it has become a household favourite. Last night whilst singing his lullaby's at bed time, he asked me to sing "Queen" So I duly obliged and sang God Save The Queen to my 2 year Old whilst rocking him in my arms gently to sleep!

British National Anthem

 I'm not a monarchist!






Photo: http://en.beijing2008.cn/ceremonies/photos/closingceremony/handover/n214584211.shtml

Writers Block, Wife, Mother, Domestic Slave.

I have writers block and have had it for the past 2 weeks.

Since starting this blog in May, I have really enjoyed the "Me Time" writing  has given me. Time where I think about the good and bad in my life, write about it and usually feel a darn site better than before I wrote it. A time away from the children (although I am usually writing about them) A time where I am not "Mummy" "Wife" "Domestic Slave", but a  thinking, breathing, human being and a whole entity all of my own.

So why the block? Their are a zillion boys clothes out there I could write about. I can't find inspiration. We have been on  trips to the New Forest, Bournemouth Beach, seen the fire works (I have written about them before) LBL is recovering well from his operation last week. LBR is being fabulous with him. The weather at last is great, hence the trips to the beach and yet no inspiration.

I have had great enjoyment in learning a new craft, namely New Media. How to write this blog. Tags, labels, search descriptions. How to promote it. Its been a long time since I learnt something new.  How does Google + and twitter link to the blog? A whole fabulous mind field. Yet I haven't so much as opened my twitter account and can't be bothered to even look at my google+. All the things I Loved!

I am writing this post to try and break the deadlock, hoping if I at least put pen to paper(well fingertips to keys) tomorrow, I will have inspiration and I will begin to get my creative juices pumping.

In the mean time, any ideas of what to do would be greatly appreciated!

Image by:

http://writing.pinartarhan.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/image-via-toonpool.com_.jpg

NHS, Adenoids and Fire Fighting!

Its been all quiet on here this week because LBL has been in hospital to have his adenoids out. Monday night, the night before the operation, I didn't sleep a wink. I know its a minor op, but I just stood looking at his little cherub face and was terrified.

Tuesday morning was a little stressful as LBL  didn't understand why he couldn't have his milk and why we were waking him up at 5.50am. The whole procedure went like clockwork. I wheeled him into theatre, with his lip quivering, but he wasn't crying. He just held my hand really, really tight(by this time my lip was quivering and I just wanted to pick him up and run away with him!) they put the gas mask on his face and 20 seconds later, he was asleep.

 It goes against all of your instincts as a parent, to leave your frightened child with a whole load of strangers who are going to hurt him. But he had had, 5 courses of antibiotics in the past 6 months so it had to be done.

3 hours after LBL operation 

After the op I went down to pick him up from theatre, as we went down I could hear crying, a lovely nurse was lying in his bed, with LBL in her arms just cuddling him. He was distraught for about another hour and a half and then he slept for two hours. He opened his eyes and you wouldn't know he had anything done. Children are amazing!

He is home safe and sound now. A little more tired than usual. Mummy on the other hand has found the whole experience really stressful!

Dr Who and the sonic screwdriver

I sit hear surrounded by Dr Who's. LBR has invited a friend over for a play date and for the past 3 hours they have been running around the house with sonic screwdrivers killing the baddies, namely Daleks, Cyber men and Weeping angels.

Dr Who Daleks

Last night I found myself running around the garden, calling for "Dr" as I was shooting the Daleks.( I was Amy, who apparently is Dr Who's side kick) LBR was "The Dr" and armed again with the sonic screwdriver, which apparently open doors, it can kill baddies, it can go through wood, (LBR words) it doesn’t get much better than that!

When I was a child (Tom Baker was my Dr Who. . .showing my age!) I never really got into it. I found it too scary and when I was old enough not to be scared, I lost interest. As a side bar, I used to date an old "Dr Who" ( a million years ago) We would constantly be interrupted having a drink or supper because of grown men asking for autographs, or telling him they loved him and on some occasions didn't like him (why bother to go up to someone to tell them that!) I digress. . .

As LBR has been really good over this holiday, we bought him the sonic screwdriver. How could a small bit of plastic with a light at the end of it, enlighten such an imagination. It has been worth the £20 (yes £20 for the cheapest bit of plastic) to see the hours and hours of entertainment it has given.



Dr Who Sonic Screwdriver

LBR is back on a play date with the other Dr  tomorrow.  I feel very sorry for the Dalecs!

Silent Sunday

Childhood. Time with Daddy

This is my first blog hop. I thought I would find a  worthy cause for my first attempt. I was asked to post a picture about childhood.

My boys are very lucky, they have a father, who not only loves them, but enjoys them. A father that  wants to do things with them, take them places, teach them, learn with them. I suspect like me, they will remember all the fun times they had with their Dad, they will be the treasured memories of their childhood.

This is part of a blog-hop organised by Patch of Puddles to highlight the plight of West African children who have been deprived by drought and poverty of such a childhood. The charity Worldvision has until 30th August to raise funds that will be matched £1 for £1 by the British government. Donations will provide food, sanitation, health services and long-term development programmes for destitute families. I tag cold tea and smelly nappies. and Helpful Mum to choose a photo(s) that they think sums up childhood to help spread the word. 

2 wolves inside us

I came across this whist stumbling around the net, so thought I would share it with you.

Boys School Shoes. Part 1

So if your organised, you will be starting to think about school shoes.  I have found a few pairs of school shoes at the cheaper end of the market.  I have had a look at Clarks(of course) and the only pair I like are the Raptomania junior, which starts at size 13. (LBR is a 11.5 H fit!) and costs £34. (so not as cheap as I hoped!)

Clarks School shoes:  Raptomania

They come in sizes 13-2.5 and fittings e-h.

If your budget is a little pushed this year, but your little one is still after "cool shoes" (LBR words) then what about these spiderman webby from Wynsors.

Spiderman Webby from Wynsors

They are retailing at £15.00 having been reduced from £20

Another reasonable priced school shoe are these Leather velcro shoe in Black from Shoe zone. They come in sizes 10 - 6. (no width fitting) and cost £12.99

shoezone Boys School Shoes

Olympics, Lego & Dirty Laundry.

So we have all arrived home safe and sound and are glad to be home. LBR was hoping for rain, as he wanted to feel cold. (that has changed today as hes been freezing all day) The Lego is out, the dirty laundry is in the basket and the trampoline has been used all day. The house is full of noise and mess, but it doesn't matter how great a holiday you have had, you can't replace your first cup of tea and sleeping in your own bed.

We have had the Olympics on all day. My goodness, the Brits are the first to put ourselves down, but haven't we got a lot to shout about? Not just about how many medals we have won, but how great the organisation has been as well as how sporting and amazing the crowd has been. I feel very proud to be British!

Proud to be British

The girls are all safe in their respective homes after quite an interesting journey home. If you are a regular reader, you will know we gave the girls money for them to budget for the whole holiday. The whole time we were away, I reminded them they would need money for the return journey. Of course being 14 and 18 they knew better. Why would they need a drink or food for the 5 hour journey?  They would much rather go out the night before we left. We did feed them breakfast and lunch on the day we left.  They started "begging" about an hour after we arrived at the airport. We relented and brought them a drink, but were determined not to give in on the food front. We wanted them to learn a valuable lesson. We in the end had to really tell them off on the plane. They  continued to make such a fuss about how we were starving them and could they have any one of the boys provisions.(asking every 2 minutes)  By the time we arrived home they were nearly fainting with hunger! Poor loves!

So we all had cereal for supper this evening, (as that is what the boys wanted) and we now have returned to normality. Its great to be home.