On the first day of Christmas my true love sent to me.............

24th December 2007

A partidge in a pear tree

The popular song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is usually seen as simply a nonsense song for children. However, some have suggested that it is a song of Christian instruction dating to the 16th century religious wars in England, with hidden references to the basic teachings of the Faith. They contend that it was a mnemonic device to teach the catechism to youngsters. The "true love" mentioned in the song is not an earthly suitor, but refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn.

http://www.cresourcei.org/cy12days.html

Personally I like the song because it's jolly and cheerful!

I had planned a lovely romantic dinner for Christmas eve, it is our first married christmas after all, and in line with the first true love gift I had thought a lovely meal of partridge followed by pears soaked in coffee. But as Tesco didn't deliver the Partridge (sent 2 poussin instead!) and I forgot to buy the tin pears, we will make do with roast beef and yorkshire puds instead!

lots of people and a moment of moist eyes!

whats going on then?

Being a shockingly nosey person, I put a visitor counter on this blog, generally I get a steady plod of 3 - 5 visitors a day

But today I have had 21 visits! Why the interest? what have I said thats so amazing - wish I knew!

Today we went to watch smallest child (3 in February) in her school play, she was an evil monkey in The Wizard of Oz! mmmmmm well cast methinks! Joking aside though, it was fantastic the story was reworked by the drama club and they even choreographed the dancing themselves - all the kids in the school were included from the littliest nursery pupil to the top of year 6 (although it is a very small school!) but fantastic, and yes I shed a tear or 2!

O boy O boy O boy!

I have been full time Mumming for 7 years now - more or less to the day - after middle child was born, I decided not to return to work after my maternity leave finished.
So apart from raising 3 daughters, keeping house, being a good (hahahaha) wife, being a Brownie guider, running my own business until youngest child arrived, plus voluntary work with the toy library and the NCT, and now my OU course - I havent really done anything with my time (do you notice the tongue in cheek tone there?)

But now the time has come for me to take a break from my long term relaxation and to think about getting a job!

One such thing caught my eye a week or so ago in our local paper, I phoned for a form, received it, completed it (first application form in a very long time) and posted it back.

And today - surprise surprise - I had a phonecall inviting me in for an interview, a week on Monday.

I haven't had an interview for a job in over a decade! So to say I am nervous is an understatement!

and the job? Cook at our local firestation - yum yum

life is like a box of chocolates

according to Forest Gumps Mum,
and sometimes it really is.

our middle daughter (6, soon to be 7) has always had a complicated outlook on life (she is being assessed for Autism) and things have to be handled very carefully with her (think hand grenade with no pin!)
And so to the point, she sucks her thumb, has done from just a few weeks old, but now as she has lost one top tooth, with another wobbly one next to is and 2 new teeth coming through at the bottom - not to mention repeated episodes on TW - we have decided it is time to stop the habit.


Not like me really, I usually follow the path of least resistance when it comes to the kids and let them give things up when they are ready, and it hasn't caused any problems (see oh marvelous Health visitor, my almost 16, 7 and 3 year olds do not sleep in my bed, despite your doom mongering about 'rod for your own back'!)

and so after a lot of thinking, talking to other mums who have gone down this path, and of course discussion with middle child we ordered THUMBGUARDS from the states, they are available in this country but with the Dollar being so week I thought I would save us a few pennies, and I would have too if the meddling customs folks hadnt slapped a charge of £13.66 on the parcel grrrrrrr. And worse it was stuck in customs for 3 weeks, so the lovely preparation I had done with middle daughter had all been forgotten!

Anyhoo customs notice arrived Saturday, I collected it Monday, and attempted to get middle child to wear it on Wednesday ~ no chance!
So after a lot of chat and negotiation it was decided that Friday night would be the night, with great excitement the instrument of torture was applied (if you are interested she chose green and purple for her wrist bands, she sucks both thumbs so has to wear it on both hands!) and the evening commenced.

We had take away pizza, which she managed to eat without getting too messy. We watched a DVD and she got to stay up a good hour after her usual bedtime. poor mite didn't know what to do with herself as she normally sucks her thumb when watching TV, so she was a bit of a fidget.

Finally the time arrived, and with much fear of tantrums and crying and sleepless nights we put her to bed.

And the next thing I know is its 8am (an unheard of lie in!) and she has woken up from a peaceful thumbless night, very very pleased with herself.

like I say, life is like a box of chocolates ~ full of surprises!

and whilst we are on the subject

yesterday morning at around 4.30/5am I got woken with an urgent call of 'mummy, mummy' I lept out of bed, and ran to the side of my youngest (2 soon to be 3) to find out what was distressing her so much.
'mummy, mummy my nose isn't working'!
poor mites noses was bunged up and she couldn't suck her fingers (essential sleeping aide!) and breath. Awwwwwwwwwwww

how many vegetables in a box of cereal?

This morning middle daughter (6 almost 7 years) asked her Daddy
'whats a calbrese?'
Dad replied
'its a vegetable'
to which middle daughter replied
'there is a 111 vegetables in my cereal'

think she meant calories?

I will survive, did you think I would leave you dying....

Mr.B is a bit of a D.J. and a good one at that in my opinion! Anyway the one song he can't stand is 'I will survive' he says its the womans anthem, and all brides ask for it at their weddings.

Well let me be controversial and say if thats our biggest crime - what say you men when I say how comes you get away with 'Two little boys' at every stag do and kareoke night!?!