these three {week six}

He is six... SIX! Six sounds so much bigger than five (but then I think I've said that every year). It was a birthday all about things for his new bedroom when we move, and lots and lots of information books; which might sound kind of dull and boring to most kids, but was exactly what this kid wanted.   He was so kind and polite even whilst being the centre of attention on his birthday; not forgetting a single thank-you, and making sure his sisters helped out and felt included. He honestly makes me so proud, he's growing up to be such a gent. 

She had a nasty bug of some sort mid week (which her brother had a few days before) which completely wiped her out, poor thing. She's not often poorly and definitely has the strongest immune system of the three, so it feels really heartbreaking to see her so sad and feeble. But fortunately she fought it quick and is super excited about having a week off of preschool, and more importantly, a week with Dylan off of school to play with her.

This little munchkin seems to be growing up in leaps and bounds lately; she's made that transition from being a big baby who was just starting to walk, into full blown toddler mode. She's pushed my buttons a bit this week too, with some epic wobblers, and just generally constantly looking out for trouble, whilst being allergic to the word "no". Good job she's cute, and has a smile that could melt ice.

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home life project {february}

If you're not in the mood for sentimental, then it's probably best to look away now.... okay, I warned you! 

One of the reasons I am excited to be doing Home Life Project this year, is to track those subtle changes in our everyday family life over this year. I know that by December, the games that were favourites in January, the clothes the children wore in April, and the faces of my little three will all have changed; maybe only a little, maybe a lot. But a year is a long time when you're little, and it's nice to record these moments and acknowledge those changes. 

But that isn't the only sort of change this year brings. Amongst all the little changes in our ordinary life that these monthly posts will record, there is also a big change. 

This month is the last one in our first family home.

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these three {week five}

Dylan is so excited about his upcoming birthday that I think he might just combust. He's been counting down the days for the past month, and he can't wait to have his chocolate birthday cake and Nanny's rice krispie crunch; as per his birthday traditions. I simply cannot believe that at this point six years ago he was still lurking in my belly, about to rock my world in the most amazing way imaginable. 

I look at Everly lately, and I wonder when it was that she suddenly grew up. She just looks so big all of a sudden. I feel like in the months before he started school, her big brother still looked like a toddler, whereas this little lady would pass for a school girl more comfortably than she does a preschooler. Having said that, she told an epic fib to get herself sent home from preschool last week, and completely played everyone... so she's either got a lot to learn about growing up, or she's already a bit of a genius!

It goes without saying that younger siblings look up to the older ones, but Quinny just totally worships her big bro and sis at the moment. She'll chase them from room to room, desperate to be with them, to join in their games - even when those games are too fast or too complicated or just too crazy for her to fully join in with. She's also turned into a bit of a bookworm overnight, and emptying books onto her sisters bed so she can sit and 'read' them to herself, is one of her favourite things to do. 

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these three {week four}

The map obsession continues with this one; old maps, new maps, artistic maps, technical maps, globes, poster... he's not fussy, and he'll spend hours staring at them and taking it all in, finding the countries and cities that interest him most, talking about what continent they belong to. He gave us a bit of scare too this week, when what seemed like a simple cold suddenly left him gasping for breath; a call to out of hours resulted in a visit from an ambulance, but fortunately it wasn't anything too serious and he's bounced back quickly.

She's always been such a walking contradiction; she can be a total wild child, bouncing from crazy game to crazy game, singing a song, pretending to be a popstar, while bouncing on the bed in a cloud of messy hair and noise. But she can also be so incredibly grown up, sensitive and caring. This week I sent her to collect her shoes, ready to head home from my mums, and she came back with her shoes and my nan's walking stick... simply because she knew G.Nan was going home too, and she thought she would want it. Totally unprompted. She just seems to be in tune to peoples' needs and feelings in a way that is wise beyond her years. 

This little sunshine is such a total hoot to be around at the moment. Just in this past week she has worked out how to climb up onto the sofa, has learnt to blow kisses, and has given about a million cuddles. Having never shown any interest whatsoever in the television, she's suddenly showing a fondness for The Teletubbies, and for good old Mr Tumble. And speaking of fondness, she's head over heels in love with her cat Kit; every nap and night time in the past week, we've found them snuggled up together... and of the million cuddles she's doled out this week, he's easily been on the receiving end of half. 

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these three {week three}

This guy... I know for a fact he knows more countries and capital cities that I do, and I'm pretty sure everything that I know about planets I learnt from him. I have no idea how he manages to remember so much! He's been busy with some sort of birthday party marathon lately, but this past week included a Jump Street party, and ones with an old school disco and party games; both of which were apparently 'the' best party ever.

She has got the funniest little sense of humour on her, this one. She just seems to have this way about her that keeps us all smiling. Except at meal times... at the moment meal times are trying. Not because she's a fussy eater - she eats most things we put in front of her - but because she just takes soooo looooong to eat. Hopefully she'll speed up a bit before she starts school, or she'll lose her entire lunch time looking at her dinner.

What can I say about this little smasher that I haven't said a hundred times before? She's just amazing. She's getting a bit of a temper on her, and can throw the most impressively dramatic strops if you give her the last raisin and don't magically produce more. But she's also getting funnier and cheekier by the day. And she's so incredibly affectionate; she loves grabbing our necks and pulling us in for a cuddle, and if Dylan or Everly are upset they get constant hugs and strokes and "ahhhh"s until they are smiling again.

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these three {week two}

Well what a week it's been for this one. He's had his first full week back at school, and has moved up yet another reading level, received his first rosettes, and won the dancing competition at a birthday party (he was the absolute best, I saw it myself!!!). And all while he's been feeling a little under the weather. This kid is total pro!

She spent her christmas money on a Moana lego set and has been obsessed with it ever since. She absolutely adores singing with her brother to the 'Lava' short Disney film, it's the cutest thing! Oh and the final deadline has passed for school applications, so we're now officially in that long wait to see that she got into school. How is this baby going to school this year?

Our little Quinny is back and firing on all cylinders after weeks of poorliness. She's started properly hugging us this week; grabbing us around the necks and pulling in close while saying "ahhhhh". And we get kisses, big wet open mouthed ones. She says hello now too (it sounds more like "hay-low") although she happily uses it for both greetings and goodbyes. And she's basically been a human dustbin, eating everything in sight, so she's clearly having a little growth spurt. 

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these three {week one}

He was so excited to get back to school, and apparently spent his first day back "having lots of chats". He has been loving making a solar system model from a kit he got for Christmas. He is such a perfectionist and has such high expectations of himself, but he's such a sensitive little soul sometimes; and I know exactly where he gets it from, and sometimes when he's being really hard on himself I wish I could take that feeling away.

She has the most creative little mind, watching her at play you never really quite know where it will all end up. She loves mothering her new Rapunzel doll, it's rare we see one without the other at the moment. She uses the most hilariously high pitched voice when she's playing with her baby sister; its a stereotypical baby voice, but it just sounds so funny to hear my big girl (who is still so little really) pretending to be such a grown up. 

She has been so poorly since before Christmas, and it's broken our hearts to see our happy little sunshine looking so sad. She like sunshine and rain though, because she has recently started throwing the most epic little wobblers. She loves all food; she's seriously like a human dustbin, and she'll stand in the kitchen pointing at cupboards or pots demanding whatever takes her fancy; except mash potato - mash potato is the food of the devil, apparently.

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me and mine {july}

Daddy is loving

* going back to 'where it all began'.

* visiting Helsinki for work.

* reading books more.

* eating Bobby Bangers at Jimmy's Farm Sausage and Beer Festival.

* watching Hannibal.

Mummy is loving

* the sunshine.

* an amazing long weekend in Scarborough walking down memory lane.

* the beautiful girl talking more and more, and saying "Mummy" finally.

* watching The Vampire Diaries (it's my new guilty pleasure.)

* that we've been married for five years today!

The beautiful boy is loving

* learning to read.

* playing 2p machines in the arcades with Daddy.

* having picnics.

* a day at the farm with his best buddy.

* throwing… even when he isn't supposed to.

The beautiful girl is loving

* monkeys and pirates.

* saying everyone's names, repeatedly.

* eating bananas.

* running free on the beach.

* cuddles with Blossom and Bibi.

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me and you {april}

Life isn't perfect.

Relationships aren't perfect.

Marriage isn't perfect.

But that's the way they are supposed to be.

And so in keeping with perfect imperfections

we have a far from perfect photo for this month.

It could have been such a cute one too,

if my camera remote wasn't misbehaving,

and if we weren't on a serious time limit,

as two small children were running away behind us at great speed.

But do you know what?

I really like it,

because we had fun.

And that is exactly why I wanted to do Me and You

and make an effort to take a monthly photo of us,

to give us silly, simple opportunities to do something together.

Because doing silly, simple things together is what makes us, us.

We don't have far fetched dreams,

we have real ones.

About our own happy ever afters,

and making beautiful memories.

Not far fetched,

but not to be knocked either.

Because I'm pretty sure that when we are old and grey

(or should that be greyer Mr R)

we'll look back at these photos

and know what we had the best dreams all along,

and that we had lots of fun making them come true.

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siblings {april}

The thing that I love most about watching my two together,
is how they bring out each other's adventurous streak.
They just love a good explore side-by-side.

It amazes me how much they seem to communicate with one another
without using words,
as they investigate the world around them.
Side way glances, the occasional brush of arms,
cheeky smiles and laughs of encouragement
seem to be all they need when they are together.

She will look at him for approval
with eyes full of nothing but hero worship,
and he will look out for her,
always making sure she's close by
and not doing anything she shouldn't be.

It's thrilling to think of the adventures they'll share as they grow up,
and how their childhood memories
will be so tightly tied to one another.

Increasingly, as they play together more and more,
I see the beginnings of a gang of two
which has nothing whatsoever to do with me.
There will be adventures in their futures that not only will I not be a part of,
but that I won't even know about.
Secret moments that just the two of them will share.

And funnily enough, that excites me.
I love that they will have that,
and that they'll get to learn about the world hand in hand.

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me and mine {march}

Daddy is loving...

* his new job.

* finally having his knee operations.

* having more of a relationship with the beautiful girl as her personality starts to shine more.

* work trips to Paris.

* Cadbury's trifles.

Mummy is loving...

* new Clinique and Lush goodies.

* getting to spend a whole week with her baby brother.

* sunshine and trips to the park.

* having a new mattress, duvet, pillows and bedding - it's like sleeping on a cloud.

* celebrating 10 years of being with the Mr.

The beautiful boy is loving...

* days out with his Uncle Matt.

* getting to ride his bike more.

* his "rocker" t-shirt.

* getting up early and watching Netflix in Mummy and Daddy's bed.

* bath crayons.

The beautiful girl is loving...

* her ragdolls; Blossom at bedtime and Polly during the day.

* having splat cuddles with Daddy in the morning while Mummy is at swimming.

* pressing buttons that she shouldn't on Nanny and Pops' television.

* pink wafer biscuits.

* opening her arms wide while looking at Mummy, and realising it gets her a big cuddle.

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siblings {march}

Over the years I know that my children's relationship will change.

I like to think that they'll feel like a team,

part of really special unit of their own.

I actually love the fact

that that team won't be something I'll be a part of,

or even necessarily get to witness,

but something which is theirs to share.

Right now they co-exist a lot of the time

(simply sharing a space and doing their own thing),

absolutely delight in one another some of the time

(giggling together while sharing little moments all their own),

and irritate each other very occasionally too

(getting in each others' way and not knowing when to give the other some space).

I guess those three situations will be the format for their whole lives.

But I also hope that that in amongst the co-existing, the fun and the irritation,

that they will also be true friends.

That they will support one another,

challenge one another,

and look out for one another.

Because that's the gift I hope we've given them

in giving them each other to grow up with.

 

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me and mine {february}

Daddy is loving

* watching House of Cards

* catching up with old friends for dinner.

* going to the Sealife Centre.

* playing Fifa on the Xbox.

* eating rainbow cupcakes for the beautiful boy's birthday.

Mummy is loving

* taking weekly portraits of the children.

* having a day at the coast for the little man's birthday.

* the beautiful boy saying "I love you for always Mummy".

* how incredibly smiley, happy and content the beautiful girl is.

* a lovely day in Cambridge with good friends.

The beautiful boy is loving

* being three.

* learning to ride his bike.

* anything to do with letters and the alphabet.

* eating fish fingers and mash.

* counting and reading different numbers.

The beautiful girl is loving

* her fairy toys.

* squealing, screaming and generally making excited noises.

* playing with spoons.

* chocolate.

* stroking her ragdoll Blossom's face at bedtime.

     

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me and mine {january}

Daddy is loving

* getting his annual bonus.

* the beautiful girl starting to say some proper words.

* watching Breaking Bad on Netflix.

* Liverpool still being in the top four. 

* that The Following is back on television.

Mummy is loving

* that our holiday to Center Parcs is booked.

* doing the beautiful girl's hair in bunches.

* the hubby's bacon and leek risotto.

* swimming.

* taking lots of photos.

The beautiful boy is loving

* playing with his animal puzzle.

* going to see a preview of Tinkerbell and the Pirate Fairy.

* telling everybody that he's going to be three soon.

* chocolate coins.

* his new Converse trainers.

The beautiful girl is loving

* talking, talking, talking all the time.

* eating all the leftover Bountys.

* cuddling her dolls.

* climbing up onto the sofas.

* watching Tangled.

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siblings {january}

Before I even had a second baby

I was fantasising about what it would be like

to see my children interact with one another.

I couldn't wait for the moment I got to introduce my beautiful boy

to his younger sister,

and her to him.

And from that moment on their relationship has continued to amaze and surprise me.

I've been lucky and they've always been really happy in one another's company,

from general interest in the early days,

to saving their best smiles for each other,

to where we are now,

which has to be the best stage ever.

They are really starting to properly play together now

and to entertain one another with the things they do.

They constantly make each other giggle hysterically

and will chase each other around squealing,

until they fall into a crumpled laughing heap.

There are of course moments when she takes the toys he's playing with

and gets a little too into his space.

Just like there are times when he doesn't want to chase her anymore

and she doesn't want to share mummy cuddles.
I think the nature of a sibling relationship
is that there is always a really fine line,
between "oh my goodness, you're fantastic"
and "oh my goodness, you're driving me mad"
but that fine line is part of it's beauty.

And on the most part

watching these two kiddos together is a daily

in fact make that hourly, joy.

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next year...

For nearly a year now

a monthly feature on this blog

(and by far my favourite post each month)

has been my Me and Mine post.

A monthly photo of us as a family

and a bit about what we've loved that month.

It sounds so simple,

but in reality the simplest things

are often the bits most overlooked.

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me and mine {october}

Daddy is loving

* the return of Homeland.

* playing Grand Theft Auto.

* Cadbury's Pebbles.

* evening cuddles on the sofa with Wentworth.

* getting back into reading.

Mummy is loving

* having her nails painted in Chinchilly by Essie.

* Smash! Hands down best programme on television at the moment. I love it!

* wearing scarves and knitwear and boots again.

* how cheeky and funny the beautiful girl is becoming.

* morning snuggles in bed with the beautiful boy.

The beautiful boy is loving

* singing the alphabet song.

* playing with his Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

* stickers, stickers and more stickers.

* watching The Very Hungry Caterpillar on DVD.

* jumping, at every possible opportunity.

The beautiful girl is loving

* her beautiful new doll crib.

* pointing at anything and everything.

* playing with her tea set.

* cheese spread sandwiches.

* every kind of music and singing.

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me and mine {july}

Daddy is loving

* eating some delicious sausages at a Sausage and Beer festival.

* taking the beautiful girl for her first swim.

* the movie Django Unchained.

* going on holiday.

* the hot weather.

Mummy is loving

* sunshine, hot weather and sun-kissed skin.

* lovely weekends away with lovely friends.

* time spent at the seaside.

* celebrating four years of married life.

* Pimms!

The beautiful boy is loving

* doing lots of water play.

* Peppa Pig and getting to visit Peppa Pig World.

* eating meatballs and spaghetti.

* saying that he's "going on adventures" when ever we go for a walk anywhere.

* mini milk ice lollies.

The beautiful girl is loving

* crawling everywhere and exploring the world.

* talking talking talking... all. the. time.

* crackers with marmite.

* playing in the paddling pool (once she's got used to it!)

* licking everyone else's ice cream.

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me and mine {june}

Daddy is loving

* taking the beautiful boy to the Natural History Museum.

* getting an unexpected pay rise.

* the beautiful girl clapping at everything.

* getting some tasty snacks in his graze boxes.

* a magical day at Legoland.

Mummy is loving

* that she ticketed an item off her bucket list and saw The Killers live at Wembley Stadium.

* a day spent at Legoland with family, great friends and fab bloggers.

* white dresses.

* watching the beautiful girl become more fascinating with each day.

* listening to the beautiful boy singing his favourite songs.

The beautiful boy is loving

* watching the video of our day at Legoland.

* going on lots of rides at Legoland, especially "the boat with the elephants spraying the water"

* Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 'The Wizard of Dizz'.

* going to visit the broken clock at the field near Nanny and Pops' house.

* wearing his shark shoes.

The beautiful girl is loving

* clapping, grinning and waving all the time.

* dancing whenever she hears music.

* marmite sandwiches.

* nap times.

* splashing water everywhere at bath times.

42

me and mine {may}

Daddy is loving

* going on Gruffalo hunts in the woods.

* Ben and Jerry's Clever Cookie ice-cream.

* having a boys day in Birmingham

* wifey's cowboy pie for dinner.

* getting more sleep

Mummy is loving

* going to the cinema to watch The Great Gatsby.

* being back teaching dance twice a week.

* watching the beautiful babies start to properly play together.

* lunch dates with my gorgeous man.

* full nights of sleep.

The beautiful boy is loving

* bouncing on any and all bouncy surfaces.

* sleeping in a proper big boy bed.

* seeing 'purple-bells'.

* slides, slides and more slides.

* meeting the Gruffalo.

The beautiful girl is loving

* screaming, screeching, shouting and generally making loud noises.

* tucking into some fingers of toast.
* sleeping.

* moving around here, there and everywhere.

* belly tickles from her brother.

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