Daughter, Stepdaughter and Big Sister...

... Jen has come to visit!  She has been away for ever such a long time, working as a counsellor at a music camp and them setting off on an epic tour of the United States of America.  We read her blog, and pinned up her postcards, and had resigned ourselves that once she returned from her travels she would have to go straight back to Lancaster to uni, and that we would only see her again at Christmas.  And then she rang and said she wanted to come before, that she NEEDED to see the boys  and could come during half term.  So I managed to keep it a secret from the boys, and then on thursday when she texted  to say she was nearly here, I sent them out to play in the street.  They were scooting up and down the street and when I saw Jen turning up our street I called Sam over

"Sam, who is that?" 

 "What?" 

"At the end of the street, she looks familiar" 

 "Do you mean that lady?" 

 "Yes"

"I dunno, I'll go have a look"

They both took off on their scooters and when they were half way down the street, I heard a shout trail back

"IT'S JEN!!!"

They hared down and hurled themselves at her.  It was an emotionally satisfying moment.  Job done :-)

All 3 kids spent the afternoon with dad at the playground and beach in Seaton Sluice, while I undertook a mammoth cooking/baking session, in preparation for tomorrow's Halloween gathering (more of that after). 

Behold!

Out of the mouths of babes

2 classices from Tom, aged 3, yesterday.  Very excited that his big sister had come to visit and having not seen her for many months, trying to engage her in conversation.

Jenny, can I ask you a question/

Yes baby, what is it?

I like potatoes.

That's not really a question, more of a statement.

(at this point I stepped in and explained that you had to play the game, come back with an "I like... " statement of your own)

Ahh, I see, um I like Tom.

And back and forth again, until it was Tom's turn again

Jenny, pause.... I like destroying things.

Choke! Gulp! Cough!  (but a very accurate self statement nonetheless!)

A bit of a catch up...

It's been a busy old week!  Last Friday night I bravely volunteered to have my friend Karen's kids sleepover so that she and her husband could go to a ball.  So there was me (still 37 at this point!), Mark 8, Sam 6, Kirsty 6 and Tom 3.  7pm, all 4 of them high as kites with excitement.  Then I added some sugar and some E numbers into the mix, and KABLOOIE!!!!  Nah, it wasn't as bad as all that.  Tom was in bed only an hour and a half late, Mark was asleep by about 10:15, Sam was asleep by 10:45 and Kirsty not long after 11.  Nobody woke up in the night (apart from Tom, and hey, we're used to that)  and they didn't wake up until 7:30!!!  Could have been a whole heap worse.
Weekend was full of rugby practice, swimming lesson, chores, painting and so on.  Saturday night I had a fabulous pre-birthday night out with Emma and Helen.  We went for a meal and then hit a few bars.  It was really nice, although I was suffering from some melancholia.  It's weird because I don't usually suffer from birthday related sadness, but I really am feeling, well, old.  Pub mirrors are not kind ;-)
On Monday Emma and Helen came over with luscious cake and my birthday present, and I laid on some lunch. These two woman are very important to me.  I have known them both since our first babies were about 6/7 months old, they are a massive part of why I feel like Whitley Bay is home, and I love them loads.   Tuesday was the big day.  I got a fantastic new laptop from my gorgeous husband and my boys, as well as the much anticipated new Terry Pratchett book.  I had a very unglamorous morning trying to work out why my towels leave my washing machine smelling like smelly socks, and then dashed off to meet Karen for lunch.  When I arrived, I was stopped in my tracks by an unexpected table full of woman.  Well, maybe not a table full, but 4 instead of 1was still a surprise. It made me feel very good and so I am once again very grateful to Karen, for organising it.   
That evening bought a lovely night out with my husband, who took me out to our favourite Indian restaurant for a delicious meal.  We had my friend Claire's stepson, Adam, babysitting for us.  Not due to lack of offers from friends all willing to look after the kids, but because I have been on a mission to find a "professional babysitter" .  It went very well, I wasn't worried about the boys, Adam said it was all fine, Tom was asleep anyway, but Adam got Sam into bed, read his story, teeth brushed and he went to sleep with no problems - result!!  Hopefully that means that Steve and I will be able to have some more quality couples time together.  
On Wednesday Tom and I went round to my friend Kelly's house for lunch.  Tom and her son Felix get on well, both loving things that go.  There was a bit of a set to when they were playing with the kitchen and babies in the double buggy.  Tom announced, oven glove on one hand and buggy in the other, .  "I'll be the dad and you be the mum".  Felix replied "No, I'm the dad".  Things were starting to get cross and tearful as neither lad wanted to be the mum.  Kelly and I stepped in and assured them that the nuclear family was passé, and that they could both be the dad.  Happiness all around, until there were arguments about who was going to take the twins out to the shops (to buy bread) and who was going to stay home to make tea!!!  Things were absolutely lovely until it was time to go home when my little boy turned into a monster and had to be dragged screaming and yelling up the street to go and get Sam from school - mortification is the word for it! 
Thursday is usually MY day, when I get to go for a long walk to North Shields and back with my friends Karen and Nicola.  But this week, chores called and I spent about an hour searching town for an icing bag and nozzles for the cupcakes I was doing for school the next day.  Couldn't find any so in the end I arranged to borrow Emma's and came home to do some more painting in Tom's room.  What with baking the cupcakes and a resurgence of carpal tunnel, I only ended up doing about an hour of actual painting. 
Friday morning Tom and I had to wait in for a man coming to fix the tumble driver and another man coming to fix the cooker.  One turned up even before the school run but the other didn't arrive until 11:30, and as we had friends coming for lunch there was no point going out, so the morning was spent playing, cleaning, watching telly, reading and making a man's face out of cardboard for the sole purpose of gluing wool on him for hair (strange ideas my Tom fixates on!).  Katey, Billy and baby Florence arrived just after 12 and we had a lovely lunch.  The boys played and we chatted until about 2, when all hell broke loose and the boys began squabbling "I'm not your friend anymore" "Well I'm not coming to your house anymore" "Well my dad is coming to your house" (this from Tom - still don't quite get it!).  We set off then to go to the school because they were holding a book and cake sale from 2 till 4.  We came home with a load of books and after having bought back 3 of the cupcakes we provided!!!  It was the last day before half term, and you could tell from the kids behaviour (and not just mine!) - very grouchy, irritable and argumentative.  It was one of those afternoons when I am quite happy just to let them vegetate in front of the telly, give them some proper down time.  Saturday I woke up feeling not very well.  Which is just typical because I had plans to go into Newcastle and have my passport application interview and also to try and find some specs that didn't cost 350 quid!  I felt dizzy and faint, light headed.  Steve very kindly offered to drive me into Newcastle so that I could still attend my interview, but boy did I feel rough!  I stammered my way through the questions and as soon as it was done I hurtled to the toilet and threw up.  Met back up with Steve and the boys to head home and made it to the back door before I threw up again.  Spent the rest of the day and night in bed, and woke up this morning feeling a bit better.

Books!

Sam has discovered reading!!  I don't mean that he only just learn't to read, I mean that he has started reading to himself.  Lying in bed just before going to sleep, engrossed in a book, it's always been something magical for me and I am so pleased that my little boy has found that wonder for himself.  I have always read to both of my boys, right back to when he they were tiny babies, but this is the first time that Sam has been willing, and even eager to read to himself.  I have loved reading ever since I can remember.  I have clear memories of spending my lunch breaks at school in the library.  I was so painfully shy and books were so comforting and friendly, they didn't require anything of me.  It has taken a loooooong time for me to develop any self confidence, but books have always been there for me.  One of my fears as a diabetic is that I will lose my sight, and not be able to read anymore.  It would be devastating.  But anyway!  I remember saying to Steve, when Sam was first born, that I would be very sad if any children of mine didn't love reading, and that I wasn't sure how much I would have in common with any such child!!  Tom loves books already and it is one of the few things that you can do with him that will calm him down and stop him from wriggling and fidgeting.  So phew,  it seems I will always have something in common with both of my boys!!

The love is growing...

Sam is really enjoying his Sunday rugby practice at Percy Park with his dad.  Although it is still early days he seems to be doing well and came home today full of his truimphs, games won and almost won.  His dad was particularly proud of him today as there was a new lad who was a bit uncertain and shy and Sam put his arm around his shoulders and looked after him.  My boy is very keen for me to go and watch him, and although I don't want to intrude on dad and son time, I would love to go and watch.  Apparently they are having a match soon and if Sam is playing, then that will be my chance!!

The Wanderers Return!

Steve's mum and dad have been in America for the last month visiting Steve's sister Gill and her family, who live in Utah.  They got back on Thursday and were happy for us to go across to see them today, which the boys were desperate to do.  We left home about 9:45 and had a happy trip down (despite daddy's refusal to bow down to the pressure of child 1, child 2 and wife's request for Kaiser Chiefs, boo hiss.  He is a musical tyrant in the car!).  Sam and Tom love spending time with their Grandparents and have missed them loads while they have been away.  We all got some stunning gifts and the boys, in particular, were very spoilt.  They were both well behaved, apart from a small meltdown each, which always makes any visit that much more enjoyable for the parents!!!
We had a gorgeous melt-in-the-mouth pie (as only Grandma can do) for lunch - although I say we, Tom had mashed potatoes and carrots only, as he slowly eradicates more food groups from his already limited diet, followed by the cupcakes that the boys and I made on Friday.  After Sam had built his lego creator, we got ready to go for a walk in the hills, at Tom's request (and because he was starting to bounce off the walls with unspent energy).  It was a bit damp and grey, but not especially cold, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable ramble.

We got back to Grandma's house and had restorative cups of tea and biscuits, built more lego and read more stories.  Then at about 4 o clock it was time to pack up and head home, allowing Grandma and Grandad some much needed rest and us to get home in time for tea.  It was a lovely way to spend a Saturday and we are all very pleased to have Grandma and Grandad home again.

About Andrea

"Do not save your loving speeches

For your friends till they are dead;

Do not write them on their tombstones,

Speak them rather now instead.

- Anna Cummins

The friend who has been closest to me: who has known me seen I was 13, and with whom I have had many adventures, shared all my secrets, who always picks me up, who grounds me and lifts me, with whom I got up to things as our teenager selves that fill us now with horror... is Andrea.  We grew up together, and then grew separately but the last few years have shown that we never grew apart.  I value our friendship now as much as I ever did, in fact (dare I say it!) the wisdom that the years and motherhood have bestowed, means that our friendship has a depth, a mutual respect and a forgiveness that our youth did not allow.  I am no longer jealous of her friendships with other women, instead rejoicing that her life has been enriched by a myriad of wonderful women who fill her cup in a thousand different ways, just as I have been gifted with an eclectic mix of warm, loving women in my daily life, both near and far away.
 

Andrea is generous with her time, her material goods and herself.  She has a raucous laugh that always sets me off.  She lives well, loves much and laughs often.  She is wise, sensible and reasonable.  She is also silly, imprudent and outrageous!! She is a good mother to three wonderful kids and, the reason I started this, is expecting baby number 4.  Congratulations my friend, I am so fill of happiness for you.  Love you loads xxx