Party of Five

I'm not sure why I get excited about going to Ikea - the anticipation is greater than the actuality, and that includes giving birth.

We went tonight, got lost as usual trying to find it in Milton Keynes, got there with me hyperventilating as we 'only' had 2 and a half hours to get round it. In the end we left at 9:30pm still speaking, so that must be a record on many counts.

We were on a hunt for the boys fleapit tip, it's a right royal mess and I don't help things by not helping them tidy up. It doesn't help to have the worlds most untidy 5 year old sharing with a lego obsessed 8 year old.

So we went looking for suitable storage...

The CD tower is for their DVD's and CD's - Munch said and I quote "Does that mean we can have a tv in our bedroom now? we are getting bigger", this was batted down with a swift and decisive "Ask you Daddy" by me.

We also bought some wire drawer storage for our collapsed bedroom wardrobe inners - we've been living in such a pigsty for months because we have too much stuff and not enough storage. It's got to be the crappest design of house ever or we are total junk hounds.

So Hubby has managed to build all the bits today and I am left reeling with shock, he normally takes his sweet time over things.

in other news, I have ordered a Dell Laptop for my birthday. Of course it's a total extravagance and there are bells and wireless whistles that need to be bought too, but it means I can web ferret downstairs and not fight with the kids over access to the main pc upstairs. Hubby said he'll use it too even though it'll be green!

Photojojo has some of the funkiest and freshest ideas for your digital photos. Suffice it to say that I save their mail shots - I delete most other stuff.
So from them this week is this - how to make colouring pages from your photos. Great for the holidays and also birthday cards and thank you cards for younger children. Although saying that I'd be pretty stoked if I got to colour myself in on a card. I'd finally get that pink and blue hair that I wanted.
Oh and how about this - making your own journals from photos and scrap paper - my kind of project again. Fototiller is going on my favourites straight away.

School holidays - a time of spending too much money in sports shops (just got back from JJB £150 lighter) and too much time infront of tv (Ben 10 - cartoon of the moment). We actually go on holiday in August to here - we consider it to be the most beautiful spot in England, you'd be churlish not to agree a little bit.

I've got out of the blogging habit, especially during July which has been busy this year. One nieces 21st, anothers wedding, Munch turning 5,making the teachers presents etc etc. Once you get out of the habit it's hard to get beck into it. Much like WW. My eating is spiralling OOC (out of control) these past 2 weeks and I need to get back to some sort of normal.

Planning for the Summer is never easy what with the weather, lack of funds, age gap of kids and stuff. Tiddly is doing tennis next week whilst Me, Munch and Pip secretly go swimming because if we told Tiddly he'd do his nut. Then we have lots of time with Papa because he's angled some down time between jobs, good old Daddy!

There is a crop in amongst it all too, but I haven't scrapped in ages. I made bags for the teachers though, that was hard work but I loved creating things out of fabric, I'd do more if I didn't have to wrestle with everything everytime and then I have to clear the dining table for tea!

Pip is doing well walking, it's second nature to him now and I've sort of figured out how he operates. He's one of lifes observers. He studies things, finds out how they work or tick or move. Then he quietly tries it out - if it's not perfect straight away he'll leave it til he's watched some more and then give it another go. Once he's got it there's no going back and he's like a total pro. I am convinced he won't speak until he's 4 and then it'll be in straight sentences.

Sometimes I wonder whether he'll ever reach the next birthday milestone, given that he's a bit of a risk taker, but he made it and it was fun.



Here he is punching his brother at his bowling birthday party. Don't you just love that sibling love?

I knew I'd be blue. But is is accurate? not sure about the tackiness but the rest of it sounds familiar.

I'm blue but now 14lb less blue than I was 7 weeks ago.

Munch learned to ride his bike at the weekend, pics when I can catch the little rascal!

What color is your soul painted? Blue Your soul is painted the color blue, which embodies the characteristics of peace, patience, understanding, health, tranquility, protection, spiritual awareness, unity, harmony, calmness, coolness, confidence, dependability, loyalty, idealism, tackiness, and wisdom. Blue is the color of the element Water, and is symbolic of the ocean, sleep, twilight, and the sky. Click Here to Take This Quiz

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Pip tolerates a haircut

I am trying to hone my face painting skills for Saturdays Fun Day

This was the boys at 4am this morning after 'I've had a nightmare' wakeups for those that can speak. They thought it was party time, I thought about ringing their necks.

not sure why I have that song in my head as it's a. old and b. not my thing music wise. I'm also not sure I should admit to liking Natasha Bedingfield, but as her music is on every beauty and cosmetic related advert on tv it's either a love or hate thing really.

We are back in the swing of things with school and gym. It's a bit sad to say that I am quite glad that the boys are back at school, but it has saved my sanity. It must drive them nuts as well being at home all day with boring Mummy and Pip who needs a 2 hour sleep at lunchtime, but I'm sure I am not the only one.

Running wise I'm struggling, but when have I ever done anything else but struggle. Sharon will tell you of the time in 1988 when she ran round the block with me when I was trying to get fit for my RAF medical (I passed medical, but failed Officer interview) when she thought she might have to dial for an ambulance such was my sorry assed state. I was 4 stone lighter then as well. Scarey huh?

I am managing to run for 6min, walk 2, run 5, walk 2, run 5, walk 2, run 2, collapse. I think being so heavy is not helping progression so I am going to stick with run 6, walk 2 three times till I have lost some weight which will be hard given I've eaten badly for much of the week. I am wondering how I can get out of going to WW on Monday, am thinking of feigning diptheria.

I did lose 2.5lb last week bringing the total up to 9.5lb so it's not all bad.

I am feeling more organised than I was, which basically means I've either used some material that has been hanging around for about 28 years, or I have done some crafting, or that I have tidied up. Seeing as you know about the bag and only 1 card has been made then I must have tidied up. Doesn't happen often but I am getting very fed up with clutter and lego. I am sure the kids think lego is a short name for lego as they hear it mostly referred to as 'bloody lego' but I am old and my tolerance is not high. No excuses. Their recklessless mess making drives me crazy, their infringement of Pip's space (his room) and their disregard for their poor aged mothers frayed nerves as they race through the house with swords or balls or knives. Again, I know I am not the only one.

We have had some lovely weekends recently, not least last weekend which was frighteningly civilised and the kids managed not to break anything of note.




When Hubby went to Windsor he actually took some nice 'scrapping' images, I was deeply impressed.






of course, I take better photos...

I am never making cauliflower and broccoli soup again, it is the rankest of the rank. Even ryvita seems attractive after eating that green goo.

Also in other other news I have moved from the couch to 5k running plan to Bob Glovers running plan as it was kinder and 2 weeks longer (I need kindness and those extra 2 weeks believe me).
Last week I ran:-

• warm up 5 min
• run 5 min
• walk 2 min
• run 5 min
• walk 2 min
• run 5 min
• ring 999 and ask for oxygen and defib.

I only managed to get to the gym once this week (Hubby said I needed a break - he doesn't understand what sort of break I need!) but ran 5 min/walk 2-3min repeated 3 times without too much discomfort. On Monday (weigh in day Have lost 8lb so far having missed last weeks session dur to choc fountain in Staffs) the plan is to:

• run 6 min
• walk 90 sec
• repeat twice more (total running 18 mins)

this should put me on 3.5k. It's a tall order though but I am finding a strict routine is working better than listening to my 'body' - my body has been lying to me about needing chocolate for 30 years - it's not going to tell me the real deal with running now after 4 weeks now is it?

just be grateful I am not allowed to take my phone in the gym so I can't take a pic of my beetroot face after all that exertion (maybe if the locker room is quiet i will give it a go on Mon)