Miscellaneous

Our family: Christmas 2013

Christmas 2013 in pictures One of the best parts of a family blog, is being able to record moments in our family’s life. Things we would otherwise probably forget, or which would at least fade in our memories. Christmas 2013 has been packed with fun, so here is our family Christmas, in pictures: Our Christmas got off to a fabulous start at Capital FM’s Jingle Bell Ball, at the O2. Not many 9 year olds get to see Olly Murs and Katy Perry live, especially close enough to need earplugs! And the Bug’s grumpy face? Totally because Daddy said we …

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Happy birthday to you…

Today was my birthday. A day when my 9 year old daughter gave me this: Which made me smile, because she has been noticing the job of a Mum recently, giving me credit for how hard I work to keep things ticking over. I am loving this new appreciation she has for me, so I’m writing about it. Sorry. But I am. Because I know it won’t last. As well as my new camera, I was gifted Lush bath bombs and Hotel Chocolat delights. I made a quip about all 3 shops being within 10 metres of each other. Jason …

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Gifts for girls

This year for Christmas the Bug and I wanted to go shopping together to buy our own gifts for our family. Normally we just add our names to the gift cards our parents write, but at my school Christmas fair I had the option to make small purchases, and so I came home with gifts for M&D and my brother. Of course the Bug wanted to do similar, so yesterday Mummy took us to our local pound shop, with £1 each for each member of our family. Leaving her at the end of an aisle so she couldn’t see our …

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Family Frolics: remembering an amazing mother

I’ve had a good cry today. I knew when I woke up this morning that today would see a lot of sadness, and a lot of bloggers remembering Kerry Farrow – Multiple Mummy, who died a year ago today. The tears have come from watching this video posted by Kerry’s husband. But as well as sadness for her loss, I’ve been moved by what a happy, lovely family she left behind, by how well her children are growing up surrounded by her family, and most of all, her incredible husband. Kerry was the sort of Mum most of us aspire …

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Hilarious childrens’ book: The Weasel Puffin Unicorn Baboon Pig Lobster Race! (review)

The Weasel Puffin Unicorn Baboon Pig Lobster Race Yes it really is as mad as it sounds. But then that’s the great thing about a book for kids, especially a book which appeals to boys. And girls, as it turns out. Seriously, when you’re 6 (or 9, as it turns out) what could be better than a pig using a chocolate submarine to cheat his way through a race? In fact, all the animals in this delightfully-illustrated children’s book find the most absurd ways to cheat their way to the finish. All except one. The Weasel Puffin Unicorn Baboon Pig …

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We are Mark Warner ski ambassadors!

Last week GG told you why she needs to take us all on a family skiing holiday. There was much mirth over poor old Actually Daddy and his lack of ability to say something that didn’t sound like it was destined for the board room. Well I am absolutely bowled over and blown away by the news that Mark Warner have today asked us to be ski ambassadors for them. This is how I revealed the news to the rest of my family: Apparently I was too cryptic, although GG confessed that she got it by the second watching, but …

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Lucky Voice karaoke: perfect gift for girls, and a great little stocking filler

You may have seen our review of Lucky Voice online back in the summer. There are people in that video who will never be able to look us in the eye again after we put them online – but a truly epic performance is what it was! Well now, Lucky Voice have launched their karaoke app. You know when you’re at a friends house, or out for the evening (in your case it’s probably at the pub, but for me it would probably be Wagamama or the local roller-rink, obviously!) and the urge suddenly hits to start singing? But you …

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The perfect Christmas Day

perfect Christmas day chocolate

This year on Christmas Eve the perfect Christmas Day will start. Daddy will remember that it’s sleigh bells in the garden at bedtime. A tambourine sounds nothing like Santa’s sleigh. *** I will be allowed out of bed every half hour to check the palpability of my stocking for evidence of a visit from the bloke in red. *** We will get up at 5.30am. All of us. Whilst I don’t mind a bit of covert rummaging in a baggy sock by torchlight, there comes a point when I require the input of a delighted adult to validate my excitement. …

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Why any book is a good book when you’re 6 – even one by a footballer

I heard a muffled protest this morning evanescing from Mummy’s room. Apparently the Bug had finished his new book, got up, dressed for school, and was itching to do a book review. Go figure. I snuck out to get my confiscated Kindle, and left them to it. Frankie’s Magic Football, by Frank Lampard Being honest, I’d heard Mummy say that she wasn’t going to bother writing about Frankie’s Magic Football. I could even tell you what she was thinking: it’s written by a footballer, how is that going to be any good? Plus the Bug is not really a fan of his …

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Why I MUST take my family skiing! #MarkWarnerMum

TWO SKI HOLIDAYS A YEAR! It’s non-negotiable! You knew that  when we got married! It was inevitable that I would become a skier. It was in-utero that I heard these words, flung down the stairs in frustration and anguish. Daddy was having to come to terms with the fact that I would turn 9 weeks old as the ski season began, and Mummy was not as keen to hurtle down the black runs as she used to be. He couldn’t fathom it. I think the words “baby-backpack” were used… Apparently this was acceptable attire in the 90’s. Don’t worry, I’ll …

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Things children want: Wot so Funee?

As my writing becomes more legible, the #funee moments have become less frequent. However, I have great news, all ye who like to laugh at your kids (it’s outrageously bad form, but we don’t seem able to stop you, so we may as well take some control over the situation)! My brother, the Bug, is beginning to take over the reins. A reluctant writer, he has discovered that there is an advantage to an occasional flourish of the pen. Who knew, for instance, that being asked to write on the shopping list could be so lucrative? The Bug complained last …

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The loveliest book for children – but you’ll have to be quick!

We have the most beautiful children’s book in our house. When you read the words personalised children’s book you automatically think “Toy Story with my child and his three best mates names inserted strategically along the predicable narrative” but this is a story with a huge difference. For every child’s name, there is a different story. Lost My Name is a lovely story about a child who wakes up to find that the name on his door has gone, and with it, his memory of what his name is. He embarks on an adventure to find his name, meeting strange …

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Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: Wot so Funee?

Last week we had an invite to the spectacular Hyde Park Winter Wonderland experience. Mummy has always wanted to go, but balked at stories of queues and prices with young children in tow. Come the day, Mummy was ill in bed with gastric flu. Being caring souls, we deposited a tray of lucozade and paracetamol by her pillow, and gave her a cheery wave before heading off with Daddy in search of hedonism. What we did at Winter Wonderland   We rode the giant observation wheel – 3 revolutions in 5 minutes were just perfect to show us everything we …

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Wedding photos – our beautiful family

I really did not know that this was the wedding I wanted. We had our dream day 13 years ago, and we were happy with it. But as the years went on, the desire to add to our family, the miscarriages, the fertility treatment, the news from experts that we would not have children – they all changed us. We were leaving. We were part-way through the process of emigrating (we couldn’t live in middle-class suburbia amongst all the nuclear familes when we didn’t have one) when we realised that our daughter was on her way. She changed our lives, as …

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Announcing the #TescoMumOfTheYear finalists.

I’m always telling my mum that she’s the best mum ever. (Except when I’m cross with her – which happens most days). Despite all her misdemeanours – limiting reading time, insisting on sleep, hiding the pick ‘n mix – I think she’s actually quite cool. She says I’ll change my mind in a couple of years, so she’s making the most of it. But even I can see she’s nothing like the Tesco Mum of the Year finalists. These women work tirelessly for others, not just their own families, but other families in need. And what’s more, many of them …

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Sensational wedding sweets: Wot so Funee? (Review)

You cannot fail to have noticed that we had a wedding-style celebration in our family recently. The party was truly epic, complete with Abba band, fireworks and fizz on arrival. Being only 9, the Prosecco was completely disinteresting for me, so I insisted on another kind of wedding favour treat to be handed out to the children: Wedding Sweets from The Gobstopper A few weeks before the big event the Bug and I went through The Gobstopper’s website searching for appropriate treats. The conversation went something like this: Bug: Where are the bonbons? Me: Ohh yes bonbons, but they have …

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Hogwarts at Christmas: my Mum is a witch

  My Mum is evil. I don’t say this lightly, because I love my Mum – today. I didn’t yesterday because she did the Hogwarts at Christmas tour. And she didn’t take me! I know! Evil, right? The Making of Harry Potter studio tour from Warner Brothers has been closed for a week – which is pretty epic news in itself, given that 6,000 visitors pass through its doors each day. But this is what they’ve been doing: They actually sieved fake snow onto the awesome Hogwarts model! Part of the tour over the festive period involves an explanation of …

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Wedding vows: part 2

The groom read his vows from his tablet

Image credit: Stephanie Belton Having seen the love for Mummy’s wedding vows, Daddy was keen to share his own words from the day. It’s copy pasted from his own typing, which he sent from his iPad, which he also used at the altar to read his vows from! Hels Bels, H Mc B, I really do love you so much. You are & will always be my best friend. You give me advice & support when I ask for it, tell me to pull myself together when I don’t ask. Though sometimes you do seem to take my bosses point …

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Our wedding readings to Mum and Dad: Wot so Funee?

Not a misappropriated word or witty anecdote this week, simply a reiteration of wedding readings my brother and I made at M&D’s vow renewals. Some cute, some funny, all endearing, and for some reason made my Mum cry. Can’t think why, I did my bit perfectly! GG’s reading, from A Lovely Love Story, by Edward Monkton: The fierce Dinosaur was trapped inside his cage of ice. Although it was cold he was happy in there. It was, after all, his cage. Then along came the Lovely Other Dinosaur. The Lovely Other Dinosaur melted the Dinosaur’s cage with kind words and loving thoughts. I …

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Dancing without stabilisers

By GG and the Bug…    Shhh! More exciting news on the wedding anniversary party. Don’t tell Mummy I’ve hijacked her computer. It’s supposed to be a secret. Remember how we told you that M&D wanted to do a few things differently to their wedding 13 years ago? Well one of those things happens on the dance floor. Last time there had been far too much wine to afford anything more than a shuffle during their first dance. In fact, as Mummy tells it, Daddy used her to help him remain on his feet for the whole of Shania Twain’s You’re …

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