shiny happy people

I have been tagged by Working Mama over at Last of the Mojitos in the Shiny Happy Things tag. The idea is that you blog about something that never fails to put a smile on your face, whether that be a photo, a song, somebody you love or whatever. So here goes…

First up I have to share this. Again.

I love it and it makes me smile everytime.

Undoubtedly, the thing that makes me the happiest is my little (but rapidly growing) family. After a hard day such as today, there is nothing quite like getting home or arriving at nursery to collect my daughter and seeing the grin spread across her face as she sees me. “MUMMY!” she screams excitedly as she charges across the room to give me a big hug. Nothing quite like it.

And then we get home and I get a big hug from my man. His hugs are big bear hugs. They are magic and make you feel safe and warm. He looks after me and makes me stop when I forget I am six months pregnant. I need to remember to stop.

And then there is the increasingly wriggly baby in my tummy. A little person – as yet I have no idea who s/he is – who knows just when to give me a kick  to let me know he or she is there and all is well.

These are my shiny happy people, and for that I am unbelievably grateful.

And now to see what makes you smile…

hen

mediocre mum

smacksy

saturday evening blog post: january

So, it’s time for the Saturday Evening Blog Post again.

This month I have chosen friends because, well, it makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

I am being a bit naughty this month and adding a second – I like to ride my bicycle – because, well, Charlie is my new hero. Go check him out, and maybe sponsor him too.

See what others have chosen this month here.

top tip

Don’t forget to check behind you when you are up to something you shouldn’t be.

You are welcome.

face to face

This week’s you capture challenge was faces.

I was going to get all arty and go with clock faces, but then a) I realised that we only have two clocks in the house, both digital and b) we had ofsted at school and so my mind was filled with lesson plans; taking pictures had to wait. Now it is Wednesday evening and I am reverting to my student days and completing my assignment with just hours to spare. Some things never change…

Anyhoo, I would like to share with you two faces that I love dearly, but don’t photograph often enough.

Lenny…

He looks slightly scary here. In fact he was purring so loudly the house was practically shaking. His mouth is open because he dribbles when he purrs. Nice. Lenny nearly died when he was teeny tiny and as a result is a little bit special. At least that’s how I explain away his falling into the pond and the fact he likes jam. He also likes to hang out in the dishwasher.

Lenny’s brother is Carl…

Getting a picture of his face has proved very tricky. He won’t sit still so him asleep was the best I could do. Carl has problems distinguishing between people and cats. He is convinced he is one of us and demands cuddles by climbing all over you and licking you until you submit. Even if you have work to do.

Until our daughter was born two years ago, the cats were our babies. Even though we had the best of intentions when we had the baby, the poor furry things were inevitably given less attention than before. They now seem to have accepted the new pecking order in the house and are gradually beginning to  tolerate the whirlwind that is our daughter. Carl even tries to sit on her lap occasionally, although as yet has been unsuccessful.

See more faces over at I should be folding laundry.

porky pies

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics”  - Benjamin Disraeli

Make that four: lies, damned lies, statistics and whopping great fibs you tell your children.

As a child, I (like most children in the world) trusted my parents implicitly.

When I was about 3 and learning my alphabet, I remember a conversation with my parents over lunch, pretty much along these lines…

Parent: Guess what? Mummy and Daddy have been really clever.

Me: Really?

Parent: Yes. We have invented a whole new letter

Me: Really?!

Parent: Yes. It’s called “kicking kuh” and it looks likes this… (writes a K)

Me: WOW!

Fast forward a couple of days or weeks (I can’t remember exactly, it was thirty years ago). I was watching Sesame Street. Guess which letter Sesame Street was brought to my by? Yup, Kicking Kuh.

WOWSERS! My parents are soooo clever that Sesame Street has found their new letter, and now EVERYBODY is using it. So. Cool.

A few years later – when I was about 8 – my sister and I were just discovering rude words. My mum told us that she knew the rudest word in the whole wide world. My sister and I managed to persuade her to tell us what it was, on the understanding we would never use it because it was SO rude. Ok, mum we promise.

My mum then whispered the world’s rudest word: Big Toe.

Shhh, don’t say it too loud.

My sister and I weren’t convinced, but being as mums never lie and are always trustworthy, we did actually believe her. So much so that a few weeks later my sister fell out with her best friend over it. Like, properly fell out over it – they didn’t speak for days.

Now I am a mum myself, and I am coming to realise that it is only a matter of time until I, too, start making up ridiculous stories to tell my children. It started the other day when I told my toddler that the moon is made from cheese. I know that isn’t especially original, but hey.

A girl’s got to start somewhere.

What whopping lies have you told your kids? What porky pies did your parents tell you?

she’s going to go far

Most days my daughter goes to sleep pretty much straight away, exhausted after a busy day at nursery.

Most days. Apparently today isn’t most days though.

Little Lady: (through baby monitor) tinkle tinkle star… tinkle are… night night mummy…night night daddy… teddy…two teddies… night night teddies…

This carried on for several minutes. Not unusual at all.

Little Lady: mummy cuddle… mummy cuddle… MUMMY CUDDLE!… MUMMYCUDDLE!… MUMMYCUDDLEMUMMYCUDDLEMUMMYCUDDLE (repeat very loudly for as long as you feel necessary)

Me: (entering through door) Shhhhhhh

Little Lady: No bed… no bed… no sleep…

Me: (picking up distraught toddler) shhhhhhhh

Little Lady: No sleep… More story… More story… One more story… One more story… One more story, pease… pease (nod head vigorously to show you mean it)

With those bargaining skills, how could I refuse?

red and yellow and pink and green. orange and purple and blue…

I don’t tend to wear many colourful clothes. Mostly I live in black, grey or brown. Especially for work. However, I love wearing stupid colourful socks inside my boots. Knowing I have them on makes me feel less grown up and sensible while I teach my lessons and do grown up stuff like buying a new house.

One of my christmas presents was this notebook.

Since selling our house last week and having an offer accepted on the house we want, this book has become my lifeline. In times of stress I make lists. It’s how I cope, and right now I cannot cope without this book.

I mentioned before that we have fairy lights up all year round, not just at christmas time. Most of the lights are white, but the ones in our living room are multi coloured. They hang from the bookshelves and give the room a warm cosy glow. Although now I look closely I notice the green ones aren’t working. Dagnammit.

And finally, being British, I need my tea. Currently I can only have one cup a day as it seems to send the baby doo-lally. I just finished this cup…

and am now being beaten from the inside.

Yesterday as I left work I saw the MOST AMAZING sunset. The sky was incredible pinks and purples and it was bee-yoot-ifull. Typically I had forgotten my camera so I can’t prove it to you. Annoying.

You can see who did remember their camera’s and what colours they found over at I should be folding laundry.

i like to ride my bicycle

All week the politicians have been referring to a “broken Britain”, particularly in reference to this horrific case.

Yes, there are some very real and very big problems in this country, but I think Britain is far from broken.

And here’s Charlie to prove it. He is seven years old and decided to do something to help the people of Haiti after the earthquake. He set out to raise £500 for UNICEF. As I write this the total raised is an amazing £36, 415.60. Awesome.

If I were his mum I would be bursting with pride. Hell, I am anyway. Good on you Charlie!

Sponsor Charlie here.

say what you see

As a kid I loved Catchphrase. I remember being really proud of myself when I worked out what Mr Chips was doing, and wondering how on earth the people got to be on the programme when they were so obviously rubbish. I don’t remember this though…

Genius.

love is all around

Seven years ago, way back when we spent our Friday nights out with friends and our Saturdays finding hangover cures, my boyfriend gave me this bracelet for my birthday.

He is awesome at choosing jewellery. It is simple, yet different and I love it. Always have. It rarely leaves my right arm.

If I do take it off it probably means our daughter is teething and needs to chew on it. It is the perfect size and shape to fit in the back of her mouth, and being silver it is hard and cold on her gums. Now she loves it too. If you look closely, you can see teeny tiny teeth marks which makes me love it even more.

See what others love over at I should be folding laundry.