Day 365 driving

Youngest daughter Violet was kindly given a ride on car for Christmas. Those of you who read my blog will know that at her playgroup she loves jumping on them and being pushed around whilst rudely pointing at people as she passes them. Well now she has a new habit playing on her phone! This is in fact one if my pet hates and i always shout at people i see driving on there phones. That's some jail time there...

Day 363 first shoes

Today we braved the crowds hunting down the January bargains to get youngest daughter her first pair of shoes. We went to a well known shoe company who measured her feet and then let her try her shoes on. Once we bought them we kept them in her (at least now she won't be able to pull her socks off) she was that pleased with them that when she got home and took them off she needed to inspect them a little closer...

Day 355 walking tall

Violet is walking more and more each day, here is conclusive proof she us more confident than ever...

Day 354 sitting pretty

Violet has started thinking everything is a seat. There is a child's seat in her and her sisters room, recently Violet has enjoyed sitting in this, climbing down and then back up again to sit down again. Strange but it keeps her occupied...

Day 348 ear muffs

It's getting cold outside so best wrap up warm. Violet was eager to out her bug dusters ear muffs in this morning before we left the house....

Day 344 Bubbles

Youngest daughter just loves bath time. She especially loves the bubbles in the bath, what's not to love, fun splashy water....

Day 340 vintage wheels

Youngest daughter has been cruising around today on a set of vintage wheels. These were at the playgroups she attends and each week has been busy playing specifically with the cars, she might be a bit of a petrol head...

Day 338 sleeping well

Youngest daughter tends to always sleep in the weirdest positions. Tonight is no exception but at least she has her friends around her. May I also add that when she went to bed she did actually have pants on!

Day 334 tractor

Today I took violet to a local play group at our local village hall. It's got plenty of space and other girls and boys to play with and lots of toys. The kids even get a mid morning snack. We had fun at the group, playing and exploring, although Violet did fall off her chair whilst eating she was fine after a 30 second cry and cuddle from daddy.

Violet thoroughly enjoyed playing on the ride on toys such as the tractor, and enjoyed them even more by getting me to push her round...

The Birthday Weekend

This past weekend was a very special weekend, firstly it was my birthday on Saturday. My 28th one on this planet saw nothing special happen, nothing special planned. No big night out and this will all become clear why later on in the post. Instead it started with a lie in before waking up. As I woke to the sound of the children playing they wished me a Happy birthday and each gave me a kiss along with the girls' mum, which was a nice way to start the day. Ginger was cooking my my favourite way to start the day, a bacon and egg sandwich with ketchup and a cup of tea, in the meantime the girls wanted to give me my birthday present, they sat patiently with my present....

before letting me unwrap it, I think they are trying to tell me something....

After opening the girls present I then opened my cards. My nephew who is now 4 wrote me a card which featured some very lovely artwork of me, and his two cousins. It also featured a flying fish! Maybe he's trying to tell me to take up fishing. Mean while Ginger gave me my presents, but she couldn't resist abusing me in the process....

After opening cards and presents there was of course cake, featuring all 28 candles, one for each year. Im surprised the fire alarms didn't go off, maybe that's a sign I should be checking them more often! I knew I had a cake as eldest daughter couldn't resist telling me the other day, but I managed to stop her telling me anymore details as I was pretty sure she was divulging information I was not meant to hear...

The rest of day was spent with the girls, we popped into town and ate at a local restaurant and walked around the bustling streets full of Christmas shoppers, before heading home to relax and have some cake and ice cream. The girls then were bathed and put to bed because the next day would be more important and even more hectic.

The next day saw youngest daughter (Violets) birthday. It was extra special as this was her first birthday. Yes Violet was born just a few hours outside of her daddy's birthday, now meaning that I can't drink and celebrate my own birthday too drunkenly or fear having a horrendous hangover on her birthday, something I don;t want to ruin. However it does make the two days a little extra special knowing we have a special link in some way. To mark Violets first birthday we hosted a small party with friends and family at our house. Ginger had got her crafty fingers out and had been busy making bunting, whilst the previous night was spent blowing up balloons and decorating the house. Violet eventually woke up bright eyed and early as did her older sister. Straight away we all wished her a happy birthday before bringing the girls downstairs for some breakfast. We had her presents ready for her in the next room and so Rose, Violets big sister went to to grab hers to give to her, very excited at the prospect of her little sister opening her present...

Violet after a little of tempting finally started opening her present....

After she had opened her big sisters present we then got our present we bought her. We had bought her a toddle truck for her to use, to get use to walking but also play with and enjoy as she had been enjoying playing with a similar one at a local playgroup. As soon as she saw it she was up on her feet and busy crashing into anything and everything that got in the way...

Once all the excitement of the presents opened was done and dusted it was then time to turn attention to the party. At around 11:30am people started arriving. I picked my mam up from York as she had been staying there the night before with friends, after this Gingers Mum and step dad arrived shortly followed by Gingers Dad and Grandpa. Then my little sister and husband joined us and nit forgetting My nephew CJ. My relatives brought with them a sackful of presents as we are quite big into birthdays and the birthday person being spoilt. There were even some presents for me for my birthday which was very nice. Violet had plenty of toys to now choose from and in particular enjoyed and still enjoys her Mickey Mouse dancing toy that sings the HotDog song, (if you don;t know what I;m talking about you tube it, it's quite a nice little song) Violet even took her first steps without holding onto anything as well, successfully stringing 2 steps together to reach Nana, making today even more special.

Once all the presents were unwrapped it was time to eat. A small party spread was laid on featuring sandwich's, cheese, bread sticks, quiche was there to enjoy which many people did, but most importantly there was more birthday cake. Ginger had made and stressed over daughters rainbow cake, but thankfully the mountainous cake was baked safely and most important deliciously. To top it a candle with 1 was placed and lit and everyone sang happy birthday to Violet, at which point she beamed a huge smile at everyone singing harmoniously to her. Her sister and cousins duly helped blow out the candles before the cake was sliced and made available for everyone to eat with jelly and ice cream....

Now the food was served and presents opened, over time people trickled off and made their way home. More people joined the party and occupied the girls. Tears were shed as the girls got tired and spoilt with attention from various other people. Needless to say everyone was tired and eventually as everyone left it was time for the girls to go to bed shortly followed by Mummy and Daddy. It's been a great weekend, it's been a lovely family themed weekend. But most importantly theres plenty of cake left over, yum yum.

Day 326 Fashion icon

It looks like something from a catalogue but somehow my OH Ginger has capture this photo of our youngest daughter modelling her fashionable jacket wrapped up warm for the winter chill. This has to be one if my favourite photos, sterling work...

Day 325 gruffalo crumble

Mmmmm youngest daughters favourite food is Gruffalo crumble yum yum

Day 316 Hospital

Unfortunately today we have spent the afternoon in hospital. Baby daughter has been feeling a little under the weather and so I took her in to be on the safe side after a severe bout of vomit. The doctors gave her a look over and a few toys to play with along with a little medicine and thankfully we are back home with mummy and daddy doing regular night time checks, what a trooper....

Day 313 going for a stroll

Uh oh she's now on the move with toys! Toes aren't safe!

Day 309 wrap up warm

It's that time of year, time to wrap up warm, so this is how youngest daughter decides to show this years latest trends....

Day 308 dressing gowns

A weekend trip at nanas always means new clothes and the girls getting spoilt. This time round nana had some new dressing gowns waiting on the radiators for them before they went to bed, perfect to keep them snug and warm before having some warm milk before beddy byes...                                  

Day 306 nap time on daddy

Now this is a moment to savour, it's been months since my youngest daughter has slept in my arms. She use to love nothing more when she was a newborn than sleeping in her daddy's arms and it is something I have deeply missed. But now here she us cuddled up into daddy and sleeping safely, although she is snoring a lot more than she use to but, as the first line said, this is a moment I am happy and I am savouring....

Day 302 Mickeys Clubhouse

Youngest daughter has a favourite TV show. She loves Mickey Mouses Clubhouse. She will happily bop along to the songs and clap her hands, it's quite a cute sight especially when she turns to you and smiles all proud at herself. Sometimes she gets carried away and just has to go up to the screen for a closer look...

Day 299 Little Devil

It's Halloween next week but someone is already dressing up as a lil devil...

Day 294 Climbing

Youngest daughter, as with any child in there first year, has been developing each day. Today age managed to climb the couch. At first at our shock as we didn't see her do it, then with a clap to say well done, now after her doing it all day we are tired as we have to run and get her off the couch before she flings herself mad off it. Many more days of pulling her off the couch ensue I am sure....

She finds her climbing spot and attempts to pull one foot up....

 

before failing in her first attempt, she prepares her other leg and pulls a face whilst doing so....

 

success! She has one leg up and soon will have another leg up...

 

smiling due to her success feeling proud of herself she now makes herself feel comfy...

 

and poses for the camera looking as if she is getting ready to jump off.