Day 330 The first birthday

Today was youngest daughters birthday. Yes she was born just a few hours shy of my own birthday. This was her first ever birthday and for those of you who have read my blog will have seen pictures if her develop and grow over the year, a longer write up if mine and youngest daughters birthday weekend is to follow but here is a picture just for today....

The Importance of being cute

The past weekend saw us take a visit further north (true north) to Nana's house. We hadn't been to Nana's since Christmas so it was nice to go up there and stay the night. As always, it's nice to see family but even more nice to have people focus their attnetions on the kids, distract them and let me and mummy rest.

Saturday saw us take a trip shopping. My nephew and ER and TV's young cousin CJ, who is 3 years old, so a couple of months younger than ER tag along with his mummy. Now CJ gets along very well with his cousins, and they play very well together. CJ is your typical little boy, very excitable and noisey. I love seeing him as he is full of energy and I don't think I've ever seen him and he's not been running around, shouting, jumping and generally just enjoying himself. He is the kind of child that would find a wet box and a breeze as something he could have enormous amounts of fun with.

Due to his energy he can often make ER extra shy, although she often talks about him and says that they are best friends and she wants to play with him, when in reality when we arrive for this to happen she goes quiet and doesn't actually play with him, instead opting to cuddle up to an adult and play whilst CJ runs around with his tongue out screaming and shouting.

As we went shopping, partly so Nana could ask ER what she wanted for her looming 4th birthday, both ER and CJ shoed how cute the can be by firstly co-operating enough to hold a basket of shopping together....

Followed by a spot of dancing together in the shop.....

befor CJ decided to sing ring a ring or roses, and ensured everyone saw that he knew the all fall down part.....

CJ also got the chance to go on the digger ride, which again got him excited. ER is howeverm scared of these rides, as she cried the last time I put her on a ladbug one a few weeks previously so as CJ enjoyed his drive on the big digger, and ensured all the buttons got bashed and everyone heard him having fun, ER clutched Nana's hand look on to CJ....

But as anyone will tell you who have mulitple children or children who have close friends and family, they can be at this age very cute at times hen they are agreeing and not arguing. This photo particullary sums up how they were together at the weekend, as CJ enjoyed holding ER's hand and if he ever staryed too far away ER would do what she does best and become bossy and shout until she got her way often shouting CJ's name across the shop floor until he reverted back to her side holding her hand. ER ensuring everyone could see her being an adult and mature and makign CJ act appropriatley in public, something many have often failed to do....

As you can see that both were being undeniably cute. This tactic probably helped when we went to the Toy Shop to find ER a birthday idea/present and they both obviously came out with a toy each to play with. But we can't think about the child that does not, can not speak that is TV. She is often cute and her sister is equally cute with her trying to be big sister. Now no visit to Nana's wouldn't be complete with both ER and TV being spoilt and getting something new. As ER got a new toy Nana wheeled out TV's new vibrating chair, something she enjoyed emmensley with the toy giraffe and elephant hanging over, she particullary enjoyed bashing the giraffe and making him swing.

But what about CJ, how is he around her? Well this weekend saw him being extra cute towards his little cousin. as she was strapped in her car seat, not being able to do too much that gurgle and gargle and look at her brand new toy mobile strapped to her car seat with her wide eyes, CJ kept chekcing on her, someting he hadn't done too much previously in his few visits. He even attempted to read her a story....

After Lunch we dropped ER off at CJ's house so they could play before we went home, she was disappointed when I came to pick her up so we could go home, started crying and I even got told off by my nephew for coming to pick her up. Hopefully this is the sign of a strong relationship for the cousins and a sign of a good future for them. I often remember of times when I got to play with my cousins hen we were children and would love for my children to have a strong and close relationship with their cousin.

But alas any post wrote about the weekend can not not mention the snow. It Snowed and although I tried to get ER to go sledging and make a snow angel to no avail, I did manage to throw the odd snowball or two at the children, without them being aware who it was. But unfortunatley there wasn't enough snow for my to build my traditional igloo, hopefully there will be more soon.....

As we got back home to a cold house Eldest ER decided to go get our blanket to hea us all up, cue lots of laughing as she stuggled being a small child dragging a large double quilt, still we didnt' offer to help, but instead laugh as she fell over, are we terrible parents of did we just see the comedy value?

The things kids say....

Last week was quite a lovely week. Recently I feel as a family we have tried make a more conscious effort in going out and doing things together, spending more quality time together and creating some happy memories, with also the side bonus of taking lots of pictures.

It is obviously hard to balance work life with family life, that I am sure many people can sympathise with. But recently on my days off we've seem to do more and be more active rather than just lounge around the house.

The other day we went swimming together. Usually not an activity I enjoy as I can't swim, but taking the kids to the kiddie pool isn't too bad. ER particularly enjoys swimming, especially at my work place due to the giant yellow duck slide she can slide down. This particular visit was the youngest TV, who is only 2 months old, first visit to the swimming pool, which she seemed to enjoy, no tears, no sad face, unlike bath time she just sat with mummy and daddy taking it all in, probably jealous her sister could go down the kids and she couldn't.

This trip was followed up by me and my girlfriend going out on a date night, our first since TV was born. We went to a nice restaurant, instead of some family friendly pub/cafe, had some grown up conversation and grown up food and not have to bribe anyone with desert or the naughty step ( I nearly had to send OH to the naughty step though for not finishing her veg!) before we slowly made our way home via our new favourite blues cafe bar we managed to stumble on.

The next day saw a visit from Nana, which allowed us to go shopping and Nana distract the children. ER was quite excited as she got to buy some pink shoes with lights in them, I was excited as I got to buy Goldeneye on the PS3 ( I'm a big kid really) whilst Nana wanted to know what ER wanted for her birthday, her reply was, "a baby brother!"

This obviously caused me and mummy shock at first and then laugh with the reply that she should of asked earlier, but pointed out it wasn't going to happen on the count that she's just got a baby sister. She would later go on to say how much she likes being a big sister and now wants a brother as well as her little sister, I know how cute but at the same time scary. I think now she has stopped hoping for a baby brother within the next 2 weeks and instead set her heart on getting some train track and a kitchen set for her birthday, but I wouldn't be surprised if she asked where her brother was on her birthday.

And as for how has Goldeneye been going? Well lets just say that mummy isn't too good, even though she enjoys the game, I have to let her win sometimes but it's great to have her enjoy playing on the Playstation, I just hope she doesn't start hogging it now.....