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Today, I collected a painting of Harvey that I asked my friend Lucy to paint. It is for my Mum for Xmas (Linnie...don't let her see this blog!). I am so chuffed I can't tell you... Lucy, you are a lovely friend and a VERY clever girl! Thank you x
Tis the season to be jolly; and jolly we jolly well are. We have been to MANY Xmas parties. We went to one on Friday, which under the circumstances (the morning after Mum's night out), was very brave and good-motherly of me. Harv had a great time playing with a toy kitchen. He loves toy kitchens. Guess what Santa is bringing him for Xmas....
On Saturday Harvey's fantastic Uncle Andy drove all the way from Lytham St Annes to our house, and back again (in a day) just to see Harvey. What a star. The arrangements for Uncle's visit was left to Davin to sort out, but as he was out on Friday night with all of the Dad's, he didn't manage to speak to Andy. We, therefore, didn't have an arrival time estimate for Saturday. I was somewhat surprised to get a phone call at 8:30 am from Andy:
Uncle A: Mornin'. You up?
Me: Yup. Why, where are you?
Uncle A: Luton (15 minutes away from us)
Me: (says) Great! (thinks) Crap! I am not even dressed! Thunders upstairs and shouts..DAVIN GET UP!!!
We had a lovely day, involving lunch out. I am pleased to report Davin was chipper despite staggering in the door at 1:30 am on Saturday morning. He went clubbing. CLUBBING! I have never been clubbing on a Mum's night. This must be rectified next month. Can't have the boys having a better night out than the girls. Oh no. FYI, a quick synopsis of Mum's night this month as follows.
Started well as Rebecca R did make it out after all. Yay! Meet in pub at 8 pm, drink wine. Move to curry house. Drink lots more wine. Exclaim loudly that waiters have supplied much more expensive wine than ordered. Smile at arrival of 2 free bottles of wine by way of apology. Eat curry. Talk rubbish. Discuss going to see 'Take That' (this is happening on 25 June as Jo bought tickets the next day HOORAH!!!). Move onto Bombora for Gins and tonics (note the plural). Get dragged onto dance floor by drunk Australian. Dance for very short time. Sit back down with girls. More men arrive to chat up others. They are quickly dispersed due to conversations about being happily married with very young children. Arrival of man wearing what looked like tea-cosy on head. Tea-cosy man then asked if I am a lesbian or a porn-star. ????. We leave en mass, pronto. Rebecca R gets in tizzy as she has lost lots of cash. Cab home. Rebecca R doesn't remember me and Rebecca H being in the cab.... ;-)
Today was Harvey's Nursery Xmas party. The most amazing thing happened. Harv ate a cheese sandwich. I saw it with my own eyes. I have never before seen Harvey eat cheese. His Nursery reports always say he does. I have never seen it before. Party events were followed by a trip to Starbucks for Kay, Rebecca H and the 2 boys. Boys shared a 'strawberries and cream' milkshake thingy, whilst we drank 'mint chocolate bliss'. Boy, was it. Harv and Ben seemed to enjoy themselves, as ever.
Mollychicken has come up Christmas trumps with this great hat. Thank you MC!
Admittedly, Harv was more impressed with mini Pringles and milk, but in fairness he had just returned from a hard afternoon at Nursery. He had been up for a visit to 'bumblebees' - currently he is a 'ladybird', but it will be up to bumblebees with the big boys and girls after Christmas. Gulp.
A short post tonight as it is Mum's Christmas night out. Yay! Drinks and curry are on the agenda. I shall take concise minutes and report back as necessary. Sadly one of the hard-core Rebecca's can't come out as it is her hubbie's Christmas do. You will be missed Rebecca - as you can always be lead astray!
Awww. Bless him. Poor old dog was covered in dribble after being used as a pillow.
No. Really I do. REALLY. I will explain why. But not yet.
We have had one fun weekend. Many years ago, began a tradition of a group of friends having Christmas lunch together. We started as 8, went to 6 for a couple of years, then 8 again, then 10, and now there are 12 adults and 5 children. Next year will be even bigger as 2 more babies are in the incubator as we speak. As you can imagine fitting this many people into a house in England, never mind cooking for them, all has become a gargantuan task. This year, Fiona and Crispin took on the challenge, and boy did they do a cracking job.
The children had their own little table. Only 2 of them were sat eating butternut squash soup when I took the photo. This is because Harvey was doing his best to woo Jasmine. Harvey quite unashamedly 'checked' Jasmine out, and then went in for the kill.
We arrived for lunch at 1:30, and am horrified to say that we didn't get home until 9pm. I fear we may have out-stayed our welcome horribly, but I can't really remember because I was having fun, so it seemed like a good idea to stay until the cheese course had been devoured. I am amazed that Harvey stayed up so late, but he was having a great time an in no hurry to go.
On to Sunday. Well. Luckily the hang-over pixies decided to leave me in peace, so we were able to skip off to the Baldock by-pass Christmas party. Oh yes. We went to a party in the northbound tunnel of the newly constructed Baldock by-pass. We know how to do it in style. Actually, it was much fun as a group of us went. As the by-pass is still under construction there were quite a few diggers knocking about. This made Harvey very happy. The nice digger drivers let the children sit in the cabins and twiddle with the knobs and gear-sticks. FYI, the JCB song has been released and it tipped for Christmas number one!
Morris Dancers provided some of the entertainment at the party, alongside about a billion old men dressed as Santa. One Santa offered me a jelly baby which I accepted (it was a green one). He asked "and what would you like for Christmas, young lady". I replied (of course) "You!". Well, if you can't flirt with Santa at Christmas, what is the point? Anyway, back to Morris Dancers.
Whenever I see Morris Dancers I can't help but smile. In a good way. They make me chuckle. I think the whole idea of grown-ups leaping about swishing ribbons and jingling bells just tickles me. I want to be one. Here is a video, but you will have to view it with your head resting on the table.
The world is a wonderful place, filled with many wonderful people. Forget tales of nastiness; I live in a world where someone I have never met spends hours making a little boy a cuddly toy version of his hero. Yes. It is true. SUPER BABY IS HERE!!!!!!! Debbie, you are my hero.
When SB first arrived, Harvey looked at her - looked at me - looked at the TV, and then very quietly said "Baby?". I think he was a bit star-struck. I know how he feels. I can't quite believe she is here. She came shopping with us yesterday, and I felt quite proud.
The look in Harvey's eyes says to me "She is mine..MINE!".
The week carried on in a good vane as we had the unexpected pleasure of MadDonna's company on Thursday and Friday. As ever, there was lunch out. On both days. On the second day Helen and my gorgeous God-daughter Rebecca joined us. Helen wasn't entirely pleased with this photo, and explained she had given her best "I don't want my photo taken - get lost" smile. However, I am evil, so am posting the picture anyway. Ha! Ha!
On Sunday we three all skipped off to our first Xmas party. There were gifts, courtesy of (secret) Santa.
The children had a lot of fun, especially with Jo's fantastic collection of toy diggers. You can just see a small sample of them on the table in the top right of the photo above. It was one of those party's where the Dads looked after the children, and the Mums chatted in the kitchen. We talked a lot about 'Take That' who have reformed (minus Robbie) and will be touring. Hannah has tickets. I am very jealous as I love them. There was chatting about who was the most gorgeous of the 5 in the band. I have to say that Gary Barlow did it for me. Phwoar! Other famous blokes I fancy: David Beckham (as long as he doesn't speak), Sergeant Troy (the young one top left) - oh my - I love him, really - John Taylor (Duran Duran), and Morten Harket (A-Ha. OH. MY. GOD). I think you'll agree that my taste is eclectic. I have no idea why I have just told you this, dear Internet, maybe because I am trying top make my husband jealous. Why? Because he won't buy me the bag I need for Xmas (as previously posted). Helen suggested that I tell him I want a car, and then the bag will look like a good option. I tried this. I said " I want a pink Yaris". He said "I know".
Anyway, where was I. Oh yes, the party. The Dads did a splendid job of entertaining their first born. Not least at the end of the evening when they sang..."see the little rabbits sleeping till it's nearly noon, shall I go and wake them, with a merry tune......" see them sleeping below!
and now see them awake and hopping!
It has been a good day. Sadly, it is about to be ruined because tonight, I must iron some clothes. Either that or teach 3 classes tomorrow morning dressed in some underwear and a smile. Meet my pile of ironing
I was going to get Harv to stand next to the pile for scale, but I was worried there may be an avalanche and he would be killed. My new running shoes snuck in the picture, you'll notice. See how they shine. An on that note I shall put on the shoes and go running. Even though it is freezing outside. Even though I went to the gym this morning. That is how good I am. I shall reward myself later with a glass of wine and a box of Maltesers. Or, in an ideal world, a box of wine and a glass of Maltesers. Thank you, and goodbye x
