September Update: Wales, and Gummy

So on Friday morning (around 6am?) Margaux was cruising around our bed and she fell and hit her head. She cried and we thought it was just a bad bump, well bless her I look down a couple of minutes later and my top is soaked with blood. She had split her gums. Poor wee boo.  So I kept her at home and kept a close eye on her.

By Friday evening she seemed ok so I decided to continue with our plan to go to Wales Saturday morning for the night. It takes me a good three hours to drive to my hometown, but I couldn't let another Summer go by without a visit. Molly was so excited to run around the deserted beach. And Margaux ate half of the sand ;) I took some videos so hopefully I can get that edited before we go away next month!

UPDATE
Here's the video :)

On being a school mum.

Reflections on the first year of School.

The playground is not a battlefield.
I bloody love the mums at Molly's school. They're all kind, interesting,  friendly, beautiful and funny women. Who also happen to be parents. I may be exaggerating, but the ones I've spent time with are bloody brilliant.

School does however turn mornings into a battlefield. A bloody and loud one.

I just don't think my firstborn gets on so well with the School structure. Nursery was no problem, up and at 'em and in the car by 7.30am. Home at 6.30pm, supper and bed. Three times a week! But School is a nightmare. We have tantrums, constant exhaustion and big tears. I feel SO bad that I can't just quit my job and home school. But I just can't. And having Margaux in the mix there's just no way I could facilitate a healthy learning environment. We'd end up watching CBeebies all day while I churn our snacks, do the washing and learning nothing.

Things I would tell myself this time last year
One teacher will let your four year old child out when you haven't arrived at home-time..

School is expensive! Start saving now for all the charity/extra curricular "donations" you'll be making.

No one cares that you haven't showered. Go to Church group after the school run, you'll miss having the option when you're back at work.

Asda tights are shit.

Sewing Molly's Ugly Bug Ball outfit at 6am.

Buy cardigans at least two sizes too big.

Teachers have a sick sense of what's a good thing for the child who's mums just come out of Hospital.. Give the child her first show and tell project the day her mummy comes out of hospital. Pricks.

Measure feet regularly. Turns out Molly's been wearing shoes two sizes two small. I suspect for a number of months.

Now we're entering into year one.. NO MORE BARNABY FUCKING BEAR!!! (I was so excited the first time he came to stay. Until I realised that he was literally a stuffed cess pit of germs/worms/nits. And no he was not allowed to sleep in her bed. Or touch the baby.)

Florida Outfits.

So we're off to Florida in October and I've been trying to fix up a wardrobe for the 17 days we will be there. I know we'll do a bit of shopping over there but with the exchange rate as it is I'm not planning on going crazy. It's not as though we have hot enough weather here to justify adding too much summer clothing. Plus once I finish feeding Margaux I'll put on at least 10lbs.

Anyway, I already have cut offs, sunglasses (not those!) and mint new balance. But OMG that dress, those Minnie Mouse shoes and pink METALLIC skirt! It's like the dream wardrobe to prance about at Disney in! All in Topshop - I miss my student loan!!

The one where we talk about tonights bedtimes.

My girls.

Our dynamics are shifting again.

Putting Molly to bed tonight, she couldn't get me out of her room quick enough, no 'one more page' of the BFG. No 'huuug huuuug' it was '.......um can you go now?'. I'm proud of her independence. So proud. But gosh it's tough.

Margaux, sweet Margaux. She used to feed to sleep downstairs so I could have dinner straight after Molly's bed time and watch telly. Now she's too easily distracted and her feeding becomes fractious and exhausting so we settle down in mummy and daddy's room.. still not cracked the cot. Still not turned to sleep training (yet). Tonight she kept burying her face in my chest, giggling, then grinning at me. It was the cutest game ever. I really love babies. I really love my babies.

I can't believe that the biggest is closer to six than five.

Margaux's Party

There are a few birthdays that I feel should not slip by unnoticed. The first being one of them (five is also a very important year). We had planned an excellent, relaxed at home garden party. Food, music, toys, sunshine. Alas with our bathroom flooding and the weather changing, it was not meant to be. So I hired a local small hall and filled it with bits and bobs from home. I'm really pleased we made the effort to do something, Margaux had a great time stealing her things from other babies and I think the other babies had a great time too despite Margaux's thug attitude. Next year though, that garden party is happening!! Thank you SO MUCH friends and family for coming.

My sister is a cake Wizard!