Ok little bit of background whenever I cook mince - I cook it 'dry' and I always drain off the excess fat.....
But Andy cooked tea tonight as I was at work, I left everything ready it was spag bol but he didn't drain the mince so it was a tad greasy, even though I buy lean mince, but very nice.
I cooked the spaghetti when I got in from work.All Matthew had to do was carry his dinner from the kitchen into the front room and put it on the table and eat it....
Simple?
Well maybe not......
......as he arrived at the table.... he promptly tipped the whole lot off his plate into the middle of the table....
then.... as he tried to clean it up...... he decided to put his plate on the edge of the table and scoop it back onto his plate but managed to get it over not one but TWO of my new cream chairs and now they have bright orange stains on them!
Wouldn't you think a 13 year old boy could carry his meal 20 feet successfully without there being a major disaster?
Monday 28 April 2008
Friday 25 April 2008
Happy Birthday Kip
It would have been Christopher's 10th birthday today, I can hardly believe it. He would no longer be our little 4 year old son who loved Thomas the Tank and Bob the Builder. I wonder what he would have wanted for his birthday.
I was still awake at 12.15am which is when he was born and I thought back to the first time I held him in my arms.
I went to the cemetary today and took some flowers and lit a candle in the little lantern there. It was sad to see his name on the stone.
The tea party went really well! There is a copy below of the newspaper article that was in the local paper yesterday. It's such a fab article we are really pleased with it.
We raised around £180 in just two hours We already have over £1,000 to send off to Edward's Trust. The money just keeps coming in!
It was really manic at the school. My Mum helped and my sister and Andy and boy did we need them!!
I had some gorgeous balloons printed with the Christopher's Fund logo and McDonalds donated some of the stick things that you put them on and my sister and Andy spent the whole two hours blowing up balloons and putting them on sticks!
All the children went away with a balloon as a momento which was really nice.
Morrisons gave us £45 worth of stuff for the party yesterday and I've just taken £20 back which was really good. They wanted to make sure we had enough and were happy for us to bring back the stuff that we didn't use and I was happy to do that.
They only usually let people have £5 to spend but the GM there has also lost a son so it's something close to his heart.
Sarah x
I was still awake at 12.15am which is when he was born and I thought back to the first time I held him in my arms.
I went to the cemetary today and took some flowers and lit a candle in the little lantern there. It was sad to see his name on the stone.
The tea party went really well! There is a copy below of the newspaper article that was in the local paper yesterday. It's such a fab article we are really pleased with it.
We raised around £180 in just two hours We already have over £1,000 to send off to Edward's Trust. The money just keeps coming in!
It was really manic at the school. My Mum helped and my sister and Andy and boy did we need them!!
I had some gorgeous balloons printed with the Christopher's Fund logo and McDonalds donated some of the stick things that you put them on and my sister and Andy spent the whole two hours blowing up balloons and putting them on sticks!
All the children went away with a balloon as a momento which was really nice.
Morrisons gave us £45 worth of stuff for the party yesterday and I've just taken £20 back which was really good. They wanted to make sure we had enough and were happy for us to bring back the stuff that we didn't use and I was happy to do that.
They only usually let people have £5 to spend but the GM there has also lost a son so it's something close to his heart.
Sarah x
Tuesday 22 April 2008
Had a lovely day today
It's been a really relaxing day today so far!
I took Katherine to school just after 8am and then came home and got Isobel ready for playgroup. We were a little late as she insisted on making her own toast and putting her own butter and jam on!
While she was at playgroup I came home and did a few jobs. I also wrote a shopping list of bits I'd forgotten to get last night as I shopped after work and I'm always in a hurry to get home.
I collected Isobel from playgroup and took her up to pre-school with a packed lunch. She loves it there. We only have 15 minutes in between playgroup and pre-school so I have to be organised. I quickly changed her top (pre-school have a uniform) tidied up her hair and left her.
I went off to Morrisons and got my other bits of shopping, plus more besides lol! I then had a cup of tea in the cafe as I'd not had time to have one earlier.
I got chatting to a lady as I came out of Morrisons who I'd never spoken to before in my life, we had a lovely chat. It's really nice to meet strangers and chat for a while.
I put the shopping in the car and then remembered Isobel needed some new dummies as she'd punctured all her others! She only really has them at night time now so hopefully these will be the last!
I came home and put my shopping away, tinkered about on the pc for a while. I then printed off a load of fliers about the tea party on Friday and took them into pre-school and asked them to give them out to all the parents.
We came home and I've sorted out the recylcing that's piling up outside as they don't collect plastic here yet but we save it and take it every now and then.
Andy has just arrived home with Katherine, and Matthew should be home just after 4pm.
We have turkey and fresh vegetables for tea and I will do some yorkshire puds to go with it as they are Isobel's favourite - yum!
Sarah x
I took Katherine to school just after 8am and then came home and got Isobel ready for playgroup. We were a little late as she insisted on making her own toast and putting her own butter and jam on!
While she was at playgroup I came home and did a few jobs. I also wrote a shopping list of bits I'd forgotten to get last night as I shopped after work and I'm always in a hurry to get home.
I collected Isobel from playgroup and took her up to pre-school with a packed lunch. She loves it there. We only have 15 minutes in between playgroup and pre-school so I have to be organised. I quickly changed her top (pre-school have a uniform) tidied up her hair and left her.
I went off to Morrisons and got my other bits of shopping, plus more besides lol! I then had a cup of tea in the cafe as I'd not had time to have one earlier.
I got chatting to a lady as I came out of Morrisons who I'd never spoken to before in my life, we had a lovely chat. It's really nice to meet strangers and chat for a while.
I put the shopping in the car and then remembered Isobel needed some new dummies as she'd punctured all her others! She only really has them at night time now so hopefully these will be the last!
I came home and put my shopping away, tinkered about on the pc for a while. I then printed off a load of fliers about the tea party on Friday and took them into pre-school and asked them to give them out to all the parents.
We came home and I've sorted out the recylcing that's piling up outside as they don't collect plastic here yet but we save it and take it every now and then.
Andy has just arrived home with Katherine, and Matthew should be home just after 4pm.
We have turkey and fresh vegetables for tea and I will do some yorkshire puds to go with it as they are Isobel's favourite - yum!
Sarah x
Sunday 20 April 2008
Wow busy weekend!
This weekend our church did a 'weekend at home' as we've all been so busy getting ready to move into the new church and then moving in we thought it would be good to have a weekend just to chill out and enjoy each others company.
The weekend kicked off with a meal on Friday evening which was lovely. It was a bit of a rush for me as I was at work but as I'd done some overtime my supervisor let me finish half an hour early so that I could get home and changed and up to church for 7.30pm. Katherine came with me.
We had a lovely meal and the highlight was some cheesecake that a man named Chris had made, it was absolutely gorgeous! I ate far too much and felt really bloated when I got home.
The next morning we were back up at church at 10am and Katherine sang in the worship group and we had a morning of teaching from a guy from a church in Leamington called Andrew and it was really good.
We had a break for coffee and then a girl called Vicky did a talk. She'd previously been a drug addict and talked about her life before and after drugs and all the amazing work she and her church were doing as outreach in their local community. I was really inspired.
We all had lunch together but then I had to leave for work at 1.30pm but I left the children there as they were having a great time.
I finished work at 6pm and went back to church where we had a fish and chip supper and some family entertainment from lots of church members.
It was a brilliant evening. Katherine and Matthew did a song together, Matt played guitar and Katherine sung and they were really good. Isobel did a song by herself that she'd made up and she was soooo sweet and everyone loved her.
There are so many talented children and teenagers in our church, we are very blessed and we had a brilliant evening.
We arrived home just after 9pm and put Isobel to bed and ended up with Chris, Steve and Mark coming round and staying here until just after midnight! We had a good laugh with them though.
We were back at church this morning for 10.45am where we had an all age worship and coffee together.
When we left we brought my friends daughter, Jessica, home with us and she stayed for lunch. I think she's quite sweet on Matthew ;o)
I did spaghetti and meatballs. I've never done it before and it was really lovely.
The kids watched a dvd this afternoon and we took Jessica home just before 6pm.
Andy, Katherine and Matthew have just gone back to church for band practise and Isobel is doing some washing up for me! Bless her.
I'm just going to prize her away from the kitchen sink (that wont last) and bath her and put her to bed, although she had quite a long sleep this afternoon in our bed as she was so tired from the busy weekend.
Sarah x
The weekend kicked off with a meal on Friday evening which was lovely. It was a bit of a rush for me as I was at work but as I'd done some overtime my supervisor let me finish half an hour early so that I could get home and changed and up to church for 7.30pm. Katherine came with me.
We had a lovely meal and the highlight was some cheesecake that a man named Chris had made, it was absolutely gorgeous! I ate far too much and felt really bloated when I got home.
The next morning we were back up at church at 10am and Katherine sang in the worship group and we had a morning of teaching from a guy from a church in Leamington called Andrew and it was really good.
We had a break for coffee and then a girl called Vicky did a talk. She'd previously been a drug addict and talked about her life before and after drugs and all the amazing work she and her church were doing as outreach in their local community. I was really inspired.
We all had lunch together but then I had to leave for work at 1.30pm but I left the children there as they were having a great time.
I finished work at 6pm and went back to church where we had a fish and chip supper and some family entertainment from lots of church members.
It was a brilliant evening. Katherine and Matthew did a song together, Matt played guitar and Katherine sung and they were really good. Isobel did a song by herself that she'd made up and she was soooo sweet and everyone loved her.
There are so many talented children and teenagers in our church, we are very blessed and we had a brilliant evening.
We arrived home just after 9pm and put Isobel to bed and ended up with Chris, Steve and Mark coming round and staying here until just after midnight! We had a good laugh with them though.
We were back at church this morning for 10.45am where we had an all age worship and coffee together.
When we left we brought my friends daughter, Jessica, home with us and she stayed for lunch. I think she's quite sweet on Matthew ;o)
I did spaghetti and meatballs. I've never done it before and it was really lovely.
The kids watched a dvd this afternoon and we took Jessica home just before 6pm.
Andy, Katherine and Matthew have just gone back to church for band practise and Isobel is doing some washing up for me! Bless her.
I'm just going to prize her away from the kitchen sink (that wont last) and bath her and put her to bed, although she had quite a long sleep this afternoon in our bed as she was so tired from the busy weekend.
Sarah x
Monday 14 April 2008
Yay go CYT!!
Last year Katherine performed Les Miserables with the local Youth Theatre. It was her second show with them and it was brilliant, totally amazing and they got a standing ovation almost every night.
What they didn't realise was that one of the top men in the country who goes around reviewing youth theatre productions was in the audience one evening.
Apparently each year they are nomination for different things, best show, best programme etc. Well there was an awards ceremony last night at our local theatre and some of the youth theatres performed a scene from their shows and our youth theatre did 'One day more' from Les mis. Well they won best show!!!! They were all sooooo pleased. They had to perform their scene a second time as they were the winners and again they got a standing ovation!
I'm so proud of them all. It was a truly amazing show. This year they are doing 'Back to the 80's' and I'm really looking forward to that one too!
Sarah x
What they didn't realise was that one of the top men in the country who goes around reviewing youth theatre productions was in the audience one evening.
Apparently each year they are nomination for different things, best show, best programme etc. Well there was an awards ceremony last night at our local theatre and some of the youth theatres performed a scene from their shows and our youth theatre did 'One day more' from Les mis. Well they won best show!!!! They were all sooooo pleased. They had to perform their scene a second time as they were the winners and again they got a standing ovation!
I'm so proud of them all. It was a truly amazing show. This year they are doing 'Back to the 80's' and I'm really looking forward to that one too!
Sarah x
Friday 11 April 2008
Back to work....
I had a lovely day yesterday. I went to WW in the morning and had stayed the same as the week before which I was quite happy with as I'd had a bad weekend but am really back on track now so hopefully I'll see a weightloss next week.
I collected Isobel from playgroup and took her to pre-school with her beautiful new lunch bag that Alison bought her for her birthday. She loves it so much there. After I dropped her off and took my car to the valet place and left it for them to clean while I went into town to meet my Mum and Alison for lunch.
We had a really nice lunch, it's great to catch up. I saw Sarah (Andy's daughter) in town with her little girl Morgan and was really sad to hear that her other daughter Ashleigh is living with her Dad and Sarah hasn't seen her since Christmas :o(
I'm going to try and get in touch with Ashleigh and maybe have her over to stay for the weekend if she'll come. It's such a shame that the family are separated.
I went back to work in the afternoon and I had sciatica really bad and had to stand up for most of my 4 hour shift. I've had it on and off for years but never as bad as that. I took some pain killers which helped a bit but I think it's time to go to the docs and see what they say.
Today
Isobel went to playgroup again this morning and I came home and had a bath and washed my hair and then went up to the Leisure Centre to sign Katherine up for the gym. They do an under 16's gym and it's only £12 a month. She's been nagging me for a couple of years but I always thought it would be too expensive. I didn't realise that they did one for under 16's a lot cheaper. After that I collected Isobel and took her to McDonalds for lunch as she really wanted to go. It was actually really nice and I was good and only had a McChicken sarni and a cup of tea - no fries!
When I got back Andy was home but there was only really time to do a few jobs and have a cup of tea before I had to go to work.
Work was ok and went really quickly as it was busy. I meet some really lovely people at work and most of the customers are really nice.
I'm really impressed with how many people bring or buy re-usable bags for their shopping. Times are really beginning to change and I've noticed that in the short time I've been working at Morrisons. I hate plastic bags and the sooner they get rid of them completely the better!
When I got home Matthew was playing his guitar and Katherine was watching tv. Isobel was in bed fast asleep!
Katherine was really tired after her gym induction and playing badminton!
Andy has gone fishing for the night so that means I get the bed to myself (yay). I always sleep much better when he's not there.
I've sorted some washing and swept and cleaned the kitchen floor and Katherine is just washing up! I've told her she's got to do lots of jobs now that I've paid for her to join the gym!
Sarah x
I collected Isobel from playgroup and took her to pre-school with her beautiful new lunch bag that Alison bought her for her birthday. She loves it so much there. After I dropped her off and took my car to the valet place and left it for them to clean while I went into town to meet my Mum and Alison for lunch.
We had a really nice lunch, it's great to catch up. I saw Sarah (Andy's daughter) in town with her little girl Morgan and was really sad to hear that her other daughter Ashleigh is living with her Dad and Sarah hasn't seen her since Christmas :o(
I'm going to try and get in touch with Ashleigh and maybe have her over to stay for the weekend if she'll come. It's such a shame that the family are separated.
I went back to work in the afternoon and I had sciatica really bad and had to stand up for most of my 4 hour shift. I've had it on and off for years but never as bad as that. I took some pain killers which helped a bit but I think it's time to go to the docs and see what they say.
Today
Isobel went to playgroup again this morning and I came home and had a bath and washed my hair and then went up to the Leisure Centre to sign Katherine up for the gym. They do an under 16's gym and it's only £12 a month. She's been nagging me for a couple of years but I always thought it would be too expensive. I didn't realise that they did one for under 16's a lot cheaper. After that I collected Isobel and took her to McDonalds for lunch as she really wanted to go. It was actually really nice and I was good and only had a McChicken sarni and a cup of tea - no fries!
When I got back Andy was home but there was only really time to do a few jobs and have a cup of tea before I had to go to work.
Work was ok and went really quickly as it was busy. I meet some really lovely people at work and most of the customers are really nice.
I'm really impressed with how many people bring or buy re-usable bags for their shopping. Times are really beginning to change and I've noticed that in the short time I've been working at Morrisons. I hate plastic bags and the sooner they get rid of them completely the better!
When I got home Matthew was playing his guitar and Katherine was watching tv. Isobel was in bed fast asleep!
Katherine was really tired after her gym induction and playing badminton!
Andy has gone fishing for the night so that means I get the bed to myself (yay). I always sleep much better when he's not there.
I've sorted some washing and swept and cleaned the kitchen floor and Katherine is just washing up! I've told her she's got to do lots of jobs now that I've paid for her to join the gym!
Sarah x
Wednesday 9 April 2008
Isobel went shopping!
Well after just one day back at school Katherine had the day off today! I was greatful as it meant I didn't have to dash out early to take her.
She had what they call a PLP day which is like an informal chat with the teacher to see how they are doing. I went in with her this time and it was actually very helpful. She's going really well and is above target for most of her subjects and attaining A's and B's!
We discussed whether she might do her A levels at school or college and he suggested that it might not be a great loss if she didn't do a music A level and came back to studying music when she's 18.
He felt that her strengths lie in her academic studies and because she's involved in music anyway it would be better to concentrate on A levels, keep up with the music in her spare time and come back to it later on. I think that's really good advice.
I think she can pick up her music at any time during her life but it's only really now that she'll ever do A levels and it's only now that she can do them for free!
He pointed out that she only has 6 weeks left of full time school before her exam leave starts! He suggested we buy some revision guides which we did and hopefully she'll get down to some serious revision over the next few weeks.
While we were at school Isobel went shopping with her Godmother Alison. She took her birthday shopping and out for lunch!
Alison asked Isobel what she wanted and she couldn't get any further than saying something pink!! So she came back with a lovely pink lunch box which she can take her lunch to pre-school in every day. Alison also dropped her off at pre-school which was great as it meant that after the school interview me and Katherine didn't have to watch the clock. We went into Asda and tried some clothes on, although we didn't buy anything and then had some lunch in the cafe.
After that we came home, put the shopping away and went a walk over the post office.
I got a bargain in Asda for tea. A huge turkey breast reduced from over a tenner to £7!! So we had roast turkey, new potatoes, diced carrot and swede, brocolli and gravy for tea and it was delicious! There is enough turkey left for sandwhiches too!
We've had a fairly quiet afternoon. Katherine did some washing up (wonders will never cease). Matthew practised on his guitar for a bit and now Katherine is out at Youth Theatre.
Isobel was really tired and was in bed for 7pm.
I'm just going up to have a bath and then hopefully will have a few games of cards with my friend Lorraine before bed.
Andy seems in a better mood today. He was a bit quiet and grumpy yesterday, I think he's just tired.
I think I'm going to be brave and go to weightwatchers in the morning as I've been good all week and think I may have lost some weight although I'm not holding my breath!
I've been making some arrangements for the tea party that I plan to do on Christopher's birthday. More about that soon so if you are local please put Friday 25th April 2pm-4.30pm into your diary please and keep it free!
Sarah x
She had what they call a PLP day which is like an informal chat with the teacher to see how they are doing. I went in with her this time and it was actually very helpful. She's going really well and is above target for most of her subjects and attaining A's and B's!
We discussed whether she might do her A levels at school or college and he suggested that it might not be a great loss if she didn't do a music A level and came back to studying music when she's 18.
He felt that her strengths lie in her academic studies and because she's involved in music anyway it would be better to concentrate on A levels, keep up with the music in her spare time and come back to it later on. I think that's really good advice.
I think she can pick up her music at any time during her life but it's only really now that she'll ever do A levels and it's only now that she can do them for free!
He pointed out that she only has 6 weeks left of full time school before her exam leave starts! He suggested we buy some revision guides which we did and hopefully she'll get down to some serious revision over the next few weeks.
While we were at school Isobel went shopping with her Godmother Alison. She took her birthday shopping and out for lunch!
Alison asked Isobel what she wanted and she couldn't get any further than saying something pink!! So she came back with a lovely pink lunch box which she can take her lunch to pre-school in every day. Alison also dropped her off at pre-school which was great as it meant that after the school interview me and Katherine didn't have to watch the clock. We went into Asda and tried some clothes on, although we didn't buy anything and then had some lunch in the cafe.
After that we came home, put the shopping away and went a walk over the post office.
I got a bargain in Asda for tea. A huge turkey breast reduced from over a tenner to £7!! So we had roast turkey, new potatoes, diced carrot and swede, brocolli and gravy for tea and it was delicious! There is enough turkey left for sandwhiches too!
We've had a fairly quiet afternoon. Katherine did some washing up (wonders will never cease). Matthew practised on his guitar for a bit and now Katherine is out at Youth Theatre.
Isobel was really tired and was in bed for 7pm.
I'm just going up to have a bath and then hopefully will have a few games of cards with my friend Lorraine before bed.
Andy seems in a better mood today. He was a bit quiet and grumpy yesterday, I think he's just tired.
I think I'm going to be brave and go to weightwatchers in the morning as I've been good all week and think I may have lost some weight although I'm not holding my breath!
I've been making some arrangements for the tea party that I plan to do on Christopher's birthday. More about that soon so if you are local please put Friday 25th April 2pm-4.30pm into your diary please and keep it free!
Sarah x
Tuesday 8 April 2008
Back to school
The children went back to school today. It was a real shock to the system having to get up and out early after all our lovely long lie ins over the Easter hols.
I was amazed to have to scrape frost off the car too. Isobel went back to playgroup with no problems and I came home and did a few jobs and then I have to confess I went back to bed for a while as I was so shattered. I've not been sleeping well the last couple of nights.
I collected Izzy from Westfield playgroup at half past 11 then dashed home, got her changed into her uniform, collected her packed lunch and took her up to pre-school at our new church. She was sooo excited to be taking lunch to eat there. She'd given me specific instructions as to what she wanted in her lunch box - a tuna sandwhich, crisps, a drink and a chocolate bar! I also put some grapes in too but she didn't eat those.
She had a lovely time and I came home and had a good tidy round which she was there. It seemed strange being in home on my own most of the day after having had them all home for over 2 weeks.
We were supposed to have a band practise up at church this evening but we got there only to discover that it had been cancelled but no one let us know! I have to confess I was really cross as I hate being messed about. It was never like this when Andy was in charge but hey-ho ours is not to reason why.
The kids are going out again later to youth cell so hopefully that's not cancelled too!
While I was waiting for someone to turn up at church I ended up shepherding all the brownie into the small hall as it's the first time they have met in the new church, good job I was there really.
I've been really good and stuck to my diet really well over the last two days. I've also got my pedometer on too. Hopefully it means I'm back on track. I really need to lose more weight before our hols in July.
The kids are just bathing Isobel so I guess I better go and organise them. I'm sure she'll sleep well tonight after going to two playgroup sessions today!
I've put a little poll on my blog. If you visit regularly and find it interesting please choose 'yes' on the poll, if it's boring then choose 'no' and I'll make an effort to make it more interesting.
Sarah x
I was amazed to have to scrape frost off the car too. Isobel went back to playgroup with no problems and I came home and did a few jobs and then I have to confess I went back to bed for a while as I was so shattered. I've not been sleeping well the last couple of nights.
I collected Izzy from Westfield playgroup at half past 11 then dashed home, got her changed into her uniform, collected her packed lunch and took her up to pre-school at our new church. She was sooo excited to be taking lunch to eat there. She'd given me specific instructions as to what she wanted in her lunch box - a tuna sandwhich, crisps, a drink and a chocolate bar! I also put some grapes in too but she didn't eat those.
She had a lovely time and I came home and had a good tidy round which she was there. It seemed strange being in home on my own most of the day after having had them all home for over 2 weeks.
We were supposed to have a band practise up at church this evening but we got there only to discover that it had been cancelled but no one let us know! I have to confess I was really cross as I hate being messed about. It was never like this when Andy was in charge but hey-ho ours is not to reason why.
The kids are going out again later to youth cell so hopefully that's not cancelled too!
While I was waiting for someone to turn up at church I ended up shepherding all the brownie into the small hall as it's the first time they have met in the new church, good job I was there really.
I've been really good and stuck to my diet really well over the last two days. I've also got my pedometer on too. Hopefully it means I'm back on track. I really need to lose more weight before our hols in July.
The kids are just bathing Isobel so I guess I better go and organise them. I'm sure she'll sleep well tonight after going to two playgroup sessions today!
I've put a little poll on my blog. If you visit regularly and find it interesting please choose 'yes' on the poll, if it's boring then choose 'no' and I'll make an effort to make it more interesting.
Sarah x
Monday 7 April 2008
Swimming lessons!
Isobel started a new swimming class today. She's been going on Saturay morning for a few weeks but we missed the re-enrolment and they gave her place away!
I rang in on Saturday to check before we went for the lesson and it's a good job I did! So now she's going at 10.30am on Monday with a new teacher called Alex. Actually Monday suits us much better as its the only day of the week that Isobel isn't at playgroup and it saves me getting up early on Saturdays as I have to be in work for 2pm so it'll be nice to relax.
She got on really well - she's the only girl there with 5 boys! Her new teacher seems really nice and he's quite dishy too lol!
When we got back I decided to wake Matthew up as it was 12.15! He came down and went to the fridge to get himself something to eat and it was almost empty!
We ended up going to Morrisons to do even more shopping and for some reason the kids all came with me! I also remembered to take a huge bag of plastic that we'd saved for recycling. They don't collect plastic yet here and as we always have such a lot of plastic to recycle it seems to mount up and we get loads because I just keep forgetting to take it!
We're stocked up now and I'm going to do a chicken tray bake for tea which is vegetables roasted in olive oil and chicken breast and I'll do some boiled veg to go with it.
I've just packed some stuff from my website and walked over to the post box so that's another job out of the way.
I'm trying to get back on track with my diet from today as I was crap over the weekend again. So far I've been good but it's usually the evenings when I lose the plot.
Andy has come in from work and gone for a lie down as his stomach isn't very good, he suffers from time to time as he has diverticulitis. Katherine is in her bedroom (hopefully) doing homework and Matt is in his room - he was playing his guitar but it's gone quiet now so I guess he's on his playstation. Isobel has just gone upstairs with one of her new books to see if Daddy will read it to her.
She's really tired today after a busy day yesterday and then swimming this morning. I feel quite tired myself today too. I think it was being so busy yesterday and then I didn't sleep very well last night, it took me ages to get to sleep. I think I stayed up too late playing cards with Lorraine!
I keep thinking about Michelle's wonderful news and I'm so pleased for them. They really deserve this as they've had a real shitty few years. I've been praying that they'd be pregnant soon and now I pray for a healthy happy pregnancy and a perfect bundle of joy at the end of it.
Sarah x
I rang in on Saturday to check before we went for the lesson and it's a good job I did! So now she's going at 10.30am on Monday with a new teacher called Alex. Actually Monday suits us much better as its the only day of the week that Isobel isn't at playgroup and it saves me getting up early on Saturdays as I have to be in work for 2pm so it'll be nice to relax.
She got on really well - she's the only girl there with 5 boys! Her new teacher seems really nice and he's quite dishy too lol!
When we got back I decided to wake Matthew up as it was 12.15! He came down and went to the fridge to get himself something to eat and it was almost empty!
We ended up going to Morrisons to do even more shopping and for some reason the kids all came with me! I also remembered to take a huge bag of plastic that we'd saved for recycling. They don't collect plastic yet here and as we always have such a lot of plastic to recycle it seems to mount up and we get loads because I just keep forgetting to take it!
We're stocked up now and I'm going to do a chicken tray bake for tea which is vegetables roasted in olive oil and chicken breast and I'll do some boiled veg to go with it.
I've just packed some stuff from my website and walked over to the post box so that's another job out of the way.
I'm trying to get back on track with my diet from today as I was crap over the weekend again. So far I've been good but it's usually the evenings when I lose the plot.
Andy has come in from work and gone for a lie down as his stomach isn't very good, he suffers from time to time as he has diverticulitis. Katherine is in her bedroom (hopefully) doing homework and Matt is in his room - he was playing his guitar but it's gone quiet now so I guess he's on his playstation. Isobel has just gone upstairs with one of her new books to see if Daddy will read it to her.
She's really tired today after a busy day yesterday and then swimming this morning. I feel quite tired myself today too. I think it was being so busy yesterday and then I didn't sleep very well last night, it took me ages to get to sleep. I think I stayed up too late playing cards with Lorraine!
I keep thinking about Michelle's wonderful news and I'm so pleased for them. They really deserve this as they've had a real shitty few years. I've been praying that they'd be pregnant soon and now I pray for a healthy happy pregnancy and a perfect bundle of joy at the end of it.
Sarah x
Sunday 6 April 2008
Happy Birthday Isobel!
Well Isobel is 4 today and we woke up to snow! Everywhere looked so pretty!
We opened some presents before we went to church and after church we went to my parents for lunch and they had bought her a gorgeous pink bike! She really loved it. We videod most of the day but we've not watched it yet.
It has snowed on and off all way which has been lovely. In the afternoon my Aunt and Uncle called at my parents with a present for Isobel and they had bought her some moon sand - just what she wanted - I wonder how they knew that! lol.
4pm was party time! We hired the brand new playgroup room at church and Isobel had 9 friends over including my friend Elly and her two girls who came all the way from Birmingham. My oldest friend Alison and her twin girls, my good friend Michelle and her daughter Lilly (Isobel's best friend) and Michelle announced that she's pregnant which is the most wonderful news - I'm so pleased and excited for them.
The party went really well and everyone seemed to have a great time. When I was tidying up after everyone had gone - I checked the fridge only to find half the party food still in there! I can't believe it - I'm such a dope! Everyone must have thought I was a right cheapskate putting out so little food - but half of it was sitting in the bloody fridge!
Never mind I left some of it for the church youth band as Katherine and Matthew are there rehearsing and I'm sure it will get eaten.
Isobel is really tired now and I'm just going to put her to bed.
She's had so many lovely presents, we need to find somewhere to put them all now!
Sarah x
We opened some presents before we went to church and after church we went to my parents for lunch and they had bought her a gorgeous pink bike! She really loved it. We videod most of the day but we've not watched it yet.
It has snowed on and off all way which has been lovely. In the afternoon my Aunt and Uncle called at my parents with a present for Isobel and they had bought her some moon sand - just what she wanted - I wonder how they knew that! lol.
4pm was party time! We hired the brand new playgroup room at church and Isobel had 9 friends over including my friend Elly and her two girls who came all the way from Birmingham. My oldest friend Alison and her twin girls, my good friend Michelle and her daughter Lilly (Isobel's best friend) and Michelle announced that she's pregnant which is the most wonderful news - I'm so pleased and excited for them.
The party went really well and everyone seemed to have a great time. When I was tidying up after everyone had gone - I checked the fridge only to find half the party food still in there! I can't believe it - I'm such a dope! Everyone must have thought I was a right cheapskate putting out so little food - but half of it was sitting in the bloody fridge!
Never mind I left some of it for the church youth band as Katherine and Matthew are there rehearsing and I'm sure it will get eaten.
Isobel is really tired now and I'm just going to put her to bed.
She's had so many lovely presents, we need to find somewhere to put them all now!
Sarah x
Saturday 5 April 2008
Really tough
I'm finding it really hard at the moment. I got so upset before I went to sleep last night. I just felt exhausted at carrying this grief around with me all the time. It's not like I'm grief stricken or even sad every day but it's always there. It underpins and overshadows so much of my life. I was grief stricken last night, so much so that I couldn't even properly cry. The pain comes from so deep within. My loss feels so great, my hurt so deep, my anger almost like a rage, I miss him so much, my arms are so empty without him.
It's hard at the moment because Isobel will be 4 tomorrow and the contrast between them is so huge. She's so excited, so full of life, so well and he was so ill, so fragile, he couldn't walk and struggled even to be interested in his presents.
Christopher's 4th birthday was his last and just 8 weeks later he was gone.
I'm trying so hard to enjoy all the preparations for Isobel's birthday, and I am. I love her excitement and listening to her tell anyone who will listen that's it her birthday but it's so hard too.
Christopher left such a massive gap in our lives and nothing can ever fill that. People thought I was trying to replace him by having Isobel but they couldn't be more wrong - it's impossible to replace a human life, it's impossible to replace something that's not gone, it's impossible to replace a love that's as strong as ever.
I think back to how ill he was on his fourth birthday and how the whole day was such a struggle for him. I feel so emotional but I'm trying to hide it for Isobel and for everyone else.
When I eventually went off to sleep last night I dreamt about Kip. It was such a lovely dream and he was wearing one of my favourite t-shirts. It was blue and red stripes and I always like him in it. There is a photo of him on the beach wearing it.
I think dreams are special, I think they are a way of our loved ones letting us know they are near - dreams are blessings and mean so much.
Sarah x
Friday 4 April 2008
Visit to docs
I took Isobel to the doctors today. They've been monitoring some lumps in her neck for a few months now, one is particularly big and is visible just by looking at it. I've also noticed that her tonsil that side is very swollen and red so I thought I'd take her for a check up.
She was as good as gold and let the doc have a look down her throat. He said 'wow that is one huge tonsil'. He then said she has something which was very long and I can't remember but basically it's lumpy glands. He asked me if she was well in herself and I said she gets a lot of tummy ache but that I doubted it was connected but he said it was connected. He said if she has these lumps in her neck then she will have them in other places in her body too including her tummy and they stretch the stomach lining causing tummy ache which is why she has a lot of tummy pain.
He said that he doesn't want to do anything at the moment, the tonsil is doing it's job and catching all the bugs. He said he might want to do a blood count at some stage but not at the moment as getting blood from tots is never easy.
After the docs we went into town and met my Mum and Katherine as Katherine wasn't ready when we left the house so Mum called and picked her up. We had lunch together in the town which was really nice and we then nipped into Wilkos for more party bits and I bought some new knickers from Peacocks.
We got home and I went to work and Andy was up at church doing more bits and pieces to finish off.
When I got home the boiler was fixed - yay! At last! It will be soooo nice not having to run upstairs all the time to relight it. He's also fitted a carbon monoxide detector because he said the boiler is situated far to close to where we all sleep and carbon monoxide is a killer and can't be detected so for the sake of £40 it was worth fitting on and it's guaranteed for 5 years.
When I got home from work Andy had gone fishing! He never said a word to me!
The kids had had their tea so I got myself something and then we put Isobel to bed and we've just been watching telly and relaxing.
I'm just about to play cards online with my friend Lorraine for an hour or so before bed!
Sarah x
She was as good as gold and let the doc have a look down her throat. He said 'wow that is one huge tonsil'. He then said she has something which was very long and I can't remember but basically it's lumpy glands. He asked me if she was well in herself and I said she gets a lot of tummy ache but that I doubted it was connected but he said it was connected. He said if she has these lumps in her neck then she will have them in other places in her body too including her tummy and they stretch the stomach lining causing tummy ache which is why she has a lot of tummy pain.
He said that he doesn't want to do anything at the moment, the tonsil is doing it's job and catching all the bugs. He said he might want to do a blood count at some stage but not at the moment as getting blood from tots is never easy.
After the docs we went into town and met my Mum and Katherine as Katherine wasn't ready when we left the house so Mum called and picked her up. We had lunch together in the town which was really nice and we then nipped into Wilkos for more party bits and I bought some new knickers from Peacocks.
We got home and I went to work and Andy was up at church doing more bits and pieces to finish off.
When I got home the boiler was fixed - yay! At last! It will be soooo nice not having to run upstairs all the time to relight it. He's also fitted a carbon monoxide detector because he said the boiler is situated far to close to where we all sleep and carbon monoxide is a killer and can't be detected so for the sake of £40 it was worth fitting on and it's guaranteed for 5 years.
When I got home from work Andy had gone fishing! He never said a word to me!
The kids had had their tea so I got myself something and then we put Isobel to bed and we've just been watching telly and relaxing.
I'm just about to play cards online with my friend Lorraine for an hour or so before bed!
Sarah x
Thursday 3 April 2008
I'm getting fat!
Well another busy day really. I went to Weightwatchers this morning even though I really didn't want to. I've gained another 1.5lbs so I've gone up to 10 stone 3.5lbs now, if I go past 10 5 I'll have to pay again! Hopefully I'm back on track again now though and I want to lose weight for our holiday in July.
After WW I picked the children up and we went to McDonalds for lunch, that was nice. It's good to have junk food every now and then but it's also nice just to 'chill' together.
We then went to Morrisons to do some 'party' shopping. Isobel was soooo excited and several times I had to tell her not to shout as we weren't deaf! She was buzzing around Morrisons and telling everyone she met that her name was Isobel and her birthday was April 6th and she was going to be 4!!
She took ages to choose a birthday cake but fortunately she chose the one that was the best value for money - phew!
After that we called at my parents house. Dad has been cutting the big oak tree down and he needed help to stack the logs that he'd cut for their fire. It was a lovely afternoon, overcast but warm and the kids ended up staying at my parents house as I had to come home to wait for the gas man to come and fix the boiler.
It was nice to come home to an empty 'quiet' house and I'd just settled down with a cup of tea to read the Hinckley Times and the gas man turned up!
He has diagnosed the boiler and is coming back tomorrow to fix it. Andy came home just as he was about to leave and he stayed and chatted for quite a while and by the time he went it was time for me to go to work - so much for a peaceful afternoon!
The kids had a lovely time at my parents. Matthew went to gymnastics but the girls stayed for tea. I had an ok time at work and it went by fairly quickly.
When I finished work I came home and had some tea and then went up to church where Katherine, Matthew, Chris and another lad called Matt where all rehearsing together. I took a bottle of Shloer up in a Bacardi breezer bottle and let all the kids have a drink and it was so funny because they thought they were having alcohol. I wanted to see if they would act tipsy just because they thought they'd had a drink but it didn't really work.
After a while I took them all home - the journey home was interesting to say the least. Three lads in the back of the car me and Katherine in the front and three guitars and an amp shoved somewhere in the back too!
We were all a bit hyper and when we got to Chris's house his brother came out to us and Katherine decided to drive the car! Fortunately she forgot she had to put it in gear so after revving the hell out of it for a few seconds gave up - thank goodness!
Well we're home now and it's late and time for bed and the kids are doing my head in now so I'm gonna end this blog and paste them around the room and send them to bed.
Sarah x
After WW I picked the children up and we went to McDonalds for lunch, that was nice. It's good to have junk food every now and then but it's also nice just to 'chill' together.
We then went to Morrisons to do some 'party' shopping. Isobel was soooo excited and several times I had to tell her not to shout as we weren't deaf! She was buzzing around Morrisons and telling everyone she met that her name was Isobel and her birthday was April 6th and she was going to be 4!!
She took ages to choose a birthday cake but fortunately she chose the one that was the best value for money - phew!
After that we called at my parents house. Dad has been cutting the big oak tree down and he needed help to stack the logs that he'd cut for their fire. It was a lovely afternoon, overcast but warm and the kids ended up staying at my parents house as I had to come home to wait for the gas man to come and fix the boiler.
It was nice to come home to an empty 'quiet' house and I'd just settled down with a cup of tea to read the Hinckley Times and the gas man turned up!
He has diagnosed the boiler and is coming back tomorrow to fix it. Andy came home just as he was about to leave and he stayed and chatted for quite a while and by the time he went it was time for me to go to work - so much for a peaceful afternoon!
The kids had a lovely time at my parents. Matthew went to gymnastics but the girls stayed for tea. I had an ok time at work and it went by fairly quickly.
When I finished work I came home and had some tea and then went up to church where Katherine, Matthew, Chris and another lad called Matt where all rehearsing together. I took a bottle of Shloer up in a Bacardi breezer bottle and let all the kids have a drink and it was so funny because they thought they were having alcohol. I wanted to see if they would act tipsy just because they thought they'd had a drink but it didn't really work.
After a while I took them all home - the journey home was interesting to say the least. Three lads in the back of the car me and Katherine in the front and three guitars and an amp shoved somewhere in the back too!
We were all a bit hyper and when we got to Chris's house his brother came out to us and Katherine decided to drive the car! Fortunately she forgot she had to put it in gear so after revving the hell out of it for a few seconds gave up - thank goodness!
Well we're home now and it's late and time for bed and the kids are doing my head in now so I'm gonna end this blog and paste them around the room and send them to bed.
Sarah x
Wednesday 2 April 2008
A busy day!
Well! It's been a busy day really. We went for Katherine's guidance interview at college which was good but confusing and slightly disappointing.
If she does the btec diploma in music that she wants to do, it will give her 3 A levels and get her into uni but it's limiting her to one specific area ie. music. She can't do any other A levels alongside that course as it's full time.
She can do 4 A levels which will get her into uni subject to her results and two of them could be music A levels but we're not sure which A levels yet.
He's making her two appointments, one to see someone about A levels and another to see someone about the btec course so hopefully that will make it all clearer - I flippin hope so anyway!
After the interview I dropped Isobel off at my mother in laws, she'd been in the park opposite the college with Matthew while we were at the interview and she'd had a lovely time.
I took Katherine and Matthew to Asda and we all bought a sarni each which we ate in the car. By the time we got home there was only time for me to have a cup of tea as I had to get ready and be in work for 1.30pm.
Work was ok but I felt tired today, I think it's coming up to TOTM so that could explain it. I text Andy to put some jacket spuds in the oven and when I finished work I bought some salad stuff and some pasta and we had jacket spuds and salad for tea which was really nice.
This evening I took Katherine to youth theatre and I went off to my cell (church meeting) group. I've not been for a while and I actually really enjoyed it.
We did this thing where you read a passage from the bible and then share what you felt God was saying for another person and I had three different messages from three different people for me and they were all virtually identical!
It certainly seems that God was speaking to them for me. I'm going to write down what they all shared as it's very important.
I've just collected Katherine from youth theatre and come home and hopefully one of my lovely children is going to make me a cup of tea!
Sarah x
If she does the btec diploma in music that she wants to do, it will give her 3 A levels and get her into uni but it's limiting her to one specific area ie. music. She can't do any other A levels alongside that course as it's full time.
She can do 4 A levels which will get her into uni subject to her results and two of them could be music A levels but we're not sure which A levels yet.
He's making her two appointments, one to see someone about A levels and another to see someone about the btec course so hopefully that will make it all clearer - I flippin hope so anyway!
After the interview I dropped Isobel off at my mother in laws, she'd been in the park opposite the college with Matthew while we were at the interview and she'd had a lovely time.
I took Katherine and Matthew to Asda and we all bought a sarni each which we ate in the car. By the time we got home there was only time for me to have a cup of tea as I had to get ready and be in work for 1.30pm.
Work was ok but I felt tired today, I think it's coming up to TOTM so that could explain it. I text Andy to put some jacket spuds in the oven and when I finished work I bought some salad stuff and some pasta and we had jacket spuds and salad for tea which was really nice.
This evening I took Katherine to youth theatre and I went off to my cell (church meeting) group. I've not been for a while and I actually really enjoyed it.
We did this thing where you read a passage from the bible and then share what you felt God was saying for another person and I had three different messages from three different people for me and they were all virtually identical!
It certainly seems that God was speaking to them for me. I'm going to write down what they all shared as it's very important.
I've just collected Katherine from youth theatre and come home and hopefully one of my lovely children is going to make me a cup of tea!
Sarah x
Tuesday 1 April 2008
Dinner was fab!
Well would you believe it! The kids decided to help with tea! I made a gorgeous vegetable soup which Matthew helped with, even though at one point he was more amused with the sound of a piece of courgette slapping down onto the tile floor. I dropped it by accident and he thought the sound was so good that he spent a couple of minutes reinacting the incident! Needless to say that that piece of courgette didn't make it into the soup!
Katherine helped make the bolognaise and we also added green pepper and mushrooms to it which Matthew chopped by himself!
Isobel decided she didn't want to miss out so she helped by putting the mushrooms into the casserole!
It was a really delicious tea and the veggie soup made it very healthy.
The lads are all in the front room now 'jammin' on their guitars. I've just had a bath and washed my hair and Andy and Katherine are watching Hotel Babylon.
Katherine has an interview at the local college tomorrow to see whether she can do a music course and A levels there.
Sarah x
Katherine helped make the bolognaise and we also added green pepper and mushrooms to it which Matthew chopped by himself!
Isobel decided she didn't want to miss out so she helped by putting the mushrooms into the casserole!
It was a really delicious tea and the veggie soup made it very healthy.
The lads are all in the front room now 'jammin' on their guitars. I've just had a bath and washed my hair and Andy and Katherine are watching Hotel Babylon.
Katherine has an interview at the local college tomorrow to see whether she can do a music course and A levels there.
Sarah x
Hair cut day!
My friend Michelle from work came round this morning and cut mine, Matthew's, Katherine's and Isobel's hair - well all look very neat and tidy.
Michelle is a really lovely girl and has just finished with her long term boyfriend so she's feeling a bit fragile at the moment. I personally think she's done the right thing as at only 19 she's far too young to be in an unhappy relationship.
Later on me and Katherine went to Morrisons to get more bits for tea - I'm cooking for 6 tonight!
I'm doing a vegetable soup to start and that will be Isobel's main meal as I'm also doing spaghetti bolognaise and she won't eat that.
Chris is coming round again to play guitar with Matthew - hence the extra one for tea and later on Mark is coming round to have a jam too.
I've bought a couple of cans of larger and some cider for the older ones although I won't be encouraging my two to drink any!
It should be a really fun night I'm looking forward to it.
Missing Kip
I've been really missing Christopher recently. I think it's a combination of it being the anniversary of his surgery, his birthday coming up and the fact that I'm planning Isobel's birthday party two and she'll be 4, the same age as Christopher was when he died. It will be such a different party than he had as he was so very ill when he had his 4th birthday.
I just miss him so much and would give anything for him to be back here with us, to touch him, smell him and stroke his beautiful hair.
I really enjoy having the kids off school, although I have to say we are sleeping in far too late! We just can't seem to get over the hour that we lost at the weekend!
Michelle is a really lovely girl and has just finished with her long term boyfriend so she's feeling a bit fragile at the moment. I personally think she's done the right thing as at only 19 she's far too young to be in an unhappy relationship.
Later on me and Katherine went to Morrisons to get more bits for tea - I'm cooking for 6 tonight!
I'm doing a vegetable soup to start and that will be Isobel's main meal as I'm also doing spaghetti bolognaise and she won't eat that.
Chris is coming round again to play guitar with Matthew - hence the extra one for tea and later on Mark is coming round to have a jam too.
I've bought a couple of cans of larger and some cider for the older ones although I won't be encouraging my two to drink any!
It should be a really fun night I'm looking forward to it.
Missing Kip
I've been really missing Christopher recently. I think it's a combination of it being the anniversary of his surgery, his birthday coming up and the fact that I'm planning Isobel's birthday party two and she'll be 4, the same age as Christopher was when he died. It will be such a different party than he had as he was so very ill when he had his 4th birthday.
I just miss him so much and would give anything for him to be back here with us, to touch him, smell him and stroke his beautiful hair.
I really enjoy having the kids off school, although I have to say we are sleeping in far too late! We just can't seem to get over the hour that we lost at the weekend!
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