Wednesday 13 July 2011

A day in the life...instead of a weekly round up

(since I have too many weeks to round up now!)

I had to chuckle to myself when I went to reply to the comments on my last post. Most of you were no reply bloggers!! At some point when I catch up with myself I'll follow the paper trail back to your blogs to say hello.

I've been fairly whirlwindy of late. The problem with having a busy time is I don't get a chance to blog about it all. This has been something I have been pondering over for quite a long time.  It made me think about how my days pan out, think about what I do during a day. I don't have an exciting life but it is a lovely life and the sort I dreamed of. I always wanted to be a wife and mother. It's not how I thought it would be, of course it isn't! But it is a good life and one I am grateful for.


So here is a day in my life.

I will admit to buying the camera case off ebay specifically for  a day in the life post

It was a Tuesday in mid May, with nothing in the diary, so what does any normal mother of two feral beasts and one bonny baby do? She flings a camera around her neck and sets her phone to buzz every hour and takes a photo of what she is doing at that very moment. I know, bonkers, but I did it and so I will share it.

7.43am
Sometimes I don't have the energy to start the day with a breakfast battle with my boys. So a banana in front of Dora the Explorer and then some Belvita Breakfast Biscuits in the car en route has to suffice.

blurry, I didn't notice because I had sleepy dust in my eyes

8.43am 
After the inevitable crazy dash to be in the car on time to drive the 4 miles to school, I brace myself for the equally inevitable bun fight through the villages. There is always some argy bargy going on. Honestly, stressed out mothers of primary school kids coupled with narrow lanes and plonkers parking on corners does not a happy marriage make. But to temper this, it is a picturesque journey. 

You can't really see but this is our long, steep hill with the village in the distance.


9.43am
Back home again and the Next delivery has arrived with summer clothes for the boys so Little and I had a trying on session.




How cool does he look in these kids aviator glasses!


10.93am 
Dealing with the washing. Or was it dealing with me? I dunno, I drown under the stuff. It astonishes me how a family of 5 can create so much washing. I am so thankful that we have a washing machine, that I don't have to hand wash everything or lug it to the laundrette.


11.43am 
Having done a simple jigsaw to death it was high time for a little sit down with my boy, a cuppa tea and a bit of knitting (still learning, still unravelling most of it grrrrrrr)








12.43pm. 
Lunch is over, baby's been fed and we are in the playroom. A tidy playroom no less!!!! Sometimes I look at this picture to get motivation to tidy up the bloody room AGAIN.


Mini is happy to watch his Mummy and his brother playing tractors...


...correction, I try to play tractors. But in truth I really don't get it. I find it so boring. Pushing a small replica farm vehicle around a nasty nylon mat with a town printed on it. I want a Girls World not a John Deere!! I would know what to do with a doll with long hair.


1.43pm 
On the blower to Bee with whom I could chat about nothing for hours. There are very few people I could spend a couple of hours hiding in a mouldy cupboard with. More on that here

Dreadful photo, I look fierce.
I was multi tasking and washing up Mini's bottles while on the phone. One of these days I'll drop the phone in the suds and then there'll be trouble.

2.43pm 
On the school run to collect Little Cuckoo's friend from preschool and then collect Big from school. I left early so that Little could have a power nap in the car and I could feed Mini outside preschool.


It really is a gorgeous route through the villages.

I did pull over to take these car journey pics.

3.43pm 
Arrive home with the 7 seater wagon almost full to the brim with boys and booster seats and scooters and bogeys.


4.43pm 
Kids tea. I should just throw the food directly on the floor and cut out the middle man (boy)


Mini is soon to be weaned. And then he'll start crawling which is great as he can deal with the food on the floor. Two birds with one stone. Kidding!


5.43pm 
Having worn themselves out rioting in the garden the chaps chill out in front of yet more Dora. That girl taunts me. She has a "Back pack, back pack" song but I hear "Back fat, back fat" and feel in need of chocolate.


I did more washing while the boys are mesmerised by Dora.


at 6.43pm it was all kicking off with dripping wet sobbing boys...that stank of wee. They'd been playing the sliding game in an empty bath. You can only slide well when it's a little wet. So once all the water was gone and the bath was too dry, Big piddled and they slid about in it. Yeah, I know. DISGUSTING! They smelt like tramps. I was too busy hollering to take a photo and the baby was in need of a feed and the Mister was still at work. Gah! There are periods during the day when it is all very manageable and other moments when each one of them needs you at the very same time. It's so hard to calculate who to tend to first when the smell of ammonia is knocking you out.

7.43pm. 
All is quiet upstairs and I prepare the supper for myself and Mr C. Diet food. Getting tired of it now but must keep going....


843pm 
More knitting or should I say frogging. OMG! It's so hard! But I really would like to knit socks so I must continue to knit and frog till its mastered.


943pm 
Blogging which carries on for a little too long. It's easy to get lost in cyber land isn't !?


So that's that. A normal Tuesday in the nest.

And just in case this post wasn't long enough already here's some more....



The very lovely Sarah from Shabby Chic Sarah has passed an award on to me. 

Again, DeLiGhTeD!! 

So this award requests ten facts from me. TEN!!! Oh lordy! So hard to think of them whilst sitting in front of the laptop. 

1. Sometimes I put on a pinny if I know someone is popping in. I feel properly dressed in a pinny.

2. One of the thing's I love about my husband is that he carries a real handkerchief. I remember thinking he was a true gentleman when he pulled out his hanky for me to borrow when we first met. I'd plunged my chin into his Guinness to make him laugh. "Look at my beard!" I said. I think there's a photo of me with a Guinness head beard somewhere.

3. I am getting fed up with every new drama on TV being one of those police thingies. They make me scared of my shadow and jumpy. After watching Luther last week I am imagining some mad man may jump out and squirt me with a water pistol loaded with acid. Actually I wasn't "watching" it properly, Mr C had it on and I was crocheting. I fear these programmes will give nasty people who have no
imagination ideas. Shudder.

4. Two of my biggest fears are losing my sight (hence point no.3 giving me the willies) and the loss of function in my hands.

5. I'd love to go on a shopping trip for crafty stuff in Morocco and Thailand.

6.  I'm really craving a night out like the ones pre kids where you get ready with your girlfriends, get all dolled up then go out for a meal and then drink cocktails and flirt harmlessly with the bar man followed by some loopy dancing, then a kebab and a stagger home. Trouble is I just can't take the hangover.

7. I love tanzanite, I once read that tanzanite is the colour a sapphire wishes to be and I agree whole heartedly.

8. It amuses me that when Mini does a poo it often goes like this: *Stares intently at me, pushes and grunts, face goes red, big smile, flap arms up and down twice, repeat from * till mission complete. Then we all chant "Poo-ey tiger!" The poor boy will never have normal toilet habits being born into this family.

9. This clip where Elvis starts laughing is a joy. I love it.

10. I worked for a contingent of Westlands Helicopters when I was 22 and fresh out of uni. I'd only been there a month when I got called in to the big boss's office and got a bollocking for being disruptive.  It was because I spent a long time talking to someone who worked at Haynes Motor manuals and I'd cackle heartily....in an open plan office...filled to the brim with defence system techy nerds called Spock! I've not worked in an office since.


Sarah passed this award on to 4 blogs so I shall do the same.



Join in if you like but don't feel you must!

In other news Mini's blanket is completed but I haven't taken any photo's yet as I have been doing a Ruby Wedding cake for my in laws. I swear there is icing sugar all over my kitchen!

xxx


*Have nominated this blog as I think it has the potential to be a flipping fantastic resource once it gets going.

35 comments:

  1. A normal life is great when you break it down and see the funny stuff in the day to day living. I had fun reading about your day.

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  2. Wow! I remember those days when my kids were little. It takes a lot of energy doesn't it? Your boys are so cute! Cherish every moment, my son is sixteen, driving, hairy, smelly from sports, has a girl friend, and likes to spend money. Hard to imagine eh? I would love to have 5 minutes with him little again, snuggling on my lap. Thank you for sharing your day.

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  3. That was a really fun post to read. 6:43 p.m. was by far my favorite time of your day! What little boys won't think of!

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  4. Oh my goodness, can you imagine what life would be like if we had to hand wash clothes? I am SOOOO thankful for my washing machine every day!!!
    Your day sounds a lot like mine. It never ends for a mama, does it? (What's a dunny?)

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  5. Wow, what a day. Have just read the bath sliding game out to my 20y.o son, I laughed heartily, sounded so funny. 20 yo son looked horrified and he's a boy/bloke, hehehe.

    Beautiful drive to school through the villages, beautiful boys, beautiful life, warts n all.............

    Love reading the ten facts, they're always interesting.

    Claire :}

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  6. Ahhhh I loved reading this post!! It made me smile & chuckle (good word 'chuckle')!!! Loving your 'honesty' photos! I often giggle to myself when I take a pic of something quite perfect knowing when out of shot is utter chaos!!! I must be brave & take a honesty pic but I fear my K2 washing mountain may result in cries of astonishment!!!

    I recognise some of those lanes.....hubby from & in-laws live in Westbury-sub-Mendip! Currently residing in Essex but desperate to move home.....just need a bloody buyer! And on that note I shall crack on with the day......jesus isn't it the summer holidays yet?!!!

    Jo x x

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  7. I remember how boring it was pushing a tractor back and forth too - but don't tell my three boys! But I would love to have them little again, I enjoyed being with them.
    Thank you for the award and kind words - I must think of some more tips, I know I have a couple more waiting to be posted.......
    Julie xxxxxxxxx

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  8. Loved the snippets of your day!!!
    I hear your pain about the tractors!!
    My youngest is a girl, but her dad is teh stay at home parent, and subsequently she also loves a good tractor play, her fave toys are chuggington and bob the builder!!
    Ironically, as I write this, she is actually at work with me, being my "work buddy" for the afternoon, whilst her dad and sister see harry Potter the end or whatever its called, and I am inculcating her with SOOO much girl stuff, she is in my office with a doll bath, doll bed, about six dolls, adn a shopping trolley here!!!
    Only problem is it will be murder to clean up before we go home!!!
    xx

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  9. What a fab idea for a post. I'm always berating myself for not taking enough photographs - this kind of thing might be a solution to my problem! You are a busy mummy (and a gorgeous one too!)I don't like those police-y shows either. I live alone and they make me paranoid!

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  10. fab post...you're on fire!
    Off to tell nelly that receiving 2 awards does not mean she can roll them into one answer!
    fee x
    (ps - i do believe that in yoot speak 'fierce' is good!)

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  11. pps love the wee on slide story. Always astounds me how much wee and poo feature in my day.
    There was the time #1 son poo'ed from the top of the climbing frame on to the children below (because 'it was funny'! Parents of said children didn't think so, secretly I thought it might have been) ....the time, too recently to be funny, that #3 son 'placed' some poo in the cupboard under the bath (yep, on top of the warm pipes) to 'see what would happen'. Can't say here what happened but lets just say the (v cross mummy) turned into lady macbeth and couldn't stop washing her hands for nigh on three hours....I could go on....

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  12. Brilliant!!! The "best beloved" and I were in stitches reading your latest post.Your boys sound as though they come from the same mold as our grandsons, 4yrs and 1yr. You should write a book.

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  13. Your days sound crazy but a lot of fun. I love that you can laugh about it all - your boys are lucky to have such a cool mama!

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  14. Lovely photos - and great comments! I have given you a One Lovely Blog Award - not sure if you have already got it, but you definately deserve it!
    Jo x

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  15. What a lovely post!! I am so nosey that these posts about everyday life are often the ones I enjoy most.

    As a mother of boys I am with you on the tractor front - H was so obsessed with cars (and indeed anything with wheels) and he would line his collection up on the floor with such precision and just lie there with his head on carpet whilst pushing one up and down.

    Ahhhhh, you're making me broody again now!! I am having a hard time with my boys becoming (and approaching) teenagers :0(

    Your house looks really lovely and you live in a beautiful area!!

    Lol @ the boys and the wee slide!!

    You deserve the award your blog is one of my faves!!

    I am TOTALLY with you on the cotton hankerchief/real gentleman thing!! I think it's sooooo romantic in movies when a man gives a damsel in distress his hankie (especially when it's my favourite movie ever, GWTW and it's Rhett Butler offering his hankie to Scarlett - swoon!!

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  16. Hahahahahaha BACK FAT, oh my gosh that set me to pearls of laughter, you crack me up, between you bee, fee, nicki and gem lately I have been laughing so much, then I listened to Elvis and that got me started again!!! I love laughing till it hurts. Wee in the bath :) my brother and I were having a bath together and he decided to poo in the bath to see what it would do.....well it just floated, BUT our mum was furious, our bums were red raw (she hasn't got a sense of humor)
    You do have a lovely life and live in a beautiful place as you say.
    Mini is growing up so quickly as are Big and Little.
    Hey is your Learn to Knit the same as my Learn to Crochet, or should I say 'The Art of Crochet' I have just stopped getting it, as I think I have got the jist of crochet now. Do you get a little ball of yarn with ?? It's funny, when I have to write about myself I can't think, but I have been remembering funny things as I read what you girls write. Thank you for the good belly laugh xoxo Sandi

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  17. Lol! Just love your posts!

    On the Dora front I always think back chat back chat! As the both the girls can have their moments being lippy!

    Ah yes the car thing. Eldest is a bit of a tom boy so cars have featured heavily in our lives and Ben 10 and Star bleeding Wars! Don't feel the love for either! lol.

    Your days sound very busy but its obvious you love what you do! Thanks for a great post.


    MBB x

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  18. How do I link to your name lover. Never known how to do that.
    Love your blog post. Will write more on it later as put the prince to bed and am now going to hit the garden with a pillow!! So sunny and is going to rain all day Sat so want to make the most of it now.
    x x

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  19. I love your blog. Having 2 boys myself I can totally relate to the joys of pushing tractors around a carpet. I think I'd actually rather do the ironing. x

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  20. What a great post!
    LOVED reading about all the thing's you and your family get up to all in a 'normal' day! You seem to have a very happy and content life.
    It's not until you look through the different photo's sometimes that you remember all of the happy funny things that happened during a day.. it's so easy to just let it all kind of blur into one. Today most of my day has been taken up with blitzing and spring cleaning the house, I felt like I had worked sooo hard and then looked around and it doesn't really look too different to be honest!
    Laughed so hard reading about the wee sliding game, if I was a little boy.. I'm sure I'd think that was a great solution to the problem of a dry bath! haha

    Ashley xxx

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  21. Oh wow all that lovely blogginess! I love that picture of your children eating their dinner. So much boyness everywhere - its wonderful! Be very proud of your family, they are fantastic. My family is kind of the opposite hardly anyone has boys. I think I would have to take some time out to puzzle over what you do if you can't comb out pink plastic pony hair. Your boys in the bath story did make me laugh!

    I totally agree with your no 3, so much so that I hardly watch anything now. You try and avoid that sort of thing in real life and then they pursue you with it on telly. Totally get the copy cat thing; I am always on about that! Agree with no 4 too.

    I love humongous blog posts. It was good to see you in a day in the life of. Everything was a great read, thanks so much.

    P.S I forgot about Elvis, I LOVE him, love him laughing; mind you I also love Johny Cash who I only discovered after the film 'Walk the line'
    Siobhan

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  22. Ho ho ho! My brother pooed in the bath when we were young - I was so cross I hit him over the head with the wooden back scrubber. I knocked him out. He slid slowly under the water (he'd won the 'I'm not sitting at the taps end' argument that night, luckily) just as my mum came in the room. Oh, how 'we' laugh about it now...
    Think it's a geniarse idea re parping in my wardrobe - will get big n on the case - he's king trumper in our house
    Emily x

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  23. this is such a great idea for a post!

    the wee slide is pure genius although I probably wouldn't think so if my children tried it...

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  24. Tee hee. You have made me laugh, and for that alone, I will be your newest follower.
    How the heck do you find the time to do everything? I only have two jam-eaters and your one day equals one week in my life!
    BTW am totally with you on the serving the kid's dinner on the floor-thing. Would be so much easier and save on the washing up too.
    Xx

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  25. This post made me laugh out loud! Echoes of a few years ago when my boys were little - now 22, 20 and 17, but seems five minutes since they were bringing worms and snails in from the garden, making each other bubble hats in the bath (don't think we ever had poo in the bath!!!) and dropping food everywhere. And we had one of those road carpets - I used to hate that the roads disappeared off the end of the rug... Great post! :-)

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  26. Wow, so much to read, so later on this evening I'll grab myself a cuppa when little ones are in bed and reply properly x x x

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  27. Thanks for sharing a day in your life,what a busy life you have!But I bet you wouldnt have it any other way. The wee game made me laugh so hard,boys!hahaxxxx

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  28. Fab post, Cuckoo - gorgeous boys and beautiful Mama. Congrats on the award xxx

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  29. That bloody hill, the first time we drove up that hill I had an awful hangover and it's so effin bumpy and I felt every bump in my stomach and had to stop myself throwing up all the way and it does go on and on....

    I so love this blog, I can see all the house and all the boys and it puts a huge smile on my face, feel like I'm right there with you (well I will be on thurs), wilf is changing so fast bless him, looks well cosy in the bean bag chair.

    You will knit and it will look amazing because you persevere at everything, you don't like to be beaten (believe you me I know!!!) so I'll put socks on my christmas list then....oow lovely.

    I assume you are referring to me at the chatting to someone at Haynes.....don't blame me if you can't gas quietly, I'll rephrase that, chat quietly!! remember when I got in trouble at Haynes as I pulled a sicky and we went clothes shopping in Yeovil and was caught!!! oh we are naughty.

    Luv you x x x

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  30. OOOOOOhhhh an award, thank you so very much!!!
    Loved that 'day in the life' and seeing pictures of your gorgeous boys.
    I too crave a night out with the girls but am also too scared of the hangover. My hangovers prior to having Mabel were becoming absolutely evil (verging on a 2 day 'depression'). The thought even is making me feel a little queasy,
    Nelly xxx

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  31. What a fantastic post! I really enjoyed this, and it was great to see what you look like - can the diet girl, you don't need it, you're a right skinny minx!

    As for the knitting, I can help. I re-taught myself to knit with a brilliant book called Knitty Gritty. Want it? I'll send it to you as I'm done with it now.

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  32. Oh honey I have laughed myself silly reading your post! It was brilliant. Loved your comment about putting food on the floor - and especially about Mini being able to get to it soon - hilarious. I ranted at my two yesterday, while on my hands and knees under the table picking up random pasta, broccoli and carrots, that it was the most revolting part of my day. They couldn't work out why I was worried about it - kids!! Thanks for the Elvis link - loved it!!!! Hope the knitting is going well. Take care.

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  33. You already know that I did this myself in our photo challenge swap thingamer, but I came to say that I am taking your advice and writing on your blog instead of my own! (Although I did reply to your comments in my own comments section too) I don't understand the 'no reply blogger' thing so I shall use this method from now on else I'm effectively talking to myself I suppose! I can't wait to see your week in pictures and see more antics from your littlies. I just spent the week at home with my brother (as you already know) and he's in his late twenties and still parping and burping away! :D x

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  34. Oh wow all that lovely blogginess! I love that picture of your children eating their dinner. So much boyness everywhere - its wonderful! Be very proud of your family, they are fantastic. My family is kind of the opposite hardly anyone has boys. I think I would have to take some time out to puzzle over what you do if you can't comb out pink plastic pony hair. Your boys in the bath story did make me laugh! I totally agree with your no 3, so much so that I hardly watch anything now. You try and avoid that sort of thing in real life and then they pursue you with it on telly. Totally get the copy cat thing; I am always on about that! Agree with no 4 too. I love humongous blog posts. It was good to see you in a day in the life of. Everything was a great read, thanks so much. P.S I forgot about Elvis, I LOVE him, love him laughing; mind you I also love Johny Cash who I only discovered after the film 'Walk the line' Siobhan

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  35. That bloody hill, the first time we drove up that hill I had an awful hangover and it's so effin bumpy and I felt every bump in my stomach and had to stop myself throwing up all the way and it does go on and on.... I so love this blog, I can see all the house and all the boys and it puts a huge smile on my face, feel like I'm right there with you (well I will be on thurs), wilf is changing so fast bless him, looks well cosy in the bean bag chair. You will knit and it will look amazing because you persevere at everything, you don't like to be beaten (believe you me I know!!!) so I'll put socks on my christmas list then....oow lovely. I assume you are referring to me at the chatting to someone at Haynes.....don't blame me if you can't gas quietly, I'll rephrase that, chat quietly!! remember when I got in trouble at Haynes as I pulled a sicky and we went clothes shopping in Yeovil and was caught!!! oh we are naughty. Luv you x x x

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I L♡VE your comments. Thank you ever so for taking the time. I do try to get back to everyone but I am rather scatty and I have these 3 big distractions....(and I'm just generally a bit rubbish lately, so please don't feel obliged to leave a note) Sorry about the word verification too, too much spam.