White blanket

This morning I had two very very happy kids - when we looked outside and found that it had snowed they rushed through all their jobs to go and play in the garden before school.

Sadly I was in a rush too and did not manage to take pics, but here is a blurry one of a whole playground of kids playing snowball fights! What fun they were all having.

Sadly, a little winter sunshine has pretty much melted the snow already, ho hum.

My honey is coming come

It's been an eventful 2 weeks since Robin left for Rochester, New York. To be honest, I had been really worried about how it'd be, just me and the kids for that long. Oddly, although I had a few periods of real stress and lack of sleep, we've not done too badly really.

We started off well. I got a bit of sorting out done, a dump trip, a lovely meal to celebrate my Dad's birthday, and guttering fixed - I had a lot of plans.

I was stopped in my tracks though, when Elias got unwell with a really nasty stomach bug, he took a really long time to get better and start eating properly again. Things were just getting back to normal when Joy came down with it too. Poor thing went to bed and barely left there for the next 24 hours.

I have however managed to re-decorate our bedroom, a really time consuming and messy job, which will be a surprise for my hubby (there is no more of the inherited pink textured flowery wallpaper - Eugh!) I hope it meets with Robin's approval!

The kids and I are really looking forwards to having Robin home. Right now he's on a plane.....

No Fair!

Robin has been gone 11 days now, and whilst he is still doing some really great work - I gather he's just wanting to come home now.

Last week I had a few days of Elias with a particularly nasty sickness and diahorrea bug, constant hand washing seemed to ward it off for Joy and I - until this morning when Joy woke up complaining of a painful tummy, she's now started throwing up.

So I've just three days to muddle through, hopefully by the time Robin is back Joy will be all better. I may have very sore hands though, all this hand-washing is not agreeing with my skin! Right now poor Robin is probably wondering if he wants to come back here!

I really hope I can avoid getting this bug myself.

Sleep Erosion

I don't think I have mentioned, Robin has been away for the past week in up-state New York. I guess I have probably negelected to mention it before now as I have had my hands full managing single-handed with the kids and home.

I have not been helped out by an odd collection of things keeping me from a good night of sleep. So I woke up this morning again, TIRED!

First culprit was Joy, who for the first few mornings was waking up at 5am, I kept finding her playing on her Nintendo DS (lite) and her hamster, wide awake in bed. Sadly, for me, I was unable to get back to sleep after that.

Then the sickness hit - Elias suddenly started acting funny, and before I twigged what was wrong there was sick everywhere. And it just kept coming, all night long, and all the next day, and night! We took a trip to the Doctors to check he wasn't too dehydrated, and true to form, that is when he turned the corner and started to get better! (Phew!)

Friday night was the only good night of sleep I've had, from being utterly shattered! And much to my great surprise I woke up at almost nine in the morning! (the kids also slept late which is not at all like them.)

Last night though was utterly frustrating. I admit I didn't rush to bed as soon as the kids were down, I had a backlog of things I had to do, but to bed I went, not expecting any more interruptions. But an hour or so later, I woke to this squealing and wailing - and it was initially rather confusing - it was a baby crying. And I don't have one of them!!!!

I figured out that the grandchildren must be staying next door, and one of them was certainly not happy - I was woken up a few more times, each time I think because I know I am the only one here to deal with my kids so I probably am not sleeping so deeply. And I just did not go back to sleep until that baby stopped crying. Which it did... eventually.

Tonight I'll go to bed, as usual, hoping that tonight it all stops, and I get some sleep.

I've still got till next Saturday before Robin is home, briefly, before going to the Netherlands.

6 Wierd Things About Nikki

(Tagged by Heidi)

1. I am not a fan of savoury and sweet on the same plate - for instance, I cannot do the American thing and have pancakes and bacon etc all there, mixed in - and to add syrup is just WRONG! Not really one for apple sauce with pork or stuff like that. Probably the only real exception is lingonberry jam with meatballs.

2. I find the feeling of having my hands inside rubber gloves and in water - rather unplesant to say the least. It's like this really wierd pressure of the water or something. At the moment this cannot be avoided due to our excuse for a kitchen not presently accomodating the dishwasher. Eeeew.

3. I am unable to eat Indian curry, just the smell actually turns my stomach. I have not identified which pungent spice or spices seem to effect me - I could not bear the process! During pregnancy it was even worse.

4. I don't enjoy taking a bath. Even with candles and all that jazz, I soon get bored of stewing in my own juices - eugh! When you get out you feel saturated with moisture, but somehow it seems to irritate, and dry out my skin. I do however adore showers.

5. I do not photograph well, so avoid having my picture taken whenever I can. Instead, I take the pics.

6. I find these little quizzes oddly fascinating, and often end up joining in the fun. Is that a girl thing I wonder?

I think I'll tag Wendy, Robin, Antony, Who else?? (sorry been clearing up vomit all evening and not on top of my game)



4.