Back to work!

The last two days were my first days back at work after having a year maternity leave. It was a couple of  days of sadness, excitement, butterflies in my stomach and relief.

I dropped the girls off at their childminders at 7:45 having rushed about to get us all ready and respectable to go to our various places. (i spent hours the night before preparing everything we would all need) Emily was very excited as she loves going to the childminders and then preschool would be a normal day to her. Lucy was of course none the wiser and was actually fine when i left her. No crying which was great! Only me that did that.

I got in the car to drive to work - what a luxury to listen to the radio rather that 'old mac donald'!! it struck me as i arrived that i had had the most amazing year off with the girls and i was really very sad about leaving them but also that the year was at an end... never to be repeated. This made me more sad than anything really.

Anyway on arrival at school i was met by my head who laughed in a joking way at me walking down the corridor - he said he was going to rib me but thought better of it when he saw me. Bless him, He knew how i was feeling and i was laughing too.

The rest of the day was a haze of seeing collegues (well friends really) that i have not seen in a long time and hugging people in the corridors, a genuine notion of being really pleased to see each other. Even some of the children gave me hugs! There was a ripple that went across the hall when i went into assembly as the children started to notice i was there! waving to me from the other side of the room. Really sweet.

Lots has changed and lots is the same, but by the end of the day my jaws ached from smiling and talking so much. A lovely day.

Lucy was quite unsettled during the day, she did not really sleep very well for lots of reasons but was better on Friday. At one point on thursday she fell asleep on thier furry rug for half an hour bless her! She ate well and didnt cry, was abit wingy but this was mainly because she was so tired. I am sure she will get into her own routine and get used to being there. there is just so much going on she wants to be part of it all!

Anyway the two days went well, busy but exciting and scary at the same time. I just need to settle back into my home life now for the rest of the week, i know thurs will be here again before i can blink.

marathon mates

A simple WELL DONE to all of my friends who ran the marathon yesterday! A very brave and couragous thing to do. Amazing!!

Lucy's first day at our childminders

Lucy went to the childminders for an almost full day today. I really wanted to do this so that i knew and she knew, that she would be ok without me without the stress of me working too. She was fine!! no real tears and by all accounts she had a lovely day.

Getting out of the door in the morning could be interesting next week. I am going to need to be super organised with packed lunches for the three of us and clothes, nappies, breast milk!! all these things took me ages this morning and i definatly got a feel of what it would be like!


The day was wierd. We took Emily up to preschool and then i walked Lucy round to the child minders. I thought she was about to cry as i said goodbye to her and as the door closed i think she did a little. I didnt and i was very strong... but i kept myself busy all day and i only stopped for  a cuppa for 10 mins and i started to think about her. Had to get up and get going again.

I did get so much done tho. Cleaned all of the carpets up stairs and down, spring cleaned Emily and Lucy's room, moved all the furniture and hoovered and washed the skirting boards. Put stuff in the loft and generally tidied up.

When we went to pick up Lucy she had falled asleep in the childminders arms! Not one to go to sleep easily with out booby, she had decided she did not want to sleep in the cot and eventually went off with a cuddle! So lovely. I know she will get used to being there and they will all find there own routine.

All in all i feel happy that she will be ok with them, i could not ask for a better childminder. Dont get me wrong i do still feel ill when i think of leaving her and i think i was not too bad today as i was so focussed on what i wanted to get done in the house. Also i was only down the road from her not 20 minutes away. Anyway it was fine and i have to think about how well she did today!

one year on!

This week is an emotional strain for me. It is my last week off with my girls before i return to work next Thursday and friday. It is impossible to explain the feelings i have about this i just cant believe how quickly this year has gone by! I mean , one year ! that is a really long time and yet it feels like only yesterday i walked away from school with a baby in my stomach full of the prospects of an amazing year with Emily and the new baby. And what an amazing year we have had. From really a hot summer to a snowy winter. Emily has gone to preschool in this year and Lucy has grown from a 7lb 12oz baby to a 17lb 1oz crawling babe. Where did the time go?

It is not that i dont like my job, because i do, i love it. I have missed the people i work with and of course the children and i am sure i will be very emotional and pleased to see them all. I just feel such a wrench at the thought of the relaxed life i feel i am leaving behind. It makes me so sad to think that that amazing year is over, never to be done again and from now on it the girls will just get bigger and older and life will change again.

I am worried about leaving them too of course. Lucy will be with an amazing childminder and Emily will be at preschool all day. Hopefully both will not find this too difficult. I am still feeding Lucy so this is a strain for her to be far away. It sounds stupid really as she does not feed much in the day at all but an instinct in me says she should be near. I never leave her with anyone, i really hope she will not be too upset. I worry that things will change. That she will resent me for leaving her. again stupid as i know Emily benefited in a way as she became a very outgoing child because she met other people.

I also have major butterflies in my stomach when i think of actually going in to school, standing infront of a class and teaching. A year is a long time! I am sure it is like riding a bike, i just find it all hard.

So this week we are preparing for the inevitable!

It is consuming me, making me cry at every turn and wishing i could turn back time.

Chloe's christening

Today was a very special day. One of my close friends daughter, Chloe was christened today and i was lucky enough to have been asked to be God mother! Nicola and i went to playschool together and have been friends ever since. The funny thing is that we did not expect when we were sitting on a freezing cold playground at secondary school, that we would give birth to our girls just a week apart! So we hope that Lucy and Chloe will be life long friends too.

The day could not have been better, the weather was amazing. Lucy and i took an early walk up to the church, the one incidently that Nicola and i used to have harvest festival services at when we were at primary school. Lucy had a little nap and i enjoyed the sun on my face thinking about time and how it passes so quickly.

Chloe wore a beautiful dress and was really ready for her special day, waving at everyone and either giving gorgeous grins or hilarious frowns!

The service was lovely, Chloe didnt really cry and certainly didnt mind her head being washed with the Holy water.

The children played happily in the church yard while photos were taken, so lovely to see them running around in the spring sunshine.

We then had a beautiful afternoon in the pub garden and special room decorated for the occasion. The weather could not have been better and was just what we all needed, an afternoon sipping drinks with my friends.

The honour of being Chloe's God mother is not taken in vein for me, the promises i made in church are ones i intend to keep  and i am looking forward to years of watching her growing up.

I found this poem and i thought it was really touching, i put it in the card i sent to Chloe on her special day.

Precious Goddaughter

You are a precious miracle,
and a dream come true.
It will be my honor,
to grow in faith with you.
I welcome this invitation,
extended with love.
I will be your angel,
sharing promises from above.
As I gently hold you,
and look at your sweet face.
I say a little prayer,
may you be touched by grace.
So much of life ahead,
I dream of all you'll be.
Times we'll spend together-
my Goddaughter and me.
I will hold your hand,
and stand by your side.
I will be your model,
your teacher and your guide.
I will give you time,
with thoughts of you each day.
I will keep you in my prayers,
as you find your way.
I look forward to the years ahead,
and being a godparent to you.
May our treasured bond grow strong,
and in faith our hearts be true.

God bless you Chloe

knights tabard

Here is the knights tabard i made for my friends little boy, Elliot's, 5th birthday. Made from a recycled fleece jumper! Thank you to the lovely ladies on GP for the idea! It is not perfect (bias binding is a bugger) but i am pleased with it for a first go and even Ian said it was good so it must be GREAT!

stripey material!

A crayon roll for Charlottes 2nd birthday (the little girl from the woods)
And a much longed for sling for Emily's baby! I really love this as she walks along holding and talking to her baby like i do with Lucy. Im pleased with the sling, not too bad for a first attempt with no real pattern.

My dad

On Saturday we met my dad at a garden in town that was open for visitors. It was a beautiful place, a real shared garden for the community with bug palaces and alsorts of eco ideas. The sun was shining and we thoroughly enjoyed a cup of tea and a home made cake.

Lucy is crawling!

Lucy learnt to crawl yesterday! She is so funny to watch today and she is making herself laugh too! This evening while i was brushing Emily's teeth she followed us out and was poking her head around the door and laughing! We all find it very amusing seeing her moving around! Emily didnt crawl so this is really new to all of us!

If you go down to the woods today...

We have had an amazing afternoon at a  local woods with my friend from work and her children. It was such a beautiful day, too nice to go to the ball park as we originally planned, so we took a drive to a woods i have not been to since i was a child.
Emily is wearing her new baby sling that i made her this morning (more photos later) and they both have a bag to collect things to make into a picture tomorrow.

We found a stick house in one area, it looked just like Eeyore's house! even hooks to hang your bag!

Leaves are tricky things!

We had a picnic on a log!

Lucy loved being in her sling ad set me thinking that i really should wear her in it more often.

Once we were full we tried our hands at bark rubbing!

And this is how we finished our little woodland adventure! It truly was a lovely day, simple but lovely.

Spring has come!

Today really does feel like spring. I know we have had a few sunny days recently, followed by some bitter rainy days, but today was really balmy and you could almost smell the summer coming. We lapped this up this afternoon by taking a walk into town. It was less stressful as i remembered drinks for all and snacks and we just took it at our own pace. This did result in use being home after 5!! shock horror! but Emily ate so much while we were out i just gave Lucy some dinner and we all had pudding.
Having said this we did stop in a cafe for some booby milk, a cup of tea and a clotted cream scone! So there was dancing in the corner of the courtyard where we sat,

Emily was hungry all afternoon so Ella's kitchen it was on the way home. And yes i will be saving the packet because apparently you can send them to the company that will make them into bags etc!!

Then there was a slow walk home past the stream i have walked along since i was a child. There is a beautiful , what i think is Jasmine, on the other side of the stream and emily always points it out when we are playing the 'i spy with my little eye something that is a colour' game as the yellow is so vibrant.

I have been meaning to post pictures of my little green house on my window ledge. We have plum, cherry and yellow tomatoes, dwarf french beans, yellow squash, sweetcorn and marigolds! i cant wait to stop buying tomatoes wrapped in film!

Happy Easter!

HAPPY EASTER to you all. I hope you have had a peaceful and relaxing Easter, or so far! We have been quite restful, i dont find this easy but it has been lovely. Not many photos to show for it but here is an incite into the things we have been doing and making.

I always make Simnel Cakes to take into school and then ofetn make some for family and friends. This is number 4! For those of you who dont know, there are eleven balls on the top, one for each of Jesus's disciples, not including Judas of course!

 Mummy's Little helper after the cake making!

After making 4 fruit cakes this week i have 4 lemons without their zest to use up so i decided to make lemon curd. I always get so excited when i try something new. It came out ok...

And here it is! It tastes lovely! And i feel smug!

We tried our hand at candle making thanks to the inspiration from border stories and i am quite pleased with how they came out! Egg shaped they are!

random photos by Emily