NIGHTMARE!

Today has been a nightmare. We decided to lay some flowers on Philly's grave this morning. This turned out to be a massive mistake. Everyone seemed to be there at the graveside! The road running around the graveside is only big enough to get one car around at one time. There were a load of cars, and no where to turn. We drove right up to where Philly was buried and decided to turn down a country road to either turn around or find somewhere to park. When we finally turned around and headed back up, a massive truck had parked up and blocked our exit. We were stuck! So we swapped driving seats and i had to reverse all the way back to turn again to get out. Never again will we go to the grave on Christmas Eve. None of us were in the spirit of it either.

When we got to the main road, i had to buy one more picture frame for tomorrow, so we drove to Tesco for the car to completely die on us. This is in the Pug. It would not start at all. It started to rain, we were just off a main roundabout and had no RAC cover at all. I was so gutted. I felt utterly helpless. Especially as Jared was freaking out at me as i had decided to buy the car. The first thing i did was ring RAC and sign up. I stupidly said we were stuck on the road side so she said it would cost an £85 call out fee on top of the £100 odd to have a year's membership. So £200 gone, like that. We sat in the car for 40 minutes before a person stopped to help. He was so kind and tried to jump start our car. It wouldn't work, so we told him we would be alright. A little later on another person stopped and gave us an umbrella and an offer of a lift home. We had already rung Peter to say we had broken down and he was on his way, so we didn't need their help. In that very moment, i felt the kindness of two people and felt very overwhelmed by it. It made me feel the true meaning of Christmas. The RAC man eventually came, about 50 minutes after the breakdown and Peter came too. He told me that if we had rung home, they would have brought grandad who is a member of the AA. Gutting! Just didn't think! Anyway, Jared stayed with the RAC man while i went back with Peter to the house. What a nightmare of a day. Jared eventually came home after the car had been jump started back to the house. It was the alternator belt that had snapped.

We all ate tea and had a chill to calm down a bit. It was all a bit manic and panicy. Jared drove the Citreon back to Peter and Paulines and we went to Asda from there to get my bits i needed. It was busy! Thankfully everything i needed was right there at the front. I did have to wait in a queue for a little while, but oh well.

When we got home, i packaged up the biscuits i had made for friends and popped a pack over to the next door neighbors. Jared and i then went to the Carol service. It's so lovely to have some time to focus back on the Saviour, to sing praises to him. I knew i should have worn a skirt, as they asked all the sisters to come to the stand to sing, i was the only one in jeans. That's the last time i listen to Jared! Anyway, as i sang, i looked over at Pauline, who was sobbing in the corner. When i see that, i just want time to fly, so we can all be together again.

After the service, we all went back to my house to have blueberry pancakes, something that Philly said we should have for breakfast next year. It was nice to make and eat them. Definitely a new family tradition i am going to do from now on. The rest of the evening was spent wrapping last minute gifts, watching some TV with the family and tidying up for the big day tomorrow. I am so so excited, i think i might explode!

Ethan's stocking;

and the Christmas tree!;

It is so exciting! Definitely a lovely way to end a pretty horrible beginning.

Strange Day...

Today has been an bit of a strange day - We planned to go to Cardiff with Jared's family to get some last bits and pieces for Christmas. Well, I couldn't get Jared up! We all slept in because, yet again, we went to bed far too late. I only just got up at 8.45am and Peter and Pauline were due to arrive at 9am! Thankfully they didn't come till nearly 10am, i guess tiredness got the better of them too. I only just managed to get Ethan up as he went to sleep just before 11pm last night. I got myself dressed and Lills, Ethan wanted some breakfast but wanted to eat it at the sofa instead of the table. I put my stamp of authority down and he kicked and screamed for ages. He cried and cried, pleaded with his nanny to let him sit and he wouldnt. Jared eventually got up and dressed, eventually being ready got 10.30am. We were due to be in Cardiff half hour ago. It all came to a head and Jared said he wasn't going to come anymore. So it was just Peter, Pauline, Sam, Lills and I going. I hate arguing with Jared so we left on bad terms.

On the way down, some of us were crying in the car at not having Philly with us - this really isn't a great start to the day at all! Thankfully thing's did start to pick up a bit, and the shopping trip went really well! We got all the things we needed and really stress free. It's not busy at all. I guess the bad economic climate has taken it's toll this year. Pauline bought me some nice things and we lunched at Subway. By the time we got into the car, the business had picked up a bit.

When they dropped me home, Jared was out, taking Ethan to the Primary party. I always get a little nervous seeing him after a spat, but i know he always wants to patch things up straight away. I am the stubborn one who isn't willing to let thing's go. Haha! We had an hour free of Chimps, so i focused on doing some family history for a while.

Jared fetched Chimps at 4pm - unfortuntately they sent out the wrong time so instead of being 3-6, it was 2-4. Gutting! So Ethan only had an hour at the party. When he got in, i got on with dinner before heading out to do my visiting teaching for the month. I did a bit of prep and found a brilliant site with all different ideas - www.visitingteaching.net - definitely worth looking at for future visits.

I picked Jenna Mcintyre up at 8pm and we visited Julie Jones, Helen Evans and Emma Jane. I didn't ring ahead at all so it was a door dropping session, so we were finished within the hour. I have always struggled with visiting teaching a little, as i felt it's sometimes a bit false. I can honestly say now, i am starting to gain a testimony of it and how important it is. One of my goals for next year is to get a full 12 months of it done. On the way home of dropping Jenna off, we got onto the subject of Philly and it just exploded out of me. I miss her so much. I don't think people realise how much she is on all our minds, how much it hurts and the thought of spending the next 50 years on this earth without seeing her is just too much to bear. Jenna was so kind, she cried with me. It's so hard, this life. I was so grateful for her kind words to me.

I decided to do my trip to Tesco tonight as i hate the manic rush in the day, so i did get the bits i needed. Jared asked me to get some gifts for his Home teaching family and Mo Pulman. She is currently in hospital after taking a fall and breaking her hip. We are going to make a visit to her tomorrow. I think i've finally finished getting all the gifts for everyone, yippeee! I spent some time when i got in doing the photo frames for Mangi and Dague, and Pauline. I'm quite chuffed at how they have turned out. I can't believe Christmas is only 5 sleeps away!

Christmas is coming...

Today is Ethan's speech and language class with the speech therapist, Jenny. Jared kindly took Ethan out to that so we didn't all have to rush there for 8.50am. I didn't realise that would become a rolling appointment time, so that will be the time of every appointment from now until he's discarged! Gutting! Jared was quite a while out with Ethan, taking him for breakfast and Christmas shopping. They didn't get back until 11.30ish. Jared said he wouldn't really speak for her. That is so Ethan - he won't do anything he's made to do!

Jared wanted help with his wrapping so he went to his mums, which turned out not to be there as they are still in Cardigan. Well done Jared for wrapping your own gifts. He came back with Sam and we began our little errand trips! Sam came with us too to get some of his Christmas presents. So i had a load of things to post from ebay, so we started there. I had about 20 packages to post from selling. Not bad! Let's hope all is well there - when people complain, it doubts my ability of whether i've listed something accurately. Fingers crossed! We then went on to Festival Park to get some other bits. Jared bought me some thorntons and his gaiters, which took some time to pick. We ended up buying two sets as it looked like they only sold one in a pack when infact there were two. So that's Peter's present sorted! Haha! Ethan spent most of the time running around the store shouting at Sam, 'Chase me!' Which he did! I could hear his chuckles of delight as he was running around, which makes a change from his screaming! He wanted some chocolate, and as we wouldn't get him any, he cried and cried over it. He is so stubborn!

On the way home, i stopped into Asda to get some photo's printed. It was the biggest waste of time ever! The machines didn't work, the customer in front took her sweet time, including holding up the queue as she waited for her husband to come, it then didn't register my CD then it printed out the wrong order. I just gave up in the end.

We stopped in at Peter and Paulines on the way home and they offered us a Chinese, yummy! We all spent family night together and watched 'Flight of the Gardians', one of the most visually stimulating flims i've ever seen. It was great. We got home quite late, so Ethan went to bed late. We might suffer the concequences in the morning!

Soaking Wet.

Today has been a bit of a nightmare. I had to post some more items for eBay and i slept in way too late. Little Lily was sleeping in too as she had screamed till after midnight last night. I think she had a bit of a windy pain.

Anyway, i got the kids washed and dressed and managed to make a real mess in the house. We finally got on the bus at about 11.45am, bearing in mind i was meant to be on it at 11am. It was pouring with rain, Ethan was crying because he didn't want to walk and Lily wasn't too impressed at sitting in a pram. I am so not organised! I really need to pre- prep every night!

So we eventually get into town, Ethan is still crying and Lily has finally fallen asleep. The heavens then decided to open on us! Poor Ethan is screaming, Lily is unaware as i had propped an umbrella over her and i can feel myself getting wetter and wetter. Booooo! All the while I'm cursing the weather, Jared for having a nice warm car to sit in and myself for trying to attempt this with no proper coat on! Hahaha! I laugh now as I'm all warm. I walk to a cafe just down the road and realise i have no cash and they don't take card, so i settle for a Greggs for Ethan. He cheers up a little when i get a cupcake for him.

I took the bus up to the top of Heolgerrig hill and drop him into school. I can still feel like he's not himself so stayed for a minute with him - before long he was up playing, so i did the tedious journey back into town to post my ebay items, then bused it home. By the time i got in, it was 2.30pm! Ethan finished at 3pm! Thankfully i have a lovely mother in law who offered to fetch him for me, so i didn't have to go into the awful cold again. Thank you Pauline! :)

I spent some time looking at cars and i think i've found the perfect one. The only problem is i let it slip through my fingers! Only to go on to find another perfect car, so fingers crossed we will win this one. If not, there are always others!

It was a bit of a rush getting tea ready and myself ready to go out - Jared has a meeting in Swansea and i an activity down the church. Pauline was very kind to help us out with lifts as she was looking after Ethan. I could tell that he still wasn't right as he fell asleep on the sofa straight away, poor boy.

The evening was lovely and i spent some time with Rhian, Sarah, the missionaries and the Young Women. We had proper pork/turkey/beef rolls with salad and coleslaw, a wonderful message on charity by Cheryl, our Relief Society President, Christmas from different parts of the world, like America, Sri Lanka, Mexico and Poland. We then played a present swapping game, to which i won a pair of earrings, a LOVE Sign and a cute little wooden box. I was chuffed!

When i got home after cleaning up, Jared was home and told me they had all forgotten about the meeting so he had to find something to do for 3 hours. Poor boy! I couldn't stay up to watch a Doc Martin as i was so tired and i had to lay Ethan's birthday presents out. I can't wait to see that little face!

It's snowing!

I decided to keep Ethan off again today, so i put the T.V. on with some DVD's for him to watch. I don't feel comfortable taking him in when he's still a little under the weather. Definitely taking him in tomorrow, that's for sure.

Trying to get him to take his medicine is just too hard. I can't bear his crying! It makes me feel so sad! He's been so much more clingy today too. I introduced him to Enchanted which he's watched twice!  Lily has really got into a routine of taking a long nap in the middle of the day - it's weird as it's been so long since Ethan even took an hour nap. While we were watching, the snow really started to fall;

Ethan loves it! I had a whole week's worth of blogging to catch up on, so that's what i did while Ethan watched a bit of TV.

Jared came home at a good time and after din dins and kids were put to bed, we had a bit of the old Doc Martin! Class!

Bit of a boring day!

Today is another day off school for Ethan - he's still not right. I had some tidying and washing to do, so i've done that through the day.

When we all got up (which was late!) I did the usual getting washed and dressed routine before coming downstairs to make some breakfast. After that Ethan and i made some paper chains - he is still not right as he cried through all of it, wanting to keep the blue coloured strips for him self. I eventually managed to coax him into doing just a blue one and put it up. He snapped out of his tiz quite quickly, thankfully. Nothing hits your mental stability like a screaming child.

I then made some salt dough to make some decorations with Ethan. I think the oven was a bit hot as they got a bit crisp, but not too bad. I'll try and decorate some tomorrow with Ethan, if i get time. He couldn't understand that they weren't biscuits and kept asking me if 'Ethan has one?' I think he must have licked one and got the salty taste, as he quickly stopped asking for anymore! Hahaa.

Trying to get Ethan to take is medicine is just a nightmare. I have never had to fight so hard on anything with him! He would spit it out most of the time. He's barely getting any into his system, so i think i will have to call the doctor and get something else.

By the time Jared got home, both kids were wanting attention so i hadn't got dinner ready for him. He took the kids so i could get on with it! Ethan kicked and screamed over having sheppards pie and didn't eat any. To bed hungry it is boy!

Jared and i continued to clean up a bit after Ethan had some time with his daddy on the wii and was put to bed. Peter and Sam stopped in to get the car (ours is still in the garage). We both worked out before sitting down to watch Doc. Martin. Es also called for a chat, i miss her so much! COME BACK ESME!

Another midnight bed time it is! Seriously, i have finally understood the term, 'there aren't enough hours in the day!'

Watched doc martain.

Spoke to Ez and wored out.

Ethan has Scarlett Fever!

This is the one day off a week that Jared has, and he only has it because of the circumstances of the summer, and as he doesn't have any uni work to do that's due in before Christmas, he is mine for the day!

So we start off getting the kids ready to take Ethan to the doctor to find out what the flip is wrong with him. I made the call around 9am and got an appointment at 9.40am. Tight timing as we weren't even dressed! We got there for about 9.45am, so a few minutes late. It was the place that i usually went to when i had my midwife appointments. It looks like a crack den too. So the receptionist is on the phone, blabbing away, finishes the call and types on her computer for a few minutes. When i finally get to talk, she tells me i'm quite late. Well duh, you were on the phone for ages. Secondly, whenever i come early, i never get seen at the appointment time anyway. And huzzah, i get seen by the doc at 10am. I would have been sat waiting 20 minutes with two kids. Not fun at all!

The doctor was really nice! I'd seen her before in the Morlais medical practice for a check up after my miscarriages. She took one look at Ethan and told me he definitely had Scarlett Fever! I thought that was wiped out?! It's not as serious as it used to be, so a course of penicillin will sort him out.

After that, we went to Jared's mum's to drop the car into the garage. I took my sold items over to the post office to post and picked up Ethan's perscription. It's so busy everywhere we go! Pauline very kindly had Ethan for us so we could get on and do some other bits. Jared came with me on the top up shop in Aldi, the quick visit to a very busy Tesco and another visit to WHSmith to get Pauline some card for her penguin making. We dropped off all the shopping and unpacked it before going back to Paulines for a bit. Ethan loved her penguins, so much so that he got to take one home;

I did some family history and found some more people, but i need to do some duplicate sorting first! That is what is so time consuming. I'm sure that alot of people don't check them as the work has been done more than once for somepeople. And what is the deal with the £25 charge for birth, marriage and death certificates?! Greedy bums! Peter told me it used to cost about £4 before looking into your ancestry became expensive.

We got back home with the kids before dinner - i whipped up a curry before cleaning out my stinking fridge and putting the kids to bed. Jared went to his ECDL course and passed his Word exam. Horray! We stayed up and watched some more Doc. Martin. Jared just can't help himself!

Allll by myself..

Ethan's temperature continued to peak through the night - he was up and down, feeling hot and then cold. He also woke up this morning with a really bad rash, which makes me think it's German Measles again. Poor little boy :(

Jared isn't feeling too good either, so he stayed with Ethan while i went to church with Lills. I only stayed for sacrament as i didn't feel it's fair for Jared to look after Ethan while he's feeling rough too. So after the meeting, i came back for them to go to Peter and Paulines. The talks given were excellent - Geraint talked on the Saviour and the Christmas period, Keyon on Christmas and it's true meaning and Amy on fasting. I look forward to fasting again, i have to be honest. To feel that discipline again.

We had a lovely dinner at Paulines - she did lasagne, my favourite! The 1st Presidency Devotional is being broadcast tonight, so Peter and Pauline are going to that. She made a pancake batter for me to take home ready to munch for supper. She found some Christmas cards from last year that she didn't get to give out because of the heavy snow. She checked them and found that she had written them from Philly too. Today is the day that we had a photoshoot all together last year. I still can't believe she is gone from this earth. I do feel like i would be happy to die now, knowing she is there waiting for all of us to come. I miss her so much. Just another 50 years to go... Haha.

Sam came back up with us to the house and i started to make the pancakes. I forgot how yummy they are! So tasty! We sat round the table last year on christmas day and talked about a new breakfast next year, so we thought about blueberry pancakes. So this year and for all the years to come, we will have blueberry pancakes.

We spent the evening watching Doc Martin. It is so funny, and deinitely worth the watch. I love it! Ethan continued to have a high temperature and bad rashes, so definite trip to the doctors tomorrow!

Saturday with Family!

Today is family day! The best day of the week! Jared wanted to spend some more time with the family as he has been so busy with his Law exam. Ethan seems to have perked up as well! We spent the morning cleaning up the house together as it is a bit gross, had lunch and headed over to Peter and Paulines. By this time though, Ethan started to dip in wellness again. His temperature was up and he just lay on the sofa crying. Poor little boy.

We spent the rest of the day there as Ethan was so out of sorts. Pauline did a lovely dinner of salad and chicken. Ethan wouldn't eat a thing! We took him home and put him to bed, which he fell asleep immediately. No church for him tomorrow!

Dinner out with the Babes!

Today Jared is taking me to Junction 28 for a date! Wahooo! It's such a swanky place to eat! I completely messed up the timing with Pauline - i forgot Jared was in uni and i would have to take him in, so instead of Pauline taking him at midday, she had to take him at 9am. I feel so bad, especially as they have had him alot recently.

We got Jared into Cardiff for 9.50am, which is a record as he is usually a little late. I parked up in museum with Lills and went in to get some breakfast. It was nice to spend some time with just the baby. It takes me back a few years to when our Ethan was only a baby. I sat for a little while, feeding Lily trying to get her to sleep  - she is so difficult to get to sleep when we go out and about! I had a little look around the exhibits and actually had the chance to stand and read them. When i have Ethan, it's straight to the dinosaur. I walked into the town centre of Cardiff for a bit too as walking round the museum for the umteenth time is a little tiresome. I got two bags of continental for my mum and as another gift, which i did end up eating. Opps. It's a good job i didn't linger about as Jared got out at 12pm!

We made a quick stop at Staples for him to get some files - he loves looking round Staples. He told me of a chair that he wants when he qualifies because it's lush. £130! No chance! Hahaha. While he was in, i got a call from Pauline telling me that she isn't taking Ethan to school as he's come over all hot and drowsy. Poor little boy.

We drove to junction 28 to find it is so busy. Pants. I didn't book either. Jared let me check and yes, they were fully booked. If we'd got there 10 minutes before we would have got space. Gutting. Anyway, i'm not really dressed for it and would have felt like a right scruff! So Jared suggested Chiquitos. Yum! I like it! When we got there, there was only one other person in there! Wahooo! I love it when it's quiet, so it was a nice intimate dinner for Jared and I. Our food came right to us too, no fuss! Huzzah!

We drove home back to Peter and Paulines to find Ethan was fast asleep, the poor little lad. He was super hot. We sat for a little while before heading back home. I couldn't eat for the rest of the evening as i was still full! We put the kids to bed and i spent the evening bagging up the stuff that sold on ebay as well as listing new stuff. Philly's clothing is going quickly. Bit of the old Doc. Martin too! :)

Family Fun Day!

As Jared is out on Saturday, we decided to have a family day today. We planned to go to Cardiff Swimming pool as it's quite a fun pool. I thought i would be able to get up early, but nope! I got up at 9am. I am just so tired. I didn't have the heart to put Lily in her cot yet so she was in beside us! Although she did sleep most of the night, only waking for one feed.

We managed to get out of the house by 10.20am and get to th pool for 11am. Jared is so excited, so much so that when he went to a pound coin for the locker, he made me wait with the kids so he got to take Ethan in first! Haha! Lily isn't really her self as she did cry most of the way there. Her cough is still so bad, bless her. Ethan loved the pool and it was nice and quiet. Jared and him went down the baby slide alot, which is massive improvement from the last time we went there. He wouldn't even get in!

We didn't manage to stay long at the pool as time was getting on, so i got out with Lily and got ready with Jared and Ethan joining us 15 minutes later. He had such a good time, as did Jared! We stopped off at McDonalds to get Ethan lunch and then dropped him at school. It is so windy, running him in was a nightmare! I was soaked by the time i got back to the car. Today's weather has been awful. So bad in fact thast Scotland have experienced Hurricane type gales.

I totally forgot that the electric is going to be turned off today, so when we got in, nothing was on. Boo! I wasn't going to sit in a cold house, so Jared and i did some errands. Making a trip to the Tip, returning a piece of footwear to Aldi which we ended up keeping, Tesco visit and a hair cut for Jared. I was told that Tesco were having a half price sale, so i looked. LETHAL! I bought a few outfits for Lily which are so cute! I ended up spending close to £40, worth it though! I can't wait to see her in the cute little dresses!

By the time we got through the checkout and in the car, it was time to go and pick Ethan up from school. It was still tipping it down, so i had to leg it. When i got back to the car, it was like i had stood in the shower for 5 minutes with clothes on.

We got back in and the electric was back on, yippee! I made dinner as Ethan and Jared played the Wii. Leah gave me his donkey costume ready for his little show;

I don't know what we are going to do about getting him to keep his hood up. He has started saying 'Shut Up' as it's said in Rio. I hope it doesn't stick! And he keeps spitting too! Yuck! Jared put him to bed for me so i did the washing up. I went to check on him after he had gone to sleep and found he had managed to get his calendar down AGAIN! That's it for you boy!;

I spent the evening with a poorly Lily - she coughed so much she puked everywhere, and after a quick bath she finally went down for the night. I ebayed some more of Philly's stuff before going to bed. I wanted to work out but Lily had other plans. Plus, still no period. This isn't fair mother nature!

Out to town with only one buggy!

This morning i made sure we were ready to go into town togther. I had forgotten to get the pram out of the car this morning so i had to just take the little pram and have Ethan walk. He was so good!

We got on the bus to which Lily fell asleep on. We made a visit to the post office to post some more items and then to Wilko's to get some light bulbs and other bits i needed for the curtains. Ethan was so good. He was pulling the basket for me as i couldn't and a few people obviously didn't see him, bless him. He did so well!

After we did our odd jobs, we went for some lunch at a little cafe. Jared and i went there when we were dating. I always think of that when we go there. Ethan was so good there too! I have to say, although they say Welsh people are friendly, they most certainly aren't in this restuarant. Whispering, no smiling, having a chit chat before finally serving you...etc. The usual ignorant customer service! I how how they spell potatoes too. 'They have a selection of Jacket Potato's.' Hahaha. Anyway, Ethan sat and ate his lunch like a good boy while i sorted out Lily. It's always awkward when you are trying to feed and you have a young audience. Especially when the parent's are there, not doing anything. Slightly annoying really. She stood right by me, touching distance, watching. Thankfully her food came and she was back in her seat!

We caught the bus up to school and i walked with Lily back home. Bless her, she doesn't like spending too much time in the pram. Ethan loved it as a baby. She does not. It was super windy too, she was getting blown away!

When i got in, Pauline called to offer to pick up Ethan for me. Yes, i'll take that! So she did.

I can't really remember what else we did that evening, apart from putting kids to bed. Jared did stay home from football to study while i worked out. Not mega exciting!

It's really cold!

I've kind of finished half the cleaning of the house and can't really face it right now, so i took the kids out down town to get some bits and bobs. I bought a really nice new duvet cover too, woo! We ate at a really cute little cafe before getting the bus to school.

I then walked home with Lilsie all asleep. I was just about to ask a friend for a lift to school when Pauline called to offer her services...yey! I finished on the cleaning up and getting the washing done before starting dinner for Jared. It's not been a mega exciting day really, apart from the fact that i am really starting to question if I'm pregnant. I am panicking a little as Lily is only just 4 months old. 4 MONTHS?!! This can't be happening! The last time i got pregnant was with Ethan, 5 years ago! I have been so careful. Just one occasion protection fails us and BAM! Jared is out at the moment jamming with a friend on his bass.

I better get on with the housework to finish it off before nipping to Tesco to get a pregnancy test. I really REALLY hope it's not positive. Baby number 3 can come next year!

Back to the grind.

Jared was out the door before any of us were up! I had no idea that he had left until i realised it was nearly 9am and he would have left a whole hour ago. I did take my time getting ready for the day. The house is just one big mess as i didn't clean up anything from the prep yesterday.

I did plan to get the bus into town to get some bits before heading out but took so long in getting ready that i missed the chance to get there early enough, so i walked it. Good too, as i felt the burn.

When i got home i started the tedious job of cleaning up..bah! I rung Pauline to ask if she would help with the school run as it was really windy and Lily is still under the weather. She said she was going to ring and ask if she could have him after school.... OF COURSE! Haha! So she did the school run for me and entertained him till bed time. I did manage to get a lot done. Pauline then offered to take him to the cinema too, so i had a little bit more time to get the house in order.

Jared and I had dinner together and he went straight out to ECDL course. I put Ethan to bed when he got in, Jared then came home and we spent the evening in watching some T.V. It was actually nice to spend some time together, it's been far too long since we just chilled together. Life can get too hectic sometimes!

My Lily Philly get's Blessed.

Today is a great day - Lily is being blessed. We had a bit of a lie in before getting up and getting ready for the day. It seems to take so long on a Sunday, especially as we are in the afternoon. I managed to time it with her nap so i could get ready uninterupted. Just as i finished though, Ethan came bounding in, waking her up! It seems to be his big brother role of doing that!

Mum and dad arrived with the masses about 11.55am, giving us time to do the last bit of prep. Mum is so funny - when she picked the cake up and put it in her trolley, she almost immediately dropped something on it, making a mess of the icing! Luckily it looks alright - she just smoothed it over. Bea was poorly so stayed home, so Pete came by himself. Petey also helped me with making the coldslaw before packing up the car to head down the church. Poor Lilsie's chesty cough seems to have hit it's peak and she really isn't well, but it's so nice to be together. If this is what it feels like now, how much greater will it be in the eternities?

When we got there, Nic and Nicola had arrived along with Uncle Mark and Lorriane and John.  It feels so good to have everyone there!! It's fast and testimony meeting too. Jared gave Lily a lovely blessing, stating the following things;
Heavenly Father is mindful of you and your passage into mortality.
The Lord has a great love for you.
He desires you to fufill your potential in this life.
Learn from your family and friends to help the people you will meet.
You will be blessed with health and strength.
You will be blessed with a keen mind, and if you keep a humble heart you will bless others.
You will lead a righteous life.
Look to examples among your family.

It was quite hard to write it all down, especially as Jared spoke so fast! In the circle, we had Jared, Grandad Evans and Grandad Bridgwater, Tadgi, Great uncle Mark, uncle John, Sam, Peter, Ben, Thomas and Great uncle Nick. There was a very sweet spirit there, and i would like to think that Philly had the privilege to witness the blessing. Both Jared and i bore our testimonies of the truthfulness of the Gospel. It was quite an emotional meeting for me, and i did get a bit upset when Peter Evans bore his testimony and Uncle Nick.

We moved onto Sunday School and Relief Society before setting up the hall for food. I have to say, Cheryl's lesson was brilliant, talking about the Christmas Devotional given last year by the General Presidency of the Church. What a blessing it is to have the knowledge of what Christmas is. I am definitely going to focus my attention on Christ more attentively this year.

We set up the tables and food, and had a brilliant time! It was so good to be all together on this day. Mum and dad chilling in the house, waiting to drive to the chapel;

;

Rachel looking totally hot;

Lily's Cake! You can't tell that it smudged. Good cover mum!;

Cuddles with cousins;

 

All the Evans/Branston men!;

Those funny Bridgwater people!;

 Silly pouting!;

 Rees and Ethypie;

 Abi was trying to hang Rachel!;

 All the girls bar one;

 Some of my lovely friends;

 My second set of parents;

Pauline and her dad. He bought me the biggest hamper of goodies for Lily!;

 Abi looking very natural!;

After cleaning up, everyone went their seperate ways home. I am really looking forward to getting together at Christmas. Family is so important. I didn't bother cleaning up after emtying the car, it can be done tomorrow. Time for bed!

Getting ready for tomorrow...

It's the last day (hopefully) of Jared working on his law open book exam. I help by getting out of his hair for the day! I didn't get up till 9am, i am seriously just knackered. There is a slight worry of being pregnant right now, so the thought of doing this while being pregnant is scary. Fingers crossed i'm just over reacting...

Anyway, i took the kids down the chapel to clean the loos as they need a clean. Obviously picking a key up on the way from the lush Katie Taylor. I don't think they got cleaned last week, so they are extra grimey. I gave up after 10 minutes as Ethan was running riot and Lily was screaming. The only way i can do this is help from Pauline! So i get the kids back in the car and drive up to Paulines house to plead for some help! We decided to get the rest of the blessing stuff, so i drove to Aldi and Asda to get the last bits. It's just so busy on a Saturday. I wanted to go early, but just couldn't get out of bed. Lily is poorly too, poor bubsie! You get the usual grumps moaning about not getting in the queue soon enough..etc. I wish that was the only trial i had to face!

Once we had finished the shop, we stopped back to Paulines to have some lunch. Yummy pasta bake! Ellen Jones has started a book club, so we had a good look at the books available on the top 100 reading list by the BBC. Looks like it's going to be 'The grapes of wrath' as our starter book. Need to have it read by the end of January to have a meeting to discuss it. Exciting! Pauline said she has always wanted to be in a book club!

We left Ethan with Peter - he is not having a good day today :( - and headed down the chapel to clean the loos. We took it in turns of holding Lily, shes just not well and wants to be held, bless her. The HOV presidency were there too setting up for the Christmas party tonight. Once we had that done, we headed to my house to drop off the food bought, drop the key back to Kate's and then back to Paulines to chill for a bit. Pauline came with me to help get the kids ready as i put some make up on. I look half dead without it.

The party was really fun. Morgan Howells was doing some kids games while the adults sat at their tables. Santa came and visited, giving out gifts and we ate some food together before the cabaret started. It was cute! And best of all, no one asked me, 'what are you doing here?' Horray! Here's some of the shots from the night;

 We set up the tables for the baby blessing so it doesn't have to be done tomorrow. In between i was swinging Ethan around - he loved it until i swung him by his legs, scaring the daylights out of him and causing him to cry for Nanny. My bad!

Pauline kindly followed me to Tesco to get some bits - she stayed in the car with the kids as i nipped in. I then came home to Jared who had just finished his law exam. He put Ethan to bed while i settled a snuffly Lily. He watched MoTD as i sat in bed blogging. We have a big day tomorrow! :)

Chillin with my babes!

Jared took the car to Cardiff today to help him get back in time from Uni to study, so i stayed at home with the kiddies. I did sleep in till 9ish as the kids last night were up and down like nobody's business! I am so tired, getting up was a killer! Anyway, I got the kids washed and dressed, put Lills down for a sleep and cleaned the house up a bit. The washing pile always gets massive when i leave it a day or two. Annoying! On the plus side, Ethan and I made some cakes together. He desperately wanted one but we had to leave for school. It is really cold today, but dry, so we are walking to school instead of calling on a lift. He cried and cried at the thought of going to school, telling me, 'Ethan said no! No school!' Poor boy! He does love it when we get there though!

His little legs can't walk the 2 miles to school, so i managed to balance him on the foot rest of the buggy while Lilsie is sat in the seat. The tears stopped immediately! It was a good walk, a heck of a lot easier than walking it on Monday. I suppose my fitness is getting a little better. I walked back home to find Jared was back studying. I had lunch with Lills before doing some more washing and cleaning up. I did spend half an hour lying on the bed with Lills as i am so tired! She went down for another nap. If i knew Jared wasn't up to his eye balls in studying, i would have made him go and i have a little sleep!

It's amazing how quickly i can get Ethan from school without having Lily with me! We were in and out like a flash. I stopped in at home to check if she was still sleeping then went with Ethan to poundstretcher to get some cutlery and plates for Lily's blessing on Sunday. He is so good. He was looking at the toys asking for a present, and when i said no, he just accepted it. He's such a good boy. I love my kids so much.

When i got in, i started dinner and had a chill with the family before they went to bed. I have a goal of getting 10 items on ebay a day, so i did that too while Jared continued to study. It feels so nice having the house in order. Jared went and picked up a DVD of Harry Potter to watch together. It seemed a little pointless as he doesn't understand what is going on as he's forgotten what's happened, but it was nice to fill him in on the way. It's weird too, as the last time i saw the last film, i was due with Lily and Philippa was in the cinema with her parents while i was with mum. That was the last film she ever saw.

We went to bed late and although ive done well on the diet, i didn't run. Feel a bit bad for not doing that. We spent some time in bed putting people we know into the houses of Hogwarts. It was funny! Poor Lilies has a bad chest too, i hope it clears up soon. :(

Adventureland...again!

Jared's not on placement today so i could give him some space, i took the tiddlers to adventureland. We did get up super late - these wakeful nights are just so tiring! Anyway, i was there for 11am and had packed Ethan a lunch so i could take him straight to school.

He loves it there with the other kids, but if he has a run in with one of the other children, that's it. He will follow the kid around to almost provoke an attack and then come to me crying if he gets it. He's such a tinker like that! As i sat and watched, i heard a group behind me talking about religion, particularly J.W.'s and the Mormons. Some were not so kind about us, but one stood out to me inparticular. She said she wished that they had knocked on her door years ago. Anyway, the conversation changed and i sat with Lily watching Ethan. A little while later, she came to me with her little son who had run over to me. We got chatting and got onto the topic of religion. She said she knew Emma Jane and Portia and said they were women of God. It was so interesting to find someone who wanted to find the truth, but didn't really know where to turn. She attends her Presbyterian Church and said she was feeling complete, but i don't believe her as she still has so many questions. It was nice to come across someone who wants to know God personally and figure out what he wants of us. She told me her family think she is mental and that her friends are anti- God. I'm sure i will cross her path again soon and invited her to church. I suppose we will see.

The time just flew by and before i knew it, i was bordering on being late for school, so i dropped tincer off and drove home to do a bit of house work. I started to work on selling Philippa's clothing on ebay, but Lily had other plans! Before long i was getting Ethan from school. I made a quick stop at Aldi as they have some special buys in on thermal clothing (perfect Christmas presents for Jared!). I did get him to try it on though, so it's not really a surprise. He told me to run anymore purchases by him first. Haha!

Peter, Pauline and Sam stopped over for a bit, bringing over some advent calenders for us. Lily was on my lap when Peter called out to her, using Philippa's name. He said she is so like Philly as a baby. I want her here with us :(

I cooked dinner, tried to get Ethan to settle to bed without much luck, listed 10 items on ebay and worked out! I also washed up, cleaned up, settled Lily to bed and blogged! Jared is downstairs watching Questiontime, hopefully he will come to bed soon.

I have binged on so much chocolate today, it's not even funny. I am currently 10st 12lbs and i want to be 9st 5lbs. If i get to 10st by Christmas, i will be one happy girl. I've got to push myself and get some proper self disipline in my life again!

Ikea but no Techniquest!

Today I'm spending the day with Pauline. There are strikes going on, so Ethan has no school today. The plan was to make a stop at Ikea, Techniquest and then Macro. I got up quite early (well, early for me!) and fitted the food shop in before getting Pauline. I felt quite impressed as i managed to put it all away as well before picking her up.

The journey down was fast and we stopped first to get some lunch. It was so busy as most schools were closed because of the striking. It was nice to spend some time together, as i feel Pauline want's to talk about Philippa and the things surrounding her death. I find it helps me a lot. They have been so kind to me, even when i don't deserve it. The beauty of Pauline is that she doesn't even realise how good she is and how she never thinks of herself. She always puts others first.

We walked around the market place and bought a few bits and pieces before paying and driving to Techniquest. It turned out to be a bit of a nightmare as the tunnel to techniquest has closed - i don't know why, and as it's the only way that i know to get there, i had to plug the sat nav in. It was driving me all over the place, Lily was screaming, Ethan needed a wee...etc. So we decided to just go straight to Macro. It worked out the best as it was nearly 4pm when we got there and Pauline was going out a t 6pm.

I have to say, Costco is miles better than Macro! We bought the plates and bowls for the blessing along with some other nibbles. As Ethan didn't get to play at Techniquest, Pauline bought him this funny voice changer. He walked round the store with it in his hand, calling to everyone. He does this funny thing where he doesn't like other people looking at him, despite him being so loud. He turns away making a noise of disgust. Funny boy! We spent time in the car on the way home talking and crying. It's so hard to see through the sadness sometimes.

I dropped Pauline home and prayed that Lily would just go to sleep, which she eventually did. I made tea, unpacked the goods from the day and chilled a little with Jared as he watched a footy match. I also cleared the camera of photo's ready to sell. I could make a bit of money! Again, going to bed far too late! I don't know why i continually do it to myself!

Staying in allllll day!

Peter and Pauline offered to take Ethan to school and pick him up, so i managed to stay in all day! I didn't really do anything really interesting, but i did take some pictures with the kids when Ethan finished school for the day;