Will it ever stop raining?!

We woke up this morning to rain. Again. All it has done the last few weeks is rain. My neighbor told me that it's meant to be like this for a few more weeks. It's so annoying! I had to get some things from Tesco and wrote a list out, but while pushing Lily around in the trolley, she ate my shopping list!! She hates sitting in the trolley and will only give it about 10 minutes before getting fractious. Shopping with kids is hard work. Ethan, bless him, is so good though. He's never been trouble shopping.

By the time i got home, it was 11.30am. Jared needed to do a run to the tip so he took Ethan with him. Ethan called down the stairs to me saying, 'MUM! I'm going to the tip, ok?' Haha. It's hard to remember some of the things he says to me through the day, i do want to try and document more of his cute sayings. He loves to say, 'this is just terrible' a lot. I don't know where he got that one from! 

I made lunch for everyone, while also unpacking and cleaning out the fridge. I just managed to squeeze food in for me too before doing the school run. Ethan shouts, 'no school!', and then every time i take him to the school gates he's running ahead of me. Crazy boy! 

Lily went for a sleep so i studied D&C 7 and part of 8, helped Jared print some labels off for the filing cabinet, put some dinner on and picked Ethan up from school. He was with another boy called Kayden. They have a love hate relationship, and Ethan was asking him to be his friend where Kayden was ignoring him. Hahaha. He is obsessed with who his friends are. When we ask him about uncle Sam, he says, 'NO! HES NOT MY FRIEND!'

Dinner time is so stressful in our house, and i really need to get more patience with it. Ethan always grumbles at everything i make, no matter what it is (bar chips and sauce). Tonight i'd made a creamy casserole with mash and green beans. He screamed about it for a while, before he finally ate it. We try to ignore it and after a bit of reverse psychology, he will eat it. I just wish he would get over the grumble bit and just eat! 

Jared had ward council tonight so i put the kids to bed. I lost patience with Ethan a few times as i wasn't listening to me and i always feel terrible afterwards. Parenting is so hard sometimes.  They both went to sleep like little angels, especially after last night. I just checked on Ethan and he was looking like this;

I'd better put him back in bed properly! As you can see, he's had a few wardrobe changes since going to bed. Haha. I sat and pinned a few things on pinterest before catching up on some blogging. 

I now must go and work out before it gets too late. I haven't run in months, so here goes. Hopefully if i can get it done in time to watch another episode of 24. That's what we eventually decided on last night.  

Cathy for dinner

I want to say that today has been exciting, but it hasn't. It has rained all day, constantly. I don't know why we haven't flooded yet? I am enjoying having Jared off from placement and having about to help get the kids up and ready for the day. He did a bit of work here before going to his mums to do some work. Ethan played with his trains and asked me to take some pictures. He is so cute;

Jared came home just before the school run, and i was able to put Lily to bed and just take Ethan. It's so much quicker to get him into school baby-less. They have become a little obsessed with safety at school, and it's now got to the point where we have to pass through 3 gates to get to the classroom, 2 of them locked magnetically. What the flip? Is danger really that serious around these parts? Two of the mums have asked me to go to the school quiz night on Friday, which is my ultimate awkward situation. I like to keep free from non-member social events, just as i feel so uncomfortable. The booze comes out, the loose morals/attitudes/clothing all comes out, and i don't know how to react?! So i said I'll see...

I wanted to study today, but didn't get the chance. By the time I'd made dinner, cleaned up and did some washing, Lily woke up. I just can't study with Lily about. She wants to be in my pocket!

After getting Ethan from school, Cathy Powles came for dinner. It was really nice to have her, and listen to her experiences in the gospel. She lost her husband in a climbing accident 22 years ago, so the grief side of losing someone is very real to her. We had a lovely evening together, and she offered to have us over next Monday, which i am excited about!

I don't know what got into the kids tonight, but neither of them would go to sleep. Jared and i cleaned up after dinner and Lily and Ethan were crying, out of bed, wanting attention..etc. Lily finally went down just after 9pm and Ethan has only just gone to sleep now!! 10pm!! He's so funny though, calling down, 'i love you mum!' He even gave Cathy a kiss and cuddle. Cute.

I was meant to work out tonight. I have a wedding on Saturday, and i have put on some pounds, surprise surprise. I am definitely doing LL again! Before going to bed, Jared has convinced me to watch some 24 with him. Bah..it's too far fetched for me. Oh well...

Sunday.

Today has been quite enjoyable, even if it wasn't something i looked forward to this morning. I was asked to do music time in Primary, and conduct. Hopefully there was someone to do sharing time.. Eeek.

Both kids ended up in with us early this morning, so after feeding Lily and putting her back in her cot, we all woke up at 8.30am. I haven't slept in that long in a long long time. Jared, however, was up and fully dressed, ready for the day. I must have been tired as i didn't hear the alarm or anything. Jared was so good to get up and sort the kids out while i finished off the last few bits for Primary. We made it to Church on time too. Yey!

It was a lovely sacrament meeting, with testimonies born. I even did mine. I've realised that i have just got to do it when i have the opportunity. No hiding away. That's not what a testimony is for. Primary went well too. June Jones came and did Sharing time, and it was brilliant. She really got the kids attention. Katie and Steve Taylor came in to offer support too, which was great. Overall, it went really well and i could see the kids had enjoyed themselves, which is the most important thing!

We headed straight to Peter and Pauline's for dinner. The boys love to play 'rugby' together;

Peter and Pauline went to see the Davies' as their father passed away last week, so we chilled at home. Ethan got a hold of my camera and took some photos;

Look at those lovely little toothypegs; 

He is just so cheeky!;

Sam is dating a girl in the Stake and she came up to visit that evening, so it was nice to meet her! Pauline did a nice big batch of pancakes. I ate 3. Hahaha.

We got the kids home and to bed and did a quick whip around to clean up a bit. I am so behind on my washing. Jared sat and watched the final of some football match. It's on the tip of my tongue, i just can't remember...anyway, Spain won. I was meant to be productive, but watched video after video on YouTube. It start at looking at funny gaffs and ended in watching Beyonce. Hahaha. I always dislike Sunday nights, it's like Monday is just minutes away .

 

Mountain Biking in the Forest of Dean!

Today is a day dedicated to fun! Jared is taking me out for the day, as it was my birthday earlier this week. We got up early, packed the kids bags, dropped them off at Peter and Pauline's before heading out to the Forest of Dean. Pauline took a shot of us just before we headed out;

It was a little stressful getting there as the route wasn't as easy to find. We did get there in the end! It was £20 for three hours, per bike. I'd never, ever done mountain biking before, so i did feel quite nervous, especially as i'd watched some of the videos on youtube. We were all ready to head out on our bikes;

We did a trail called the 'blue trail' that was meant to be the easiest one. It was so much fun. It took about an hour and a half to do the trail, with ups and downs all the way. I struggled to get up on some of the hills towards the end, and my bum was killing me! I'd forgotten how hard it is to ride a bike! The gears were a little confusing too, but i think i got there in the end. I didn't take the down hill parts as fast of Jared and the brakes weren't always so kind to me either, making my back tyres snake all over the place. On the first major down hill part, Jared confused the easier and harder track, telling me they were the other way round! I started snaking all over the place on the way down, and i am sure i was about to come off the bike just as i was able to get off it! I had to drag it down one of the dips as i just couldn't do it. Overall, it was class and i seriously hope we can do it again. Jared wanted to do the family trail, but i just wasn't up for it. My butt was killing, my legs were like jelly and i had no energy! I took my bike back and got the camera to get some shots of Jared;

 He loves it!;
 

 The mud goes right up your back and bum. It was so much fun!;

 

We had some dinner at the cute little cafe before heading back home;

We stopped back in at Peter and Pauline's to pick up the kids. Jared didn't reserve anything for dinner, even though we planned to go out for food that night, so me calling around to see if there was any room for dinner was in vain. Boo! I had a sleep too as i was exhausted! I shouldn't have slept so long as getting ready for dinner was a massive rush. We put the kids to bed, Peter and Pauline came over to babysit and Jared and I went to Cafe Rouge for dinner. It has to be on the top ten lists of eating out. They do a dish of Crispy duck, plum sauce and dauphinoise potatoes. Delicious!! It was such a nice night out!

It was a class day out, and when my head hit the pillow at the end of it, i was out like a light.

Lily's Eye Op

I was back down at the Glamorgan hospital today at the crack of dawn, ready for Lily's eye operation. I got up at 6.00am, and got ready as quickly as i could to leave. Typically, Lily decided to wake up at 6am too, looking for milk which i couldn't give her. I'd pre-packed everything ready, so i just grabbed the change bag and left. 

I love driving on a road when it's quiet. It was so nice and quiet, I'd miss the rush-hour completely! I arrived at the children's unit for 7.10am, which i was chuffed at. I am a bit rubbish at getting to places on time, and they had asked me to be there for 7.30am. Mind you, i did wake up 5 times last night in a panic that I'd missed the alarm. They did Lily's obs, before taking me to the ward to get comfortable. Her surgery was due at 9am (I was a little shocked at as i thought they would do it at 8am!) so i entertained her in the play room to keep her mind off the hunger. The anesthetist came to go thorough a few things, like procedure and what will happen. I think they expected me to be more worried, but i have really learnt that there are much worse things that can happen.The consultant i saw yesterday came to mark her forehead so they knew which eye had the foreign body;

It wasn't long before they lead me up to theatre and into the room where they knock you out! I sat on a stool with Lily in my arms while the anesthetist placed the mask over her face to send her to sleep. She didn't like it at all, and as i held her tight to me, she thrashed and cried! It broke my heart a little! She slowly got less fractious and more still, till eventually she went completely still. I had to lift her on to a giant bed, kiss her and leave the room. That was a hard bit. Leaving my little baby girl. 

I was taken back down to the ward and read a book, although i didn't really take much of it in. I got the call to go back up an hour later, so thankfully i didn't have to wait too long. When we arrived back, i was put in the waiting room while they went into the recovery bay to get her. Well, i could hear her before i even saw her. She was SCREAMING! She caught a glimpse of me thorugh the doors and it set her off even more. The anesthetist came and told me to go in to get her, so i did. One of the nurses in there started to freak out, to get me to leave. She told off the nurse that was with me! I was told i could go in?! What a freak. Anyway, i grabbed her and got the hell out of there. The nurse told me not to worry about the other woman. Stupid woman. 

We headed back to the ward where Lily was so groggy from the anesthetic. Poor baby. She just cuddled into me, and i breast fed her. She was so tired, she fed both sides before falling to sleep. It took a few attempts to put her down, and she eventually did;

They had to do four obs checks on her to make sure she wasn't reacting to anything, before i was allowed to go home. Only the children get food for free, so parents who stay with the kids have to cater for them selves. The cook who was taking orders saw me breastfeed, and said i could have some dinner too! Whoop! Another plus to breastfeeding. I love it! So Lily and i got to munch some chicken pie, potato and veggies. 
 
I was so impressed with the timings of the nurses - i was able to leave the hospital by 1.30pm. I'd told Jared i would be back by 4pm. Royal Glamorgan knock spots off Prince Charles. Everything was cleaner, friendlier, more professional and organised. By the time I'd left the ward, it was full. There was one mum i really liked who i had a good chat to her about biting. It was nice to know that you're not the only one to experience it. Another mum opposite me was a classic Welsh person, asking everyone what they were in for. Nosy as heck!

I got home about 2.30pm to an empty house and put Lilsie down for a sleepy. Jared rung to tell me that 15 minutes after dropping Ethan off at school, he had come off a bike in the playground and hit his head. It really was quite a bruise! 

As i didn't know what time i would be home, Jared rung his mum and asked if she would make some tea for us. She is so good to us. She even went shopping to get some food in to cook for us when she was going out for a main meal with Peter. I got the impression it hasn't been a good day for her. To see the suffering relived, i would do anything. Anything to see that pained look go and that longing to see Philly again. What a test this life is.

When we got home, it was a race to get the kids to bed. Etan is so active and lively, by 6pm we are both so desperate for him to go to bed! He of course will object, and after many tears from both of them, all falls silent. Ethan will come into me while I'm typing to give me stickers, and tell me, 'it's a surprise for you.' Cute. Lily is still chuntering away in her cot, half talking and half crying. I just know she wants me to pick her up!

After a quick bath, i typed up today's events (i felt i should document this day!). Now i must get dressed, clean up the house, pack the kids bags and pack my stuff ready for tomorrow. AND fit in a church study, if i can. Jared is taking me to the Forest of Dean tomorrow to do some biking for my birthday, and Peter and Pauline are having the kids. Good luck to them, i know i am going to enjoy my day!

Rain!

Just an average day again today. Ethan, Lills and i walked to the Castle Park park to play, but didn't stay long as it's just a minging park! I don't know why the council haven't cleaned it up. It's rusty, dirty and impractical.

I put a film on for Ethan so i could get some jobs done. I find that if i leave a day of washing, it comes back on me two fold! So i had 3 loads to get through and onto the line before it rained. We had lunch together before going to school. He loves it there, running ahead of everyone to get inside. I don't get a kiss at the door or anything!

Lills always has a good nap during school, so i got to finish off my chores, get some photo's onto the computer and study the scriptures. I want to form some good habits again and increase my spirituality, then increasing my patience.

I picked Ethan up from school, before making a visit to Matalan to get him some sandals. He suffers with hot feet, like me. :)

Jared came home a little earlier, which is always a nice surprise. We served dinner up before getting them ready for bed. I sorted through the mass of washing (putting away..etc) while Jared got Ethan in his jammies. The European Championships is on at the moment, so there is a few matches each night. That meant FHE was put off until another night..hmmm. Hahaha.

I did waste my evening; i got sucked into YouTube rubbish, watching gross videos of popping spots, emptying ears..etc and doing a bit of surfing. Total waste of an evening! I was meant to work out too, but didn't. I NEED TO DO IT! Tomorrow night Jared is at a meeting, so i will do it then! Seriously, the window of getting really trim before starting my course in the Autumn is getting smaller....

Start all over again...!

Try, try again! Blogger has changed too?! I've realised that i just have to leave a day if i don't have time to write. It's more important to get a few days down than non at all!

So today i attended 'Stake Sister's day'. Jared needed to compile his portfolio for the end of his masters, so Peter offered to have him. I of course, had to take Lily with me. We were all meeting at the chapel to car pool and even when i think of it now, i still cringe - i was reversing back and didn't see another car there (Stupid blind spot!) and it happened to be Ann Davies' car. Thank goodness i saw it just in time. I was inches away! I cringe, feel a flush and mass embarrassment when i think of it right now! I rode along with Sian Jenkins, Rebecca Pulman, Leah Foster and Victoria and Kerry Madden. It was a fun journey! :-)

Sister's day opened with a talk from one of the R.S. Presidency on perfectionism. It was good, altohugh i didn't get to listen to most of it as Lily was shouting so loud! Haha. We then went on to do either Zumba or an Latin American dance. I opted for the latter, as there was more space. That was good too. For lunch, people had made some of their own dishes to feed everyone. It was lovely, but i couldn't eat any of it. I need to lose weight! So Julie and I went to Tesco to get some more appropriate food. After lunch, we had a swap shop and a class on origami. It looked like fun, but as Lily decided to skip her nap, she was desperate to sleep, so i spent most of my time walking her round.

We got home about 4.30pm. It had just rained all day. Stupid British weather! When i got home, Jared was desperate for food and a break from Ethan. Ha! Being with the kids all day is hard sometimes! I whipped up some dinner before nipping out to pay the rent and finish off some of the finishing touches for Father's Day tomorrow. It's exciting!

I had to finish off my talk for tomorrow too, which i am nervous as heck about. I don't like public speaking! Ethan and Jared played out in the rain, Jared on Ethan's scooter and Ethan on his bike, riding down the lane. He loved it! Jared is such a good dad. I tried to facetime Thomas too to wish him Happy Birthday but he's not answering. Anyway, time for bed. I am so ready for sleep!