Reasons To Be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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It’s been a while since I showed my face on R2BC. It is still my favourite linky but I haven’t joined in because, for a variety of reasons, I didn’t think it was appropriate (some weeks, I’ll confess, I just forgot) – I have written my posts in my head though so I was still getting my Cheerful fix!!

But I am back and raring to go with this week’s dose of cheeriness – it’s been an extra busy one this week and I’m going to sound like a total social butterfly. I’m not normally such a party animal – honest!!

1.

Twice this week the Smalls and I have enjoyed lunch out with some of our favourite people. Lunch out is always nice but it’s even better when you get to share it. I may have had a good giggle at other people being pushed around by Little Miss Bossy for a change: “No Megan, use you fork!” for example. And detailed instructions on how to play with one of those wooden bead roller coaster thingys because, you know, I’m sure Caius was going to do it all wrong…

2.

This weekend was one of family celebration and togetherness. It was Arthur’s birthday on the 1st, my Mum’s on the 6th and my sister’s on the 10th which meant that we needed to get together and have a bit of a party. Everyone came to visit and we had lots of food and lots of laughter – I love the chaos when everyone is here at once, it’s a special kind of madness that you only seem to get at family gatherings.

3.

Last Thursday I got to spend the evening with Caius, Liberty and her boyfriend having dinner and a couple of drinks in the pub. Nothing quite beats a grown-up meal out with your best friends and relaxing together afterwards talking bubbles.

4.

Friday night, Caius and I went to see Fascinating Aida‘s Cheap Flights gig in Telford and laughed ’til it hurt. Seriously, it was hilarious – if you get a chance to go see them GO GO GO!! Well worth it. Unless you are my mother, in which case don’t because you won’t approve. Don’t watch the video below either (if you are my mother, that is) because it is merely an example of why you don’t approve. Everyone else should watch it because it’s funny.

Reasons To be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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So much to be cheerful about this week! Where to start….

1.

Half-Term holiday antics

It was great fun going away with my parents and the Smalls for a mini get-away even if I did have to share a bed with Tori AND Arthur for a couple of nights! Tori in a caravan is like a whirlwind in a cupboard – she’s exhausting but very entertaining. It was lovely to catch up with my sister and brother-in-law too and we had a wonderful time at Paradise Wildlife Park seeing all our favourite animals and taking lots and lots and lots of pictures between us all!

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2.

Tomorrow is Tori Amos day!

As our joint birthday present Sy & I have been given tickets to see Tori Amos in concert, train tickets to get there AND a night in a hotel. All kid free. Just us. I am *so* excited I might just burst.

3.

I have my babies and they are happy and healthy.

They might keep me up half the night and drive me mad half the day but I love them and they make my world brighter, funnier, warmer and more exciting. I don’t know where I would be without them and every day I am thankful for every single sticky kiss, gleeful giggle and clumsy cuddle.

Reasons To Be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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1.

I had a brilliant day out with my Mum.

We went out for lunch at Nandos and then on to see The Lion King in 3D at our local cinema followed by a quick G&T in the pub whilst waiting for my Dad to pick us up!

It was good to have some time just us without the Smalls, the food was lovely and I got to see my all-time favourite film in all its cinematic glory – something I never thought would happen seeing as it originally came out when I was only six.

2.

I found some trousers that fit.

It took me ages because suddenly either I have shrunk or the standard length of jeans has got longer and almost every pair I tried on was massively too long. I’m sure I never used to have that problem!

3.

I had the urge to write something.

One thing my PND has done is take away my ability to write. Or rather my want to. Usually I have ideas and/or characters zipping through my head and I have at least one if not more WIPs on the go and notes building up about characters or locations etc. but just recently I have found myself losing all energy to write. For a few months now I have barely had the concentration or drive to write three complete sentences never mind chapters and although it was bugging me there didn’t seem to be anything I could do about it – I would try but just end up staring at the screen/paper and getting upset or frustrated at myself.

Then, the other day I was having a shower and poof! Two characters wandered into my head and I knew I had to get them down on paper. Hey presto! I am writing again – it’s only a short story idea, no grand novel plans, but it’s a start and it makes me feel like everything is on an up again.

Just because I wanted to pick up a pen to get an angel called Chastity out of my head and onto a page…

Reasons To Be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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1. Tori & Arthur are loving their playgroup.

For the last few weeks I have been taking the Smalls to Toddlers Plus once a week at my church and they both seem to love it. It is good for them to spend time with other kids and babies their age, have a good run round (in Tori’s case) and play with some different toys & books. Plus there is the added bonus for Mummy that afterwards they both like to have a massive nap!!

2. Arthur is trying so very hard to crawl and it’s adorable to watch.

3. I have my bookshelf back!

In the Den there is a bookshelf that was a bit of a mess and disorganised and I couldn’t really use it because there was a load of OH’s stuff in the way. This week on his day off we had a sort out and rearranged the Den and now I can get to and use my bookshelf again! I have had a sort out and dusted and rearranged it and just seeing all my books neatly up there at last makes me all fuzzy inside. I love my books.

Reasons to be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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1.

I saw my first ever ballet.

It was the English Youth Ballet production of the Nutcracker and for a production consisting of lots of very young boys and girls as well as a few older ones and 6 professional dancers it was brilliant. I went with my sister-in-law-to-be and my Mum and it was a lovely afternoon out (bar the fact that the backs of our chairs were kicked endlessly throughout the performance by the girls in the row behind…*grumbles*)

This all coming from the girl who said without any pussy-footing around that she hates ballet. I actually now quite fancy seeing a proper professional one some time – maybe I was a little hasty in my judgement afterall…

2.

I have discovered a love for cooking.

Meal planning, combined with my Day Zero challenge to cook every recipe in my My Daddy Cooks recipe book has lead to me trying out lots of new dishes recently and I have discovered a sort of calming peace in the chaos of cooking. I am not a tidy cook, nor am I particularly refined – my chopping is often ‘rustic’ and my presentation leaves a lot to be desired – but the results of my efforts are generally tasty and well recieved. Even when I’ve cooked things one or the other of us aren’t too keen on. We’re on a food discovery journey and it’s all good fun!

3.

I had a lovely afternoon out with Arthur

On Sy’s day off I took the opportunity to go out just me and Artie whilst Daddy had a day with Tori. We went and did a bit of shopping (Tori needed a new swimming costume) and then enjoyed a beautiful stroll along the side of the River Severn. We saw butterflies, bees, lots of pigeons, fish, a flock of Goosanders diving and fishing, some ducks, a very lovely Akita doggy and a friendly, spotty pony (who licked me. Twice.) It was very calm and peaceful and, as much as I love her to pieces, I enjoyed my couple of hours without Tori endlessly babbling away and needing to be entertained.

4.

Tori has rediscovered swimming

I used to take Tori swimming every week before Arthur was born but I’ve never felt brave enough to take the two of them together (I need at least one extra pair of arms before I try that) so she hasn’t been for quite a while. Now it’s the Summer Holidays though, so my Mum offered to come with me to the Tots Swim so we could take them both. Arthur wasn’t overly convinced but Tori (who was squeezed into her 9-12 month sized swimming costume – Bad Mummy!) absolutely LOVED it. To the point where her answer to ‘shall we get out now?’ was a loud, clear ‘No!’, over and over again!

She was doing a tiny bit of kicking and ‘doggy-paddle’ and loved bobbing around chasing the balls and floats that were provided in the pool. I can’t wait to take her again next week just because she seems to love being in the ‘splish-splash’ so much! (Not bad for a child who invariably used to scream the second she realised she was headed for a bath…)

Reasons To Be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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This week has been a good one So many things to choose from it’s hard to not waffle on forever!!

 

1.

We had a lovely family day out.

Yesterday we went to Wonderland in Telford as a treat for Tori’s birthday. She loved it – exploring the houses in the woods, going on the merry-go-round and the little train and being somewhere new and exciting full of interesting things to see. It wasn’t too expensive and it’s only a short train-trip and walk away. Can’t believe it’s taken us this long to discover it really!

2.

Tori is TWO!

Today is my little girl’s big day and she’s had a great time at home with her family – we have played games, read books, made pizzas and eaten lots of cake and strawberries.

Just perfect

3.

We visited the Sweet Pea Festival for the first time in years

The Sweet Pea Festival is held in our twon every single year and I think I have only ever been to it twice before in all the time we’ve lived here. It was nice to go and have a wander around, even though flower shows aren’t really my thing because our town is collectively quite proud of our Sweet Pea fame and the variations really are quite beautiful.

Arthur, however, slept through the entire experience…

Reasons To Be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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1.

Sy and I had some ‘us’ time.

On Tuesday Sy and I had our Alphabet Date ‘C’ and it was a ‘Child-free’ event. I feel a little guilty saying it was great to be away from the Smalls for a bit, but it was. It’s been a long time since Sy & I had the chance to go out just us and spend some time together doing something frivolous. We had a meal out, we saw a film, we had a quiet drink in a pub and we talked. It was lovely, and only once or twice did I have a mild fleeting panic that I had forgotten something important (namely a double-stroller containing two small children).

2.

My London Olympics 2012 Games Maker interview wasn’t a total disaster.

I had another child-free day this week but this time it was a solo adventure. I went to Warwick University for my Olympics Games Maker Selection Event and Interview. It was both exciting and scary and I will blog about it tomorrow but overall I enjoyed my day, the interview seemed to go well and my boobs didn’t leak embarrassingly at any point despite their first full day away from Arthur and his excellent emptying skills.

3.

MORE late birthday presents!

This is turning into the most spread out Birthday ever – I quite like it! Paul sent me a book he knew I really want to read and Sy bought me the most beautiful necklace that I have been eyeing up for months. I have been wearing it with pride ever since it arrived in the post.

4.

My little boy has cut his first tooth.

All the tears and pained wails have not been in vain – his first tooth has made its appearance. Poor mite is only 4 ½ months old and he’s been teething for weeks – chewing away on anything he could haphazardly get into his mouth (usually via his forehead, nose and chin) and drooling like a waterfall.

Randomly it’s not one of his front four teeth but one a bit further round at the top. Coz he likes to be different, our Artie

Reasons To Be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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1.

I had a great weekend.

Paul came to visit for the weekend and it was lovely to have a bit of a laugh and a long overdue catch up. It was also amusing to see just how instantly Tori had him wrapped around her little finger – and Arthur wasn’t far behind, he has clearly being taking notes from his big sister!!

2.

I am happy and healthy.

Yes I have my ups and downs but who doesn’t? All the resurgance of the Millie Dowler case has made me even more grateful for the simple fact that I have my life. She would be the same age as me now had she not been in that wrong place at the wrong time. It’s little details like that which bring things closer to home. And make you cuddle your little ones that tiny bit closer.

3.

Some late birthday presents.

Better late than never A beautiful personalised picture from Liberty and her boyfriend and some fab new kitchen scales from Sy. Though I am a little sad to retire my Mum’s old ones to the cupboard – it has been a constant in the kitchen for as long as I can remember.

Reasons To Be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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I’ve had a very up & down week this week so now is a good time to think of some cheery things:

1.

Arthur has started rolling.

He’s growing fast and now he has started his efforts to follow his big sister round. Chaos is on it’s way…

2.

Tori found her feet on a bouncy castle.

Giggle giggle. Boinga boinga boinga!

’nuff said…

3.

It’s Saturday.

Which means my friend from uni is coming to visit for the weekend and as I haven’t seen him for almost 18 months (!) we have lots to catch up on.

And thank you Michelle for running this linky every week – it picks me up when I’m down and reminds me to be grateful for all the little things xxxx

Reasons To Be Cheerful 1, 2, 3…

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1.

JC Camp was good fun

Nothing quite beats a bit of fresh air and some good friends around you. Our ‘When The Lions Roar!’ Camp was just that and Tori has only just stopped asking to put her welly-boots on and go outside to see Kim Woofwoof every morning so I get the impression she enjoyed herself.

2.

Spending time with friends

My best friend and her fiance (insert correct accent and number of ‘e’s here – I can never remember how to do it properly. Didn’t do French at school…) popped round the other day and we all took the Smalls to the playpark and had fun on the swings and stuff. Yes, all of us. You don’t think Tori’s the only one that gets to go on the slides and stuff do you? For a start it’s pretty hard for a not-quite-two-year-old to work a see-saw by herself…

3.

I’ve had a doggy-cuddle fix.

I’m a dog person but since leaving Uni and no longer being able to get to the rescue centre to volunteer every week/day I don’t get many opportunities to spend time with my favourite four-footed friends. This weekend fixed that and I thoroughly enjoyed my Staffy-cuddles with Kim and spending a bit of time with Kes & Wolfy too.

Kes

Wolfy

Me & Kim

And editing in a quick reason number…

4.

I won some flowers!

On last week’s R2BC Michelle ran a giveaway with InterFlora and my name got pulled out of the hat tonight. Hooray!!

It’s my birthday on Monday so I am going to count this as an early present

Thank you Michelle!! xxx