A whole 1 today

It's the little lad's birthday today :) I can hardly believe how quickly this past year has gone. I've spent all day today thinking "This time last year...." and hating that I had to be in school with the nasty teenagers. Thought about phoning in sick and having a fun day with Conor but couldn't bring myself to do it. What a chicken! Anyway, due to being at work today we had a family party for him on Saturday - see pics below. He was totally oblivious, but Patrick loved it, especially the cake! The candle was blown out about 4 times! We hadn't too many presents - it seems such a waste when he'll play with all Patrick's toys, but Patrick did choose some little aeroplanes I think he rather fancied for himself! And daddy chose a fab red fire engine with LOTS of noises! So everyone was happy. And of course I baked the obligatory cake, complete with pink icing (Patrick's choice) and sprinkles. Can't wait to watch him grow more this year.

Do they look like trouble in years to come or what?!!

Michael will kill me for putting this in! Or he would if he ever logged on here to see it! But I thought I better prove we exist as a family! Right, off for an episode of the West Wing and then to finish packing for my very exciting trip to Annie's tomorrow. Am positively giddy at the prospect!

A little phrase

"I wish...." This is a phrase we've been hearing a LOT from Patrick lately. It doesn't seem to matter exactly what it is that he sees, it's more to do with the fact that he isn't doing it or doesn't have it! Although the lines about the aeroplanes and trains are pretty much standard issue. These things he really does wish for all the time! If only I didn't have a real job to do I'd take him on the blue train to the airport to see the planes every day!

Little man! He's growing up too fast to keep track of :( I am totally going to miss both of my boys when nasty school starts again.

Concentration

Nanny and Grandpa bought Patrick the most amazing Lego knights' castle for Christmas. I actually think on Christmas Day it was Michael who had the most fun building the castle, but since the rush of Christmas has passed, Patrick has played with this so meticulously. Maybe I'm wrong, but I would never have expected a 3 year old to talk to me so intently about the good knights and bad knights, making sure they're wearing the right armour and holding the right flags. Nor did I expect such a vivid imagination - he instigates little fights between them all, including the horses, who have a much more vital role in medieval battles than I had previously thought!! Shows what I know!

I could watch him play this for hours. He gets so totally engrossed in his own little world, and I can hardly think this amazing little boy was my tiny baby just a few years ago. He is just a total joy (most of the time!) and I'm so thankful we get to keep him:)

As for the other one, he wants to feed himself!

'Nuff said!

Nearly forgot...

Michael's cousin phoned tonight and asked me to do photography for his wedding! In April!! Yikes! That's not even 4 months away. How shall I ever clock up enough worrying and anxiety about this in such a short time space? Am equally giddy and panic stricken at once!!!!!

Mischief!

This boy is going to be a hoot! Already we can see the glint of trouble in his eyes. You know, the one that means he's about to be up to no good. There will be tears a-plenty (mostly from me, I'm sure, but no doubt a fair few from the older brother too). I'm sure there will be trips to A&E once he gets going on his very cute feet. And I know already I wouldn't have it any other way. Little finger, round and wrapped are the words that spring to mind when I look at that cheeky face :)

(And before the grandmother berates me again for not taking enough pictures of Patrick, I would advise her to check back here tomorrow!)

To resolve or not to resolve...?

That's one of the questions I've been asking myself today. Should I resolve to do x, y and z and heap pressure on myself to achieve something, only to feel guilty in a fortnight when I've still achieved nothing? Or should I not bother, thereby putting no pressure on myself to achieve anything in particular, and gaining a huge amount of smugness when I actually do something I'm proud of?

Any help here would be much appreciated!! I'm thinking option B looks good for now, although I really must resolve not to eat so many crisps in one sitting again after suffering terrible heartburn all day today! Oh well, it could have been worse:)

Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year. We had a great time with family and catching up with friends who were home for the holidays. Santa was very good to everyone, although both Patrick and Conor were blighted with coughs and infections galore (nothing new there then!) Antibiotics all round, and an extra glass of wine for mum to help her cope, hurrah!!

Anyway, this is just another quick post with some pics. Glad to say I have actually done some of my lovely Christmas book - thanks mainly to Annie's promise of wine and chocolate ha ha. And a few faves from Christmas day - no tinkering with the photos, just to show you that I do take snapshots too!

Happy New Year:)

 

A very quick post

Just wanted to post these few pictures before I go and make mulled wine for our open house this evening. Yesterday was Patrick's nativity in nursery - possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen! Patrick was a shepherd - tea towel and all!! Although from the look on his face throughout the entire performance it looks like it's going to take more than the Glory of the Lord to put a smile on his face! Not once did he smile - I think he was really concentrating on doing everything right.

And one for Jo - my fab new Cath Kidston mobile!! How cool is this?

Cutie

These are from a session I did about a month ago. Look how cute that little guy is!

And how in love with him is his dad?!

And his sister was pretty cute too!

Just a layout

I've been in a real scrap rut recently - probably brought on by lack of computer for photo editing/proofing and lack of internet access to my fave scrappers for inspiration. So this is just one layout that's been lying on my desk for weeks just waiting for the opportunity to be posted!

I'm totally loving the time I have at home with the boys right now - it's such a contrast to the chaos and antagonism of school and it really makes me feel like this is what I'm supposed to be doing with my life. Just being mum watching the two of them just being themselves. It's going to be gone before I know it, I'm sure. And this is why I scrap it:)

I need a push

I made this fabulous little book precisely 15 days ago and this is as far as I've got! I was full of great intentions to be completing a page a day about the things that I love about this time of year and while I've taken a few pictures I've done nothing else :( Please give me some get up and go to get cracking on this. The funny thing is I really want to do it. I even have a pile of supplies on my desk ready and waiting to have their destiny fulfilled, but I just can't seem to get going. Help me out of this rut! If not for me, for the sake of the BasicGrey Christmas papers!!