Our Halloween 2015

Here are a few photos from our Halloween, we spent the evening round my parents and all dressed up (apart from my dad).



My mums homemade Halloween style chocolate cake (was lovely)

 

Ben was a pumpkin (from Sainsburys) and I was a cat.

 



 

On the Friday before Halloween Ben and I decorated these gingerbread biscuits which we picked up from Morrisons whilst doing our weekly food shop. 

 

I love it that Ben can now start doing more things himself, going to aim to do some more crafty things with him, and he's already done his first picture at Nursery.

 

Hope you all had a good Halloween, how did you spend it?

Menorca Holiday 2015 - The Second Week



So I know this post has been a long time coming, as I said in my previous post now Ben is attending pre-school I have more time. He's there as I'm writing this post, and I've just done loads of housework, and now have 40 minutes before he needs picking up.

 

So these are some photos from the second week of our holiday, all the way back in June. But I have still decided to post them, as some of you may be looking into where you would like to visit next Summer.

 

Where are you thinking of going on holiday next year, we're thinking Turkey or another Spanish island.

Update #4

I have totally been slacking on the blogging since I went on holiday! I've not really had any enthusiasm to blog, but I'm hoping that is back now.

We had a lovely holiday, and I will be doing blogposts on that soon.

Since we got back (and whilst we were away) Ben has been having sleep issues as well as attachment issues. I'm actually thinking it may be time to drop his nap, as I struggle every day to get him to have one, and then it's a struggle at night to get him to sleep. For example yesterday he finally dropped off just after 3PM, then woke up after an hour, then managed to fall asleep on me downstairs, of which I left him there till I needed the toilet, haha! But then he didn't fall asleep till 10PM, and still woke up at 7:30AM today. He is tired if he doesn't nap, but I figured he will get used to it eventually, and hopefully go down easier at night. I'm thinking about introducing quiet time instead, where I'll leave him in his bedroom for an hour on his own with some books and toys, so I can get things done like housework or blogging, or a workout if I'm really lucky (these have also gone out of the window due to lack of time).

To help me with my blogging I have purchased a laptop, so I can blog downstairs from the sofa if Ben is being a good boy and entertaining himself - we will see how this works out, when I get back into it fully next week.

Just as I actually want to blog we're off on another holiday in just under a month, back to France, so I will be taking a break then. And there is no internet access, as it's Steve's parents house, so will be nice to get away from the Internet for a while, sometimes you just need to switch off!

Now off to get Ben up, as he's obviously not going to nap today, he has always been one for not sleeping much.

Update #3

As I haven't done an update post in a while, and am just in the mood for talking I thought I'd do one.

I'll start off with my job situation. I said in my last update post about my job no longer existing, so we all had a vigorous interview process to go through. I actually came 2nd out of those that applied for my department, meaning I got the job. However I decided not to accept the position as Team Manager and will be stepping down to a General Assistant come the beginning of June.

The main reason for this was because of Ben - he is my priority right now. I work because I have too, we can't survive on just Steve's wages and I like having a bit of money of my own. I also would love to have another baby, preferably sooner rather than later, but I have to work Steve around as at the minute he doesn't want another baby. But I am so so broody. So basically the new role would have included a LOT more paperwork than what I do now - which is basically nothing. And I would be expected to stay on and help on deep cleaning Sundays, and if I had to get some paperwork done, and hadn't managed it during the day I would have to stay. I don't want to go a whole day without seeing Ben, and I definitely would not have the energy to do that when and if I am pregnant again. So myself and the store and personnel managers had a good discussion and decided it would be for the best if I step down.

All I can think about right now is our holiday to Menorca, it's come around so fast and is now just 2 weeks away. The spare room is a mess with our suitcases and holiday stuff on the floor in there. But I will be packing at the end of the week, as I like to be organised, and then can focus on housework the week before. As I have to come back to a clean house after our holidays.

Something else I'm really excited about is a trip to Wembley a week today! I do support Norwich City, and cannot wait to go watch us in the play-off final against Middlesbrough. We did brilliant against Ipswich the past 2 Saturdays, Games that were more than just a Derby for both teams, thankfully we came out on top, and it was totally deserved we played better than them - also finished above them in the league, and have now beaten them 3 times and drawn once this season! I have just been and fished out my banner that I've had, as we've had many ups (and some downs) since I have been a supporter, so I've had this banner a while. My sister is sorting out confetti and inflatables. It is just going to be the most amazing day. My mum is babysitting Ben, as she's the only one available to, Steve's parents are off on holiday themselves on Friday.

The next few posts on here are going to be all holiday related, once they're done I won't be scheduling any more for when we are actually away, but when I'm back you can expect a few holiday posts of what we've done, probably some tips for travelling with a toddler on a plane, and a hotel review.

Update #2

I thought I would write a little update post today, it's actually Sunday night, and I've just put Ben down to sleep. And I'm writing this on my tablet, Steve's in the bath, so it's nice and quiet as I haven't got the TV on.

Firstly, we're going through a management restructure at work, and as I'm a supervisor I have to go through tests and an interview, to apply for a Team Leader role. I completed this about a week and a half ago, and am so glad it's all over and done with! As we've known about it coming for around a year, and has always been at the back of my mind, even though I tried to block it out. Because of this I'm also at risk of redundancy although I am hoping that it won't come to this if I don't get the Team Leader role. As we do have a lot of temp staff and people of temp contracts of working more hours, so right now I'm thinking positive, and Ill just step down to a general assistant. But we don't get told anything else until 16th March and I am actually on holiday that week, so won't know till the week after.

On a positive side of things we booked our first family holiday with just the 3 of us. Yes we have taken Ben to France twice, to stay in Steve's parents house, with them, but we really wanted to spend time away in a hotel, just the 3 of us, and Ben can have fun. We are going to Menorca in June for a couple of weeks, and I cannot wait! Now we've finally booked it, I can't stop thinking about it, and already thinking about packing! But packing involves a lot when you have a toddler, and also a night and morning of travelling. The hotel is totally child orientated, with a great looking splash pool, kids club, soft play area, and outside play area too. And the reviews are great, the restaurant even has it's own little child buffet. And the restaurant itself is actually meant to be getting refurbished ready for the Summer as well.

I'm also excited to go out with my mum and sisters, and Ben, to celebrate my mum's birthday, next Monday. And then my sister and I are taking Ben to a soft play centre the following day, hopefully I can get some photos of him there to share with you.

Happy New Year and 2015 Resolutions

I'm sitting typing this out on my tablet, hoping it comes out okay, as I haven't done it before.

Would just like to say Happy New Year to you, and hope you all have a great evening and day tomorrow. I've put Ben to bed, although he is still awake as I type, so am just relaxing and finishing off my cider and also going to have some left over chocolate tort that my mum gave us.

Now on to my resolutions.

1. Be more organised, I've ordered my diary from amazon, just waiting for it to arrive, it's  an A5 day per page so I can write a nice long list of everything to do that day.

2. Keep up with my blog, as I think I've been quite good this year, but want to grow more, and branch my posts out a bit.

3. Bake more, I've loved the baking I've done in the lead up to Christmas, and want to do more throughout the year.

4. Eat healthier and cook more, I ordered a slowcooker today, and also a recipe book to use with it.

5. Work out, I think this is going to be in the form of youtube videos, I may also buy some DVDs. I really want to tone up, and lose a little bit of weight as well.

6. Be a good mum, I had this last year as well, but Ben is basically my life, and I love seeing him becoming a little boy, and teaching him new things. Although I in visage that this will be a tough year with the terrible twos, potty training and transferring to a bed.

7. Sort out the spare room and keep it tidy. It is a mess and basically has a load of junk in it. I get it tidy and then it all piles up again.

I'm off to watch James Bond Golden Eye now, the next posts will be our Christmas presents we recieved, sale shopping and a baking post.

Ben's First Time in a Paddling Pool

Whilst we were setting up for Mum and Dads surprise party Ben got to go in his new paddling pool (my sister bought it from Asda for £3), supervised by his Daddy. It didn't take very long for him to sit down (probably because it was really hot that day). He had great fun splashing around and got soaked!

His swimming costume and his matching jelly shoes are from Boots Mini Club.

Mum & Dad's Surprise 30th Wedding Anniversary Party

Mum and Dad's surprise party was great! They totally didn't have a clue whilst they were out with my mum's brother and his wife (in other words my aunty and uncle). My Aunty text my cousin and said :) It all went to plan, apart from my parents didn't go in the front door, they came all the way round the back and in the conservatory door. Even thought all the cars were for someone else doing something. We spent the afternoon decorating and setting up. The middle one of us 3 baked the cake and did most of he homemade food, whilst my other sister put up some decorations then went off to Sainsbury's with her boyfriend to pick up last minute food and paper plates and cutlery etc. Steve put together the outside table and chairs and cleaned them down, whilst I looked after Ben. And then I put up a few decorations, and helped organise the food etc. on the table.

I think the biggest surprise for mum and dad were that my cousins came (my dads sisters 2 boys who live around 3 hours away), they caught the coach up by themselves, it was lovely to see them again as well. And also my Aunty Sarah (dads sister) and Uncle Martin, who live in Singapore, and had said they weren't coming over till this week, so they didn't even realise they were in the country.

It was a lovely day seeing family members we hadn't seen for ages, some hadn't met Ben or even Steve.

 Dad came in first.

Then mum