Conversation

Earlier today while tidying up Callum's bedroom.

Callum: I really love you Mummy.

Me: Aww thanks, I love you too.

Callum: I know, you always tell me. Will you marry me Mummy?

Me: Oh I'm too old to marry you.

Callum: But I love you lots and you always say that's important when you marry someone. I'm going to attempt to marry you.

Me: You know how you're not meant to marry certain people? Well Mummy's kinda count too.

Callum: Oh. OK... I still love you lots though.

Thank You For the Music (NaBloPoMo)

Music plays a big part in most peoples lives and it certainly does in ours. From when I was pregnant with Callum to today he has loved music and mostly it seems rock. Today while cooped up in bed (again!) I decided to look through the various online photo/video sites I have and came across some gems (well in my opinion) of Callum dancing.

First up we have Callum singing and dancing along to The Barenaked Ladies' rendition of Jingle Bells, this was in December 2006 so Callum would have been 3 and a half years old nearly. Even through the crappy recording no matter how many times I watch this it still makes me laugh and smile, it is so typical of Callum and his love of life and the energy he has an abundance of.



Now fast forward to November 2007 and we once again have Callum singing and "dancing" to Jingle Bells but this time on his musical keyboard. I never realised before the coincidence of these, nearly one year apart and in a way the same song. I'm now thinking I will have to do a yearly capture of Callum singing and dancing to Jingle Bells and I look forward to seeing how in a year he changes and grows up so much. It's sad to see but also wonderful, he is maturing and learning at such a fast rate that it is wonderful to have these moments on video to look back on. For that I am thankful.

NaBloPoMo

No this isn't the next stage of my insanity but instead a challenge I am taking up. Somewhere on the wonderful internet today I came across NaBloPoMo and the strange amalgamation of letters caught my interest so I found the official site and read about it. It sounded fun and maybe a way to lessen my boredom. So here goes. It seems as though for the month of December the topic is Thanks and I think that's a pretty good topic to discuss and talk about.

These last few days have made me realise even more than ever how thankful I am in having such wonderful, loving, kind, handsome, funny men/boys in my life. Yes I'm talking about my extremely handsome husband Daz and my dazzlingly beautiful boy Callum, or otherwise known as My Boys. These last few days I have been bed bound with a poorly leg (goodness knows what I've done but painful isn't as strong a word to use) and they have been a godsend. Daz has run around doing all mannes of chores, getting Callum to and from school, making me little food parcels, helping me to the bathroom and back and so on and so on. He even this morning before setting off on the school run for Callum before then making his journey into work brought me up a plethora of material to keep me occupied all day and not starving hungry or gasping for a drink, he even remembered my favourite dvd boxset (the Good Life). I've always known how lucky I was to meet Daz and marry him but I'm even more thankful today for that. As for Callum he has been his usual mischievious self. This morning after he was dressed ready for school he came into the bedroom, crept into bed with me and then brought out his Top Gear Cool Wall book and stickers, "This will help you feel better Mummy, which cars do you want as yours?" We spent the next 15 minutes discussing why the cars should go on the cool wall or the uncool wall. Top Gear I salute you (once again!) in your wiseness in bein able to keep a five year old and a thirty-five year old entertained, I am indeed thankful to you for that!

This entry is probably a bit random and bizarre, I'm tired and can't think too well but hopefully over the next few days I will be able to be more cohesive... and be able to type and spell better.

For now I'll leave you with my little thank you photo, My Boys! I love you with all my heart and more.

Faster Than A Speeding Train

Cuddles and Sleep

That's how quick this year is going. It seemed like only yesterday that it was the beginning of the school summer holidays and I had high hopes of doing a weekly post update of what we were doing. Yeah that kind of didn't work did it? Next it'll be Christmas and New Year and we'll all be wondering where the year went.

So what has been happening lately in the White House? Well...

We had a pretty good six weeks summer holiday, sure the weather wasn't brilliant but we got time out in the garden, managed to have a few BBQ's and some visits out.

We also got a puppy! Yes you read that right. My parents bought me back a cross springer spaniel/border collie puppy from Ireland as a birthday present for me and a play friend for Callum. He's a complete monster but so adorably cute you can't stay angry with him for long. We've called him Dash which seems very suitable as him and Callum do dash all over the place. We've had a few jealously problems with Callum but they mostly seem smoothed over now I no longer have Callum telling me I don't love him as much as the dog. Hello buddy the dog comes lower down the pecking list than the fish, bottom of the pile he is! It's cute to watch the two of them out in the garden playing, Dash loves Callum to go down the slide and then he can jump on Callum. I don't know if my flowers are enjoying Dash though a few of those have been dug up and flung around in a mad frenzy. I think over the years Callum and Dash will become the best of friends, they are already teaming up on me when it's time to come in from the garden the little so and so's.

What else has been happening then? Well Callum went back to school the beginning of September (actually it was on Daz and mines 9th Wedding anniversary). The new school building had been finished so they were all set up for starting them in there. Of course there were a few hiccups, actually quite a few but over the weeks it seems to be settling down. All the kids seem to love the new building and they have a much bigger and better playground now so I no longer have Callum coming home with wripped knees in his trousers every day, heck I even managed to have him last a whole week in the same pair of trousers as he kept them immaculately clean. To go with the new school building Callum also has a new teacher, he name is Alexandra (Alex for short) and seems very nice. He has gone up to Year 1 now so they are more about learning their numbers and to read and write than playing but it still seems like they get plenty of playtime in. Also the added bonus is that this year he is in the same class as his best friends Aman and Laila which they all seem to like.

But alas this brand new school is all going to change on Monday. Why? Well last week we got a letter offering Callum a place at a school that is just round the corner from us which means just a five mintue walk to school rather than the 2 bus journey route we currently have to do. Daz and I looked at the school on Monday and are really happy with it so we've accepted the place and they want to start Callum on Monday, it's all a huge rush and yet another new uniform to buy Callum (not cheap either!) but we feel that in the long run this is the best option. We love our house we live in now and want to stay here for as long as we can so a school within walking distance will be ideal it'll fit in with the future plans we have involving our life. Callum seemed more than happy to change schools and we've promised him that we are going to make this his last change of school until he goes to secondary school. He's a child that easily makes friends and seems most of the time to take well to change so we're hoping he'll take those traits along with him to his next school. It's all very nerve wracking and exciting at the same time. Fingers crossed it goes well.

Anyway I should go and check on the new family member Dash and see if he has dried off from his play in the garden and that he isn't muddy from any digging. But first I'll post some photos.

Vet Callum checking patient Dash for any paw injuries.

The Terrible Two Playing Cars.

The Love of a Child

It seems after having a little bit of a rough year in 2007 with Callum and his attitude towards me a new corner has been turned. He still has his moments but he is mostly back to his loving self. If I'm a little bit ill he'll kindly inform me that morning that it is his job to take care of me that day, especially if it's a day that Daz has to go to work. Callum seems to love this new found responsibility and will ask me every five minutes if I'm ok, tell me to sit down and rest and ask if I want a drink or something to eat. My own little boy version of Florence Nightingale. It's nice to have him back, although he is still very much all about Daddy but I've read the book Raising Boys and know this is something that happens with boys.

Sing Me A Lullaby Please Mummy

From day one, as it is with most parents, I've always sang to Callum. When it was those early days and he had terribly awful colic it was soothing to him. Different songs would suit him at different times of the day. If it was mid morning something a bit more rocky would be his taste, actually can you call Busted rocky? Oh well that sort of stuff. But in the evenings it was always lullaby's he liked, most noticeably were Twinkle Twinkle, Rock A Bye Baby and the Mockingbird Song. Also one tune Callum always loved was the little tune played by Baby. Baby is this cute little blue teddy that has a wind up lever on the side and then plays this tune (well it did until Callum broke him). He was bought for Callum by my parents the day he was born and was always being played and I inadvertently would hum along.

Through the years Callum has always looked upon me singing with loving adoring eyes and it warms my heart to see how much he loves me singing, even though I have the worst voice in the whole galaxy, or further! Sometimes he'll join in but at bedtime he'll by lying there and call out to me "Mummy please sing me a song." so I do. How can I resist seeing that look on his face and the little smile of happiness.

I love that little boy of mine so very much.

Happy Birthday My Special Little Four Year Old Boy

It's Saturday the day before your Fourth Birthday and I'm sitting here while you and Daddy have gone out shopping for your birthday cake and I'm thinking back to four years ago when a very special thing happened in Daddy and mines life. I just wanted to let you know my darling how special and important to Mummy and Daddy you are. Sure you've bought us a lot of heartache and tears and annoyance but more importantly you have bought us the biggest joy in the whole wide world and we love you so very much. I don't think any other little boy could give the bestest of cuddles to match yours or the cheekiest of smiles to beat yours. You have this beautiful passion for life and fun which I hope you keep all your life and everyone you meet is drawn into your love for life and falls in love with you. It's been wonderful to see you grow up over these four years and see you go from this tiny little baby to this fun, loving, clever imaginative boy who has such a huge passion for cars and wants to be either a mechanic or policeman when he grows up, although you've told us you won't be a policeman that wears a hat as you don't like wearing hats all the time. This next year is going to have so much happening in it with you going to Big Boys School and us maybe moving home and I'm looking forward to taking this next step in life with you.

I wonder what cake you're trying to persuade Daddy to buy you. *laugh* You've been telling us all week that you would like a Dr Who one but I wonder if you see the Lightning McQueen one or if they have a Transformers one if you'll change your mind.

So will you remember this day when you're older I wonder. I suppose in case you don't I should comment on the big day. Last night Nanny Mary, Grandad Steve, Aunties Katie, Els and Frankie came round to give you your presents which once you got over your shyness (which I never understand!) you delved into with your typical lust for things. You had a good time and wanted to play with everything all at once. Then after they all went Daddy bathed you and I read you two stories (Dig Dig Digging and Choo-Choo Clickety Clack) and then you went off to sleep cuddling the Optimus Prime that Nanny Mary and Grandad Steve had got you. It was so adorable to see you asleep all cuddled up with it and I couldn't resist taking a photo of that precious moment.



This morning Daddy and I allowed you, in our family tradition of birthdays, to have a present early. It was a double Transformers set of (hang on I have to go and double check the names) Ultra Magnus and Skywarp. Transformers are you current thing at the moment, you've been watching the cartoons and playing with the Transformers you already have and any you didn't you named your normal cars after them. It's been fascinating to watch you do this and funny to hear your little stories. You have such a brilliant imagination. Daddy showed you how they both transformed (they aren't meant for a five year old child but we know you'll be clever enough to work out how they transform properly) and you both had fun flying and driving them around the flat and making "doooo" noises, I assume that is how the word is spelt. Tonight Daddy is going to show me how to transform them so that I can help you during the week when you have trouble. Should be fun and I promise to not break them.

This afternoon we have arranged if it doesn't rain to meet up over Hylands Park (you call it the park near playschool) with some of your friends to have fun and eat fairy cakes, hopefully also to sing Happy Birthday to you and maybe play some football. I'm really hoping the weather stays nice as we don't want you to be disappointed in not being able to go. The last few years when we've tried to do something on your birthday something has happened to allow it not to happen. Fingers crossed this year is different.

Well I've just spoken to Daddy who tells me you've picked out a Darlek Dr Who cake and he is just about to buy fairy cakes and be on his way home so I should go and iron your t-shirt you've picked out to where today.

Good Morning

Good Morning Mummy!

That son of mine makes me laugh and he is so adorable. After having woken up, had his juice milk and a little cuddle in bed with Mummy and Daddy he turns round to me and says:

"Mummy time to get up, it's sunny. Daddy can stay in bed though and sleep, he needs it."

He gets off the bed and goes to walk off and then says:

"Oh and here's a big cuddle for you Mummy to get you up."

And Callum gives some of the best cuddles there are, throw his arms around your neck and big squeezy hug cuddles.

What Mummy couldn't get out of bed after that?