The Gallery:Two

Two

Two boys bounding with endless energy. 

Two boys with big gorgeous, twinkling eyes. 

Two

Two boys who look so alike. 

Two brothers who act so differently. 

Two 

Two boys smiling up at me.

Two brothers smiling at each other. 

Wot so funee? Innocent minds

So I'll set the scene we'd just had a big pasta dinner with cheesy, tomato sauce.

I'd just took a big swig of drink, Alex turns to us and says "look, do you like my saucy face?!"

Cue a LOT of laughter from me and James, and me trying to keep my drink in my mouth without spluttering  it out or choking on it!

He then said "look my mouth is really saucy" and I started off again.

I love how innocent children's minds are :)

 

How does your garden grow?

Ok I don't have a garden, but I did go to a lovely garden on Monday...and I thought I'd be cheeky and use the photos I took for this today.

Even if I had a garden there is no way I would be able to grow anything anywhere near a nice as the flowers we saw there. I have a habit of killing plants despite actually liking them!

Now hopefully sometime in the next few years we can move to a bigger house, with one that has a garden-and maybe, just maybe I can grow some beautiful flowers to be proud of. 

A Birthday for a bright shining star

A little girl should today be celebrating her 1st Birthday.

Her Mummy and Daddy, brother and sister should be bubbling with excitement for the day ahead, the fun to be had, the memories to be made. 

She should be blowing that first candle out on her very first Birthday cake, and gleaming with pride.

But sadly she isn't here, instead her family are letting her sail off into the night...

To show some support to Jennie and her family on such a hard day some of us bloggers have written special posts for her. 

We used bubbles and stars for a little bit of messy/arty play.

We often make and create cards when it's someone's Birthday, even if it's a simple drawing, so this is for you Matilda (I'm sorry the photos haven't come out so well). 

Today is your Birthday 

So I just wanted to say

I hope you enjoy your special day

It's not how it should be

But still shine with glee

Up high above the sparkling sea

Shine brightly tonight

As today should have been a day of delight

Your Mummy and Daddy will miss you, most of all, tonight.

xxx

Thinking of you Jennie, wishing you all the love, strength and courage to get through today, and every other day xx

Grab the button and link up your post for Matilda Mae

For those of you that don't know there is going to be an auction to raise money for The Lullaby Trust in Matilda's name and memory. More details to follow at Edspire and  Ghostwritermummy. The auction will be running from the 11th-20th May. 

Proud

September 2012 Alex started preschool, it was the first time he's been looked after by anyone that wasn't family.

For that first term he only went on Tuesday mornings, we had to pay as they only get it funded the term after their 3rd Birthday and I wanted to ease him in gently before the arrival of Sam in December. It seems a lifetime ago already and thinking back he seemed so young, he was only 3 in November so was one of the youngest there, had not long been potty trained, and was much more immature in his behaviour (quite obviously).

Since Christmas he now goes all day Tuesday and Wednesday afternoon, taking a packed lunch with him. Instead of turning up apprehensive and shy he now runs in, brings things in for show and tell and genuinely looks forward to it.

It's amazing the difference that 7 months have made, when he first joined I was worried about his behaviour, he seemed quite an angry boy when with his friends he's known since birth as I was worried this was happen at preschool, thankfully we only had one small incident in that time. Looking back I think his behaviour was linked with my pregnancy, I was so ill, dizzy and tired most of the time I found it hard to be the Mother I so desperately wanted to be (his behaviour is so much better since I had Sam).

His report from his first term weren't bad, but it did say things like 'he co-operates with the golden rules most of the time' and 'Alex can concentrate for short periods of time on an activity of his choosing' which did make me giggle as my Mum has worked in a nursery for years so I know they how they word things ;)

I had a review with his key worker a couple of weeks ago and had a quick flick through his folder which was lovely to see :) she was really pleased with his progress as says he is hitting all the right targets.

It sounds like he has made lots of friends and is quite the sociable character (takes after his Daddy)! His social and writing skills have come on in leaps and bounds, he can pretty much write his name now, and can be seen writing 'A for Alex' whenever doing drawing.

He has made two close friends but both go to school in September whereas Alex has a whole other year, so I hope he isn't too disappointed come this September!

His target this term is continue to help him hold pencils correctly and try and do mark making activities, instead of helping him sit still and concentrate for short periods of time like it was last term.

I am so proud of him, and how much he has grown and changed in just over half a year, he really is becoming such a wonderful little boy.

Marbled eggs

Today we got the paints out, I'll admit I haven't had the paints out for one whole year which I am quite ashamed to admit.

Alex LOVED it and I felt quite bad I hadn't done anything like this with him for that period of time, the things I would have done had I had not felt so ill during my pregnancy last year :( feel like he's really missed out and I didn't give him the attention he needed.

Anyway...

I chopped one side of the cereal box off to make a deep tray, placed paper into it and blobbed paint randomly on the paper. We then put some marbles in the box, Alex was first unsure of what to do but soon got the hang of it and loved making lots of patterns.

This first attempt was so wet with paint I placed another piece of paper on top to make a print of it too!

Then after we used the marbles that were covered in paint on a plain piece of paper without any added paint which gave really good patterns and not too thick and gloopy. 

Then we put the finger paints to good use, Alex wanted to make lots of lines with them rather than printing. 

We have some great painting tools from ELC, he really liked the circle stamper-as you can see he was moving fast!

Who needs finger prints when you can use your whole hand?

Making lots of 'dots.

Messy hands. 

We had a great time, I really liked using marbles and actually that part of the painting was not too messy if you wanted to try it. 

We will be cutting the paper into egg shapes tomorrow and sticking them onto cards to give to the Grandparents tomorrow. We couldn't do it tonight as the paint was still so wet at 7pm and Alex was in bed way before then as he was so tired!

So look out for the finished results tomorrow!

UPDATED:

Linking up with the fab new linky by Jennie from Edspire in memory of Matilda Mae, there are some great ideas, so head on over!

Our final cards can be found on some of our later post which have some better photos of painting results!

                                   

Terrible Twosday!

Not come across this linky before and when I first read it I thought I had nothing to write for it...
That was before I had my shower...

As if hiding his face would hide himself!

You can see too clearly here but his hands were blue. 

I knew it was too quiet as soon as I stepped out of the bathroom so went to check on him. He'd been cheeky enough to get the chalks and pens out of an Ikea tub that I find hard to open myself so have no idea how he opened it, he'd got them out of the cupboard too, not even like I'd left them out! Very annoyed as they are also new clothes! Thank goodness it wasn't the pens all over the clothes instead I guess! 

Sure sign with Alex as soon as the house is quiet he is up to something it usually involves chocolate though!

Reasons to be Cheerful

Reasons to be Cheerful  blog hop!

Netball started again on Tuesday-I needed this after having a month off as missed the first 2 before Christmas!

I have bought some great bargains this week, a winter coat for £10 in newlook down from £50! I went to ELC yesterday and got Alex their cash register for half price at £11 and some games at bargain prices (I will probably keep these stashed away until his birthday in Nov or next Christmas...just couldn't resist the bargains! Just a shame that less than a month after Christmas my cupboard is filling up with sale bits for present over the year already... I was quite liking being able to get into it/see everything in it!

I have a 50 minute walk to a friends house today (I don't drive) which I am not looking forward to, to be honest, but think my waistline will be after all the rubbish I ate last night! Should be good, if not a little chaotic, 6 two year olds and one baby. Look forward to these 'NCT' meet ups every week-good chance to catch up and talk kids and babies etc.

There is still Christmas cake and chocolate and biscuits around the house...yum!