Category Archives: Butterbean

Two Wheels on My Wagon.

I did start a blog last night, then closed the window and lost the post :-( Couldn’t be bothered to do it again.

Anyway, recovered from the weekends festivities and the house is mostly back to it’s normal (dis)order. We did get the curtain put up in the front room though by Helen’s parents. They were supposed to go and play golf, but her mum didn’t want to go as it was raining, so cancelled it, and then of course it stopped raining a little while longer…..

Pleased, as fitting the bit along the pelmet thing required sewing Velcro to the back of the ‘dangly bit’, dunno how long that would have taken us to get round to doing (never is probably a good first approximation) all looks good now. They match with the covers on some chairs and cushions, which is all a bit grown up for us.

It was good to catch up with various bits of the family I don’t see so often, though as we now live a lot nearer to many of them I guess we will see them more often. shame a few members weren’t able to make it. Shame also that it rained on Sunday, but we did get to use the inside of the house and the conservatory. It certainly is good gathering/party house :-) It was even the incentive for me to clear the boxes out of the dinning room so we can actually get in and use the room now.

So, yesterday Stringbean started off the day with bit of crafts with Nanny French, making a cut and stick fish. And errrr…. after that I’m not sure. There was breakfast, Butterbean didn’t get up until turned nine, so then that stretched breakfast out a bit longer. Oh yes, making marble runs and some reading mostly I think, plus some computer advice for Grandad. And eating cakes from the rather nice bakery for elevenses ;-)

Afternoon, H was home so she did stuff with the girls, including finishing the clock kit that SB won at Melrose and started ages ago.while I mostly did boring domestic stuff.

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Today we started off with ‘Tool Girl’ as SB perused a power tool catalogue (that’s my girl) that came in the post this morning, discussed why there are lots of different ones and why an SDS drill is the dogs danglies for drilling holes in walls. Did expect her to comment on the lack of pink ones though.

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She got a treat? of a Cheesestring from the shop this morning and had it for breakfast. I do have a prejudice against this sort of thing, but TBH, not sure why. It’s seems to be just fairly mild cheese, with smattering of Annatto for colouring, just been processed a bit to be able to pull into strings. Anyway she enjoyed it.

I do love the way SB thinks/cares so much about BB, this morning she got out some clothes for BB, not just not set but a ‘summery’ outfit, one for if it’s colder, and one for tomorrow as well :-) So we pottered through the orning, bit of reading of books, hanging up of washing, SB picked a load of flower petals and then tipped them all over herself.

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We fed the fish and then spent some time watching/talking about them when SB wondered how they can swim backwards.

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After the inevitable lunch of beaked beans on toast I boxed up the car roofbox to send it back for repairs. They sent me a very big empty box to put it in, the courier man was amused by having to deliver just a big box.. SB did assist for a bit , she tried a bit of baby bondage by strapping BB into a spare car seat with the luggage net from the roof box and spent ages in the hayloft reading all her old baby books. She also found a folder of her at work going back ages so she reminisced over that while covering the playroom floor in them.

We then tried out Butterbean in the bike trailer again. She sits much better now and has much better neck control, so we took it for a spin around the village and stopped off at the playground.. BB seemed happy, and SB enjoyed having her in there with here. Will be good to be out using that again. Went on the swings and the seesaw – her first time I think – at the playground and enjoyed them both.

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H is on call and had to go back in unfortunately tonight at about 9.30 :-(, I cuddled BB and fell asleep on the sofa, which was nice, but not really conducive to doing me chores, nor is then writing a blog entry. Of course she got back about 1 am, so we of course went off to bed like sensible people, but it’s past 2 am now, so we can go to bed happly now…..

H seems to have just uploaded piccies from our Italy holiday as well.

Day 2 of BB’s Baby Welcome

Weather not so good for us today, so predominantly indoors. I was more stressy today – not sure why, as no less relaxing a set up, and I’d made the pasta bake on friday?? Prob. due to a couple of comments that set teeth on edge. [must learn to ignore for own sanity!]

Anyway, predominantly lovely day. SB had a bit of a melt when Morgan left to go home, but a long cuddle and reading new books helped [did I say I caved in to amazon and bought the barefoot book of princesses [with CD] and the usbourne stories from around the world?. Very nice. I particularly love the illustrations of the barefoot princesses book.

Guests today, as well as mine and Chris’s parents and my sister and family where my aunty margaret [mum's sister] uncle mike and cousin mark, and on Chris’s side, Uncle Bob [dad's brother] and cousin Marilyn.

I hope you all can identify the whose who and trace family resemblances.

Cats enjoyed leftover salmon.

Earlier in the morning, before the guests arrived, SB and Morgan were playing schools, doing sums and letters. Rather cute really.

Wish BB’s teeth would come in so I could get a nice sleep!

Anyway, flikr will be linked here.

Quick Blog – BB party *NOW EDITED*

will do a proper update, as yesterday great, and about to do it again, but for yesterday’s guests, as well as the Blogworld, have uploaded far to many photos of a perfect day onto flikr

It was a rather lovely day. Mine and Chris’s parents arrived Fri night, we finished as much prep as poss and had a takeaway. BB woke up, and I went to comfort her and fell asleep. I think most people went to bed soon after. Terrible night with BB, perhaps because she is teething? [please hope so, cos too many of these appalling nights will see me change her to formula

Next day my sister and family arrived fairly early, and the party began! Its so nice to see SB playing with her cousins, particularly M as they are of simialr age. E gettting the hang of playing too. The nibbles and alcohol were cracked open. Aunty Jane and Uncle Dave [dad's brother] made it next, and the huge wait for Aunty Pam and Uncel Robert [chris's mum's brother] their children Adrian and Catherine and their respective partners [SB was Catherine and Tim's bridesmaid in April]

Finally food!! The weather was glorious, the children played beautifully and the adults drank and conversed. Unfortunately Vivien fell of the path, and visions of yet another trip to the local casualty passed before my eyes. Luckilly strong painkillers and she was OK.

BB had some lovely presents, and sat on a rug in the middle like a Queen holding court, with plenty of cuddles in between. Def worth doing.

I bathed SB and M together – and allowed the jacuzzi. M thought it brill. I then settled them for bed by playing chase and monsters around the upstairs! OOPS. By 10pm they finally dropped though – shortly followed by the rest of us.

Worn out

think we are all worn out. candles lit both ends and in the middle – what with me working an average of 56 hours a week and wanting to see/play with the girls as much as poss, and Chris trying to do the househusband thing so that I don’t feel the need to, as well as play etc with the girls. SB tries to stay up late with me, and BB feeds all night long. Cream Crackered in deed. Somehow we are going to have to alter the pace without too many compromises.

This running to stay still thing seems to permeate every area of our living as well. I go round house and garden and there is just loads to do. if I earned more, we could pay for someone to do it, but earning more means less time at home, and just not up for that. Weeds and grubbiness will just have to stay. Unfortunately we have a housefull of family this Sat, and would like it to look at its best. they all just don’t seem to have the problem of keeping tidy/ship shape and living life that we have. What do we do wrong?

mind you, although I say unfortunately, I am really looking forward to it. It is BB’s welcome to the family event [no Christenings here] and lots of family coming for lazy day in the garden. cold spread – maybe some BBQ items, and alcohol [I will be practising for the portico party]. of course we haven’t shopped or organised yet.

oh, home ed. I have had a lovely laid back day with the girls. We did some exeter maths, read a bit of the usbourne travel then and now[ not much], the castle section in the time traveller, started growing a crystal.

Actually, on growing the crystal, it was a science in a box [would have been v over[riced except from ebay] and it said for over 8′s. why??? There was some distilled vinegar [maybe stronger than that I use for pickled shallots perhaps that SB has handled, but I didn't find out] and a piece of limestone. vinegar [acid] poured into plastic beaker and stone popped in it – so what needs an 8 year old? SB quite happy that the bubbles were carbon dioxide – she knows what that is from ‘dizzy’ water and breathing. Also happy that now have to wait and see. i guess she was supervised. Also caught a few more bugs to look at including a fly!

Oh, and on the exeter maths, found out that she knows her number bonds up to 5, and can add and subtract quite easily. she even remembered the ‘greedy bigger sign’ and which way to face it. I had printed off about 20 pages, she found them all and did the ones she liked the pictures on! She had a go at writing the numbers for a change as well.

We also sprinkled starts with… and ends with… throughout the day – again something she is progressively more confident with. Oh, and again a lot of singing. note to self – must bring her violin down and remember to suggest piano regularly.

It sounds alot, but we spent most of the day playing [though she considers it all play, it is just me categorising!], a fair bit with the traintrack in the morning, her alphabet finger puppets, dollies and ‘mummies and daddies’ her wooden fix together toys from ikea, and directly with BB. I read various books from the library to her. played interminable Simon says.

BB is a charmer. She mostly played with her noisy toys and SB’s musical instruments. She has recently started to find knocking down stacks rather good, so SB builds them up for her to take a swipe at [will be on flikr soon!]. She obviously loves SB and waves arms and legs wildly in happiness and excitement. She is also rather keen on her food.

Other things today, I did some weeding and SB and I nipped to garden centre to buy mulch. caused a chuckle when she asked what bark chickens were. Obviously my diction not clear!

Chris got us a working shower – woohoo!!!

My pretty star




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Originally uploaded by Scrumbledelicious.


General catch up

And on the family front??

Well, SB and BB are really good at playing [most of the time!] SB likes to feed BB, hold and hug her. today we got out the little tykes climbing frame and SB had great fun sitting feeding BB at the top, and then sliding down with her on her knees. [see flikr]

BB rolling and wriggling to get around, and is really good at spotting what might be food! Lovely laugh and giggle, and is such a merry contented baby – I could write a book on my perfect technique!
SB on the whole been great too, keen to play, interact, leading with what she wants to do. Not too much fuss on the tidying up! She is high maintenance to keep happs, and I do worry still that BB therefore gets less of a lookin. It prob is common for second children, but I wish I could just have more time!

Chris been looking at leaking roof – up massively high ladder. SB disappointed that she couldn’t get up there with him. Thought it rather jolly when he took the hosepipe up to see if he could replicate leak conditions [not]. We are debating a bookcase purchase at the mo. We haven’t got the money, so i am tempted to cc it, so I can get the books out [see what debt does to me!] but chris trying to be more sensible.

i have had fun with my girls – SB stayed up till 10pm yesterday playing, so I feel although worked the weekend, I have not been ‘absent’. yet another on call tomorrow though. Cooking risotto, drinking limoncino and blogging – a bad combination!

Mediaeval Fayre

not called in overnight – always a result!

so stagecoach in the morning for SB – last in the term. I think these have been a success, so we will carry on. i do think they are expensive for what they are, but at this stage of the game, its more important to provide SB with pattern. She loved the fact that they sang doe a deer to the video with actions, and that she already knew the words.

We then took a picnic to the animal shelter in godmanchester that was hosting a mediaeval fayre. I was surprised at how empty the place was, and I think it would have been much better if bustling, so that SB could have watched people using the archery/crossbow and jousting stuff. She was just that little bit too young, but next year….

Anyway, she enjoyed the axe throwing competition – but really wanted a go! And found a playmate to play knights and princesses with [i made up a story whilst feeding BB. He was such a nice lad that he immediately gave her his new sword and shield to use while he played with a bigger one! The re-enactment of one of the roses skirmishes was good. no gunpowder due to animals close by. SB very hot, so I amused others by dribbling water down her back and into her hat. [many photos on flikr]

At home we read the ancient egypt dorling kindersley eyewitness and looked at joe the dragon again – SB good at adding [not carrying over] and also like the chinese numbers – I think that might be new. We also did a it more castles at bedtime. I am getting her to spell out headings and have a guess at blending and making words, think this may be successful, as if thinking about it, she can do it. of course postman [as in pat] does not come out quite right, but she did realise what it was meant to be.

Nearly organised the books, but Chris has vetoed stickering for now. Sonlight order will prob go in tomorrow. Thinking about those plug and play electronics things – brainbox whatever. Sarah, are you still being a facilitator for edu toys or should I buy direct?? Looking forward to my lovely books!!! [and no, have not got harry potter, but if anyone does buy 2, i would consider coming to a deal, else tescos next week!]

water fight

got back from work to find a waterfight in progress – very quickly got wet and oh how nice that was [why aren't work places aircon? my office deepest pit of hell heatwise. not in there much though]

chris ordered shower, as i can’t cope without.

beans happy and healthy [BB spreadeagled on my lap] SB getting v good with mental maths add and subtract [shops and cafe games]. also has a lovely imagination in games. we read a nicely illustrated book about beaufort scale for wind, and finished of the sharks book – we need a trip to london aquarium i think. I have a new burst of imaginaion for maggie and the ferocious beast stories. SB has most of the songs i sing memorised, so need to learn some more!

BB very good at front and back rolling, and trying to press up to poss crawl. she mostly likes standing and bottom jiggling. she has a firm grip, and perhaps soon will keep hold of toys that SB runs away with.

must whittle down sonlight order. Who was anally retentive enough to sticker books according to subject?? I feel v tempted. Also I feel we have a very school at home resource section, so would fit well on a tv prog!

Finally put in photobox order for all last years photos, so i can have a nice time albumising soon!

Ahh, good day today.

though a surprise, considering I only managed to go to bed at -2:30!

SB got up and brought me some singapore primary maths 1a this am whilst I was still in bed [9-ish] sat on BB’s head so she woke up too! Since I have started being worried that we are letting things slide, I managed to prise open eyelids and we romped through the numberline pages. When SB then brought a spelling ‘match and sort’ book, i realised she was raiding the future presources box and got up. i fished out the DK eyewitness books [that were a book people special a while back] and some phonics cards and went down in search of breakfast.

SB was the teacher [as always] for the phonics cards, but I hope that she actually takes some note of my answers. I think it is going in, but no reading coming out yet. We then had a toss up between the shark and the volcano eyewitness book, and the volcano won out.

About half way through Chris reminded us that if we were going swimmin…. So a frantic getting ready and the usual SB exasperation with going out hurries. We did get there though – nice pool and reasonably quiet for the sat morning session. And [drumroll please] SB swam half a width unaided!!! Several times infact, floated on back and generally enjoyed water confidence. She is swimming like a drowning dog, but its a start! BB as always loved the water, kicking and waggling about.

Home to some joe the dragon addition and then fraction fireworks, plus the stackers. she finds numeracy easiest when she thinks in sweets, even if in her head!

Lunch was another SB palavar, as she really is driving me nuts with the not being bothered to feed, wanting to be fed rigmarole. I might not be so fazed, but she did actually starve herself between 9 and 15 months [92nd to 5th centile]

weather so good we put up mudpud camp gazebo – to find there is a piece missing! [is it with you layla??] BB had some toys on a mat, SB and I did part of a mosaic style banner until boredom set in. we the read the usbourne pocket science why people are different and 3 red nose readers. though i was reading, she is at least guessing words now. lots of general play/tickling messing about interspersed between the 3 of us. [chris mending the pond fountain]. SB has got much better at balancing, and was even scootering well. I wore different trousers today!

SB then put on a horseriding show while chris persuaded BB to nap, we also peeled and chopped veg for tea [my pretend south american dish – sweey pots, butternut squash, carrots broad beans and sweetcorn in a gingery chilli sauce. should be with couscous , but had run out, so rice and tortillas that SB makes into ‘sushi’]. The broad beans were own grown and about 5% were maggoty. We never really had pests in leeds as too far from any other veg growers i guess, and new made plot. What got me [and stopped SB helping] were that they pinged themselves all over the place – lovely! Anyway, you could pretty much tell the pods infected from the outside. When I find my veg growing books i will look it up. We ate outside again as such lovely weather. This was followed by looking at varoius seedpods – water and land iris, hellebore, sweet pea [everlasting] and a general scout around the garden. SB solemnly warned me not to eat any. I also introduced her to drosophilla – as there were manky cherries in the pantry!

While Chris did bedtime stories tonight, I have been having a kissy/raspberry giggle and ticklefest with BB – she has a great chuckle. She is now asleeo on lap, and chris coming down the stairs. What a lovely day!

general updates: littke nanny happy in convalescant/rehab cottage hosp. we will be visiting wed. My sister 34 tomorrow. not guiness [AKA Murphys] seems to have departed.

time for a limoncino and coffee!!

OH AND WHY DOESN’T MY GRAVATAR WORK??????

lovely house…………..

i decided while outside eating dinner looking at it. when i’m panicking over money and wondering what we have done, i am going to go outside and look at it. the back view *is* my dream home, no wonder we overextended to buy it.

Anyway, BB is a happy girl. she has been plying with those press and ghastly woofy tunes play type toys today. mesmerising! Also while in bath did first roll from tummy back to back – a surprise for her! She lies on my lap like a little cherub form rubenesque school! we would make a very rubenesque mother and child!

SB had her stagecoach show today. it was all very lowkey – as anticipated for a group of mostly 4 year olds. i though SB concentrated remarkably well, and her overacting building sandcastle and pretend cry as sea washed it away drew laughs. I was proud!! [also low key].

At home we played shops – gradually i am using money with real values as i think we use switch too often! We also made our own pompoms to turn into a chick. attention span didnt quite last, so i finished. A bit of piano playing and object hide and seek.

the day brightened though, so we went out intio the garden and dug up more potatoes and picked more beans – yummy. SB raced around the garden, and even rode bike without stabilisers [i think the like a bike a like was instrumental there]. We played tag, and i was hampered by BB in my arms, particularly when my trousers fell down – luckilly no cameras! SB also had great fun climbing and swinging on the tp frame.

the weather was so nice we ate our curry sitting on the lawn. BB had peas and swede instead, as dont fancy her having tummy ache!

OH, earlier in the day SB wrote my sisters birthday card. She is getting quite into writing so nearly did sonlight order for getty and dubay but couldn’t find cc. Also hadn’t clicked from mudpud. on that note, cant find my link to sarah’s science experiments in a box??

chris and i have come up with an order of housedisasters to be sorted – roof leak being at number one spot!!

edit – omg 2.30. how did it get to that time??