mummy to a crazy Kid

When I'm the bad fairy - by Ava.

2010-09-10T10:27:00.004+01:00

I'm useless at updating so I thought I'd start posting completely random things.

Ava wrote this story - told it to me as I wrote it down- it's ridiculously cute :)

“When I’m the bad Fairy”
By Ava

The bad fairy magics somebody away. She magics people with the magic wand. The bad fairy isn’t everyone’s best-friend. She has a grumpy face.

She lives over that way, up here near nursery on the red slide. The bad fairy has an orange and red cat. It is a boy cat, he is a bad cat and I am the bad fairy. His name is Pussycat. I eat chicken and chips for breakfast in my house on the red slide, I eat it inside that house.

Her best-friend is her bad prince, Dahlim. My name is Looning, the bad fairy is Looning. The bad fairy does not like spiders. She does not brush her teeth or eat vegetables. She is not really kind. Her favourite colour is pink.

She is just pretend because I am good and kind.

Birthdays, Christmas' and a Happy New Year...

2010-01-03T22:05:00.006Z

So yep it's been a LONG time since I last updated this hasn't it!

September wow, so since then... Doug turned 27, Ava turned 3, we had Christmas and New Year and a heap of snow. Ava's birthday was lovely she was over the moon with her dollshouse. Christmas was fantastic spent in Aberdeen with the whole family Ava was really getting to grips with what it was all about and asks me constantly if we can "go to Christmas" now. New Year Doug went out I stayed in and ignored it (I hate New Year) I did make a couple of resolutions though to make more effort in general and also take part this year in project 365.

My project 365 blog - 365 Precious Moments - is where I will showcase my year in pictures but I'll still be posting here too of course.

Also good things are happening in my designing world stay tuned for details of that on my Design Blog - Polly & Rufus Designs and grab a freebie while you're at it :)

xxx

{Ava's 3rd Birthday}

- - - {13th of September} - - -

2009-09-13T23:20:00.003+01:00

Were back from our holidays at Center Parcs in the Lakes. Sadly Doug couldn't work you don't get to take "off season" holidays when you're a teacher, he didn't mind he had a nice break from me bossing him around I think. Mum, Phil, Laura, Gavin and Ben kept me company though and sharing a room with Ava meant I never had a chance to be lonely (or in peace but that's another story "mummy, mummy are we going swimming tomorrow?"... "Yes Ava for the umpteenth time, it's 11pm GO TO SLEEP!")

It was so beautiful though, the sun shined for us the whole time and the pool was awesome. Ava is such a great swimmer I'm going to start taking her more often. She also loved the ducks... as did I as you can see by the following photos (I may have overdone the "duck profiles" a tad) but I had just watched Mark Carwardine on Last Chance to see and fancied myself as a "wildlife photographer" being that I just learned to use my camera on manual this may have been a tad hopeful but nevertheless I got a lot of pretty photos.

Also a huge congrats to our friends Jo and Richard who got married yesterday, Jo looked beautiful and the wedding party was very very cool. There first dance was Depeche Mode, Just can't get enough you don't get much cooler than that do you.

xxx

- - - {1st of September} - - -

2009-09-01T18:28:00.014+01:00

:::A long overdue update from me, sorry for the absence life is very busy over here:::

Ava is potty trained {hallelujah}, Doug is a teacher {yay} and I'm still me milling away & working at home :D

I'm over the moon to be guesting this month for cinnamon designs and k studio.

:::Some Layouts from the past month or so:::

Working for the Paycheck
Say Goodbye to Summer by Megan Fisher @ Shabby Pickle Designs.

Two
Happy Birthday by Jofia Devoe @ Shabby Pickle Designs.
Customised Shadowed Layer Styles by Camila Designs @ after5designs.

Chic & Sweet
Max by Camila Designs @ after5designs

Sunshine
Cheer Up by Camila Designs @ after5designs

Darling
Good Karma by FruitloOp Sally @ catscrap

1988
Myah's Magical Zoo by FruitloOp Sally @ after5designs

Row your Boat

Tangerine Sky by Nikki Beaudreau @ after5designs

Bright Side of Life

Merrily Merrily by Nikki Beaudreau @ after5designs

And some pictures of my friend Kenny's exhibition in his allotment last month taken by me and Doug it was really fun.

- - - {18th of July} - - -

2009-07-18T23:50:00.002+01:00

Thought it was about time I posted some pictures over our girl Polly Cat, she's a beauty. Can you believe I haven't edited her eyes one bit they are really this blue, she's a funny little snow leopard with a crooked tail which adds to her appeal in a sort of quirky way. She spends 75% of her day sleeping and the other 25% trying to encourage me to feed her more, she's too posh for dry food apparently. She's insane at 11pm every night and skates around the hall chasing her catnip mouse. She's the first cat I've owned who actually uses her scratchpost instead of the furniture.

Name: Polly
Age: 4 Years
Favourite Food: Fish
Favourite Toy: Mouse on a string

xxx

- - - {16th July} - - -

2009-07-16T14:17:00.005+01:00

Hey Everybody,
(I can't write that with a straight face I always picture Dr Nick Rivera's voice - from the simpsons)

Anywho I made this page with Gypsy Couture's new kit "Party on the Patio" featuring my silly girl. She's always pulling faces like this. She's seriously insane, to top the insanity we got a cat last week, Polly. She's a 4 year old Bengal and she's gorgeous, anyhow Ava has been hyper since we got her she runs around the house after her squealing... fantastic. I figured she'd calm down within a few days... um noooo! She's worse than ever, poor cat, luckily we still have the child gate on our bedroom so she escapes in there when she needs to. That is when she's not trying to kill me by curling her way around my feet looking for tidbits. Ohhh the joys of motherhood and pet ownership.

So here's my page

...

(linked image)

If you like it I've made a wee QP freebie.

Grab it now, there are lots of other gorgeous quickpages on the Gypsy Couture Blog too so travel over there and snag some more.

Not too Shabby...

2009-07-04T20:12:00.016+01:00

I'm on the Shabby Pickle Creative Team... woot woot!
I'm so excited I keep thinking they've made a mistake :D
Shabby is one of my 2 most favourite stores and I'm literally over the moon.
Anyway enough bragging I sound irritating he he.

Do you like my new blog design?
This is Always Remember by Nikki Beaudreau @ after5designs and she rocks I love this kit soo soo much!
I also made a layout with it this week with one of Doug's graduation pictures. Did I mention he graduated on the 26th it was a great day. We had an awesome dinner and it was a beautiful day for photos. Our friend Fred took them so I could be in them and he did an amazing job!

So I have a few more new teams I'm excited about Edeline and Martencja asked me to stay on after my guest spots which was so amazing they are the nicest and most talented people I'm so lucky, then my sweet DST friend (by friend I mean I stalk her gallery ha ha) Amanda R invited me to join her team which I'm also over the moon about because she seriously rocks and is a total star! And I made the FruitlOop Sally CT call and get to make LOs for Sandra who not only is amazingly awesome but is as lovely as can be too!

So I may be a little overwhelmed but I'm having a LOT of fun :D

Here come the LOs....

Sweet n' Simple Template #3 by Nikki Beaudreau @ after5designs.
What's for Dinner by Cinnamon Designs @ after5designs.
Stitches #1 by K studio @ after5designs.

Beep Beep collab by Edeline Designs & Armina Designs @gottapixel.

Gentle Morning by Gypsy Couture @ thedigichick.

Sweet Temptation by FruitlOop Sally & K Studio @ pickleberrypop & after5designs.

Look look.... scrappers rejoice...

2009-06-30T10:51:00.004+01:00

... in the AWESOME deals...
(click on the image to be linked to the details)

And don't forget it's 2 dollar Tuesday @ the digichick!

June is .... Terminator month?

2009-06-23T00:09:00.017+01:00

... for me anyway. I love the Terminator. I know that doesn't fit my character but Terminator Salvation is AMAZING. I went to see it with Phil on Saturday and I'm itching to talk about it to someone but Doug went on a Summer Solstice bike ride and didn't come, so I can't ruin it for him. BUT what is going to happen next.... I need to know! Awesome :D

Enough of that... Doug graduates this Friday, gown and all. Looking forward to dressing up and all that stuff. Oh and a nice dinner out with his family. Ava's learnt a new phrase... it's a great one... "I don't like it!" ... oh the fun to be had with that little gem... lots of "I don't like it" about her dinner, clothes, me... fun fun. And that's it I know exciting post :D

Some Recent Pages

Check my gallery @ DST for full credits

from Nikki Beaudreau

from Edeline Designs

from Gypsy Couture

Finally don't miss

Sweet summer ....

2009-06-07T10:59:00.024+01:00

:::We've been enjoying the warm weather which is a nice change in Scotland so I haven't been online much, Ava's cheeky as ever but can be bribed (see photo below ha ha). She's taken telling me to "shhh" and "stop singing" which is great, hmmmm :::

:::Doug graduated with a first class honours, with merit in teaching!!! I'm so proud of him, it's making me wonder if maybe it's time for me to study again, perhaps graphics... maybe it's still just a thought:::

:::Hope everyone is enjoying the summer:::

:::What's new from my creative teams:::

:::(all images linked):::

:::in order of apperance:::

:::June Mystery Case by Tangie Baxter:::

:::A Taste of Africa by Martencja Designs:::

:::Morning Capriccio by AnnaBV Designs:::

:::When you were sleeping by Edeline Marta Designs:::

:::Every Moment Counts by Edeline Marta Designs:::

:::Some recent "just for me" layouts:::

:::(linked to gallery with credits):::

:::xxx:::

Lucky lucky...

2009-05-24T21:30:00.014+01:00

I'm so incredibly lucky to have just snagged a June Guest spot with Martencja Designs @ after5designs! Marta's work is stunning and I loved making pages with her new kit Somewhere over the Rainbow...

Gypsy Couture has just brought out a series of GORGEOUS mini kits called Definitive Days, the first two kits were released Thursday. I loved Lazy Afternoon...

Cannot believe it...

2009-05-24T21:02:00.014+01:00

I can't believe it I came first in the beginner category of So you think you can scrap ! Not even completely sure I deserved to win there were so many better people in my category my favourites folder is jam packed. I feel like a total idiot for bragging so I'll stop here are my layouts .

Week 1- People Say I'm...

Week 2 - Flashback...

Week 3 - A moment in time...

Week 4 - Sing a song...

Week 5 - Colour my world...

Week 6 - It's a bird it's a plane

A new day, a new dawn and a free-bie by the sea ...

2009-05-16T19:03:00.012+01:00

Lisa @ Gypsy Couture has an amazingly beautiful new seaside kit out this week called Free by the sea there is also an extras add on because the kit was so huge! When I downloaded it I wasn't sure how I could use it because shockingly Ava has never been to the seaside! (Especially weird considering I grew up with the beach a foot from my front door) So anyhow I searched through my photos and found this beauty of Ava at the park it was perfect!

I extracted, clustered, blended and made some shadows it was a really fun page to make and can you believe it made it onto the GSO blog, such a buzz I'm so thankful to the ladies for boosting my newbie confidence like that! Here's my layout...

I have no idea how many visitors my blog gets but I decided that it's a little drab and in need of some visitor incentives.... so what to do.... hmmm give away freebies of course ;) So I made this quickpage of my "Somewhere beyond the Sea" LO click here or on the preview to download!

Ava had a fun day today while daddy was at work she played with her moon sand all morning, man that stuff is amazing seriously it's such a mummy lifesaver... but did I do housework ... no no I didn't I played Freecell on my blackberry. That makes me such a sad individual doesn't it. But I have just finished my book and I don't know which to start next. I'm on a mission you see to finish every single book I've started but given up on by the end of this year, this is surprisingly difficult! But I'm finding out that a lot of the books I disregarded and threw aside are actually really amazing reads. I recently read the whole Inkheart trilogy, I'd read the first book years ago and I'd enjoyed it but hadn't felt the need to read on, after forcing myself to keep reading I realised they are some of the most beautiful books ever written I'm totally in love with them. And same thing again I restarted Jpod by Douglas Coupland, I'm a massive Coupland fan but hadn't felt inspired to keep reading first time around, it's a freaking awesome book what was wrong with me a few months ago? Maybe it's my sheer laziness and inability to stick at anything and nothing to do with the books themselves... I think that's pretty likely.

So does anyone want to join me in my finishing unfinished books mission, your prize is a sense of pride in yourself. (That sounds like a cracking cliche huh but it's more the fact that there's a recession and I'm poor I can't afford a prize so I'm killing you with my amazing use of tacky sentimental sentences)

1234... Spring is knocking at the door...

2009-05-12T23:51:00.005+01:00

It's spring at last the sun has been shining although as usual the Glasgow weather is mental and there is torrential rain in amongst the nicest days.
Doug finished his dissertation and is working on his final poster/presentation which is on Thursday. Ava is turning into a bit of a terrible two year old but we can handle it, even if she is telling me to go away half the day and then making me lie in her bed half the night she's still a sweetheart most of the time. She hates wearing dresses now, Doug made the mistake of putting one on her today and she screamed the house down "Trousas onnnnn!"
She's totally obsessed with two things puzzles and Finding Nemo so when I bought her a Nemo Puzzle today she was over the moon!
There's little else for me to tell I'm afraid but here are some pics of my darling girl ... xxx

Head in the Clouds...

2009-05-12T15:13:00.005+01:00

It's 2 dollar Tuesday at the digichick look what Gypsy Couture has to offer....

Love this so I had to share!
Back later for a proper post!
xxx

It's nearly May...

2009-04-29T22:15:00.003+01:00

This is a seriously cool grab bag!!! Here's my LO's with the kits included "sweet imagination" and "misty morning". It's available now!!!

And I'm totally loving this super kit by Tangie Baxter too {The chronicles of Imagination} it's HUGE!!!!

Cottage Trace...

2009-04-22T21:07:00.004+01:00

Paperbag Studios has a new release "Cottage Trace" isn't it pretty...

What's new..

2009-04-21T20:15:00.011+01:00

Well Doug is in his last week of *real* uni, as of Friday his disertation will be handed in and he'll be virtually free (he still has to present it in May) to do as he wishes all summer before becoming a teacher in August.

I'm tired me and Ava have been on our own Doug's been in the library so much and I have so much sympathy for single parents now, I have no idea how they do it at all.

Mum and Phil are coming to visit this weekend which will be lovely it's so helpful having them around.

A quick "welcome to the world" to my lovely friend Jessi's new baby girl Jamison Sophia Love!!! She's a real cutie and baby number 6 for Jess and Dennis I think they're part superhero :)

Ava is totally into painting these days here are some pics of her making art!

And now for what's new with my scrapping teams...

Gypsy Couture...
My new team I absolutely love Lisa's work so I'm ecstatic to work with her kits!

The digichick has a sale every Tuesday here's what's on sale :)

I loved working with this **new** kit "secret places"...

My Lo "In fairytales"... it's clickable...

Tangie Baxter...
Has a new release "Make Merry" a collab with SherrieJD, it's gorgeous...

My LO... clickable!

Don't forget to check out Tangie's awesome challenges on scrapbookgraphics.com forum!!!

Paperbag Studios...
Keep an eye out for this gorgeous mini kit "Quiet Garden" and a new release coming tomorrow!

AnnaBV Designs...
Last but not least Anna has a store at Enchanted Studio Scraps now in addition to scrapmatters!!!
And a gorgeous cat kit "A Kit for a Cat"

Here's my LO using it...

Day at the Park

2009-04-02T00:10:00.004+01:00

Spring has sprung...

2009-04-01T22:56:00.010+01:00

All of my CT's have some awesome new kits in store! I'm so glad to be lucky enough to work with these awesome ladies designs!

Paperbag Studios released a beautiful new kit "Signs of Spring" ...

Tangie Baxter has collaborated with the other Studio Girls @ Scrapbook Graphics to create "Impressions of Renewal"...

And the lovely AnnaBV Designs has just joined Enchanted Studio Scraps with her new kit "A pocketful of Treasure"...

And of course I have a few super secret LO's in the SUTCUS beginner galleries ;)

Aren't children great...

2009-03-03T23:00:00.009Z

You're a new parent and you're chatting with "experienced" friends about bringing up little ones. So you take a look at their family snaps and most of them will look like the ones above, a lovely trip to the park with the grandparents. Feeding the ducks and taking some sweet pictures for the album. That's what they tell you anyway, for some reason we parents like to lull you into a false sense of security I'm not entirely sure why. I guess it's the same as when my friends without kids ask what labour's like and I say... hmm I don't really remember but it was the best day of my life (I do remember but I'm not going to scar you for life). Anyway I'm about to shatter all happy family day out illusions, time for the truth are you ready for it?

...

Yep 95% of the time we spent at the park that day was spent like this! I don't blame Ava, it's entirely my fault for letting her skip her nap (poor wee soul) but that is the reality of life. Children are only agreeable if all the planets are aligned in a certain way and every need of theirs has been met to the fullest. However they will teach you these lessons everyday there's no need to take notes just enjoy the ride! Having Ava WAS the best day of my life and seeing her joy at feeding the ducks was worth the rest of the tantrums I dealt with that day.

Oh and of course I scrapped it! ....

28th Feb 2009

Impressions of Heritage by the Studio Girls @ scrapbookgraphics.com

Paperbag Studios Chickenhawk Challenge...

2009-03-03T20:37:00.003Z

I was lucky enough to be invited to CT for Paperbag Studios.
My first LO was a sample for the new font challenge on their blog, check out the challenge for a chance to win a $10 gift certificate for the store.

Click here to take part!!!

Here's my Layout....

Love
Credits all "Darcy" by Roben-Marie @ paperbagstudios.com

Tangie Baxter thinks I'm a genius....

2009-02-28T15:08:00.009Z

Well no maybe she doesn't but she has let me join her CT as a creative genius so just as good ;)
I've had a blast making LO's for her, you can find her store "Studio Tangie" at scrapbookgraphics.com.
Here's a few of my LOs so far...

A walk on the beach

"Treetop Serenade"

Daughters & Flowers

Teal Time

Adventure

Wizard Boarding School.

Tea Time

Phineas Comes to Tea

Reading

Phineas Comes to Tea

CHECK OUT TANGIE'S CHALLENGES...

My Girl....

2009-02-19T19:54:00.006Z

I bought Ava a cash register because she loves to go to the shop! And She loves it! She played with it all day it's the cutest thing and isn't she a beauty!

The sun was shining the perfect chance for some photographs and a layout!

xxx

Credits all to Sweet Shoppe Designs!

RIBBON -Kissable Traci Reed

PAPER - Serenity Kristin Cronin-Barrow (2009 vol 1)

FRAMES - Strawberry Fields - Zoe Pearn (2009 vol 1)

FLOWERS - Spring a'ling - Melissa Bennett (2009 vol 1)

BUTTON - Absolute Cherry Crush - Lauren Grier

Tonight I'm gonna party like...

2009-02-19T01:20:00.001Z

Your 80s Song is "1999"

If you were transported back to the 80s, your life would be all about living large.

You love the excess that the 80s represented, even if the party wasn't meant to last.

You think of the 80s as a time of wild fashions, big money, and fast cars.

And that's a world you wouldn't mind being a part of!

What's Your 80s Karaoke Song?

The best thing about girls...

2009-02-15T19:59:00.004Z

When you're pregnant you say you really don't mind what your having as long as your baby will be happy and healthy. But deep down a little bit of you hopes one way or the other. If that hope leans on the "girly" side then your reasons are multiple.
That special bond between a mother and daughter.
Sharing your own womanly experiences with her as she grows.

But lets be honest the main reason is FAIRY WINGS!!!!! There's only a small bracket of time that girls can get away with fairy wings and that falls between the ages of 2-6 (no Glasto hippies you do not look cool in yours) and so I'm willing to let Ava wear hers everyday for the next 4 years if she wants because they are seriously the cutest thing in the history of the world :)

My Darling Girl...

2009-02-14T19:38:00.002Z

The new beautiful kit by AnnaBV Designs "Cheyenne".

Available at Scrap Matters.

Sweet Scrapping...

2009-02-13T09:52:00.004Z

One of my new favourite stores is Sweet Shoppe Designs, here are some of my LO's with their kits :) xxx

[New Baby]

A little Bit Flirty by Robin Carlton & Zoe Pearn.

[Enjoy Spring]

Deerest Spring by Dani Mogstad & Kristin Cronin-Barrow

Scrap happy...

2009-02-12T23:55:00.018Z

I've never posted my scrapbook layouts but I've decided to start so first here's a rundown of a few from the past few months, I'm still a beginner but I love it :)

They're all clickable!

[Baby Girl]
Credits Titania by Yossarian Beeblebrox (me).
The first kit I've ever designed!

[One Wish]

Credits 1000 Cranes by my friends: Anna, Karli-Marie, Becca, Sarah, Liz & Ruby!!!

MY CT!!! The Amazing AnnaBV Designs...

[Do you Realise]
Hearts of Gold by AnnaBV Designs

[Love on Loch Lomond]
XOXO by AnnaBV Designs.

[Ben]
Boys' World by AnnaBV Designs.

[In the Garden]
Secret Garden by AnnaBV Designs

I was Lucky enough to be allowed to play with a couple of my friend Laura's kits.

The awesome simply.scraps

[SJ & DS]

Key to my Heart by Simply Scraps.

[Rock my Socks Off]
Keep on Rockin me, baby by Simply.Scraps

Some more Random LOs.
[Darling]
The innocent Imagination by Jofia Defoe

[You are my World]
Au pays des Reves by Line Designs.

Brrr... it's cold in here.

2009-02-02T18:21:00.008Z

Well 2 months late we got our snow! We woke up to a nice dusting this morning. Ava and Doug are playing outside right now just before bathtime :)

Doug passed his final crit lesson today with a merit! That means he's well on the way to a first and his lecturer told him he was officially "ready" to teach.

The last 3 pictures are my silly girl playing dress up, she loves her dress up box now. It's a lot of fun!

IT'S SNOWING.....

2009-01-20T11:08:00.008Z

...well it was for a second there!

I rushed Pava's snowsuit on and ran her outside only for the snow to end within seconds. She was disapointed she's never seen the snow before but she did have fun "tasting" a snowball when we got home...

Why I call her crazy...

2008-11-27T14:09:00.012Z

So I was cleaning the kitchen today I had Ava all set up at the table with pens and paper, she's not normally allowed pens (she draws on herself) so this was capturing her attention quite well.

Eventually she's had enough of that and she starts rummaging in the cereal cupboard (one of her favourite things) and disappears off into the living room to watch In the Night Garden.

It's too quiet so I wander through to discover a cereal massacre. Wheatabix crumbled into the couch and she's chomping down on one too, she grinned when I caught her thinking she'd sneaked into the cake cupboard or something. I mean wheatabix seriously! Those things are so dry and taste of nothing and she was so happy munching on it she finished the whole thing. She's a little weirdo!

Birthday Girl!

2008-11-26T12:59:00.013Z

It was Ava's 2nd birthday on November 20th! She had a great day and thank you for all her wonderful gifts she's officially spoilt rotten!

We spent the day at Ava's playgroup playing with her little friends instead of a party, Ava preferred it and so did I (no baking yay). She loved opening her gifts especially the parcels that arrived throughout the day she was so excited to see the postman it was very cute.

By the end of the day she was EXHAUSTED and mummy was left with a major organising mission in her toy cupboard so I could fit all the new stuff in ha ha.

Happy Birthday Baby!

You might be...

2008-10-15T22:11:00.015+01:00

...the most beautiful baby in the world :O)

And the best thing is I have a new camera to take advantage of Ava's beauty! Doug surprised me with a Nikon D70, it's also for him as he's a pretty good photographer. So I expect this blog to become more full and far more interesting :O)

I'm a bore I really am!

So what's been going on, I haven't posted since July... wow!

Well I dropped Bumps and Bouquets for the time being as work is keeping me nice and busy. Tom launched the new Snow Patrol site last week and it looks awesome, he did a great job! I'm off today because I have a total pain of a head cold!

It's finally autumn and the summer really passed us by quickly. If it would just stop raining this season would be beautiful. Doug won an award for being the best ever 3rd year (something like that anyway) he got a shiny trophy and a digital camera... which he punted on eBay to buy our superdooper DSLR.

Ava is awesome and hilarious and makes us laugh constantly. She's fantastic at singing and Incy Wincy Spider is her current favourite song. She spent the entire day saying "nooooo" today which was brilliant, she's completely unreasonable and crazy but that's to be expected of an almost two year old.

She's addicted to plastic animals, they're cheap which makes Mummy and Daddy very happy!

She went to her little friends second birthday today and came home clutching her party bag like it was treasure. I think she's really going to enjoy her birthday.

xxx

Once again...

2008-07-22T16:22:00.004+01:00

I'm a useless blog "slacker".

So it's late July and the summers almost over. Ava's been happy for the most part, learning new words and dancing to anything close to music. She's beautiful.

She's mastered the phrase "oh nice" which she says as she snuggles her teddy bears, it's pretty darn cute. She tends to agree with everything you say "YES!" is a popular word here. Can't complain it's better than no. She's full of the cold right now but she's content for the most part.

Doug's doing great, in just over a month he'll be in his last year of uni, he did so well in 3rd year, all A's! Teaching is just around the corner for him and ironing a thousand shirts is just around the corner for me :)

I'm working for Tom part time it's fun. Quite simple just editing websites and a bit of photoshop. Still trying to get some samples for my business so I can actually get it set up, it's really not getting anywhere at the moment.

So that's it... back to work for me, thinking of making cookies xxx

The adventures of Ava in Whinfell Forest!

2008-05-24T14:49:00.006+01:00

We just got back from our trip to Whinfell Forest it was so much fun!

Unfortunately Ben got sick so he had to go home early poor little birthday boy! He still got to go swimming though but didn't get to try out the bike trailer.

Ava LOVED swimming and sitting in the trailer. She had a blast in the play parks and generally playing in the forest. Doug and I really enjoyed cycling and getting up and sitting on the lake with some starbucks fruit toast and iced hazelnut lattes. The pool was awesome and the lake was really pretty. Doug and Phil played badminton and Poker and enjoyed themselves a lot.

Now I REALLY want to live there ha ha only a few grand a week... that's likely :O) xxx

A morning at the park!

2008-05-16T14:31:00.007+01:00

Ava, Vicki, Freya and I spent the morning at the park today. We had fun, Ava loved everything in there. She's so grown up. She will be 18 months old on the 20th!

We're off to the Lake district on Monday for the week and we're going to celebrate Ben's birthday there. It will be a blast :O)

Take care! x

The sun has got his hat on :)

2008-05-05T14:56:00.007+01:00

Finally spring is here!

But what is with all the freaky weather? Sunshine, rain, Sunshine, hail, Sunshine, thunder!

A huge lightning storm last Tuesday took out our wireless router and some little ned broke our car window on Friday night. Glasgow huh! Needless to say we're now broke after those expenses.

And eating Jessi's thin mint cookies (don't worry I'll pay for them, but yum!).

Then it's off to the lake district for Ben's birthday which should be AWESOME!

Okay Ava update time: She now says Mumma, Daey, Dinnah, 'tis, whazis, 'side (outside) and a few other random tidbits. She's a big girl already in 2-3year clothing. And as always she loves to dance. Her ears prick up at the slightest sound of music and she stops whatever she's doing just to dance. She's more and more beautiful each day, no idea where she gets it from :O)

Today we went to the park and sat on the grass together then ran around by the fountain. She's so happy outside and she gets smiles from everybody who passes. She loves to walk without her reigns now and she always holds my hand, she's growing up so fast. She is a proffesional eater now and can completely feed herself with a spoon or fork barely dropping a thing. Doug and I both marvel at how smart she is, we introduced her to a lidless cup this week and she got the hang of it within ten minutes.Oh and my favourite thing if you say "jump" she'll stop and jump on the spot xxx

Super &^"$% Mario!

2008-05-05T14:52:00.002+01:00

I have Mario rage!

I don't know what it is about that game but it makes me so mad! I have pondered throwing my DS against a wall. Doug is scared of me!

Thankfully I'm on the last level!

Cross your fingers for me that I complete it tonight as the rage may take me over if not! And that won't be pretty.

xxx

Tomorrow Tomorrow

2008-04-14T10:37:00.005+01:00

Is only a .... week away ha sorry! I said I'd be back "tomorrow" a week ago!

So our trip to the westcoast was fun but very tiring. Ava is not the best at sleeping away from home! We did get some sunshine though which was a great surprise and Ava loved seeing the ponies :)

Since then we have had a calm and quiet time of playgroup and hanging out. May will be busy with a few sales for Ben (www.fund4ben.co.uk) and Ben's big birthday bash in the Lake District.

Ava's off for a nap after eating a big plate of fishfingers and peas (she's getting really good at using a fork/spoon) so I'm going to grab a cuppa lie on the couch and veg :O) xxx

I suck!

2008-04-05T01:44:00.002+01:00

It's true I suck as a blogger!
We were in the westcoast for a few days and just got back last night. More to come on that little adventure tomorrow!
xxx

A little bit about the Aviator

2008-02-18T10:37:00.005Z

My silly sausage playing :O) She likes to wear her hat indoors and put the mesh bag from her ball pit balls over her head! She loves her rocking horse and her dolly Robin who has lots of fun things like buttons and velcro all over him.

Charlotte, Gemma and Charlotte's mum Patricia got her some really cool gifts. Charlotte came to stay this weekend and went to Gymboree with us. It was fun to have someone to chat to while we were there as I'm way too shy to chat to the families there. Doug gets to come next week as he has weekends off while he's on placement, it'll be so much more fun with him.

Here's Ava feeding herself for the first time it got pretty messy! xxx

^^^^^ Misletoe and Wine ^^^^^

2007-12-15T20:53:00.001Z

Hello!

I'm actually going to sit and think about what I'm going to write here because it's been a long time since I wrote a decent entry.

So here goes:

Today me and Ava started Gymboree classes, which are A LOT of fun! I was a total dumb a$$ and figured I'd carry her in the sling, by the time we got there I was shattered and then I had to run around after her for half an hour "don't grab peoples eyes", "don't climb on that baby." "Stop staring at that man." "ahhhhhhhh!" I'm sure all the posh west-end mum's thought I was scum with my naughty offspring!

Are you enjoying the christmas feel to my typing :)

Anyhow after all that Ava really did enjoy herself, she loved the parachute and the bubbles. So I enrolled her for the course and I think she's gonna love it! I dunno part of me feels like since I'm such a young mum I have to prove myself by being the most amazing mother in the entire world. So we have a busy schedual playgroup 3 x a week, Gymboree and soft play. Hopefully it'll teach her how to act around other kids and she wont turn into a total bully! Who am I kidding, I love it!

My dear dear friend Jessi made me this ornament isn't it beautiful! And she baked me the most amazing cookies, it was really cool to try the American cookies that everyone talks about like "Thin Mints" and "Russian Teacakes". She also sent me tonnes of hershey bars and peanut butter cups, now I just have to persuade her (& her husband and 5 kids) to move to Scotland and she can bake for me everyday!

I am spending the evening writing christmas cards, maybe I should put on some christmas music. I already have a hot chocolate in hand :)

My tree is tiny this year and possitioned on top of the record player as "Grabby hands M'gee"/"Destructour" is a hazard to herself! But it's pretty and safe so thats all that matters!

I wish I had something witty to say but ...... I'm tired, so after these cards are done, it's bedtime.

Finally since I know at least one person reads this..... MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Party girl!

2007-11-26T15:10:00.002Z

So Ava is now officially a toddler, a one year old!
A year has just flown by!

xxx

Ava is turning one!

2007-11-14T11:48:00.002Z

So my little baby is a toddler now! I'm sad that she is so independent but so proud as well, very much mixed emotions!

She has taken her first steps, spoken her first words and had her first tantrums. She's made me happy, sad and occasionally mad. She's evolved from a little grub to a little person.

She's the best thing that's ever happened to me and I'm so looking forward to watching her grow :)

Back online!

2007-09-12T12:03:00.001+01:00

No news from our new residence. Were enjoying the new place albeit without broadband :( Mum and Phil were over for the weekend which was fun but now I am craving cakes every minute of the day, Phil buys a lot of cakes :)

Ava is teething again I think she is a cranky pants. And she's into everything now she can pull up so well I feel like she's constantly gaining a new bruise from bumping into everything. But she's happy and that's all that matters really :)

We are Mobile...Aaaahhhhhhh!

2007-08-13T13:49:00.001+01:00

The little horror is mobile. She can crawl, pull herself up into sitting position and wave. My oh my!
And she is starting to pull herself up on furniture, she loves to walk around holding your hands.... seriously she is going to be walking soon and that terrifies me.

Anyway as a result of this new found mobility we are getting into A lot of trouble. Why is it that her favorite thing happens to be the most dangerous thing in the house? Electricity cables! Remind me why I bought her toys at all, what could be more fun than an ipod cable, a digital camera, a phone or a hairbrush? On Friday my friend Greig comes over so I'm texting him directions for oh about 30 seconds I look up and she is covered head to toe in sudocreme. God only knows how much she ate! I googled it to check it wasn't poison and she was fine!

To add to that excitement she had her first ride in a shopping trolley! I think she quite liked it, my only problem was stopping her chewing the dirty old handle.... bleah!

Speaking of bleah, I ate a chocolate cake out of a brand new pack of 4 mini cakes yesterday. After devouring the entire thing Doug notices the other 3 are green and furry with mould and 11 days out of date...... yuk! I feel sick thinking about it but thankfully I haven't been.

Anyhow she is trying to play with a plastic bag so I better be off :)