No sleep

Poor pink monkey 18 months old and all she has are 6 teeth - but I have to say they are massive ones - and I'm guessing some more are coming through as we've not had a decent nights sleep for ages but I do think she's playing me for a fool she really wants to get into my bed because as soon as she's in it silence, the tears and screams stop and she smiles at me, infact last night I asked her if she was ok and the cheeky monkey said "yes" 1am in the morning she might have been ok but I wasnt. All the noise even woke blue monkey and he wanted in as well - luckily my bed fits us all in with plenty of room and we all went back to sleep it was actually lovely to see them both warm, snug oh and quiet!!

But hardly any sleep has meant I've been shattered today, somehow I stayed awake through meetings, various mind bending calculations, bed and bath time for the monkeys and found a final burst of energy to do some tidying so house is sorted. Now it's time for a well deserved cup of tea and an early night and fingers crossed one little monkey stays fast asleep.

Fantastic weekend

Two weeks ago I said next time it's me and the monkeys I was going to make sure we did things on our weekend and we sure have. Friday was nice and quiet so we all got some time to relax after the stress of the week. Friday night I was bought a bottle of champagne off a very lovely person - I'm looking forward to drinking that. Saturday was busy, library and park in the morning, then soft play and out for tea with friends.

Both monkeys slept til just before 7am - a miracle - then off to a friends for an hour before heading over to Ribby Hall to spend the day with my Mum and family who were all there for the weekend. We took the monkeys swimming, blue money loved it and i took him on his first proper water slide, pink monkey wasn't very happy but I'm hoping that's due to her teething as she'll be swimming lots when we go away. Then blue monkey and I played crazy golf, went on the playground and ate a lovely tea - both of them fell fast asleep on the way home so I haven't had to deal with a stressed out bedtime.

Looking back it's been a fantastic weekend - just what we all needed.

Good day / Bad day

Finally for me some good news my job is safe, I'm very lucky as there are so many changes planned and unfortunately a lot of my friends are not in the same situation, so although I'm relieved there is some guilt that I'm ok.

Last night I went to the cinema to watch Woman In Black - why oh why oh why?! I am a complete coward I spent most of the film with my eyes closed - back to Rom Coms in future, there is nothing wrong with a soppy unrealistic romantic ending. I just hope I don't have nightmares about it.

The weekend with the monkeys starts tomorrow and after saying I'd be super organised - well I'm not - ops but maybe a not having lots of plans and tight deadlines is just what we need, I'm keeping fingers crossed that the sun shines tomorrow and we make it out to feed the ducks.

Things I love

Well obviously the "things" I love most in the world are these....

The two most cheekiest cutest monkeys ever.

But something else I'm quite fond of is this...

My gorgeous shabby chic dresser - when I moved into my new house I really really wanted one of these I searched all over the internet and missed out on a few I bidded for but found this in a local antique shop. It's got some of my favourite things on it - my plates with my monkeys footprints on it when they were little, my figurines which represent me and the monkeys, my letters which represent the monkey's names and some of my favourite cake books. On the top is my sewing machine, my knitting basket and sewing box which in my dream life are used on a regular basis to make lovely things for my home - but in reality are gathering dust - I really must do something with them this year (the knitting classes and sewing lessons otherwise have gone to waste).

Perfect pancake day

As I've got a few days off work today blue monkey and I headed into Manchester to the Museum of Science and Industry via my office as he's been asking where Mummy counts numbers! We had another great day together - lots to see at the museum, his favourite being the trains and planes. Then off for lunch I gave him a few options and he chose Chinese and noodles so Tampopo it was - he ate his noodles with chopsticks - 3 years old and better than his Mummy!!

Then home to pick pink monkey up and make pancakes for tea - used the best Delia receipe they were perfect - chocolate spread and bananas the monkeys loved them as much as me.

Tomorrow is my last day off I plan on having a well deserved lazy day.

Minor makeover

Yesterday was a gorgeous bright but cold day so I wrapped myself up and talked S into joining me on a walk up Holcolmbe Hill - it was lovely being out and the views were fantastic - I feel lucky to live close to Manchester and the countryside.

Then it was back home with my screwdriver to build the storage for the monkeys bedrooms - at one point I thought flat pack was going to beat me but a deep breath and I got through. I picked them up from nursery today and although the changes were minimal blue monkey loved his new toy storage and his road themed play mat, finally I feel the monkeys bedrooms are becoming what I and they want. Pink monkey now has her name on her door - I found the letters I had bought so long ago in a box - I'll worry about getting them off the door when I finally have to move.

Anyway my week off work has now been ruined as I need to go in for the official announcement on Thursday - I honestly don't know what the best outcome would be for me at the moment, I suppose I should keep an open mind and see what happens.

Time off

Today has been great - the difference in the three of us when we are not rushing out the door to work - makes me think about things but unfortunately I haven't got the choice any longer - I need to work to cover the bills - but maybe when blue monkey is having a mini meltdown I should stop and think more about the time constraints that I impose and give him some leeway. I took Blue Monkey to the barbers he no longer looks like a scruffy monkey and he got a well deserved lolly at the end for being so good, we did our food shopping then this afternoon ventured out to the shops for a bit of a mooch and a coffee with my brilliant friend S.

The monkeys have been picked up and are happily enjoying their time with their Dad. I am glammed up for what could be another interesting night out.

Holiday time

Finally sometime off work to recharge the batteries - pity it's not a 6 month hiatus but with the current situation maybe I shouldn't wish for that! I've got lots of plans to fill my time, firstly a nice relaxing Friday with the monkeys then a not so quiet night out, reorganising both monkeys bedrooms, spending a day out with blue monkey, attempting to make bathbombs (no idea how that happened)some baking oh and a bit of feet up time.

Last nights meal was delicious - and the company was great too. Tonight I've come home to my lovely mum who has done my ironing and made the tea - so nice to be looked after. I think early night for me and fingers and toes crossed pink monkey's teeth don't hurt her too much and she doesn't end up cuddled up to me all night.

Valentines Day - spread the love

Ok am I cynical and miserable on this day of love? Hell no! I got 2 cards - ok I admit off pink and blue monkey, but hey no one loves me more. There is a tiny little bit of romance in my life. I was the love fairy at work - everyone had a little packet of love heart sweets on their desks this morning and from the various comments I heard they liked them, I got the girls heart shaped biscuits to go with their coffees and I has the best non romantic V day lunch with L. All those things have made my day - the monkeys are asleep, the house is tidy and I am off for a soak in the bath before I see if that little sparkle of romance will get a tiny bit bigger tomorrow night.

My Wonderful Dad

Today is my Dad's birthday and I really really wish he was still here. I know everyone thinks it about their Dad's but mine was the best, he was patient and kind, he was thoughtful and loved me and mum so much he was always there, which makes life cruel because he wasn't here to be the grandad I know he would have been. Blue monkey wasn't even walking when he became paralysed so they never ever got the chance to run around together and Pink monkey was in my tummy when he went - he never knew her and I think he'd have been so happy to have had a beautiful girl to go with the cheeky boy. It's been 18 months now and I think about him so often and I worry that he would be disappointed in me - I think that's my biggest fear but I really hope he's watching down and thinks ok it's not all gone to plan but she's not doing a bad job. I just wish he was here still because we could have so much fun together. On his last birthday we had pizza all squashed round his bed - the man who never liked cheese but liked pizza (figure that one out) and who hated fish but loved mussles and cockles!! Who loved his garden, his bowling, his holidays, his friends and most of all his family. Dad I miss you x x

Enjoying his holiday

In charge of the BBQ

Another weekend over

3 days of me and the monkeys and it's been nice - not exciting or amazing but nice, no major meltdowns (from monkeys or me) I was even given a sticker from blue monkey for being such a good Mummy!! But it's been too quiet we've not done anything remotely exciting and that has to change - sometimes the challenge of taking them both out overwhelms me but I need to suck it up otherwise we're going to be a very boring house. I think it's just the current weather conditions that are making me feel rubbish - if it was nice (at least dry not icy) then we could go out for a walk, feed the ducks, go on the park - but the snow and ice make it impossible and a trip to soft play on my own fills me with dread. I'm going to plan our next weekend together -so whatever the weather we venture out and I'll keep fingers and toes crossed that one doesn't decide to go one way and the other another!! Only 4 days in work then I get a lovely well deserved week off!!

Few days off

What a week - the house I wanted to buy is now under offer by someone else, I keep telling myself what will be will be and I believe it (I always knew the no dishwasher was an issue anyway. Blue monkey went for a speech therapy assessment and whilst they said there was a minor issue it couldn't be dealt with now so no going back for a while - made me feel like I wasn't imagining it and luckily it's only minor - he was very very good, we had a donut each at the cafe afterwards. Pink monkey is being a little star as usual - although she has now realised that she has a very loud scream if she wants some attention - she is very clever but unfortunately very loud. And me... well I'm happy sometimes things come along just at the right time!

More snow...

Still snowed in the car has not moved an inch so the wellys were put on and I walked to the shops for supplies - it is a beautiful day I've spent the day cleaning and ironing and watching True Blood the house is sorted I feel so on top of everything, things have definitely changed when I first became single staying in on my weekends alone would have been awful but now I love the peace and enjoy being on my own not rushing about everywhere things are getting so much better.

Snowed in

What a weekend! Last night I was wined and dined - oh yes the week got a whole lot better!! Today the snow has fallen and I am now sat in my house with not much option of getting out - cupboards are bare so beans on toast for tea which if I'm honest is a guilty pleasure and pure comfort food so no complaints from me. The snow has meant no trip to Ikea to pick up much needed supplies for the monkeys bedrooms so I hope it melts and I manage to get all my jobs done tomorrow. I sent the monkeys off to their Dad's with their wellys I hope they've built a big snowman! I'm going to enjoy being snowed in I wonder if it will last til Monday....

The best day of 2012?

Today is the reason I started blogging, after dropping pink monkey at nursery blue monkey and I headed into town for grown up coffee (well baby hot chocolate for him) and toast before a little bit of shopping then we went bowling and to McDs for lunch (and before the guilt sets in cheeseburger, water and fruit bag!) he sat there and said "Mummy I am having a lovely time" and so was I. It was the best day we've had together in a long time - and I am going to make sure just the 2 of us do things more often. Sat there drinking coffee and talking I couldn't believe how grown ip he now is and how clever he is getting - but still oh so cheeky. Tonight they are off to their Dad's and I am going out for cocktails - it could be interesting!