Me and Mine December 2015

Looking back over the last year I am so proud of all these photos. See behind every one of these I have to force the whole family to take part. Step one is actually finding the place to take a photo, then its have we remembered the big camera. Step two is rounding the troops, getting there children together and a husband is hard work. Step 3 checking we are in the photo / focus. Nothing more disapointing then getting home to discover that the none are good. The final step is getting everyone to smile at once, as you can see we did not achieve one photo where we are all smiling. 

I love every single one of these photos. I planned this year to be more organised, to take the camera with me more, but I did fail on many occasions. Some of the photos were taken at the end of our road by the beach and others in our house. It is hard work but I love the end result. Maybe next year I will be more intnetional with taking more photos. Getting to know that big camera again, going on many more adventures with the Family. Its been an busy busy year. Getting the right balance of work / family time has been very hard at times. We have had a fun year and have been very blessed. My little family is growing up so much. 

January - Broadstairs Beach

February - Shelter at the end of our road. 

March - Our Garden 

April - Minnis Bay

May - France 

June Paris 

June - Kingsdown Campsite

July - Scripture Union Minnis Bay

August - Home

September - Down our local Beach

October  - Westgate St Mildreds Bay

November - Westgate beach

December - Gorleston Beach 

Depression at Christmas

Christmas is supposed to be a joyous time, but sometimes when you are struck down with depression it's the last thing on your mind. The kids new toys are everywhere, people asking you questions. People look happy and all it does it make you want to hide. 

You see depression comes in many forms. For me it comes and goes I have always been such a positive person but the last week I have been hit hard. Hit hard with something trying to pull me down when in fact I should be full of joy, 

I should be the light.

 I should be happy. 

But all I want to do is hide, hide and sleep. 

What's wrong with me seriously what is wrong with me. I have never felt like this before, I am lost, my heart feels sad. I am counting my blessings sure I am so privialidged but I can't get out. I am stuck in this dark place it's lonely I hate it, I hate how it makes me feel, I hate it how it makes me.

I am snappy, tearful and generally not fun to be around. It's hard when I am telling the kids off for being loud. They can't help it they are excited but I can't face it. I enjoy being at work as its a break. That's very unlike me. This is only a phase, maybe I have worked too much. Placed too much pressure on myself. done too much and not paused. It's odd my head is all over the place. 

So there it is depression in one of its many forms, showing I am human. I am far from super mum. The idea of baking and decorating cakes is enough to tip me over board. I love Christmas I must not forget this. 

I must not forget how blessed I am. How privileged. 

Life is flying by.

I need to find a way out of this horrible place I am stuck in. Enjoy these little people I have. Give them my all. Not the stressed out mum they have seen late. Forcing the darkness out with more light. 

Sorry it's not an usual positive post but I feel it is important to show this, so that some other parent/ person can read this and find some support or just to make them feel they aren't alone. 

Depression will never win over me. 

Never. 

Finding the Joy - December Part 1

Sorry guys haven't been round much online, Christmas parties and episodes of rubbish on the tv have zapped my motivation. I just though I would share a few things that have been going on in our little lives. This time of year is crazy busy but such fun too, my children are far too excited and nine sleeps is far too much for an 3 year old to cope with. So here is a few things why we are happy this month.

1 - Christmas Parties

So who doesnt love a good party right. Well I do to a point we have had 3 so far!!! The worst is yet to come a crazy busy one is the last one next Wednesday!. I have my staff night out and then the kids general nursery/ school ones then we can start to wind down. The children have loved seeing Father Christmas too. Son Son is in love with him and hugs every Father Christmas. Ami though at one party didn't want to leave baby Jesus and wanted to stay at that party. I haven't eaten fruit for a long time and currently living off cakes and chocolate (true story). All the weight I have lost is about to come back on but hey I am happy.

Son son's face. he couldn't believe it was Father Christmas. Two parties in one day today plus work I am one tired out mum. Roll on bed and working again tomorrow zzzz

2 - Time of Work

I am currently counting down the shifts. As from boxing day I have a whole 12 days off. We plan to go to Norfolk and generally just chill out as a family. Be nice to get away and be at the in laws for a bit, with most of my husbands other family too. The kids love it and we generally don't do much. 12 days of is such a treat I can't wait.

3 - First Christmas Plays

My daughter starred in her first nursery play and yes I did cry, like I do at every single play. She was very shy on the stage but sang Rudolph the red nose reindeer song. Me and my husband where very proud and I couldn't help waving and cheering. Sad parent alert.

Pure Cuteness, children's plays always make me tear up, when did I become that mum. Ami did a fab job at being a reindeer in her little nursery play.

4 - Christmas Services

I love this time of year and what we celebrate, the greatest story ever told. I love church this time of year, the beautiful lights and carols I love the generosity that it provokes. We went to a carol service the other day and even though the kids where feral it was so beautiful. My favourite serve is Christmas eve but I am working through it but will hear from the ids how it went. They love it Ami keeps on telling us the story about baby Jesus.

Christmas Carols - my children are soaked and I am very ready for them to be in bed.

So here you are a little insight into out lives recently. Hopefully will update the blog again soon but when I escape the mountain of wrapping I shall be free.

My Sunday photo - Father Christmas awe

Easy toddler Christmas Crafts

When the weather is rubbish its good to have a wealth of indoor activities for toddlers to do. Having an 3 and 2 year old we often need a few things to break the day other than watching Netflix all day. What better time of the year to introduce some easy craft activities. By easy I mean stuff that is around the house and means you can help them but not actually do it for them.

Easy Homemade Christmas Playdoh 

This was super easy to make to be honest I didn't follow any recipes just got the kids to put some ingredients in a bowl and some how it formed some kind of playdoh consitency. We also added some mixed spice and ginger to make it smell more like Christmas. Also not to forget the food coulouring to make it green. They loved the smell and it wasnt to sticky, it kept them entertained for a bit which was the best bit.

What you will need (approxmiatly)

• Two cups of flour
• One cup of salt (or as much as you have if your like me and run out)
• One tablespoon of oil
• Food colouring 
• Christmas spices
• Bowl to mix and some festive cutters

There you have it some non bake playdoh that smells rather good. We plan to make proper christmas trees now I have actual Christmas cutters. You could add some glitter to make it extra special. 

Easy Christmas Bauble's 

This was another easy idea I thought of when looking for something to do, when I say easy it took less than five minutes to source some card and some glue and off they set decorating. I had purchased some card in a half price sale at tesco in the year and made some large baubles. With the other colours available I cut a few shapes and left them to glue as much on as they wanted. Simple and effective. 

What you will need:

• Card ( we went for glittery stuff)
• Glue 
• Thats it maybe some scissors too to cut shapes and the acutal baubles out. 

They loved it Son Son had just put the glue on the card and chucked the bits on the top.  

Easy Felt Christmas Trees

Another Sticking craft as my little ones love getting messy with glue. Another dead simple craft, I cut out some christmas trees in felt and they stuck on some sequins oh and some glitter too. Simple yet effective Ami was so proud she showed Daddy when he got home from work. I had placed the sequins and glitter in pots in the hope that they would take longer to put the pieces on the paper but no they just chucked it all on as you do. Ami is obsessed with glue she loves it. 

What you will need: 

• Green Felt
• Sequins 
• Glue 
• Glitter
• A lot of patience for finding sequins and glitter everywhere afterwards. 

They enjoyed decorating there trees, I finished them off with a bit of string and some duct tape on the back. They have made there way onto the Christmas tree which will house every homemade decoration the children make this year, which when you have three children resembles a school display at the end of it all. 

Easy Felt Nativity Scene 

This one was very simple to make, all it involved was finding some felt and cutting the different shapes out. For me this one was my fave not because it didn't involve glitter and glue but it helped us to talk about the true meaning of why we celebrate Christmas.

What you will need

• Different Coloured Felt
• Scissors
• Template to follow

I searched online for an easy template and once I cut all the different characters out Ami was able to play over and over again. Maybe the use of a pen would define the characters a bit, or you could even stick them on for a more lasting picture. 

So there if you are like me looking for some simple easy to find, don't have to spend tons of money crafts then have a go. Share with us some ideas I am rather poor at this stuff.

Adventures on Windy Days

When you are an outdoors person there is nothing worse than being indoors all day long. I love to be outside, I find that it helps to ground me, get me away from the monotony of the same old washing routine. Some days I need to get out, feel the fresh air on my face and forget about the pile of washing up in the sink, the million stains on the carpet and have a bit of fun with the little ones. The toddlers enjoy being outside, they play nicely and generally like to be outside.

We did our usual lets walk to the beach with the spades trip, which always involves it being high tide and the toddlers cross because the tide is in. It was so windy the tide was right on the prom, they were both afraid to get too close and stuck by the walls. This concluded our time at the beach so off we went looking for something to fill a bit of time before walking back home. It was sunny but with gusts of 50 MPH it was cold. We ended up in a shelter where it was warm at least, we stayed there for a bit before bracing the cold walk home. Made me realise I must go out more, no matter how cold. Everyone loved it, everyone was in a better mood for it. Just need to put on our 600 layers and just get on with it.

Check out the photo's I captured whilst out, yes I actually had the big camera with me too.