Silent Sunday: 3rd November 2013

Reasons to be Cheerful week 36

Some times I can find writing about what Ive been cheerful so hard. I spend ages wracking my brains about what I have been blessed and happy about in the past week but I start writting and it starts to come out. I start to pull my self up and realise I so blessed and so happy! Anyway this week has been a bit different we have been In Denmark and life has been a bit busy. Being on mission with small children and being heavily pregnant has not been easy but looking forward to getting home settling into a few days before our life turns around again.

1) We have been as mentioned before on a mission  trip to Denmark, We currently in a boarding school teaching and getting along side some teenagers. Its fun and rewarding seeing the kids share stories and surprised at how well they can speak English, remembering that when I was that age I could speak about 3-4 words if that in another language.

2) The kids have loved being in Denmark, the trip here went well and they slept well. I slept ok being heavily pregnant and on a coach. Pants has enjoyed the freedom of being able to walk round a school and do what he wants. Also Ami has enjoyed people making a fuss Danish students cooing and following her trying to pick her up and reciting a wallop from her. They do enjoy being around people so it has made this week easy on me not having to find stuff to do every day at half term.

3) We went to the most awesome pool here in Denmark, I have never seen such a clean changing rooms (although we were surpirsed at the culture of stripping off and having a shower before goign swimming) But the pool was great Center parc standard .Pants even jumped of 20 ft diving board and Ami loved toddling round a little pool with a slide and toys! They even had a climbing wall over one of the pools was good fun.

4) So one more say until my due date very scary how quick this pregnancy is going. I am so not ready and havent even sorted out childcare for the kids must do that. Cant believe I going to have another son soon! Name still hasnt been chosen yet but still have a maxiomum of 3 weeks before he is defo here!

5)  I head home tomorrow embarking on what could only be an uncomfortable journey home. Not looking forward to leaving my family in Denmark who are flying back Saturday (I cant fly back due to being too pregnant) I miss out on the kids first time on a plane but Im sure my husband will cope. Be nice to be home though.

Denmark Trip Part 1 - Travelling to Denmark

I did It well we did it we survived a long coach drive to Denmark! We stocked up on food, drinks, games and toys and packed our mammoth amount of bags and we were ready to go. I started to get a bit nervous about what could go wrong but it was too late to back out so of we went.

Our mountain of stuff, Including bags in case new baby makes an appearance

We jumped on a Danish Coach to find out there was no seat belts! A little bit scary bearing in mind was about to travel for hundreds of miles but the coach driver came and strapped the car seat in by a ratchet strap so it was secure I was a little bit happier then.

Safely on the coach at long last!

Fortunately for us Ami fell asleep straight away which left us to try and calm and over excited Pants to sleep. He finally settled and 1 in the morning (5 hours after getting on the coach) and it was our turn to try and sleep! I had an awesome pregnancy pillow by theraline which was amazing, I managed to wrap it around me so I could sleep a little. The kids woke at 7 in the morning and we stopped somewhere in Germany for some breakfast! We were all hoping for a service station and junk but no the Danes pulled out there ready prepared breakfast and an abandoned car park.

Peters foot on show

The next few hours finally flew by and after traveling through many country's we gathered all our stuff to our accommodation. Pants was excited as there is bunk beds 3 beds high but disappointed he wasn't staying in with the big beds. We got to visit the school we are working in for the week and the sports gym where Pants, Ami and all the children played football and played on a massive bouncy castle.

Fun on a huge Inflatable

Ami has loved having loads of attention from Danish teenagers and has loved exploring the school. She has settled well and is enjoying Danish food!  We have had rough weather last few days which involved trees been blown over causing power cuts across the region. Crazy thought I had got away from the rough weather.

Football skills!

Were now planning lessons and teaching, I am incredibly uncomfortable at the moment back has been killing me but trailing through time is going quickly which means time till new baby is going quick! 10 days till due date and another four days in Denmark! 

Me and Pants got chased by these tractors!

We also went to an awesome swimming pool, they had flumes and climbing walls, even a little pool with loads of toys and a small slide in which Ami loved. Pants was even brave enough to jump of a 20 ft diving board. Funny being in a different country going swimming people were so brazen and one of the little girls we were with asked "why is everyone nude". It helped relieve some back ache in the hot pools which is a good thing. looking forward to a busy few days then homeward and baby bound!!

Oral B love your Gums!

Tooth hygiene is important but not more so than in pregnancy. I know this as I lost a tooth in my last pregnancy, yes lost a tooth! I am only in my twenties! It all stemmed from my first pregnancy and my teeth took a big hit 3 teeth crumbled, and I sadly at the time didnt have a dentist till some time after, I was young and didn't really understand the importance to looking after my teeth.

So when I finally went to the dentist I spent alot of time in the dentist chair trying to correct the damage caused by my brital teeth. So for my 2nd pregnancy I made sure I had regular appointments and looked after my teeth, but sadly one time I noticed was a little wobbly and it just fell out! My dentist couldn't save it and I am now left with a gap until one day when I can afford to fix it!  I was sad and made to be the butt of many jokes by my husband. fortunately its not to near the front so not to noticeable.

We recently have been reviewing Oral B's Pro Expert Premium Toothpaste, now being in my third pregnancy I definitely know the importance of tooth hygiene. We have been using it both me and my husband and I for one have noticed the difference from our usual tooth paste, my teeth have stopped bleeding so much and feel clean. So far my teeth have suffered no damage this pregnancy!

My husband also has noticed the difference another member of the family with crumbling teeth and has had reduced pain in his teeth. We definitely will buy this toothpaste again as if it saves us a trip to the dentist we will be saving the pennies. The only thing my husband wasn't fond on was the taste, hes more of a minty fresh toothpaste guy, I wasn't to fussed it tasted better than some other pro gum toothpastes.

“This post is an entry for BritMums’ #ORALBLoveYourGums Challenge  sponsored by Oral-B, promoting healthy gums – something especially important for pregnant women. Get tips and advice on www.oralb-loveyourgums.com.” 

Reasons to be Cheerful week 35

Life just rushes by sometimes, a blink of the eye and its the weekend when you were sure it was only Monday. I am in that season of life, everything seems to be rushing by and I am about 10 paces behind. In this sometimes it great to see the little blessings, the little achievements that the kids make, the nice thing someone does for you. Its nice to see in the madness of life were still happy! 

1) Its finally half term, Pants has been cranky this week think he is ready for a break. He has done well at school this year and has come along loads since being back from the summer holidays. 

2) I got sent a lovely Chocolate Fragrance from the body shop as a random gift of kindness, Its was very sweet and made me smile. especially being end stage pregnancy sometimes days can be a bit funny with all the hormones, the other day I smashed a Cath Kidston mug after I knocked it off the side with my bump!

3) We got to Denmark on Saturday not looking forward to a long journey but looking forward to a bit of time with the family and keeping busy for a week! Keeping my legs firmly crossed WILL NOT be giving birth abroad if I can help it! 

4) Ami continues to be a delight she has a new Cat soft toy in which she has become inseparable very cute! She has learnt more words and is such a little mimic at the moment! She is at a lovely age at the moment everyday she is doing something new. 

5) Ive recently come to the realisation I am going ot have a baby soon, I am looking forward to a baby that's still and doesn't squirm when changing nappy or trying to get dressed.

So heres our little list of good stuff why not join in yourself. 

The Adventures Owl and The pussycat Book Review

We recently got to review this lovely book which I am so glad as we love books. We love to sit and read together as a family or just some one to one time with one of the children. The Adventure of the Owl and the Pussycat by Coral Rumble and Illustrated by Charlotte Cooke is based on the childhood Rhyme we all know and love but is so much more than that, Its an adventure and ride around the imagination and a general joy to read.

One of the things we loved the most especially Ami who is only 14 months was the little details on the pages, from a naughty seagull with glasses on or a cheeky crabs. We love a book where we can all get involved and with there only being a few lines on each page Pants was very confidant reading it. Pants loved the way the writing was on the page and the pictures, he too found great joy in finishing something different on the pages.

Pants favorite part was the poster on the cave about the naughty seagull. he liked that it said pooing he laughed for ages once he spotted it, and we kept on wanting to go back to that page! Ami's favorite part was a ball and bird which she took delight in going back to the same page to spot the ball!

After we finished the book Pants realised that it was all about using your imagination, he wants to build a boat and go sailing around the living room, sadly it was bedtime and that can be saved for a rainy day. Thats always good to see that he took in what the book was about, we loved the book and you will too so grab a copy from Amazon you will not be disappointed.

 Find out more about Charlotte Cooke who illustrated the book on her blog and on facebook. Also find out the inspiration behind the book from an interview Charlotte did on the Parragon Website here

Rainy After school fun - sewing puppets

I love the sunshine so much, it changes my mood makes me happy. I hate rain but not as much as wind, those to together make me miserable. I seen our forecast is rain for a month! ARE YOU KIDDING ME! I just cant deal with that! Ok I can and I will, we will try and find ways to be entertained indoors in the dry with tea and cake. This week we have been making puppets not sure what for maybe we can do a show with them one day..!

My son Pants who is now 7 has finally got to the stage where he is happy to sit and do a task for a long time! Something I am so not used to, for 5/6 years getting Pants to sit still for more than 5 mins was nothing more than a miracle, so recently he has been asking me to but him crafting stuff. Which is all new for me, I love crafty stuff so i am trying to pass that on to Pants.

He wanted to learn to sew so I brought him a kit to help him make a puppet, he sat for over half an hour sewing quietly only asking for help when the wool came of the needle. So whilst he was busy Me and Ami attempted to make a little puppet, a little bit ambitious for an active 14 month year old. She loves sticking things and says pat pat when doing so but she just wanted to eat the puppet, so I let her do some drawing with her dog crayons. She was happy to be joining in and seeing what me and Pants were up to. 

It was lovely to help and chat with Pants he enjoys that time, he sure is a chatterbox so was rambling on away mainly about what he wants for Christmas. I love to see how much he is coming on, I love this little pictures he draws. He is really creative and its good for him to have an outlet to do so. I must try to do more and become a bit more relaxed about craft activities, they enjoy it that's what counts! He must have been proud as he showed my husband as soon as he came in what he had made!