Long awaited update



Hi Everyone,
 you will have noticed we've been quiet since Christmas, well it's not that we haven't been busy, but I have been lucky enough to have been quite busy with work.  Even my work blog has ground to a halt once more (another new years resolution bites the dust).

I thought it was about time I tried to update everyone.

Kai, is doing well at school, I'm surprised at how quickly his reading has improved and his his maths work coming on a treat.  He's had awards recently for being able to read data from a bar chart of Smarties  and also "star of the week" for being polite, well mannered and generally good behaviour in class (something strange must happen to him in the car journey home from school).
He goes to an arts activity club on a Tuesday after school (one night they painted his face for him it's supposed to be a dinosaur), It's for 4-12 yrs old and he seems to love it, although it does help his best mates from school Chris and Sarah the twins are there too.  He's still into his trains, loves watching Scooby Doo and probably is fed up of his Mummy and Daddy telling him they used to watch it when they were little too.

Dino-Kai

Sun-shades

Alana is growing up fast.  She loves doing whatever her big brother does but she's also into girlie stuff.  She's turning a right little dare-devil,  She loves to climb indoor and outdoor play centres, crossing rope bridges, the only time she needs a bit of help is when she tries climbing the bigger steps and sometimes needs big bro to help her up.  She loves her dollies and is getting into Barbie.  She loves watching Humpf from Nick Jr and the Barbie films.   Both she and Kai enjoy watching Disney films and we're been to the cinema a few times this year to see things like Tangled, Gnomeo and Juliet  and Rango. 

Are you Sure Mum?



Sharing our picnic with a range of dolls



little miss dare-devil

Ain't no stopping her now!

On our way to a picnic

I'm well, been busy with Pippas Web  some web design, some work on search engine optimisation and I've had a few moment to re-design my twitter and facebook fanpage. 

Mark's had a bit of a rough time lately, he's known since before Xmas that his department at work was going be moving people over to another hospital trust in Stoke.  However he'd also figured out they didn't need another deputy manager.  However since then the trusts have been fighting over him, well over who would make him redundant.  It turned out two days before the big "move" (end of march) that his HR dept said it wasn't worth fighting it out anymore (no kidding)  anyway the upshot is he now is undergoing his 30 day consultation period before being made redundant, he'll be paid up to the end of May but at the moment we're still unsure if they're expecting him to actually be at work till then or give him the money in lieu of notice.  He's been applying for loads of jobs all over the country, so if you know of a payroll deputy manager or manager position going anywhere please do let us know.
He's got an interview next week in Nottingham.  We drove over there today, looks a nice area, there's a big country park near by which we also visited.  So maybe I'll be able to indulge my fascination Robin Hood (which I've had since childhood). 

So for now, all I can say is watch this space.....  oh and maybe leave us a message below and tell us what's been happening to you.

Xmas goodies

Inspired by Kirsty and Phil and their Christmas parties, the kids and I have been getting creative.  We've been making polar bears and penguins for the top of our Xmas cake (OK the cake was shop bought but you can't have everything. 

If you want to make you own polar bear

We had some left over marzipan and made a Santa and pressie too.

Oh and don't forget the mince pie we made yesterday, they taste amazing.  Here's the recipe

Hope you have as much fun making them as we did.

Happy Christmas.

XXX

Xmas panto fun

Have some fun and let someone else make a donation.

Here's the Haines family panto or heres the full address http://www.worldsfastestpanto.com/?guid=23730f13-c384-468d-83bf-969947c61413
After you've seen us, make your own and post the link in the comments box below or email it to us so we can share.

For all this fun O2 make a donation of 50p for every panto made upto a set amount of course. The money is going to Think big

Birthday Wishes link

In case you subscribe to this blog you will have received yesterdays blog about My Mum's birthday. However unless you looked on the blog itself you would have missed the video. So for anyone who missed out here's the link.
Haines family sing happy birthday.

Birthday wishes

Tomorrow is my Mum's birthday. We had planned to go up this weekend but the weather has scuppered our plans. So I thought I write this blog for her.

I just want to say I'm your number one fan. You appear cool calm and most of all confident (even if you do then fret about it after). You talk sense and give great advice, even if we don't always listen.
I would like to say a big big thank you for everything you do, my sounding board, my proof /sense reader, my concious and my guide.

I wish we lived nearer so I could repay all your help to me, when I've been ill, or at a loss what to do.

We all love you so much.

I think that you have two more little fans that have something they wanted to say something to you.



Happy birthday Grandma XXXX

Bad hair day for Children in need.....

Kai's school decided on holding a bad hair / non uniform day.  A lot of time and effort went into some of the other kids hairs, some were spray painted stripes and pipe cleaner creations, but for Kai we just about made it look messy.  Mainly by gelling it last night trying to get it standing up right, then making him sleep in it, then more gel this morning.
Thought you might like a look.

Apparently Bad hair day = Monster face too.

Poppy Day

Last week on the way to a firework display, Kai turns to us and says

"I need to get a rose, so I won't die",

well as you can imagine this kind of took us by surprise but with a little probing we worked out that his school were selling poppies, and I tried to explain to him that they were to remember people who had been in wars. 
Now we don't do Guns toy or imaginary in our house, so having to explain war and why we want to remember people to a four year old was quite tricky, but he seemed happy with the idea by then of our discussion.

He got his poppy and today being poppy day I suggested he put it on.  Well Kai's uniform is made up of a polo shirt under his jumper so the only button hole is front and centre.  I put the poppy in and within two mins he wanted it off because it way annoying him.
When I tried to persuade him to keep it on for a bit his response was

"I can remember the people, without it"

I think this is something we should do every day.  Whilst I am greatful for those who have or do serve their country I wish for a more peaceful future where guns are not a children's toy and people respect each other regardless of where they live, what religion they follow and what colour eyes they have.