Our last Halloween event was the Braehead under Fives Halloween party. Beth slept through most of it but Neive enjoyed the party games especially the wrap the mummy. She spent ages wrapping my face (I;m not sure if I should be insulted). Alison made some gorgeous ghost cupcakes. The decorations were brilliant. (Stolen Pics again from Alison's website!)
Now that Neive is a big 3, We decided she was definitely old enough to go trick or treating. Alison, Craig, Isla and Leah all came round to join in the fun. Unbelievably, none of them had ever been trick or treating before. The first house we hit had really got into Halloween and done their living room up as a haunted grotto. The kids loved it but that set the scene. The kids wandered into every persons house from that point onwards. No matter how many times we told them to wait outside. Neive and Isla performed on cue as they knew it would result in candy. They sang "baa baa black sheep" and we decided to head home when their bags were so full that Leah could no longer carry it.
I really look forward to Halloween as I am not allowed to talk about Christmas until the 1st of November (Fraser said so). So I put all my energy into Halloween. Carstairs under fives were holding a Halloween party and Neive's cousins came to celebrate. There's hardly any pics of Beth cause she slept through most of the party, all the trick or treating and all of the under 5's party. There were party games, dancing, raffles, buffet and prizes for best dressed. Neive went as cat in the hat, Becky was a wicked witch, Zack was a baddie from Ben10, I was a zombie bride, Beth was a pirate and Fraser went as himself (very scary). Isla and Leah won best costumes in their age categories. They do have the bestest dress up box which Neive always raids when we go to their house.
My dads Aunty came over to visit from Canada. She is such a lovely woman and Neive took a real shine. It's been such a long time since I even seen her last. My Gran and Aunty Julia can to stay at my mums and dads for about 5 days and I think they all really enjoyed their time. Safe journey home and we hope to see you soon.
You are such a big girl now. You have been walking since you were 9 months old and have moved onto climbing on Tables. You want to copy everything your sister does and currently you both fight over which one of mums Knees is best. You give as good as you get. You are very head strong. I though I had problems with Neive but you are just another level. You tried to get into a cupboard that you shouldn't be in and I said no and held the door shut. You started screaming like a banshee having a fit and continue to pull the door for a 10 minute stand off with me. You never gave up but I had enough and dragged you kicking and screaming to another room. It doesn't matter how I say no - you laugh and keep on doing it. Your dad is another matter. When he says uhuh to you - you burst into tears and are inconsolable. I wonder if your a daddies girl. You laugh at getting tickled, blown rasperries on you (your senstive on the neck and feet just like mummy) and riding your Rudolph. You love to dance - I have already imagined you as a ballroom dancer but your more into rock. You love to head bang in your high chair! As soon as you hear music you start twirling round in circles or balancing on one leg and stomping your other foot. You can do some sign - milk, pointing your finger to anything you want and most importantly you can dance to the wind up song (rolling your arms). You have started to say some very simple words - up, mama and dada (We have no idea where this comes from as Neive says it too and there is no Italian in our family!), door and (it sounds like) sore - probably to do with the tackles you take from your sister. Neive and you love chase tails (She sticks a tail down the back of your top) and we all run round the table till someones tail is grabbed. And hide and seek. I often ask you where's Neivey and you'll take me right to her. You can even hide and wait to be found! You are totally unobedient at walking. I recently took you and Neive to Dobbies to see the Christmas lights (yes it's only early November but am I so wrong!) and I put you down in the middle of the shop and said to come over to look at the light. You turned around and ran out the door and out the shop. Neive caught you and rugby tackled you before you got too far!! I swear Neive would have toddled after me! You love chocolate and anything sweet. Neive had half a chocolate button before she was 1 (well that and anything Granny Ducks gave you without me knowing) You have been covered in head to toe in chocolate. You love juice and at Neive's birthday party went round all the empty Capri sun cartons to finish them off. You also know when something is going to be taken off of you and you try and hide it.
Your Birthday was a much quieter affair. We went to Aunty Laura's who made a lovely birthday lunch and cake. We had a little dance and a play. I think it was just perfect for you this year.
So we booked out the soft play at addiewell for Neive birthday. It was perfect- They did the decorating. I just brought a snack for the kids. There were 17 kids in total just enough for the place. 17 kids can still be quite loud. And for once, miraculously, the mummies actually got more than 5 minutes for a catch up. Neive had a brilliant time and mummy was very relaxed too! Stolen some pics from Alison's web site as I didn't even try to take a photo - too much else to do. Does anyone know the copyright law? I have a bundle of stolen pics from Alison but they are just sooooo good.
Fraser decided a day out at Edinburgh Zoo would be a good family way of celebrating Neive's birthday. I can go on record saying that I hate Edinburgh zoo. It is a total rip off. We must have walked round 50 enclosures and seen 3 animals!!! Hence total lack of pictures. The penguin parade had four penguins in it (false advertising!) It was freezing, the food was horrible but what bugged me the most (Even more than it being built on a steep hill!)was the lack of baby facilities. I couldn't find a bottle warmer, the baby change was in the women's toilet so Fraser got out of changing dirty nappies all day scott free. Daddies do have babies too!. The play parks were not baby friendly (any of them). Fraser said he'd take them back when they are much bigger. I think I'll be washing my hair that day. baa humbug!
Mummy has gone back to work Boo Hoo!. I started training at the beginning of October. I was meant to go for a week but managed to get back up the road for the Wednesday night. Very tiring as I am trying to organise a couple of birthday parties too! Neive is overly excited about her having a birthday soon. She keeps asking when it is and I just keep saying soon honey. I actually only told her on the morning of her birthday party that we were going. I'm a meanie but I knew she wouldn't sleep and for the third year on the trot we would end up with a ratty child. God knows what she'll be like at Christmas.
Neive loves cartoon films. In fact she doesn't watch anything but cartoon films. Fraser had taped Calamity Jane (one of my all time favourites) for me to watch I tried to get Neive to watch it too and she loved it! F could not believe it! So the following week he tried her with a superman movie. Unfortunately she likes them better and we have watched all the superman movies and I'm growing tired of them! I wonder if she'd like seven brides for seven brothers? I wonder who will win this time. F is trying to get her to watch star wars!
We went on holiday to centre parcs again. We love it so much. It's just perfect for the ages of the kids. We went with mum and dad but this time Zack came along too. Neive loved having her big cousin there. We went swimming every day, mummy got her spa session again!, We did mini crossbows, balance bikes, princessess and pirates party, toddler fun and more. Cant wait to go again!
Fraser knew this was coming. He had an unlimited amount of time to delete this picture from the camera and never. So that - to me - is like silent permission - Anyway it's my favourite one. He He!
There was a monster truck rally in Edinburgh which Fraser really fancied going to. As there are three girls to just one of him I suppose he has a lot to cope with. So I thought it wouldn't be that bad seeing some manly stuff for a day. Boy was I wrong! The show was brilliant - there were planes, trucks, play parks, circus tricks, arts and crafts tent and Neives favourite - some fire engines but it was perishingly cold. I could only have Beth out in it for a little while and my feet were like ice! As I tried to explain to Fraser a days shopping in Livingston is never that cold! So it's back to the girly activities.
Neive loved deep sea world when we first took her around the same age as Beth is now. So we hoped it would go down just as well. Beth liked it and loved roaming around looking at the fishes but she is one scaredy cat! She is scared of anything that moves. Not an animal lover.
So I found an old camera card with pics of Neive when she was a baby. I can not believe the difference and I think some of the mummies will enjoy seeing their big girls as babies again.
The girls are very lucky and get invited to lots of Birthday parties. Jamie was turning a big 3 and his mum paid for all the kids to go to M and D's for the day. They started at the soft play, then the carousel, a brilliant lunch and then unlimited goes on the rides. Neive loved the dodgems and did really well all by herself. We eventually left at 4 having exhausted the girls. A brilliant day was had by all.