Thankfully he is 2 and not 16!

Molly-Mae: Mummy, Charlie stamped Cinderella on his willy!

Me: Charlie go and wash Cinderella off your willy!

Charlie: Cinderella won't come off my willy!

Me: Go and wash her off your willy!

Charlie: Mummy, I can't get Cinderella off my willy!

Don't you wish you were a fly on the wall and heard that conversation?

Catching Up

In the last month I have been tagged and given an award and I definitely need to thank STAR and Christy for them.

STAR tagged me with a post of 7 things you don't know about me - I've done a few of these so I am trying to think of something new that I want to share.

1. I hate guns and I am short sighted but besides that, I am actually a pretty good shot.
2. My brother once put a blanket over my body and held me down, he was messing about, but since then I have always been a little claustrophobic.
3. My family used to race light hovercraft and we traveled all over the UK and even went to Germany to race.
   
4. When I first came to the USA, I was addicted to Jerry Springer because I had never seen anything like it before in my life. I would even call my husband at work and describe to him what I was watching.
5. I absolutely hate horror movies and refuse to watch them.
6. I love Indian food but haven't found a good Indian restaurant where we live yet.
7. I wish I could be like Dr Doolittle and talk to animals.

So there are my weird and wonderful 7 things you didn't know.

Also I want to thank Christy at A lil Welsh Rarebit for this super cute "your blog is as deer to me as cupcakes" award.

So to pay it forward I am bestowing the tag and the award to anyone who leaves a comment on this post.

Where have I been

So apparently some of you think I may have dropped off the face of the Earth because I haven't been commenting on your blogs lately. So here are my top ten real excuses!

1. Since April I have been back at work, so my amount of blog time has severely been cut down.
2. Swimming lessons are back, Mon-Thurs and it takes me half an hour to get to the pool, an hour at the pool and half an hour home.
3. By the time I get the kids fed and do the "go back to bed dance every night" I am exhausted.
4. I have been to Colorado for work twice.
5. Since April Nic has been gone for 32 days and is about to embark on another 16 days away.
6. I have been spending more time outdoors.
7. I have been spending more quality time with the kids.
8. Sometimes when I have been using the computer all day at work the last thing I want to do in my spare time is turn on my computer.
   
9. I was wondering whether I should call it a day with the blog but I love reading all your blogs and sometimes like the recent "swimming lessons for parents" I sometimes feel I need to share my voice. Plus you guys were great counselors for my "Crushed 36 years later" post and you were much cheaper.
   
10. Finally and this is the most important I have been reading your blogs on the Itouch but I am really crap at 1 finger typing and I always want to say so much more than I do on the Itouch.

So there you have it. I really have been reading the Itouch in bed, because you know there is no romance in our house with dogs on the bed, kids coming in to the bedroom in the middle of the night, so what else is a girl to do but read blogs.

A swimming lesson for parents

Yesterday I saved a little girl from drowning. It was one of those, in the right place at the right time moments.

My own kids were taking part in swimming lessons and it was one of those chaotic moments when the recreational swim was over and the swimming lessons were starting. Children were getting out of the pool as a whole swarm of children were going in for swimming lessons. Teachers were gathering their kids. Molly-Mae's teacher went to get a step for some of her little ones to stand on. Another teacher and the lifeguard were removing the rope barrier. There were little ones everywhere.

You know as a parent you become hypersensitive to the cries of kids. I heard a shout that definitely did not sound like the squeals of delight that were coming from all around me. I was in the water carrying Charlie to his class and as I span around to work out where the noise was coming from, I could see this little girl completely submerged, arms flailing and she definitely was not playing around. I don't think I've ever moved so fast! I grabbed the girl by the arm and yanked her out of the water into my arms. Holding her and Charlie close to me as she coughed, sputtered and cried. I looked around me, still no adults. Molly-Mae's teacher came back with the step and I asked her if this little girl was one of her students, she was. I handed the frightened little thing over to her teacher, grateful for the happy ending.

She had waded in to get to her regular spot and just went to far. The more she panicked the deeper she was getting. As a parent, especially with swimming, let this be a warning, never take your eyes off your child, because believe me no-one noticed her.

Kiss Chase

Today was costume day at preschool. Molly-Mae decided she would wear her brand new authentic Spanish dress that Grandpa had sent from Spain. Charlie made a fabulous Winnie the Pooh!

When I came back to pick them up I saw my little Spanish girl chasing some poor boy around the hall trying to kiss him. The little guy was desperately trying to escape her clutches, the whole time her dress was swishing around him and her neck protruded forward with clenched lips sticking out. I stood and watched her for a moment, torturing this little man and eventually I called her name. She came over to me looking a little sheepish and all I could think of is "Boy, am I in trouble".

Update

First of all - thank you to everyone who left a comment, emailed and even called me about my last post - your thoughts and kindness have made me realize that I am wasting to0 much energy on the past and I need to concentrate all that energy on the present and what I have got in my 2 beautiful kids. So that is my intention, and I feel good about it.

Secondly, remember my horror story of Charlie dropping my external hard drive on the floor, well we are talking $1200 for data recovery. Lets just say this will never happen again, as I am buying 2 external drives and backing up one of them every month. But - and it is a big but - how can I remain mad at him when he looks like this. You just can't beat Thomas the Tank Y-fronts and Wellington Boots.

Thanks Rachel for sending me this photo, it made my day.

I am currently in Colorado for work till the rest of the week, no kids, its raining and it is now 1.11 am - I need to go to bed but I am just enjoying the peace and quiet. I can look out of my room and see the Flatirons - a mountainous terrain, beautiful.

Oh and one last thing my 2 year old son turned to me the other day and said "I don't like this mummy its crap" as he picked at the food on his plate. Needless to say I was horrified and quizzed him immediately where he learnt the word - Oh the joys of going to preschool!!!

Thanks again everyone I really do appreciate all the comments you made.