714. 52/52.

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Joshua, bubbles are his favourite & one of the few words he can say very clearly.

Daniel, trains are his favourite & he will spend hours playing with the tracks my uncle gave us! 

I am so proud of myself for keeping up with this project for a whole year. Sure, I have often had to make do with an iPhone picture and I haven't always posted then on time, but I've had so much fun playing around taking them! Looking through them all made me smile, and cry a little at how big both my boys have got! I'm undecided about whether I'll be joining in next year, I might try and do a family picture a week but with the 365 I'm planning I can't decide whether that'll make it easier or harder!! Thank you so much to Jodi for hosting this wonderful project, I've absolutely loved finding new bloggers & friends every week, I'm so inspired by you all! 

What are you planning on doing with all your 52 pictures now this year has finished?! I was thinking maybe a little photobook! 

Inspired by the wonderful Jodi, from Che and Fidel.

713. Our Week.

001. We had a fun& festive filled last week at school. I watched Daniel's super sweet Nativity play, twice, he was just signing but they all did a great job! Daniel got to watch a pantomime too, and do a bunch of Christmas crafts. I spent four days making giant paper mâché Christmas puddings and fingerprint reindeer cards! & now we're out for two weeks, woohoo!

002. We made reindeer food for Daniel's friends at nursery, it's important to me to teach him the joys of giving, not just receiving. I figured the kiddos probably get enough sweets and chocolate, and wanted something inexpensive, so oats, coloured sugar and glitter went into cellophane bags and tied with a little note saying "Sprinkle this reindeer food outside tonight, The moonlight will make it sparkle bright, As the reindeer fly and roam, This will guide them to your home." They loved it, and I can't wait to put ours out tomorrow night!

003. Joshua's sleeping is still not great. I have grand plans on implementing some of the tips from the book I read last week, but I keep waking up with him in our bed & no recollection of bringing him in! I think I'm just too tired, especially with him waking up at 4am this morning and not sleeping again until 6! I just can't feed him at that time anymore, he doesn't feed properly and it's too painful, so Plan B it is. I'll probably write another update post soon too.

004. I cannot believe how close it is until Christmas! I'm pretty ready, I have our Christmas Eve pyjamas and film ready, and we're seeing the boys' godmother in the evening before I pop out for a drink with friends. I have a some of last minute deliciousness to sort in the kitchen but I need to pop to the shop for margarine and it's been raining all day so I was avoiding it! I've been wrapping, finished it tonight while watching The Santa Clause and drinking Baileys. SO CHRISTMASSY!

005. Happy Christmas Eve Eve!

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx

712. 51/52.

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Daniel, sporting a smart new haircut, just in time for Christmas.
Joshua, the best I could get, he way way more interested in his gingerbread bear (read, eating all the sweets!).


Inspired by the wonderful Jodi, from Che and Fidel

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx

711. Christmas time. Fashion Friday.

Christmas time. by bethxlove featuring a mini skirt

My Christmas 'do outfit. We're out at Colin's tonight & I'm a little fancier but there's still glitter involved!!

Sharing five things about me, thinking of linking up to five things Friday in the new year! 

I was born at 3:15pm on the 10th July 1990.

I cope surprisingly well losing sleep. Luckily! 

I would have a football team worth of children if it was up to me. 

Colin I have been together for nearly five years. We had a pretty whirlwind romance but I've never been happier, I know he's my soulmate. 

Instagram, and blogging, is so inspirational to me.

Lots of Love

Momma B

xxx

710. 49 & 50/52.

Daniel, trying to avoid the camera, typical cheeky three-year-old.
Joshua, more interested in the snowman than smiling.



Daniel, epically failing at no-nap Wednesday, too cute not to share.
Joshua, we're starting sleep training with this little monkey, next week....

"A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Only the second time I have got behind with this series, which is pretty good going for me!
Also, I didn't even realise the second lot of portraits had the same theme until I just put them together, I chose them separately!


Inspired by the wonderful Jodi, from Che and Fidel

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx

709. Our Week.

Two poorly boys, an exhausted Mama, lots of cookies, extra snuggles, movies galore. That pretty much sums up our week last week! It felt like it was hectic yet we didn't do very much!
This week is going to be all about Christmaaaaas! Films, crafts, music, wrapping, card writing & delivering, treats, organising and decluttering, ready for the big day!

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx

708. Something Special.

Something Special. by bethxlove featuring diamond jewelry

A little bit of grunge, taking me back to the '90s! I love the understated glam of a leather jacket & leopard pumps, especially with a bit of sparkle too! 

I'm on the hunt for a new skincare regime & foundation. My skin is awful at the moment, I haven't broken out this much since is as pregnant & I'm all red and blotchy. I'm just using a cheap OLAY cleanser & toner, and don't want to splash out too much but it IS Christmas. On the foundation front, I need something that really stays put all day, mine always disappears by lunchtime, it's ridiculous! Any suggestions ladies?! 

Lots of Love

Momma B

xxx

707. Oh Christmas Tree. WW.

A Christmas tradition, putting up the tree at my parents' with the whole family. Also traditions, the Christmas music in the background, the chocolates and the Baileys. New traditions include pulling off nearly every ornament we put on (Joshua Reg!), I love all the new traditions that come with kiddos at Christmas, even the annoying ones (like barking "No! Don't touch that!" Every 3.55 seconds!

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx

706. Leaves, and life lately.

I've been feeling rather uninspired and, let's face it, lazy recently. Favouring sleep over most everything, except mindlessly browsing the internet. I have such grand plans for every day, every evening, but rarely have the energy to do them. Partly to blame is the 18-month-old who shall remain nameless that has been keeping me up all night. Poor monkey isn't well still, but I can't seem to work out why, he's screaming presumably because he's tired half the time but refusing to sleep. Oh, babies.
I've been meaning to do a 'photoshoot' (I use that term very loosely!) in the autumn leaves for months, and these aren't perfect, but life rarely is. The boys had so much fun throwing and kicking the leaves, giggling away! Every time we walk home they ask to do it again, but the weather hasn't been great - dirty leaves I can deal with but dirty, wet, muddy leaves I cannot. Maybe tomorrow will be a good, dry day for it, and the park too. I'm taking my camera to watch Daniel in his nativity so that would be just perfect.

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx

705. Our Week [109]

001. We are not the healthiest household at the moment. Both the boys started the week with coughs so I took them to the Dr, after a half hour wait we were told it was only viral (you may have seen me rant on Twitter, I am still buying my own stethoscope!) and to expect another week. Well, Daniel's seems better but Joshua is worse, though their noses are both running like taps. He's so miserable, uncontrollable crying & he's so tired but struggling to sleep. Calpol is taking the edge off I hope but he's barely eating, fingers crossed he feels better soon. Colin's been moaning all week about feeling ill too, and now I'm feeling all sinus-y. I'm exhausted too, J has been up half the night for the last few days, sad face.

002. We've been Christmas-ing it up though, to take our minds off things! We've started our advents & the boys have been getting so excited about their special books and chocolates! Christmas music has been basically non stop, the house is covered in tinsel & I've been burning a delicious spiced apple candle all week! We have written letters to Father Christmas, made & decorated salt dough ornaments (OH MY LIFE THE GLITTER!! I let J loose with a pot or three, it kept him happy and quiet, but jeez Louise, it's everywhere!!), baked cookies, written Christmas cards & even watched a seasonal Bob the Builder this morning (while I attempted a cheeky ten minutes of extra sleep, fail.) Thanks to Pinterest I have a ton more ideas lined up too!

003. I went out out for our work Christmas 'do on Friday, dinner at our local pub & a disco. I haven't laughed so hard in a long, long time! I ate the hugest pie I have ever seen and drank a little too much Prosecco, then threw some shapes on the dance floor with some of my favourite people. I had a housewarming to go too, and was reluctant to leave, but I'm glad I did. More of my favourite people, cookies and more dancing! The best Friday night for a while!

004. This weekend was a good 'un all round really. Colin took us to see the giant Christmas tree in town before heading to my parents' for brunch yesterday. Family naps happened, which always makes a weekend great. The boys and I helped decorate my parents' tree last night, while Colin was out at his work 'do, complete with Baileys and Celebrations. We saw Colin's Grandparents for brunch today & exchanged gifts, my Christmas jumper has had a right workout. Speaking of which, GAP got me again with their discount, I ordered Daniel a Christmas jumper, and a new coat for J too. I have grand plans for a spending ban next year, wish me luck!

005. More festive cheer, visits to Grandma & to see my lovely godson, as well as a de-clutter and clear of the house on the to-do list this week. I'm hoping if I write it here I'll actually do it. I did do my bedside already, so that's a start! The power of positive thinking, that's my motto for the week!

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx

704. Lazy Sundays.

Now I'm working weekdays, weekends are extra special. Quality time with the boys, dance parties, arts and crafts, baking and trips to the park are regular occurrences on the weekends. A typical outfit is jeans or leggings and a v-neck t-shirt (my favourites are from H&M, surprise surprise!)
Our Sundays are usually very lazy, starting slowly with some cartoons and a 'fancy' breakfast, sometimes brunch with my parents. Colin's often at work or playing golf, so I potter around getting laundry done and minimal cleaning, before settling on the floor with my boys and a cup of fruit tea. Trains, diggers and cars are favourites. After lunch we all take a nap and then head over to Nana & Grandad's for dinner. We're often in our pyjamas for at least half the day & it's nice to not have to rush anywhere, everything is more relaxed on a Sunday.
This weekend I have my work Christmas meal, a housewarming party, a Christmas meal with Colin's extended family, and a Christmas film night with my boys. Anything but lazy really, but comfort is still pretty key (always!) & this outfit will no doubt make an appearance. I'm thinking about a sequin skirt, black tights and a cosy jumper for my work 'do, understated fancy. Christmas jumpers mandatory for our Sunday dinner of course!

Lots of Love
Momma B

703. #toddlermeals

Penne pasta with carrot, cucumber and cheddar cheese sticks.


Rice and Ella's Kitchen full of beans Pork Stew with hearty veg, another perfect quick-dinner!


Gnocchi in a tomato sauce, mince with grated courgette and carrot.


Dinosaur toast with butter, sliced bananas and raisins.


Lamp chops, potato wedges, broccoli and peas.


Breadsticks, crackers, sour cream dip, cucumber, apple slices and cheese & onion crisps.


Homemade chocolate chip oat cookies and vanilla ice cream.

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx

702. Our Week [108]

001. Monday involved a visit to my gorgeous Godson, a trip to the park and baking cookies. Best day ever!

002. I sucked at taking pictures this week. A lot. I had a bunch of tidying and organising to do, as well as getting things ready for a book party and two Christmas Fairs (which were both absolute busts, which also sucked). This week is all about quality time and having SO. MUCH. FUN. All sorts of Christmas crafts and baking to do, Pinterest ahoy!

003. We put up our Christmas decorations at the weekend, we convinced Daddy to let us put them up on Saturday, even though 'it wasn't December'! We have our adverts ready, a chocolate one and a wrapped book/DVD one, there is tinsel everywhere and I plan on investing in some more fairy lights to turn this place into our own winter wonderland! I just bought two little white trees after seeing a ton on IG & loving them, plus Daniel asked so nicely for one in his room!

004. We saw Father Christmas twice this weekend! First at the school fete, then again at a soft play centre's Christmas party. Joshua was a little scared at first but no tears (though that always makes for a hilarious picture!) We had fun last night at the party, my boys are a lot braver than I am! The giant super-fast slide was a firm favourite, and it's fun to see Daniel's independence grow - he found a couple of friends from school and was off! Joshua was playing with a friend too, which was adorable!

005. Vampire Diaries series four is on UK Netflix, finally! I'm three episodes in and had to make the difficult decision to take a nap over watching a few more today, we have NOT been sleeping well. The boys both have nasty coughs and I think I'm suffering from a little insomnia. I'm really struggling to get to sleep, even when I'm exhausted! I have an old-lady plan to go to bed a little earlier and read my book to help, but that's been ruined tonight by Mission Impossible Ghost - not usually my type of film but I'm loving it!

Lots of Love
Momma B
xxx