Birthday girls

Half term saw the girls turn one and eight and although covid put pay to any bigger birthday plans we may have had we still managed to have a nice few days celebrating! 

Ivy's birthday actually fell on the last day of term so we had a bit of one on one time with her whilst L & A were at school.  There wasn't much to do options wise what with the rubbish weather and the whole of Leeds teetering on the brink of tier 3, in fact the day itself was pretty symbolic of how her entire first year on earth has been - stuck at home with little to do thankyouverymuchcorona, but she enjoyed playing with her new toys and having an entire cake to herself so it wasn't all bad. 

At one years old Ivy is a treasure. 

Birthday girls

Saturday, 31 October 2020

Week in Pictures #37

Well it's been a bit bloody warm this weekend hasn't it? 

After weeks and weeks of down pours and even the odd thunder storm, (!) on the last day of the month we finally received the weather June has owed us all along.

I woke up on Saturday morning and the air felt tropical. Not suffocatingly so in the slightest, full of opportunity would be more apt. Like we had woken up in some place far far away from Leeds. And with it I felt a desire to go outside that I hadn't felt in a long while.

Week in Pictures #37

Wednesday, 3 July 2019

Siblings in February

Siblings in February

Wednesday, 27 February 2019

Siblings in January 19

Holy squabbling hell.

January is here and it's not bought us any peace. 

ANY. 😂

Siblings in January 19

Tuesday, 15 January 2019

Siblings in August

It makes me sad that it's time for a midway August update already. The fact that we're halfway through the last summer month means the colder snap and rainier days are approaching and I'm not quite ready to give up the heat yet. Not at all actually.

I mentioned in a recent update that the best part of the holidays has been the weather. It's spoiled us. It's allowed us to do so much, to be outdoors for 95% of every day. It's meant the days have gone faster, the world has seemed brighter and the kids have been getting on better. (and 

I've unintentionally lost weight because I've been so damn busy, woohoo!)

Siblings in August

Wednesday, 15 August 2018

Siblings in July

Sometimes I wish I could just do photo logs forever. Words aren't coming easily to me these days and to be honest I'm getting to the stage where I'm wondering if they ever will again.

How sombre. 

I don't know what kind of mind block I've been going through lately but it's irritating the hell out of me. It's a bit like my whole brain is just stuck fast in some sort of thick mud and there's no moving forward. (see, how bad was that analogy? I used to be able to do better than that even on the bad days.ha ha) 

So as usual of late I'll let my photos do most of the talking for me. 

Siblings in July

Wednesday, 18 July 2018

Siblings in May

Me being me genuinely thought I hadn't taken many photos of the kids together this month.. How wrong I was! When it came to going through my folder I couldn't believe how much I'd actually taken, so prepare for some extreme sibling spam folks 😂

This month, mostly down to the weather, we've been out and about a LOT.

In fact, I think every single photo I've taken this month has been outdoors. I think May is the new July/August to be honest, the weather's been stunning and the kids have been loving it.  

Siblings in May

Tuesday, 15 May 2018

Siblings in April

Not going to lie, my past few months of sibling updates have more or less just been me moaning about how much the kids have been fighting which has been enjoyable for exactly no-one but hallelujah we seem to have finally finally come out of that stage at long last. 

Which is honestly surprising to say that we've just had the two week Easter holiday and they've more or less been in each others pockets constantly, you'd think the bickering would increase ten fold but luckily not! 

I've noticed recently that Archer's speech has suddenly come on in leaps and bounds. All of a sudden he's speaking in full structured sentences and sounding like a proper little person and I think this has brought the pair of them even closer since Lily is getting more and more conversation out of him. 
She keeps teaching him things (rude words mainly..) and he still thinks that everything she says is hilarious. It's a good sibling stage and I'm enjoying seeing them act like a little team rather than the constant squabbles we've had before so long may it last!

Siblings in April

Monday, 16 April 2018

Siblings in March

I spoke in last months update about how Lily and Archer have been fighting like cat and dog lately and this month is more of the same. 

We've carried on being more or less house bound thanks to the continuing snow fall that doesn't seem to be shifting any time soon (more forecast this weekend, ugh) and that's definitely contributing to the levels of squabbling I think. Some days you just need to be out of the house and when you can't do that, well those days just plain suck! 

There has been a few days of nice weather in between though and so I feel like I'm finally starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The worlds longest Winter may finally be coming to an end at last. 

Siblings in March

Thursday, 15 March 2018

Siblings in February

It's half term and as much as I'd love to say the kids have been getting on like a house on fire the same way they did in the Christmas holidays, it would be a downright lie haha.

For whatever reason they're fighting like cat and dog lately and honestly? it's so wearing.

Siblings in February

Thursday, 15 February 2018

A Whimsical Birthday Walk

These longer photo shoots are becoming fewer and far between lately thanks to the wet Autumn weather and so on Lily's birthday I was incredibly pleased to wake to a rare crisp and clear morning instead of the usual dull grey and it seemed fate was giving us the perfect chance to dig out the camera, let the kids run around and snap away.

Both kids were adorned with crowns and wands, Lily as the birthday princess (obviously) and Archer as her trusty (ish) sidekick. 

A Whimsical Birthday Walk

Saturday, 4 November 2017

Siblings in October

These two. They go from best buds to worst enemies faster than I can say whats happened now?'

It's half amusing, half incredibly frustrating, but also exactly how siblings are supposed to be. 

I've noticed this month that Archer's suddenly got to the stage where he notices when Lily's gone and misses her. He cries most mornings when we drop Lily off at her classroom because he knows he wont be seeing her until much later on and when it is time to collect her he chants 'sister sister sister' all the way to school. (and then within thirty seconds of being home they're back to fighting!)

I'm not sure what it is that's brought this on because for the first few weeks he was absolutely fine with dropping her at school. I'm guessing a development thing, he's suddenly putting two and two together and realising that his playmate is disappearing for big chunks of the day where as before he was pretty oblivious. 

Siblings in October

Sunday, 15 October 2017

Our week in pictures #9

Comparing this weeks photos to a fortnight ago it's almost as though you can see the seasons changing. Gone are the sleeveless rompers and short sleeved dresses and instead we're back to woolly hats, oversized jumpers, tights and wellies. I love it.

(On a side note I've been looking everywhere for some nice waterproof jackets for the kids, if anyone knows of any please get in touch!)

This week, as I mentioned in my recent siblings post, has been a week of being outdoors.

Our week in pictures #9

Saturday, 16 September 2017

Siblings in September

To say it's September and has gotten steadily colder and rainier (is that a word!?) we've spent more time outdoors in the past fortnight than I think we did the whole of August. Mostly thanks to the school run. It's been good for all of us, forcing us out into the fresh air several times a day and weirdly we all seem to have more energy since term started than we did in the holidays.

We've been doing a lot of after tea walks as I'm really conscious of the fact that its getting darker earlier and earlier and soon we wont have the opportunity to do so. Luckily for us we live on the edge of an easily accessible woods so most of these photos have been taken post school day in the woods as it's our go to place of late.

Siblings in September

Friday, 15 September 2017

Siblings in August

Why is it the weeks go so much faster in the summer? The days are longer, so technically they really shouldn't, but once again I can't believe its time for another siblings round up already. (It makes me sad that its the last summer siblings post until next year, too.)

This month has been a full on 50/50 split of my pair being bffs and mortal enemies haha. As I said in my last update Archer now walking has brought them together in so many ways. They chase each other, play hide and seek, bring each other toys and dance with one another. The list could go on. It's lovely. But it's also given archer a billion more opportunities to charge over and wreck Lily's meticulous games, which still drives her insane. I also feel like Archer now being mobile and completely steady on his feet (and boy is he) has given Lily the feeling that she's now allowed to be rougher with him. She often grabs his wrist and drags him along, causing him to fall to the ground. And there's been a fair lot of shoving going on too. Archer gives as good as he gets though as he's now in a serious biting phase! Sigh. Thinking about the way me and my younger brothers were I cant see this violent phase (can I call it violent? Seems to strong a term but I can't think of another word) getting any better as they grow older. As me and my brothers used to fight like absolute cat and dog until I turned 18 and moved away!

I've managed to get a lot of photos of my two this month luckily. I'm well aware that the nice weather is nearly gone and so I've been snapping away whilst I can.

Siblings in August

Tuesday, 15 August 2017

Siblings in June

The past few weeks have been all about playing in the garden for these two. The warmer weather has meant we can have the patio doors open and I'm really enjoying being able to sit down with a cuppa and watch them play!

Strangely the most expensive items in the garden, the swing, play house and water tray aren't getting a look in and instead both Lily & Archer having been enjoying the cheap plastic tunnels and tents I purchased a few years back and have lived in the shed ever since until recently! Now that it's summer and we're spending most of our time outdoors I'm on the look out for some more garden toys, ideally ones that wont break the bank, so if you have any suggestions or links for me I'd love for you to leave them in the comments.

Despite all the lovely garden play though I'd say this month has been the hardest month in a while in terms of sibling bonding.

Siblings in June

Thursday, 15 June 2017

Can pre imposed gender stereotypes effect kids at such a young age?

Archer loves cars. I mean LOVES them. Not just cars but trains, tractors, diggers. Anything with wheels. He has to carry one around with him at all times and believe me when I say it is quite literally all he wants to play with.

What a stereotypical boy, right?

Can pre imposed gender stereotypes effect kids at such a young age?

Monday, 22 May 2017

Siblings in May

Oh ohhhh! I was doing so well at keeping up with these and then it suddenly struck me as I sat down to do this months that I actually skipped out April entirely! Arghh! How frustrating!

Although to be honest, I'd imagine not much has changed with our pair from last month to this. 

Siblings in May

Monday, 15 May 2017

How much screen time should we be giving our kids?

Ah the age old question. The long running debate. Should we be allowing children their own tablets, Ipads, phones? and just how much screen time is too much screen time!?

Obviously each family has their own ideas of what is the right amount of screen time for their child. Some wont allow any at all, some will allow lots and many fall slap bang in the middle. As always there's no right and wrong as a general rule, just what works for you and your family.

But for me, I've started seeing a massive difference in Lily's personality since we upped her screen time.

In a really negative way.

How much screen time should we be giving our kids?

Monday, 24 April 2017

Second child syndrome.. is it a thing?

..It sure seems like it.

When I was pregnant I heard so much about 'second child' syndrome. Which is basically that your second child will always be more demanding than the first due to being the youngest and constantly vying for attention. Actually I always joked during pregnancy that because Lily was such an angel baby that our second child would be the devil child. Haha. No-one gets two laid back kids right?
I'll be honest though, I don't think any amount of wise cracks about second children from strangers at play groups, or even quips from myself, could have prepared me for just how high maintenance my second child is.

Second child syndrome.. is it a thing?

Friday, 7 April 2017