The hoarding wiggle...

Anna and I are playing a continuous game and it has been going on for weeks. Anna simply gathers all her possessions and puts them under her bed; no reason whatsoever. She tells me that they are her 'secrets' and I am to leave them alone. She is the ultimate hoarder and sometimes the missing items are not even her possessions! Everything that she comes across goes into one of her many bags and just gets put away for another day. She is not playing with her toys, the game seems to be the act of stashing them away. I tell you - the girl is not right! She is nothing but unique is my Anna. She loves the thrill of making me look for stuff, the problem is I am now getting the upper hand as I always know where to look. I would say I am the ultimate tactician, but that would not carry much credibility considering my opponent is three and becoming predictable!

Snowdrops and sunshine...

We had a lovely walk in the crisp February air in glorious sunshine with our neighbours amongst the Walsingham snowdrops. Good family time and a perfect finish to the half term fun. Our annual game of pooh sticks in which I managed to get my stick to go against the tide the wrong way! I have a competitive nature and I do not like losing. Some stick man antics, good company, making wishes in the well and finished up in the pub for a plate of chips. I was slightly out of my depth as Lucy asked for a potted history of Henry VIII and the disillusion of the monasteries. It has been a while since I have indulged in anything academic (about twenty years) and I have to confess to being slightly inaccurate in my description of events. So many questions and not enough answers. Lucy is so interested in the past, maybe I need to brush up on 1066 and all that. It may not sound like much or very exciting but it was just what I needed before I am away from Amy and the girls again this week...

Scooterball and mayhem...

I have been on hols this week and it has been a difficult balancing act of catching up on work, resting and making sure I have family time. The girls have been a combination of loud, bonkers, tired, grumpy, elated and a pleasure. A normal week in my house then! All accomplished apart from the resting bit.
We have invented a new game, known only as 'Scooterball'. A high speed adrenaline ride of a game full of crashes, skids, octane action and me on a pink barbie scooter. Lucy was in charge and changed the rules to ensure she won. Most people would call that cheating, not Lucy, she tells me that is girl power! Despite the continuous loss of dignity it brings, I have just loved spending time with them (apart from the endless, endless tidying up and washing)

The face of innocence...

"Butter wouldn't melt," "It could never be her," and "How can such an angel be so mischievous?" are several questions and statements that spring to mind when you view the picture of my beautiful daughter. Appearances can be very deceptive and she is a deadly and effective adversary. You name it and she will 'borrow' it and hoard it in one of her bags or hiding places. This week it was her mummy's mobile phone. I spent well over an hour looking for it a couple of evenings ago and guess where it was found? In Anna's pillow case - she had tucked it away and was now fast asleep! When challenged about this in the morning, she did not say a word, she simply smiled like a Cheshire cat and walked away with a swagger. How can you combat such a mischievous nature? If I am honest, I don't have a clue?!

On a separate note I am delighted that the girls no longer feel I am in league with Satan and it has been a much more harmonious place living in the Hammond house....

Slotting back into family life...

Has been very difficult this weekend. I have had a running battle with both the girls who have literally not listened to word I have said or done anything they have been asked to do. Their attitude to me has been as cold as the weather. I think they find it very hard when I have been away for the whole week with work and it is almost like I am invading their space and their routine. I have had rudeness, whinging, whining, ignoring, refusal, tears, tantrums and stubborn behaviour. I can't work out whether it is me or them, but I do know it has been a struggle. I had a very warm welcome upon my return and in minutes it went down hill from there. It has finished with me sending them to bed early due to further rudeness. I feel very frustrated, angry, upset and let down that I have not been able to utilise the time I have had with them. Sometimes, time away really does have such a negative impact. Family life can be about routine and familiarity and recently I have not been part of that and it has showed...

I'm telling on you!

I have been waiting for this phrase to rear it's ugly head as the sibling dynamics in my house evolve as each day goes on within our family life. Please do not get me wrong, Lucy and Anna adore each other, but they do like a good scrap and fight like cats and dogs at times. This usually happens after a bit of rough and tumble and one of them gets hurt by a whack in the face. This happened today and Lucy ran into the kitchen uttering those cursed words 'I'm telling on you!'. Anna ran in shortly after, uttering the same words, having very quickly picked up on the phrase used by her big sister.

Living with all these women, I do feel that my role will regularly take the guise of peacemaker and referee of arguments. Any day now the door slamming will begin, I already have much experience of the 'it's not fair' tactic. Fear not, I am a skilled listener and negotiator of female arguments ...

Caught in the act!

Anna and I have both been caught in the act this weekend and there is potential blackmail and photographic evidence to prove it - neither of us have a defense at all. I am pictured undertaking my proactive approach to parenting at lunchtime today and I simply have no argument to put up.

One of Anna's favourite phrases this weekend has been 'I am only borrowing it'. She has swiped one of her sister's toys and things from the house to add to the hoard she keeps in her Toy Story rucksack as well as two crisp five pound notes from her mummy's purse which I found this morning in her things! She feels she has the freedom of everything in the house at present and it is proving very difficult to teach her boundaries and understanding about respect for other peoples' belongings. Here she is pictured having 'borrowed' her sisters prize possession - her DS. What can I say, she was born with much curiosity! The flip side is her wonderful generosity in sharing all that she has with anybody...