Oh it's been a struggle this week...

Last Sunday I told you that the girls desperately needed a break and that tempers have been fraying to say the least. How true that was as every day this week has been an uphill struggle complete with mass stropping, tired rudeness, both girls forgetting their manners and their general lack of any sense of humour. You could say that parenting has been a thankless task this week. Anna finished this off with the most almighty of strops as Amy dared to suggest that it was bed time the other night! (pictured left with slightly satanic eyes) Lucy has taken to evaluating everything I do and telling me that I am doing it wrong and neither will do a damn thing I ask them too. I am not a happy bunny. I do however understand they are worn out and will give them the grace of half term and a rest before I totally blow my top. I, on the other hand do not have the grace of half term and my family will just have to submit to my grumpiness!!

Fighting and magic...

The girls have not stopped fighting, moaning and grumping all weekend. As we approach the end of this half term it is very evident that they really do need a break. However despite the full scale war that has erupted in my house this weekend there have been some truly magical moments that have shown me what a bond they also have with each other too. Lucy is very protective of her little sister and is also the only person in her eyes who can give Anna 'verbal' and a hard time too. Yesterday, they played together for almost an hour without barely a squeak. All they needed was a cushion, two books, some beads, a tea towel, their imagination and hey presto! You have a pirate ship and some treasure! Apart from that - we have had tiredness, tears, tantrums and a full on fight at 6am this morning. God knows what they will be like when they are teenagers, but thanks for the pirate ship memories. Anna's 'Ha, Ha me hearties' was memorable indeed! P.S. just sat in the deckchair in the yard and it collapsed. I was delighted as Lucy offered me the Mr Happy ice pack. No dignity...

Book worm...

A really nice thing happened yesterday. Lucy read all of one of her school reading books with me. I was delighted and she did so well. Amy and I tend to have different roles in the girls lives and I have often spoke of how hard I find it to teach the girls academic things and support them in their learning. Lucy did a great job and I was just pleased that I held onto my fears long enough to talk her through it. It may not set the world alight in terms of a major event, but it meant a great deal to me and the hug we had afterwards finished off the experience. I keep mentioning it, but the small things can sometimes be the most memorable. Just as memorable is that Anna and I seem to have called a truce on our battle for the last few days too. Watch this space!?!

Music to my ears!

I have had a mishap with my car; taking out the whole of my back bumper attempting to avoid running over the cat and having a very physical argument with the water pump at the back of the house. I have to say swear words were used and I feel a complete and utter Muppet. Thankfully the cat is OK! Lucy quite simply thinks the whole thing is hilarious and celebrated this with a song this morning. I came downstairs to Lucy pounding the pink piano in the hall way singing 'Daddy crashed the car! Daddy crashed the car!' Thank you Lucy for celebrating my misery and really raising my levels of self worth, self esteem and making me feel even more stupid that I actually am. My response is: duly noted and I will calmly wait for my revenge....

I am not your friend anymore Daddy!

I had forgotten about the battle for independence than ensues with a nearly three year old and Anna has defiantly drawn the lines of battle. The most used phrase in our house this week has definitely been 'I am not your friend anymore Daddy'. The main battle has been simply getting her to go to bed and stay in the bloody thing! Amy and I have really struggled to even have one evening together, as our time is spent going up and down the stairs to stop her getting up to her latest mischief and get her to sleep. I have to confess to being a tad weary today as a result of this. It is all coming back to me in glorious technicolour in that Lucy did the exact same thing at this age. I know she will settle down, lets hope sooner rather than later! The terrible twos kicked in today as she had a mighty strop with Amy in Tesco whilst demanding that she was bought some new knickers. Just ask Anna, it would be much quieter and simpler and may bring you the result you want. That is definitely some food for thought for my youngest daughter...

We're all having a right royal time this weekend...

What a fabulous weekend! A royal wedding on Friday which I thankfully managed to miss all of, but Amy and the girls had a cracking time with Auntie Kate, Granny and crew. They even got themselves on the telly celebrating in Wells. Anna and Lucy ably showing my contempt for the whole affair. Today we have eaten huge amounts of food relaxing in the sunshine with our neighbours and chilling out. Great burgers Libby! A spot of gardening yesterday, coffee outside the bistro, popped to see Grandma today and even managed to get the buddlier growing out of the chimney out with a little help from Ben. Lucy said I was bonkers as I attached pole after pole together and attempted to pull the irritating plant out. In the end my practical nature overcame the problem! The best part about this weekend has been those calm and intimate little moments with the girls that have been so memorable. Watering the plants with Anna this evening, taking Lucy swimming yesterday and the conversation we had about 'sat navs', watching Lucy play with her Dalmatians this morning and Anna turning Amy and I into a 'nugget' with her magic wand and the beaming smile that ensued every time she did it. They won't mean anything to anybody else. Just small moments between a father and his children that mean so much..