Back to school...

The three women in the Hammond house are back to work, nursery and school and are knackered already and the term has just begun! Anna marked her first day back by developing her enjoyment of the adventurous and forbidden by climbing out of a window in a Wendy house and falling on her nose. Lucy celebrated her first day back by being grumpy and hitting her daddy and Amy is just about to fall asleep on the couch already at 7.45pm! What are they going to be like in a couple of months time?!? I tell you, the women in my life simply have no stamina! Pace yourself ladies, there are many more long days to come and be nice to your daddy, even if you are tired, he is there to help!

Reflections on another family year..

The year of 2010 brought many ups and downs for the family Hammond. My two girls are an amazing gift given to Amy and myself that are to be cherished for every life experience that they give us. I have to confess there are days that I could strangle them and other days its all I can do to breath when I look at them. They fill me with pride, frustration and love. Lucy has done so well at school in her first term and is emerging as generous, caring and loving big sister to her barmy younger sibling. Anna's character is off the scale in bubbling wackiness, chaos and an unstoppable love of life. That's a great word to describe her - unstoppable! My favourite memories of the year have to include the nativity play, Anna's naked bike riding and 'sandwiches', Lucy's one liners that get better and better, the pictures that they have both drawn for me, the endless trumping in my house and the giggles that ensue, first trip to the cinema with Lucy, Anna really started to talk this year and has not shut up since, her Hetty hoover and above all a vast amount of cuddles and kisses from my girls. Thank you girls - I look forward to doing battle with you in this new and amazing year, preferably with less snow and slightly less trumping! Happy new year!

I told you she was mad as a hatter!

And here is the undisputed evidence. The camera does not lie in any way. The girl is totally barmy. Everybody that has come across Anna this Christmas has learnt more about her quirky character and mischievous nature and loved every minute with her...

Another Christmas rolls by...

And what a cracker it was! Anna is still too small to embrace the whole concept yet, although she has clearly understood the concept of presents for her! Lucy's excitement levels reached fever pitch as she did not go to sleep till well after 11pm on Christmas eve, as she constantly peered over the top of her duvet at her stocking waiting for a glimpse of Santa who she hoped was going to fill it! Amy and I nearly got rumbled as we played Santa and we nearly broke the heart of our little girl. She is definitely not ready to find out that Santa does not exist. That girl is a true believer! We spent the whole of Christmas hanging out with family and friends, eating lots of delicious food that we did not have to cook and the girls received so many gifts there are simply too many to mention. I do now know what a Zhu-zhu pet is though and I am particularly impressed with Anna's attack hamster! All that was missing was a small missile unit that came out of the top to destroy it's enemy and the experience would have been complete! A big thank you to auntie Kate and Libby for their hospitality on the big day and feeding us so well. I enter the new year with the smug realisation that I have finally chosen a piece of jewelry that Amy likes, that is quite literally a first and am delighted that Anna did not start any more fires. Merry Christmas to all my girls..

Firestarter!

Anna has the face of an angel and butter clearly would not melt in her mouth. However, appearances can be deceptive you know, very deceptive indeed! Anna has had quite a day, quite a day indeed. She started the day with a trip to the nurse as she has a well planned Christmas chest infection and a cough like an ill dinosaur. Despite feeling quite rough, it has not stopped her propensity for mischief or creating havoc. Her greatest feat of the day was to get the matches off the mantel piece and actually light one and the rug. I was not here but I think that Amy is still recovering! She is so inquisitive and takes note of anything you do and has clearly been watching me light the fire over the last few weeks. This is quite an accomplishment, bearing in mind the mantel piece is well over a metre high. They are now in the most inaccessible place in the house. Try and see you get them now young lady. NO more fires until you have gone to bed now either. Her other accomplishment is to hide the hair clip tub. Now, living in a house with three women, to whom the floor is their god and after they have used anything simply dump it on the floor. As the alpha male in the house you need to organise them without them knowing it and to do this you need tubs. So, for example whenever you find a hair clip simply dumped on the floor you pop it in the tub. So when they come to do their hair in the morning there is no moaning about the lack of hair clips, even though they are directly responsible for this. Usually works and reduces stress in the house. Or so I thought, my plan was not fool proof. For some reason I never bargained on loosing the tub! Oh well you win some and loose some. Anna, I will find it though....

Three more sleeps to go!

The girls have rediscovered the ability to be nice to their daddy as the week has gone on and the Christmas fever pitch is now gathering momentum in the Hammond house. All the presents are now wrapped and under the tree (please note that I did not contribute as when I wrap something it tends to put the recipient off the present altogether!), Amy's surprise present has been purchased after months of scheming and saving (please, please, please like it!) and all that is left is to wait for Santa to fill up the stockings. Amy and I are very excited as we think the girls will love the gifts that we have got them. I feel emotional thinking about them opening their presents now so I won't tempt fate. Anna, having rediscovered her 'Wiggle' today, trumped whilst sitting on our neighbour Libby's lap today, we feel she was scenting her possessions. A statement that simply said - that's my Libby! Hope she doesn't take possession of me, Libby is welcome to keep that privileged position in Anna's life if that's the only benefit!

The season of good will to all man..

Not in my bloody house it isn't! The younger section of the Hammond family have been foul today. Grumpy, unreasonable, belligerent, noisy, unsettled and fighting for most of the day. I think that the impact of such a long first term at school and nursery finally kicked in and Amy and I bore the brunt. Although there was a significant shift in excitement levels as the tree went up which signaled the beginning of the festivities. The only thing putting the damn thing up brought from me was much swearing and profanities! As my practical nature kicked in and the tree had the angle of the leaning tower of Piza; my patience dwindled and my temper grew. Anna won the prize for 'Hammond with the worst temperament' today by a country mile with my good self coming a close second...A delightful family Sunday. NOT!