Cabin fever sets in......

Cabin fever has indeed set in within the Hammond house. The weather continues to be inclement as do the moods of the women in my life! Snow, snow go away, come again another day. It's a parents worst nightmare when you can't take the kids out and are stuck in the house for days on end or restricted to a walk into town, they just simmer and explode. Lucy has battened down the hatches and simply wants to hibernate and watch telly. Please god, don't let me have to watch yet another piece of children's telly or a DVD, I cannot cope any more. She did draw this wonderful picture though of a land of princess's and castles - she talked me through it with vivid imagination.

Anna has been intent on trashing the house and leaving a trail of destruction where ever she had gone. The floor is her playing field and to play the game she must empty every box and cupboard onto it. AHHHHHHHHH! I have tried to get them to do stuff with me but to no avail. Snow does strange things to women indeed. I will be eternally mystified.. 

A snow day with the cold shoulder!

Today I found myself stuck at home with the girls after school was cancelled and trying to balance entertaining them and working from home. Needless to say this was an arrangement that none of us were keen on and did not on reflection go very well at all. Quickly cabin fever set in, tempers frayed and I struggled to get anything done or either of them to understand what I needed to achieve just to get through a working day. We survived the day (just about) and tolerated each other and made it to 4pm when Amy got home. As if by magic the girls mood changed and then the impeccable behaviour kicked in. Oh happy days! Needless to say I hope the snow melts tomorrow!

How can you not resist giving her a kiss!

Anna and I were in Starbucks the other day and while we were waiting for my coffee we were prating around. One of those really amazing and special one-to-one father and daughter moments you treasure. We were pretending to be posh and kiss each other on each cheek and saying 'darling so good to see you, do you come here often!' After several failed attempts and much giggling the grumpiest of women tapped me on the shoulder and said 'do you really think that is appropriate'. I guess she meant kissing my daughter. Hell yes, this is one scrumptious and kissable child, my youngest daughter and I will always smother her with affection while I can. In a few years she will be embarrassed if her old dad gives her a kiss, so I say get in their whilst you can. The lady behind me had obviously been reading the Daily Mail too much and become stupidly moral or she was a bit posh and we might have offended her with our comedy posh accents. Either way - kissing my lovely girls on the cheek and showing them I love them will always be top of my agenda. One day I will not be here to show them how much they mean to me and have changed my life. The bond I felt for those few silly moments with Anna - eye to eye, face to face and just giggling felt wonderful and unbreakable. So bite me, you grumpy old woman in Starbucks, you are obviously starved of affection and love and do not know it's wonderful impact. Love you Wiggle x

Would you want to eat your tea with.....?

When asked to come up with an imaginary character to come to tea on a questionnaire at Pizza Express - this is what Lucy came up with! The one eyed, booger breath, three armed, Christmas tree monster. Not bad at all. That is one fantastic imagination that my eldest has! I am not sure that this monster is a house guest that I would readily let in my house or invite for a meal. I think we might become the tea! I think Lucy's reaction says it all. Just a silly story and excuse to use my favourite picture of 2012 again in the blog. Happy new year to all my girls and I look forward to another year of family life. x

 

You are still the woman for me Mrs Hammond!

She was the one for me the first time I saw her and after seventeen years together and ten years of marriage Amy still does it for me, in fact more so than ever! We have had good times, hard times and amazing times and I would not change a minute of our life together at all. Mrs Hammond you might possibly be the most lovable and frustrating person ever!

 

Without a doubt the greatest gift Amy has given me is being a dad, although after the last few days I might change my mind. The girls have been in gang up mode and very high maintenance indeed, probably a come down from the Christmas excitement.  Lucy has come up with a few great phrases though that need to go into the blog just for the need to really embarrass her in later life. I asked her if she has some cream in her bedroom as my belt was rubbing  and she said 'my knickers do that daddy if they are slightly too small but I like it!' This morning I looked at her and told her that she was getting very tall. She stood next to me and said that she 'comes up to my nipples now - ooh la la!' To say she is growing up and becoming very 'aware' is an understatement. What I am to do. Bringing up girls will certainly have its challenges in the future. Anyway I digress. Happy anniversary Amy - you are much loved, even though you are a pain in the arse!

Jingle Buzz!

 What a Christmas day! All presents had been opened by 7.30am and our house has been a truly happy place with smiles galore! The girls (including Mrs H) have been spoilt rotten. Anna has had a 'boy' themed day with a buzz outfit (worn all day), a gun, a bow and arrow, attack backugans and many more. Lucy's  (looking good at 6.30am)swag consisted of  things such as a princess dress, barbie DVD's, jewellery box, magic set and all things girly. Lucky girls indeed. A Double header of brunch and lunch at Libby's with gorgeous food have made for a fantastic day. I am now ready for a sleep as we all vegetate in front of the television as every cracking Christmas day should finish. Lucy has started on the dipping chocolate and warm milk - umm! Merry Christmas to my lovely family. I got many wonderful gifts but those smiles were definitely the best present I got today...

Locked and loaded!

We are ready for the big day. The tree is up and decorated, the presents are nestling under the tree, Mrs Hammond has been frantically baking festive treats and with just two more sleeps to go the levels of excitement are rising in the Hammond house. Santa is on his way. Lucy is being as sceptical as ever about the big man's existence and then contradicts herself by writing a letter of a card to Santa and Mrs Claus. She then contradicts herself more by putting in the card 'are you real?' One thing she seems very assured about is that some of the presents are for her!

 

Probably the best Christmas feature in the house is what I now affectionately call the 'wall of popularity'. Lucy and Anna have so many cards from all their friends, teachers and various people that the only place to put them was on the wall in the kitchen. Times change when you are older - I have five cards! My colleagues have been so generous in their gifts, the main problem was that most of them were for the girls, whom they have never met! Children seem to have this affect on grown ups, you will not catch me buying presents for children I have never met. Bah humbug!