I play the strangest roles in my children's lives?!

Not content with 'sharing the love', Anna has taken her expectations of her father to a new level and has declared my new role in her life is her 'fart pillow'. I have to say I am less than happy about this; the working conditions suck, the pay is really poor and the boss is extremely demanding! Let alone it probably is not so good for my health either. So darling Anna, with the greatest of respect, I am afraid I resign from this post with immediate effect - I would like to thank you for the opportunity and I wish you every success in your new venture and hope that you find a replacement quickly as I realise this is a key role in your life!

She cracks me up!

Anna's comic timing and sense of humour continues to develop and at times she has me crying with laughter. As a family we do like to indulge in some baseline 'good old fashioned British toilet' humour and some readers may not approve. Its just the way our family is (we do work hard with the girls to counsel them about learning the appropriate forum for each type of humour though) However, last night she came up with a great catch phrase relating to breaking wind. Having stood up and let one go, she calmly declared 'smell the love Daddy, smell the love!' I could not be disapproving or tell her off as hard as I tried as the tears we rolling down my cheeks. This truly was a classic one liner with impeccable timing! Just make sure this phrase is not used at school please Wiggle x

Tinkering with delight!

A great cinema date with Lucy today warmed up the day on a cold January Sunday. Off we popped, armed with a big bag of sweets and a newly crocheted scarf by Amy to watch 'Tinkerbell and the Neverbeast'. I would not say this was my cup of tea, but the excitement it induced in Lucy was enough to give me much interest. We giggled, whispered and munched our way through the film as a critical attack of the trumps overcame me! Once again very proud of Lucy and her hard work at school has paid off as she is one of the first in her class to gain her pen licence, allowing her to write with a pen instead of a pencil. This is due to the level of progression she has made. Well done Lucy xx

Happy New Year Hammonds!

Another year has rolled by in the lives of my family. It was, at times a pretty tough year with work in particular putting a real strain on family life. We are, however, a tough bunch and having ridden the wave, come out the other side with positive vibes and business developing nicely (no complacency - I promise) 2015 has started with a bang with a couple of fabulous days as a family. On New Years day, armed with Anna's Christmas rock hammer - we went fossil hunting on West Runton beach and came back with a few finds including a possible bone and a couple of sea fossils! It could have been an even more pleasurable experience if it was slightly warmer! Though we did celebrate the first day of the year with an ice cream in Sheringham, you just can't not! Then home to a lovely warming fire and playing with Lego for the whole afternoon - to the right can be witnessed my greatest Lego creation! All my own work I promise! Today has surprised me greatly. I actually enjoyed a shopping trip with the girls despite visits to blot (again), the Disney store (again) and best of all I showed no fear as we entered the ultimate girlie shop in Claire accessories! We even found Anna some moustache decorated braces! I know they sound bizarre and odd, but when you see them they are fantastic. Happy New year girls. May this year bring you all the happiness, contentment and love you bring me (maybe with a few sleepless nights, vast financial expense, the odd argument, little personal space and the need to be super organised every day all thrown in for good measure as well!) xx

The season of taking luncheon and bracing walks...

In order to combat the post Christmas blues the Hammonds have set about a programme of lunches out and bracing walks in the winter Norfolk sunshine. Yesterday  enjoying the fantastic hospitality of the Chamberlain family in front of their warming fire and delicious Gammon. Today, taking in the delights of the 'Three pigs' in Edgefield and a walk in Holt country park with the Ertan clan. Great to see everybody! I think these days were needed as the girls continue to wind down from the Christmas excitement and blow out the cobwebs and slightly fraying tempers! Well worth mentioning the today is our wedding anniversary and Amy and I celebrate twelve years together as a married couple. We have our difficult times, but we stick together and try to work hard as a team in the minefield of modern life and being parents to the two highest maintenance children on the planet! Mental note Bob - it is twelve years not thirteen as I thought earlier today. At least I got the date right I suppose. Happy Anniversary Mrs Hammond x

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Today has been the most wonderful of days. I went into this morning with higher levels of excitement than the girls! We have feasted, had Nerf gun battles at the beach, received so many gifts and spent the day with dear family and friends. Lucy started the day off extremely early at around 5.15am in opening her stocking presents and that kicked things off very well indeed. Oh my god, the presents are everywhere! Amy and I had discussed and decided that this year we should have an austerity Christmas, but as usual we spoilt them rotten. I am delighted to announce that I excelled myself with my chosen presents for Mrs Hammond and they went down a storm. I bought them weeks ago and have been slightly nervous (alright - very nervous!) in the hope she would like them! On a final note - Amy, Ben, Libby and Big Lucy have excelled themselves with the amazing food today. I am stuffed, full and ready for a sleep on the couch. Merry Christmas xx

They made it to the end of term!

I am so proud of my girls this week. Despite clearly being extremely tired at the end of term they have kept going and going and always put the effort in. One of the downsides of the run in to Christmas is the constant events such as plays, parties and fundraising days at school, that put real pressure on any family at an already busy time. You have to tackle it like a military operation just to survive! Add to this the high expectations we have that they continue to go to club, swimming, brownies, Gymnastics and football - they do so with barely a whimper or complaint. Really noteworthy is Lucy's 100% attendance at school again for the whole of this term and achieving her 400 metres swimming certificate. When I was her age I could barely swim a length, but that is another story. I also had the opportunity to go and see Anna's school Christmas production and it was a privilege. I smiled my way all the way through it! It is the first time I have been able to see Anna in any of her Christmas plays or concerts since she was born. A colleague who lost her son several years ago and I were talking this week, if anybody is qualified to tell me this, it is her. She told me to 'enjoy every minute of my girls as you never know when it could end.' I will think of her this Christmas Day as I enjoy my family and give thanks for all I have.