The changing face of Anna...

I know I am severely biased, however to me both my children are beautiful young ladies and are a constant source of pride to me. There are some days when their beauty renders me speechless to the point I am not sure how to control the emotion, as they both mean so much to me. The path and evolution into a 'Butterfly' with all her colours has taken a slight turn for the worse for Anna as she losses her baby teeth, as demonstrated by the photo attached! Now, she is doing her deliberate best in this photograph to look as scary as possible and quite frankly she succeeds! However, she does look like she had been in a really in big fight! Amy and I venture off to Paris on Sunday as Granny and Grandpa have so kindly agreed to look after 'Grumpy and Grumpy', but I think the search for a Parisian Gargoyle is over and no need to look any further!  I am only kidding Wiggle! xx

Today didn't pan out as it was supposed too!

It's my job to educate the girls as their father to work hard, be good people, have manners and most importantly of all show appreciation for their mother for all the lovely and amazing things she does for them. Mothering Sunday is the perfect day to show this. We have been plotting and scheming for weeks (with a prize winning suggestion from Libby we have tweaked). The girls produced 'Mummy money' - eight notes each of family Hammond 'currency' that Amy can exchange for them doing nice things for her over the next six months. Treats include a day out with both of them, breakfast in bed, having her nails done with Lucy, cooking a meal or pancakes, promises to be extra polite for a day and a day of multiple hugs and kisses. I thought we had cracked it and Mrs Hammond was in for a lovely day. Granny and Grandpa were coming around for roast Lamb later and we all popped in the car to see Grandma and take her a pressie. Then boom! Lucy threw up in the car and that was that! Lucy is distraught and thinks she has ruined the day and let everybody down. Not at all Lucy - these things simply happen.You are appreciated every day Amy and a fantastic mum to them both. Sorry - we will try again next year... xx

The challenge continues...

The challenge continues I am afraid. Amy and I are tired, very tired. At present, we continue to struggle with the endless arguing between the girls and the constant winding each other up. I keep searching in my head for the reasons and the answers, but still have drawn a blank. At the forefront of all this is young Wiggle, who has quite an attitude on her at the moment. Grumpy and tired, she seems to have a real sense of injustice and annoyance when we speak to her or ask her to do something. I am sure if I put this to certain people they may say I was exactly like her as a child! I have to say I am a bit battle weary. Life is so busy at the moment and the last thing we want to do is wake up to a stroppy six year old. It probably is just a phase. It does make me think that both the girls use up all their 'social energy' and 'good behaviour' at school and club, as they are impeccably behaved. I still love them to bits though, I could easily send them to Coventry!  Wobbly tooth update - Anna will definitely get a visit from the tooth fairy this week, its dangling on a thread and freaking me out! 

The task of bringing up a brood can be a challenging one!

They may well look angelic, but sometimes they definitely are not! They may well be wonderfully polite, well mannered, compliant, listen and hard working at school (this confirmed in Lucy  behaviour report and parents evening this week - well done!), but at home I could tell you a different story! Every conversation in the last week or so with both the girls is a challenge and endless battle. They are argumentative, belligerent, stubborn and have an answer for everything. Arghhh! I know, I know. Sounds like somebody you may know in me and it is probably learned behaviour, but at least I understand when to tow the line on the odd occasion (well sometimes). The girls can only be described as relentless in their pursuit of getting their own way, spinning a set of circumstances to their perceived advantage and winding me up something rotten! I am afraid, at present I don't have any answers to this other than to keep going and try to teach them the right way to behave. I could find reasons or explanations such as they are tired, they have long days, we ask a great deal of them, the list could be very expansive. The way I feel at the moment, I don't subscribe to any of these excuses, blame myself and quite simply wish to throttle them both! A good night's sleep will help and prepare me for battle in the morning..

Another little dose of magic!

After our postponement we finally made it to Harry Potter Studios this weekend and had a simply fabulous time. (I have also shared my continuing coughing with half of Essex!) It was a bit of a modern miracle as we cocked up with tickets, dates, times and various other elements of the organisation, but in the end after much blagging we got there in the end! The girls just love it and can only be described as emerging 'super fans'. The place is just captivating and I adore watching the girls reactions. The theme was a special one and we got to see all the real animals used in the films as well as the wonderful array of props, animatronic effects and sets. I think Anna's face sums it up completely as she was in complete awe of everything around her. I have to say, the adventure of staying in a hotel room together, spending time with another family (thank you Chamberlains!) and the massive Sunday morning cooked breakfast added to some quality time together as a family. Despite the very high cost of the weekend, and it was very extravagant, I would take the girls again, as they seem to get so much from it and their imaginations go wild. This is the beauty of such amazing story telling and the world of Potter! Anna continued her obsession with Dobby and Lucy loved looking for the animals and not to mention the gift shop. Thank you Granny and Grandpa for the girls spending money - greatly appreciated.

Limping along as best we can...

It's half term and we continue not to be a very healthy lot! Chest infections, night sweats, coughing (constant coughing), much snot and generally feeling quite pants. All of the family Hammond are struggling to get better after the most nasty of viruses has swept through the family. Lucy and I sound like a barking dog, it takes me back to the time when I was a boy and suffered from croop. The endless coughing is driving us all mad and sleep is not really on the agenda, hence compounding the problem. I am now back at work and Amy and the girls are soldiering on in an attempt to enjoy half term. We did sample the yearly delights of the snowdrop walk at the Abbey grounds on Sunday with Marley as a 'rent-a-dog' and it was beautiful as ever. In fact the fresh air did us all good. Fingers, legs and anything else crossed that we all get well for this weekend and our rearranged trip to Harry Potter world, as excited would be a understatement as a way to describe us all. The girls have much pocket money stashed away for a carefully planned assault on the gift shop!

Kick it off, throw it in...

Anna and I spent some fabulous time together last Saturday as she went to her first ever football game at Carrow Road. We were both so very excited and the game itself did not disappoint as City ran in with a 4-0 win! Anna loved it and I was delighted to share something that I love so much with one of my girls. The level of excitement, vocal outpouring and sheer delight she showed when the goals went in, definitely means we may have a true fan on our hands here! (who incidentally loves the hot dogs as well) We have decided we are going to have a 'footy' date again, although Anna has requested we go when it is a bit warmer next time. Granted - it was very cold! I am in agreement, as I have been suffering from a awful cold since and been feeling quite rubbish. Thanks for your company Wiggle, glad you enjoyed it. You must know that you made your dad's day!