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By Little Mummy, December 26, 2009 6:06 am

So after a trip to A & E the snow came.. We reckon we had a couple of foot or so fall over the week, school was off last day of term so what else to do but make snowmen. This is a picture of Erin in our front garden at about 3pm, I had to lighten the picture it was so dark!

Christmas Eve

We had a quiet morning then we baked heart shaped cakes for Santa using the cooking set sent to us by the kids cooking company, silicon baking trays are the way forward! Erin loved her new bowl and spoon sent by the elves

Before bed I warned my Mum who has a habit of tearing around the house in the wee hours shouting “Santa’s been” (only at Christmas you understand) that she wasn’t to wake us before seven, I didn’t mind anything after six but I wanted to make sure there would be no 4am wake up ‘calls’.

Christmas Morning

I heard mum sticking the kettle on, I glanced up bleary eyed to see the alarm clock reading 4.40am, I hid under the covers and feared the worst. As it happened I’d barely slept anyway, the excitement had triggered my crohns and I’d spent all night in pain. I gave into the cramps at 6.30am and mum woke Erin, who in turn woke us. We crept downstairs to find a a few crumbs and an empty cup where the milk and heart shaped bun had been. Santa left us lots of goodies including a bike and all the toy story characters.

We cleared the carnage and had a lovely dinner of asparagus and parma ham, traditional dinner but with chicken instead of turkey and ‘welsh’ gravy followed by chocolate souffle and ice cream.

Erin hasn’t stopped wearing her bike helmet and Jesse (from Toy Story 2) was promoted to her bed

A second christmas with Alex’ family awaits us on the 27th.

Merry Christmas all!

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By Little Mummy, December 15, 2009 2:03 am

I love our annual trip to Edinburgh’s Winter Wonderland. There’s ice skating, a big wheel and even a helter skelter but I don’t go for any of that, I go for the food. The German market and Highland market have the most delicious food, Alex and I made our pilgrimmage on Sunday.

As you approach the markets from Princes St (our equivalent of Oxford) you can see the twinkly lights and smell the sweet and savoury delights ahead. Ignore the naff van selling chips and candy floss and head into the wooden hut village erected especially at the end of November, wander through and on your right hand side you’ll see huge heart shaped biscuits and candied almonds and cashews. Further on, German chocolate and cakes and at the end of the lane a hut selling a potatoes, bacon and onion dish and hot punch which is called fire something or other, it’s all you can smell at that end. Around the corner huge hot dogs and cups of hot chocolate followed by mini donuts. Across the way a ‘health food’ stall that looks desolate.

Turn right into a little throughway and the Highland Market opens up before you. There’s a small hut shredding whole roast hogs and serving them on morning rolls with bramley apple sauce, they were delicious. The same stall was also selling huge venison burgers and next door was cooking up the Scottish favourite haggis. A small street cart against a tree were toasting chestnuts and handing them out in ten pence mixture bags, I’ve always wondered what chestnuts taste like, maybe next year. We wandered past the Aberdeen Angus hut where they were grilling huge handmade burgers.

Finally we doubled back on ourselves and headed for the Belgian waffle stand where we ordered two waffles with lashings of melted nutella thank you very much. As we stood huddled in the freezing cold savouring the waffles there was a momentary power failure and we were plunged into darkness thankfully someone put the plug back in and we were back to the warm twinkly atmosphere in no time.

Photo by Flickr user Jungleboy

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By Little Mummy, November 20, 2009 12:39 am

1. Whisky Beer

Whisky Beer or Ale is something we stumbled across when we were shopping at Ocean Terminal, that’s where the Royal Yacht Britannia is moored by the way. There’s a specialist whisky shop with a very passionate employee who was more than happy to show us everything in the shop which is when we found out about whisky beer, it’s essentially beer that is conditioned in oak casks so the beer takes on the unique flavour of that particular whisky.

Here’s more from the website where you can buy it;

How appropriate that Tullibardine should produce a Whisky Ale. The Distillery sits on the site of Scotland’s first ever brewery, a purveyor of fine ales enjoying the royal patronage of King James IV after his coronation in 1488.

This remarkable Blackford 1488 Whisky Ale is brewed with the pure crystal spring water and malted barley used in the distillation process. It is conditioned in individually numbered oak casks which have been used in the maturation of the majestic Tullibardine single malt Scotch whisky, its distinctive character beautifully balanced by the lightness of touch so familiar to Tullibardine connoisseurs the world over.

2. Toy Story Mania for the Wii

We were given a complementary copy of this and really enjoyed it, be warned it’s highly addictive. It’s one of the best kids computer games I’ve played, based on the ride in Disneyworld you face a number of challenges including bursting balloons and saving aliens. The whole family can enjoy this one and it’s only £17 or so on Amazon.

3. Beatles Rock Band

I think we’re going to buy this between us. I saw it all set up in HMV and it looked like a lot of fun, we may buy the standard version though which is cheaper than the Beatles version.

4. Oban Tweed Ness

Finally, a fashionable way for women to wear tartan. The range includes outfits, hats, scarves and purses. The vibrant colours and excellent design will make this a successful Scottish brand.

5. Keep Calm and Carry On
During 1939 when the war with Germany was impending the Ministry of Information printed a number of posters urging people to “Keep Calm and Carry On”. The posters were never officially issued and thus widely unseen by the British public, until now.

I love the slogan’s simplicity, it’s become a bit of a family motto and the poster is now framed and hangs proudly at the front entrance of our house. If I get stressed or worried (which is really bad for kicking off my crohns) I sometimes go to the poster and remind myself to “Keep Calm and Carry On”

I’m hooked now and want the hoody, the mug, the….. I’ll need to get started on my christmas list.

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By Little Mummy, October 1, 2009 12:39 am

Christmas has come early! I have a fab christmas themed jollybox for one lovely winner.

The Jollybox company offer a range of themed playtime boxes that encourage children to use their imagination.

Each Jollybox equips parents with the tools to transport their child into an exciting, imaginary world of characters, themes and scenarios. Whether it is a dinosaur, an explorer or an airline pilot, children are encouraged to explore their imaginations through creative play, acting and drawing. Jollyboxes have been created to promote problem-solving skills, strengthen communication and encourage social interaction in children at an early age.

The range includes The Explorer Box, The Wedding Box, and The Holiday Box. Each box contains illustrated flash cards, an inspiration booklet and an activity book with puzzles, themed games, amazing facts, exciting new characters and plenty of creative ideas for budding young artists.

I have the Christmas Box to giveaway, which is bound to keep the little ones busy throughout December, or you could even keep it as a special gift for Christmas Eve or the big day itself!

Two Ways to Win

1. Join my newsletter for one entry, how easy is that?

2. Leave a comment on this post on the subject ‘One thing I hope for this christmas….’. This will count as one entry too.

You can enter either way, or do both for two entries. Newsletter subscriber will automatically be given one entre

I will choose a random winner on Thursday 8th October 2009

*This competition is open to UK residents only*

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By Little Mummy, December 24, 2008 4:59 am

Littlemummy.com Winners

Congratulations to Terry and Alexis who won the CooKin Kids Ebook.

There’s still time to be a winner. Win £100 groceries by entering this contest. Or sign up for automatic entry into all future prize draws.

Carnival

The Best of British Mummy Bloggers carnival is posted at Thames Valley Mums blog. Great job, I really need to submit better posts to these carnivals

Christmas & 2009

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I’m soooo excited now! 2009 doesn’t look to be too bad either, I’ve had some interesting conversations over the past few days which could make 2009 and Project 500 very interesting indeed.

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By Little Mummy, December 4, 2008 2:34 am

……………………………………
Don’t forget to sign up for the VIP list (right-hand column), £75 of Blurb vouchers coming up.

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By Little Mummy, December 3, 2008 2:47 pm

We had a lovely day yesterday, we decorated our christmas tree, matching colours have given way to an eclectic mix of decorations since Erin came along. This is the first year she’s shown an interest in the christmas tree and was surprisingly helpful.

Afterwards we went out for some lunch and then headed for the Winter Wonderland in Edinburgh. We saw the ice skaters, had a ride on the teacups, and bought some decorations and candles. The day was rounded of with sweets for Erin, donuts and chocolate sauce for me and belgian waffle for my husband (it was his birthday too). I’m well and truly in the christmas spirit now

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By Little Mummy, November 18, 2008 12:36 pm

Here’s our Santa Top Ten…

In at number one, we’ll be spinning around on these pink fifi roller skates. I love Fifi and the Flower Tots. It’s girly, fun and innocent. If this list were written in September number one would have been a duck, because every two year old needs an outlet for their stale bread.

Just off the top spot at number two is a doll’s car seat, what budding parent would be without one?

Down two at number three is a doctor’s set, best to keep your future options open, this can double as a vet/nurse/midwife set.

At number four, it’s an old classic – Kerplunk. Because I like it. And if I have to spend my days playing then it might as well be games that I enjoy. Yes, I am that selfish.

Ding, ding at Number five, this handy cash register with scanner. Why go to the shops when you can just spend the afternoon playing shops, no heavy bags…

Just outside the top spot at number six, for our viewing pleasure…..drumroll please… it’s the Peppa Pig boxset.

Slipping down at number seven. Because six babies aren’t enough, the new addition to our family is Darla (sorry no photo, she’s obviously been sent to Santa to be gift-wrapped)

At number eight, the one she didn’t want but which I bought anyway because when it’s built she’ll love it, a wooden dolls house.

A new entry at number nine, a last minute decision, it’s this snazzy shopping trolley. How long til she sits in it and breaks it? ooooh about five minutes!

Just scraping in at number ten, the babies can’t do without it any more, it’s a new rocking crib, we don’t need social services rocking (excuse the pun) up due to insufficient sleeping provision. Look, please don’t take them away, it even has a canopy!

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By Little Mummy, December 26, 2006 10:56 am

Before christmas I forecasted how my christmas day would look. I thought it would be a little bit of fun to do a ‘revised’ version (in bold).

7.30ish Erin will wake up looking for her milk

The Christmas Eve Party went off with such a bang Erin didn’t wake until 8am!

7.35 I will wake up and wonder if I can put her off for five minutes

I woke up and thought s**t why did I not a) eat more yesterday, and b) drink a pint of water before bed…..oh, and c) what the hell are those flashing lights in front of my eyes.

7.40 Erin’s noises will escalate from gurgling to full blown shouting

Check

7.45 I will ‘come too’and realise that it’s Christmas Day and get excited

Check (as well as “oh crap, I hope this isn’t a hangover”)

7.46 I will ’spring out’ of bed (after nudging Alex, to wake)

Ok, so I didn’t quite spring…

7.47 Nudge Alex again and threaten to remove duvet…

Alex was more sprightly than usual, and took great pleasure in laughing at my fragile state

7.48 Heat Erin’s milk, and go and say morning to her

Alex did the milk, whilst I got Erin up

7.50 Take her through to our room, Alex will probably feed her (I will try not to fall asleep)

Check

8.05 Move through to livingroom to see what Santa has left

We actually didn’t go through to livingroom until about 9am

8.10 Empty stocking first, move onto presents, get strong coffee

We opened a few presents and the stocking before Erin was ready for her weetabix and nap

9.30 Take a break, give Erin weetabix and put down for nap

Check

9.35 Alex will cook breakfast for us

Check

9.50 House will be smokey and kitchen will look like a 4-course meal has been prepared. Breakfast will taste nice

CHECK

10.15 Quickly clean kitchen before Erin wakes

Uh, no, we kinda abandoned the dishes…

10.30 Play with toys for a while before getting dressed

Check

12.00ish Drive over to Mother in laws’

We also picked up my sister in law and boyfriend en route

12.15 Be greeted (jumped on) by dog and family members

Check

12.16 Erin will be passed around and when the music stops (!) will chill out in her high seat for a while (I’m hoping)

Check

12.30 Give our presents to the family and open ours

Check

1.00 Be offered a cup of coffee, accept and slyly slip some Tia Maria in it

Offered coffee and requested some ice cold water instead…Tia Maria was NOT on the agenda

1.15 Be calm after sly shot of Tia Maria

Yes, well…

1.30 Shit! Remember that Erin should have had some lunch, act like good parent and tell Alex to prepare something

Check

2.00 Be tired after late night, early morning and drinking in the afternoon. Doze off for 5 minutes.

Check

2.05 Text friends to say Merry Christmas

Hmm, forgot to do this, should ring them now…

2.20 Help prepare dinner (I’m on the prawn cocktails)

I laid the table instead of preparing the prawn cocktails

3.05 Wish that Erin would have short nap to freshen up, accept she won’t and have another tia maria

Check (apart from Tia Maria bit!)

4.00 (or thereabouts) Sit down for dinner

Dinner was closer to 5.30pm

5.00 Help with clearing up

Check

5.30 Give Erin a bath and start settling her for bed

Skipped the bath as we had a bath in the morning with her new crayola bath tablets and squeezy toys.

6.30 Spend evening playing games and having a drink

Spent evening playing trivial pursuit and drinking irn bru.

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By Little Mummy, December 19, 2006 1:35 am

Ready, Set….

Go…

Photo for Nana

Inspect