Mummy Monday ; Turning 26.

Last tuesday (March 24th) was my 26th birthday and honestly I had the most normal day that I hadn't got around to writing about it until today. Most people spend their birthday doing the most exciting things, but since having children I no longer want to. Last year I spend the day with a poorly Eva who was off school with the chicken pox and even did the weekly shop as though it were any other day (read about my 25th birthday here) and I basically did the the same this year. I did go shopping after dropping Eva off at school, I felt like treating myself to some new bath bits from Lush and then somehow I ended up in The chocolate Hotel buying myself (and Archie) some yummy treats before popping over to River Island and using the last of my Christmas vouchers to buy a new dress. But that was possibly as exiting as my day got! The afternoon was spent going back and forth from the local dump as I cleared out junk from my garage.

Even though I wasn't doing doing the most exciting things I honestly had a great birthday. Waking up to Eva coming into my bedroom carrying presents and singing happy birthday while Archie looked at her like she was crazy (he's not a morning person at all) then dancing to The Frozen sound track in the car all day because Eva had left it on and I couldn't be bothered to change it. Enjoying breakfast at BHS and laughing with the man who was serving me and finally spending the evening out with friends enjoying some good food at my favourite restaurant. Being a mum has taught me to spend more time enjoying the smaller things in life, living in the moment and enjoying myself in what ever I am doing. And I did, immensely. 

From the kids I got Antigue perfume from next.

From my mum I got a gaint eaten mess easter egg.

From luch I brought ; Sakura Bathbomb, Hoppity Poppity and Honey Bee bath bomb.

I also got myself a new dress (as pictured above) from River Island (here) and a fringed yellow jacket from Primark (here)

Bean xo

Now I am six.

When I was one 

I had just begun

When I was two

I was nearly new.

When I was three

I was hardly me.

When I was four

I was not much more.

When I was five

I was just alive

But now I am six I'm as clever as clever

so I think I'll be six for ever and ever.

On March 3rd Eva turned six. This was a birthday she'd been looking forward to since Christmas day had finished. I spend all of her birthday's looking back at old photos being amazed at how far she's come. From the tiny 4 week premature 15lb 5oz baby she was in to the clever little chatter box she is now. 

From the moment she learnt to talk, she's been all about animals. It's been "I'm going to a be a vet when I grow up" or "I want to be zoo keeper", never anything that isn't to do with animals. I know that without a doubt she will achieve what ever her heart is set on. With this in mind of course when it came to her birthday treat that was easy. I paid £40 for her to a be a zoo keeper for the day at All things wild. She was the first child to ever do this there as they'd only just started the zoo keeper for a day experience. Eva loved it! She cleaned out rabbits and birds, fed meer kats and guinea pigs, bathed tortoises, held snakes and cockroaches. After the 3 hours the female zoo keeper who took her around told me she was very confident with the animals, that she'd picked everything up happily without showing any fear. Of course I wasn't surprised by this, Eva will happily go digging for worms or pick up frogs nothing is too slimy or disgusting for her (although she doesn't like spiders). Her fun day ended with her choice of venue for a meal and she went for Frankie and Bennies. For an extra treat they came out with her cake at the end of the meal and sang happy birthday to her, something she loved - being centre of attention is very appealing to her!

On her birthday she had to go to school, which of course she loved as it meant her class sang happy birthday to her. We invited around a school friend of hers with his brother and sister too and had a little tea party. It was lovely.

The best part of it all was Eva telling me, "Mummy thank you, this has been the best birthday ever" because after all everything was for her as long as she loved it, then I'm happy.

Bean xo

Eva's 6th birthday.

Would you believe me if I told you that tiny bundle was Eva only one hour old? Crazy I know. In seven weeks and four days this tiny little 5lb 15oz baby will be turning six, and honestly it's gone very fast. I feel like she's only going to be five this year, possibly because PND stole the first year I had with her but let's not dwell on that.

This year I had planned to give her a party but with moving house funds are tight, so instead I have arrange for her to be a zoo keeper for the day - Something my animal mad daughter will love! Ever since I can remember Eva has adored animals, by 3 she could name all the species of Owls. Her dream since then has to be a vet and I have no doubts that she won't. Stubborn and determined she can do anything she puts her mind to. This is the reason why I decided to do the zoo keeper thing, rather then just a party at home (which she will have, a small tea party with family) I worked a zoo keeper for 2 years, Eva asks me again and again to tell her stories of what I did and about the animals. Her favourite being the time a Meer Kat bit me while I fed him. I'm so excited for her to experience what I did.

Presents. Christmas is only just over and the thought of going out and buying more things fills me with dread - my poor bank! However saying that, I have almost done. I asked Eva for some ideas, and of course she had some. Anna wig, Elsa & Anna shoes and a Kristoff doll. I managed to get the shoes but the wig and doll weren't in any toy store near me which is crazy as they were everywhere at Christmas. As well as these 3 things I got her some head phones (Frozen one's of course) for her Leap-pad as the songs on there drive me insane! 

7 weeks, 4 days and counting..

Bean xo

My 25th birthday

Half way to 50 day!

25 years ago on march 24th I was born (10am) I came out so fast that the midwife wasn't ready and I rolled across the bed and almost fell off - the midwife caught me at last second. I was a healthy 9lb baby, long and chubby. I also took one look at my mum and cried, that amuses me no end.

Anyway to my birthday 25 years on. I woke up at 6:15am with my gorgeous son snuggled up next to me grinning away, my daughter came running in shouting HAPPY BIRTHDAY and a pile of presents awaited me on the dinning table. This year boyfriend put some thought in to what he got me - although it did amuse me when he said "there was loads of things with mummy written on them it was amazing" yes he completely forgot that it was also almost mother's day! - I didn't take a photo of what the kids got me, I have no clue why though I love them! A small little statue of a tatty teddy holding a heart saying "mum" and the base reads "I love you" along with a pair of bright pink socks which say "Super mummy" ; although I am guessing the socks were chosen because I am always nicking the boyfriends and it annoys him. 

Presents from everyone else - I did photograph -

 Tesco finest chocolates in a jewellery box - from boyfriend.

I don't actually have any jewellery but now maybe boyfriend can start buying me some.

 Slow cooker - from my mother.

I squealed opening this.

 A slow cooker cook book - From my mother.

Thorntons dessert collection - from my mother.

These are my favourite range of chocolates by them.

Boyfriend also took me out for a meal at the weekend.

I had Ham terrine starter, rack of lamb main and blueberry brulee for dessert.

Top and jeans from New look, heels were brought a year or so ago but I believe they are also from New look.

This year it the first year as a mother of two, this was a pretty surreal feeling as it feels as though Archie's been here far longer - to think I was 15 weeks pregnant on my birthday last year - Anyway the plan was to go out for the day, shopping of course, however with Eva off school with the chicken pox this was impossible. Instead the boyfriend took us all for a long countryside drive, then I popped to Tesco to do the weekly shop and in the evening while the kids and boyfriend headed to his parents I headed to the gym with my mother. First time in over a year! An hour in the gym, 30 min swim followed by a steam ; I was looking forward to a soak in the hot tub but it seemed all the hairy old men were out that night *shudder*

Over all I had a lovely day, here's to another year!