Archives: birthday

Assembled a bike this weekend. Another bike for Jude; a birthday present. It’s more a BMX model & he’s really only just big enough for it. I’ve lowered the seat as far down as it can go – so hopefully this will satiate him. Eve is keen to pick up use of his older bike now that poor Bluebell has lost her glamour somewhat (never properly recovered from having the back wheel run over & tyres changed to non-whitewall

It turned into a task getting the bike home from Bradford where we bought it. Was a shame that it needed to be assembled really as that took that frisson of excitement out of the whole thing for Jude; although, I don’t think it dampened the day too much for him in the end: he was happy & excitable at home in the evening even without the actuality of the bike. On the whole it’s been quite a good weekend. We met up in Bradford with Louise’s mum, as planned & dibbed off to Pizza Hut. Been years since I’ve been in such a place & as we had not had the forethought to book we had to wait a while to get in. The kids still behaved themselves: we didn’t have to mutter about not doing things as we waited. They were good in the restaurant (if you can truly call it that) as well – well, Esme stood on the set & they were a little noisy (but didn’t have to be told not to be) but these tings blended in well & they all enjoyed themselves & their grub. I guess such places are designed with families in mind… You wouldn’t think of going to Pizza Hut for a business meeting really… well, maybe not a besuited one. I think we killed a couple of hours n there – which was a little surprising.

Thence back to the bus station for a free bus down to the … big warehousey shop area on the edge of the centre of town & we bought Jude’s bike (& some skates for Eve & Jack) Esme didn’t need retail therapy to feel included; such things are not on her radar as yet. I wanted to get a new bag, as they do some cheap there, but I couldn’t get a decent compromise between style, price & size, so I left it after Louise frowned at my ‘too expensive’ choice. At least I have a better idea at what I’m aiming for, I suppose. I’m not sure even that one would have managed an A3 sketchpad that’s an ‘agenda’ item I don’t think I’ll quite ever manage. Jude’s bike was in a big heavy box… so started lugging that home. It was inconvenient to carry & dug into my fingers, and n the end Jack & Louise carried the last litle bit up the backstreet, but we got it hone fine & by the time Jude went to bed it looked like a bike (I just had the brakes to fit & adjust). By the morning it was ready & when he was dressed he had ago (in a pause in the rain) & came back a little put out muttering about it being too big. I took the seat down to the absolute minimum & he tested it, agreed that it was better but has yet to go out in it again… oh, well… when the time comes… when the time comes… Oh – and it’s all black, with white lettering – looks a bit swish.

Sunday was more a ‘climbing uphill’ day, Lots of rain never helps motivate a day. Eve had a ‘last minute’ invite to Isobel’s birthday party. We had a standby present that seemed a little lacking, so I bought a pad & pen when ut doing the shopping as a supplement. Then Louise topped her off up the valley for the party (not quite a small walk away). Jack decided to start his Ecodome, but was also distracted by playing with his remote control helicopter with Jude & Jo, so in the end I had to nag him to tidy things up – which he ‘sort of’ did… in that it’s tidied up from outside, but not put away. I can’t begrudge him though as he was in a good sharing mood all day. Most of the weekend… The silly grudge match started over a Gogo on … Thursday evening with Jude seemed to blow over quite nicely, so that was a relief.

Can you get a hangover from eating chocolate cake?

Perhaps not…

Been a difficult week of rail travel. Missing the ‘usual’ train this week has resulted in some considerable standing around on a chilly platform as the ‘turnaround’ has been absent this week, & the ‘next train’ is 45 minutes after the ‘usual’. And it gets more crowded – especially with a lack of ‘turnaround’. I had to stand all the way yesterday, which is unheard of.

There was some difficulty getting in out of the house yesterday; I was having to fix batteries & find things & tidy up & – well – it was Eve’s birthday & they were up early & they were all excited. Eve & Jude were awake before I was down for my shower, but I chivvied them back to bed where I had to remind them to be quiet, I had to remind them to be quiet, I had to remind them to be quiet, I had to remind them to be quiet (such is the toll that excitement takes on their sensibility). Hmmm – actually – when those to become as thick as thieves, the barriers of insensibility become shattered… We’ve had a very wet bathroom when they’ve been in the bath together…

So – I managed to get them to stay abed while I got some breakfast & pop the humane mouse trap outside for collection later. Naturally when I went to rouse Louise, Esme was awake, so there’s no point in denying Eve & Jude further & their desire for ‘presents’ could be satiated (if it is possible to satiate such a desire in children… I suspect not). A lot of noise & joy (& some tears fro Jude because he doesn’t have as much as Eve etc, etc)… They are happy for the most part – they are chaotic & noisy & I’m surprised tat they didn’t wake Jack (but then he’s used to sleeping through the noise they make at weekends). Eve was very happy with her lot.

Work: I’m going through the monthly invoice run at the moment as Paul is ill.

Left work early … hm – when I say early, what I actually mean is that I left at the time I would normally leave, but I normally leave late… OK – I left at the time that my non-existent contract would dictate that I left, which is an hour earlier than I actually (usually) leave.

Picked up a few needful things (balloons, candles, Go-gos) in town before returning home to a house with Just Louise (what a luxury, but no time). Louise’s mum had gone to pick up Esme, but we had to be there to get the others (including Amber who was coming back with us as well). Louise’s mu returned without Esme & Lilly before we set out (Lilly & Amber’s mum brought them back in their car). After telling Louise’s mum that the front door was open 3 times & then telling her again when we left the house while looking at her so that she ‘heard’ us, she went across the road to see if the others were back & whether Lilly & Esme wanted to come over to ours (where there were balloons) Louise & I set off down to school. Jude was out quite quickly & in good mood (especially with the distraction of a packet of Gogos to placate his math that he had less than such-&-such). Eve took longer. We had reports of her handing out chocolates from Mrs – her class has her lot & she’d handed one to & Mrs Ledbitter & Mr …but she was still not out. We went in to find her & she wasn’t in the cloakroom, not in the classroom not in the hall… Hmmm… Caught her further afield by the girls’ loos as apparently Amber had got changed into her party gear.

Home for the party. A little more present opening & excitement & a lot of dashing about. I quickly did up a ‘pass the parcel. Jude did the music & wasn’t allowed to look & Amber won the prize n the end. A few histrionics from Esme who was one of the last ones to get an ‘unwrapping’ of the present.

Jack arrived at some point, staggered through the door & aimed a flop onto the chaise-longue (swimming & a 2 mile cross country took its toll).

All I all it went very well though. Much happiness, lots of shrieking & just a few gripes & grumbles.

Happy birthday to me!

What did I get? I dunno – I ain’t seed no post yet. I have bought myself various bits & bats – glasses OSX & all that – so I can hardly feel neglected. I got Louise a card as it is our anniversary as well.
I failed to get Ralphie’s present off to him. Going around in a daze these past few days has not been conducive to remembering to do anything past responding to what’s in front of me; will try to do that today.

Eve slept better last night – in that she did wake up & she did howl – but she stooped howling & went to sleep. Jack slept through again. Bed time was a little less stressful as although Jack was in a hyper mood again (had an enormous tea – completely into food at the moment – his body is up to something to demand this) he was also in a very sweet mood & he played very well with Eve. His play has changed a lot this year. He is much more into initiating ‘imaginative play’ whereas he used to want you to take the lead, he now takes it with Eve, & Eve is well into it (she’s always been good at pretend play).

Jude is still not well. He is better, but not well & apt to getting a little bit of a temperature still.

Jack was a little disappointed to have only the one chapter of Pinocchio read to him. He is very into this rendition of the story (which is good) as he was really rooting for Pinocchio to be a ‘good boy’ when the ass drawn coach drew up & tempted him to go to Boobyland. He voiced his disappointment at Pinocchio’s decision to jump aboard.

No typing yesterday – stood in the rain for an age falling asleep waiting for the train to arrive & it was somewhat crowded when it did.

Eve’s birthday went rather well – she had lots of presents… We’d accumulated quite a few. Much excitement for her; when I got home on Wednesday she was a whirlwind of it, showing me this, showing me that. They’d sung “Happy Birthday” to her at playgroup & oh, a million other things. Happy, but already starting on the road to tired & delirious. Tea was early – pancakes & strawberries & raspberries. They scoffed all the fruit & I had a couple of pancakes. My mum briefly called & Eve shouted to her that it was her birthday to her down the phone. Eve had been anticipating the birthday since before Louise’s birthday – so it’s hardly surprising she was a bit excitable. It’s the 1st ‘occasion’ that she’s really ‘appreciated’.
That night she went to sleep straight off. Excitement being the only thing keeping her going by then, once calmed she was out.
Jack was in the bath when he complained of not feeling well. We got him out & got him dressed, then back to the bathroom to be sick. He’s not often that ill, but he has been ill on scoffing ‘too much fruit’. The raspberries were not as ripe as Louise would have liked for letting the kids have them …that’s probably what was to blame. Jack was awake again before 11:00 & I could not get him to settle again. In the end I got to bed at 12:30 …& then woke up a bit later to start a night of going up & down stairs to see how the kids were. Eve was probably suffering from the raspberries as well as they both had disjointed sleep. All were also awake when I was due to get up at 5:30… We’ve all had better nights …shame – tarnished a really good day.
Louise called me at work yesterday morning as Jude had torn Jack’s library book & she needed to know what I had done with the cellotape after present wrapping. The library book needed to be returned to school that day. I ended up with Jack on the phone, which evaporated my grumpiness by him saying, “Sorry for keeping you awake last night Paul”. Oh, my kids call me Paul & Louise Mum or Louise. I rarely get called daddy by Jack. Without Jack Eve calls me daddy.
They all did very well yesterday evening for the tiredness they must have felt. There was basically the one incident when I got home of Jack bashing Eve on the head for taking a sticker. This caused her to be sick. You can tell when upset will result in vomit from Eve by the way she cries. Louise’s mum was there & had a go at helping her; tried to calm her down, but that’s a little pointless sometimes when she’s ‘crying like that’. She took her to the kitchen & managed to hold her all wrong by the sink & ended up with sick on her jumper. Hey ho. Eve soon calms down & is onto other things.

Did a little shopping in Manchester on the way home – picked up my sunglasses (well pleased) & a few essentially for home. Popped into a record shop (as I just cannot resist) & had an impulse buy of the latest ‘best of’ from EBTG. Made the evening go well – all heads nodding to the music at tea time …well …except Jude.
Jack slept well last night; Eve a little less so. We all were in bed early as …well …it was needed.

EVE’S BIRTHDAY TODAY!
Kinda hard to believe she is only 3.

A good nights sleep last night as well – still feel a bit groggy, but that may be because the previous night was so grotty & I had no ill affects yesterday… It’s gotta give somewhere.

Only Jude awake when I left the house this morning, which in a way was a shame as it would have been nice to see Eve open a couple of presents. Am I mad? This is my daughter’s birthday! I should be at home!

Louise was telling a whole bunch of amusing anecdotes about the kids yesterday, but I can’t remember bugger all. This is certainly one of the deficiencies of writing this stuff when my head is a fog. I remember she said that Eve said that she did not want to be a baby now, as she was a BIG GIRL!
Jude is balancing – he’s been standing for a while & this past week he’s been walking around the furniture a lot. He’s now just started ‘letting go’. Only for a very short moment – but he’s doing it.

Just made myself cringe and sink internally for a moment as I recall that I caught Eve’s fingers in the door frame yesterday. Jude is trying to climb the stairs (he can do now, but certainly not without supervision as he slips sometimes). Eve was trying to help move him from the bottom of the stairs & I then made to close the door – which wasn’t closing – because Eve had her fingers in the space where the frame closes in… & there was this little grinding noise of her fingers squashing…. eurg…
She cried a lot…nearly was not sick – but that was inevitable in the end. Two little crease lines on her fingers looking like it was very close to breaking the skin. I was worried I’d done some real damage, but she was able to bend them without any problems. Plasters were put on – she demanded them & I guess they act a little as a placebo. They’ll also help her to keep her fingers padded & straight.
Didn’t like that.

Jack’s tired at the moment – he’s playing up a bit – being a bit of a ‘wild boy’ sometimes at home. Still has some sleep to catch up on methinks? Having said that he & Eve played together very well last night before bed. Very much as a unit, no bickering & sniping. To bed a little later due to good behaviour.

I seem to have written very little about Jack’s party…. perhaps because it was all rather a blur. I think that the meal must have started a little late as it was all over quite quickly in the end. Suddenly there are a lot of parents & we have to cut the cake & slice it up for putting in the party bags. Louise said that was the time that she nearly panicked as it all seemed a bit of a ‘How the hell do we do this?’ moment. We did though… & the children left. Louise’s mum & Eve got a lift home with Jill leaving just Louise, Jack, Jude & myself. Found various bits that got left behind (but you wonder how regularly clear the ball pool of old socks – a few were lost that day).
Eve has been reported as having had a growing spurt recently. A few people have commented that she’s grown, & Louise has noticed some of her clothes do not quite fit as well as they should. It’s hard to notice such things when she changes so little, really.
Jude has burbling yesterday (Jack said he’s nearly talking) – bya bya bya bna bya bya

Jack is 5 now. It’s kinda strange to think of that – 5 years. Louise was saying that she finds it odd. She does not miss not having worked the past 5 years & I was a little (…brain not working well enough to get the right word…) that she felt that way – I meant – who would really miss work? I know I would not. She also does not have time to miss work – 3 kids! I mean! Mind you – Eve stayed at college playgroup on her own last Friday, & she did the same on Tuesday! Cor! Previously she would find ways of getting out being left alone. Louise would say “I’ll just go and get some shopping while you’re at college today” & Eve would mull this over, think it though, & say, “Better go with you.” as if she were needed to ensure that Louise didn’t get lost.
I would rather wish this cough would go away. Jude seems to have the same one, & it seems to have lingered for far too long. I mention it now as I’m to a stage where my limbs feel heavy & I cannot walk at my normal pace without getting short of breath. Resigned to disliking being ill.

Jack’s party. There were 21 kids in attendance in the end! Blimey! It’s a good venue for kid’s parties, & the numbers did not fill the place. They had a good old time in the indoor adventure playground/ball pool thing, but we only just felt that we were in control. Fortunately there were a good mix of boys & girls, & although there were boy & girl groups, there was also a large overlap between group play & no boy girl acrimony. Jack chose the people who came, & all got along well. Nice bunch of hyper kids. We felt a little short on the adult contingent at some points, but then – it’s a kid’s party.

A couple of days to go until Jack’s birthday!
Have we got him anything? …Uh, not really. We have organised a party for him this year though – at ‘Pockets’ which is a snooker hall… but we’re going to be playing in the kiddies indoor climbing frame ball park thing, & then a little party is put on. It looks quite like there are going to be 20 kids in attendance (including Jack & Eve). Blimey!
Preparations still to be done!
Washed Jude’s hair in the bath the other day & it’s made it look fluffier, & in doing so made his hair look longer. His hair seems lighter (more blond) than Jack & Eve’s did, but I think it still could go red, as Jack’s did. He’s currently waking at 10:55 on a regular basis. It’s kinda good for ensuring if we’re not in we’re goinmg to bed, yourngoing to bed, but it seems a bit too habitual at the moment. He won’t be comforted by me & yells & coughs when I try (looking around all the time for Louise). It would be better if he were more satisfied, but he’s also getting in the habit of coughing & yelling & then Louise arrives, & he can calm down… So I’m rejected as comfort giver (not that I can realistically do ‘comfort’).

Jack is on holiday now. It did not feel right at all this morning going off to work. It had been a pleasant weekend & should well have carried on all week without me having to go to work. I should be at home with family… bah!
Didn’t do much typing while travelling last week as – well – I was reading & I was tired.
Jack was not sleeping well to the end of last week. He got a fever & was distinctly under the weather on Saturday. We were going to go to Bradford, but we scaled down to Halifax, & then opted to just stay in town & go the The Bear (veggie restaurant in town & highly recommended). Jack went in the pushchair, & just flopped when he arrived. Didn’t really touch his food & fell asleep on either me or Louise (in that order). Eve was happy – she is certainly back on form. There may be something going about & thus it was not just teething last week. Amber a couple of doors down had a temperature & was ill for a couple of days last week & her oldest brother was also (very odd for him) laid up in bed on Sunday.
Still – Jack was better again Sunday & we were able to pootle off to a party to which he’s been invited by his classmate Thomas. Quite good fun, although it was just enough distance away to leave me stranded there without anything to do. I was initially quite put out by this, as I forgot to take anything to keep me amused, like pen & paper for drawing, writing – or me eMate for typing. Bah.
Drank a pint of beer, let me head swim a little with the novelty of alcohol. Popped out of the building to check for public transport timetables home, & walked about a bit in a desperate attempt to see if there was something interesting in the locale… well – maybe a shop really – that might sell pen & paper. No joy. Resigned myself to going back & sat with a couple of other parents who I felt uncomfortable with. I then let myself get lured into throwing the balls back into the ball room playground adventure thing while Jack & pals through them out at me. What the hell – it was a laff. That passed the time very well until it was time for the party tea.
I think Jack enjoyed having me all to himself for a while – he doesn’t usually get that. When Jessie’s mum offered us a lift home, I left it to Jack to decide, & he wanted to walk home with me. Fortunately by the time we eventually left the hour had gone so far round as to let us catch a train home. Jack would have got tired & I would have been very tired from carrying him.