Archives: jack

Too tired this morning. Looked at the paper half heartedly for a second & then opted for sleep.
Been updating the online waffles to bring them more up to date after the delay caused by … OSX transference & inertia.

Louise off to Bradford yesterday to visit Aunties etc with Eve & Jude. They performed admirably by accounts. Eve got some new shoes (boots) as well. They’re a little C&W, but they suit her well.

I picked up Jack from school – he was a little lacklustre. He didn’t bash me, for once …well – not until we were nearly at the gates anyway. Quite a nice change not having to dodge flying book bag & lunch box. I have got into the habit of getting them from him before he can wallop me, but I was carrying shopping yesterday.
When he got home he proclaimed that he was tired & would like to go to sleep. He played on the computer for a bit instead. I helped him for a bit & then did a smattering of tidying up before Louise got home.
Jack protested he had stomach ache in the night. I’m too sleepy to be effective then, “Go back to sleep Jack. We both need to get more sleep”. He was not that good in the morning apparently, but was keen to be off to school as it’s ‘tuck’ today & he had some Jumble for the Jumble Sale as well.
I learn these details as Louise called at work. She was supposed to be meeting someone today, but cannot as Eve had fallen asleep & Jude had just woken up & been sick on her. The kids, as a whole, seem to be off colour at the moment. I have a shopping list again.

Cor – the kids all asleep as I left the house. I kinda miss not engaging with them – but Eve has the habit of rising too early & being perpetually tired on an evening. Things rather came to a head yesterday as they were all tired & we were tired & bedtime rather went to pot. Jack got mad with us & splashed Louise &would not calm down & do as he was told. It all ended in tears & hugs. hmm… at least no one was sick…
Oh – I realised how I might get my ramblings off the eMate yesterday. I need not worry about synchronisation for the moment (& having to actually read instructions – I can put that off – woo!). I can just email stuff off the eMate to myself. Tested & worked fine.

Um…
Louise said that they said that they’d like 20 Eve’s at playgroup…. Odd I thought – they want 20 mad things that jump about dangerously shout a lot & made silly noses? They must be bonkers! But of course this is home behaviour – not playgroup behaviour. I imagine that she shows her more compliant side there – but I can’t imagine the (grasps for right adjective but can only come up with…) lively nature is completely suppressed. I imagine there’s a glint in her eye at least, after all – it is alleged that she taught Andrea (playgroup adult) how to swing her hips.

Right – I know there’s a dozen anecdotes that Louise threw at me yesterday (not with the intention I’d be writing anything – she cares little for what I blather). It proves to me again that I cannot think straight in the mornings – but hey – it’s the only time I get.

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.

All the kids were asleep when I left this morning. That hasn’t happened for… well – some considerable time. Peaceful & stress free.
You kinda miss them though.

Yesterday Eve was completely & utterly tired out. She was ready for dropping off to sleep before 7, but then the fireworks started & it was at least an our later before she could keep her eyes open no longer & flopped down from the bedroom window & was willing to be carried over to her bed. Just a few seconds before she fell asleep then. Jack stayed at the window watching the fireworks around the town for another half hour or so before he was wrenched from the window & dropped into the bath. It took him quite a bit of reading before he would calm down enough to slip into sleep.

I tried to get a haircut again yesterday & failed miserably – annoying that. Queue to big at the barbers in Manchester (I could well have missed the train I need to get – so off home to try the 2 others. Tuesdays one closes (I’m sure I managed to get a cut there on a Tuesday before…) & the other one has a notice declaring that it’s closed – just for today. Petty frustrations…. Ah, talking of which; my other petty frustration – my Apple CD of 9.2.2. still has not arrived. [Summary:] I got my OSX install CD the week before last & realised that I could not do a straight upgrade, because OS 9.0.4 on my machine would not be compatible for use in OSX’s ‘Classic’ environment (allowing usage of the current apps I have). No OS 9 upgrade CD is packaged with the latest version of OSX – thus I have to send off to apple with monies for P+P & ‘handling’. Done 25/26 of last month.. & I’m being very good… I’m being adult & not installing OSX & then sorting out the problems later -!
I’m just waiting – I’m BEING PATIENT! gah! Most unlike me & ‘new toys’. Excuse me while I just go & sulk in the corner for 5 minutes…

Heh… While Jack was on holiday the other week it was ‘photo’ time at playgroup. Someone comes around to take those ‘your child (nearly) smiling photos’ like the ones they take in schools. All the brood went to have their picture taken. Louise was a bit worried how the photo would turn out, as Eve was a bit nervous of it all. It has turned out very well! We have an adorable photo of the three of them sitting in a row – smiling (well – Jude is more quizzical & Eve’s smile is not carefree – but Jack is on full ‘charm offensive’).

Oh, my brother & Jess are hopefully dropping by this weekend – it will be good to see them – it would also be good if I could get in touch with him to figure out what his plans are… but those are just details.
We’ll then have Caroline coming to visit in a few weeks as well if things work out. We are a bit ‘socially booked’ at weekends at the moment… weird.

Hah – this machine would hardly work this morning (the eMate on which I type) as I’d filled it so with all my waffling. I deleted a stack (to free up the memory stack). I’ll concede I need to look at deleting some apps I don’t really need either.

On Friday last week they came to fit the new windows in our house. They took just the one day to do it. They did rather a good job. It’s all rather gratifying. I was sceptical about moving to PVC double glazing, but it has made quite a difference to the aspect of the rooms – they seem much more light & airy without the heavy coloured wood of the previous windows. The Kitchen door is rather pleasant as well. We have not done the windows in there as we are looking to change the room round before we do that – but the door is such an improvement. We decided to have a big window on the door to let in more light & it works a treat.

Been quite a good weekend. Jack’s was a bit cocky on Saturday, but we put that down to the fact that he refused to have any breakfast. By the time we were going out he’d got himself cranky (& was demanding food – but we were going out!). Got present for Leila’s birthday party – forgot most things – back home & off to the party in the pouring rain. We arrived half an hour late, but it was the best we could manage & it was to little ill effect. Jack was not keen to join in musical bumps & other party games. Whether this was because we were late or because… it’s not what he likes (not a great one for competition sometimes – he comes over shy all of a sudden) I don’t know. He was happy enough to join in hide & seek & run around like a mad thing though. I wheezed about the place a bit as i had forgotten to bring my inhaler. I’ve been more reliant on it the last week after hardly using it for ages. I have a cough. Got soaked on the way home as the rain was even worse. Paced quite well as not to get too out of breath though.

Took Jack swimming on Sunday morning. He’s starting to have lessons – this being the second now. He really, really likes going swimming. He enjoys himself to the extent where he doesn’t really listen to the instructor sometimes. I have to strain my ears to listen to what she is saying. Did backstroke & practiced getting legs straight & kicking well – which Jack managed fine. I seem to recall that I was happier swimming on my back to start with. I never was that coordinated & it’s nice & simple on yer back. That breast stroke… eesh – all those odd arm & leg movements.

Off to Leeds for the afternoon – & pottered about very easily. Pleasant bit of consumerism & then home. Yeah – that went well.

Jack came home happy from Thomas’ last night. Eve was already asleep – she was worn out after a happy day. Jude was still going strong. He’s still an early riser… He was awake (just) before I was due to rise this morning & did not settle down. Still actively torturing Louise when I went to rouse her half an hour or so later. Bad morning – confused – & the milk I had put on mine was off – which is bizarre. Took a couple of sour mouthfuls for me to realise. I then went to redo my breakfast but ended up putting milk on Louise’s cereal instead… She noticed it was soggy when she came to eat it… duh. At least Eve is sleeping better in the night – & the last 2 mornings, although she has woken too early – she has not howled about it; slightly confused upset, but not howling.
Louise is suffering from lack of sleep more than I am.
Party tonight – Hamish’s birthday – so we are off to ‘Pockets’ – where Jack had his do. Halloween themed & all that. Hamish, turned up on the doorstep last night ‘trick or treat’ing. Bit early, but I guess that they can hardly do it tonight. Amber the skeleton was dribbling through her mask. I guess it added to the effect…

Cut short typing yesterday as I had to surrender my adjacent seat to a fellow traveller & I do not want to type sat next to someone…. Not that I believe I could think of anything else to say.

Oh – Happy Birthday to my brother. I got him a present I hope he’ll enjoy – as this text is unlikely to reach public view before … well… a long time… I can say that it’s the collected 1st Volume of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (a comic that is undergoing filming at this very moment). More ‘mainstream’ than anything I’ve bought him, comic wise, in the past few years… so I think he’ll like it. He better not have it already!
Jack got a drawing from a girl in his class yesterday & an invite from another lad to come to tea. So, the picture is on the wall & we are having tea without him tonight. Good for him.
Jack & Eve … well – I’m not sure quite what happened as neither of us were in the room when the incident occurred, but I think they came to blows (He hit me/she pulled my hair). They were both suddenly crying fiercely. I went into the room & thought, “uh-oh” with Eve & asked her to go into the kitchen, & tried to see what was wrong with Jack. He can at least speak when he’s in this state. Eve duly threw up on the kitchen floor – so that was a good tea lost. Louise got mad as this happens all too often. I cleared up & Jack was offended that Louise thought that it was all his fault. Egads! All calmed down soon enough though. Eve right as rain after puking, as usual… which is annoying of her, as it all seems a bit of ‘a demonstration’ – like she feels it’s something she should do. Hey ho – family life. At least she did as I asked rather than puking on the carpet. That’s… sort of an improvement.
Gave Louise her birthday present early last night – new EBTG dvd. Put it on again this morning as I left the house.

Heh – took yesterday off work. Jack does not go back to school until today & Louise thought that it would be a very pleasant idea & so it was; a very nice day. We went off to Huddersfield & pottered about shopping. Quite good booty – like some Halloween themed attire for Eve & Jack who are off to Hamish’s Halloween themed party on Thursday. Glow in the dark ink on the decals. They enjoyed those at bedtime – both going off into their bedroom with the lights of & the door closed – Jack with a ghosty & Eve with a half dozen of so bats eyes all aglow; excitement!
Jack & Eve played very well together all throughout the day, really. It was a pleasure to behold. Not fractious, but cooperative.

Beautiful clear light this morning. It pissed it down last night – water thrashing on the roof & velux windows. I have to say, this is one aspect of sleeping in the attic room I really like. I smile to hear the rain beating down & the wind thrashing about.
I forgot to mention earlier in the week – probably Monday, as I didn’t type on Tuesday, that Jude has cut his 1st tooth (at last). Louise ways that he cut it’s neighbour yesterday – so there are 2 bottom teeth. I could not feel it, & have yet to actually see the 1st one – he likes to keep them covered with his tongue when he concedes to open his mouth…
Looked like Louise had to endure a day of mayhem yesterday. Hamish & Amber have returned from a trip to London, & were round to play a lot. The upstairs rooms seem to have been rearranged a little – chairs moved bedclothes everywhere. hmph. I tidied up their front bedroom when I got home as Louise was out with Jude getting shopping (delayed) & her mum was playing with Jack & Eve downstairs. Apparently Jack & Hamish had done a good job of tidying it already as they had scattered lego & bionicles everywhere – which was gone by the time I got to it. Ah – the world of small advances.