see you in a couple of weeks!

Hi all

Well, this will (probably) be the last blog for a wee while! As from this weekend we have no internet at our current house and we can't get broadband in our new house for 2 weeks so apologies in advance for not blogging and not replying to emails!

If you need any of us, please feel free to use my work email address - if you don't have it and want it - let me know! We won't be able to blog until we have internet at home cos its blocked at my work and the chances of Nick doing a blog at work are slim to non-existant!!

Anyway, just to let you know the house move is all going forward just fine and we should be IN our house next Tuesday - yay!!!! So exciting now :o) Nigel and Ollie will be with us on Thursday evening to work through the weekend on the flooring and friends of ours and Lauren are all pitching in to help over the weekend. Gotta love your friends eh?!!

We've got a team of blokes up at the new house laying floors, doing the lighting and fitting the curtains and some girls at the old house organising and starting the packing! Lauren is taking the girls out on Saturday to spend the day with my best mate Ros (her hubby Phil is helping at the new house) so that we can just get really stuck in without interruptions! Very exciting, very stressful and - just this week - a little sad. We're so happy to be moving but this week I felt a little sad to leave our home that has been so happy and where our children were babies - Izzy was even born here in the lounge! Mostly though, we're all excited for the new fresh start with all the junk binned and all the new gorgeousness of our house!!

Last weekend, Nick and I went away to Oasis with our best friends Ros and Phil and had such a lovely relaxing time! It RAINED and RAINED and RAINED!!!!!!!! We were in the outside spa pool in a thunder storm - way cool!!!! I should say - the rain has been unbelievable this month - for our non UK readers - to the point that we have had deaths in the UK from flood water, sudden rising rivers and rapidly rising drains. Its been really crazy weather for June.

Apart from the rain though, we ate out, Ros and I had a lovely facial and on Sunday morning, Nick and I didn't get up until 10am!!!!!! Awesome! :o) Thanks to Lauren for looking after the girls (not forgetting Brent of course) and enabling us to have this special time on our own :o)

So, I think that's it - back to the sorting and packing! We have another skip for this week and Lauren has already been chucking stuff in it whilst we're at work ;o) WOW! Hard to believe that next time I blog will be from our new office up in the attic of the new house!

Love to you all and please do leave us comments - we'll catch up with you soon!

Nikki xoxoxoxoxoxox

So close to moving - but still a lot to do!!

Hey all


Update on the house - do you want to see pics......?!?!?!!!!

Nick went IN the house today - measured everything and had a first check of the fixtures and fittings that have gone in so far (needs to get finished quick cos we complete NEXT THURSDAY - aaggghhhhh!!!!!)

What do you think then?


The ACTUAL front of our ACTUAL house :o)



The kitchen so far

I'll not post any more - leave you some surprises ;o)

Lauren got home safe and sound but she's really struggling with jet lag this time :o( I think it was the rotten flight time that ultimately meant she missed a full nights sleep and ended up awake for 30 hours solid. Other than that, she's fine though and the girls were delighted to see her - I thought Izzy's head would flip back at her jaw cos her grin was SOOOoooo wide!!!

Yesterday Nick and I totally emptied the attic - quite an experience! Nick had put up there a lot of stuff from when he worked from home (including a broken chair which we both wondered WHY he had felt a need to save it, manhandle it with difficulty through the loft hatch and WHAT he kept it for!!!!). We got an ENORMOUS skip - and filled it! All the stuff from the attic and some from the garage. It was a strange experience, tiring, dirty but really exhilirating and carthartic to get rid of all the junk!!

Better go and get on with dinner - love to all and thanks for your continued prayers and support in the last couple of weeks hectic house moving!

Nikki xoxoxoxoxox

update on the house!

Hey all

Just been over to the site (advantages of it being 2 minutes from our current house ;o) ) to show my friend Jane round the showhome (which is the same house as ours).

When we got there - I could see my house just about finished :o) YAY!!!! There's a roof on the garage, topsoil in the garden and an almost complete path to the backdoor!! In the site office, my hand was warmly shaken by Derek who introduced himself as the contractor services manager. He said he'd been in my house all day cleaning it!! I couldn't go in for "health and safety" reasons BUT he said my kitchen is in, my bathrooms are in and there's just the final bits of tweaking and it'll be done on Monday!! AAgggghhhhh!!!!!! This is SO real now!!!!

So, that's made me all excited and giddy! :o)

The reason he'd been cleaning my house all day is cos of the awful weather! Remember we were basking in the sun less than 2 weeks ago? Now, its 10 degrees today, constant rain and biting wind - grim! The forecast for the whole weekend is the same too - whoopeedoo!

Nick's in Cheltenham again today sorting out a problem with the computer sound thingy that had been sent from Austria - it didn't work :o( So, the poor boy had to drive down first thing this morning and he'll be back midnightish tonight. Caitlin and I are doing the Manchester run to get Lauren in the morning - she's back at 11:05 so we don't have to rush out at the crack of sparrows!

I'll leave you with a gorgeous photo of the girls - not that I'm biased you understand! Kids are funny - when we had Izzy, I always said I wouldn't dress my girls in the same clothes. Personal thing, but I really don't like it. I wasn't counting of course on the fact that the girls may WANT to wear the same clothes!! Grrrr!! Anyway, when the sun was shining they decided they wanted nighties instead of pjs so I went to buy some - and they insisted they should have the same! So, here they are in the same nighties :o)



Love to you all

Nikki xoxoxoxox

random

Hey all

Lets go on a random wander in my head today.....

Its raining - and the rain today is VERY wet rain! I know that sounds daft but some rain is wetter than others and today's rain is that constant soggy drizzle that permeates everything and leaves things soaking wet tho its not raining hard.

Having said that, we needed a bit of rain so I'm not complaining!

I think the rain will be causing Nick some difficulties - he's down in a castle in Cheltenham installing something arty... hope that's enough info cos sometimes I can't remember all the details! Anyway, he took his waterproofs when he set off yesterday, despite leaving in bright sunshine - think he'll be glad he did!

So, Nick's away AGAIN! I think he deserves the rain as his last 2 trips have been exotic and / or sunny!! It'll almost be strange to have him home! The girls and I have done well over 2 weeks on our own now over the past 4 weeks - we've got into quite a good routine and they're pretty adorable which helps!

Its definitely tough doing this and working full time and I really don't know how full time working single mums do it cos getting your kids up and where they need to be in time for you to start work and then finishing work in time to get them both from separate daycare and home in time for tea - PHEW!!! In amongst that of course, trying to do a professional stressful job still!! AND trying to be a great Mum still!!!! I've been putting my pants over my trousers in the hope that some superman strength will rub off, I've also tried wearing a cape but....... ;o) I've had a couple of days not at work which have been MUCH easier - tho don't ask me to be a full time mum either cos a few days is great, more than that, and I miss my job!

I'm not complaining though! We've got through it just fine (apart from when Izzy wakes up at 2:30am for a chat like last night ;o) She's still cute at that time though and I can't help getting into her conversation then I'm like - eh, sleep now!!!) and had some good times together. I've earned my weekend break next week at Oasis though :o) YAY!!!!

So, Ros and Phil (our best friends) and Nick and I are off to Oasis WITHOUT the kids for 2 nights :o) We've not been away just the 4 of us for almost 9 years since I was pregnant with Caitlin..... eek! Just realised, 9 YEARS!!!! Where did that go! Anyway, the 4 of us plan to sleep in, eat out and read magazines and books in blissful silence! Wouldn't be without the children for a minute - they are such a blessing but, as all those parents who've been parenting a few years will agree, time just as a couple is rare and special and needs to be protected too.

We exchanged contracts on the house yesterday which means we are legally committed to completing the move! Bit scary but SOOooooo exciting! The plastering is all done and I believe our kitchen and bathrooms are going in as I write!

Lauren arrives home on Saturday morning and Caitlin and I are off to Manchester to be the welcoming party :o) Since it was less than 10 days to Lauren returning, Izzy's found it much easier to understand cos she can see it on her fingers!!! ;o)

This morning I did a story sack session at Izzy's nursery which was lots of fun. The kids were just so attentive and co-operative and they really joined in with the sounds and the actions and the mask. 3 year olds are just truly amazing! Such little people yet they can do SOOOOoooo much! I love that age - still cute, but also REALLY clever! Izzy loved having her Mum in nursery :o) She was just buzzing about the whole thing!

I think that's enough of my musings! No new pics today - but I'll post some more of those at the weekend - including (hopefully) a house update pic!

Love to all and especially Rachel and Andrew who got married on Sunday :o) Big congratulations to the new Mr and Mrs Cornelson :o)

Nikki xoxoxoxoxox

Inside the new house!

Hello and I'm afraid its STILL house news!


Last Friday Nick and I had a "pre-plaster" meeting at the house.. an opportunity for Nick to take note (cos he understands and is interested) of where all the electrics are and the pipes and which way the joists run and for me to say "eeeeee" a lot and jump like tigger in my new house!!!


I'm afraid the pics don't tell you much but I thought you might like to have a look anyway :o)

View from dining room through double doors to bay window in lounge:
View out of front door across (what will be) a landscaped green to the protected hawthorn hedge:

View from our bedroom through arch to dressing room then door through to bathroom with bathroom window at the end (honestly!!):

View of attic from bedroom 2 (cinema room) across wall to Lauren's bathroom and bedroom:

So there you go.... I think the finished result will look much better!!! hehehehe

Our completion date (when the house is legally ours) is the 28th June but, because we are part exchanging our current house with the builder, we have a license to stay in our current house AS WELL for a week :o) So, the plan is to complete on Thursday 28th then Nigel (Nick's brother) and his friend are going to come up on Thursday night ready to start doing all the carpet and flooring from first thing on Friday. They should be finished the whole house by Sunday / Monday and Nick and I and some friends will also be putting up curtains, light fittings etc etc. The removal men will come on Tuesday and that will be the official "moving day" and then Wednesday will be unpacking :o) Sounds like a plan - just hope it all comes together ok!

That's really it for now - Nick's away this week in Seville, he left on Wednesday and is back midnightish on Sunday THEN he's away again on Tuesday until Thursday / Friday. My Mum and Dad are coming up this weekend which will be lovely for us all - I think the girls are getting sick of me!!!!!!!

Love to all and I'll blog again soon

Big hugs

Nikki xoxoxox

WE HAVE WINDOWS!!!!!

Good morning everyone!

First of all, sorry that this blog has taken a while to appear. My excuse is that Nick's been away for 10 days and between work, kids and domestic duties, I haven't had chance to sit at my pc!

So, how's it been? Well, fine on the whole but trying to work in a fairly stressful job THEN come home and do all the kid stuff by myself and look after the house has been trying! The days that I wasn't at work were easier - but also confirmed that I'm not cut out to be a full time mum!! I'm happy cos Nick's now home and its much easier with 2 of us - just to have someone else to talk to and someone else for the kids to chat to cos I think the girls got fed up with the same old Mummy every day too!! We were all fine though and the girls coped well :o)

Nick's away again for 5 days next week but at least I'm prepared! I haven't spent so many nights on my own with both girls ever and I've only done a few nights in the past - mainly when Izzy was a baby. Its amazing the difference having a 3 year old makes though cos Izzy can get herself dressed, eat by herself and doesn't wear nappies and the 2 girls can play together beautifully (well, when they're in the mood!) and they're basically good kids so they made it much easier than it could have been :o) If only I could get Izzy out of the habit of waking at 5:30 every morning!! Truly, I lived the last 10 days on kid time!! Up at 5:30 with Izzy, out, work, home, bath, Izzy bed, Caitlin bed, Nikki tea, Nikki bed at 9pm!!!!!! Hahahahahahahaa - I was SOOOoooo boring!!

Fortunately, Nick's parents came up for the weekend so the girls got a break from me and I got some adult company :o) We had a lovely weekend, we went to see the new house and the show home. At the weekend the house looked like this:

See, no windows and no tiles on the roof but we did at least HAVE a roof at that point!

Anne and Jim LOVED the house and we had a fun time going round the show home and the girls and I explaining our plans :o) All is still on track for moving the last weekend in June. On the Saturday afternoon we went to a "chrome and fins" show at Preston Park where there were loads of big old American cars - Caitlin said they looked like "Grease" cars :o) They also had inflatable slides there and a "hook a duck" stall so we all had fun!!

On Sunday we went to Mass in the morning to the beautiful old church in Yarm. We've pretty much decided that we prefer that church. The same priest as in Ingleby covers both churches so he does 9:30 Mass in Yarm then 11 in Ingleby but 11am is not a great time for Iz cos she starts to get hungry and not a good time for me cos my sunday roast is burning!!! The Yarm church is also a "proper" church with beautiful stained glass windows - but no toilet - and guess who suddenly decided she needed the toilet on Sunday? Yes, Izzy! And when she needs to go - we don't have long! Fortunately the deacon's house is next door to the church and we know the deacon's wife Margaret so we nipped in there - Izzy LOVED the fluffy peach toilet seat cover and asked if we could have one at home ;o) So cute!!!!

Sunday afternoon Ros and Phil and the boys came to play which was lovely cos Anne and Jim hadn't seen the boys for ages. Monday, Anne and I took the girls to Fun Shack which is a BIG soft play place about 30 minutes north of here. We hadn't tried that one before and it was excellent :o) Slides, a little go cart track and 3 different soft play areas - one for 0-3, one for 2-5 and a huge one for 5-12 so I think that could be a fave place for Lauren and the girls this summer :o)

Anne and Jim went home on Monday and on Tuesday Izzy was in nursery and Caitlin and I had the day together. We went ice skating!! I haven't done that since I was a teenager and I got on the ice and thought "aaaggghhhhhh"!!! Fortunately, I got back into it quite quickly and was able to help Caitlin round - she really started to do well by the end and could make it all the way round without holding onto me or the side :o) It was fun!

On Tuesday afternoon we nipped to see how the house is doing and now look:

WE HAVE WINDOWS!!!! Doesn't a house look better and brighter when the windows go in!??!

Our current house is now on the market - if you're curious to see what rhubarb Estate Agents speak when they describe your house check out http://www.rightmove.co.uk/viewdetails-7937601.rsp?pa_n=1&tr_t=buy

Nick's home safe from Mauritius and arrived back in the middle of Wednesday night. His trip was VERY successful and he's taken some amazing pictures - some of which will be blown up to decorate our new house! He's becoming very talented with his photography now and his shots look just like magazine shots - very professional! I haven't yet seen the photos in the ghostbusters gear - but trust me, if I get my hands on any, I'll post them!!! ;o) Nick's luggage got stuck at Heathrow however but made it up to Newcastle yesterday and is being couriered down today - so he'll have his shaver back which is a relief cos he looks like a convict with his bristly chin!!!

That's all for now - hope you are all well and happy? BIG hugs to the new Mr and Mrs Snider - saw the photos Sharon and you just looked STUNNING!!!!!!

Love to all

Nikki xoxoxoxox