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