Lulabelle's MFW Diary

CathT

New decking and puppy sound great. I didn't grow up with animals and neither did DH so we don't feel the need to have a pet but I do realise how wonderful it would be for the children. You'll make lots of fab memories over the Summer.

lulabelle1

Puppy is settling in well.... I'm not enjoying her waking up at 5am wanting to have a wee and have breakfast! Work in progress.

Happy that the boys have now finished for the Summer holidays, but it has literally pi88ed it down since 3:15 on Friday when they finished. Hopefully it wont continue like this for the next 6 weeks.

CC bill horrendous this month. Can't see next month being much better with it being the school holidays since need to try and find some activities to fill the time. Everything so expensive. Maybe they'll just be content to walk the dog and do some puppy training? Hmmmmmmmm.......

Old school uniform has been recycled, new school uniform has been bought and is now hanging in the wardrobes. School bags all checked and stationery placed where required.

Still need school shoes - but that will wait until one week before they go back as their feet are sure to grow. Will most likely need new football shoes too. DS2's feet just seem to grow so quickly.... he's not quite 8 and his feet are already a size 4! DS1 is is 13 and he's only a 6 - looks like DS2 will be HUGE!

Can't see that any OP's will be made this month - just the usual payment to the NWide 5% Reg saver and that's about it.

Heck - this also reminds me that I need to organise something for DS2's birthday in a couple of weeks. I'm not on the ball at all.

CathT

You're super organised for going back to school! I'm encouraging mine to write lists of things they want to do. Am hoping lots of the activities are free but it's very much a work in progress. We are having good weather so am trying to make the most of it.

lulabelle1

CathT wrote: »

You're super organised for going back to school! I'm encouraging mine to write lists of things they want to do. Am hoping lots of the activities are free but it's very much a work in progress. We are having good weather so am trying to make the most of it.

Great idea to get them to write a list themselves, think I might pinch your idea if you don't mind! :T

Enjoy the weather whilst you can, we finally have some sunshine/warmth again today - hurrah!!

lulabelle1

So, the rain has arrived yet again.

Made the most of the afternoon/evening sunshine - went to a friends for fizz and dinner, just the two of us and sat out in the garden, really lovely evening

DS1 had a friend staying over so DH took them all to watch the new Spiderman film (Meerkat movies!).

The teens are still sleeping in the den downstairs - I suspect they stayed up super late watching horror films (I've decided to go down the route of least resistance when it comes to sleepovers and have learnt its utterly pointless to try and get them to go to sleep at any kind of sensible time as it just results in listening to them chit chat and giggle all night).

DS2 is off on his Rugby training again today (a 3 day course at the local club which happens to be a premiership team). He had a fab day yesterday but talked mainly about which players he had spotted having lunch etc as appose to whether he enjoyed the coaching. He's starting to learn contact today, so he's gone off with his gum shield - fingers crossed we don't have any broken bones.

Taking a friend for lunch today for her birthday - seems a nicer idea than spending money on card and pointless present that she most likely would have no use for.

I'm going through a bit of a declutter phase at the moment - just so fed up of all of the pointless crap that we have. Of course, I recognise that the most important thing is to stop buying more pointless crap, but I'm enjoying decluttering too. I've applied the logic to my birthday/christmas wish list - I always (I don't mean to sound ungrateful) end up with more pointless stuff, that whilst it's usually nice/cute etc, I really have no use/place for - so I've put together a list of things that I'd quite like to receive and a list of things that I really do NOT want to receive and given it to DH.
"My love to have list" includes things like my favourite perfume/handcream/body lotion, flowers, bubble bath etc and my "please do not get me any" list includes things like cuddly toys, photo frames, ornaments, pink things and other stuff that ends up just being put in a drawer.

He seemed happy with the list

I'd like to try and slowly apply this way of thinking to the children too - especially DS2 who has far too much plastic stuff. I'm sure a gift of a zoo trip or a meal at his favourite place would provide a nicer experience that more plastic rubbish that will be put in the cupboard and never played with again.

lulabelle1

Lovely few hours yesterday - DS2 had his last Rugby coaching session, we went along to watch him play a game for the last hour and then watch the presentations. I got to see the actual team training on the pitch next to DS2 and half of them were semi naked with their tops removed, in the rain! Nice. DS2 got a lovely picture with one of the main players as we were heading to the car to leave - made his day. Lovely experience overall and worth the money.

Managed to catch up with work this morning and off to the Farm shortly with DS2 to meet a friend for a few hours. DS1 still sleeping - joys of being a teenager.

Hope the rain holds off for a few hours, don't fancy getting totally soaked again today.

Meatball pasta for dinner, yum.

Currently toying with holiday plans for next year... made all the more complicated as our close friends may be getting married in Mexico. Not really a holiday that i would choose myself, especially not in August and especially not with two children. DS1 can only really go in the pool for an hour at a time (due to his diabetes pump & sensor - they'll fall off if he stays in longer) and not really sure what else there is to do at an all inclusive in Mexico. I don't want to let our friends down, especially as I've been asked to be a bridesmaid. I don't think anyone else is going either. There's also a chance that they may change their mind and get married here, so I'm a bit torn as to what to do for the best really. We'd thought about possiblly going to Florida for a few weeks (again not ideal in August) and then going over to Mexico for a few days just for the wedding, but that will cost even more.

Answers on the back of a postcard please (Or just post here, lol!!!)

muddywhitechicken

Whereabouts in Mexico? The Yucatan peninsula?

The Mayan ruins are fabulous. We visited Uxmal, Ek Balam and Telum but decided to give Chichen Itza a miss due to the crowds of tourists.

Swimming in the XCanche cenote near Ek Balam was an amazing experience that I'll never forget :cool:

lulabelle1

muddywhitechicken wrote: »

Whereabouts in Mexico? The Yucatan peninsula?

The Mayan ruins are fabulous. We visited Uxmal, Ek Balam and Telum but decided to give Chichen Itza a miss due to the crowds of tourists.

Swimming in the XCanche cenote near Ek Balam was an amazing experience that I'll never forget :cool:

I think so.... Riviera Maya? Same thing I guess? All of that sounds interesting enough for DH and I but I can just see the boys miserable yaps when I tell them we're off to explore ancient ruins in the sweltering August heat/humidity :rotfl:

muddywhitechicken

lulabelle1 wrote: »

I think so.... Riviera Maya? Same thing I guess? All of that sounds interesting enough for DH and I but I can just see the boys miserable yaps when I tell them we're off to explore ancient ruins in the sweltering August heat/humidity :rotfl:

You can climb the ruins at Uxmal and Ek Balam - would that make it more appealing?!

lulabelle1

muddywhitechicken wrote: »

You can climb the ruins at Uxmal and Ek Balam - would that make it more appealing?!

Not really, but thanks for the suggestions :rotfl:

So, the o/s mortgage has just dropped below the 100k mark by a few pounds, hopefully interest for the rest of the month doesn't pop it over again.

The weather has been rotten, DS2 has been at football club this week with a friend as they've been climbing the walls.

DS1 has coped nicely as he likes noting more than getting wet and muddy, assuming he leaves the house/his electricals. He's off diving this aft with a friend whilst DH does a repair to the B2L.

I've made use of some quiet time this last week to start some major de-cluttering. I've recycled loads, the charity shop have had a major haul and I've made a few hundred quid on ebay - which sadly just pays for this weeks dentist bill.

I'm currently having all of my fillings replaced with white ones - not just cosmetic as unfortunately there was decay around the old fillings that needed to be sorted. So far I'm thrilled with the results, eating is much better, no more funny niggles, aches and pains and to see less dark fillings each time I visit my dentist is fab. Shame it costs so much

I'll have to see whether I can be brave and sell more stuff to help fund it.

The kitchen has been completely de-cluttered as has my office, bedroom, den, lounge, bathrooms and DS1's bedroom. The worse is still to come - that's DS2's bedroom and the loft. Both will wait until DS2 is back at school. Those with children will understand why! I've read articles about teaching children the value of decluttering, giving unused toys to those in need, just choosing a few toys to play with etc and all that good stuff, but the reality is that DS2 will not be impressed whatsoever and will not be generous about giving to those who would appreciate them. He's a hoarder.... I struggle to get him to part with empty crisp packets, so unused toys would just result in weeks of crying at bedtime about how much he misses said items that hadn't seen the light of day for month/years. So, I shall still with my plan to de-clutter in secret when it comes to his room and the loft.

I'm being totally ruthless with it all and it feels great. The house looks fresher and cupboards, drawers etc are not full - things are easy to see/find/access - its wonderful.

Having the pup around has also been incredible for helping focus on whats important - we've had lots of family walks, couples walks etc etc and I haven't been shopping (or internet shopping) for weeks. Who knew.