I don't know how we came across them but they're just fantastic. I found one on our book shelf the other day, liked the title and read it to Nat as a bedtime story.
He laughed and thought it was "well cool and well busy", his line for something great.
And so, when I was in Borders the other day, I searched for more in the same series and wow, there are loads of them. Top!
What am I rabbiting on about you ask? Well maybe you didn't but I'll tell you anyway. I'm talking about a load of books loosely based on the traditional Goldilocks and the Three Bears type stories that we all grew up with and came to love, and know off by heart.
These books however, ring the changes, and are as Nat described them, just "well cool and well busy".
Tonight, I read Cinderboy to Ben and Lauren - we laughed out loud at the silly story of a boy who was at the beck and call of his ugly stepbrothers but whose life was changed for the better by his TV Godmother. Clever stuff.
And then there's Daft Jack and the Bean Stack. Jack and his mother have a cow, but they're sick of drinking milk. The giant is sick of eating children and really wants beans instead, and when he meets Jacks mother they fall in love and live happily ever after. Superb writing.
One more before I give you the author etc. - Eco Wolf and the Three Pigs . The wolf is the so-laid-back-he's-falling-over 'goody' in the story and the three pigs are the thoughtless moneymaking 'baddies', out to ruin the environment.Engaging to children and adults alike.
I've got to tell you the best title : Rumply Crumply Stinky Pin, we love the name in our house, and the story is just hilarious too.
They're a must if you fancy something light hearted for the kids before bed, or at any time for that matter. They work for all ages too. Ben's nine and he loves them just as much as Nat who's five. Lauren has memorised most of them and likes to join in with me in 'reading' them.
If you fancy reading one of these Seriously Silly Stories, they are by Laurence Anholt and Arthur Robins and are published by Orchard books. Probably available from Amazon.co.uk but I found Borders (near Ikea) have virtually the whole series.
Some other titles include :
Mary,Mary, Fried Canary
Old King Cole Played In Goal
Ding Dong Bell What's That Funny Smell?
Little Bo Peep Has Knickers That Bleep
Hope you get as much out of them as we do.
RX
Thursday, 16 July 2009
Thursday, 9 July 2009
The King Of Pop
"So who is the king of pop mummy, is it Michael Jackson or Elvis" , asked Lauren tonight when she got in from school.
"Err, well that depends" I replied, "probably on how old you are".
"Well the boys in my class and I were chatting at break time, and we think its Michael Jackson because we don't even remember Elvis".
Fair enough, can't argue with that.
Lauren is totally and utterly engrossed in the whole Michael Jackson deal since his death. She was introduced to him about six months ago when Chris downloaded Man In The Mirror and played it to the kids in the car one day. They loved it, learnt all the words really quickly and requested it on all journeys, over and over.
Last summer it was Angels by Robbie Williams that we played to death, whilst on holidya in Cornwall, and then Pretender by The Foo Fighters, so we've moved on to a new thing with Jacko.
Lauren also asked me after we spent last friday night viewing videos, mainly Thriller and Bad, the longer versions, " How come he was black when he was little and white when he was an adult". That took some explaining!!
We've even had a Michael Jackson tribute concert in the playroom put together primarliy by Ben but with Nat and Lauren being given supporting roles! Ben was Micheal, complete with half mast black trousers, white fluffy socks and a large red shirt - he even got the moon walking moves off to a tee. Very entertaining.
Laurens got Bad on her Ipod and wanders round the house singing loudly with the headphones in her ears unable to hear herself, and tonight she fell asleep to him seranading her.
Wonder how many people around the world are doing what my kids are doing right now. Funny thing death.
RX
"Err, well that depends" I replied, "probably on how old you are".
"Well the boys in my class and I were chatting at break time, and we think its Michael Jackson because we don't even remember Elvis".
Fair enough, can't argue with that.
Lauren is totally and utterly engrossed in the whole Michael Jackson deal since his death. She was introduced to him about six months ago when Chris downloaded Man In The Mirror and played it to the kids in the car one day. They loved it, learnt all the words really quickly and requested it on all journeys, over and over.
Last summer it was Angels by Robbie Williams that we played to death, whilst on holidya in Cornwall, and then Pretender by The Foo Fighters, so we've moved on to a new thing with Jacko.
Lauren also asked me after we spent last friday night viewing videos, mainly Thriller and Bad, the longer versions, " How come he was black when he was little and white when he was an adult". That took some explaining!!
We've even had a Michael Jackson tribute concert in the playroom put together primarliy by Ben but with Nat and Lauren being given supporting roles! Ben was Micheal, complete with half mast black trousers, white fluffy socks and a large red shirt - he even got the moon walking moves off to a tee. Very entertaining.
Laurens got Bad on her Ipod and wanders round the house singing loudly with the headphones in her ears unable to hear herself, and tonight she fell asleep to him seranading her.
Wonder how many people around the world are doing what my kids are doing right now. Funny thing death.
RX
Monday, 29 June 2009
Footballs
We seem to be the only family out there who watched the England under 21s playing in the final against Germany this evening, as Andy Murray was on the other side playing his heart out at Wimbledon.
We did this because, Ben, my nine year old is craaaaaaaaazy about football. As is his brother ,Nat, but as he's only five we managed to distract him enough by Winnie the Pooh audio bedtime stories to get him out of the way before the match started.
We're keeping Morrisons in Wetherby going at the moment buying 99p footballs because the boys, and Lauren too, play with them to death and they pop. Suppose for 99p what can we expect.
This Sunday morning the boys started out with two balls each of varying colours and it was all going swimmingly until Nat kicked Bens ball into a particularly prickly bush. The balls are insubstantial to say the least and sure enough it went pop. Ben was furious as he thought Nat had done it on purpose (and yes by the glint in his eye I'd have to agree) so to get his own back ,Ben (who is nine and really should know better) popped one of Nats balls with a pair of kitchen scissors!!!
His dad came along at this moment and having not been part of the earlier escapades promptly sent Ben to his room.
Ben took it on the chin and came down later to play MORE football with Nat. How it happened I don't know but they managed to pop two more balls between them and came in asking for us to have another trip to Morrisons.
Chris (dad) put his foot down. I love it when he does this because it doesn't happen very often. The boys sulked for a full two minutes, and then played on their bikes instead.
Sure there is a moral to this story but not sure what it is..................RX
We did this because, Ben, my nine year old is craaaaaaaaazy about football. As is his brother ,Nat, but as he's only five we managed to distract him enough by Winnie the Pooh audio bedtime stories to get him out of the way before the match started.
We're keeping Morrisons in Wetherby going at the moment buying 99p footballs because the boys, and Lauren too, play with them to death and they pop. Suppose for 99p what can we expect.
This Sunday morning the boys started out with two balls each of varying colours and it was all going swimmingly until Nat kicked Bens ball into a particularly prickly bush. The balls are insubstantial to say the least and sure enough it went pop. Ben was furious as he thought Nat had done it on purpose (and yes by the glint in his eye I'd have to agree) so to get his own back ,Ben (who is nine and really should know better) popped one of Nats balls with a pair of kitchen scissors!!!
His dad came along at this moment and having not been part of the earlier escapades promptly sent Ben to his room.
Ben took it on the chin and came down later to play MORE football with Nat. How it happened I don't know but they managed to pop two more balls between them and came in asking for us to have another trip to Morrisons.
Chris (dad) put his foot down. I love it when he does this because it doesn't happen very often. The boys sulked for a full two minutes, and then played on their bikes instead.
Sure there is a moral to this story but not sure what it is..................RX
Tuesday, 23 June 2009
FLIPS
Nathaniel, my five year old, who is well too cool for school has just learnt a new trick - he can do a front flip off the end of the settee. He's very, very proud of himself, and was even practising in the tent last weekend when he went camping with his dad, and brother and sister.
He literally stands on the end of the settee (I gave up trying to stop them jumping on it years ago) throws himself forward and somersaults in the air and lands on his back on the soft cushions.
Today, we were at his regular GYMBOBS class (big plug for Janine, because it's a fab club and she and her staff are so enthusiastic) and he was doing the circuit which involved jumping onto a soft gym horse and jumping off the other side, landing on a mat and doing a forward roll.
Nathaniel,however, decided to treat everybody to his new trick without any prior warning, much to Janines horror and amazement. Instead of jumping off the gym horse he literally flipped in the air and landed with his feet together in a perfect 10/10 olympic finish.
While Janine was having a small heart attack and shouting something at me about her public liability insurance, Roger one of her helpers just pointed at Nat and shouted "that was sooooooooooooooo cool".
He smiled sweetly and just moved onto the next apparatus.
He literally stands on the end of the settee (I gave up trying to stop them jumping on it years ago) throws himself forward and somersaults in the air and lands on his back on the soft cushions.
Today, we were at his regular GYMBOBS class (big plug for Janine, because it's a fab club and she and her staff are so enthusiastic) and he was doing the circuit which involved jumping onto a soft gym horse and jumping off the other side, landing on a mat and doing a forward roll.
Nathaniel,however, decided to treat everybody to his new trick without any prior warning, much to Janines horror and amazement. Instead of jumping off the gym horse he literally flipped in the air and landed with his feet together in a perfect 10/10 olympic finish.
While Janine was having a small heart attack and shouting something at me about her public liability insurance, Roger one of her helpers just pointed at Nat and shouted "that was sooooooooooooooo cool".
He smiled sweetly and just moved onto the next apparatus.
Monday, 15 June 2009
CAMPING
I am not a camper, never have been and never will be. Give me a five star hotel with fluffy robe and slippers, a mini bar and some bubble bath and I'm sorted. So how I found myself in a tent in the garden with my three children on a Saturday night has me baffled.
It all started when their dad said he'd take them camping next weekend, on his own. He didn't even invite me because he knows the answer. The kids were so excited and went to choose a tent; the largest tent I've ever seen (well nearly, apart from my friend Marias, she has a lounge with a blow up settee and rugs, and three bedrooms!).
So, as it was a nice day on Saturday, Chris and Ben decided to put the tent up whilst Lauren, Nat and I were in the theatre watching Joseph. We returned to see every square inch of the lawn taken up with a very high tech looking tent.
Of course, the kids wanted to sleep in it that night, and eat their tea in it - Chris had bought a table with four chairs (four not five, I was not in the calculation). It was agreed then Chris and the children would sleep in the tent and I would look after the cats and sleep in my comfortable warm bed.
Hours later though, I was told things had changed and that the kids had voted for mummy to camp and daddy to sleep in the house. They felt sorry for me because I'm missing the weekend away next week (but honestly I didn't mind a bit), so wanted to make me feel better by allowing me the chance to sleep under the stars!! Aaaah, bless them.
They pestered, and pestered, and so................ I gave in. I did insist on having my duvet, sheet and pillows rather than a sleeping bag though, so they made my bed up for me and we had a little snack at the table early evening (with daddy) and got into our beds.
That's when the mayhem started. Giddy is an understatement. All three of them were bouncing around on the blow up beds, throwing pillows and giggling. I let it happen and even joined in abit and actually found myself enjoying it.
Two hours later we were reading Horrid Henrys Underpants and they were lying still. Then we heard a car, and a loud hello, and two heads popped round the door of the tent. Jennie, my mate and her husband Richard had called round for a nosey. They're caravanners (new to it), and Jennie couldn't beleive I was in a tent!
That was it, the kids were giddy again. Jennie got into my bed; we called 'room service' (Chris, in the house) and he brought out the wine and we had a natter and a giggle with the kids showing off the tent and my new jeep.
At 10.45pm Nat was beside himself so the kids and I excused ourselves and the other three adults retired to the house. The four of us went to sleep quite quickly but were rudely awoken pretty soon after by some rather large heavy rain drops on the tent.
Lauren hated it, and ran into the house where Jennie put her to bed while Chris and Richard were fumbling around in the dark trying to put the roof back on my car. The boys went back to sleep.
Two hours later Ben woke me up saying he couldn't sleep so he too went back into the house to his bed.
That left me and Nat snuggled under my duvet where we had a lovely sleep until 7.30am the following morning.
What a palava! How Chris is going to cope next weekend I'm not sure. But I didn't enjoy it so much that I'm volunteering to join him to help!
It all started when their dad said he'd take them camping next weekend, on his own. He didn't even invite me because he knows the answer. The kids were so excited and went to choose a tent; the largest tent I've ever seen (well nearly, apart from my friend Marias, she has a lounge with a blow up settee and rugs, and three bedrooms!).
So, as it was a nice day on Saturday, Chris and Ben decided to put the tent up whilst Lauren, Nat and I were in the theatre watching Joseph. We returned to see every square inch of the lawn taken up with a very high tech looking tent.
Of course, the kids wanted to sleep in it that night, and eat their tea in it - Chris had bought a table with four chairs (four not five, I was not in the calculation). It was agreed then Chris and the children would sleep in the tent and I would look after the cats and sleep in my comfortable warm bed.
Hours later though, I was told things had changed and that the kids had voted for mummy to camp and daddy to sleep in the house. They felt sorry for me because I'm missing the weekend away next week (but honestly I didn't mind a bit), so wanted to make me feel better by allowing me the chance to sleep under the stars!! Aaaah, bless them.
They pestered, and pestered, and so................ I gave in. I did insist on having my duvet, sheet and pillows rather than a sleeping bag though, so they made my bed up for me and we had a little snack at the table early evening (with daddy) and got into our beds.
That's when the mayhem started. Giddy is an understatement. All three of them were bouncing around on the blow up beds, throwing pillows and giggling. I let it happen and even joined in abit and actually found myself enjoying it.
Two hours later we were reading Horrid Henrys Underpants and they were lying still. Then we heard a car, and a loud hello, and two heads popped round the door of the tent. Jennie, my mate and her husband Richard had called round for a nosey. They're caravanners (new to it), and Jennie couldn't beleive I was in a tent!
That was it, the kids were giddy again. Jennie got into my bed; we called 'room service' (Chris, in the house) and he brought out the wine and we had a natter and a giggle with the kids showing off the tent and my new jeep.
At 10.45pm Nat was beside himself so the kids and I excused ourselves and the other three adults retired to the house. The four of us went to sleep quite quickly but were rudely awoken pretty soon after by some rather large heavy rain drops on the tent.
Lauren hated it, and ran into the house where Jennie put her to bed while Chris and Richard were fumbling around in the dark trying to put the roof back on my car. The boys went back to sleep.
Two hours later Ben woke me up saying he couldn't sleep so he too went back into the house to his bed.
That left me and Nat snuggled under my duvet where we had a lovely sleep until 7.30am the following morning.
What a palava! How Chris is going to cope next weekend I'm not sure. But I didn't enjoy it so much that I'm volunteering to join him to help!
Monday, 8 June 2009
FREEZER BAGS
I asked Ben if he'd run into our local Sainsburys the other evening to buy a bag of freezer bags. Lauren, Nat and I stayed in the car and watched Ben from outside going up and down each aisle, obviously unable to find said item.
He came out empty handed claiming that they didn't have any. When quizzed he said he didn't like to ask the assistant, and couldn't see them himself.
So, Lauren said she'd go back with him to find them.
This time, Nat and I watched the two of them giggling up and down the aisles for ages, and they still came back empty handed.
It turned out that the assistant was an ex school pupil and they were so in awe of him they daren't ask for what they wanted. Bless!
But,have no fear, little brother came to the rescue. "I'll find them mummy" he said, jumping out of the car with Ben and Lauren close on his heels.
He marched in, straight up to the young assistant and asked where the freezer bags were. The three of them were then escorted to the correct aisle and came out beaming, with a bar of chocolate as well as the bags.
Result! Nat was most proud of himself for the rest of the day.
RX
He came out empty handed claiming that they didn't have any. When quizzed he said he didn't like to ask the assistant, and couldn't see them himself.
So, Lauren said she'd go back with him to find them.
This time, Nat and I watched the two of them giggling up and down the aisles for ages, and they still came back empty handed.
It turned out that the assistant was an ex school pupil and they were so in awe of him they daren't ask for what they wanted. Bless!
But,have no fear, little brother came to the rescue. "I'll find them mummy" he said, jumping out of the car with Ben and Lauren close on his heels.
He marched in, straight up to the young assistant and asked where the freezer bags were. The three of them were then escorted to the correct aisle and came out beaming, with a bar of chocolate as well as the bags.
Result! Nat was most proud of himself for the rest of the day.
RX
Friday, 5 June 2009
TIME
I'm in a bit of a reflective mood today, just thinking how quickly my three children are growing and how time runs away with us and there is nothing we can do about it.
I sometimes get so bogged down with what I'm doing that I don't get down to the kids level - literally or metaphorically, and feel a little bit guilty, like most parents Im sure, that I don't give them enough quality time.
This morning Nat (aged five) seemed to say "mummy" every two minutes and as I was busy trying to fit allsorts in before school I got a little bit short with him. He just wanted to be close to me and for me to give him some attention and what I did give him just wasn't enough. So he played up, because any attention is better than none, negative or positive.
I left him at school upset and not wanting to stay. He's usually so happy go lucky and I left in a sombre mood. Hope he soon cheers up. I can't wait to see him at the end of his day, and have, of course, vowed to make it up to him later today in my mind!
I find one of the best ways to get close to my three is to have a tickling match. They love it and we all roll around in a tangle of limbs and they giggle away. It lifts my heart and I keep telling Nat that his laugh is my happy thought if I'm feeling down and he's not there.
So 3.30pm this afternoon, thats what I'll be instigating in my house. After the sweet shop of course, it is Friday after all.
I sometimes get so bogged down with what I'm doing that I don't get down to the kids level - literally or metaphorically, and feel a little bit guilty, like most parents Im sure, that I don't give them enough quality time.
This morning Nat (aged five) seemed to say "mummy" every two minutes and as I was busy trying to fit allsorts in before school I got a little bit short with him. He just wanted to be close to me and for me to give him some attention and what I did give him just wasn't enough. So he played up, because any attention is better than none, negative or positive.
I left him at school upset and not wanting to stay. He's usually so happy go lucky and I left in a sombre mood. Hope he soon cheers up. I can't wait to see him at the end of his day, and have, of course, vowed to make it up to him later today in my mind!
I find one of the best ways to get close to my three is to have a tickling match. They love it and we all roll around in a tangle of limbs and they giggle away. It lifts my heart and I keep telling Nat that his laugh is my happy thought if I'm feeling down and he's not there.
So 3.30pm this afternoon, thats what I'll be instigating in my house. After the sweet shop of course, it is Friday after all.
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