Pancake Tuesday | Mum Makes A Mean Pancake

Everyone loves pancakes... right?

In our house, everyone is a big lover of pancakes (and in Nanny's house).. So of course we just had to make some pancakes for Pancake Tuesday! - ok yes - I lie - My Mum had to make pancakes for pancake Tuesday! 

They were delicious, everyone - including my Dad and Lexie-Anna (and they're usually the fussiest eaters) enjoyed them - We topped them off with - nutella or homemade jam - and some ice-cream on the side - which funnily enough, was made by Lacey-Beth at a friends ice-cream inventors party - so actually, everything besides the nutella was homemade. 

My mum sure does make a mean Pancake.. I don't know why she only makes them once a year, she definitely needs to make them more often. 

Liked and Loved Linky | February 2017

I've decided to take part in http://www.acornishmum.com/ liked and loved linky. 

I love looking back and recapping on a month, especially if a month has been extremely stressful, then I can look back and see the happier, positive sides to said month. So this will be a great opportunity to do that. 

What I liked and loved about February 2017: 

Lacey-Beth went to her very first Valentine's disco in school, just before they broke up for half term. She had a fantastic time, with all her wee friends, dancing and playing. She got herself dressed up, and wanted me to curl her hair. It was lovely, dolling her all up for her wee disco, and spending that one to one time with her, but it made me question, when the hell did she get so grown up?? I know, I'm biased, but didn't she look beautiful? 

Lexie-Anna officially came out of nappies. She potty trained this month, and she has done absolutely fantastic. Now, we haven't tried her long distances just yet.. we will get there though. But for home time, and shorter distances... She has mastered it completely, and she's super proud of herself also. And rightly so. I'm so proud of her achieving this, four months before she turns three. Definitely over the moon with her, I didn't think Miss Lexie would have been as easy as she has been to train, but she has surprised me. 

We made birds nest buns. We love Easter in our house, and even though it's still a while away yet, we're already getting in the notion for it, so we decided to make birds nests. This was the first time Lexie-Anna had really gotten involved with baking and making, so it was nice to spend that quality time with both girls together, and see them enjoying licking the chocolate out of the bowl afterwards - it was always the best part as a child. 

We had half term - and Lacey-Beth had a play date with her wee friend from school. She had a ball and came home filled with stories (and some ideas for her daddy to get creative lol) It was nice that she got to get out of the house and away from playing 'big sister' for a while, and got to play with her own wee friends. She was so excited too bless her, so I'll definitely have to organise some play dates for her in future. 

Sunday Nights = Family Movie Nights. This has kind of become a tradition now in our house. After the girls get their Sunday night baths, we all snuggle up with some popcorn and relax with a good family movie. One week - Daddy and I choose a movie from our childhood - Last night we chose The Sandlot - was always a favourite. Other weeks, the girls choose - you can already guess their choices - Trolls, Moana, Frozen, Minions etc.. hence the reason we take it turn about picking movies from different eras.  It's always nice to snuggle up with them though. 

My brother said YES to being my MAN OF HONOUR! - You can read all about it here
I was over the moon that he agreed.. Yes I know I look awful in the picture, but it was such a happy moment, so I don't even care. 

We also celebrated my brothers 25th birthday - and his beloved little nieces stole his thunder, blowing out the candles on his cake. We had a lovely family meal, followed by cake for his birthday, the girls love when we do family get together's to celebrate an occasion. 

Lacey-Beth went along to a 'Movie Night' in her dance studio, where she watched Secret Life of Pets. She had a fantastic time, and with a red carpet arrival at the studio I'm sure every child there felt like royalty. Her dance studio really is THE BEST! 

We've been getting the craft box out a lot recently and getting very creative. The girls have loved it. Especally the cutting and sticking, all the colourful stickers too. I decided to practice some 'wedding bits and bobs' just to see how they would turn out - they're not official wedding decor - but I have really enjoyed making a few wee bits and pieces. 

I have to admit, I won't be glad to see the back of February, as much as it has been an enjoyable month, it's been freezing, wet and windy. I'm looking forward to Spring coming in. 

Linked Up With 

Man of Honour | He said YES

I know, I know! Please, excuse the state of me. It's such a horrible photo of me, not one of my finest looking moments, but it's a photograph with such meaning. 

Meet my younger and yes I know taller (as he always reminds me) Gary.
Gary suffers with Autism and Epilepsy, and has done all of his life. He is on medication, however, health professionals have failed to find a medication to stop his seizures, and so every single night, he has a seizure still. 

Gary and I, fight like cat and dog, honestly. We bicker and argue, all the time. It drives my mum round the bend, you'd swear we were still kids with the things we argue about.. but we're also so close. 
He is my only sibling, my only brother. And while I may fight with him, no-one else is allowed to... AT ALL 

Today I asked Gary if he would be my Man of Honour,  breaking any rules of a traditional wedding. Originally, Gary was going to be our Usher, however, it didn't feel right him being just an Usher. I have only three men who are really important to me. 
David - my future husband 
Roy - My dad 
and then Gary - My brother.
Obviously, both David and my Dad will be up at the end of the aisle with me. However Gary wouldn't have been, and it felt really strange, thinking that. 
So.. asking him to be Man of Honour means that I can have him right by my side along with every other important person in my life that will be stood by me. 

Gary is one of my biggest inspirations in life, because despite having Autism and Epilepsy, he never ever lets this put him down, or bring him down. He always keeps himself really positive, and happy, and he's the best Uncle my girls could have, he's also their biggest supporter, he's always encouraging them, looking out for them, looking out for all his family really... So I was over the moon, that after he shed a few tears, he said YES! 

I'm absolutely delighted! And really looking forward to our wedding day now that everyone is playing an important role. 

My Sunday Photo

My Sunday Photo

This week I've chosen this beautiful picture of my daughters. 

This was literally taken today,after church. They both received these pretty dresses as a gift from their Aunt & Uncle for Christmas, and this is the first they have wore them. 

Lexie-Anna usually isn't a dress girl. She's a definite tomboy, and hates frills, bows, and dresses, especially for any period of time. 

But today, they both looked like proper little princesses, and in these moments, they were both being extremely nice to one another, and being right little angels, so it was the perfect snap. 

They both just look so natural, especially Lexie-Anna. 

Crayola | Marker Airbrush

Back in October for her actual birthday L-B received the Crayola Marker Airbrush set. 
We hadn't had a chance to get it out or actually use it yet.. it's sat in the box since October. 
Tonight, before bed, we decided to have a bit of family time, and put it to use for the first time, and I must say, I wish we had of got it out of the box before now, it was fantastic. 

I couldn't recommend it highly enough to anyone interested in buying one for their child. 
Both my girls loved it and had a ball making pictures. We did give Lexie-Anna a helping hand, as she was too young to do it herself, however Lacey-Beth was amazing with it. 

It was definitely a gift she can appreciate, and one the whole family will enjoy together. 

An early birthday | The lengths of a five year old.

This week, miss Lacey-Beth has been desperate to celebrate her birthday. 
She's only eight months early... but when you feel (and act) like a princess, all the time, 
is it ever too early to celebrate your birthday even if it is eight months in advance?

She told her dance teacher on Monday, that it was her birthday, hence the picture above, wearing the birthday crown in the studio. 

Then two days later, it was her Uncle Gary's birthday.. and she stole his thunder, by blowing out his candles. 

She claims, it's too long to wait until her birthday, so she wanted to have it now. 
Seem's you can just pick and choose when to celebrate... eh? 
Well.. in the eyes of a five year old you can anyway. 
Have your kids ever tried to sneak in an early birthday? 

Craft Day | Wedding Name Places

Rainy days = Craft Days! 
At least for today it did. The girls and I very rarely get to spend the days making crafts. L-B has such a busy schedule, that when we do find a day, where we're at home, I'll use it to do cleaning, or to lounge about watching movies and catching up on the soaps. 

Today though, the craft box came out, and we decided to just mess about with whatever was in the box. 

I decided to make a start on some practice name places for the wedding - just a little mess around, to see what I could come up with.. with very little embellishments to choose from. 

L-B noticed this, thought they were pretty and decided she wanted to join in and make one for her best friend, hers actually turned out pretty well also, and super cute. 

L-A, was just being her usual typical self. Getting herself covered in sticky glue, but having fun. Sticking lots of things down to paper, and making a lovely picture of absolutely everything she could find. 

It was a simple day, but the girls absolutely loved it and had a ball, the two of them. 
L-A usually isn't into arts and crafts, not as much as L-B.. but today, she really enjoyed just as much, which I'm glad off.