#MySundayPhoto | September 9th 2018

Ok, so I know #MySundayPhoto for this week, isn't of the best quality, but in my defence, it was taken on my phone camera, which I didn't zoom in on,  and snapped from a large screen.

The quality of the picture was also very dark, so I've had to use an insta filter also, which hasn't really made it any better - but you can just about see it properly! 

This morning, my beautiful mother - got Baptised in her church, and I was very much the proud daughter, getting to witness this. 
I am so proud of her for standing up there, infront of a packed church and going ahead with giving herself to God. 

Now I am not a Christian - I currently am in two minds over what I believe in - But my mum is a strong Christian, and got saved maybe around a year ago, after having started to attend a new community church for a number of years. She also takes my own two girls with her, every week without fail and they both love and enjoy it. 

Just because I am currently in two minds about my beliefs, does not mean I will ever discriminate against my mum, or my children for what they believe, or for them choosing to follow Christ, and become Christians. 

I have so much respect for my mum, as I know today was probably pretty nerve wrecking for her (and the other five people who got baptised alongside her) - but she did it with so much pride and dignity, and served God in the best way she could today, and I am so proud of her, for not letting anyone dictate to her about what she should and shouldn't believe in. 

The girls really enjoyed watching their Nanny get baptised also, and it was lovely having my Aunts, Uncles, Dad, Brother, Little Cousin and Daughters in Church, all there to support my mum! 
t was a lovely service, and I really enjoyed it! 
I love you mum and I am so proud of you! 

Septembers Library Visit | Five Books Each

Each month, the girls and I would take a visit to the Library and take out a few books to bring home for the month, and we try to aim to reading one to two chapters of each book (or in Lexie-Anna's books, the entire book) per night at bedtime. 

In August, they took out four books each, but one of Lacey-Beth's books was 

Jacqueline Wilson - Rent a Bridesmaid. 

As you can see above, she has borrowed it again this month. As it was such a big book, we unfortunately didn't get to finish it in August, despite us all enjoying it - so we're hoping to finish it this month. 

Lacey-Beth has taken a keen interest in Jacqueline Wilson and Roald Dahl books at the moment. 

So - this months Library borrows are:

Lacey-Beth's:

- Roald Dahl - Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

- Roald Dahl - The Twits 

- Jacqueline Wilson - Rent a Bridesmaid 

- Jacqueline Wilson - Cookie 

- and The Black Crow Conspiracy by Christopher Edge 

Lexie-Anna's:

- Tony Ross - A little princess story: I want a boyfriend

- Polly Dunbar - Arthur's Dream Boat 

- Julia Donaldson and David Roberts - The Flying Bath 

- Tracey Corderoy and Joe Berger - Whizz Pop, Granny Stop 

- and Ross Collins - My Amazing Dad 

So tonight's reading started off with The Twits - an old favourite of mine from when I was in primary school. We read quite a few chapters, as we couldn't put it down, before both girls drifted over to sleep, so i'm assuming we will have it finished within the next night or two. 

Do you and your children visit the library? What are a selection of your favourites to borrow? Suggestions welcome! 

We love bedtime reading. 

#LivingArrows | 36/53

I have really started to take a huge liking, and enjoyment for linkys recently, so the more I find to join, the merrier. 

This morning, I have just come across, this new linky "living arrows" 

and decided to give it a whirl. 

So, I'm posting two pictures for my first week, because I couldn't possibly have chosen a favourite. 

This week, it was back to school - I have posted about it, so much, but my girls went into P3, and P1 - Lexie-Anna's first year in primary school. She seems to be enjoying it, however we're getting tears in the mornings dropping her off.. And for my other picture - My gorgeous little nephew Charlie, came for a sleepover over the weekend with us, and it was the best. He is such a content little man, so course I had to share a photo of his smiley little face spending time with his Auntie Stacy and both his big cousins. 

My Monthly Goals | September

I seen an amazing blog post by http://alisupsidedownworld.com/ on her August Review and September Goals which you can read here and I absolutely loved the idea of making my own 'Monthly Goal List'  so, after reading Ali's amazing post, I was motivated to start my own! 

This is my first month doing this, so obviously I haven't got an August review to share with you all - But let's hope by next month, I will have completed the most, if not all of my own goals, and hopefully have maybe inspired a reader to start their own 'Monthly Goals' 

September Goals:

• Take more family pictures together:  We never get 'enough' pictures of the four of us together as a family unit - I'm always getting snap shots of the girls and David together, but hardly ever any of all of us. So i'd really like to start getting into the habit of even gathering at least two monthly photos of us all together. 
• Continue reading with the kids: Ok this one might sound rather strange, as I do read to the girls - EVERY night - but up until recent it has been the little bedtime stories - Last month we visited the library and Lacey-Beth took out a few Jacqueline Wilson books - and these have made great bonding time stories with the girls. They are absolutely loving Jacqueline Wilson stories at the minute!  We try to squeeze in up to two chapters per night of each book. At the moment we are reading Happy Holidays and the girls favourite Rent a Bridesmaid - we have also been reading Roald Dahl - Matilda which they are also loving, although I think they enjoy the movie more. 
• Finish Lacey-Beth's birthday shop:  Lacey-Beth turns seven years old on the 31st October - yes, my little Halloween baby! - And by mid-september at least, I like to feel organised and prepared and know that I have all her presents sorted. This year, I am still quite on track but haven't finished. I've her main present got and her second present ordered, and have still to get her outfits, and her present from her sister. I've her cake ordered though not paid for yet, and have started to save for her day out. So slightly organised but still quite a bit to do. 
• Make a start on Christmas: I know, I know! Christmas when it's only September - BUT, when you've two kids, a new baby nephew, a LARGE family, a house to sort, and new decorations to buy - you NEED to be starting to think about Christmas by September!  Especially when Lacey-Beth's getting older, the things shes asking for are getting more expensive. I'm hoping to start my Christmas Savers Club this month, and maybe have a few presents ordered for family. 
• Continue to eat healthy: Lacey-Beth has put me on a strict, no junk foods or fizzy juice diet - and lets face it, I desperately needed it. And for her, I want to succeed at it. I want to continue finding the willpower through her to do it, and stay clear of the 'bad foods' throughout September. 

So, lets see how I get on with this months goals. 

Can I succeed and make them all happen? 

Have you any September Goals? comment below. 

#MySundayPhoto | September 2nd 2018

#MySundayPhoto this week, is my beautiful little nephew Charlie. 

This morning, for the first ever Sunday, I woke up to his beautiful little face, after babysitting him last night. He is such a happy, content little chappy. 

Seven weeks old, and just babbles away, filled with smiles, laughter and lots of baby babbles.

My girls loved having him sleepover, as did I. 

And his mummy, got a well deserved break for a night. 

This little man has really made me appreciate being his Auntie. 

Biologically, we are related - he is actually my cousin's son - therefore my second cousin. 

BUT.. Stephanie and I grew up as sisters - and as the chances of my brother ever having children of his own, are very slim due to his personal reasons, this little beauty is the closest little human i'll ever have to a niece or nephew of my own - and the closest little human that will make me feel like an aunt. 

I would move mountains for this little boy. He has completely stole my heart, and my girls hearts. We all love him unconditionally, and I would do anything for him and his mummy. 

So yes. We most definitely enjoyed our sneaky little sleepover, and waking up not so freshly this Sunday morning, and we look forward to making more memories, and having lots more sleepovers. 

Liked and Loved Linky | August 2018

August 2018 - #LikedandLoved Linky 

#LikedandLovedLinky

Nephew Sleepovers

At the beginning of the month, my gorgeous new nephew came for his first sleepover with me. I was so excited to have him, and overwhelmed that his mummy trusted me to look after him overnight for her so that she and her partner could celebrate their anniversary together with a date night. 

He was as good as gold. He slept well, waking every four hours for a feed, which isn't too bad considering he was only around four weeks old at the time. 

This little boy is honestly a little godsend. I would move mountains for him, and his big cousins absolutely adore the bones of him, so getting to have him for the night, was amazing - an experience going back to having a newborn during the night, but amazing all the same. 

Father Bonding

The girls enjoyed some bonding time with their daddy. He works night shift all week and only gets a Friday and Saturday night off - he spends most of the week sleeping, or being a grump because he is tired, so he and the girls haven't really had much 'fun' times this summer, together. Both of them adore their dad, as much as Lacey-Beth may deny it, she is her daddys daughter, and loves him very much, and they love every moment they get to spend with him. 

Dobbies Breakfast

I went out for breakfast - or brunch maybe, this month with the ladies from the local women's group for our area, although to be honest, half of them are my family - I have two aunts and my mum in that photo that all are members of the group. It was lovely though, they are a great bunch of ladies, and all look out for me. It was the first i'd been to Dobbies for food and I have to say, I would return, the food was delicious and I would highly recommend. 

Best Friend Sleepovers

Everyone remembers the summer holidays when they would beg their parents to let a friend sleepover, right? I know I do - every week without fail. Which is exactly what these girls do. Yasemin is their best friend, and they have been inseperable all summer. They have had trips away to Yasemin's caravan with her family, sleepovers at each others houses, and just having the best summer ever, making lots of exciting memories - this was their last Sleepover together this month, before school started back, they are gutted. 

Calling the tooth fairy

Yep, Lacey-Beth lost another tooth this month - I've lost count now, I think she's lost maybe eight - it could be more or less! She was excited and couldn't wait for the tooth fairy to come. She popped the tooth into her tooth box - then decided to go and have a sleepover with her nanny. The tooth fairy did arrive there and left £2 under her pillow - but didn't the silly tooth fairy forget to come and pick up the tooth - So off course she had to come that night and leave another coin - SILLY TOOTH FAIRY - will not be making that mistake again. 

Scottish Visitors 

My cousin and her partner came over from Scotland last weekend to visit and we all headed out for a day trip to Portrush in Northern Ireland, a seaside resort. We went to Barry's amusements and the fun fair, ate our weight in dinky donuts, chips and drank slush puppies. We all had a fab day on the rides, and walking along the sea front. It tired the girls out, and miss Lyla the dog. The girls were sad to see Dawn and David go home to Scotland again - but the count down is on until their next visit. 

Back to School

The girls went back to school this week. P3 and P1 they both went into. Seeing them both in their uniforms together, was a tad emotional. Seeing Lexie-Anna, our baby in her uniform was even more emotional. They are both loving being back though, so lets hope it stays that way - I won't hold my breath though, wait until homework starts. 

An end of August change

I went to my hairdresser this week with the intentions of having my long wavy hair trimmed slightly, just for a quick tidy up - got there, feeling frustrated and fed up with that long hair, hanging round my face, looking dim and out of shape, so I told her to chop it up - into a bob it went - and to be honest, I am still getting used to it, but I am kinda loving it too. 

So that's been our August in a nutshell.  I've been having quite a lot of costo flareups this month, so even though it's been a good month in a way, it's also been a horrible month, so yeah, i'm kinda looking forward to seeing what September has in store. 

Me & Mine Linky | 31st August 2018

Being honest, I got ONE, yes only one photo of all of us together throughout August. 

I have been seriously lacking and falling behind in using my camera this month, and the only reason I did manage to capture at least that one photo of the four of us together, was because Lexie-Anna was starting primary school. 

So yeah, it was quite an emotional day, and as you can tell by the lack of makeup, and the bad looking skin on myself - I'm not quite back into routine yet, and never got my face on for a quick snap with the camera - despite the fact, I knew I was going to want one, so it's my au'natural face - my deepest apologies. 

But yes, our baby went into primary school, you can read all about that here

She loved it, I felt strange not having her in the house - both girls were away to school and David had went to bed as he was just in off the night shift.

So that's my "Me and Mine" Linky for this month! I promise, i'll try and do better for next. 


David is loving: 
- His new computer  (a very early xmas present)
- League of legends 
- Working nights and freeing up weekends 
- Football 

Lacey-Beth is loving: 
- Squishies and LOL dolls 
- Getting out to play at the park 
- Being in P3 (and her teacher)
- Doing exam work in Dance 

Lexie-Anna is loving:
- Barbie dolls 
- Going to nannys house to play with her newest friend Sienna
- The Haschak Sisters 
- Making up dance routines 

I am loving:
- My new little nephew Charlie 
- Being organised for Lacey-Beth's upcoming birthday
- The fact that school has started back 
- And the Harry Enfield series on Netflix