Monthly Archives: June 2010

A Family of Emotions

 in emmotions / MadDad / maximad / me / mini mads / minimad / The Gallery / Wednesday writing workshop by

Mini just can not control them, they are so visual, so transparent.  It is like looking at me. I see burning red and hot orange embers.  The lava flow that just erupts before he has a chance to think about anything else.  He has no hold on them, no way to stop acting on the impulses they give him.  He has no perspective, no patience, no understanding of them. He physically reacts, throwing, hitting, shouting, screaming, banging and crying. He feels them in his heart, head and fists.   To the point of exhaustion. Maxi is comtenplative, a real thinker, he is learning to harness his emotions and to keep them […]

A Birthday with The Wiggles 1

 in 4th Birthday / Birthday / fout / minimad by

Mini had a fab time opening his presents this morning.  This year is really the first year that he has understood what is happening and has been counting down his birthday since his cousins on May 31st!  He was almost too excited to get to sleep the night before! The joy on his face for his presents was wonderful, we got him a scooter and an Uno game, but his best present so far has been his Star Wars the Clone Wars Clone Trooper Outfit from Gran. Now the thing is my boy adores The Wiggles.  I have my mother in law to thank for it, as she was the one […]

Spiritual Sunday – Grateful

 in grateful / gratful / spiritual / Sunday by

I am grateful for my wonderful boys, who came with me to the car boot sale and really behaved in this heat (yes I really am that pale). We are grateful for cool paddling pools in hot weather. We are grateful for plentiful elderflowers and have made yummy cordial. My beautiful rambling rose, which is full of buds and flowers, the whole of the bottom of our garden (and next doors) is filled with wonderful scent. The fragrant honeysuckle which has cover the boys playhouse from next doors garden. What are you grateful for this Sunday?

Tell us your story – A street to school campign

 in community / tell us your story by

I have been asked to help publicise the “Tell Us Your Story” campaign, which is a fantastic opportunity to recognise and reward people who you feel have really made a difference to someone or a community over the past year.  Entries are submitted online at http://www.avivatellusyourstory.co.uk/ Launched by Aviva, for every entry they will donate £1 to the Street to School Programme – a global initiative with the aim of reaching 500,000 children worldwide, helping them get off the streets and back into education. A weekly prize of £1000 will also be awarded to the local hero that captures the hearts of visitors to the site and receives the most votes. One […]

Four

 in Birthday / four / mini(isms) / minimad by

There are four seasons, Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter There are four great elements, earth, water, wind and fire A human heart has four chambers The forth finger is also known as a ring finger There are four basic states of matter: solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. There are four human bllod groups Cancer is the 4th astrological sign of the ZodiacTetra the Greek word for 4 four is the only number with the same number of letters as its value   common time is constructed of four beats There are 4 movements in a symphony Four rules: addition, subtraction, multiplication, division. Four parts of a day: night, morning, afternoon, evening.Four cardinal […]

The Gallery – Creatures of South Africa

 in animals / creatures / The Gallery by

Once upton a time long, long ago, in fact 3 years BC (before children) MadDad and I visited and stayed with friends in South Africa.  We spent some wonderful time in what is a glorious country and The World Cup really reminds me of the special time we spent there.  So for this weeks Gallery I present to you some of the creatures we saw on our fab holiday. The Penguins on Boulders Beach – oh they were cute, but the smell – ugh They were such characters, we spent hours watching them Majestic Lions Bab Cheetahs Yes, that is me with two white baby Bengal tigers  Mama and other female […]

Mini The early weeks

 in getting Mini / minimad by

As I said in this post, MadDad took care of all of us for the first week of Mini’s life and he was such a happy baby.  He fed well, burped like a dream or should that be a builder and went back to sleep really well after a feed.  He fitting us like a soft glove. But the peace wasn’t to last.  MadDad had commented that Mini wasn’t pooing.  The midwife told him it was because he was being bottle fed and suggested we change his formula to a comfort one, which he told her we were already using (after Maxi’s colic we made sure we had every angle covered).  […]

Getting Mini – Part Two The Birth

 in Birthstory / getting Mini / giving bith by

You can find part one here…….. so now on to the next part of the saga.  Now just like I did with Maxi’s birth story I want to preface this too.   Yes getting and giving birth to both my children was traumatic and more so that these stories can ever tell.  But you need to know that I would do it all again in a heartbeat.  They are so worth it.  They are wonderful boys, no more precious than any children and just because their births etc were difficult doesn’t mean that they are more precious than any other child.  Every child is precious, every child is a wonder in their […]

Meet me at CyberMummy and ask for samples!

 in carex / CyberMummy 2010 by

  Name:  Jen aka Mummy Mad Blog:   TheMadHouse Twitter ID:   @mum_themadhouse Height:   5ft 2 ish Hair:   Brown and grey! Eyes:   Mucky Brown Likes:   Family, sewing, crafting, art, chatting, eating and living! I am going to be at CyberMummy as the brand ambassador for Carex, who are introducing a two new aromatics handgels and a hand and surface spray, all of which are handbag sized.   I am ever so thankful to Carex for providing me with this opportunity and I will have a review of the products before CyberMummy and also a giveaway of them too, for anyone who can not attend.  I also need to say a great big thank you […]

Getting Mini – Part One

 in Birthstory / getting Mini / help. minimad by

My darling boy will be four on 24 June, I truly can not believe how time flies, so now is the time to tell you all about getting mini.  I have told you about getting maxi here  Maxi and I on the day I found out I was expecting Mini After the pregnancy I had with Maxi, I wasn’t sure about having another baby, but watching him grow we knew that we didn’t want him to be an only child.  So we made the decision not to take any precautions, well other than the fact I had just had a baby!   Maxi didn’t sleep, well never more than about 4 […]

The Gallery – Motherhood

 in motherhood / The Gallery by

Motherhood is planting a seed Motherhood is helping them grow Motherhood is watching them bloom Motherhood is about new experiences (yours and theirs) Motherhood is about growing with your children Motherhood is about dipping your to in the water Motherhood is about love, amazement, heartache and pain Motherhood is late nights and early mornings Motherhood is new places Motherhood is new friends Motherhood is having fun Motherhood is creating Motherhood is endless worry Motherhood is unbridled joy Motherhood is learning to trust Motherhood is about taking a step out in to the unknown and embracing all it has to offer. Motherhood is me

Writing Workshop – Tainted Blood

 in breast cancer / genes / genetics / mini mads / Wednesday writing workshop by

Mini sometimes I look at you and it is like looking at a mini me in the mirror.  My boy, you are going to have to learn to control that temper of mine that you have.  That boiling anger that I can see clearly inside.  You are going to have to grow and learn how to engage the brain, before putting the mouth in gear, learn to count to ten before erupting into the volcano of fury you can be.  It isn’t going to be easy, I have said some hurtful things in my time due to my bad temper, but one thing that being a mother has brought me is […]

Saturday Story Workshop

 in maximad / school / Story Event by

Maxi was lucky enough to be invited to a special storytelling workshop which as held at a local school on Friday.  He had a funtastic time and we were invited to take him back for a morning of fun and activities on the Saturday.  So we decided that Maxi and I would go and MadDad and Mini could go and have some one on one time at Football Tots together. What a treat I was in for: The event was run by a local school (one of the smallest in the area) for a number of the local schools and was specially designed for Reception children (4 and 5) year olds. […]

Apron Swap 2010

 in apron swap 2010 / fabric / swaps by

I had a great time making my pinny for The Great Apron Swap over at Red Gingham.  This is what I sent my partner (modeled rather unflattering on me). I also made a couple of yo yo broaches to be pinned on the pinny too! In return I received a wonderful pinny which I have been wearing a lot.  I love the fact the pockets are  handkerchiefs.  I never thought of adding pockets!

Children Craft Showcase – Red Ted Art

 in childrens craft showcase / guest post by

I am delighted to welcome Maggie from Red Ted Art to TheMadHouse and to present this weeks Children’s Craft Showcase.  Over at Red Ted Art, my son (Red Ted (2)) and I (Maggy (old)) do lots of crafts projects. Sometimes Pip Squeak (0) joins us. Usually we are inspired by books that we read – the tagline from another crafty mum being – story + art = great stART. I love the idea of bring books and crafts together. And some days, when I really don’t know what to make, picking up one of Red Ted’s books really does inspire!   So. Today, I brought out one of Red Ted’s older books:  […]

drowning

 in bad days / bad mother / bad times / drowning / health / hospital by

I am struggling at the moment, to find my get up and go, yes as per all the cliches it has got up and gone. I had blood tests last week and I am already anemic again, my lips are splitting at the sides and the junior doctor who discharged me after my last transfusion didn’t order the additional tests I needed, which means I still don’t have a date for further investigations. But my blood results showed that it is unlikely I have pernicious anemia as my B12 level was still up thanks too the injection I had received.  I feel like sitting and crying, I keep asking why me, […]

Fabric Addict Swap

 in fabric / fabric addict swap / swaps by

I took part in the Fabric Addict Swap and was paired with the wonderful Serenta at The Balancing Kiwi.  Look at how my parcel was wrapped in Fabric, doesn’t it look inviting. She sent a couple of books for the boys, the pirate one has already been tucked into. I adore the card A wonderful Pin Cushion and needle case A brill badge which is already on my summer coat Some vintage threads and ribbons A selection of buttons Some delicious fabrics And some felt and a sewing magazine. I have really enjoyed the swaps I have taken part in and was wondering if anyone fancied joining me for another swap […]

Half Term Highlights 3

 in beach / day trips / days out / fun / half term / whitby by

Today is an teacher training day, so we are off to spend the day with Grandma, original plans had to be changed due to the weather, but we have had a fantastic half term break, the weather has been mostly kind and it has been so much fun watching the boys play together. Our Fab day at Emma Bridgewater Baking our best in the world oat and raisin cookies Spending time together just chilling in the garden Watching our veg plants grow, the warm weather has made a real difference Having fun in the paddling pool Good job the neighbours don’t mind the boys running around naked Visiting Whiby with Grandma and having […]