My baby starts preschool!

Today was the last time I’ll ever have to take one of my children for their “first day at preschool”!

If you’ve noticed I’ve been pretty worried and stupidly working myself up since Christmas!

I had a meeting shortly before Lexie was due to start so that took my mind of it. Then got her dressed (first pic) out the door and off we went!

Got there walked in the teacher “mrs peters” has already taught both our boys a few years ago so we know her and she knows our family which is nice. In fact when nick was at preschool I was pregnant with Lexie so she’s seen Lexie almost every week of her life. She spoke to Lexie and handed her a name tag, this name tag has Lexie printed on it along with a Ladder (obviously phonic based) then mrs peters pointed to the self register board and the letter L and proceeded to ask Lexie to put her own name on the letter! They do this every single day when they go to school and before they leave they remove it and put it back in the pot.

We then wandered to the scissors to do some cutting, Lexie’s eyes bright with excitement that was when I knew “were ok this will be ok” mrs peters handed me a piece of paper and whispered “mobile number then leave and come back in a hour”

I did what I was told.

Whilst walking away through the school I thought omg I’ve left my last baby at school I have to say I was heartbroken. I sat In the car for twenty mins… Worrying checking my phone… Then thought “bugger I need a wee” dam my weak bladder lol rushed home went for a wee , checked phone no calls….

I went back a hour later to find my beautiful poppet extremely engrossed in the computer and happily chatting away to other children.

The right photo is the sheer glee caught on her face. She is now a big girl going to big girl school.

Me…I’m still heartbroken but so very very proud 😉

Starting pre-school!

Hmm well it’s just occured to me that my youngest, Lexie, will be starting preschool in roughly 7weeks time. She will celebrate her third birthday on New Year’s Eve (31st December) and start pre school on 6th January 2014.

My eldest daughter Kayleigh, didn’t start pre school until she was nearly four. My boys however things were very different.

I had Callum in 2006 and Nick just over a year later in 2007. I struggled. A lot. I found it incredibly difficult to manage both their needs at the same time. Was almost like age gap twins. Never had any time to myself or with my elder daughter. So when nick was six months old and Callum 18months old. We, chris and I, took the decision to find a private nursery and pay for the boys to go three mornings a week, 8-1pm so I could not only rest, but get the house back to some kind of normality. It was a mess. Couldn’t keep up with washing, cleaning, everything was so behind… I was ashamed of my house. Also at this point in time I never had any friends. I didn’t want anyone to come to the house because of the state of it. I knew two people and that’s it. The boys settled well and I started to attempt sorting the house… A mammoth task. When nick turned 2 both boys started at the same preschool who room children from 2 years old. I had to pay again for nick but Callum was entitled to his 15 hours a week government funded hours. From there they both gradually transfered into a lovely little *outstanding ofsted* school called pen mill infant and nursery school. Which has since changed to academy status.

This is where Lexie will start her journey. She’s overly excited. Keeps telling me when she’s three she will go to Nicks school. ( Callum has now progressed to junior school In a different setting) lucky for me it’s straight opposite pen mill, so school runs, at the moment even though are at three different schools, are all within a short distance so timings are ok!

I have several friends who have recently asked why I haven’t put Lexie in early, like I did with the boys. Well the simple answer is… I have no need to, I can cope now, I have a clean and tidy house and mentally I’m OK. Well apart from the obvious fibromyalgia chronic fatigue everyday. I have my routines firmly in place and everyone in my family sticks to my routines. That’s why she’s home with me…. Because

I’m OK!

However I shall miss her so very very much daily.

Bank holiday Monday

Today is bank holiday Monday, and also the start of the last week if the kids school holidays. We decided to make the most of it and head out for the day.

We chose animal farm adventure park in burnham on sea, very close to Weston-super-mare and Brean. All well known holiday places in North Somerset.

The journey takes around a hour for us living in south somerset so easily done. Also on their Facebook page they had a special offer which entitled us to pay only £5 per person, under 2’s free. So a cheap day all in all.

They had animals including horses,goats,rabbits,pigs,reptiles,alpacas,llamas. All of which could be fed by purchasing animal feed at the desk when entering at a cost of £1.30 per bag. we chose not to do this as Lexie is still quite young and this was her first big experience of petting animals.

They also had several play areas, such as a fort themed play area, a mining for gold area (which was pretty rubbish), trampolines,go karts,ride on tractors,bouncy castle and a huge indoor barn play centre all within close proximity. Along with a zip wire … Which the kids enjoyed , despite the look on Nicks face !

The also have several *special guests* who appear everyday during the summer holidays … Today’s special guests were Ben & Holly from Ben and Holly’s little kingdom children’s television programme.

Lexie was absolutely mesmerised by actually seeing them for real!

All in all a fab few hours out, not a full day but a good four hours!

My Hubby

The title of this doesn’t quite cut how i wanted it to sound (if that makes any kind of sense). I just thought I’d take a little time to write a few things about him.

We met in April 2004, face to face that is… You see we met on the Internet, AOL chatrooms to be precise!! He was at the time 20 I was 28 and a single mum to Kayleigh. He was working at where he still is now here in Somerset. I was in the middle of the MOsT awful time in my life imaginable.myou see my ex (Kayleigh’s biological father) was a complete moron. He was abusive, mentally emotionally and physically. I had reported him to the police on several occasions, however always faltered when it came to the signing of my statements. So therefore he wasn’t prosecuted. Myself and my ex were not together yet he still ruled mine & Kayleigh’s lives.

in the April a friend needed help, both Chris and I knew her via the chat rooms. So one night when she called for help Chris went and picked her up from London and bought her to myhouse in Gosport, near Portsmouth, Hampshire. This would be the first time I actually MET Chris face to face. I was sooooooo nervous it’s untrue!! The feelings of lust/love which ever you wish to call it were already there. Butterflies when I got a text or when the phone rang, but this time OMG I was actually going to meet him!!

Around 9ish that night they arrived, I looked out my maisonettes window and saw them Getting out of the car! ARGH this is IT!!! The door knocked! I saw Tay first… Gave her a huge hug and welcomed her into my home! Then this was it eeeekkkkkk the moment of truth! Would those feelings be true? Would he like me? Or me like him? Ya knowin the flesh? Not photos or phone calls but for REAL?? Well I can honestly say meat moment when he hugged me I knew! He was THE one!! I not lily loved hem but I was officially IN love with him from that moment onwards!”

He knew about Kayleigh, wasn’t worried. He knew ll about her father… Wasn’t bothered. Didn’t care my house was less than perfect or the estate I lived on was rough as dogs. He just liked and wanted me for me. Nothing more nothing less. So anyways the following day Chris and Tay left, it was decided that cause of the pressure I was under at the time Tay couldn’t stay with me, and Chris had a 3bed flat in somerest so Tay went back with him to start her new life. Over the following months Chris took every opportunity in coming to see me late at night and leavi g early hours so Kayleigh’s father wouldn’t find out. Was all very cloak and dangers at that time. Which become increasingly frustrating! In the July I was on holiday with my parents for my mums 50th birthday, along with my dad and brother and his family! Chris and Tay were coming down each night and staying til early hours so my family wouldn’t know ! Sneaky!, on the 9th July 2004 we were officially a couple!! In the september I had to move from my flat to a house, Chris even paid the deposit on the house, helped me pack up unpack and generally did everything to settle myself and Kayleigh into our new home. Things were going very fast and I found juggling Kayleigh’s fathers demands and abusiveness along with havinrelation axing relationship happening with Chris, Kayleigh truly adored him but without prompting from me she NEVER mentioned Chris to her father not Once!! In thdice ember Kayleigh’s father attacked myself and Kayleigh in our house. As soon as I managed to get him out I rung Chris explained what happened and he very calmly said “baby call the police and just see what they advise you to do” so upon his advise I did this. Within ten mins they arrived taking statements, photographs the lot I was so confused. Didn’t really know what was going on. My phone was non stop all his family trying to speak to me making threats everything was manic.

chris came later that evening after panic alars had been installed and her father was arrested instantly they found him. It felt strange. I was alive Kayleigh was alive, Chris was there, everything all of a sudden was quiet, that is the on,y way I can describe it…so very very quiet.

that year was THE best Christmas I, WE ever had together, we got engaged, laughed & smiled and never had I seen Kayleigh so very relaxed without a care in the world.

then January came! Chris hard a huge car accident which left him unable to walk for five month, the amongst the fact my tenancy running out and the attack taking place we decided to move, to Somerset, close to Chris work.

That was January 25th 2005….. Since then we have had three houses, three babies, one marriage, made awesome friends that we class as family. Holidays fun laughter but most off all…… We have US!!

I LOVE YOU MR RICE xxxxxxx

I’m married to chris

Chris and I met in July 2004 after speaking to each other online for about five/six months before that.

We had a mutual friend (Tay) who was having a rough time at home. She lived in Dulwich at the time. She phoned me one day very upset and had to leave her home, didn’t know where she was going or even if she had anywhere to go. I phoned chris, who at the time lived in a 3bed (huge) flat in Langport,Somerset. Explained what had happened and he immediately said he would go and get her. With that I said being her to my house, Gosport,Hampshire! He left work drive from Somerset and drove all the way to Dulwich picked Tay up then headed for my house. I’ve never been so excited and nervous at the same time. The hours it took seemed to last forever, but eventually they knocked the door! Opening it I gave Tay a huge hug and she came in… Then hugged chris…. At that exact moment (as corny as it sounds) I knew he was the one, the one I’d marry and spend the rest of my life with.

We were married May 19th 2007. At yeovil registry office followed by afternoon/evening reception at The Manor Hotel. I can’t say I enjoyed the day because I didn’t. I hated every min of it. Mainly because I was 30weeks pregnant With Nick. I had obstetric cholestasis (a liver function problem), and on the morning of the wedding I had a steroid injection to help mature his lungs. My feet/ankles were massive, that big during the evening reception I had to sit down feet up with ice wrapped in towels wrapped around my feet. …. Maybe one day we will renew our Wedding vows and ill be able to do it like I wanted it and not just kind of thrown together. It was still one of the happiest days of my life 😉