Epic potty fail … binkey fail … fail

So we have not managed to potty train anyone.

we were consistent and encouraging and all that crap.

I even bought over expensive branded toddler toilet seat thingy's

Epic. Fail.


Didn't help that Mimi fell into the loo bottom first and I laughed till I pee'd myself. She was righteously annoyed at me for most of the day.

Binky is better. Just night time and no fuss. So maybe that's less of an epic fail?

Mimi can now climb out of her cage .. I mean crib… so many times in the wee small hours there is a battle of the wills followed by a morphing into Joan Crawford by your truly at 4am. No, I am not beating my child with hangers.

Tomorrow we go out to the country for the day. Snow and sledging and hot chocolate by the fire then home in time for a bath and bed. My kind of day.

How's it all going with youz guys?

Tantrum central

Mimi is taking the changes really hard. She is screaming in her bed right now. Does she have her binky? Oh yes of course. She's now only using binky at night, in bed which is a huge step forward. Her behavior in the day is pretty awful. Tantrums and screaming and fighting and biting.

It's driving me nuts.

Now she's screaming at night as well. Actually its a full on tantrum even tho she has the damn binky. It starts with the whine, then the speed and volume picks up and then we are in to the hiccuping, almost puking. She calms down enough to call for me and then ramps up again.

Pip? Sleeps through the whole thing!

Potty wise we have had a few small victories. This weekend is snow weekend so I may just go for broke and do the dry and try approach.


Oh dear lord make that child stop whipping and wailing.

Binky potties

OK. Here we go. Let the judgements reign.

How do we get the binky away from Mimi? And how do potty train toddler twins. I have tried every known trick in the book. NADA

So, consider this the end of my tether cry for help.

Kids are 3 and we apply for preK this year. If they aint potty trained they aint going.

HEEEEELLLPPPPP

Ted Hughes was only partially right.

Well, the trip went very well folks and I am so proud of my kids. It takes an age to get to the remote part of the world my folks live in.  Did my teenie two blink an eye? No. My international traveling lovelies just kept on moving with us till we all got to the peace and quiet of the Yorkshire countryside. We returned to the bog snow storm in NY. Was that an experience! They cried but they got through it. Good little ones.

For those of you that haven't been to remote Yorkshire land it is wet and muddy. On one walk I had two little kids wrapped around me whilst I slowly sank into knee deep thick muddy puddle. Turns out they quite like puddle jumping!   Every time we went went for a walk the first thing they did was jump in the deepest muckiest puddle they could find!

The UK family dynamics were a little strained. It's really challenging to see such vibrant and successful people struggling so hard with the aging process. And it was really hard saying goodbye. At this point I feel the distance between us so very deeply.  I can't just pop by.  They see their grandkids in spurts. The historical drama gets crammed into a few days and so becomes incredibly intense.  Such a complicated time. I miss them but I am relieved to be back in my life where I am not working hard not to be wounded.

Fun stuff:

Pip discovered the coolness that is Spiderman. Mimi mastered whining. Dear lord is that annoying.
We mastered the art of improvised nappies since we ran out three hours into a 12 hour travel day (don't ask).
Pip learnt to use a fork to eat spaghetti.
Mimi learnt to write a few letters and I swear she can read words.
Nephew (9) and kids were as thick as thieves and now Pip keeps saying "I miss my cousin) ahhhhh
We didn't watch TV at all.
Mimi really likes to cook

2014 - what animal is it?

Well the holiday season was great fun and we got through the darkest months with love, joy and fun. I am always amazed and extremely grateful for this little tribe I'm part of. We might not be a big tribe but we certainly got lots of love.

On the flip side my folks are both not doing so well. My mother is in worse shape than my father both in heart, mind and body which means we decided to cash in some savings and go over sooner rather than later.  The threat of serious events is real but not immediate. However, my kids have been with their grandparents a total of 4 times total in their lives. Of course visiting the north of England in January is not exactly a beach vacation but I don't care - its the cheapest time to go.

Although the anxiety of traveling with two toddlers is daunting it's also less anxiety ridden. We've done this a four times now - each time they handle it well. We have to take two planes and a car ride to my folks house. Amazingly the car ride is the worse for the kids. They get car sick. I am getting little travel bands for them - the motion sickness ones (if I can find them) but any advice warmly received.

After such a lovely couple of weeks with my little tribe I have to say I'm a little apprehensive about returning 'home'. I love my folks and they love me but boy is it stressful. Lots of therapy for all of us would be great but since we are not only English but from Yorkshire that would never happen. So the old issues swirl and bubble and hiccup and trip me up when least expecting.

This trip I will not succumb to the eating relief. Usually, I keep it together all day and then at night tuck in to foods from my childhood in an unhealthy way.  That shall not be happening. I am taking my sneakers and running gear (we have to cheek luggage anyway) and will resolve things for myself in as a healthy a way as possible.

Wish me luck!

Is it me or is this FUN!

OK, yes, I am totally knackered and would give my right arm for a beach vacation right about now but the whole presents and stories and expectations and cute clothing and happiness and circus and trying new foods like fish … its all so much fun with little kids.

right now, mimi has packed her backpack and she is going to school but her twin is really upset that she is going without her so he is running around trying to pack his backpack and all the while it was a clever trick to get to his new train set

we have had sick kids right up to christmas day but luckily they are both 90% again and we managed to go to the circus with a dear friend. looks like mimi has been a performer in a past life. she was physically desperate to get in the ring. pip just loved jamming out to the music.

and now

boxing day

where we are supposed to get the packages out of the house and eat up left over turkey (we went out for lunch so we have NO food at all) and where naps are absolutely on the docket.

even the annoying arguments are somehow more fun


hope you an yours had a wonderful holiday. 

Brava Brava Brava

Mimi's New York Ballet debut went off without a hitch.  Pip didn't dance but sat through the 90 mins performance, waiting for his Mimi to come out. When she did, boy was he proud.

Mimi!!!!Look Mimi!!!!


Half way through Mimi appeared from the wings and came out to me. Oh no! I thought. It was all planned!  The main geezer came out and swooped her up. She raised her arms and her knees, smiling broadly and was whisked away. The audience went wild. And so did I.

We had a great turn out from fake family and dear friends. When we got home we all a bit of a nap and then dressed the tree.

What a perfect day.