So we go to gym lesson today which Becky normally loves. She's happily crawling through a "spooky tunnel" (the theme is halloween) when the balloons come out in the centre of this enormous gym and somebody pops one ! She absolutely freaked. It took two of us to prise her from the tunnel and then she was clinging to me like a limpet - in fact she nearly tore lumps of my hair out she was clinging on so much.

To say she "doesn't like" balloons is the understatement of the century. I then spent the rest of the lesson trying to calm her down whilst explaining to people that, no, she wasn't scared of spiders, she hates balloons, and yes, my French is adequate enough to mean she hates balloons !!!

This afternoon was rather wet, but she was still full of energy, so we went outside to play. I decided to finish trimming the wood from the laurel branches that we cut down last week. Part way through, I found an enormous, disgusting orange/brown slug on one of the branches. I called Becky over to remove it, and she proudly walked it round the garden for the next half an hour, trying to find a "really special place" to put it !!!!

How can a balloon be so scary and yet the most foul slug known to mankind be a gorgeous item that we'd love to bring inside and cherish ? (The slug did NOT come inside !!!!!!!!)

Hi Kathy

Kids are so funny sometimes.  Bless her but I do know what she means.  When I was a kid I didnt like loud noises and even now when I go to any fire works display I still have my fingers in my ears!

Tom can be so brave and curious with some things but the other day got freaked out by one of the animals at a farm (which he normally loves).  Toddlers are such sensitive souls!

Has the weather cooled a lot now where you are?  Is your pool heated?  Although we are in for a mild week here I am really starting to feel that winter nearly upon us feeling!  I would normally love shopping for some nice winter clothes but at the moment feel like a hippo and nothing fits! LOL!

Lots of love

Em

x

Yes toddlers are very sensitive ! The other night I said to Becky that it was time to go to bed, goodnight, etc etc and went downstairs - just as I do every other night. A while later, she still hadn't settled and I went back upstairs and asked her what was wrong. "Do you still love me?" she asked. I then asked her what on earth had made her wonder that, and she said "because you went downstairs !!!!!"

It is much cooler here now which is a bit of a snag as the rear of the house doesn't exist any more so there isn't any point in having the heating on. We've had a couple of good fires that have warmed things up, but it is definitely cold now in the bedrooms. I introduced Becky to the joys of a hot water bottle and she's very taken by it ! We've had a couple of frosts already.

Our pool is outside and it has a heater, but it isn't connected yet - on the "to do" list. So the swimming days for this year are well and truly over. Another builder is turning up next week to put a wall round it so hopefully it should be more sheltered next year. I now need to strim the weeds so the poor guy can get to the pool before Monday !

I got a lovely coat at 50% off today, so I was well chuffed if highly embarrassed when trying it on. I'd rushed out to the supermarket at lunchtime without changing from my scruffy old trackie bottoms, saw this fantastic discount in a nearby shop and only realised what a complete wreck I looked when I was looking in the mirror with this posh coat on !!!! I then apologised profusely to the sales assistant and we ended up swapping house renovation horror stories.

The new doors and window arrived today. Unfortunately the window (and its shutters) are too small, so there will now be a delay whilst the correct size is ordered. Fortunately they have started building the walls of the room at the back of the house today !

Isnt it funny what goes on in their little brains!!  Tom is absolutely terrified when DH gets the lawn mower out, but loves the hoover!  He also said a few funny things to me recently.... 'mama no willy, mama got hair'  is the latest.  Ooops, as I cant even see my bikinni line I take it something needs to be done! lol   I think I am getting rather complacent!  You going out with trackie bottoms is mild compared to me at the moment, lol! Great getting a nice new coat at such a discount; I bet it is lovely, almost makes winter worthwhile!  I love buying new things especially if it is a bargain!  I will treat myself early next year when my tummy starts getting back to normal (although it may take years to reduce the size of my backside!!!). 

When will the back of the house get sorted?  Hope it is soon and before the really cold spells start.  I bet your house will look amazing when its finished.  Its a nightmare going through it but wonderful once finished.  Good luck with the new doors and windows hun, hope the new ones come quickly for you. 

Have a good weekend!!

All my love

Em

x

I did love Tom's comment about your bikini line. Becky found her nipples the other day and seemed to think she'd been attacked by a super-size mosquito !

Hopefully the house should be finished by the end of November - not sure if the tiling in the bathroom will be done by then as the tiles haven't been ordered yet. I also don't know when they'll be taking the roof off the kitchen - I'm dreading this as I'll have no cooking facilities other than a basic microwave. I just hope that my range cooker doesn't get anything dropped on it as it has a ceramic hod.

This week yet another builder starts - this time replacing the temporary fence round the pool with a wall. We aren't going to be able to move for machinery - Becky thinks she's died and gone to heaven as she loves Bob the Builder and half the machine team are in the back yard.

She's sitting next to me in her witches outfit. She had a fantastic time face painting her own face - the results were "interesting". She isn't going trick or treating but Daddy thought she might like to dress up and found a fab costume in Tescos that he brought back.