Kissing gate

We have a bit of a tradition here at famille DHG...

Whenever we encounter a kissing gate when out and about on a walk, the first person goes through, then kisses the person behind, who goes through, then kisses the person behind... and so on and so on until the last person is through.

We were out on such a walk on Saturday - clear blue skies, crisp frosty ground with a dusting of snow - a beautiful day. We came across a kissing gate.

Young McGrew sped to the gate and climbed up onto the bottom bar, his arms over the top bar, hanging on. He then proclaimed, 'I am the kissing gate!'

Under normal circumstances, this would be fine. He would get to kiss the entire famille DHG, and everyone would be happy.

But we didn't have normal circumstances. Oh no. As McGrew rushed to the kissing gate, he overtook a group of 5 other random people (random in the sense that we had no idea who they were, and still don't!).

Thus, group of random people is now between McGrew and the rest of famille DHG.
McGrew is the kissing gate.
Random people now need to pass through the kissing gate.
You can see where this is going, can't you!

McGrew exclaims again, to first random person, 'I am the kissing gate!' and offers his lips for a kiss!

First random person looks behind to Mrs DHG with look of some confusion / concern / bemusement. Mrs DHG just smiles and nods.

First random person is kissed by kissing gate McGrew.
As is the second.
As is the third, fourth and fifth.

We may have to ensure we are alone before negotiating another kissing gate!

Quarantined!

Dibble is quarantined for 5 days, thanks to the varicella virus.
Thankfully he's not as bad as this...

Uncle Mitch

Peacefully, at Stirling Royal Infirmary, on Friday 7th November, 2008, James Mitchell Currie (Mitch), aged 87 years, originally from Gretna, dearly beloved husband of Elspeth, devoted father of Jim, dear father-in-law of Laura and a much loved grandad of Melissa and Lucy.

I spy

Playing I spy in the car on the way back from the bonfire and fireworks this evening (which was a great success - all the boys loved it)...

Mummy: I spy with my little eye, something beginning with 'r'
Boys: silence
Mummy: what begins with 'r' that we're just about to drive round?
Boys: silence
Daddy: Is it a roundabout, mummy?
Cuthbert: No, daddy. A roundabout begins with 'a'

Mummy (while driving): doubled over laughing, trying hard to keep the car going in a straight line!

A week in Argyll

Sunset over Loch Melfort - view from our window


McGrew on the Easdale ferry looking out towards Mull


McGrew leading the way

The five of us on Melfort Pier (Dibble is in the back-pack!)

Mummy and her three boys...

Where is God?

After praying with Cuthbert this evening, the conversation went something like this...

Cuthbert: If God can see what we're doing now, where is he?
Me: Well, God is special because he is everywhere at the same time.
Cuthbert: Is he in my bedroom?
Me: Yes, he is - but you can't see him.
Cuthbert: Is mummy God?
Me: No, mummy isn't God.
Cuthbert: Are you God, daddy?
Me: No, I'm not God.
Cuthbert (looking behind the curtains): Is God behind here? I can't see him. Is he outside the window?
Me: Well, he's everywhere all at once. And he loves you very much. And so do I. Night Night!

I'm sure there's a better explanation for a 4 year old...
Would anybody like to suggest one?

Thanks

Today I thank God for...

...the sound of Cuthbert singing his version of the Lord's prayer at bed-time, getting words muddled up and missing a few out - just so lovely!

...Dibble's new shoes, his first solo steps, and the new words every day - favourites at the moment are 'noo shoos, noo shoos' and 'kok-lok' (new shoes and chocolate!)



...McGrew's certificate of achievement from school - for trying hard to learn his letter sounds - we're so proud of him

...the thrill and sheer excitement on all 3 boys' faces as we sat at the front of the metro and went through the long tunnel underneath Newcastle ('look, daddy - a station inside the tunnel!')

...the joy of trying to catch leaves with the boys as they blew off the trees in Jesmond Dene yesterday

For these, and many others, I thank God.

Struggles

I've not posted on here for a while.
The days just seem to fly by and there just doesn't seem to be the time to get on here much at all...

The last couple of weeks seem to have been a bit of a struggle.
Don't get me wrong - there have been some fantastic bits too - but those seem to be out-numbered by ever more frequent episodes of struggle.
Lots of little things which mass together.

Doing the opposite of what we ask.
Refusing to do what we ask.
Ignoring us when we ask.
Tears when we ask.
Telling lies.

I'm sure it will get better.
Just a wee bit difficult to see things objectively at times.

Needless to say, the 'thinking step' is getting a lot of use at the moment!
And we're not dishing up as many portions of pudding as we might.

Boys at Druridge Bay

Much fun was had by all!

More pics on facebook if you're interested!

Muddy walks

I went back to work today.
Mrs D picked McGrew and Cuthbert up from school, and then decided to go for a muddy walk with doglet and Dibble.

Here are the results...





They had loads of fun... but you should have seen the bottom of the bath once they were finished! I hate to think what the inside of the car is like!

Morpeth

One of my ongoing projects at work is designing improvements to the flood defences in Morpeth.
This weekend saw the worst floods in more than 50 years in the town.
Hundreds of people have been directly affected. Homes, possessions and businesses ruined.

Even more reason to press on at work and make sure that this kind of thing happens less frequently.

First day at school

All seemed to go well today.

McGrew and Cuthbert were both really excited to be going. Mrs D was a bit wobbly in the playground as first McGrew and then Cuthbert went in to their classrooms... they both seemed so little in their new uniforms and expensive shoes! Too young to be starting school, surely...

Cuthbert finishes at 2 for a few weeks, but even with the early finish, he was shattered this evening. We asked both of them how today went, but we haven't managed to glean much comprehensible information... other than they've both made some friends, though they can't remember the names. Oh, and McGrew had hedgehog and playgrounds for lunch!?

Mrs D and I had big plans for getting stuff done round the house today, but 2 o'clock arrived before we had time to blink...! There's always tomorrow!

Daylight robbery?

We went shopping today with McGrew and Cuthbert for school shoes.

We found some.
We're now £60 worse off than we were!

I'd be grateful if anybody could explain to me how a wee pair of school shoes for a 4 / 5 year old can cost £30! Could it be the toy incorporated in the sole? Or perhaps the lights in the heel and the wee button to turn them on or off?

Is there anywhere you can get just a pair of black school shoes without gimmicks?

When I was young.... (no, I won't go on any more!!)

Happy birthday Cuthbert

A great weekend has been had by all - first time meetings with Auntie J, Uncle M, Granny and Grandpa G - a trip to the local soft play - a fabulous Mr Tickle birthday cake made for us by good friends J & L - and everyone singing 'Happy Birthday' to Cuthbert at church (while he stood on the stage, arms folder, grin on face, all by himself - 'no daddy, I want to go up by myself'), and it was the first time we'd been to church together!

He's had loads of lovely presents which he's been playing with all day (thank you to all of you very generous people...). The biggest hit was a keyboard from Uncle M and Auntie C (thanks for that - but you forgot to include ear plugs!) which he plays while dancing in his seat - so cute! The bubble machine from Granny and Grandpa G has also been a great success in the garden - he runs round among the bubbles shrieking and dancing!

Seeing in your sleep?

Me: 'Cuthbert, would you like your night light on tonight?'
Cuthbert: 'Yes, please, daddy. Otherwise I wouldn't be able to see when I'm asleep!'

Home together

Just a quick update - we all got back safely yesterday late afternoon. It was an emotional goodbye for the boys, but the journey improved quite quickly with the distraction of Roald Dahl's 'The Enormous Crocodile' and 'The Giraffe, the Pelli and Me' on CD!

The boys settled really well last night, with all asleep before 8.30 (Dibble was last to close his eyes). Cuthbert was quite upset and wanted to speak to his foster carer on the phone to say night night - but after that, Mrs D sung him to sleep quite quickly.

Mrs D got up once in the night to untangle Dibble from his blanket, but an uneventful night otherwise. McGrew had a dry night, which is absolutely fantastic! Small heads popped round our door at 6 this morning, and we had a mummy, daddy, doglet, McGrew and Cuthbert bed cuddle for half an hour.

We're off to Nana and Grandpa's for lunch later, and perhaps a walk in the park with doglet too.

It's only 9.30, but seems more like lunchtime already!

Shoes

A photo from our hall today...

We've had a great weekend - the boys have been with us most of each day, returning to a local hotel to sleep... we've played football in the garden ('mummy, try and save this'), run around the house playing hide and seek ('daddy, you come and find us now'), been to local parks to walk doglet and visit the playparks ('look how high I am, daddy!'), watched Peter Pan on DVD and eaten lots of yummy food. And McGrew and Cuthbert have earned lots and lots of stars for their star charts!

Back down to their foster carer's house tomorrow and then home on Tuesday forever!

First day at our house

The boys visited us today for a few hours. McGrew and Cuthbert were so excited to see their new bedrooms, they ran round and round shrieking... normal house rules were suspended for a while!

Dibble was in his element, speed crawling from room to room and looking longingly up the stairs through the bars of the gate! He was intent on investigating every corner of every room, and seemed exceptionally happy!

McGrew spent quite a bit of time testing the boundaries, as we thought he would. But he was almost inconsolable when it was time for him to go, with real tears of distress at having to leave. It must be so confusing for them all. Having seen their bedrooms and their beds, but not be allowed to stay and sleep in them. But McGrew loves doglet - he gave her a huge cuddle and a kiss before he left, and told her that he loves her.

Cuthbert was his usual happy self, with only the occasional grumpy face when Dibble did a good impression of demolition man with the wooden railway track.

They're back tomorrow for the day - hopefully the rain will stop long enough to get out for a walk in the park with doglet.

Back home

Mrs D and I got back home this afternoon - it's nice to be back, though a bit strange to be without our boys...

They come up tomorrow with their foster carer, and we get to see them for a couple of hours as they explore their new house and garden! Then we have them all day Saturday and Sunday (but not overnight), before they go back to their foster carer's on Monday.

Then we bring them home on Tuesday.
I can't wait!

Happiness is...

1. your son running up to you in the park, throwing his arms around you for a huge hug, just because you're daddy
2. the expressions of sheer excitement and delight on your sons' faces as the train goes through a tunnel
3. your youngest son falling asleep in your arms
4. your eldest son calling Mrs D 'mummy, darling'
5. catching headlice from your children (!)
6. realising that star charts will get your children to behave impeccably in the car (so far!)
7. listening to your youngest son singing ‘Frere Jacques’ at the top of his voice on a swing in the play park
8. showing your middle son how to climb up the cargo net in the playpark, and then watching him do it all by himself
9. kissing your sons good night and telling them that you love them
10. being a daddy (this should perhaps be number 1)