shoe elf

In an almost completely opposite way to 'The Elves and the Shoe Maker' story, Barney has become the Shoe Elf at our house by moving and hiding the shoes. Yesterday alone we found one of my red shoes in the kitchen, and one of Oscar's trainers under the couch.

Tonight Barney had just snuck out into the hall to the shoe drawers, and I heard him muttering "...Daddy Daddy Daddy Daddy...", so I crept round the doorway to see him crouching trying to lift up Daddy's giant shoe. Heave ho! Triumphantly he shows me what he's found, and then tried to walk past me with it. Not so fast Sonny Jim. Although, if he tried to hide Daddy's size 12 shoe, I don't think it would be the most difficult thing to spot.

Then I ran upstairs to put something away, and returned about 30 seconds later to find one of my wellies in the middle of the living room.

To be fair to Barney, he does try to balance things out. If he takes a shoe from the hall, he'll replace it with something else. Like a spoon. Or the TV remote, twice. Every day is like a treasure hunt , haha :)

    
  

one sock and a chocolate mouth from a stolen smartie,
there has never been a cuter shoe burgler.

mr 5 ★

Oscar has been long anticipating his special day... birthday number FIVE!! It was a super brilliant! Here are some joys from the day...

In the morning...

FIRST BIKE!

A Buzz Lightyear from his little brother

Birthday waffles for breakfast

Party time!! 10 little friends play games and have fun. Like Barney, he also had a very cool music playlist*. He went super crazy dancing to 'This is Halloween", which he'd adamantly insisted on despite the fact it's not October!

Birthday badge:
while pinning it on Oscar said,
"Watch out for my nipple though, please!"

Ozzy throwing some moves during musical statues!

Yummy homemade cake!

The table and party food, mmmm!

Visits filled with lots of love and gifts from family. He felt very happy and completely spoilt!

After everyone had gone, we got cosy and wound down for the evening. For tea we finished off the party food leftovers. Oscar claimed it was the best tea EVER! It consisted of cold pizza, jam sandwiches, carrot sticks, crisps, harribo, tomatoes, and birthday cake. Amazing! Then we snuggled up to watch one if his favourite movies before bed.

We're so proud of our biggest boy and excited for him as he embarks out on the world as a 5-year-old, because of course, now that he's 5 everything is different from when he was 4!! He keeps freaking out remembering he's 5!

Love you Oscar - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Photo time line of Oscar through his first half-decade!

*OSCAR'S PARTY PLAYLIST!

1) One Direction - Beautiful
2) Cars - Real Gone
3) This is Halloween
4) Go Go Power Rangers
5) High School Musical - All In This Together
6) The Jungle Book - The Bare Necessities
7) Cars - All Night Long
8) Pokemon Them Tune
9) Horrid Henry Theme Tune
10) Tangled - When Will My Life Begin
11) High School Musical - Breaking Free
12) LMFAO - Party Rock Anthem
13) Toy Story - You've Got a Friend
14) Shrek - Rockstar
15) Transformers - Autobot Theme

school christmas play

It was a parenting milestone watching my little boy be a Christmas Tree in his first school play. It was completely darling. Oscar sang very well, although I think due to so many rehearsals the song had become a bit mundane for him, and so he occupied himself onstage by doing crazy facial expressions. I was very proud!

With strict instructions over photos etc, I had to make most of a moment to take his picture at the end (being careful to crop out any other children from the shot. I was hoping for a nice smile. No matter how many times I asked, he was being Mr Funny. Here is what I got...

I need to get his autograph. What a silly sausage!

mr 1 ★ the party

The family came over for Barney's little party. Nice and simple: a mixed CD with Barney's favourite songs*, a game of pass the parcel, and the birthday cake with the candle in the shape of a dinosaur. It was a winning formula for excited little Barney, surrounded by so many people who made him happy, and his favourite songs to get overwhelmed by! He never stopped smiling.

Barney's dance moves made us all laugh. A mixture of the 'Barney shoulder turn' move, walking close to the TV, bouncing up and down, waving his arms, and running up to someone. Here's some of his moves in action:

The cake and happy birthday song were quite eventful.

Other nice aspects of the afternoon were...
Uncle Dan blowing a party blower into Barney's face, and the gentle momentum nearly knocking him over.
Oscar's face when he won the pass the parcel prize.
Barney running up to Jenny to give her a hug, with his arms wide and a big smile... and then tailing away and leaving her hanging.
Spare icing from the cake ending up on my plate!
Barney enjoying the birthday cake, all over his face and up his sleeves.


It was a really lovely time. I can't believe he's 1! Happy Birthday Barney :)


*BARNEY'S PLAYLIST
1) Party Rock Anthem
2) The Cat in the Hat Theme Song
3) Curious George Theme Song
4) Horrid Henry Theme Song
5) The audio from Apple iPad2 TV Advert
6) Jungle Book - The Bare Necessities
7) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - I Have You Two

mr 1 ★

Little baby chops - how did you grow up so fast?!

It's been a really sweet day together and Barney's had a lovely time. He seems to know he has an extra amount of tinker about him and he smiled and smiled.

Barney got a cutie tricycle for his birthday, here's Oscar pushing him around early this morning as a freshly woken-up Barney begins to realise what a trike is and how it will impact his life.

After lots of playing, cuddling and a trip out to Cheeky Monkeys, we came home for tea and little cakes for his birthday candle. Barney was made up. We're using the big cake for the big family party in a few days, but I don't even think the size of the cake matters to him, when he's so mesmorised by the ONE candle, tinker!!

Love you love you love you my little gorgeous peachy baby chops! Happy Birthday!

meeting santa

On a Saturday morning we wrapped up warm and went out as a family to see Santa, who was making a big arrival at Birkacre. We were all giddy when we joined the big crowd and listened to the brass band play Christmas songs as we waiting for the sleigh.

The boys both thought the reindeer were cool. The elf said it was Rudolf! Oscar asked, "Where's his red nose, then?". The elf said he gets his red nose on Christmas Eve. Crisis avoided.

Oscar was so excited to get near to Santa and meet him, that when it was finally his turn Oscar seemed a bit overcome. Santa said hello and asked for a high five. Oscar froze and didn't say a word, just nodded his head gently. Santa also asked Barney for a high five, and Barney just watched him placidly with a vague disinterest.

This Monday was Oscar's Christmas School Fair. He went to see Santa again, this time feeling a little more confident. We went into the grotto, and Oscar was still a bit star struck..He sat there gazing in awe, only finding the courage to talk when he had to tell Santa what he wanted for Christmas, then suddenly he was able to say a LONG list! Barney slept. He seems altogether underwhelmed over Santa.

After a pleasant visit with Santa we walked down the corridor back to the fair. Oscar was holding onto the selection box Santa had given him, with a thoughtful look on his face.
Then he asked, "Mummy, was that the REAL Santa?"
"Yes, he's very nice, isn't he!"
"But he wasn't wearing his glasses this time."
"Oh dear! It must be because he's been so busy in the workshop, that he had to hurry here and left his glasses at home by accident."
(silence as Oscar quietly considers)
"...Yeah I think you're right."

Second crisis avoided. He's due to meet Santa again this week at another party. Better start thinking of more ideas to explain small changes in his looks since the last time...

Nice to meet you Santa!

love water

Barney had spat his water out, and it made a nice heart shape on his t-shirt. It's the most adorable soggy top I've ever seen!