The Dark Streets Shineth…

Ah, Christmas time, how I LOVE it! And it’s started early for us Sweeties this year. Normally I’m a stickler for waiting until the week(ish) before The Day to deck the halls (keeping it special and all that!), but we thought we might be a bit busy this time round. And so it has begun…

We started at the weekend with the outside of the house. Surely it’s never too early for that! Having the perfect excuse not to shin up ladders, I sent M&M up instead. Here he is climbing our tree (Peanut’s comment: He looks like an orang-utan!)…

What a man – prepared to risk life and limb in pursuit of Christmas Light Utopia. We have a dream, you see, a sweet, sweet, dream…that one day our house will look like this:

But after a trip round Homebase, we realised that this will take many years (and another salary) to achieve. So, we’re kicking off with this ‘bijou’ effort:

You’ve gotta start somewhere. Come 2012 we’ll have a whole herd…! We do also have icicle lights dangling from every window frame and big glowing baubles at the front door – I’m thinking that the neighbours are overjoyed we moved in!

Also, on a festive theme, I realised that I hadn’t shared my Advent Calender obsession with you this year. Tragedy.

I have to confess straight away that I haven’t made my own this year (I blame the baby…and the billion mini-Christmas stockings I was obsessively knitting for Peanut’s school bazaar…). Instead I bought this one: 

…and I love it! Each day has a teeny board book telling part of the Christmas story. Like this one:

They look adorable and can be used a tree decorations too. The inside of the calendar has a little map of the Holy Land and some Bible bits relating to the season.

I think it’s brilliant and the Sweetkids are loving it too (we’re simplifying the language a bit as it’s probably more ‘junior age’, but they get the gist).

Of course, as much as they’re enjoying the story books, we’re also pacifying them with this:

Stuffed with chocolates, of course. Sweetiepie may never recover if we didn’t provide her with her December Daily Chocolate Fix…and, uh, that goes for me too!

X

Yoo-Hoo, It’s Me Again…

It’s been far too long, lovely friends.

My fault, I know, but I felt a brief hiatus was in order so that I could get my head round the many changes going on in the Sweetie Family – new house, new school, new pre-school, new job (for M&M – same place, different responsibilities), new baby-on-the-way… Phew! That’s a whole lotta New!

Anyhoo, ‘brief’ turned into ‘not-so-brief’ and 4 months have slipped by without me putting finger-tip to keyboard. How did that happen? It’s been good to have a break (and devote my free evenings to pure, unadulterated rest), but I’ve missed my little playpen…and all of  you lot too! So here I am. Ta Da!

It’s not as if I’ve been totally idle, honest. Mostly, I’ve been working on this…

Big Bad Baby Belly!

Impressive, eh? And, no, before you’ve even thunk it, it’s not  cake-belly! M&MMini has been doing some excellent growing and is almost cooked. Just 12 days to go and the smallest Sweetie will be with us. DEEP. BREATH. DON’T. PANIC.

This pregnancy has been so smooth, with no surprises or emergencies (aches, pains and ever-decreasing brain-cells, yes – but at least that gives me something to moan about!). A big TA to all who have prayed for me. I’ve been shocked by how calm and peaceful I’ve remained throughout, especially considering our not-in-any-way-calm-and-peaceful experience with Sweetiepie. t’s nothing to do with me, though – only the “peace of God that surpasses human understanding” could have prevented me from becoming a quivering wreck. I’ve been hidden in Him whilst M&MMini has been hidden in me!

And now I’m praying for a peaceful delivery (most likely a c-section) – one out of 3 has got to go ok, surely? Feel free to join me (in praying, not in the delivery room, that would be weird!)

Now, before I sign off, here are just a few pics of some highlights from the last few months…

Summer Holiday...it's been THAT long!

Peanut's First Day at School

Sweetiepie's First Day at Pre-school

Peanut turns 5!

Sweetie turns 3!

We're Back!

X

Happy 2nd Blogiversary to ME!

Yep, it’s been two years since Playpen was first launched. Woop woop!

Thanks so much for following us Sweeties as we muddle and laugh our way through life, doing our best to find ‘Playpen Moments’ with God in the middle of said muddle! We truly appreciate your prayers, comments and sage advice.

Hope you stick with us as we navigate our way through the next year…should be a good one!

Lots of love,

Sweetmumma, M&M, PeanutM&M & Sweetiepie

(Not forgetting M&MMini, of course!)

X

The New Pad (complete with Playpen!)

So here I am, finally, back online and broadcasting from the all new Not-So-Small-But-Still-Sweet-House (I really must come up with a catchier ‘sweet name’ for it!).

It’s been a nutty few weeks (pregnancy + moving house + husband away = I need a holiday!), but we’re already feeling settled in our new home. Sweetiepie’s finally clicked that this is our permanent destination and has stopped pointing at things, saying “we’ve got one of those at home”! For anyone who’s interested (or just plain nosey, like me), here are some pics:

That’ll do…don’t want to bore you with the loo & various cupboards, and I could barely get through the door of Peanut’s room due to an enormous ‘toy explosion’!  

M&M and I have been waiting to move for a long ol’ time – more recently the wait has been for infuriatingly slow solicitors, but principally we’ve been waiting on God’s timing. It’s been schweeeet to see a promise God made us yonks ago come to fruition. He really has done more than we ever asked or could of imagined. Big Thanks due!

God also made it clear to us that we need to work on opening up our home. Harder for me than for the uber-social M&M. Evenings at the mo are spent in my pyjamas, prostrate on the sofa watching episode 10million of ‘Come Dine with Me’! Anyhoo, I’m committed to trying. After all, moving in was such a ‘communal’ experience (thanks to the bed-builders, baby-sitters, bedroom-decorators, meal-providers, box-carriers etc), we might as well continue in that spirit. Viva community!

So, you’re all welcome to drop in (yep, even you, my lovely Stateside friends). Well, as long as you don’t mind me wearing my PJ’s!

Oh, and our other BIG news is that we had our 20 week scan. All looks good and we found out that the up-and-coming Sweetkid is a… da da da da da daaaaaaa… BOY!

This news was greeted with joy be everyone except for our darling Sweetie (“Where’s my baby girl gone?”). She seems to have accepted the situation, though, and has changed the gender of her dollies to help her practise her baby-boy-care skills, demonstrating a loving but heavy-handed style!

I had no gender preference at all, except for the fact that we’d chosen THE most beautiful girl’s name ever and are still floundering over boy names. Any suggestions? Do let me know. And, of course, he’ll need a Sweetname. As he’ll no doubt be another chip off the old M&M, I’m thinking of M&MMinis. What d’ya reckon?

X

Ps. Yet again I feel I need to offer a grovelling apology for the sporadic nature of Playpen lately. I’m really hoping to get back ‘in the groove’ soon. Although, with a family holiday approaching, that may not be for a few weeks. OOPS!

I Love You More Than Sleep…

A few days ago I posted this picture on Twitter:

Ooooo, so pretty!

Loads of people have asked about it and requested a bigger image. So, here it is! It’s a beeee-utiful wall vinyl that I bought for M&M to decorate our new bedroom (he thinks it’s one of those presents you say you’re buying for your partner, but are really buying for yourself…he might be a teensy bit right!).

It’s designed by Rob Ryan, a fantastic paper-cutting artist I just love, love, love. I’ve been ‘into’ paper-cutting since I tried it on a printing course, but could never even dream of producing something so intricate and stunning.

Anyhoo, I chose it, not only for its sheer gorgeousness, but also for its sentiment…

It’s called ‘I Love You More Than Sleep’, which is possibly the HIGHEST accolade I could ever bestow on my husband. ‘Cos I REALLY love sleep. I love it and I miss it and I dream of the days I’ll have full nights of it! You might even say I’m a bit obsessed with it…but isn’t that just the way when you have small restless children…?

M&M and I have devoted a fair portion of our post-Sweetkids relationship to discussing sleep – how to get more, mostly. And I think it’s fair to say that ‘lack-of’ the good stuff has posed one of the biggest challenges to our marriage – it can really change a person (M&M to grumpy; moi to, well, grumpy&snappy!).

Weirdly, the first Bible verse both M&M and I ever learnt (before we even knew of each others’ existence) was sleep related. Psalm 4:8. Look it up, it’s a good’un. And we’ve always found sleeping-in to be the most decadent treat.

So, it is a compliment of great enormity and sincerity to say to M&M: ‘I love you more than sleep’…Honestly, though, sometimes it’s a close run thing!

X

Ooo Baby, Baby

Well, a big THANK YOU to all those people who’ve contacted us with their ‘congrats’ on Sweetkid#3. We really do appreciate it. And to answer all who’ve asked, we’re due mid December (I’m about 17 weeks). Our initial due date was Christmas Day, which was extra weird as I found out I was pregnant on Easter Sunday – a true Minister’s Kid!

I think I mentioned in my last post that I’ve barely even noticed this baby, poor lamb. I’m either too busy chasing Sweetkids#1&2 or too tired to think, so it was lovely to have my Sweetsister-in-law round last night and start chatting ‘baby name’ (possibly my favourite part of being pregnant…except for the actual baby, obvees!).

Not sure how much longer I'll get a good view of these...

Anyhoo, we’ve got a few ideas floating round and I’m already picking favourites (my one hang-up from Sweetiepie’s untimely arrival is that I want to have a name ready EARLY! There’s not much sadder than seeing a teeny preemie who doesn’t even have a name). Girls will be easy. Boys…not so much! Any suggestions gratefully received.

But don’t worry about being original, as a rule we like ‘classic’ names and, according to Genes Reunited, there are very few totally matchless monikers. They analysed over 750 million names and only found 1000 unique ones…including…Flossy Nairn, Willington Trites and Gleeson Whatman (I’m guessing the poor kids named Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii, Number 16 Bus Shelter and (twins) Benson & Hedges would also make it onto that list…seriously…it’s true!!).

Mind you, I’m quote taken with Gleeson…?

X

Ps. If you’re interested in all things name-related (I always have been, even before having the privilege of naming the Sweetkids), you can check out the Genes Reunited press release from earlier this month, at http://www.genealogyblog.com/?p=12339.

Long Time No Blog

It’s been such a long time since I’ve written on Playpen…naughty!  But sometimes life gets in the way of these things – which is probably just the way it should be.

 But lately, a few people have been nagging me urging me to get back in the blogging saddle and catch them up on our Sweet news. I shall give it my best shot.

 So, here are the major themes (how very pretentious) of our last few months. Mostly sweet, but we’ll start with a sour one…

 Spots

Yep, chicken pox hit the Sweetkids with a spotty vengeance. Peanut succumbed first and, just as he seemed completely over it and a spot-free life glimmered hopefully, Sweetiepie erupted. Not fun. We have finally emerged from quarantine (after a whole month dominated by scabs) and if I never see calamine lotion again I’ll be a happy Sweetmumma!  All spot-free now, though…

 Reverend Fun

After 3 years of hard work, M&M (sorry, RevM&M) finally finished his training and has spent the last few weeks being ordained (!), graduating, handing over the youth ministry he’s loved and stepping into a new role at our Sweetchurch. Phew. Mostly importantly, this does of course mean that I get to snuggle up to The Minister. Cool.

Gaining Pounds and Losing a Brain

My waistline has been rapidly expanding, but it’s not because of the cake (although a lot of cake has been consumed). Nope, it’s the latest Sweetie, who’ll be welcomed to the world sometime in mid-December.

 

The pregnancy has been frighteningly normal – in fact I’ve barely had time to think about it, which may make me sound like a bit of a mean-mumma, but is a real answer to prayer. I know a lot of post-premature-baby mums are consumed with worry during following pregnancies. I’m uncharacteristically chilled out – must be the peace that surpasses human understanding!

 Main symptoms so far have been an enormous appetite, unbelievable tiredness in the evening (slumped on the sofa by 7.30) and a startling loss of brain power. My memory is shot (may I use this public platform to apologise to anybody I’ve stood up, forgotten to phone, let down in any way. Hormones suck).

 I’m really hoping my energy levels will pick up soon – I’ve found the inability to function after the kids’ bedtime really frustrating. But I guess that’s a minor niggle (and a great excuse to watch trash TV whilst eating ice-cream straight from the tub!).

 Alrighty then, there’s’ the catch-up! And I think we need to take the next few months nice&easy after all that. Just a few relaxing events planned, like, I don’t know…

 …MOVING HOUSE (woohoo), M&M’s trip to Romania, a family holiday, preparing Peanut for school & Sweetie for pre-school.

 We thought we’d get a whole heap of stressful-major-life-changes over in one fell swoop. It’s all good fun, now, isn’t it!?!

X

Tales of Tiredness and a Big Apology

I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve blogged on my beloved Playpen – this has been the longest hiatus since I started and I really have no excuse for it…

Except that I’ve been so flippin’ tired of late – my Sweetkids are utterly adorable but they don’t ‘alf demand a whole heap of energy from their aging Sweetmumma! For the last month I’ve found that once I’ve wrestled them into bed (repeat several times over each for Sweetiepie) and attempted to bring some order into the chaos of my home, the thought of engaging in anything that requires brain activity is seriously unappealing. Trash TV has never been so attractive (90210, Gossip Girl…Oh, the shame!).

I’ve also found that ‘cream-crackeredness’ is something of a challenge to my Playpen Moments. I’m so grateful for my ‘Word For You Today’ study & my little book of poems – I can just about stay awake for the 5 minutes required to read them!

Anyhoo, I’m upping my Vitamin C intake (yesterday I drank the juice of 17 oranges – that can’t be good?!) and introducing 5 minutes of vigorous dancing-round-my-kitchen-to-extremely-loud-music in the hope of generating a bit more get-up-and-go.  And I will try harder to get back a’posting.

So, sorry lovely friends, I will try harder. Any tips for energy-boosting will be gratefully received and implemented. If I can…just….stay……awakezzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

X

Bad Postcards. Good Fun!

 

If you have a few moments to waste check out the fabuoulsly funny Bad Postcards tumblr blog. I love it…

(Click on the bad postcard above to go to the site…)

…especially as my Christian brothers & sisters contribute to the Bad Postcard collection just beautifully!

X

Unnamed Hero

Did you know that today is ‘Easter Wednesday’? Nope? Me either! Well, not until the wonders of t’internet bought it to my attention…

Anyhoo, in those church traditions that follow the ‘Easter Octave’ (google it) today is when they remember the story of the 2 disciples who met post-Resurrection Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). They didn’t recognise him at first, but walked and listened as he talked them through the Scriptures, then, concerned about the dark and their rumbling tummies, invited him to eat with them. It was only as he broke some bread for them that the penny dropped!

Now, I’ve read this story many times but today I was struck by something new – we have no idea who one of these men is. Not a clue. I mean, we know the other one was called Cleopas (and there’s some speculation that he was the husband of one of the Marys at the foot of the cross). But we know nothing-nada-nix about the other guy. He shall always remain nameless.

And I love that. That this hugely momentous event could happen and we never even find out the name of the person it happened to (no super-injunction necessary!). He was just a man; an ordinary man who walked & talked and listened & learned and then showed concern for a hungry acquaintance; an ordinary man who let his eyes be opened and met Jesus in an incredible way.

I love it because he could have been someone just like me*…

… and I think I’d like to be a lot more like him.

X

*only not a girl…but you get my point, eh?!