Project 365 - I did it!!

I have done it....A whole year of photos....One every day for a year....Well nearly! I missed one day when we were all poorly but 364 isn't too bad for my first try.....I am so pleased with myself....It has recorded lots of every day moments which I probably wouldn't have bothered to take a photo of....

This isn't the end though....I think I will have to carry on again next year!

 353/365 19th December 2015

I only popped out for a couple of things....Oops. 

354/365 20th December 2015

Ellie watching The Sound of Music Live! She loved it and has watched it about 10 times since...

355/365 21th December 2015

The Christmas food shop arrived.....Everything was there! Well done Tesco!

356/365 22th December 2015

Colouring in and watching Christmas films....

357/365 23rd December 2015

A rare night out for me....A meal with friends.

358/365 24th December 2015

Christmas eve PJ's....

359/365 25th December 2015
Christmas day! Presents, presents everywhere! 

360/365 26th December 2015
Logo Lite may be our new favourite board game... 

361/365 27th December 2015
Or this might be....hehehe Such fun!

362/365 28th December 2015
My last day using my old laptop! It served me well but I was due and upgrade....

 363/365 29th December 2015

My new laptop arrived and I love it! I have just about got the hang of Windows 10 and got everything set up how I want it.....

364/365 30th December 2015
More board games....We got through a couple of games of Monopoly and there was no arguments! Amazing!

365/365 31st December 2015
Lots and lots of party food to see in the new year!!

Goodbye 2015.....

2015 hasn't been a bad year....Nothing eventful has happened which is a good thing....We have just plodded along with life quite happily...

January.

This was the first year I took part in Project 365. A photo every day for a year and later today I have the final post of the year going up on my blog....I managed 364 photos. I missed one due to being ill but I think it was pretty good going for my first attempt.....I will be starting it all over again and seeing if I can actually get a photo every day! 

The funniest thing to happen in January was that I won a random prize from a furniture company. I expected it to be to a coffee or side table....Maybe a mirror or some photo frames....No it was a bar!! It just wasn't my thing and found a new home....



February.

Stu and I had a lovely Valentines meal and Becky spent the day with her boyfriend......They've been boyfriend and girlfriend for well over a year now.....It's so cute and he is a lovely boy....It snowed but it didn't last long and I had a bit of a scare with my bank account....My details were stolen and money was taken. I did get it back and it turns out it was Big Fish Games who messed up....



March.

We tried Domino's pizza for the first ever time and since then we have had it at least once a month....Oops! It was even our food of choice for Christmas eve.....The highlight of our month was going to Newcastle Film and Comic Con....It was such a fantastic day! We all had a great time and Stu was in his element!



April.

We had the Easter holidays and ate a lot of Easter eggs....We had a trip to the cinema and saw Cinderella....We also saw Mr Tumble in concert. Ellie was amazed. She does love Mr Tumble....The girls convinced me to play Minecraft which I have really got into....Creepers still scare me though!



May.

Becky hit that hormonal tween stage.....We had lots of arguments, stamping of feet and slamming doors. It hasn't been full dealing with tween/teen hormones but we are getting through it and in a few years will have it all to go through again with Ellie...We did have a lot of sunshine though. The girls had some awesome water fights....



June.

Ellie went swimming with the school for the first time and drowned twice....She over exaggerates. lol She had a fantastic couple of weeks with swimming every day....I was glad at the end of it....It is no fun having to wash and dry so many towels.....Summer was here and the girls played outside a lot....We had a great parents evening for Becky! She did us proud and is doing so well at school....



July.

My girls finished year 7 & year 3 and the summer holidays began....It was time to relax a bit! We just had a lot of PJ and lazy days...We were so glad to see the end of term...We were ready for the break!



August.

Stu tuned 40 something and Ellie turned 8 and had the best birthday ever! We enjoyed the summer holidays! We played a lot of Minecraft and The Sims, watched so many films, had late nights and often slept until gone 10am, did crafts, played with Lego, baked and went to the park a few times. Holidays are all about relaxing and we did just that!



September.

The girls went back to school.....Becky became a teenager and had a great birthday....After many, many years Becky's real dad agreed to pay child maintenance for her which was a big deal for us.....Becky finally got her braces after waiting for a couple of years....They took some getting used to but she is fine with them now and they are working wonders....



October.

We had half term, Halloween, Becky and I saw One Direction in concert and my girls had a check up on their hearts which went so well!....We have a new specialist to see but we're fine with that...He seems like a nice enough guy.

November.

It was such an exciting month for me.....I got on with the Christmas shopping and it was my birthday and my blogs 3rd birthday!



December.

Our Elf on the Shelf came to visit and my family did too....We had a lovely Christmas.  It was so relaxed and fun....

We had a fantastic year....Bring on 2016!

 

My Top 10 Blogs Of 2015...

The lovely Zena over at Zena's Suitcase has came up with her Top 10 list of blogs and is inviting other bloggers to do the same....I read a lot of blogs and there are quite a few I visit when there is a new post to read....

In no particular order....

Brummy Mummy of 2 - I love this lady.....Her posts are so funny and her videos over on YouTube hilarious! i really enjoyed her Vlogmas videos.....Emma is so honest and shares the good and the bad of parenting.....Her Wicked Wednesdays linky is proof of that.....

Little Hearts Big Love - The lovely Louise writes about family life with her two beautiful girls....She also does a lot to raise awareness about heart problems and defects....She is such a kind and caring lady and reading her blog always makes me feel warm inside....

Inside Martyn's Thoughts - I have so much respect for this man....He writes about his life as a single dad who home schools and a whole lot more....His boys are just adorable and he is such a lovely chap...Martyn posts some really thought provoking posts....

Lisas-Life - I don't know how I stumbled across Lisas Life but I read it regularly....It is what it says. All about Lisa's life and her beautiful dog Stella! I do love her Woof Wednesday posts...I don't have a dog or have much interest in them but I love the posts about Stella....

Ojo's World -  Ahh! Jo is such a lovely lady....She is so down to earth and just a caring person blogging about her and her boys....She recently did a month of honesty about her diet and mental health and I enjoyed reading the series...She was so honest and is a real inspiration....

Big Fashionista - Kelly says it just like it is and isn't afraid to share her opinion....Her posts are so honest and really get you thinking....She also has amazing hair!

Confessions of a Nagging Mother - Gemma's blog is pretty new to me.....I have only been reading a few months....She writes a lot of Disney related posts which I am a huge fan of and a lot of other things too....

The Reading Residence - Jocelyn the host of Word of the Week which I link up to every week but I visit during the week too.... She blogs about family life and is obsessed with paper and stationary (I'm sure she won't mind me saying that....Her love of it is infectious)

North East Family Fun - Samantha is a fellow Northumbrian and shares some fantastic posts about days out and places to visit around the North East....Whenever we visit somewhere I check her blog first to see if she has visited and what she thought....

Morgan's Milieu - Morgan is just lovely....She blogs about family life....I like reading her posts. Some funny, some thought provoking and all just wonderful to read!

Please don't be offended if I haven't mentioned you....I do read a lot of blogs and enjoy all of those that I do read....I could have easily listed 50 blogs that I love....I didn't have time for that.....hehehe

We had the best Christmas....

We really did.....It was stress free and the girls got everything they wanted and more....On Christmas eve they did not go to sleep until very late....Well after 11pm. Grr! Which meant Stu & I couldn't sort the presents out until they were sound asleep.....We got to bed at about 2.30am.....Thankfully the girls didn't get up until just after 9am so it wasn't too bad!

I was the meany when we came downstairs and made them eat some breakfast before they even touched their presents!

They wolfed their breakfast and got on with opening their presents....There was a lot of screeching and oh my gods....lol

When all the presents were open we had a tidy up then I sprung the big surprise on them.....The XBox!! I shared the photos from them opening it on My Sunday Photo post....To say they were happy would be a total understatement....lol 

I got on with cooking lunch....Drank wine....The kids played....I was attacked by the kids and Stu with Nerf guns (I new buying them was a bad idea).....

 We didn't get dressed and stayed in our pj's all day.....Becky changed her's 3 times....She couldn't decide which one's she loved the best....Ellie was a little challenging....I think the over-excitement got to her.....Even with that we had the best Christmas.....Everything went to plan. I really can't believe how everything worked out so well....It was so stress free....I did forget to make the trifle though. Oops. Nobody noticed though.

In the early hours of Boxing day I bought my Christmas present.....I'm getting a new laptop. I have needed one for over a year.....The one I am using overheats....The screen flickers unless I wedge cardboard between the keyboard and the screen and that doesn't always work....One of the USB ports doesn't work and the number keys at the side haven't worked for months....My new laptop is arriving sometime today! Eek! I am so excited!

I'm still trying to catch up with the tidying up but it isn't happening.....As soon as I put something away 3 more things are brought out....I give up. lol We will live in the mess....Well at least until the kids go back to school......

Our Weekly Meal Plan!! - #mealplanningmonday

I feel like I need to go on a diet....I feel like I haven't stopped eating in about 5 days....lol On Wednesday I went out for a meal with my friends and it was an all you can eat place....Two plates of Turkey, veg, pizza & a bowl full of jelly, fruit and chocolate brownies and I was done....lol Thursday was a Domino's and then Friday Christmas dinner.....Since Christmas dinner I have been picking and eating all the leftovers....Stu had the last of the leftovers piled high....He didn't finish it all....lol

Last night we did have fried egg, chips and beans....I was craving proper food...I think this week we need to fit in some normal meals before we get to New Years Eve....

 

This week on the menu we have: 

Monday - Chicken kievs & crispy potato slices.... 
Tuesday - Tuna pasta.... 
Wednesday - A fry up - Bacon, sausages, black pudding, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans and toast.... 
Thursday - Party tea!.... 
Friday - A Roast pork dinner.... 
Saturday - Leftovers from the pork dinner.... 
Sunday - More leftovers and raiding the fridge....

Surprise! #MySundayPhoto

For Christmas Stu & I bought the girls a XBox 360. I didn't want to jump in and buy the Xbox one until we saw how they got on with the 360......They didn't have a clue....We let them open all of their presents and then told them to look in the box which was on the armchair.....Ellie had put her teddy on but they still didn't notice it....hehehe They thought they were done with presents....lol

We told them to open it and their reaction was priceless....Especially Becky's....She was so surprised!

Goodbye to our Elf On The Shelf....

Throughout December we had the Elf on the shelf staying with us.....You can see what she got up to over the first few days here....

The girls carried on getting up early to see where the elf was....hehehe There was a few mornings where our elf took a bit of finding but that made it even more fun....

 

 Again our elf has been more about playing hide and seek rather than being naughty!

On Christmas eve she was very kind and left the girls a box of treats....Their Christmas PJ's, a bath set, chocolates and some hot chocolate....

The girls had to work to find it though.....I set up a little treasure hunt....When the girls woke up Stu & I sent them downstairs and they went hunting....We were laid in bed laughing at their screeches and running about....hehehe We had hidden the prize box in our bedroom....They had the best time and were very happy with their reward....

I thought this might have been the last year we had the elf to stay through December with my girls getting older but Ellie is still believing so she will be back next year to spread some festive cheer....I will have to come up with some new ideas though!

Merry Christmas!

 I'm wishing you a Merry Christmas
Full of laughter, love and light,
With delicious yummy foods
 To excite your appetite.

I'm hoping you receive
Delightful gifts to make you smile,
With family and friends
To love you all the while.

I wish you a Merry Christmas;
May all your Christmas dreams come true,
And when Christmas is over,
Happy New Year, too!

 

Christmas Jumper Photo Fail - #wickedwednesdays

Christmas TV that I am looking forward to....

I love Christmas TV....I got the TV guide a couple of weeks ago and I have planned what I want to watch....There is at least 2 films a day on I want to see and of course all of the soaps...

 Tuesday 22nd December.

We’re Doomed!: The Dad’s Army Story - BBC Two - 9pm
This one off drama tackles the making of Dad’s Army....I really love this show and have wonderful memories of my Grandad watching it when I was a child....

Wednesday 23rd December.

Snow Chick: A Penguin’s Tale - 8.30pm - BBC1
Deep in the Antarctic a tiny emperor penguin chick is battling the seasons.....Kate Winslet narrates the fluffy hero’s fight for survival in this must-see documentary....

Christmas Eve.

Finding Nemo - 3.50pm - BBC1

I will probably end up recording this but it is one we as a family love and I can't believe I don't have it saved on my Sky Planner....

Peter Kay: 20 Years of Funny - 9.05pm - BBC One.

A documentary looking at the path that took Peter Kay to sell-out shows, chart-topping charity singles and comedy superstardom.

Christmas Day.
 

Stick Man - 4.45pm - BBC One
Martin Freeman is the lovable Stick Man in this animated take on Julia Donaldson’s children’s classic. Jennifer Saunders narrates while Hugh Bonneville, Sally Hawkins, Rob Brydon and Sally Hawkins help tell the story of Stick Man’s hazardous journey home to the “family tree”....

Doctor Who - 5.15pm, BBC One
River Song is back!!! But it seems she’s now married to a headless cyborg....

Gogglesprogs - 8pm - Channel 4.

Now it’s the turn of the kids to step into the limelight as discerning telly critics. Please let there be mini versions of Sandy and Sandra. That really would make Christmas.....hehehe

Mrs Brown’s Boys - 9.45pm - BBC One.

Brendan O’Carroll will be resurrecting Agnes Brown for a supposedly relaxing family Christmas. 

Boxing Day.
 

Shaun the Sheep - The Farmer's Llamas - 6.15pm - BBC One.This half-hour special from Aardman’s Richard Starzak sees TV’s favourite woolly jumper get himself into a whole pile of trouble when he goes to market with Bitzer and the Farmer and they get fleeced by a flock of llamas. 

Peter and Wendy - 8pm - ITV.
Paloma Faith will make an appearance as Tinkerbell in ITV's two-hour version of the J M Barrie classic. It opens in Great Ormond Street Hospital, where Lucy Rose, 12, who doubles as Wendy Darling is awaiting treatment. The night before she's due to have her operation, she reads Peter Pan and after falling asleep, dreams this version.

 Sunday 27th December.

Fungus the Bogeyman - 6pm - Sky One. 

A tale of slimy monsters, dangerous humans and what happens when the things that go bump in the night move in next door. Timothy Spall and Victoria Wood lead a stellar cast in the festive three-part series. It's an adaptation of Raymond Briggs' classic children's tale of a bogeyman, who is actually made of bogey!

What are you planning to watch on TV over Christmas?

Our Weekly Meal Plan!! - #mealplanningmonday

 Finally it's Christmas week! Hooray! I have my Christmas food shop being delivered this afternoon....Keep your fingers crossed for me that everything is delivered....Don't let me down Tesco! I would have liked the delivery on the 23rd but today was the best I could do....I am still going to pop to our local Asda on Christmas eve and probably pick up even more food....Their frozen party food looks way better than Tesco or Iceland so I'm hoping to get a few bits...

I am so excited for Christmas dinner already....It really is my favourite meal of the year.....I will be eating it again for my tea on Christmas day and boxing day....hehehe

This week on the menu we have: 

Monday - Fish & chips.... 

Tuesday - Prawn cocktail salad.... 

Wednesday - A fry up - Bacon, sausages, black pudding, mushrooms, tomatoes, beans and toast.... 

Thursday - Either Domino's or an Indian takeaway.... 

Friday - Christmas Dinner!!! Then raiding the fridge and snacking all evening.... 

Saturday - Leftovers from Christmas dinner.... 

Sunday - More leftovers and raiding the fridge....