Category Archives: Firsts
It’s Christmas!
It’s been a little while since I visited my blog but it would seem in my absence, I have still had a steady stream of visitors, so thank you!
The build up to Christmas in the Popple household has been as busy as ever. Here is a pictorial summary of some of the things we have been up to:
Decorating the Christmas tree – for the first time, I let Ava (with a little help from Benjamin) put every single bauble on the Christmas tree. For the past five Christmases, I have rearranged Ava’s effort overnight.
Chutney Making for Ava’s teachers and Benjamin’s childminder
Salt Dough Decorations for the Christmas tree – the first time I have let anything homemade anywhere near the Christmas tree! Thanks to my sister-in-law for the salt dough recipe.
Homemade Santa Decoration – this one is for you Auntie Marcia – there maybe someone who sews in the family after all!
Homemade Snow Globe – this one is for my mother – there maybe a potential artist in the family!
Visiting the Coca Cola Truck in Reading
Watching the Annual Barnado’s Toy Run in Reading – Ava and I dropped a toy off beforehand for one of the bikers to take to Barnado’s.
Ava’s first Christmas Concert at school – much like her mother, she appeared to mime most of the words although has been proving she knew them around the house and out in public ever since!
Making our first Gingerbread House – a little cheat here – we didn’t actually make the Gingerbread House – got to leave something different to do next year!
Making my first Christmas Cake – thanks to my mother-in-law for the recipe. No thanks to my fluctuating oven, it actually tastes ok, after an epic 8 hour bake!
Our first Christmas Eve box with onesies. Not sure the kids will ever put on ‘normal’ clothes again.
Seeing ‘Santa’ aka the International Space Station. Thanks to Facebook, we knew to look out for this. Priceless.
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
The ‘5’ club
When I was at school, I don’t remember there being such a thing as the ‘5 club’ but then again I was only turning 4 when everyone else was turning 5. I hasten to add, this was not because I was so intelligent that I was in the year above where I should have been; no, it was because my twin brother and I were a handful and getting us into school early was important to my mother!
Ava, being one of the oldest in her class, informed me that she is now a member of the ‘5 club’. It’s pretty exclusive at the moment. Soon I’ll be joining a ‘5’ club of my very own; funny how people of my age see no need to brag about this.
Ava’s 5th birthday post wouldn’t be complete without a picture of her birthday ‘cake’. Making a birthday cake out of loads of cupcakes was so much simpler than my usual efforts. For a start. there is no need to cut a cake! I think I may well do it again next year.
When Ava was three, I kept a note of Ava’s cute one liners. This past year I have been keeping a list of the questions Ava has asked (and there have a been a lot of them!) that I have either been stumped by or have not known how to give an answer at an appropriate level. I had intended to use Google to help me out but if anyone would like to get me started, it would be much appreciated!
- Why do tears come from your eyes?
- Why do we have ear wax?
- How do you get a rainbow?
- Where does the sun go when it gets dark?
- How does a baby get in/out of your tummy?
- Why is blood red?
- How can you see blood through your skin?
- Why am I a girl?
- Why does butter melt?
- How do clouds stay up in the sky?
- Why is the planet made of rocks?
- How does my voice box let my voice out?
- Why does water make your hands wrinkly?
- Why is wee hot after you go swimming?
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
I’ve got nails
It’s been a pretty challenging few weeks so my blog has taken a back seat but you’ll be pleased to hear my nails haven’t! As I’m unable to play netball at the moment, I thought it was the perfect excuse to try out Gelish gel polish for the first time and here are the results:
And I loved the first set so much that when they started to chip, I had them done again!
This could easily turn into an addiction but I’d need to find a full time job to fund it so this will be the last set for a while…
Nails courtesy of ‘Be Perfectly Polished’.
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
Please return my right arm
Ava’s first day at ‘big’ school has been hanging heavy on both our shoulders this summer and last Wednesday that day finally came.
It was a bright beautiful morning and thanks to having a painter onsite last week (now known as our resident photographer), we were able to get a nice family photograph, as well as some traditional first day of school shots.
It’s going to take a few weeks to get used to the school run but so far so good. The spot I had marked out (not literally) to park in has been free every time I have pulled up and although a little nervous going in, Ava has come out with a beaming smile (apart from the day that the teacher thought she was supposed to stay all day and left her inside at pick up time). I am a very proud Mummy.
Yesterday was Ava’s first full day at school and the real test. Drop off went well but I was left with a very empty feeling inside without my little Madamski. Much like when I first left her at nursery, it felt as if my right arm was missing. From the empty car seat, to the empty coat hook at home, she creates a big hole when she is not around. Her little brother spent most of the morning asking, ‘Where Aya?’ (he still can’t pronounce her name!) and when I asked where he thought she was, he said, ‘at work’. Today he remembered she is at ‘big school’ and this Friday, when I am not at work, I must remember the same.
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
First School Shoes
Even now I still remember the excitement of the annual pilgrimage to Clarks for new school shoes, only to be left disappointed as my mother would never let me have a pair of patent leather shoes.
I gave Ava a choice for her first pair of school shoes and she opted to go for the non patent version. There are still a few extra bells and whistles that I didn’t have – I don’t remember there being fairies inside my shoes or flashing lights (with an on/off switch nonetheless). Do I still sound bitter?
‘I Did It Mummy’ fundraising for BIBS – https://www.justgiving.com/IDidItMummy
I Did It Mummy 