Prizes, birthday's and babies with "boy bits"!!

This is a sunflower.. not just any sunflower.. this is a sunflower grown by my son.

This is my son and his certificate for winning 1st prize (YAY!) in the "Largest sunflower head" competition at the Eccleshill Horticultural Society's annual show.


BLESS HIM.. he was so chuffed..lol

other news.. the 21st of this month brings a double birthday in our house as my twin daughters celebrate their 6th birthday.. yes the lil babies that weighed 5lb 2 oz and 4lb 9oz are now not so little..


see??  They're bloody huge now..lol, thats them posing in their party dresses..

They had a party for 20 of their little friends (it felt like 200 of them) at the local playgym, Tiddley Peeps and they had great fun.. I cant really post pics of other peoples kids but I can show you this one of Grandad John..



if you look really carefully on the wall behind him it says "Wrinkly Peep" .. we all thought that was quite appropriate.. I'm now sure I'll have to pay for that one LOL

Anyway party over and onto the mountain of presents!!  There were Princess dolls and dresses... Bless!!


and shoes and tamagotchi's (Oh no!) and make up and fairy wings and ponies and thats before they got our present..lol

We bought the girls these..



scary lil buggers aren't they?  they're "newborn" babies.. they dont do anything.. they just look like baby's, they dont pee or talk or cry or eat or crawl or swim or call you mummy or anything.. there are no batteries in them at all and they don't cost the earth.... and the kids LOVE them.  All this time I've been worrying about not how to afford the latest baby annabel doll.. but how to afford TWO and all that time I needn't have worried.. my gorgeous girls prefer to use their imaginations with their babies that do nothing.. yay for my clever girls...lol

There was only one problem.. they're completely anatomically correct and I didn't know this when I told Angelina she could have a boy one.  o_O  oooooooooooops.

There I am wrapping Heathers girl doll as Jake is peering inside the nappy of the boy one and giggling like a schoolboy and I hear "Angelina's not gonna like that..." and I turn to find my 8 year old holding up the doll and showing me a teeny tiny plastic pee pee.

Oh holy shit.. think I, Angelina will either love it and tell everyone she knows about her baby's penis or she'll never touch it again.

Of course it was the first one.. its Angelina after all.. she did say to me though "Mummy.. I've looked at it, but I'm not touching though.." lol..

There was a cake.. sort of, I busted the seal on the oven and now nothing I cook will rise..



didn't stop the kids eating it though.. and it tasted really good too..lol



and that was it really.. next is my own Dad's birthday.. on the 24th, dark day..he would have been 60.. I saved him some cake, his favourite.. chocolate.

Happy birthday to the many other people I know with birthdays this week... I hope you have as good a time as we did. xx

Scarborough 2010

As you know every summer us Savage's take a trip to Scarborough.. we've done it 3 years running now, I'm not quite sure why..

We never intended to be one of those families that takes the same holiday ever year to the same place on the same dates etc and in fact we varied it up a little this time by going at a different time AND staying in a different place too...mmhmm, I like to live dangerously, shocking isnt it? lol

Anyway, at the caravan park at the Blue Dolphin (which we LOVE btw) we have a regular van with a little bit of a grassy area that the kids play in but this year we'd left it too late because we were originally going to Scotland.. but of course all that changed when I decided to have a nervous breakdown in the middle of my driving thing..lol

SO Scarborough it was again.. we decided to rent a flat in the centre of town on the Esplanade.. beautiful views, beach at the bottom of the hill.. even a cliff lift to get up and down and 2 weeks for less than half the price that we'd pay at the Haven resort. Winner!!

It was a winner too.. we had a great time. The first week my Mum and John came with us and we mercilessly made my Mother miserable by making her experience all things chav... here.. have a look.


Mum on a bus!


In a pound shop!!!

Poor Mum.. but she got her own back when it started to rain one day and out of her bag she pulled a plastic rain hood and put it on!!! I must stress (or otherwise she might actually kill me and bury me in the garden) that she did it for a joke and she DOES NOT normally wear one of the "old lady hats"... I can also tell you though that she was that impressed with how it kept the water off her hair that she kept it on until she got home.. yes she walked through town with it on.. gonna have to call her "Mabel" in future for sure..lol


"Mabel".

Other things that happened.. some great comments..

there was the day we were on the beach making sandcastles and Rich told the kids to "Watch where you're throwing all that snow..." er... snow? I think you'll find thats wrong dear..

and there was the moment when Heather watched a lady being pushed by her husband in a wheelchair and asked my Mother "Why don't you get one of those pushchairs Nana? Then Grandad John can push you around all day and you'd never have to walk again!!"

Angelina: "Oh No.. the Bog Horn is ringing!!"

mm.. Richard had a few "moments"..

yes. there was the "paper bag incident".. which was most amusing to Mum and I..

We were at the Filey Bird Garden and Petting Zoo for the day, its a great day out and the kids love it.. regular readers will remember last year when Princess Heather fed the pig that snotted on her, she was less than amused. Well they had so much fun last time that they wanted to return and so we did, we bought animal feed in little paper bags and everything was great until one of the kids dropped an empty bag and the breeze took it away..

"Rich!! get that bag will you??" I say and he bends down to reach the bag at his feet.. and the wind blew it.. he shuffled a few steps forward and bent to grab it and the wind took it again.. Rich shuffles forward, stooping like an old man trying to get the bag and the wind keeps taking it and he shuffles some more.. well by the time he got it the rest of us were on the floor in stitches and floods of tears giggling at the muppet chasing the bag.. heheh was brilliant, classic Rich at his spasmodic best.

Then there was the football incident.. I've swear I have never seen anything as funny in my whole life.
There we were, minding our own business just walking on the beach one day and up ahead there was an old guy kicking a ball around with his grandson, just a light football.. not a big heavy leather one but not as light as a beach ball..
We're walking towards them and he looked directly at Rich (- so it was even as if he hadn't seen him) and he kicked the ball.. whether he expected Rich to move or the ball to curve around him or what I dunno.. but it didn't..noooo it hit him full on in the face and even bounced off his head with a really loud "boing" sound to it.

Y'know sometimes when something so shocking happens and you just don't know how to react?? In that moment you don't really know what happened or why it did and you're left open mouthed looking a little like this guy??



Hmm Rich had that look about him too.. he stood, totally shocked and his mouth open as the old guy (who look a teeny bit worried..)picked up the ball and said "oops. sorry mate" and buggers off!!

So I'm trying really REALLY hard not to laugh and say "are u ok?" and Jake just starts with this big belly laugh..and that was it.. Jake was giggling, I was laughing so much I was crying.. I had to run to the public bathroom cos I thought I was gonna pee myself, the girls were laughing and Rich is telling me to "shut the f*ck up biatch".

The best part was I had said to him that very morning how disappointed I was that he hadn't done anything stupid over the last few days.. infact, since the paperbag incident the week before, no sea gulls had crapped on him or anything and then that happened.. and I didn't stop laughing for days, and every time someone mentioned it I was crying again.. my mum phoned that evening (cos she only stayed the first week) and I couldn't speak to tell her the tale for laughing so much.

It was brilliant! A total comedic highlight and I doubt any of us will forget it in a hurry..

So.. what else? Well.. there was the Sea Life Centre, the beach, the swimming pool at Filey, the lighthouse, the grave of Anne Bronte, the sandcastles...

Toy Story 3 at the cinema... (completely hilarious and not at all spoiled by a certain loud voiced "Angelic" child of mine shouting "Daddy!!! Gimme those fruit pastels!!!" honest!! lol),

there was the day we found "Sebastian" the Hermit Crab in the rock pools, the fun fair, the boat trip..

the ball pool..






the mad rooster



Angelina on the "medieval naughty step" ("Don't you dare think lady, that just because we're in the middle of medieval ruins on top of a big hill in Scarborough that I can't find a bloody step to sit your butt on Madam...now park it!!") and the random bloke laughing as she gave me her best sulky face


Shocker isn't it?? LOL

Heather licking the bus shelter window... why?!?!?



walking the pretend pets in the park..



Jake meeting the donkey also called Jake..



then this..



and this..



and this..




I think those smiles say it all really...

here, have a slideshow..

Bring on next year!!!!!!!

Wtf happened to the summer??

Well it's officially over and about bloody time too!!!

It's not right y'know, 6 weeks off school in the summer is a parents worst nightmare. After school finished on July 23rd I, like most other Mother's I know, spent the next 3 days in a total state of shock and panic that not only did I have to spend the next 6 weeks at home, alone with my 3 children but I also had to spend an extra 3 days at home with them too because school doesn't start on Monday 6th September like it should but on Wednesday 9th.

WHY?!?!?!?!

Well... apparently 6 weeks is not enough time for the teachers of my children's school to recover from the last year.. apparently they need "training" too.. I am slightly disturbed by this.

I am also slightly disturbed that they've decided to add the much needed "teacher training days" to the end of the holidays so as not to "disrupt the children's learning" by doing it at some other point in the year.

But what disturbs me about this most is that this "teacher training" will only take 2 days.

o_O

2? is that it? obviously becoming a teacher is easier than I thought.. I should probably look into this again..lol

I am of course just kidding.. being a teacher is incredibly difficult and training takes far longer.. blah blah blah... but really.. they've just had 6 weeks off work.. why do they need to take another 2 days to brush up on their skills? Surely they should be doing that when they've got their 6 weeks off? Well no apparently.. cos thats when they get to plan lessons and do marking and stuff.. all from the comforts of their own home.. whilst they're being paid.. unlike the TA's that help (notice I said "help" as opposed to "do all the real hard work" which is what really goes on...)

Anyhoo.. It's the beginning of summer, the sun is shining (almost) and we don't have to get out of bed and do anything and having got over the initial sinking feeling of "OMG what the hell am I going to do with them for 6 1/2 weeks!!" I remembered that we were taking our trip to Scarborough this school break, brilliant!! The kids will have something to do and I can relax... in 4 weeks time.

FOUR WEEKS?!?!?! aw sh*t...

So...I spent the first 4 weeks dealing with the "Summer holidays...must not strangle child.. " (apparently its frowned upon these days) madness that all us poor Mum's struggle with every year and I can tell you, it's been no bloody fun!!

But it's over now.. the uniforms are ready.. lunch boxes will be packed this evening and soon it will be bath and bed time.. ahhh.. bliss.


awwwww..I miss them already and they're not even gone yet!!! LOL

I wonder why that happens? You spend all day frazzled to buggery and tearing your hair out as the kids drive you mad and then the day comes for them to go back to school and give you some peace and quiet and you don't want them to leave...

nahhhhh.. I love you all but please.. go back to school already!!! ;)

It's time for lunch!!!

It's lunch time..

We're hungry....

I know!! Let's get the 5 year old to make the sandwiches!!!!

20 minutes later we were still hungry....

Wanna see why???

Well... you know what to do...

hit the button..

To have and to hold...

Till death us do part???

Who's bloody stupid idea was that??

On this day 10 years ago (24th June 2000) I married my rock star hubby.. doo dah.. what's his name? Rich!! thats right.. sorry.. I only ever really call him "Twat"...or "Shit bag" or some other equally scathing but scarily accurately descriptive swear word..LOL.

Yes 10 years.. or 120 months.. or 3652 days ago (shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit!!!!!!! thats a LONG time!!!) I, momentarily blinded by love, rushed in and said "I do".. shortly after I realised I probably should have paused and first asked... "is this one of my better ideas?" or "what's in it for me?".

Ten years of washing Savage socks.. and .. well actually I don't think I need to go any further down the list of "OH MY GOD!! I didn't sign up for this?!?!?" reasons of why I should have backed out that day cos 10 years of washing Savage socks would be enough to turn a lesser woman to divorce...lol.

So what was in it for me?

Well..it wasn't diamonds... which is a bugger really cos I do like a nice diamond...lol

and it wasn't for the money.. cos its only the past couple of years that we've actually had any..lol

it wasn't for the rock and roll lifestyle at all really cos we're not exactly turning down the boys from MTV Cribs yet are we?? lol

So really.. the last 10 years.. in short..

Well to be honest, at times..there've been a few of these...



but there was a whole lot of this..



a lil bit of this too.. ;)



which in turn caused this.. LOL



yep.. that was one of our finest moments..and these too..



(Angelina on the left and Heather on the right.)

So it's not been all bad.. and we're still smiling.. guess I could wash those socks for a wee while longer...

Happy Anniversary Mr S... love u. xx

thieving robbing bar stewards!!!!

Ok!!! sooooooooooo 2010 is an official 'washout' of a year already and it's only March.. I would like to propose an end to this, the second worst year of my life (second to 2008 which was THE worst year of my life) and feel we should make a speedy jump into 2011 now please.. yes I realise we have done this before and all of you poor people that lost a birthday last time will lose another including me (due to hit the big 35 this time) and my hubby Ricardo who is due to hit 40.. I sincerely doubt he'll be bothered about missing that one though..lol.

Why? I hear you asking.. why would we like to obliterate 2010 from memory?

Well.. this morning's tale starts with the evening of the 9th February.. the kids are in bed (yes I'm including Rich in that one..lol) and I am turning off lights and feeding the cat and heading that way myself.. up the stairs I go, checking the door is locked and the windows closed on the way of course..

I sink into my nice warm bed next to my snoring husband and close my eyes... Two minutes later (well it feels like 2 minutes its actually 6 hours later) I'm woken with the words..

"Jen get up, we've been burgled.."

WHAT?!?!?!?!

You know that sinking feeling you get sometimes when something has gone wrong? You go all hot and cold at the same time and then that clammy feeling as you go to visually confront the thing that you don't want to see because as you're sitting there on the edge of the bed in your pj's not looking at it you can almost pretend you dreamt the words and if you just slide back into bed when you wake up in another hour it will have gone away and wont really have happened at all?? Yeah... I got that.

But... being the woman I am I got out of bed.. primarily to shout at my husband for running up and down the stairs - I didn't want the children awake!! LOL

Downstairs I go to find an unusual sight. There are towels and laundry all over the floor... hmm.

Rich is pacing and the cat is shaking (my poor cat had been downstairs the whole time), the place is freezing (back door open) and my car (amongst other things) is missing.

It seems that some tw*t (my descriptive skills can think of no other more suitable, less sweary word although they can think of much better swear words to describe them.. if u would like a list of these please email at the usual place..lol) has decided that they are entitled to the things in my house and also that they would like to take them away... in my car!!!

They came in through the conservatory door at the back - which I will just add it takes them approximately 9 (yes NINE) seconds to bust the lock and open so please... invest in new locks on your upvc doors and windows - and have helped themselves to my hard earned things.

In the winter our conservatory is quite chilly and is basically used as a utility/storage place and I had been on a washing spree, the clean laundry was in a pile on the sofa ready to go upstairs and be put away.. they'd spread it across the wooden floor to minimise sound and prevent leaving foot prints as it was wet outside. clever little shits.
Of course they were gloved too and so there were no finger prints.

Thankfully a very kind lady found a bag they had stolen with a diary in it and had called me to say she found it later that day and the police found the car in the evening but everything else taken was lost.

They took the kids nintendo wii and DS lite, Rich's coat which had Heather's purse in it (she was gutted) 2 handbags, 2 laptops, some jewellry and my designer perfume and No..before you ask, I am NOT happy that some burgling scroat's girlfriend is walking round the local estate smelling like my Valentino perfume..
They left the big tv but i think that was because I'm such a scruffy bitch and the wires at the back of my tv resemble spaghetti junction - a fact I will not be changing because they'd obviously tried to unplug it and failed miserably HAHA.

The most upsetting thing was that in the sideboard I had a little box.. and in this little box was a lock of my Dad's hair, his 2 watches and Jake's baby teeth and they took that too. Bastards.

So that was February... and the reason for my absence as obviously, we've had no computers to connect to the internet. Thankfully we were insured and we're now just about back to where we were (with the exception of the insurance excesses and cost of new locks etc.. all in all this burglary has cost me a fortune that I can't claim back) although we're still waiting for the car back because the little buggers ragged it to buggery and knackered the axle .. yeah I have NO idea what that means either... I just drive it. lol

But in all of this there was some good news.. yes.. the day of the burglary was on Parents evening. My daughter is a genius (Heather) and her sister is a chatterbox (Lina) and their brother has his head in a literacy fog somewhere... BUT I won the raffle!!!!!!!!! LOL So yes.. thanks to the lovely ladies at school I got a bottle of wine and some chocolates..

Since then the thieving little buggers have been caught but will probably only get a slap on the wrist. I have to say though that the police at the station in my little village were absolutely brilliant, from PC Buckley that was first on the scene and made my kids feel safe again with her brilliant idea of "Buckley's Bedtime Basket" (see below**) to the community policeman Paul who came to see us a few days later to check we were ok and to give us one of those special postcode pen things and everyone in between, the finger print lady.. the guys that found the car.. they were all brilliant so big kudos to the West Yorks Police Dept and thanks for your help!!

So.. moving on to 2011 now, who's with me?? lol





** Buckley's Bedtime Basket. - Everyone should have one, get a basket and get the kids to put their special things in it before they go to bed, the DS.. their purses, mum and dad's phones n stuff, handbag etc and the last person to go up to bed takes the basket up. according to the police a burglar that enters your home at night rarely goes upstairs so take your things with you... dont ever leave your keys in your bag (like I did.. lol).

So.. the Savage's get a basket and jake puts his new DS in it, Heather puts her new purse in and Angelina puts in the head from her Simon Cowell Bobble head doll... just the head "Cos that is the most precious-est bit int'it Mummy??" Serious. no lie. f*ckin nearly pissed myself. Love my kids..lol

2009..another year of blogging...

Well it was better than 2008 but lets face it.. anything would have been better than 2008 really wouldn't it?

So quick run down and a few pics maybe of the year..Oooh fun!!

January.

January, if I remember correctly... was cold. Meh nothin 'New' about that.. it's always cold.. and boring... I can't even remember what happened in January.. Oh wait!! Yep, they announced that my beloved David Tennant would be killed off (ok ok regenerated...a mere technicality) into this lil dude..


who is not nearly as gorgeous as mah Dave and I'm just not happy about it in the slightest..

So.. that was January and it SUCKED.

February.

In February we all got the lurgy, tangled with this bunch of cowboys over a sofa, but still founds reasons to be cheerful with this lil one... *le sigh*

March.

Let's not eh?

April.

April brought the most beautiful boy... who provides such joy and incredibly lovely pictures that I wish I could share with you but can't for I have not discussed with his lovely Ma and Pa. Needless to say he is as cute as a button and has cheeks you want to squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!!!!!!!! love him love him love him love him .. i do i do i do i do i dooo ooooo!! LOL

Yes Albie Callan Peter Smith arrived on 11th April and brought with him some much needed joy and at a perfect time too.. just as we were gearing up for that first anniversary of grief and I think he eased the pain slightly for all of us. I know Dad would have been proud and would have adored him as much as he adored all his other grandchildren.. he would of course never have allowed Simon and Sarah to forget however that he was born across the border and down there with the 'southern softies' no less.. still it could have been worse.. he could have been born on the wrong side of the pennines.. (shhhh.. mustn't say the "L" word!!).. so yes. April was a very good month... long may that continue.

May.

May brings birthdays and busy times and blackness these days... I wont pretend it's fun. May used to bring Bankruptcy (almost.. lol) as virtually the whole family has a birthday or at least one member or more of each little family gets a year older in those 4 weeks.. (I think there's something like 13 birthdays.. its ridiculous!!) but now all any of us seem to think about is he who is not here.

May brought the anniversary and a trip up to the 'Top of the world' as we affectionately call it, it's more commonly known as Holme Moss in Huddersfield and its where we scattered Dad.

May is a tough one thats for sure... doesn't look like it'll get much easier in future either...

In other May news I went back to school and had a tangle with a white van driver... yeah May sucked too.. bring on June!!!!!!

June.

I got older.. again!!

June SUCKED!!! NEXT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



(* edit.. on a positive note to June I completed 12 months smoke free..yeah I can't believe it either!!)

July.

Aahhhhh lovely July...

Scarborough.. 'nuff said.

August.

August was BUSY!!!

There was a visit from the tooth fairy for this mucky lil pup..
Look at the colour of him!!

Then someone (namely me..) had the bright idea that it might be fun to try trace the family tree.. with a maiden name of Smith it's not easy but we're getting there.. albeit slowly.. very slowly!! LOL

The boy finally got off his butt and learned to ride the bike.. which took approx 3 seconds to do and he hasnt touched it since either btw..lol

More cute babies (so glad they're not mine..lol) in the shape of Harry born to my old sis-in-law Vicki and her husband Scott.

Kids hid the phone for 4 days so no one could call us, then they broke the living room door.. trapping us upstairs and running round the side of the house in our pj's to get back in... fun.

Rich had the last birthday in his 30's... cant wait until August!!

September.

September was all about "Big School", yes my babies started school and how cute do they all look in their uniforms?



Another baby came, another boy too!!! My bezzie mate Donna's daughter Cate brought little Riley into the world on my Dad's birthday no less.. obviously a star in the making and a cutie he is too.. bless him.

There was another birthday this month.. my girls turned 5. Seems like yesterday since i was buried under a pile of nappies and baby stuff but in a blink they're little supermodels in waiting..lol



October.

It's still birthday season in October at our house and this time it's Jake's turn.. this year he was 8 which is perfectly old enough now.. can we go back a few years and stop being such a tweenager now please?



November.

The end of October brought much happiness and joy but in a split second it turned to November and another month tinged with sadness as we tried to deal with another tragedy and comfort our loved ones that suffered so much pain as Jess and Luke lost their much wanted baby daughter Bella less than a day after her birth. I know only too well how unfair life is and how harsh it can be. They have been truly dignified and united in their grief and are still holding each other close, we're incredibly proud of them and their strength is humbling to us all. I truly hope 2010 is kinder to them... no doubt we will never forget but nor would we want to. God bless precious girl xx.


December.

Well... if you want a quick over view December brought presents... a 'fluffed' driving test (bring on January!!), an arc-angel Gabriel in the shape of Heather and lots of excited children.. it also brought turkey and ham and chocolate and a dose of the flu (swine maybe? not sure) for Grandad and Daddy.. you'll be pleased to know I'm fine..lol yeah I prolly just jinxed myself huh?

and this takes us up to now.. so thats it...2009 all done and reet quick too!!! In case I missed anything you can always read back by hitting the month tags down the right side of the main page, feel free.

I'm leaving you with this...



Happy New Year. May 2010 bring only happiness and joy please... we've had enough sadness and tears now ok?

Seriously though.. I dunno what's coming our way but it better be good..lol xx

White Christmas...

Santa came to our house and no one elses this year... well he broke his back carrying all this guff for my lot you see...

sorry 'bout that boys n girls..


I panic bought okay? I do it ever year.. I start out with great intentions.. and I shop early, in fact I start usually in the January sales and in preparation of their (and others) birthdays... only by the time it gets to their birthdays in September and October I've bought way too much and so I pick out some bits and put the rest away until Xmas.. then I forget about the stuff I've put away for Xmas and buy Xmas presents.. then I remember I have a load stashed and get those out too.. then I chastise myself for buying too much and hide the stuff all over the house (and at my Mum's) and forget about it for a little longer and THEN I last minute panic buy cos I haven't bought any presents lately and it'll soon be Xmas and OMG!!! we end up with what you see here.

LOL.. yes I'm shit, I know this... but at least I do not try to hide this fact and in my defence I usually spend about the same amount every year and though it looks like theres a huge amount there, there isnt, it's just stacked to look that way..hehe i'm not fooling anyone am I?

so.. we had smiles...



we had silliness



we had Xmas dresses..


we had a Jedi death match!!!



we had a bunch of greedy little buggers all addicted to xmas pud. how rude...



We had a great time...and now we have a wendy house too... I'll bloody kill my mother for this one..



Merry Xmas. xx

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snoooooooooow!!!

and snow it did.. lots of it. the kids had a blast on Christmas Eve with this lot.. They were throwing it at Grandad John and bulding snow men... Heather particularly likes to eat it.. y'know normal kids stuff.. no yellow bits though ;)

snowman's a bit scary...lol



but this makes me smile...



read on for the Xmas pics!! xx