A Thousand Words

A reminder...

2010-01-18T23:35:00.002Z

...that the posts continue at russellandjennie.wordpress.com/

So long, Farewell, auf Widersehen, Goodbye

2010-01-17T22:26:00.001Z

WE ARE MOVING SITE

For one reason and another, we have decided to move our blog. The new address is russellandjennie.wordpress.com. This is the last entry we will be updating here.

Sadly, we have been unable to move all our old posts and photos across. I have managed to rescue the photos for 2010 but nothing earlier. We don't know how long this site will remain active, so this may be your last chance to catch the older posts.

Once again, the new website is russellandjennie.wordpress.com

Branches

2010-01-16T18:42:00.000Z

When I was about 8 (ish - I guess) my granny gave me a camera. It was the first camera I'd ever owned and one of the first pictures I ever took was on the way to school, up through the branches, of the sky. This is an attempt to replicate it.

In fairness, I still prefer the original.

Sister and Brother

2010-01-16T00:20:00.002Z

2010-01-14T23:50:00.000Z

Uncle Jimmy

2010-01-13T22:27:00.002Z

Corridor

2010-01-12T22:01:00.000Z

Youth group hi-jinks

2010-01-11T23:21:00.001Z

Hmmm

2010-01-10T17:29:00.003Z

I wondered around until I found an angle where I was looking at the sunny side of the fountain, with no trees or branches overhanging the view. It wasn't until I had taken the photograph that I realised that it wasn't just sunny, it was also full moon!

Sunset over Loch Tay

2010-01-09T22:25:00.003Z

Four Generations

2010-01-08T23:42:00.000Z

Edinburgh Castle

2010-01-07T20:58:00.002Z

Sunset Through Ice

2010-01-06T20:40:00.003Z

Snowy Benches

2010-01-05T21:19:00.003Z

Sunset

2010-01-04T22:24:00.001Z

Walking on the air

2010-01-03T10:19:00.002Z

Tim (to Kathy): We must do something about that ivy!

Before and After

2010-01-02T22:21:00.003Z

Before

After

This makes the bunks look HUGE. It's just a closer shot.

Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow....

2009-12-23T10:30:00.003Z

(...though if it could avoid snowing on Edinburgh airport for boxing day that would be great, thanks. And limited snowing on any other traveling family would be nice. However, it can snow as much as it likes on Lower London Road as we're staying put!)

Those of you on facebook will have already picked up on my full body work out this morning just heading to nursery. Phil & Ted make a lovely pram with a pretty heart pattern on the tyres which you can see in 3 inches of snow and a basket underneath that makes a great snow plough. Well, not so great on the way to nursery but the push back was easier if I kept to my original tracks (not having Chloe on the pram might have helped too).

If my ability to control the pram this morning, or lack there of, was anything to go by there is no way I'm going out in the car today. I've already watched a van & a taxi loose it on our road so there's no hope for me.

My thought for the day is 'thank god for snowsuits and wellies' now I just need to find some kid's waterproof gloves and we'll be laughing.

Splish, Splash

2009-12-17T20:24:00.002Z

Yes, it's reached that time of year for Isaac already, he had he's first swimming lesson a couple of weeks ago. We're now up to lesson 4 so have reached the dizzingly, co-ordinated heights of underwatering swimming whilst moving backwards. To clarify, Isaac goes underwater and I do the walking backwards - though I know it would be much more impressive if it was the other way round! This is proving to be quite testing of my levels of co-ordination so I'm not looking forward to the week where I have to let go of him underwater whilst walking backwards. Somehow I don't think synchronised swimming is a sport that I will be taking up anytime soon.

Anyway, the whole point of this post was an excuse to post a picture of him in his cute wetsuit, please excuse the screaming face. Because he's quite light the pool is a bit on the cold side for him so I get to borrow a wetsuit each week until I can fatten him up. I'm not sure he likes it but he floats a treat while wearing it!

Girl, you'll be a woman soon

2009-12-17T20:08:00.003Z

I wrote this in early October but never posted it for some reason so here you go:

I always find it weird heading back into student territory in Edinburgh. It feels like I've lived 3 separate lives in this city: student, single (or unmarried) professional and married person. For some reason I struggle when these lives cross, or rather when I venture into the areas where I led these lives.

It only hit home last week when I was taking Isaac for a check up at sick kids (just routine). As I was crossing the street to pass the flat I used to live in I could feel myself getting smaller and smaller. All these fashionable students were passing by looking so sure of themselves and suddenly all my insecurities came flashing back. Obviously the me in my head still views myself as 18 (or younger), which I realise is ridiculous. Think how stupid I felt about feeling small and insignificant when it dawned on me that the 4 week old strapped to my front was completely reliant on me and that the person I was in my student days is long gone and supposedly replaced by a much more confident person. I realise that rather than feeling small I should be walking tall, realising how far I've come and yes, feeling rather smug that I didn't have to go through all the uncertainty that comes with being a student or single or having to share a flat with people who hide their dishes rather than wash them!

Also, who am I to kid myself that I'd pass for someone 15 years younger than I am...

Ch-ch-ch-changes

2009-11-18T21:30:00.005Z

The 'fun' thing about having 3 kids is seeing lots of different stages at once. For the last 2 months I have been tearing my hair out at tea time, when Russell is working late or at bible study, as I realise I'm trying to cover 3 stages unsuccessfully:
a) a baby that needs everything done for him, including a feed time that clashes with bed time
b) a 2 year old that is perfecting the art of tantruming and beating up her big sister
c) a 3 & 3/4 year old who is proding & testing the boundaries whilst letting her little sister beat her up

I've been told,and now confirmed for myself that you can handle 2 of those but 3 is often pushing it, unless your super organised or incredibly calm (not me). Mind you, I don't think I managed any today. Russell came home to find Isaac in bed screaming (supposedly having a nap), Chloe strapped into the high chair on a 5 minute time out (for hurting Naomi in one of her many variety of ways) and Naomi sitting on a step in a time out for not doing as she was told (which would have got her downstairs out of the way of Chloe and therefore not hurt).

What I did realise today though was the other 3 stages they're at:
a) Isaac is cute just for being alive and doing what babies do
b) Chloe is cute without realising it
c) Naomi knows what cute is and desperately tries to make sure she is

The following is a typical conversation in our household just now:

Russell - Chloe, you're cute
Chloe - I no cute, I Chloe
Isaac - gurgle, gurgle
Russell - Jennie,did I tell you you're cute when you're angry
Jennie - grrrrrrrr
Isaac - coo, coo
Russell - Chloe, you're cute
Chloe - I no cute, I angry
Naomi - tell me I'm cute
Jennie - Naomi, you're cute
Naomi - I'm not cute, I'm cute
Chloe - I monkey
Isaac - ooh

After a night like that these are my favourite type of pictures:

Paint It Black

2009-10-23T23:09:00.006+01:00

For Chloe's birthday Naomi bought her some finger paints. I have to admit that I succumbed to the image portrayed. I mean, look at it, can't you just see Chloe sweetly painting like that. In my mind's eye she was painting blobs with her fingers in bold colours whereas Naomi was drawing little stick people and faces and maybe even a bus. Yeah right!

What we actually got was this:

and this:

Not exactly as pictured on the box. Do you think I could get a refund? By the end of the (long) 15 minutes that I coped with it, Chloe's paper was so sodden with paint that I couldn't peel it off the table without it ripping. They did however enjoy pushing all the paint around and, in Chloe's case, banging her hands down on her paint soaked paper while giggling hysterically (I'm sure I'll look back on it with fondness once I forget about scrubbing the paint off of the walls)

Things I learnt:
- breastfeeding Isaac while supervising painting does not work
- the girls never do anything cleanly
- the messier it is the more fun it is
- there is a reason we send them to nursery.....

Just a quicky

2009-09-29T22:32:00.005+01:00

We have received an email from Naomi and Chloe's nursery. The full text is generally boring, but I thought you would all benefit from the following paragraph:

Could we please ask that you ensure your child is bringing in lots of warm clothes, willies, hat, scarf etc as the weather is starting to get colder and we all still want to be able to enjoy the outdoors. Please feel free to leave a bag with these items on your child’s peg if you prefer.

Well, it made us laugh. Sorry it's been so long since we last posted; more soon.

We Are Family...

2009-03-25T14:10:00.003Z

I finally got a nice picture of the 2 of them, though admittedly I took it on my phone so it's not very good quality.

Note that they are:
a) both looking in vaguely the same direction
b) they are not pulling each other's hair
c) Chloe is not biting Naomi
d) Naomi is not pushing Chloe
e) they are both almost smiling
f) both looking like they need their fringes cut

I would say it has taken me about a year to get this photo and I think the secret to success was the Thomas the Tank Engine they are sitting in and the packet of crisps they each have to eat in the car (why does Abington services not do normal size packets of crisps?)

Three Reasons I Love My Wife

2009-03-11T18:30:00.004Z

NUMBER ONE

NUMBER 2

NUMBER 3

I'm not sure that I need to say any more than that, really. Due 9-9-9 which would be a great date of birth if it happens. It's going to be a boy or a girl, but not both, because there's only one in there.