Birthday request: a Dominos extra large to himself. Then Pikachu cake for dessert. And a little brother who always has to be in on the action. A rare picture of my lads ❤️

Can anyone guess the current deep interest? This isn't all of them - there's another bird one upstairs from one of my friends too. I'm chuffed - that's the summer holidays sorted! 🤣

When he was born, he looked like every person I loved. Phil, my parents, Phil's parents, our siblings, my grandparents. I felt as if, if someone had shown me a photograph of a hundred babies before he was born, I would have picked him out straight away and known him anywhere. My beautiful boy ❤️

I've read this book before and I loved it so much I'm now listening to Christian Coulson reading it and, surprise surprise, am loving it again ❤️

I shouldn't encourage him, but I did laugh at this.

Started this little dude a while ago but haven't had much sewing time recently. But finished my little green woodpecker today. Only one left of my set to do now! #crossstitch #stitchsky

Might share my own version of this post on the DfE Facebook page. A dysregulated child locked in a toilet and an adult banging on the door A woman leaving work and telling her boss she doesn't know when she'll be back A child working doing his Maths at home because it's the only place he feels safe

4yo did a little mini interview at Nursery. His answers are delightful, but this mistake did make me 😬😬😬 from the people who are teaching him early literacy.

4yo got a number of beautiful picture books out of the library today, all of which he chose himself. And this is what he's excited to have as his bedtime book tonight.

It's that time of year again. #SummerReadingChallenge

Let no one say that 9yo and I don't know how to have a good time 👍🏼 Also, 4yo helped us finish and he's actually... very good at these?

9yo announced he'd drawn a picture of Donald Trump this evening. My personal favourite touch is the baseball cap balanced on top of the mad hair. He said 'I was going to write a speech bubble that said "I have a 21 year old girlfriend" but then I thought that might be too old'.

I think this past month has been one of, if not the very, most stressful month of my life.

He wasn't the mascot! He got a paddle, and THEY WON THEIR HEAT!! His little paddling man 🥹

This is an absolutely horrific story. You wouldn't know, looking at the headline, however, that the napping mother was at home, sleeping with her 18 month old, while the father of the child in question, who was three, was awake and outside. Always easier to blame the mother though.

I've now been awake so long I've done tomorrow's Strands and Connections. Little one has a bed now. This feels ridiculous for what is basically now a black eye, but I saw one of the doctors I know from work and she said I'd done the right thing bringing him in.

We live in this hospital now.

I BEG YOUR PARDON The books I buy don't tend to be cheap, but come on now.

I won a prize on the Postcode Lottery - had a look through and could have chosen something for the house but we have everything we need and I thought bugger it, I never treat myself, and got myself some new earrings instead. They arrived today ❤️

This month's masterpiece: I was just practicing and ended up shaping it into a made up road sign for 4yo. The green splodge is supposed to be his initial. Luckily he isn't very discerning 🤣 Lovely to catch up with my lovely Gemma though ❤️ And stabbing things repeatedly was very satisfying.

A bit of a tough read in parts, but this was excellent - even when it made me sad. Might be one to avoid if domestic abuse is a trigger.

Had a nice day today. Ended up going to a garden centre with amazing cakes and the boys bought themselves little veggie plants to grow in pots (cucumber, tomatoes, peppers). Went to a nearby local nature reserve/former quarry and saw a kestrel diving. Chilled and laid back, which is what I needed ❤️

Get a load of this peach melba!

Really enjoyed the audiobook version of this. Joanne Froggatt is excellent and I feel a bit sad it's all over!

I am wearing fleecy pyjamas and the fluffiest socks in the world ❤️ According to my children, I am 'the softest thing ever'. It's a nice thing to be.

Ooooh. She's a beauty 😍

These look foul and they taste even worse.

Took a picture of the back of my head to see how a very messy plait turned out and my God I am so much greyer than I realised.

Very pleased with my Great Spotted Woodpecker. My life is falling to bits around me so I'm sitting sewing 👍🏼 #crossstitch #stitchsky

I've suspected for a while that - no matter how well intentioned my mother-in-law, who is a gorgeous person - my in-laws are absolutely not safe to be left with the care of children. They've had 3 kids in their house all afternoon - 9, 4 & 1 - and I'm very pleased I followed my 4yo into the kitchen