Secrets aren't safe

Siblings aren't great at keeping secrets from each other. Whether it's their lack of self-awareness (Angus and Rowan) or their bloody-mindedness in getting one up on the others (Finn), they are pretty hopeless. I took Finn and Angus swimming last week after work, to Loanhead, and bought them chips afterwards. "Don't say to anyone you got chips for supper", I cautioned. On our return, in storms Angus. "We got chips!" he immediately bellowed, tomato ketchup smeared across his face and greasy fingers waving in the air. Yesterday, since Sharon was going to a boat club barbecue, taking Sean and Angus, I agreed to Finn's request to go swimming with Rowan. "But don't say anything to your brothers," I warned. Down the stairs stomps Rowan, having fully changed into sun top and trunks. Had he been wearing a snorkel, flippers and a duck-shaped rubber ring, he couldn't have been more obvious! "Why is Rowan wearing his swimming stuff?" queried Angus as I bundled them out the door.

Sharon has enjoyed being back on the water in her few rows so far, although yesterday was rather windy and trying to organise a new crew was testing her patience. Finn also tested her patience on Saturday morning as she took him and Sean on their first 5k, a Park Run along the prom from Crammond. Megan and Freya were running with Gordon, the Barnes being up on a weekend visit. Sean managed his in 36 minutes and didn't stop once, which was a very good effort. Finn was in one of his more negative moods but did eventually complete the course. I met them with the wee two who resumed their swimming lessons on Saturday morning.

The Barnes girls came round on Friday afternoon and evening for a play and dinner, and Megan stayed over, much to the boys' delight. Sean had earlier proclaimed that "people from abroad and other places, like the Barries and the Kavanaghs and the Barnes are our real friends, more than the people from school" which reflects what a good time they've had over the summer, meeting others and playing amongst themselves, rather than seeking out their peers from school. We do tell them they are fortunate to have each other, but sometimes it can stop them making an effort to make friendships with others that they know through school and other activities, so they have to strike a balance.

Heavy showers have been a feature over the last while and Saturday was no different. Late in the afternoon, with Sharon at her Book Group afternoon tea, after the showers had cleared, I made a picnic tea and drove the boys down to Innerleithen, eventually locating the Golf Club by the river. Despite Angus's vocal dissent, we went for a walk up a forest path and down the deserted golf course, spotting some oystercatchers picking their way along the fairway. Dodging the showers, we drove further up the valley and parked by the river on one of the spots evidently used by wild campers. There we sat in a ring and ate our pasta and chicken sticks, in glorious peace and quiet (if Angus and Rowan would ever stop talking), until the dark clouds crept over the hill and the rain threatened once more. We timed it well! It made a nice change going for a picnic tea instead of a picnic lunch and the view north across the Lothians as we descended from the Lammermuirs was spectacular.

As well as completing some very good "kneeling dives" at Wester Hailes pool yesterday, Rowan also made an improvement on his cycling. He has been moaning, in inimitable Rowan, petted-lip fashion, that he doesn't have a talent (for sport) so we were encouraging him that cycling might be that talent. I put new pedals on the old silver bike and started wheeling him round the back grass, eventually giving him a shove to get him going. He did well on several attempts, travelling a good ten yards and braking to avoid collision with the trees or hedge. The next step is to get him out on a wider expanse of grass so he can go further, but he was pleased with his efforts.

The boys are back

On arriving back from the airport with Sharon yesterday evening, we had a wonderful reception at the front door. In the half hour I'd been away to collect Sharon after her conference in Birmingham, the boys had arrived home with Nana and Papa after "their best holiday ever". Angus was standing on the front step, already in his favourite fleecy sleepsuit despite the heat (he saw it on return and just had to put it on) and beaming from ear to ear as we pulled into the drive.

Sean wasn't far behind, launching into a big hug, while Rowan and Finn were a tangle of limbs around Sharon at the foot of the stairs. It was nearly a week since Sharon left Ireland and almost a fortnight since I bade them farewell in New Ross and suddenly the peace was shattered and the house was alive once more with shrill, excited voices.

Calming them down a little with showers and pizza (even though it was half past nine), we were regaled with tales of swimming in Lough Rea with Tricia's kids (Sean being re-united with Diarmuid with whom he used to play when just a toddler and Tricia and Barry lived in Edinburgh), making their own wooden "Skog people" with Adrian (Finn has even made his own V-shaped thumb and nostril "plug" to try and wean himself off the thumb-sucking!), boogie-boarding down at Fenit and just generally having a great time with their aunts and uncle. Nana and Papa weren't getting much of a look-in other than putting food on the table and getting them off to bed. Having been imploring Sharon not to leave last week, Angus had been saying he didn't want to leave Ireland but "wanted to go and stay in someone else's house". He was crying for his cousin Barry going to bed.

The boys travelled all round Ireland, made new friends, spent time with family, enjoyed fantastic weather, ate enough "ice pops" to cool a small village and just had a wonderful three weeks' holiday! It's only when I got up this morning and saw them all together in Sean and Finn's room that I realised how many children we have!

Tuam visit

On Thursday we made the trip west to Tuam, stopping in to see Granny Coen in her nursing home. The boys were relatively well behaved, but marshalling them in an environment of very elderly and frail people is always a bit fraught. From there we went to Annette and Frank's for a splendid lunch in their new kitchen and conservatory. Sean, Rowan, Angus and I had a good play in the garden with a ball. Rowan came off worse in a few tussles for the ball, leading him to parrot my phrase "Don't go in for a 50-50 ball with Angus", his younger brother being fully committed to the play! We dropped in to TJ's to see Ursula and her latest arrival. TJ and Kitty's big new house ("This is a mansion!" proclaimed Rowan) built on the site of Uncle Bill Burns' land was packed full of children and our boys were packed full of lunch, so they rather sedately watched TV. Angus went exploring though and found the duck pond, through the other side of Uncle Bill's old house, now renovated and extended as TJ's office and sheep tag production facility.

Next we drove down to Cortoon, to the graveyard, to visit a number of the family graves. Sharon was speaking of Granny Mary Gormley and Joe and Uncle Bill and Gabrielle when Rowan got very tearful and sad, so sad in fact that, as we were tidying up Billy's grave, he was insisting on leaving Pooh Bear there, in between howling sobs. Maybe he's just getting the "death is permanent" thing but he was inconsolable on the way back to the car, until his hysterics started to become funny, they were so ridiculous. We calmed him down in time for our (late) arrival at Rosarie and Pat Flatleys' for dinner. They have a quieter house now that all five children have moved on. It was good to see them and tuck into our second big meal of the day while the boys played down the hall.

We returned to Athlone after a long day on the road to Galway, tired but having enjoyed a day of visiting.

A sleepy little town

I was long overdue a visit west so I headed off on Friday with Rowan and Angus in tow, after the usual morning spent packing, to see Dorothy in Paisley en route to heading over to Millport. Dorothy was looking well, having passed her 80th birthday last year. Rowan and Angus were suitably well behaved, although Angus did nearly knock Dorothy over when he rushed at her as we were saying goodbye after a walk across Brodie Park to the playpark. Rowan was delighted to discover Dorothy's Nintendo DS. That kept him occupied for half the visit!

We did a brief tour around Glenburn by car. The last of the tenements have now been removed from Grampian Avenue meaning that the landscape of my childhood is now a very odd one, with strings of terraced houses separated by broad green spaces. At least they have grassed over the gap sites but it is fascinating to see the path from Skye Cresecent shops standing in isolation where once it cut between tenements and lock-ups. I asked Rowan if he would find it strange to come back to Swanston Terrace with his children to point it out to them, but that someone else would be living there. I could see him coming to terms with the idea until he gave one of his sage nods and agreed "that would be weird."

It was chilly on the ferry across from Largs to the Cumbrae Slip. Angus was excited as we docked and the door laid down to let us drive on to the island. We came over Ferry Road which affords a lovely view down over Millport to the Wee Cumbrae and beyond to Bute and Arran. Dusk was approaching as we arrived at our rented flat, 24 Stuart Street, top floor above the Ritz Cafe. Having lugged the stuff up the stairs (the wee two aren't renowned for their ability to shift baggage, although Angus can manage a fair weight in his muckle paws) we went for an evening stroll along the deserted prom and threw some stones in the sea at Newton Beach. There was some snow clinging to the slopes of Arran's mountains and the profile of the Wee Cumbrae was as familiar as ever.

After dinner and telly I finally settled the boys down. They were sharing a double bed while I was in a sleeping bag on the bed settee. Millport was like a ghost town, a fact echoed by the lonely caterwaulings from the George Hotel karaoke as the evening wore on. Saturday dawned grey and grim, with the last remains of a band of rain lingering over the Firth of Clyde and a stiff breeze blowing. We had a late breakfast, watched the seals on the Eileans through the binoculars, then eventually wrapped up and battled our way along the sea front to Kames Bay. The boys ran about the crazy golf, were curious about the Crocodile Rock and had to be warned off the rocks which were slick with algae and rain. We cut back along the back streets "It's a sleepy little town" declared Rowan. He decided that one dwelling "looked like a vampire house" just before a curious wailing rose on the air from it. Rowan's eyes widened and we scuttled on!

After lunch we walked round to West Bay to see May and James. Alison was there too. I hadn't see her since Dad's funeral, over sixteen years ago. May broke a couple of ribs last week but is still looking well and James still has his spark of humour despite being pretty much housebound these days. He's getting more deaf and his lungs and heart aren't great but he still had a smile on his face. Rowan read most of the time but then he and Angus took to wrestling on the carpet in the hall which was not conducive to a lengthy visit.

Fortunately they had a diversion just a few doors away. The Best girls, Emily and Rachel, were staying with their gran, Lorna, at number 15. Rachel is in Rowan's class at school and Finn is in the same class as Emily. It was dry overhead but still overcast, damp and cold, but the boys and girls had a great time playing in the West Bay play park. We went inside for some indoors play while I had a cup of tea and a chat with Lorna. Angus and Emily went down to the little beach then the girls showed the boys an old World War II cannon on the edge of the playing field. By now, Rowan was running about without a coat on, despite it being cold. It was an enjoyable afternoon with no rush to go anywhere or do anything other than play.

As it started to get dark we bade our farewells and walked back round to our flat for tea and telly. Angus was much quicker to get to sleep after a day of fresh air and no naps! Rowan continued his reading rampage, piling through Beast Quest books at a rate of one an hour or quicker. It's great to see.

Sunday morning was a marked contrast to Saturday, the sun dancing on the sea as the tide began to recede from its dawn high water mark. The flat we were in had a lovely view across the Eileans in the bay to Hunterston (well, power stations do spoil a view somewhat) and down to Portencross. The chairs by the window were just the spot for a leisurely cup of tea. I packed up and washed up then we went a short distance to the rocks below the crazy golf. Rowan impressed by climbing the four to five metre wall that I once froze on as a teenager (I climbed it before Rowan, just to prove to myself I still could!) then, as I was taking a photo of him, I felt my feet slipping away on the rock. I tried to re-adjust but had to step on to wetter rocks and more seaweed. My legs went from under me and I sprawled on my back. I was fortunate that I landed on a flat, but damp, rock. How I didn't break my camera, my wrist or crack my head or damage my back I don't know, although I suspect I did sprain a thumb as my hand is rather tender today.

We packed the last of the gear in the car, the boys had an ice lolly from the Ritz Cafe, we wandered around the block and up the Old Pier, then got in the car. I drove the long way round to the ferry, up the west coast of Greater Cumbrae with its views across to Kilchattan Bay, Arran and Kintyre beyond. Rowan was disappointed not to see Indian Rock (I think it was overgrown) but was singing lots of songs about Pooh Bear and was in a great mood. Angus was also pretty lively. I think they enjoyed their "venture" as Angus called it. We missed the 3.30 sailing so I drove up to the Glaid Stane at the top of the island. It's a fine point from which to view the Firth of Clyde: north to Inverkip and the Holy Loch and Kyles of Bute and south to the Wee Cumbrae and Arran.

From there we were homeward bound, crossing on the 4pm ferry and arriving home at 5.45pm in time for tea. A great wee break "doon ra' wattir!"

Trick or treat

Sean was desperately excited about Hallowe'en. It's probably a combination of the clocks going back, the proximity of his birthday, the chance to go out in the dark with his friends but, most importantly, the prospect of a load of sweets that really winds him up. He has a devilishly sweet tooth that boy. Sharon did the needful, in terms of getting them dressed up and made up. To quote her: I may not have daughters but boys can certainly display diva tendencies! Bloody costumes and face painting for trick or treating! I am not nor ever have been a make-up artist, but that fact is lost on my Divas! And I heard Rowan say to Finn "... And that will complete the look"!!! All good fun though! Finn was dressed as a vampire and said he was going to go round the houses saying "No blood please, I'm vegetarian!" Typical of Finn's sense humour. Sean said his black "ninja" face paint wasn't "intense" enough. Rowan changed his mind and his outfit 20 times, and it was Angus' first time trick or treating - the poor lamb burst into tears and wanted to go home. Ro was unimpressed as he realised this would restrict his sweetie haul!

Sharon took the wee two round a few houses in the street, Angus, dressed as a spider, hiding in her skirts and being shy while the bold Rowan took the lead. Sean went out with friends around Swanston and Finn likewise did a tour of the houses with his school mates, seeing many other Pentland faces in disguise on the way. The rains of earlier in the day had cleared so it was a fair enough evening for them to be out. All seemed to enjoy themselves and, more importantly, were delighted with their bounty. The sweet ration card will need to be played over the next few weeks.

Sean has been continuing with his gymanstics and was part of a Lothian Gymnastics Club display at Ladywood Leisure Centre last Saturday. He's at the point he seems to get to with all his activities where he starts swithering about whether he wants to continue. Dedication and ambition don't seem high on his list at his age. His natural ability gets him so far but he doesn't maybe appreciate the effort that goes into learning the basics to the point that they become automatic. He gets very enthusiastic for a while but that starts to wane as something else catches his eye (for example, baking). Rowan has joined him at a lunchtime gym class at the school and seems to be enjoying it. He would have the ideal wiry build and explosive energy for gymnastics but getting him to hold a pose or stretch might be a challenge. He was enthusiastically telling us about a visit to the school from Shauna Mullin, who was part of Team GB's beach volleyball pair at this year's Olympics. Rowan said he was asking a lot of questions, which I could well believe!

Finn has given up swimming lessons, as he can swim well enough to satisfy us and is probably a better swimmer than Sean if they go head to head. But don't tell Sean that.

The Barnes were up north for an extended mid term break and we had the pleasure of their company on Sunday. It was good to see the Wallace boys and the Barnes girls getting on. Angus admitted that Innes was his girlfriend. Sharon was laid up, however, with a very sore knee, exact cause unknown. She had felt it getting sore the day before at the Pampered Chef Autumn Rally and we were out at a wedding at the Mansion House at the Zoo on the Saturday night, at which she had a wee jig, so she may have damaged some ligaments. It has slowly improved as the week has gone on but I wouldn't trust her to survive doing the twist.

Trip advisor

The incentive trip to Dubai is growing ever nearer. Sharon has been increasingly giddy, debating the wardrobe and travel plans and keeping tabs on the temperature. It's fair to say it's going to be a tad warmer than here. As I write, the rain is battering down again on another cold and miserable May evening. Driest March on record, near enough, followed by the wettest April. Somehow I've managed to get two games of cricket in so far but it has been unpleasantly chilly.

Sean is really enjoying his gymnastics class and is doing his best to improve his flexibility. He's not far off doing the splits! The P5 show this year is on a Greek gods and Olympics theme. Sean has been practising hard but was distraught when Sharon told him she wouldn't be able to go. The date for the show was moved to a date that clashes with a meeting Sharon has down south.

Rowan has been along to his Tae Kwon Do class a couple of times now and looks fantastic in his outfit. His smile lights up the room when he's all dressed up. If he can concentrate on what he's being taught, this is something I think he could be good at. He lost golden time at school last week once more, for not behaving at Assembly. Getting Rowan to sit still and listen is never going to be an easy task. I only hope it doesn't count against him as, apart from that, his reading and number work and writing and drawing are coming on very well.

Angus had his hair cut last week. It's made him look like a real Coen, especially when he smiles. He's worked through the terrible twos but can still be very demanding on an off day and very determined to do things his way. The potty training isn't going particularly well. There are good days and bad days but he's generally too late in letting us know that things have gone awry.

Finn continues to confound. Getting him to do his homework can quickly escalate into a battle of wills. Trying to understand why he feels and acts the way he does is very frustrating. He's still getting regular night terrors, usually in the evening but sometimes Sharon has to get up to him in the night too.

Adrian was over at the weekend. "Uncle Aidy" was the centre of attention from all the boys and he started a Lego revival in the house. Given the weather outside it's just as well the boys have found something other than the iPods and DS to entertain them indoors.

Blooming March

The boys finished up school for the Easter holidays on Friday just as the run of fantastic March weather is set to run out. They were able to enjoy a post-school picnic with their pals in Fairmile Park, disappearing off to their gang-den in the woods, after a last morning of doing not much. Rowan missed out on golden time though, held over from last week. He had hit someone and pushed someone else over in two separate incidents which didn't leave Mrs. Cooke much option but to deprive him of golden time. That's more than his two bigger brothers have lost in all their time at school. he seems to be going through a testosterone burst or something at the moment because he gets very wild and finds it difficult to calm down or do what he's asked. Not that Finn helps matters as he usually is the source of provocation - and Rowan always rises to the bait.

Aside from his behaviour, Mrs. Cooke reported that Rowan's reading is excellent and he is doing very well with his numbers and his drawing has come on a long way too. She has to keep an eye on him in case he finds a book that he hasn't read as he starts reading that instead of doing what he is supposed to do. But his report was very good overall.

It was a bit colder and damper on Saturday after more than a week of eating out on the patio and watching the garden come to life in the unseasonable warmth. Sean and Finn went to golf while I took Angus for a swim at Loanhead. He was in fine form in his blue suit with the built-in floats, far better than armbands, as he took to going down the elephant slide into the big pool and then kicking and paddling his own way back to the side before heaving himself out the water. "My do it myself!" He was tired afterwards though. Sharon took Rowan round the food shops as she was spending the rest of the day cooking for the Dubai dinner for the trip achievers. I went with Sean to the Scottish Golf Show at in Ingliston in the afternoon. As with Angus, it was nice to spend time with just one of the boys. Sean was moderately interested in the stalls and events, but still not showing any real signs of enthusiasm for the sport. I had a go at a putting competition and bought some vouchers for golf and driving range time. We had our photo taken with the Ryder Cup! Sean was reluctant because he was nervous but I convinced him that he'd look back in many years' time and, just like Finn with the Olympic Torch, would realise that it was an opportunity that you just don't get to be that near to such an iconic trophy.

Sharon cooked a fine spread of "Terrific Pacific" (our favourite cookbook) salads and main courses for the ten of us sitting down to dinner. It was very much enjoyed and appreciated by all. It was a late finish, especially for Sharon, who was up early on Sunday to drive to the airport with a selection of pyjama-clad boys to greet Olivia and her boyfriend Jesus. Palm Sunday and Jesus was riding into our house. At least it was in a car and not on a donkey. He's from a village near Pamplona in northern Spain and the boys were very excited about him coming over. Adrian is in Glasgow at the moment so he drove over too. After a lazy lunch we headed to Vogrie Park. The sun had returned and it was very busy with families. We had a gentle stroll down to the playpark, some ice lollies and then a stroll back again. I made a quick tea for the boys then played football with them while Sharon went for a run before cooking hake for us and Olivia and Jesus. A long, tiring, but very rewarding family weekend!

W411 ACE

On the way home yesterday, I was briefly behind a black mini with the numberplate W411ACE. So it does exist!

Sean was lucky to get to go to the cinema with Finn on Saturday. He was on a digital ban after Sharon caught him pinching wads of her paper to take into school. All the boys have been increasingly hard work since the term has started and the renewed influence of their peers and the rebellion against doing anything other than play during their free time takes hold. The riot act has been read and they have a timetable-cum-checklist that they need to review each morning instead of standing at the door saying "Where's my blah?" or "I need blah-blah" or "I've left my blah-blah-blah at school."

Angus has been playing off the others and is a nuisance at mealtimes, forever standing in his chair and refusing to use his cutlery when he is eating. Him and Rowan have had various spats, as have Rowan and Finn, with the latter constantly winding up the former, leading to keening wails and yells at all times of the day. Finn then loses the plot when he is told off. Admittedly, Rowan wades in at times and Finn is only standing his ground but the squabbling and bickering gets tiresome.

Rowan is starting to learn his letters and form words using the letters from his bag. T-A-P were the first three, followed by I-N and now M-S. He likes it when he can form or read a word but we'll need to work with him more to get him into the way of concentrating and learning and not just playing all the time. Sean needs to work on his times-tables: he hasn't progressed at all since last year. Finn's reading is still good, but he just will not read for pleasure. When barred from doing anything else, Sean will always turn to a book (even if he keeps re-reading the Harry Potters just now, rather than turn to something new) whereas Finn will just flounce around protesting that he is bored, then start teasing Rowan for entertainment. Rowan always rises to the bait.

Finn restarted Beavers on Monday ("I don't want to go to Beavers!" "Why?" "I just don't!" "What is it about Beavers you don't like" "I just don't want to go!" This is a sample of a typical conversation with Finn) and seemed to enjoy it. Sean was back at Cubs last week and swimming lessons ("I don't want to go to swimming lessons!") and golf lessons (ditto) have restarted too. The wild weather has continued as the tail-end of Hurricane Katia swept through on Monday, uprooting one of the trees in the Meadows but leaving our house relatively unscathed. What was a poor summer is segueing into an early autumn. At least the winds saved us the job of picking the plums off the tree. The boys picked up the windfall. Angus has eaten too many of them. As Rowan said this morning, "Angus, your mappies are a disgrace!"

Teenagers in making

The boys were finally back to school last week, but only briefly as they had Friday off for the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton and are off on Monday for another holiday. Throw in next Thursday's Scottish Parliament elections and they hardly seem to have spent any time in school in the last month. And that's on top of losing a week back in Decemner thanks to the snow.

At least the weather has been fine and warm so we've been able to take advantage by sitting out on the bench behind the conservatory after tea while Sean diligently waters the plants in the recently cleared bed and the rest rather less diligently water each other.

Finn, with his keen eye for fashion, was the most interested in watching the Royal Wedding. With Osama Bin Laden having finally been hunted down and both Sharon and I due in the Big Smoke in the next couple of weeks, I was keener to see what levels of security were being applied.

Finn has been very emotional at the moment. He seems determined to ignore whatever we ask him to do, just carrying on doing whatever pleases him then gets very upset when we give him a row. It's an attitude that is spreading to his brothers too. With Sean it's most noticeable after he's spent an extended period with his school pals. Rowan has always been a trial when it comes to paying attention and doing what he is asked and now Angus is blossoming into the terrible twos. He throws mighty tantrums which, combined with his strength, can lead to quite a battle if he is not getting his way. Unlike the others at that age, he is quite prepared to help himself to food too. Sharon often finds him with cheese off the counter or ice lollies from the freezer, typically with teeth marks where he has tried to bite through the plastic wrapper. And he decimates the fruit bowl when the fancy takes him, throwing a massive wobbly if he's told no.

Roll on the teenage years...

Largs jaunt

It's the Easter holidays. I can't believe it's a year since we were in Mallorca. The boys keep asking when we are going back. Rowan especially seems to have fond memories. This year it's rather less exotic - Largs. Once again the Wilsons kindly offered their house while they're away so we took the chance to nip through to the west coast for a few days. Unfortunately the great weather broke and we had a rather wild and windy time, none more so than when we battled the short distance on foot to the swimming pool, now part of the rather bizarre Vikingar attraction. Given that the Vikings never actually occupied Largs, and merely landed to recover ships, men and cargo that had run aground in a storm in 1263 (see more here) Largs has made good mileage out of its tenuous Viking connection.

We enjoyed a good lunch in Nardini's, preferring Tony Macaroni's restaurant at the rear to the rather busy cafe to the front. Needless to say the boys tucked into their ice-creams, apart from Rowan, who has declared that he doesn't really like ice-cream. It can't be a sensitive teeth issue because he likes ice-lollies. The boys had great fun playing on the scooters belonging to the Wilson children. There was one with gammy wheels though which inevitably led to squabbles over whose turn it was to get the good ones. On a walk back from the playpark at the Broomfields I had to stagger the turns so that two were scooting and one was walking.

After a good few years I finally had a round of putting on the Mackerston putting green with one of my own children. It was a mainstay of any trip to Largs: a round of putting with Dad and maybe Uncle Hugh if the Bairds were down too. I was explaining to Sean how there were four sets of 18 holes. The white was preferred, as it was the outermost circuit and therefore the longest. More bang for your putt! The blue was the inner one and therefore the shortest. The other circuits had red and yellow pins. It's not quite in the condition it used to be in but it was still enjoyable playing Sean nonetheless.

Sharon kept up her running regime with a run out to the Pencil whereas I contented myself with walks, reacquainting myself with some of Largs' back streets. Finn finally lost his first big top tooth after much wobbling and a helping yank from Sharon. So he's looking ever more the cheeky wee boy . We were delighted that James and May were able to drop in for a brief visit on their way back from a hospital appointment for James at Inverclyde. He's much better than he was last year. He'll be 86 this midsummer. May has given up the bowls as she was finding they just weren't rolling as far as they used to! It was good to see them both and they were obviously pleased to see the boys, James especially as he sees the continuation of the Wallace line.

Sharon took the big three up to Greenock to the cinema. It was Rowan's big screen debut and he passed the test without howling that it was too loud and dark and all the other complaints Sean and Finn made on their first visits to theatres and cinemas. They went to see Hop! which the boys seemed to enjoy but Sharon rated as pretty poor. Apart from that Sharon and I enjoyed some peace and quiet, reading books and looking out to Cumbrae at the ever changing seascape. Weather apart, it was a good few days.

Divide and conquer

Sharon had the pleasure of taking "the wee two" as they are known in our house, Rowan and Angus, to Tralee for Barry's christening. Sean and Finn ("the big two") stayed at home with me. We decided it wasn't feasible for us all to travel to the south-west of Ireland for a long weekend and as Sean and Finn had been to London last October Sharon elected to take Rowan and Angus.

Rowan was as excitable as ever and announced loudly to Sharon and the whole plane on take-off, "I love flying. It makes my willy go all tingly!" Angus, nearing the end of his "infant" status, was a bit of a handful for Sharon, sitting in her lap. The boys were great all the way down to Tralee, Adrian picking them up at Dublin and doing the drive.

Angus was very affectionate with his little cousin, giving him lots of cuddles. Rowan was just wired and dangerous, running about like a mad thing and enjoying the attention, not to say the odd treat slipped his way in the O'Sullivan's shop. Barry was placid during the christening and Ro and Angus worked up a fine sweat at the party afterwards. Angus has started calling Rowan "ro-ro" and managed a "babi" before the weekend was out.

Meanwhile, back in Edinburgh, I took Sean and Finn swimming at Livingston (Finn and I had a sneaky evening swim on the Thursday at Gracemount while Sean was at cubs - Finn really enjoyed that) followed by a noodly lunch at Wagamama's. We also went to see the new Disney film, Entangled, at the cinema at Ocean Terminal, which was enjoyable. The big two were too weary to eat out afterwards though. We had to quit Lauriston Farm Inn after ordering drinks and just head home.

So we all had a good weekend, albeit in different countries, and everyone was happy to get together again at Edinburgh Airport on the Sunday afternoon!

Take your partner

The snow and ice has returned with a vengeance for Christmas. It snowed fairly heavily last Saturday and Sunday and then froze hard. The temperature hasn't been above freezing since and it seems likely to stay that way until the New Year. We're back to taking forever to get the boys dressed to go out, de-icing the outside and inside of the cars, skittering about on the roads and ploughing through grit and dirty ice wherever we walk.

Angus is getting cold very quickly when he's out, as is Rowan, so our outdoor activities are curtailed to gettig children to and from school and nursery. I'm starting to get a red ring round my legs from my wellies. Didn't Billy Connolly have a joke about that: you could always tell poor people who couldn't afford shoes from the welly marks on their legs.

We did have a lovely afternoon on Sunday, up the road at the Powers' house. There was a few neighbours in but we hung around after so the kids could have a good play. Angus was funny, picking up olives from a dish, licking them (maybe in the hope that there might just be a grape in amongst the salty trove) and then feeding either me or Sharon. He had a ball, wandering about and sampling food.

Sean had the best time though, having discovered a more than able dance partner in Jessica. Rather than have to put up with the wriggling Rowan and drag, lift and throw him about, Sean had someone he could work with on moves, lifts and choreography! They extended their routine throughout the afternoon until their show was ready, at which point both sets of parents were invited to view and mark. Tens all round! It was great to see Sean really enjoy something. He can be very graceful in his movements, more so than his brothers, and he has loved dancing since he was little and first realised he could twirl a kilt. We're trying to persuade him to go to a dance class with Jessica but he is reticent.

Also on dance, the Strictly final was held on Saturday night. Sean and Finn both watched and voted and then watched the recorded results on Sunday morning with Sharon who had been out at her Book Group Christmas night out the day before. It was a very good final with Sean's pick, Kara and Artem winning. We'll have to fill the Saturday night gap with something else now.

Things that could be forgotten

There are so many little stories and things that happen which are really lovely, funny, sweet, endearing and in the general pel-mel of the life of a family of six get forgotten.

Driving home from nursery one day, Rowan asks, (I was driving, by the way, he was in the back!) "When are we going to Egypt?". I replied wondering why he wanted to go to Egypt of all places, and his response was "I need to see the pyramids". Although in Ro-speak, that is "puuh-a-mids". I wonder how his mind works, he has a fantastic memory. It was last year in P3 Sean was doing a project on Egypt and they were all talking about it then. What brought it back to the front of his mind again?

Angus is a howl. This morning he helped Ian empty the dishwasher. Thankfully, he no longer feels the need to lick every bit of cutlery before he flings it into the cutlery drawer! If he finds clothing left lying on the hall floor, or a teatowel in the kitchen, quite often that gets flung into the washing machine! He has been caught trying to climb onto the toilet, climb across the kitchen table, etc. He is renowned for dragging a chair over to the counter, climbing up and helping himself to whatever fruit he likes out of the fruit bowl. The number of times you will find 3 or 4 apples or pears, each with a little bite gone out of them. Last week, he was upstairs helping me hang a wash up, and spotted a spider crossing the carpet. After many pokes at it, he managed to pull a couple of the wee spiders legs off. And then lost interest. Or so I thought!  Having resumed the task in hand, I turned around again to find Angus licking the dead spider off the carpet! Delicious, no doubt! Eeeuuugh, as Finn would say.

It is great to see Finn taking an interest in reading books himself now. Sean was such an avid reader, and we had hoped Finn would enjoy reading too. He is currently on the Magic Faraway Tree, and he reads with such great expression and intonation, I could listen to him all day. The arrival of his salopettes, courtesy of TKMax, allowed great fun to be had sliding down the once pile of snow at school, now solid block of ice - a mini Pentland glacier, in which the kids seem to have fashioned their own slide. To say they were filthy within days is an understatement!

Sean is growing up and maturing in front of our very own eyes. His vocabulary seems to have come on, and some of the words he comes out with will make me stop and take note. How many more "believing" Christmases will he have? Some of his pals know already and are sworn to silence. The delight on their faces when they got their PNP video messages from Santa was fantastic.

I am looking forward to lots of family time together over the Christmas with Ian off between Christmas and NY. Its a shame we are that bit too far from Ardilaun and the rest of the family across the water, I miss them terribly this time of year. Funny how after 17 years here, I still get homesick. But its homesick for the people, more than the place. They are where the heart is.

You have to laugh!

Rowan. Rowan Patrick Wallace. Incorrigible, beyond a doubt. His comment today as I dried him and dressed him after swimming - "Mum, I did really well today, and I NEVER did a wee in the pool at all!"

A couple of weeks ago, he was talking about the twins at nursery and those at pre-school and asked me "Please Mum can I have a twin? I'd like to be a twin sister."

Last night, Sean, Finn and Ro sitting at the coffee table, inhaling a large bowl of popcorn, watching the Strictly Come Dancing results show which we'd taped (taped technically isn't the right word, is it, when you V+ something!), and sighed and said "This is the life!" Simple pleasures, my son, simple pleasures, that's what it's all about.

Busy boys

Finn was invested in the Beavers last night. He has been going since starting P2 and, despite vowing never to return after his first night there, has subsequently really enjoyed it. He won the Beaver of the Week trophy a few weeks back and was one of the two best-behaved beavers over the term, receiving a balsa wood helicopter as a prize. Shame he can't translate that behaviour into the house, where he has been very disobedient and downright disagreeable at times. Whether there is a negative effect from being in a bigger P2 class (30 compared to 20 or so in P1) is hard to say.

Sean and Finn received their Level 7 trampolining certificates last week. Finn demonstrated his front flop and Sean did a flip, from an all fours position on to his back then back to his feet. Sean has also started skiing lessons at Hillend with predictable fulminating about how it's too hard, but he's with a load of his school pals and enjoying it really.

September has been a party season for Finn with events every weekend. Sean's 8th birthday party was the subject of much debate but we seem to have settled on having a few of his friends round here.

Rowan has been competing with Finn for any disobediency awards going in the house, forever wailing and throwing the lip when he is asked to do something he doesn't want to do. He works the cheeky dimples with other people but they only go so far with us so he generally cuts to the tantrum when the TV goes off or he's asked (repeatedly) to get his jammies on or shoes on or coat on...

Angus is stomping about with increasing certainty, regularly emptying cupboards, devouring toothpaste and leaving a trail of mess throughout the house. Usually he picks up things and carries them about until he sees something else that takes his fancy at which point he drops the first items and moves on. This continues until the contents of the playroom, his room, his brothers' rooms and the kitchen are homogenized throughout the house. Lately he has taken pleasure in blowing a football-shaped whistle with gusto, just in case the house wasn't noisy enough. He's now a keen reader of the baby sign books and is making good progress with some of the signs. Not surprisingly, like his brothers before him, "more" seems to be the sign he's readily adopted when seated at the kitchen table.

My boys

Each night we go up to check on the boys before bedtime, and they never know or notice it (as a rule). Looking at them tonight, I was thinking about when they were just a wish, and the wish became a dream, and the dream became a bump, and the bump became a newborn. And before you know it, they are these children stretched out on a bed fast asleep, unable to keep the duvet over them for warmth, and you know just what it means to love someone wholeheartedly, unconditionally.

It sometimes staggers me. I hope one day my boys will read this (will the Internet be a thing of the past then?) and understand as a parent how much they are loved as children.

Leaving Las Vegas

Sharon will shortly be leaving Las Vegas, hopefully not dressed in an Elvis jump suit and parachuting from a plane. We've all missed her this week. She's been away on a Pampered Chef Exec Conference at Caesar's Palace and it sounds like it has been fairly intense. Throw in the jet lag and missing her boys and it makes for a hard week. I've had Michael over to help with the logistics of multiple drop-offs and pick-ups which has meant I've only had to take one afternoon off, for swimming lessons on Tuesday. However, as the sole point man it's been hard work preparing the never-ending smorgasboard of food consumed in the Wallace household and dealing with the nocturnal visits and shouts.

We stopped lifting Finn just before his birthday and he's been doing well - until last night. Hopefully that was just a blip. Angus has been regularly waking well before 0700 and usually triggering Rowan to get up and start to make noise and fuss, especially when his more diligent big brothers send him back to bed because it;s not wake-up time. Rowan reacts to this with his usual good grace; the keening cry and head thrown back and shouting and stomping just to make sure that anyone who had somehow not been disturbed by him and Angus was well and truly awake.

By and large the boys have been fine. Rowan is delighted to have his Papa here, picking him up from nursery, and Finn has just been in his usual, antagonistic, heedless mood. Sean, being that bit older now, has felt his mother's absence a bit more than the others. Angus has been a bit cranky going to bed the last couple of nights but that may be due to him coming down with another cold.

Tonight, as I went to retrieve Angus's baby-grow while he bathed, I was aware of his voice sounding different to what it should. The acoustics were wrong. And there he was, strolling past me in the hall. He had somehow got himself out of the bath. I certainly hadn't heard any clatter and there didn't appear to be excess water on the floor, so how he made a relatively graceful exit from the bath remains a mystery. No-one lifted him out, that's for sure. One of his nappies yesterday had a plum stone in it. That was a consequence of Michael getting to him too late the day before in the garden, before Angus had wolfed down one of the plums off the tree. He's also a devil for throwing things at the moment. Sean had his glasses whipped off and hurled across the living room earlier in the week. And last week I had the sand from my sandal tipped on me as I lay in bed in the morning. He has all the makings of a tyke, that lad.

A teetering step

This evening, Finn held up Angus who took his own weight and took one tiny teetering step towards me before falling into my outstretched arms. My baby. I am shaking my head as I type this, with a sense of disbelief. Where has a year gone to? Knowing Angus is my last, I am desperately trying to savour every minute of his "baby-hood", and almost want to freeze him in time. He is growing up so fast.

Mind you, they all are. You look at Rowan, with his amazing vocabulary. He can speak as clearly and competently as most P1 kids! He always has been 3 going on 13! Bless him, he got his pre-school booster jags today, he was such a star. The first one was ok, but the second one hurt him, mostly because he was trying to wriggle out of my grasp so much. He may be as skinny as anything just now, but he is very strong!

Finn had his French assembly this morning and was singing Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes en Francais, as he ably demonstrated in the playground while we waited for Sean to come out. He continues to delight and frustrate in equal measures! He cant seem to walk past me at the moment without slapping me "on the jelly belly" as he calls my stretchmark-ridden stomach!

Sean impressed me today with his efforts at cycling, after his cycling proficiency class at school. That was, until he lost control of the bike and steered straight into the side of a high wall, knocking himself to the ground. As ever, his cries of pain and anguish were most dramatic. Bless the boy, he doesn't do pain at all well!

Every now and again, I have to stop and think to myself how did I get to be nearly 40 with 4 lads, a husband and a house? Wasn't it only yesterday I was only 26, training like mad for rowing, enjoying a social life and living in a flat? Blink and you miss it! That's why you've got to enjoy the here and now. Really looking forward to Angus' wee birthday party on Saturday, and so so pleased Mam and Dad are coming over for it. Poor Angy is last in line, the novelty of it all has gone, but that's not fair on him and his first birthday is a really special day for him (and me!), so delighted his grandparents are coming over to spend the birthday with him.

Because he really is a special little baby boy.

Our boys are growing up

One year ago at this time Sharon could barely walk, almost crippled with SPD as the baby within her ground down on her pelvis with relentless weight. Now, that big baby is entering the final week of his first year. Soon we will have no more children under one. Angus is now the proud owner of four teeth, a room-warming grin when he beams his glorious smile, a healthy and varied appetite, a toffee-coloured shock of hair that is gradually filling in round the sides, a well-developed shout as he competes to be heard above his brothers, sturdy legs, a big round tummy and a long reach, as he exemplified on Saturday as he swung an arm on to the table and grabbed a freshly poured bowl of steaming tomato soup.

He burnt his hand and was lucky he didn't pour the soup on to his face. Despite me getting him straight under the cold tap, a nasty blister appeared next morning on his right index finger (fortunately not his sucking finger). However, he doesn't seem unduly bothered by it.

Angus has been taking his weight (13kg = 2 stone, just half a stone lighter than skninymalinky Rowan) with increasing regularity and managed a five-second unaided stand in the garden last weekend. I don't think he'll be walking by his first birthday but he's probably got three or four weeks to be the earliest walker of the four.

Life is so hectic at the moment that it's all too easy to feel as though we are stuck on a treadmill but if we're not careful we'll look up and all our boys will be grown up before we know it. Here's to our four boys: their smiles and laughs and silliness; their sulkiness and tears and tantrums; their attempts to learn, frustrations at failure and sudden inspirational insights. Our world would be quieter, more orderly and less stressful without them, but also infinitely less rich and rewarding.

My Four Fantastic Boys

Sometimes I worry in case I forget some of the little things about the boys that give me so much joy, pleasure, amusement, etc. It is very easy to forget them, especially when your grey matter is shot to bits after four pregnancies! Trust me, having kids really does blow your memory into the beyonds!

I love Finn's funny little hairy elbows.

I love the way Angus' whole face lights up when he smiles, and boy what a smile!

I love how serene Sean looks when he sleeps, and how grown-up he seems at times.

And I love the way Rowan talks as though he is 23, not 3, eg. he said "I glanced out the door", when most others would say look.

One day, getting them all into the car for school, Ro looked up at the sky and says "Look Mum, the moon! The world is revolving slowly the day" (all courtesy of a book on planets from the library!). Duncan was around for a play recently, and they were fighting over a train and Rowan held up his hand and said "I don't want an argument with you today, Duncan!" in EXACTLY the tone I would have used with him.

Sean and Finn were understanding logic and could be reasoned with when they were three, Rowan is a whole different ball game!

Sean recently came into the kitchen looking all concerned. When I asked him what was wrong, he said he was worried about growing a beard. I said he had plenty of time and not to worry about that, but he replied "I can't be an inventor till I get a beard and I want to be an inventor!"

Talking about his chosen career path of Inventor, he once told me he wasn't going to get married and have kids, as he could invent something really sharp and dangerous and it might kill his kids!

Finn got really upset one day; Sean had informed him that you can't get married and have a job at the same time. Finn was distraught, really sobbing, "but I want to have a job AND marry Zoe!" Wee sweetie.

Angus is at the stage where if you hold out your arms to him, he'll lift his up to be lifted, and I love this stage. At eight months old, I'd happily freeze him in time as I don't want him to grow any older. Being the "Fourth and Final", I guess I am enjoying him and each stage he is at all the more, in the knowledge I wont get this chance again.