No Great North Run

Sharon was very disappointed last week at having to pull out from the Great North Run that she had been training so hard for. Having done a couple of 13.1 mile runs she was looking forward to doing a good time in what is the biggest half-marathon in the world. Unfortunately, her knee went during some speed work earlier in the month and despite intense physio and rest, she realised it just wouldn't have been up to the test. Hannah did the run in 2:10 and Sharon watched the race on TV yesterday but obviously felt upset at not being able to take part. Thanks to everyone who had supported her and Hannah. I've tried to convince Sharon she hasn't let anyone down.

Sean was at Lewis's overnight on Saturday for an extended sleepover party in celebration of Lewis's 9th birthday. Sounds like he had a great time as there was a fair house full of his pals. Iain took them down to Braidburn Park to sail homemade boats along the burn, they played games, ate lots and didn't get much sleep. I'm sure the Valentines are heaving a sigh of relief that their turn is over.

Finn and Rowan slept in together and I took them both swimming yesterday at Loanhead. Rowan's swimming isn't developing at all but at least now he can plunge under the water and re-emerge without screaming the place down and heading for the exit. He had been keen to go swimming from the day before, when I took him and Angus up to Castlelaw Hill Fort and then to the playpark at Loanhead. Rowan had me playing "The Hobbit" as I'm telling him a version of the story from my head at bedtime at the moment. I was Gandalf. He was Bilbo for a bit, but wanted to be a wizard so I christened him Radagast the Red, who could talk to birds and animals and plants. Rowan loves this sort of stuff. Hopefully he can marry his creative imagination with his school work.

Angus was intrigued by the sheep surrounding the path and just seemed delighted to be out and about somewhere new. He walked very well at Castlelaw. We must have climbed a good 150 feet from the car park.

Finn had quite an active day yesterday. After swimming he went straight to Rory and Brodie's party at Hillend. Tubing was the order of the day, despite the heavy showers. Finn was soaked in sweat however, from wearing a ski helmet on his many trips down the nursery slope in the inflatable tube.

I got some golf in on Friday, playing a rare solo round at Kingsacre. It was good to just concentrate on hitting the ball and playing the course rather than against someone else. I had my best round for quite a while, an 82 (+12), spoilt a little by driving into the pond at the last. Still, 8 pars and some decent putting made for an enjoyable afternoon, even if the rain did come on quite heavily.

We've just been out the office after the new shrill fire alarm went off. Speculation is that the rumour mill overheated: probably too many people gathered in one place discussing what they've heard in the last few days. I'm sure there will be announcements shortly.

There was one in the bed

It was strange last night, putting one small boy to bed and tucking one small boy in later in the evening. This morning we were able to waken up in our own time and I was able to go upstairs to get the small boy out of his bed. Rowan is very good at staying in bed until someone goes to get him, although when that someone is Sean or Finn he usually goes from 0 to 90 in no time and is soon shouting his way around the house. Last night Finn went away for his first sleepover, to Zoe's house. Sean was on his third and last night of a second caravan holiday with the Patersons, down at Melrose this time. So we only had Rowan to feed, change and put to bed. He's enough of a handful on his own anyway!

Sean sounds very grown up when he phones home. He and Ross were doing laps of the campsite on their bikes, motivated by money to try removing their stabilisers. In the event, they came home with one stabiliser each. They visited Floors Castle where Sean really liked filling in the quiz as they went round and went for a walk yesterday despite the heavy showers. The boys ended up with chocolate and strawberry ice-creams. he has thoroughly enjoyed his two caravan holidays and is asking if we can go on one sometime. I'm not sure if Sharon and I are up to the thought of four children in a confined space!

Without Sean, Finn and Rowan tend to be a bit rudderless. I took them to see Lesley and Stuart on Saturday then on to Beecraigs Park where we went for a walk in the woods, following the blue trail. Rowan did well to walk the 1.25 miles, only complaining towards the end after Finn had bumped him to the ground and left him with dirty wet knees. They had a good play in the playpark then we drove home, them asleep and me silently cheering St.Mirren's 2-0 victory over Falkirk which lifted them off the bottom of the league and more or less assured their survival this season. On Monday, Rowan, Finn and I went to Ratho on a fruitless trip to the soft play. It was too busy, so we looked in Tiso, had lunch and came home via Sainsburys and IKEA. Zoe came round and that was Finn happy again. Zoe even came to watch him do his swimming lesson. Sharon said they were funny, waving to each other. Finn is now at Zoe's swimming lesson, no doubt looking to pass on some tips as he closes in on the last couple of stickers that would earn him his yellow hat.

I started the annual hedge-trimming today, doing the front and driveway hedges. I didn't cut the cable this time (it gets shorter ever year): today's feature mishap was standing on the cable as I lifted up the trimmer, thereby pulling the wires out of the connector. Just about every time I use that trimmer I end up having to repair something!

Flight path

Pete, Tracy and family appeared for a flying visit on Friday, staying over to the Saturday. Literally a flying visit as it turned out, as I went with them out to East Fortune to the Scottish National Museum of Flight on the Saturday afternoon. There are a few good hands-on activity parts for the kids (we had fun making paper planes in one section) and we did get to go on Concorde (it is pretty cramped with only four seats to a row, a pair of seats either side of the aisle) but by and large it's an airfield with a few hangars containing a lot of planes and bits of engines. Still, the boys got a runaround.

I got Pete to take Rowan home to Sharon while I took Sean and Finn and Ross, who was on a sleepover, to North Berwick for some Italian food and a post-prandial stroll along the west sands which was very pleasant. It's a fine balance, tiring them out but getting them home without then falling asleep in the car thereby undoing the good "tiring out" work as they never go sleep once they are in bed if they have napped in the car. Fortunately I just about got the balance right and we kept the after lights-out high jinks to a minimum.

Long time no speak!

Well its been a while since I posted anything to this website. Its not from a lack of will or motivation to do so, just a lack of time. Time is my biggest problem just now. Between the three boys, trying to keep the house ticking over and a business in a major growth period, I am struggling to keep all the plates spinning! This poor baby hardly gets a thought, which is terrible! When I think about how self-involved I was when pregnant with Sean, how ever kick and flutter in my belly would stop me in my tracks, how every second thought was baby-related, how much attention you got from others with your first! Let me tell you, fourth time round, it aint like that at all. Dont get me wrong, I am so keen to meet this little bundle, to see what the final installment of the Wallace clan looks like, what flavour we get!

What has really annoyed was the reactions to telling people we were having another, mainly negative comments along the lines of "you're not, are you?", "you must be mad having a fourth", etc. Some people had the cheek to ask if this baby was planned! This really infuriated me!

The other three boys have varied feelings towards the baby. Rowan seems quite nonplussed about the event. I've been trying to read him New Baby in the Family sort of books, but he still thinks he is the baby in the book, not the big-brother-in-waiting role! Sean is reasonably interested and was delighted to feel his first kick yesterday. Finn, on the other hand, is so excited. He talks to the baby, gives it kisses, hugs and raspberries on a regular occasion. I'll have my top or jumper whipped sky high in the middle of Tesco as he wants to say hello to the baby! He is adamant its a girl we will have. Needless to say he wants to call her Zoe! Funny to think we might not be able to use the phrase "the boys" to refer to the full compliment of kids by the summer!

Speaking of Zoe, we have a full house tonight. Zoe and her big brother Lewis are here on a sleepover, a first for both of them. Teatime was bedlam with barely enough plates for the 5 portions of pasta bolognaise, and the chocolate puddle pudding to follow. Rowan loved having the extra company at the table. Finn and Zoe were like an old couple, chatting away for ages after lights out! They do make me laugh, those two. I so so hope they are in the same class in P1 from August.

Before the arrival of the Valentines this afternoon, we had a lazy morning with lie-ins, football and cricket highlights. It was nice to open the curtains to a green back garden this morning, no snow or ice for a change. After lunch, we wrapped up and went to Vogrie for a walk in the woods. The snow may have gone, but the paths were still very muddy. We hadnt really picked the best footwear, Finn being the only one in the wellies. But it was a pleasant stroll through the trees, the boys picking up assorted twigs and sticks as they went along. Rowan walked quite a distance for his wee 2-year-old chubby legs. The fresh air was enjoyable, and there was almost a feel of Spring around the corner, with the milder weather and the snowdrops in bloom.

Lastly, my aunt Bernie is 50 tomorrow, which is incredible! Bernie still giggles like a teenager, and has never given much creedance to being "grown up", sensible or mature. She has an attitude to life that should be bottled and then poured over those with a negative, no-can-do disposition. Happy Birthday, Ber, much love xx

Shaw business

The Shaws arrived on Friday night for a weekend visit, Alana sporting a 30-week bump containing Shaw No.3. Fortunately the weekend weather was pleasantly mild so on Saturday we reprised last December's walk up Arthur's Seat from St. Mary's Loch. Sean and Billy were great at scrambling up and down. Finn was rather reluctant this time but got there in the end and perked up on the descent. Rowan, the two-stone lump, was ferried by Iain, Sharon and me!

We lunched at The Hub afterwards but it wasn't as good as the last time we were there, although it is still very reasonably priced and most accommodating for the children. Their "pizzas" left a lot to be desired however; slabs of bread with slices of uncooked tomato and shiny, melted, orange cheese aren't really what small children appreciate. I remember last year Rowan was just learning to walk and was toddling along the long corridor. He was similarly intent on exploring the venue this time but got a shock when he stood on the wheelchair lift and pressed the button as it started moving upwards!

I had a good afternoon with Finn. After collecting my car from the garage following its annual service and MOT, we both dozed off in the car at Ocean Terminal car park! We had a snack and did some light shopping (another ABBA CD for Finn and Sean) before driving home. Needless to say the CD was pounced on by Sean and has hardly left the CD player since. He took it in for Show & Tell today. It is rare that I get the time alone with just one of the boys and it has been a while since Finn and I did something together so it was good to focus on him for a change.

On the Sunday before Iain and Alana left, we spent the morning at Vogrie Park. The boys, Rowan especially, had a great time on the big zig-zag slide and Finn managed the flying fox by himself. We bumped into the Kirklands too. There was definitely a hint of autumn in the air as we walked back up to the cars.

Rowan had a trip to the doctor yesterday. He has had a spot on his chin for some months now. She said it is a cyst and that they'll just leave it as it should go away in time. He's also been referred for an eye test. We are keen to get this done given his brothers' optical challenges!

A family first!

Saturday night seemed odd for Ian and I. It was the first time one of the boys was away without either of us. Sean had his first sleepover. With his Scooby Doo suitcase packed up with all the essentials and a packet of sweets as a treat, he stayed at Phoebe's on Saturday night. We got a call about 8.45p, to say they were watching Ratatouille and having a lovely time. Then yesterday morning the Fishers took him bowling. He had a great time! I spent the night tossing and turning, knowing he would be fine, but thinking about him anyway. A mother's lot, I guess.

We didn't do an awful lot over the weekend. I was still fairly pooped after the trip to Ascot on Weds/Thursday. I've been invited on the Forward Planning Committee for the year by Pampered Chef, which is a great honour, but it was a hard enough day, plenty of thought-provoking matters to consider. The delayed flight on the way back, with the worst turbulence I've ever experienced, didn't help matters. Show on Friday night, training for the team on Saturday morning, and I felt the need to just veg out!

Ian took Finn swimming on Saturday afternoon, and they had a grand time, all things told! Finn didn't even notice that he had no armbands on till Ian pointed it out to him in the showers. We are trying to build his confidence up in the water, aiming to have him swimming confidently with armbands by the end of the summer, and then he can start swimming lessons himself.

On Sunday, I managed to get out for a walk, 7.78 miles covered according to Google Maps. I've signed up to do the Moonwalk in June, 26.2 miles from midnight in your bra, all in aid of Breast Cancer. The plan is twofold - get some exercise and lose some blubber, and at the same time, force myself to have some "me" time. Not something I am good at.

A busy week lies ahead. Rowan has a temperature and is very grumpy, possibly as a result of his MMR last week, so lets hope he settles down soon. I hate to see him so miserable. Then Ian is off to Rome at the weekend for a conference. Mam said she is going to come over to help out while he is away, which is fantastic news. I never like it when I don't have any dates in the diary for visits from home, and there was nothing planned. So this is working out quite well. And I get to spend Mother's Day with the best Mother in the world, mine.