It's been a while.....

Forgive me father for I have sinned, it's been ages since my last blog post...

Well as you can imagine with 4 tiny tearaways, things have been hectic here. Which is not unusual but I have had to have a little break from writing the blog to get some things in order in the Hardy house. However, I'm back!

Today the Hardy Boys did a sponsored race, which was in aid of pass it on Africa. Www.pioafrica.org.uk and raised £180 in doing so. Danny, Taylor and Sonny who are aged 6, 4 and 1 all ran 500m and the money raised goes to help support education in Africa. There are a few reasons that I like the boys to be aware of these events and where possible, take part.

Although some people believe that Great Britain isn't as great as it used to be (and I'm not going to get into that as we all have our views) I believe that we are lucky to live here. Yes, there aren't as many jobs as we need but there are jobs and those jobs pay relatively fairly. We don't have to scrounge all day through a rubbish tip to earn enough for half a bowl of rice. Yes, education isn't always as great as it could be, but it's an education that our children are deemed entitled to, no matter of their gender or social standing. I want my children to grow up grateful for the opportunities that they get from living in this country and realise that not all people are quite so lucky. I know that some people won't agree with me and that's fine but its how I want my children to be brought up.

Taylor, aged 4 proudly explained to his aunty this morning that the money they raised could buy 35 nets and that means that 35 children wouldn't get bitten by flies and be poorly (his own words).

The race was fantastic, seeing so many people all dressed as heroes. The boys saw the power rangers and teenage mutant ninja turtles and believed they were the real thing and just about managed to stop themselves asking for an autograph. Leigh was the same when we saw Super Ted ;).

Thank you to everyone that sponsored the boys and there is still time to do so even though they have completed the race:

At

Http://Www.justgiving.com/thehardyboys

Or you can text

DTSH99 £5 (or any amount) to 70070

Thank you......

Taking the boys on holiday....

Well we have just returned from the first holiday that we have abandoned. We wanted to take the boys away somewhere with nice beaches but didn't want to try and struggle with the journey of going abroad with 4 children aged under 6. So we chose Newquay. Leigh and I had lots of day trips and short breaks there when we lived in Devon and thought it would be perfect for what we needed.

We came home 2 days early, not too bad you would say but it was only a 5 day holiday. 3 of the 4 boys broke out in chickenpox, not just a few spots but severe Spots and sores (especially in Sonny's nappy area). It was sad and it was hard work. We tried everything, oats in the bath, calamine lotion, piriton.

The holiday park we stayed at was awful, it was dirty, it was noisy and it wasn't very family friendly although it was advertised as being so. Also the weather wasn't on our side, it rained and it was very cold so the decision was made to come home.

Leigh and I did something that we never do on holidays, we exercised. We got up early (thanks to our mini human alarm clocks) and we went for a run!! The days that we were away were lovely and fun filled, so all was not lost.

I haven't done the shred for almost a week so don't really feel I can justify continuing from where I left off. I got to day 15 and I will be starting again from day 1 on Monday.

Much love xx

30 Day Shred - Post Easter Break

Well well well, the voice in my head has had her own way this weekend. "Oh have an Easter egg, you've still got to live a little", oh don't worry about the shred, you need a break with your bad knee", "oh look, Sonny needs help with his 10 Easter eggs" !! You get the picture...

So tonight we have been back on it like a car bonnet!!! 1 slice of toast for breakfast, a kitkat chunky for lunch (not great I know but it's my favourite) and then fish and veg for tea and then, are you ready for it....

We shredded, and then we shredded again!! Yes that's right, I am mental. We shredded level 1 and then we shredded level 2 and now I'm shattered.

Have you all had a good bank holiday weekend? We have, we've had lots of family time (just us, and also with extended family). We have eaten too much but still not anywhere near what we used to indulge in.

So 40 minutes straight working out, sounds loads but then I went from a few twinges to Jack being born in 41 minutes. Maybe the shreds not that bad after all...

Much Love xx

Our Easter Roast...

30 Day Shred- Not On Your Nelly!!

I can't shred, my knee is killing me! It's so painful and swollen and keeps giving way :(( so instead I will tell you about the best day ever...

It started off at a breakfast buffet, which as always was delicious! And then we went for a 3 mile walk around the local country park. We looked down rabbit holes and we drew chalk pictures. We threw stones into a lake and we laughed and jumped in muddy puddles. Leigh also convinced the boys that it was where Rebecca and Richard rabbit from peppa pig lived so they convinced themselves that they had spotted them on more than 1 occasion.

Then we came home and planted some seeds, we should hopefully have some lovely fresh veg in time for the summer.

Next, we made cakes. Lots of cakes, butterfly cakes, lemon cakes, carrot cakes and good old fairy cakes!

What makes these things so special you may ask? Well it's the time that we all get to be together. Leigh works very long hours and life is hectic with 4 little ones so its been great just to spend the whole day doing things that we enjoy and doing them together. It really has been Good Friday in our house :)

Right I'm off now to snuggle up to my hubby and watch Skyfall, because nothing beats a quiet night in with Leigh...

....well except Daniel Craig obviously ;)

Much love xx

30 Day Shred - Day 10. I've hurt my knee :((

Yes you read right, I have jumped from day 8 to day 10! After I blogged the other night, we found the DVD and we shredded!! At 2240 may I add so that was Day 9. Nothing too amazing about that except the fact that I had been up since 4 am! After the shred I fed Jack, then to bed for a few hours and then another 4am start! I honestly don't know how I'm doing it. Some days I'm so tired I could honestly eat chocolate all day just to keep going' I didn't shred last night as I went to see a clairvoyant. So Day 10 is done and we are 1/3 of the way through. I'm still swearing at the smug trainer on the DvD but scarily I am actually starting to really enjoy it. Doing the "butt kicks" part tonight I really hurt my knee, and am now sat on the sofa with it up and a bag of frozen peas on it :(

Danny said to me tonight "mummy do you know you're looking very beautiful". Well done doodles, double pocket money for you this week!! Right, I've decided to stop blogging every day of the shred as I don't want to bore you! So will tell you how I am getting on every few days!

Oh, if you do like the blog then feel free to subscribe to get email alerts to let you know when there is a new post, there should be a button somewhere over
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Much Love xx

30 Day Shred - On Hold....

So today should be day 9 of the shred, however I'm not doing it again!! Last night I fell asleep at 6pm and now we can't find the DVD!! The Hardy boys have a great knack for just leaving things wherever they like so one of them has removed it from the DVD player to watch Brave and it is now lost :((( . We have searched the house and can't find it anywhere. Sonny has probably put it in the bin, he likes doing that! I will search again tomorrow when the boys are awake and I can look properly in their rooms but if it does not appear then I will have to order another copy!

I have to say, I have found it really hard to stay motivated this week. Last week the Boys had diarrhea and vomiting and now Danny (and maybe Sonny) have chickenpox! I have been up since 4am today and the shred was the last thing I wanted to do. So I will pay the boys double pocket money this week for doing me this huge favour ;)

I have all of the boys home a week before their school holidays start and we have been confined to the house as Danny is still contagious and Sonny is too poorly to go out walking in the cold. As you can imagine, cabin fever has well and truly set in. We have done all sorts of cooking and crafts and I will blog a post for that at the end of the week. If you've followed my shred journey then thank you, it will resume ASAP! And I can't believe the amount of people who are starting the 30 day shred after reading the blog!! Go go go!!!

Right, I'm off now to enjoy 20 minutes of peace before going to bed for it to start all over again tomorrow!!

Much love xx (a very frazzled Theresa)

30 Day Shred - Day 8. I can do 100 sit ups

So, I found out tonight I can do 100 sit ups!! Well that's not strictly true, I've always been able to do 100 sit ups but usually over 100 days.

I don't want to sound conceited (although I am a bit) but I am really proud of us, we have pushed on every evening (i missed 1 but leigh didn't) and found the motivation through poorly boys and long days and we are seeing results. I bought a new top today in a size smaller than my usual and it fits perfectly. We have been changing our ways with food for 7 weeks now as have lost almost a stone each. The 2 bigger boys were still up when we shredded tonight and Taylor kept saying "you're doing so good, keep going you're my heroes". How can you not try your hardest when you have that type of encouragement??. Day 8 done and 22 more to go.

Much love xx

Our yummy tea today...