Cricket's a funny old game. Bradley had a present from Francis's party. Two bats and a rubber red ball. Four stumps and a bails.	Esme soon gets the hang of it, and hits two sixes and one four.
	Bradley's not so into it. He's not hitting my bowling, and prefers to somehow, place the ball on a the bat and push it to me. But this tricky act takes a while to set up and both Esme and I soon become bored. It keeps them busy for a while.

1103 Also posted to: Home page . At: 10:23:56 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Cricket's a funny game

It's shocking how old she looks sometimes. Only yesterday, it seems she was a babbling baby. Now look at her. Nearly five years old, and looking ever more the teenager. When I see pix like this, I look ahead to when she is a teenager. She's going to be heart breaker. Temperamental red head too.

1102 Also posted to: Home page . At: 10:22:58 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: My little prom queen

After a visit to Tescos, where we must be heard from one end of the store to the other - boy, have I got loud kids. "Daddy! I want this!" We have a lotta fun. But I get a stiff back picking Esme in and out of the trolley, she's getting too heavy for this.

Bradey's having a bad hair day. But there's nothing I can do. He won't let me do it, and won't do it himself...

Anyway, after Tescos comes the clean out of the fridge where I find some sorry looking strawberries. I say we'll plant them in the pots. "Why?" Says Esme. "Why?" Repeats Bradley. And this is what we did. Bradley kept holding his dirty hands up and saying, farmers have dirty hands. Esme says after Bradley's 5th time that he's said this before, so he repeats it again, and again.

1101 Also posted to: Home page . At: 10:18:10 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Farmers have dirty hands

I painted the shed while they were at the swim party. A few beers shared with the neighbour, Darren, as he does his ex-wife's car.

They like screaming, or shouting at the top of their voices from the roof, I guess it's because they've a good view.

1100 Also posted to: Home page . At: 10:10:43 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Roof children

The birthday girl herself, Francis.	Esme the goggle-eyed fish!
Bradley, another good swimmer at 2 years 248 days	Francis' birthday, she's 6. It's a swim party at Madely Court Leisure Centre. I thought it was just an ordinary party, then I hear Amanda's running late and I gotta take 'em, "but I'm painting the shed!"
I get their gear together, arrive at the pool, get them changed, but I didn't bring my cozie. I notice other mums aren't getting into theirs' either - hmm. Off they go, and I stand with the other mums at the viewing place.	But, they're only tiny kids, I bite my lip, Alison's there, our baby sitter, Sue, but what seems like 30 kids jumping around! Esme and Bradley teeter at the edge of the pool. I wonder if I can get away with going in, in my pants. Bradley leaps in, followed by Esme! I look to my left and right, furrowed brow, sizing the barrier in front of me. Up they pop, and start swimming like fish! Amanda's been telling me how well they've been getting on but until I saw it...

1099 Also posted to: Home page . At: 9:47:01 PM  . .
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Other title(s) for this story: Francis' birthday swim party