Being married to a software developer and general computer wizz, Peter, and of course being a pro-blogger myself, means the boys were introduced to IT from a young age. Both feel confident using iPads (hello Cbeebies app), my phone (give it back!) and even using the remote control for the TV!
Last week excitingly saw me host a style party in my home for one of the most coveted brands in Sweden, me&i.
I've reviewed their clothes for over a year now and adore working with such a stylish company whose collections for kids and women are absolutely this family's collective style - vibrant, unisex kidswear and understated, classic womenswear.
OK so let me explain, ever since I was a teenager, or a tween even (isn't that word odd?!)-when I was a tween and that term hadn't been invented (thankfully), I realised I had a bit of a lovely bond with kids, I connected with children and adored playing with them. I did play with dolls pretty late so I suppose they were an extension of that!
Most of us have had terrible two year olds on our hands at some point haven't we-please tell me you can relate-that loss of control, the irritation, embarrassment and frankly, downright fatigue of dealing with a 2 going on 12 year old 'twonager'!
Yes we all know this stubbornness and quest for independence is formative, normal behaviour especially as 2 year olds can't yet reason, but it doesn't make it any less tough when you're in the midst of it all, does it?
Those who follow this blog know that this family are photo-mad, be it striking a pose in photographs ourselves or simply snapping family days out, the ordinary (park life, the food we love) and the extraordinary (film premieres, holidays, modelling shoots and more), usually my gifted husband Peter behind the lens.
After a month of illness in this family, we finally all felt better and were in much need of a retreat, a break from the norm, not far from home to simply rest, relax and feel rejuvenated once more.
The universe must have been listening, as the wonderful Gorgeous Cottages got in touch to see if we wanted to break in a luxury holiday home, The Coach House in Yorkshire.
As you get older and perhaps a little wiser (or in my Dad's case, sillier, much, much sillier-it can go both ways) you start to realise what really matters in life.
I think having kids can do that to you, that whirlwind of new love for the kid you made merged with the mammoth overwhelming weight of responsibility (no more spontaneity in life is pretty sobering) and puts everything that came before, and after it, into sharp perspective.
You don't need to have a kid for this I should add. Yay for being wiser without having to actually use your cervix! Life experience, travel, pets, nurturing plants, charity work, whatever it is that takes you out of yourself, can be enlightening,
It got me thinking about all the tiny touching moments that make up the bigger picture, the intricately woven happy-making little things I reflect on right before I go to sleep or if I'm away from my kids, missing them madly, or my zone out to more joyous times when I find the children fighting over toys/films/my affection and I need a happy place pronto.
Peter (and I ) were a bit blown away by the response to his landscape photography when I shared them on the blog recently so thank you to all who viewed, commented and shared. Now, as part of a regular photography feature by Peter, I'm sharing portraits, mostly of our children that I love.
Holly McGlynn is a Dublin-born, London-living fashion photographer. A graduate from the prestigious Goldsmiths, University of London (where I also received my BA and MA from), she was nominated for the Irish Fashion Photographer of the Year 2014 and 2015.
The fabulous folks at Opera North kindly invited me to review their new show, a double bill of the operas La Vida Breve and Gianni Schicchi but unfortunately, my kids still weren't 100% after all the bugs we've been enduring, so I had to trade tenors for Calpol and my parents headed to the opera instead of me (the perks of being the parents of a blogger huh!)
PinterestLondon is always a whirlwind for me, and last Wednesday was no exception.
Taking my Mum along for a rare night away and quite the party (more of that soon), I had some exciting meetings by day (as always, I'll reveal more when I can)- as we made our way through chic coffee shops in Farringdon to the place I call home in the city, Charlotte Street Hotel, a bustling yet relaxing hub where meetings can turn to dinner easily, and being so close to Soho and the production company I have a TV series in development with, makes it the ideal place for my blogging and TV career to meet.
In 2012, Amber Vodegel and her husband John Miles founded Health & Parenting Ltd, which creates apps for pregnant women and parents with young children.
Their ambition was to set up a modern app business, which they could manage from home with a remote global team of experts.
I love working with me&i and have collaborated with them for years now-they're a seriously cool, super-fun, vibrant Swedish brand for kids (and ladies too), that really embody that retro vintage vibe for modern families everywhere.
Look at the bright kids line below-bursting with funky prints, truly happy-making fashion for kids of all ages.
We love to fill our weekends with wintry walks and precious family time, mostly eating, playing and enjoying all that beautiful Yorkshire has to offer us.
I usually focus on style, mine and the kids, over on my style blog Mummy's Got Style but every so often, I like to showcase what we rock, right here too!
My talented friend, artist and blogger Emma Kaufmann of Emma's Pet Portraits got in touch recently offering to add some much-needed bursts of colour to our living room and new home.
My most favourite opera of all and the very first my mother saw in her teens, made for an extra special evening at The Grand in Leeds for Opera North's epic operatic and most tragic love story, La traviata.
My husband Peter is pretty much a genius behind the camera, this much you probably know (well those of you who follow my blog regularly at least).
I'm not too shabby myself, but work life sure is easier with a personal paparazzo to snap away for this here blog. No selfie-sticks needed here!
I'm really excited to share the beautiful Red.Blue.You's personalised canvas company with you all and offer one lucky Honest Mum reader a canvas of their own worth £99 (size A0).
