'You've got your hands full'

Child of Our Time twins Alex and Ivo help show the power of marketing

THIS video, from the BBC, is from its compelling and ambitious series, Child of Our Time. I love this programme.

I found myself in floods of tears last week when the latest instalment aired, only to be followed by the announcement that one wee girl's mum had died shortly after sharing her hopes of seeing her family grow up with the nation.

There's one family with twins (the cute blond fellas with the snazzy shirts in the video above) featured and one family with triplets. It has been fascinating to see how the children have grown and how their relationships with each other, their parents and the outside world, have blossomed.

Poll: Should I ask my daughters' school to put them in different classes next year?

WHEN my daughters started school, there was no doubt in my mind they should be separated.

This was because I believe they need to be seen and act as individuals from day one. Some families may feel four is too young. We had rare moments where Emily cried a little from missing her sister, but overall they were more than fine, and have been ever since - together or apart.

Of course you have to do what is right for your own family and I would never knock anyone for the decision concerning their children as they know them better than anyone else.

Now, as Year Five is approaching, because of reasons too complicated to describe fully, but linked with the number of children at the school, they have been in the same class for the last school year.

How a multiple pregnancy differs from expecting just the one baby

WHEN I was pregnant, I used to wail "I'm scared" every now and again. And when Neil asked me why, I'd say: "Because I'm going to have two babies, waaaaah!"

But looking back, apart from those infrequent emotional outbursts, I think I stayed pretty calm.

I've just found the following in the bowels of my computer - some quotes I provided for a magazine feature while still working on behalf of Tamba. They encapsulate some of the worries of a multiple pregnancy, but also detail extra care provided.

I hope they may provide some comfort for anyone else stuck at the wailing stage. (And as you can see I think the picture on the right was taken when the model was about, ooh, four weeks pregnant...)

Linda Jones, mum of five-year-old twins Emily and Melissa, and a spokeswoman for Tamba, the Twins and Multiple Births Association, said: “Twin and triplet pregnancies can obviously be more difficult than just carrying the one baby, but not all complications of single pregnancies occur more frequently with an expected multiple birth.

Antenatal care will mean more ultrasound screening, tests and investigations and more appointments. It should also include social support and advice, to plan for the extra load before, during and after delivery.

Mother, 17, has seven children, including two sets of triplets, in Argentina

PAMELA Villarruel of Argentina has seven children -- a son born in 2005 and six daughters, two sets of triplets. See pictures here and here.

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~ Posted by Becky, who also blogs at Deep Muck Big Rake. Write her at becky_handsfull@yahoo.com.

Thirteen babies -- all twins and triplets -- arrive at Florida hospital within 36 hours

FIVE sets of twins and one set of triplets marked a "multiples baby boom" in May at Shands Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla., according to The Times-Union.

Jacksonville's local television station, News4Jax, interviewed two of the families. (Link includes video.)

Colorado military family has crowded house with triplets plus three

LAKISHA and U.S. Army Pfc. Karl Dent are parents to 2-month-old triplets and three older children -- three girls, Kirsten, Kayla and Krista, and three boys, Carl, Karl and Kris.

They live on base in Fort Carson, Colo. See video here.

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~ Posted by Becky, who also blogs at Deep Muck Big Rake. Write her at becky_handsfull@yahoo.com.

Madeleine Albright, mother of twins, appears on 'Iconoclasts' with Ashley Judd

MADELEINE Albright appeared on Iconoclasts on the Sundance channel, Oct. 25, 2007, (and it recently ran again). Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, is the mother of three daughters, twins Anne and Alice, and Katie.

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~ Posted by Becky, who also blogs at Deep Muck Big Rake. Write her at becky_handsfull@yahoo.com.

Oh how I love to see twins laughing! Gorgeous YouTube video to make you smile

EVERY time someone has said to me over the years 'double trouble eh?' I've told them: "Yeah and twice the good stuff too!" If you want to know why just watch this video. Many congratulations to the proud parents for introducing the world to their beautiful babies...

Lots more cute videos here. Or check out some more in the twins category.

How I have cut my food shopping bill by around 15 per cent

I'VE been considering posting about this for a while. Now I see (belatedly) that Littlemummy is asking other people's opinions.

Here are the questions and my answers.

1.) Predominantly, where do you shop? Was Sainsbury's but now Tesco or Somerfield

2.) How often do you shop? Weekly with a "top up" mid week.

3.) How much (on average) do you spend? £100 now - was more, but am budgeting and planning more. This doesn't include some toiletries, clothes or house cleaning stuff.

4.) How many people are you buying for? Four - two adults and two nine-year-olds

5.) Do you do any of the following - meal plan, make a list, have a budget? Yes to all three now.

6.) If at all, how have you tried to lower your spending on food and household items?

* Taking advantage of offers more
* Buying fewer 'premium brand' products and buying value range instead
* Planning all meals, including kids' packed lunches which now include fresh crunchy salad stuff instead of sandwiches every day
* Not buying takeaways
* Buying cheaper cuts of meat
* Not buying ready meals
* Always taking a list now rather than sometimes
* Saying 'no' to my daughters more when they ask for stuff.
* Driving to Somerfield rather than Tesco as it's nearer to try and save on petrol.
* Buying fewer snacks and bottled drinks, having fruit and water instead.

Related posts: More supermarket adventures: Getting recognised at the checkout

Can I have some help with my packing please?

The Today Show video with Angelina Jolie

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~ Posted by Becky, who also blogs at Deep Muck Big Rake. Write her at becky_handsfull@yahoo.com.