Summer of 2019 not too shabby...

..not too shabby at all! 

I was a little bit behind the boys starting the summer holidays, but once I caught up we kicked things off with a road trip north. 

Actually they started with Smalley and I having a day out at Chessington World of Adventures to even the scales after Albug and daddy had their spectacular day at Legoland in May. 

Smalley was still a little reluctant to go in the rides to start with but slowly warmed up to them, proving he has grown up since our trip to Paulton’s Park last year when I had to bribe him into every ride. He’s still no fan of the carousel asking when it will stop once we get a minute into the ride, however the bumper cars were a huge hit. As were the fairground games where I spent silly money so he could win naff stuffed toys. Totally unnecessary if you look at things logically, heart warming if you look at things with your heart. 

From Chessington to Sherwood Forest to take on the Zog trail followed by an hour on the incredible treetop trampoline network before lunch, play trail and exhausting ourselves unsuccessfully searching for their WW1 trenches. 

From Sherwood Forest (well, actually Sherwood Pines, the fun wood next to Sherwood Forest) up to Halifax for a full two days at Eureka! 

We love Eureka. Loved it when Albs was two, love it again five years on. We fixed cars, ran a supermarket, cracked codes in the bank, played in the light forest, decorated flowers and butterflies, danced in the lights, powered kaleidoscopes, went mining, played in the sandpit, sat inside a human mouth, watched the digestive system work (with powered burp button) and had a full body scan. 

We even ended the trip with treats from the gift shop - a chameleon, a frog and some gems to add to Bug’s museum of naturer (more on this later - if time allows). 

From Yorkshire to Stratford-upon-Avon for a journey break in a fancy but dated hotel where we splashed in the spa pool, chased ducks around the garden and enjoyed the final buffet breakfast of the holiday (I do love a buffet breakfast). 

Truth be told one of the best things about staying in a hotel for the boys was waking up to telly in bed. And I loved it too - they could watch their cartoons happily whilst I could doze beside them, allowing for a lovely, relaxed start to the day.  My colleague at work was saying that her sister takes her son away for a night in a hotel as his birthday present. They get room service, watch telly, walk around the grounds and indulge in the buffet breakfast. Judging from our time away this is something my boys would love! 

At Chessington with the "Dory" he won

On the trail for Zog in Sherwood Pines

Den building at Sherwood Pines

Trail complete! 

Exploring the world of bugs at Eureka! 

Educational screen time 

At the garage

Smash and grab in M&S

Driver for the day

Ending with a bit of culture at Shakespeare's birthplace 

The end of Pre-Prep

For the last month we’ve been preparing for the end of term. It started for the children with their Prep school transition programme, beginning with Friday lunches with the Year 3s (getting to carry their own tray and choose their food causing unbelievable excitement), then weekly library sessions followed by reading with their new teacher.  For the parents it’s been a bit more chaotic; pulling together collections for end of term teacher’s gifts, coordinating an end of term BBQ the last Sunday of term and a picnic the last day of term, making handprint cards and baking cookies with the boys and then getting everything handed over - to which we had a plan but forgot about the single focused mind of 7 year olds which meant the hoped for coordinated gift presentation was in reality a shambles relay race of one gift followed by another at high speed and without anything close to grace.

And then the grand finale: the Leavers Assembly. A Harry Potter themed hour with every child having the chance to read their own compositions, speak of their future aspirations and get a gift from the teachers. The highlight of the assembly came from William. The children have recently been visiting their local care home and Dementia Society group, building on a relationship they’ve developed over the years. When asked what they want to be when they are older William had quickly and unwaveringly said he wanted to be a Dementia or Care Home Helper. The teacher’s were so touched that they have a big red cuddly heart cushion with arms (for hugs) they are introducing to the Pre-Prep as a new treat; whenever a child impresses or goes beyond expectations in regards to demonstrating compassion or charity they get to spend some time with this now highly coveted snuggly cushion.

The sun was shining in a cloudless sky at the end of the day and we headed down to the playing field for football and a picnic. An hour of running and we broke the children - 4 lots of tears as the children crashed out. We’d been told there had been a few tears after the assembly as well as the reality of the end of term hits home.

For me, it’s been a sprint to the finish line.  So many late nights, so many emails, so many to do lists, so many hugs, so much love. It’s been exhausting and now that the summer holidays have officially started hasn’t quite sunk in, but it’s also been a blast.

Harry Alby Potter 

Getting ready for the sorting 

And I can't quite sign off a post about the end of term without highlighting another achievement by this superstar - and I'm gutted I wasn't there to see his face when his name was called out.  He doesn't get to keep the cup but has an amazing book as a prize and was beaming from ear to ear on pick up that day.  This chap gives everything 100% effort - he's growing into a real star and I'm so delighted we have the opportunity to send him to a school that really allows him - and his brother, to flourish!

Court side

I’m typing court side this morning. Alby has discovered tennis this year, firstly as an after school club and now on a sunny Saturday morning at the local (or as local as possible) tennis club. He has found another sport to be passionate about and his focus, determination combined with his excellent hand eye coordination mean he’s already better than I’ve ever been. 

Having grown up standing on the side line of rugby pitches, wearing all the layers and wiping the rain off my face, tennis is a sport I can get behind. I confess I had been reluctant to give up my Saturday morning but for an hour Alby gets to run, throw and rally whilst I get an hour to myself. I’m not allowed on the court so I sit in the sunshine and read my book or - if intent turns into reality, get some time to actually write a blog post! 

And so it happened...Smalley turned 4

My baby is now a 4 year old. I won’t lie, I had a few wobbly moments the night before his birthday - putting up bunting, wrapping presents, decorating his birthday cake and writing his card. Three year olds are still in the Toddler world, at 4 you’re a boy. As the youngest of our family, his firsts are our lasts. And the realisation of that can catch you out. Or it certainly did to me. 

Not that anything has changed now his 4. He still has me wrapped around his little finger; at the table he will get me to help as much as possible with his food and exploit any opportunity he can to crawl on my lap. Just today doing the Easter trail in town he managed to work his way up for a “huggle buggle” on a number of different occasions. And when I think back to the Monday morning of his birthday, we found him (fairly uncharacteristically these days) in our bed when we woke, having joined us for a snuggle at some point in the wee hours. 

Having dragged out his birthday good and proper (party two weeks before, school celebration a week before, day trip with friends on the actual day and birthday trip to the theatre the week after) we are finally done. With so much going on I didn’t have any confidence at all in him knowing when the actual day had come but he proved me wrong; waking up on the Monday morning the very first thing to come out his mouth was “Am I four now?” Don’t be too impressed though, he spent the rest of the day informing us his birthday was on Friday - whether he meant this Friday or last Friday Albug and I never managed to work out! 

On the actual day Daddy was at work so after singing him “happy birthday” and letting him blow out the candles on his hastily made Leo cake at the breakfast table, it was chopped up, added to the picnic bag and we headed off to one of my favourite places with young children: Moors Valley. There we met his and Albug’s friends (and their mum’s so I could have good chat time). We played in the play park, went on the play trail, ride the train and ate ice cream. We spent from 10am to 4pm outside. It was perfect. (Though I’m not sure Percy agrees as it meant he missed out on at least 4 hours of his normal quality nap time.) 

And even then, after a party, school celebration and fun day out the birthday extravaganza of Smalley turning 4 still weren’t complete; on Saturday we boarded the train, headed to London and watched Julia Donaldson (plus husband, sister and two very talented actors) perform The Witch, the Warthog and The Gruffalo. It was so brilliantly done. Just amazing. The boys sat transfixed throughout as they watched their bedtime story classics come to life on the stage with humour, energy, colour and music. 

For me, it was meeting a hero. Julia Donaldson’s writing skill and imagination blow me away. I hadn’t really appreciated how hard it can be to read aloud - reading Harry Potter to Alby at bedtime takes serious brain power or I just stumble over the words and find the sentences running away from me. Julia Donalson’s gentle rhymes roll off the tongue, they support great bedtime even on the most exhausted evenings. 

After the show she was signing books. We queued in the drizzle, bought The Cook and The King (a story I wasn’t aware of but which was preformed so hilariously it’s my new favourite) plus a wartime play she’s written and got two minutes to talk at her, me babbling whilst she, utterly exhausted drank her much needed tea. 

Back home on the train, the 4th birthday celebrations finally drew to a close. I know that I’ll never be able to stop time, but at least I get the chance every now and then to really make the most of it. 

Our love of a dragon and a Viking continues

One of the many joys of having the boys is being able to revisit the films I loved watching when I was their size. So many animated films, Disney featuring frequently obviously - they had no competition in the 80s it seems, but also the musicals and Christmas classics that were already well loved and established before my time. 

But the added joy is discovering new films together. Yes there is a lot of rubbish out there, not all that is animated is gold, but every now and then we hit upon a real gem. A film that not only they love but we love too. Ones I may even find myself guilty of watching when they’ve gone to bed. And the really great films, the test of true quality, are the ones that spin off into equally good TV shows. How to Train Your Dragon is pure brilliance to my family. Both films have been loved equally by the boys and the TV series extending from them is one of the few things on tv that they love equally, that doesn’t turn them into crazies and, best of all, doesn’t incite any violence or fighting. 

When we found out they were making a third film we all shouted for joy. We counted down to its realise, buying tickets for the first showing at the local theatre.

The film did not disappoint but boy did it take us on an emotional rollercoaster! We laughed, we cheered, we cried. All of us. Whilst us big ones found our eyes welling up, the boys snuggled in tight and Smalley literally sobbed out loud, shuddering and gulping on my lap. 

They didn’t shy from big life lessons and they tackled them masterfully. And despite the episode of sobs, we left with our spirits lifted all feeling a bit more grown up...Thank goodness!! The adventures of Toothless and Hiccup are what keeps harmony in our house. (And yes. I do get the irony that Vikings are bringers of peace to our family.) 

Since the film our Dragons obsession has only grown. Indeed the outside observer may suggest unhealthily so! 

The house has dragons in almost every room and I’m not just talking toys. Smalley becomes Toothless at every opportunity and he is so unbelievably cute as such my heart breaks every time I see him charging about. Seeing as Toothless is essentially a cheeky toddler, Smalley plays the role perfectly! 

Second child guilt

Smalley has a birthday party coming up. I’m going to completely gloss over the fact that he’s turning 4 as I’m neither emotionally nor mentally capable of processing such. The reality that this coming birthday marks not only such a departure from the time my baby was a baby but also firmly establishes him as being beyond even the most generous definitions of toddler hood is simply too much. <sob>

So, as I say glossing over the sadness that time flies, I’m dwelling instead on parent guilt. 

I think back to when Albs was smaller. To the hours I committed to looking up activities and prepping party games. Birthdays were planned months in advance; venues booked and invitation a hand made and delivered at least 6 weeks before the date in hope of securing a good enough crowd to make the effort worthwhile! 

And then the second child finds himself with another birthday looming and the second child guilt starts creeping in.

With just over 3 weeks to go - and minimal research a hall has been booked and a bouncy castle hired. We’ve clobbered together a guest list and have fingers crossed 4 year old social lives have eased up a bit since Albs was that small; his life booked up months in advance!

The ultimate mum guilt came by way of the invitations. I did handmade invites for all but Albs’ most recent party - when my feminist ways opted instead for shiny pink invites. Making a sleep deprived decision that my love is best shown through my cutting and pasting skills, How to train your dragon stickers were hastily purchased, the craft box raided, the home printer pulled off the shelf and 24 hours later the Toothless invites were handed out at school.  

Sticking together invitations until 1am has proven efficient in staving on the mum guilt for now. With the party weeks away and a full schedule between now and then, I anticipate it creeping back in a great deal more over the coming weeks..

Conversations with my little man

Smalley and I had a trip to the coast today. Much of our conversations involved him nattering on whilst I attempted to talk to those around me. Every now and then however my focus was completely on him. Such as in the toilet today when he came out with this...

Smalley: Nobody loved me when I was a baby.

Me: What do you mean? Everyone loved you. They’d give you hugs and cuddles and kisses.

Smalley: Not the Germans.

I tried to relay the conversation to the hubby once home but sleep exhaustion meant I lost it half way through,collapsing into hysterical giggles. Even now it makes me laugh out loud! As his Narna tells him, and he often admits himself, he’s bonkers.