A month that starts with a spa day and ends on holiday can’t be too bad right?
We have seriously packed in a lot this month and looking back it looks like we didn’t stop, yet actually it has felt like a really lovely month with plenty of simple at home time too, especially this last week when we don’t even have the school run! All hail no school run. It is no secret around here that I hate it (like every single very short day) and I am so very glad to say goodbye, for now at least, even if it did rain the very second it turned 2.30pm on that last day. I mean what is that all about? Let’s pray the sunshine hears the collective groans of parents all across the country and makes a comeback sometime soon.
We have been loving the sunshine. From that spa day Eddy and I enjoyed together with the freedom to wander outside, to strawberry picking aka trying to stop them eating too many before paying, river paddling where someone ended up in their pants (the littlest of course), trip to see the RAF 100 events at the Arboretum, a long but totally worth it visit to the Instagram famous flower fields to an unbirthday sports day party for the girls and relaxed water fights in the garden. Sunshine really does bring the smiles out, it brings us together and makes life just that but more free. Even if it also makes the river actually green with algae (the girls were fascinated) and is a bit of a nightmare with suncream woes and sweaty sleepless nights.
With that in mind though this year I wrote a summer bucket list of all the ordinary things I wanted to do and remember in these short summer days and we have been loving ticking some off already this last week. You can totally call ‘washing the car’ an activity right!? For them that is not for me, I do have a bad shoulder to blame for my lack of car cleaning enthusiasm. Though I’m sure there ended up being more water on each other than the car anyway. They are just thick as thieves together at the moment always causing mischief, egging each other on and laughing from whatever den or mess they happen to have made.
Other than the total adoration for her sister and having her home full time, Roma this month has had her pre school immunisations which just made me weep. Not the actual jabs, she was so brave and call me a bad Mum but that bit never really bothers me. It was more the fact that they called it ‘pre school’ and it made me think so much on how long we have together before that happens. So I’ve also taken her back down to one day a week at nursery. She’s so very grown up right now, she’s an absolutely awesome, clever, funny, mischievous little thing that I just want to spend all the time I can with her. It will mean sacrifice on our family part as I’m letting go of looking for a job for a while but I also feel happy with my decision for me and my family and oh my gosh for her.
She is, to be fair, already more than ready for school, there is no denying it (no matter how hard I try) she can write, she knows all her letters, and numbers, she is just steaming ahead at lightening speed and me or my emotions can’t keep up. She also sees Eva go to school every day so none of it scares her. She is nothing but excited for School and I absolutely love that. But she is only 3, she does have another year and so I’m taking it for all I can.
Talking of School Eva has of course finished for the summer, finished year 2 and finished her first year at this new school. It was a big move, a big responsibility, a big risk but I can now say I am more than happy with it. I’m proud of her and proud of us, for making that decision, for sticking with our gut and for getting through. As Eddy and I watched her in her summer production joining in as a ‘bug’ and singing along really loud and proud we both sat on the back row crying our eyes out! Life’s hard work for her but I don’t think she will ever know how far she has come or comprehend how proud that makes us. She will miss her wonderful teacher, truth be told I think I will too. Her report was another tear jerker. Not the results, not the details, not even the friends she has made or the impact she has had, but the effort. For it said she always tries and my goodness we can’t ask for any more than that.
Me, well I have been blogging a lot more this month and I’ve so many posts in the pipeline, I seem to have this sudden urge to just blog so I’m hoping that continues with a bit less self doubt and overthinking from now on. I’ve enjoyed watching the World Cup, oh no wait that was Eddy!! Eddy enjoyed very much watching the World Cup (with the girls) and I have enjoyed that being over, sorry England! I’ve enjoyed taking more photos and putting myself out there to perhaps do some photography outside of my own family too and last but not least planning our holiday. So. Much. Planning.
As I write this I am sat on the floor of a bathroom in a hotel room whilst Eddy is sat in the bath (with no water that is) waiting for the children go to sleep in the other room (one down one to go). Because this is how all holidays start right!? In the morning we are getting the Eurotunnel and driving through France and Belgium to The Netherlands and I have absolutely loved the planning and research of what we are going to do and see and where we are going to go. As much as we really need a break and are looking forward to chill out time. Especially as this is the first proper annual leave Eddy has had this year. I am also wanting to explore and take advantage of the fact we have the car and the freedom to do that. So, watch out for many more family adventures soon, The Netherlands here we come.
Kerri-Ann has decided to stop running the My Family Adventures linky so this will be the last one. I might still write these monthly round ups as I do love this little snapshot and a chance to share photos that might not have otherwise be captured here. Or maybe I will even make it a weekly thing but for now thank you for having me as co-host and I look forward to reading all of what you have got up to in July.
