a happy week

Half term holidays done. We've had a really good week, just full enough without being hectic and something for everyone.

A good week chez nous goes a little something like this.

Mon: Walk in the woods with a gang of friends, (14 kids 4 adults one dog), picnic on some logs, then to the rec. for swings, wrestling and build up 'it'. Home for early baths and a bit of screen time.
Tue: To a blissfully sunny seafront to watch some pancake racing, including a v dangerous dogs race which involved a dog owner holding a lead in one hand, a frying pan and pancake in the other, racing along the prom, flipping all the way, trying to not trip over the dogs trying to eat the flying pancakes...Needless to say we didn't participate but thoroughly enjoyed watching! Down to the beach where the boys couldn't help ending up in the sea, fully clothed meaning a hasty return home to warm up with hot drinks and more baths. Next a drive over to Grandma's, stopping for more swings and 'it' at the playground on the way, where the children stayed the night while I raced home in time to get ready to go to the Fat Tuesday celebrations in Hastings.
Great night out with husband and friends, a little too much beer.
Wed: Too much beer last night to go to yoga, oops, but managed to get some work done and take the dog for a good walk. Children helped grandpa stacking logs, playing hide and seek etc, then went swimming with Grandma, who dropped them home at dinner time. (thank you Liz!).
Thursday: Dropped the big two at their pals house, then took the smaller two to Great Dixter little explorers. We walked through the woods, warmed up by the campfire, cooked pancakes and made sock hobby horses. Had lunch with the big ones and friends, home for a bit before walking round to some other friends for dinner.
Friday: Did some baking in the morning (pizzas, fruit buns and lemon cake) had some chums over for lunch, vegged out and played lego in the afternoon. Got v cross with the dog for knocking the lemon cake off the table and eating half of it when I'd only had a little slice (I may have cried a bit!).
Saturday: Our usual lazy Saturday morning, then walked through the park, into town with the dog and the bigger two, meeting the others at the car. To the book shop for one book each, to M&S for one edible treat each, then home.
Sunday: Walk in Powdermill woods, cake at Great Park Farm, home to tidy bedrooms, find school uniforms etc. Then Dads roast chicken before baths and bed.

Obviously in between all of this there was plenty of time on the computer/playstation/tv, don't get me wrong there were plenty of arguments too but focussing on all this good stuff proves that the good definitely outweighed the bad. Unfortunately, I didn't keep the camera close enough at hand to record all these wonderful days, or the morning I went upstairs to find all four lying in bed reading, or the afternoon Rog I were washing up only to turn around, noticing the quiet, to see them all lost in some colouring at the kitchen table. But I know that it all happened and it makes me smile.