It's been so long since I last posted that every time I've thought about updating I've pushed the thought away because to recap all that has happened would take more time than I have to spare. Double edged sword of this whole documentation business. Some of it then, for now;
Anyway. Bye bye summer. We have suddenly plunged from the days of easy dressing into the stress of finding clothing which is both waterproof and warm. And suitable for the school run. So far so good on that front. Brooke spent the first week waking up early and getting dressed as quickly as possible. On the first day she was cross that we had to wait for the gates to open when we arrived, so anxious was she to get inside. Now of course she is trying out the whole "I've got a tummy ache / I'm too tired to go to school" routine since she has sussed that this is IT. Her daily grind. Still she has made friends, done her homework with glee and proudly told me how she was the only child to have packed lunches.
Taya starts next Tuesday, part time. I CAN'T WAIT! I'm sure I will be a little bit sad and probably feel like I should have played with her more, but there are only so many times a day you can respond positively to "Pretend my am a cat and you heared me" wherein she hides somewhere and starts wildly meowing until I act surprised and welcome this lost kitten into my life. I am NOT good at role play games.
We had a lovely caravan holiday at the end of July. It was really glorious. We stayed at Wood Farm outside Charmouth and really enjoyed ourselves. The campsite felt really safe so the girls would run off and make new friends, take themselves down to soft play and the playground and spot rabbits on their own. We drove around with a growing playlist of the girls' selection which included Lady Gaga, Queen, LMFAO and the fabulously retitled Single Legs by Beyonce. As we drove past a pig farm the girls asked "What are they?" to which Chris replied "pig styes" (pig stys? Pigsties?!) This was translated by the girls as "Pig style" and every time I tried to take a picture from then on the girls would start posing and saying "PIG STYLE!" with gusto.
Examples:
Speaking of pictures look at this one of Brooke. It was our first night on holiday so obviously the first thing we did was drive to the beach for fish and chips. The girls wanted to get as close to the water as possible and did so here with another little girl. Brooke dropped her bucket into the sea just as I snapped this.
The emotion that ensued was on a par with Tom Hanks when Wilson floats off in Castaway. I looked at the picture after the event and first of all I laughed at the scene, but the more I look at it the more I feel like I just want to cuddle her and tell her how it's just a bucket and everything will be okay. That's sheer panic on her face. This is a child who has a strong sense of how things can go wrong. Anyway, the holiday was wonderful and full of delights. Our fab friends Emma and Trevor and their daughter (my goddaughter) Esme joined us for a week. We visited Pecorama, Axe Valley Country Park, went shopping in Bridport and Dorchester, did some accidental yarn shopping in Bridport in a lovely shop called Yarn , hit the beach in Lyme Regis, visited all the grandparents, went mackerel fishing and caught LOADS and met up with old friends.
This was also the summer where I broke my £1 Primark sunglasses at the start of the holiday. After that I felt entirely reluctant to spend £10 on another pair, thinking I would hold out and get another Primark pair soon. Subsequently I spent the whole summer not getting to Primark and squinting throughout the rather nice weather. Late in August I did go along and lo and behold, my favourite frames were reduced to 50p and I got two pairs. Just as well since one of them has, ahem, broken already.
I don't feel remotely finished with summer stuff but I really am ready for bed now.
Anyway. Bye bye summer. We have suddenly plunged from the days of easy dressing into the stress of finding clothing which is both waterproof and warm. And suitable for the school run. So far so good on that front. Brooke spent the first week waking up early and getting dressed as quickly as possible. On the first day she was cross that we had to wait for the gates to open when we arrived, so anxious was she to get inside. Now of course she is trying out the whole "I've got a tummy ache / I'm too tired to go to school" routine since she has sussed that this is IT. Her daily grind. Still she has made friends, done her homework with glee and proudly told me how she was the only child to have packed lunches.
Taya starts next Tuesday, part time. I CAN'T WAIT! I'm sure I will be a little bit sad and probably feel like I should have played with her more, but there are only so many times a day you can respond positively to "Pretend my am a cat and you heared me" wherein she hides somewhere and starts wildly meowing until I act surprised and welcome this lost kitten into my life. I am NOT good at role play games.
We had a lovely caravan holiday at the end of July. It was really glorious. We stayed at Wood Farm outside Charmouth and really enjoyed ourselves. The campsite felt really safe so the girls would run off and make new friends, take themselves down to soft play and the playground and spot rabbits on their own. We drove around with a growing playlist of the girls' selection which included Lady Gaga, Queen, LMFAO and the fabulously retitled Single Legs by Beyonce. As we drove past a pig farm the girls asked "What are they?" to which Chris replied "pig styes" (pig stys? Pigsties?!) This was translated by the girls as "Pig style" and every time I tried to take a picture from then on the girls would start posing and saying "PIG STYLE!" with gusto.
Examples:
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Speaking of pictures look at this one of Brooke. It was our first night on holiday so obviously the first thing we did was drive to the beach for fish and chips. The girls wanted to get as close to the water as possible and did so here with another little girl. Brooke dropped her bucket into the sea just as I snapped this.
The emotion that ensued was on a par with Tom Hanks when Wilson floats off in Castaway. I looked at the picture after the event and first of all I laughed at the scene, but the more I look at it the more I feel like I just want to cuddle her and tell her how it's just a bucket and everything will be okay. That's sheer panic on her face. This is a child who has a strong sense of how things can go wrong. Anyway, the holiday was wonderful and full of delights. Our fab friends Emma and Trevor and their daughter (my goddaughter) Esme joined us for a week. We visited Pecorama, Axe Valley Country Park, went shopping in Bridport and Dorchester, did some accidental yarn shopping in Bridport in a lovely shop called Yarn , hit the beach in Lyme Regis, visited all the grandparents, went mackerel fishing and caught LOADS and met up with old friends.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Mackerel fishing in Lyme |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| No squeamishness |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Stone throwing at Beer |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| West Bay |
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Pull the funniest face time |
This was also the summer where I broke my £1 Primark sunglasses at the start of the holiday. After that I felt entirely reluctant to spend £10 on another pair, thinking I would hold out and get another Primark pair soon. Subsequently I spent the whole summer not getting to Primark and squinting throughout the rather nice weather. Late in August I did go along and lo and behold, my favourite frames were reduced to 50p and I got two pairs. Just as well since one of them has, ahem, broken already.
I don't feel remotely finished with summer stuff but I really am ready for bed now.