Shopping Fun

The the start of a busy weekend of fun and games and another day with all the girls, but this time with a trip to the big shops for our Lucy on another mission and the start of Lucy’s first double night stay. Better still with Lucy staying Friday night Emily and Catherine get to see her in the morning when they wake up and don’t miss out.

The day started off sunny and warm after some overnight rain which the garden needed after all the sunny weather we have been having lately. Everyone was on time to school, even if Emily did get up late again. I think she is not sleeping to well with her SAT’s (Silly Assessment Test’s - according to Emily!) but they are over after next week and she can relax again.

Getting Lucy went ok and we soon we headed back home after a big cuddle to get her bottom change and see her mate George. Today was going to be different and not so much about the park. Around 10.40 we set off to do some shopping in Peterborough and look round the shops. That was after a quick stop to pick up some juice and lollipops for the trip! Lucy, bless her fell asleep, along the A1 with a half eaten chocolate lolly in her hand. Thankfully the wipes got most of it off her coat, hands and face. It was one of few times I forgot to pack her some spare clothes! Guess that will teach me.

It was the first time I had pushed a buggy in ages, and I’m sure Lucy would agree with me I need L Plates when I started out. Thankfully we managed to avoid crashing into anyone, although there were a couple of close calls. We popped into all the big name shops and some of the smaller ones to looking for jeans and odds and ends as well as completing our mission successfully along the way. In one shop in particular she managed to charm all the staff and make them smile with her cute little ways.Seemed to make there day. Finally, on the way back to the car we had enough spare time to have a quick look around the cathedral. It was funny listening to Lucy tell people that would listen it was a “big church”. She certainly makes me smile and those around her.

On the way home we head for Peterborough services and KFC as a treat for being a good girl. In retrospect it was probably not a good move. We ended up stuck in a traffic on the A1 due to an accident, however with music, dancing and some singing we had lots of fun between the questions of “where’s home?”. Although we missed our trip to Rascals on the way home we still had fun, and that can wait for another day.

It wasn’t long after we got home that Emily and Catherine came home. Emily managed to surprise Lucy we a great big boo which was followed by great laughing and giggles all round. Then they all headed off to play around the house. They started in the family room, moved into Lucy’s bedroom and then back to the family room. I was grateful for this since it allowed me time to replace the broken router whose power supply had failed while we were out.

After a good couple of hours playing we head off to the shops to get some dinner which was gobbled up by all and followed with the inventible calls for “ice lollies daddy” from Lucy, before more play to wear Lucy out before her bath and bed. With a story or two from her sister and cuddles from one and all she drifted off into sleep.

I think tonight Emily and Catherine were glad she went to bed so they could have a little big girl time together before they followed her up. I know Emily had a hard week at school with a harder one to come. Tomorrow they head north to see there mum and although I will miss them I’m looking forward to my time with Lucy.

I just hope the weather forecast is wrong for the rest of the weekend. I don’t mind the rain, but I don’t want it to stop us getting to the park. With days like these my life is full of fun....

Any Other Day

As the sun set of this day and the day turns into night, I’m drawn into thoughts of this unusual day. Not a day of laughing, joking and having fun but a day of thought.

A day of thinking into the corners of my mind in to those places covered in cobwebs of things forgotten, buried and put to bed. Dusted off to see the light of day again they bring with them emotions and thoughts I thought I had left behind. Feelings so strong that they well up, consume you and can take over your day that were best kept where they belong.

Just like a careless discarded match can start a forest fire it can take but one random thought so insignificant you didn’t even notice it’s passing. This is today, a careless thought that passed me by and started a process of thinking that has no conclusion and no end that I can control.

The words I have are not match those of this poet from long ago. Who in his magic sums up the feelings of my day and within his poem I found a place to rest the thoughts of the day.

The Day is Done, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The day is done, and the darkness

Falls from the wings of Night,

As a feather is wafted downward

From an eagle in his flight.

I see the lights of the village

Gleam through the rain and the mist,

And a feeling of sadness come o'er me

That my soul cannot resist:

A feeling of sadness and longing,

That is not akin to pain,

And resembles sorrow only

As the mist resembles rain.

Come, read to me some poem,

Some simple and heartfelt lay,

That shall soothe this restless feeling,

And banish the thoughts of day.

Not from the grand old masters,

Not from the bards sublime,

Whose distant footsteps echo

Through the corridors of Time.

For, like strains of martial music,

Their mighty thoughts suggest

Life's endless toil and endeavor;

And to-night I long for rest.

Read from some humbler poet,

Whose songs gushed from his heart,

As showers from the clouds of summer,

Or tears from the eyelids start;

Who, through long days of labor,

And nights devoid of ease,

Still heard in his soul the music

Of wonderful melodies.

Such songs have power to quiet

The restless pulse of care,

And come like the benediction

That follows after prayer.

Then read from the treasured volume

The poem of thy choice,

And lend to the rhyme of the poet

The beauty of thy voice.

And the night shall be filled with music

And the cares, that infest the day,

Shall fold their tents, like the Arabs,

And as silently steal away.

So as I sleep I go, I just hope to dream and put these thoughts to bed. They are just thoughts that have no meaning unless you give them life. Tomorrow is a new day and not this day. A new day for of life and hope. I just have one wish was left unfulfilled, I wish they had come on any other day but this, for this was meant to be a day of joy.

The past has gone and the future is bright and into it we walk with dreams anew to light my way and on that path we take the good. Just always know what is right and true.

Just never give up!

Funday

There is always something special about the days I see our little Lucy. They are just different from the other days in so many ways. Waking up becomes a joy even if I didn’t sleep well the night before and I know just seeing her will give me the energy to get through the day and enjoy every moment with her and with two of her sisters.

It was lovely to see the sun again in the morning, even if it did cloud over for a bit later. It seems the sun always makes the morning feel brighter as does the lovely bird song of the blackbird which seems to have taken up residence at this end of the walk.

Getting everyone up and getting them to school went like a dream. Catherine left early to play with her friends again and even Emily managed to made it in on time despite only having 15 minutes to get dressed, hair brushed and leave after getting up. With them all gone there is time for a coffee and little bit it of twitter, quick check on Facebook, time to do my phone calls and check the post. Then it is off to get Lucy.

I never know what to make of pick up time except they effect my mood most times I have to do it. Often it feels like Lucy is just pushed out at me. The door never opens until the last minute, the car seat is thrust at me and Lucy steps out and the door is shut with hardly a word being said. It is like something is hidden, almost being held back, kept in check, there is no eye contact made and words always are spoken into the ground. Today was a bit better, than that, but not much. I just don’t know why it has to be like this. This was not how it was meant to be.

Anyway, off to the shops we both head to buy the things we need for lunch and dinner. Lucy sits in the trolly and charms people with her smile as I do my best to make her giggle and make sure she is having fun. She loves helping out at the checkout and saying bye bye to the checkout staff and making them smile. Today was slightly different as we used the automated checkout but this didn’t stop her trying help with such gay abandonment that she managed to confuse the poor machine on more than one occasion. Thankfully the smiling staff came to rescue it and we paid and left to start the day.

As soon as we got home Lucy was greeted by George. He loves it when she is here and she loves playing with him in the garden, chasing him round and laughing with joy. Today was no exception giving George a good workout in the garden. After she finally got bored and got in the house, she extracted an ice lolly from me and before she head off to look for the toys. First she got the train track out for some train fun and then after a quick tidy up it was out with the babies. Emily had put them in her pushchair for her when cleaning yesterday. We played a game where one of them was poorly and I had to give it medicine to make all better. Without the medicine the baby cried and cried. It is wonderful to see how her imagination is developing and how it is reflected in her play.

After a lunch of pouched eggs on toast and a glass of milk we headed out to the shops on a secret mission to buy a card for her mummy’s birthday. We pretended to be hiding on our way to the shops. Of course Lucy didn’t do bad out of the trip to the shops and she brought some sweets. True to form she charmed the checkout lady and made her smile with her thank you’s and bye byes .

On the way home we stopped off in Langham park and spent some time running, laughing and playing on the slide. Just generally having fun together. With little rests and cuddles in the sun along the way, we must have been there an hour or so before we had to head home to change Lucy’s clothes. Get them washed and play some more while we were waiting for Emily and Catherine come home from school.

It was Emily who won the race and was first to get her hug and Catherine came a close second. With smiling faces and fun and games the girls got ready for the park and a little time to unwind from school before it was time for dinner. More fun was had on the slide, by them all this time, and Emily and Lucy had a laugh on the bike ramp sliding down hand in hand. To finish off a nice time they all play hide and seek in the sun. With time to spare before dinner was ready it was up to Lucy’s room and in the cupboard full of toy, while I cooked dinner for them all. With a meal all ate and puddings finished there was time for them all to play for the last time of the day. With Lucy dressed in clean clothes and coat it was off back to her mummy’s.

The drive to Oakham was quite as usual. Sad faces, kisses and lots of good byes. The drop off was faster than normal. A quick thank you for the birthday card and the door was closed shut. That’s if you could consider it ever open. It was almost like someone was watching for us coming. On the way home we popped to the petrol station and the girls asked the usual questions. On our return we tidied the mess that Lucy left behind and they sat down to do homework before they went to bed.

Now, as I think about starting my work, I know that the day was good and full of fun. It won’t be long before Friday comes and Lucy comes to visit us all again. But better still on Saturday when I pick her up in the morning for her overnight stay, I know, it will be my special weekend to have her for some Lucy fun on our own. I can’t wait to see her again.

The love I have for them all never changes. It remains the same and timeless..... Now that is magic!

Showers, Sun and Fun

Had a lovely lay in thanks to the girls who didn’t bother to wake me this morning. They both got their own breakfast and left me in bed to just before 10am. It was nice not miss my lie in. It’s the only day I really get and it comes along only twice a month.

When I did wake I looked out of the window to see it had been raining. I wasn’t to disappointed as we needed some rain for the garden, after all, the hanging basket Lucy and I planted needed watering so our flowers grow. However saying that, it was nice that it brightened up by lunchtime and gave us opportunity to get out in the warm sunshine later in the day.

The morning was quite I just did things around the house and the girls got on with the websites they keep designing. They are getting rather good at it and I have promised them I will get another web server running here so they can show them to their mum. It’s nice to see them doing something creative rather than just watching TV all the time. I know one of there projects is to create a social networking site and I have found some software to do it with. That is something I will do for them next week if the weather turns out wet.

I must say Emily and Catherine's mood seems better today, although there was some small compliant Emily about next weekends arrangements as she was looking forward to having the day with Lucy Monday. However it turns out that they will be with their mum instead because of the way we had to rearrange this weekend. I told her will make sure they get to see Lucy on the Monday at least for a few hours. Just need to arrange the times with there mum to make it work. I wouldn’t let them miss out on being with their sister.

Lunch was one of the times were we had one of Emily’s favourite meals. A traditional English breakfast. Once universally loved until Catherine decided she didn’t like bacon and that she would only eat boiled eggs. So for being fussy we just give her what she still will eat. We are having to that quiet a lot with Catherine these days, but it her loss as we get more of the things she won’t eat on our plates. Anyway, Emily and me enjoyed it. It was really yummy and it left us looking forward to our roast in evening. A roast has always been something I have always done for the girls, if I with someone or not. It just feels right to have a Sunday dinner or lunch no mater what. I even cook them even on the days when I’m not hungry. It is just part of Sunday.

In the afternoon we spent some fun time in Oakham Park enjoying the sun which peeped between the clouds. Emily and Catherine had great fun in imagining that the climbing frame was some sort of spacecraft and created a whole imaginary world around it with things to do and monsters to run from. It is lovely to see that level of creativity in any child. The freedom to get lost in another world and have fun in it. I use to love seeing them all do it when they were all together. I’m just glad they haven’t grown out of it yet and I hope they never lose it. I think one of the dangers of education is that creativity can be educated out of children. I hope that doesn’t happen to them as being creative is a great way to relax and very fulfilling. It allows you to get lost in and appreciate art and music. I feel strongly that creativity should be encourage in education, because without it ones experiences of life is diminished and the ability to think outside the box is lost. Anyway I have got side tracked, if you want to see the pictures of there time in the park I have put them on my Facebook page. There is a link to all my albums of the children on the “Links Page” on this site so you don’t need to have a login.

After the fun time at the park it was back to the more mundane, a trip to the supermarket was first on the cards. Boring yes, but necessary all the same if there are to be packed lunches in the morning. It is interesting seeing their interests change in what they look at in the supermarket. Gone are the days of looking at the toys and in are the days of CD’s and mobile phones. They grow up so fast. Too fast I think sometimes. Hopefully bringing them to a village will extend there childhood longer than if we had stayed in the city. I wouldn’t have given them a mobile phone until they changed schools, but their mum had other idea’s and so Catherine is looking forward to getting one for her Birthday. On a positive note, since having them on my own again, Emily having a mobile has proved useful if they are out and about or a round a friends house.

The other mundane task that remained to be done before dinner was our cleaning. It is always a bit of a fight to get them started and motivated to help but in then end we had fun doing it. We cleaned the kitchen, washed all the floors downstairs and given the bathroom a clean. All that left to do during the week is to keep on top of the kitchen and get the hovering done upstairs. The later of course will involve the dreaded tidying of Emily and Catherine's bedroom room and I’m not sure that will be so much fun.

We all enjoyed our Sunday dinner. Even George ,who tends to have his own mini Sunday lunch, as there is always meat left over for him these days. We mix it with some vegetables and a little gravy and he has his once a week mealtime treat. He seems to love Sunday Dinner as much as we do. I’m just so glad we still have him. He is such a happy and loving dog for all his cheeky ways.

After dinner we all had a giggle then did our own thing until quite time at 8:15pm when I they went up to there room to read and chat quietly before bedtime. It has been a busy day for them with the playing and cleaning and hopefully there will drift off quickly and have lovely sweet dreams of more fun things to come before they grow up and have the weight of the world trust upon them. Hopefully their world will be full of happiness and joy.

It was shame yesterday was a funny day, but we can’t hold on to that which was wrong in the past especially when most of it was good. We all have to look past our bad yesterdays and know the future will be better if you let it. You can get all you want if you are patient enough, willing to work hard for it, learn from the past and remember the people who are important to you. That is something I have to remind myself of everyday.

Finally for this evening, I’m really looking forward to tomorrow. The weather is set for fun and Lucy is here! There is never a dull moment when Lucy is about. I love her and all that are special to me to bits.

Now it is time to tuck them in.... and with a kiss send them to sleep.

A Quiet Day

It been a funny sort of Day. Emily and Catherine were meant to be going to their mothers last night but she is poorly and couldn’t have them. With the day set to fair we where going to go out and enjoy the sun and have more fun, but that hasn’t happened.

Not really sure why that is. It not like us not to go out and enjoy the good weather these days. Just something we go to make the most of the lovely sunshine. I must say they haven’t even been out on their own like they normally do if I’m busy working or doing stuff.

May be it is just because this wasn’t what Emily and Catherine were expecting and they are without their Lucy this weekend. The day just feels funny to them. Normally Lucy would be here when they are here and it is not my weekend to have her, it is her mummy’s. Without her, for them, the house must seem quiet Normally her little voice brings it alive and little ways that keeps them on their toes. She is a queen of discovering their sweet supplies and hide outs and eats them with gay a bounden that is second to none. I know they have commented a few times on how it’s odd being here on a Saturday without her, but I still find it funny they haven’t even asked to go out anywhere. Normally they always want to go places and have fun, but not today.

It’s always strange for me when Lucy is not about, weekend or not, but like them I finding it even more odd because I’m use to them all being together this weekend. But, there is a positive side that next weekend I will have little Lucy all to myself when Emily and Catherine go to Leeds.

Personally I’m not sure what to make of today other than it wasn’t what I expected, but I could say that about a lot of things in my life. At least I have two of my three children to keep some form of continuity in my life and I do know the people I love and in my life and how much I love them. I’m lucky at least to know that, for some people never love at all. It might at times feel like I have been broken over the last year but at least I have that knowledge.

Tomorrow is another day and I hope we all wake up to another sunny day and we can lose ourselves in having fun.....

Lots of Fun in the Sun

What a lovely day it has been. I woke up and heard the beautiful sound of bird song and saw the sun peeking between the gap in the curtains knowing I had a day with my lovely little Lucy and two of her beautiful sisters to look forward to.

The school send off went well. Catherine left early to play with her friends in the school playground before school and even Emily managed to get to school without forgetting anything. She was even on time for a change.

The day with Lucy was started off with a lovely trip to Langham park where she had loads fun of on the slide, on swings while sitting on my lap and doing the assault course including the rope bridge again! This was mixed with kicking the ball round the park and laughing with joy. What was really lovely was seeing Lucy make friends with a little boy of the same age as her. They followed each other everywhere laughing, giggling and generally having fun together. It was nice for me to have someone grown up to share in the fun she having. I chatted to the boys mother as they played sharing stories of their antics of climbing and growing up. Lucy and her new friend were so happy in there little kingdom of fun and it was sweet hearing them say each others name when saying their goodbyes as we set off back home. Hopefully they will meet up on another day and play again. They are the little king and queen of the park.

For lunch we had some lovely sausage rolls. While they warmed up we danced as we listened the Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia) by Us3 with little happy shouts of “Again Daddy, Again”. Lucy had great fun at the table learning to cut her sausage rolls with her little knife and fork. Come to think of it so did George under the table hovering up what she dropped. I’m sure he follows Lucy round just in case she drops something he can eat. He is such a cheeky westie at times, but she adores him.

After dinner Lucy had a ice lolly and while I drank my coffee and we planed where we are going to grow some runner beans together. In the end we decided on the spot where the herb garden was last year. We are going to use the existing frame as supports for some poles between which we will run string for the plants to grow up. Last years crop went to waste at Kizzy’s allotment as did all the vegetables sadly, especially after all the work she put into it. It was such a waste. This year it is going to be fun growing things with the girls. I’m not a natural gardener but I’m going to have to learn.

Not wanting to spend such a lovely day in the house and around it we set off for Oakham as soon as we could to spend some time in the park there.

Lucy just loves the park and this time I remember something to take some pictures. Once again she just couldn’t wait to get playing on the climbing frames, the roundabout and all the other rides there. Quickly she was making friends with all the other children and charming the other parents as she played with their children. She would start by following them around and then start encouraging then to play with her which the other children happily did. It amazes me how they form friendships so easily and just enjoy each others company for the brief time they are together. It’s just lovely to see the pleasure they get from having fun. We spent a good hour and more in the park and not at one time did she get bored and nor did I. In fact, to get her leave the park I had to use the promise of an ice lolly when we got home.

I would have loved to stayed longer but two of her sisters wanted to see her as soon as they got home from school. That was something I had promised them in the morning.

After a coffee, a quick game of hide and seek round the garden and of course the promised ice lolly, Emily and Catherine came home from school. It is lovely to see Lucy’s face when they come home and the way she runs to greet them with a massive hug. She must miss them. She always asks where they are when I pick her up from her mummy’s in the car in the morning. I know they miss her lots when they don’t see her. Emily and Catherine just love being with her. They race home from school to see who can see her first to say hello to her.

In fact, I can only think of one greeting Emily and Catherine have loved more and that was the time they saw Mary again after months of being parted for the first time in the supermarket in Oakham. What I remember was especially memorable was the way Mary ran to hug Catherine. It was like she was never going to her let go. Emily and Catherine didn’t stop talking about that for days. That was until we saw her in the park. However, hard that was for me and the pain it caused me inside, I had to let them all have sometime together again. They were brought up as sisters and Lucy was meant to unite us all.

Anyway, the big girls quickly changed and it was off out again to Langham park to enjoy the late afternoon sunshine before dinner. It was great to see them all out together. They played on all the things in the park. Catherine and Lucy played on the swing together and they even managed a bit of football after Lucy finally decided to stop carrying her ball and kicked it. While Emily found a younger boy and his dad to play football with and Lucy joined in by cheering on the sidelines. It was a lovely way to spend the last part of the afternoon.

On returning home I cooked dinner for everyone. We had toad-in-the-hole, mini roast potatoes and beans. It was yummy, and so much fun with everyone laughing and having fun at the table. What was really nice was seeing the delight on Lucy’s face as she ate her chocolate coated corn flake cakes which Catherine made her. It is always nice to have a family meal and we do it nearly every evening. The only the exception is if we have “a have what you like night” or piazzas. The table might seem a bit more empty these days that it was in the past but it great eat together at meal times as this meal proved. I guess that is why I never stopped doing it.

For Lucy there was a little playtime left before she returned and with a ice lolly each after dinner I got 10 minutes of rest while I drank my coffee before we got her ready to take her back to her mummy’s. When she left she was all happy and worn out. I know our Lucy will have a goodnights sleep tonight. She really hasn’t stopped all day.

On our return, the house went quiet as it always does after Lucy leaves us. Thankfully that just lasts an evening and things will return back to normal for Emily and Catherine in the morning. For me, well it is different but that a much longer story and not one that will spoil my lovely day. I just miss seeing her grow from day to day among all the other things I miss.

But finally as the sunsets over this happy day in Langham I am left with the one thought about how it has been great way to forget all my troubles and just smile for a while and enjoy lots of fun in the sun.

I hope it is sunny tomorrow....

Houses are Funny Places

Strange what you think about when the house is quite and the children are in bed and there is beautiful and melodic music quietly playing in the background. I was just looking round soaking in the memories of the room I was in. The good times and the bad times. The memories of happiness and sorrow. This room or should I say house is like any other and has all those memories and more for me.

Houses hold so many memories for all of us. As well as being places where we live they also contain the things special to us, be they the people you want to be with and love or objects you acquire. They are the things that makes a house a home. We shape them, colour them, give them life and character. And in them we live sharing our lives with others and creating memories for each other and dreams of the future. We make them places where we feel safe and secure.

In the present we might live but every room there are memories of past events. Simple things sometimes like a coat thrown over a chair by a child as they rush in too play there favourite game after school. The discarded coat being a simple memory of the joy of coming home and of the house being a place of fun and safety. Yes it might be messy but it can always be picked up later. Or maybe photographs of treasured times placed on the mantelpiece for all to see and make us smile. Then there are the everyday objects like the table, which maybe empty at the moment, but has those memories of happy meal times and of laughing children, chuckling and giggling as they eat. Then there is a empty seat were nobody sits no more. Everywhere you look there is something to remind you of times gone by. Some of those times might be long ago while others are times that have just gone by.

Houses are like little temple to the past and from that past we build our dreams of better days to come. It is on these memories we build our future. It is the foundation of who we are and what we will become. By reshaping and remodelling the things that are precious to us we move onwards changing the house to meet the new needs of the day. Maybe repainting a room or throwing away clutter or just adding more memories to that are already there. A house says who we are and who is important to us are just by the character we give them.

Some times things get broken. Somethings can be fixed and then there things can’t be replaced. It is the later we miss and are sad about, especially those things that hold our dearest memories and sometimes special dreams. May be this could be a special present that is lost or stolen or sometimes even people. And then there is those times you throw something way to only to realise later that you over looked it’s importance and your need for it. Even without the things themselves we are left we left memories of there loss and reminders of the place they once occupied, like an empty spaces on empty shelves of where a treasured objects now gone but not forgotten once sat. And finally there are those things that are lost and which are found again that bring as joy in their rediscovery, especially if they are those special things that can’t be replaced.

But never lose sight that houses are places of dreams and plans. Of things to come and of happy days to be had in the future. That mustn’t be forgotten or overlooked in the memories of the past. We fill house with love and warmth that turns them in to homes where little ones grow to fly the nest. Safe and secure in the love of the world. The future is what you make it to be as you move forward and onward and it will one day become the memories of the past and of our love. A house can hold all this for us and more.

There is one thing that is sure, people leave and depart and one day when everyone has left the memories will be gone and the house will be empty as things pass into history. It is then that the cycle starts again when someone new makes a new home with new memories and dreams. And so onward matches time until one day nobody comes and the house becomes an empty shell of the past decaying back to the earth from which it came.

Strange what you think about when the house is quite...