It was another of those grey start to the day that reminds you that it really now is autumn and whatever you do the weather is going to play it's part in. Gone are the days when you knew it would be dry and plan to go out and have fun in the fresh air. You just have to take each day as it comes and make use of any fine weather that comes your way.
The morning started much like any other with Emily and Catherine getting up for school and making their own packed lunches and breakfasts. Then I ran Emily into Oakham and came back to make sure Catherine got to school on time. While I was away Catherine fed and walked George and finished getting her stuff together for school. They seem to have sorted out a nice routine for themselves.
Just after Catherine leaves I have just over an hour of peace and quiet before getting little Lucy from her mummies. This gives me time to have a coffee, a shower and a shave before I have to head out to Oakham.
Today's pick up was slightly unusual in that I was given some boxes to finally pack away Lucy's mummies books from our house. She left them behind when she left. I was really pleased to see Lucy and she gave my leg a hug as my hands were full. It was all rather lovely as always and we chatted as we walked to the car and drove home.
Most of the morning with Lucy was spent inside the house playing games and having cuddles. After a bit we did get down to colouring in an old colouring book she found in the family room in one of her toy boxes. The only problem was that we couldn't many of her crayons. Somehow they always managed to get lost no matter how many times you gather them up, so we didn't have many colours to chose from, but all the same she did have loads of fun.
With the weather being the way it was going to the park wasn't an option and so just before lunch we headed out to Corby to do some shopping and have some fun and on the way to the shops we popped in to Greggs for lunch. Lucy just loves the sausage rolls and had a bottle of water to wash it all down. We only needed a few things from the shops for dinner and I needed a new headlight bulb for the car. Other than that it was just nice to get out and do some window shopping at the same time.
Lucy was really good around the shops, as always. She seems to be like Catherine and loves shopping and never finds it a chore unlike her big sister Emily. She had great fun in Halfords helping me find the right bulb by emptying the shelves of the bulbs one by one and giving one of each different type until I had the right one. Thankfully she picked the right one after I had about six in my hand, otherwise we would have been there all day putting them back. There were hundrads of them.
After we had finished shopping we headed off to Cheeky Monkeys. A soft play area much like Rascals in Stamford but with slightly more to do. I'm not sure she has been before but I'm guessing not since she didn't seem to know the place. It is slightly more expensive than Rascals but it has one thing going for it in that the coffee is better, but Lucy didn't get a free drink.
When we arrived her face beamed from ear to ear at the monkey sign, but when got in she was unsure of what to play with first. We tried the floating ball machine but that sounded too much like a vacuum cleaner and she doesn't like those at all. It was going to take a bit of confidence building to get her to play with that so we left it to try out the slides. Again with nobody to follow she was a bit apprehensive so in the end I went up to the top of the slide with her and we came down together hand in hand. The same sort thing happened on the tube slide and I had to go with her the first time. After that she was off on her own going up and sliding down, again and again and exploring the higher levels all by herself.
On of the major things they did have there that Rascals doesn't is a indoor mini football pitch. We both went in there together and she was soon kicking the football into the back of the net and cheering. She is a real tomboy sometimes just like her big sister Emily, mixed with bits of Catherine and Mary rolled into one. While we were playing football "We No Speak Americano" came of the sound system and Lucy began dancing, it was so funny and sweet both at the same time. I'm so glad she had remembered the fun we had last Sunday and got me to join in too.
Before we left we went back to the floating ball machine and we a bit of encouragement and showing her it was safe and not going to eat her she managed to master her fear and start to play with it. She loved the place so much she didn't want to leave and although she didn't cry she did avoid putting her shoes on for ages.
On the way home we popped to Oakham to pick up Emily form school slightly late due Lucy wanting to stay at Cheeky Monkeys. Emily didn't seem to mind to much, and she was waiting at the side of the road talking to her friends. When we got home to Catherine it was straight out to play in the garden where Lucy had loads of fun locking Emily in her toy house as well as playing her bike.
After a quick dinner, which I cooked while they were playing inside they all settled down to watch a film. Unfortunately time caught up with us and the film unfinished Lucy had to return to her mummies. With hug and kisses all round and some sweets in her bag Lucy said her farewells for another day with Emily walking her to the car for an extra cuddle.
As soon as I got back from dropping Lucy off it was off out again to take Emily and Catherine to their mums for the weekend. They were both pleased to she her and she was pleased to see them. I know they both value their time with they mum so much and I'm sure they will have loads of fun. It will be quiet without them but it is a chance to recharge the batteries and have a lovely weekend and a memroable one with the end of a TV show I have watched for years.
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