Sunday at Home

After all the excitement of the parks yesterday afternoon and a Sunday lunch to cook for everyone I decided we should all have a nice day at home until after Lucy returned to her mummies. in any case it was a cold grey start to the day with a chilly wind and there was cakes to make to keep people busy.

Lucy had a bit of restless night. I think she is starting to dream and the dreams are waking her up sometimes, she woke before six this morning and I got her back to sleep until eight. She was still tired and she went back to straight back to sleep, all I know that something disturbed her, but she seemed alright.

When Lucy did wake for the final time we came downstairs to a lovely good morning from George in his cage. Lucy had a banana and then we settled down together to watch some television together in the chair before Catherine came down to join us. After a cuddle from Catherine for Lucy, Catherine went off to make them both a bowl of cereal each which they sat down and ate together. I love the way Catherine just makes her breakfast without even asking.

When Emily got up we started making chocolate chip cakes. Nine in total. One each after they cooled and two each for after dinner. They had great fun mixing the ingredients, pouring the mixture and of course the best bit licking the bowl. Little Lucy was covered in cake mix by the time she had finished and the clean top I had put on her a few hours had to go back in the washing machine. If mess equals fun for a two year old then Lucy had lots of fun.

After the cakes came out of the oven they were replaced with the chicken for our Sunday dinner and while the cakes cooled Lucy and myself went off to the farm shop to get some potatoes for dinner. While we were there I showed Lucy the chickens that had laid our eggs that we had yesterday and that we used in the cake. She loved them and every time we pass she say's hello chickens so it was nice for her to see them all.

When I got home they all had the first of their cakes and I had a coffee. As soon I had finished that I went back into the kitchen with Lucy and I started to prepare the vegetables. Lucy standing on her blue stool was taking the peelings and putting them in a jug and mixing them like she was cooking. If that wasn't fun enough the radio started playing "We No Speak Americano" and we both started dancing to the beat with me chopping carrots in time. It was one of those lovely moments that are so special. I can see us playing that in the car when it all fixed and working again.

For dinner today we had roast chicken, garlic mini roasts, roast parsnips, spring greens, carrots, runner beans and yorkshire puddings. A meal fit for a princess and with three princesses in the house just what was needed to feed hungry tummies. It  was really nice and with the promise of chocolate cake for pudding Lucy tried everything and ate quite well. 

While we were having dinner we got a text saying that Lucy's mummy was delayed in B&Q and would be 30 minutes late home. I didn't mind too much, it just meant we had to change our plans as regards doing the shopping and take Lucy with us. The problem was I couldn't grantee the drop off time and in the end she went back nearly an hour after her normal drop off time on a Sunday. The least said about the drop off the better, but I did send Lucy off with the sweets she brought for Mary at the supermarket yesterday and some more that she got today, it didn't end well today.

After Lucy left us we head out to Melton country park to have some fun and take George for a walk. At last he is getting better in the car and sat in the back with the girls and looked out the window on the way there and sat on Emily's lap on the way back. At the country park Emily made some friends and started building a shelter out of dead wood that was laying about against one of the trees and when Catherine found her she joined in. Unfortunately the aerial runway was in use nearly all the time but I'm glad they had a great time with the shelter. I know George enjoyed his walk with Catherine. I also manage to get a couple of great photographs of a toad I found in the woods when I was getting wood for Emily.

When we got home we had a quick dinner and Emily and Catherine settled down to watch a film before it was time for Catherine's shower and then bed for both of them. 

It has been a lovely weekend and I'm so glad Lucy is staying two nights instead of one. It feels like this is her home again and not just somewhere she passes through and that is important to me. I want her to know it is her home and she is always welcome anytime. I love all my children to bits and always will. It is just a shame they can't be together all the time but that will never happen now.

Parks in the Afternoon

The morning came early with Lucy in the house but it is a lovely way to be woken up to the sound of Lucy calling "Daddy it's morning". The joy of life with which she wakes still fills my heart with warmth and something I remember from when she lived her all the time.

When we got down stairs we had some breakfast and we watched some television. Lucy was all nice and snuggled in blanket. The weather outside was misty with the promise of sun later, which thankfully appeared before lunch but vanished by mid afternoon. We were meant to be going to the seaside today, but because of the problems with the car dashboard we couldn't go. Given the weather it was probably a good thing we stayed at in Rutland, it would have been cold in a sea breeze.

We waited until nine o'clock before getting Emily and Catherine out of bed. We both went up stairs and woke them up with a cheery refrain which was met by the sounds of groans, but we turned them around when Lucy went bouncing on Emily's bed followed Catherine's bed. Soon they were all laughing. Just the way to start the day.

The morning was spent around the house and in the garden. Catherine went off at one point to the farm shop to buy some eggs for her breakfast while Emily played with Lucy. Lucy played all of her usual games with everyone and was collecting pennies from everyone to put in her Peppa Pig purse to play shops. I just the love the way that every so often she comes back to me for a hug and cuddle on my lap. I will be sad when she grows out of that.

We had a big Lunch so we could make the best use of the time in the afternoon. Today we set out for the parks and play area's in Oakham. First we went to the large park in the centre of town so Emily and Catherine could play on the new things that have been installed in the park since they were last there. Emily really loved the new things to do and thought that it was really good they have something for the older children to play on other than the swings. At one point we all sat down to have drinks that we brought with us, with Lucy running back to twister every time it was free for a quick spin. 

After a while Emily suggested that we pop into Beans, the coffee shop, for some ice cream. You get a lovely large pot of ice cream for a pound. So hand in hand they went in to the shop together and came out with three tubs of lovely chocolate ice cream which they ate on the steps of the church.

After popping into the supermarket to get some food for dinner, and a ride for Lucy on Thunderbird 2, we went back to Oakham park to play some more. This time Emily met one of her friends from school and they went off to play together on the large spinning ring, while Catherine went with Lucy and myself to play in the playground. We had a super time. What was really nice was seeing Lucy pushing a really little boy and his daddy round the roundabout slowly for which got a big thank you from the little boys mummy. She loves pushing people round the roundabout.

We got to the point were we had exhausted all the possibilities at Oakham Park so we set off towards the High School and the play area there. We had passed it many times but I hadn't thought of going there until Catherine suggested it a few days ago. I was surprised when Lucy said she goes there lots, I thought she played mainly at Oakham park. It had a lot of things for older children to do and a small play area for the younger ones. Lucy and myself head off to the fenced of area for the younger children while Catherine and Emily started to master the tracked skateboards together. With free parking it will be somewhere we go again soon, it is just a shame there isn't a fence between the field and the roadside to protect the younger children a bit better from the road. Other than it is a great place for them all to play. The only reason we left was because Catherine had managed to bump her head and need to put some ice on it.

When we got home it was time for dinner. We had manage to spend the whole of the afternoon and some of the evening out in the parks enjoying the mild weather. Thankfully we had a quick meal planned so we didn't have to waste too much time cooking, however there was one disaster, we were meant to be cooking cakes for pudding but somehow the mixture went all over the floor and that was the end of that for the day, but never mind, we can make some more tomorrow in the morning.

We were late getting Lucy to bed and she watch a bit of the X-factor with the girls. She loved it and was soon dancing in the chair and around the room to the songs. I wish they would put it on a little earlier so all the family could watch it together. Six o'clock would be an ideal time. It really is a family show that everyone can enjoy. It was lovely they enjoyed some of it together. Just need to get the coal fires going to make it all cosy as we move into autumn. 

Before Lucy went to bed she found a clean pair knickers and she wanted to put them on. She rushed up stairs and took off her pull-up and put them on. She was so proud of herself and was showing them off. She wanted to keep them on for bed but we managed to persuade her that she should wear a pull-up under them. It is clear that she really wants to get out of her pull-ups now. I said if she could show me that she can use her potty and keep her pull-up dry we could give it a go. It won't be long now to the days of pulls-ups during the day are over.

Tonight it was Emily's turn to help me with Lucy at bedtime. She helped out with the bath and read her a story before I gave her hugs and kisses from the special people in her life and she drifted off to sleep. Lucy was really good with her bath tonight and especially with washing her hair.

With Lucy safely tucked up in bed the girls went into the family room to watch a film and check out there Facebook pages which took them up to there bedtime. Catherine head was till hurting from the bump she got and I had to give her some pain killer to help her out. After that she joined the others in the land of nod.

Despite not going to the seaside we had a super afternoon in the parks in Oakham. It was lovely to see them all playing together and enjoying there ice creams. They have all had a smashing time.

Friday Fun

The promise of the sunset arrived inline with the sayings of the past and the day started lovely and sunny, and like yesterday it was just the right temperature, not too hot or too cold. What was special about today was that it was the first time that Lucy was staying two nights on a regular basis and something she is more than ready for now.

Catherine and Emily got up at half past seven and made their packed lunches and got ready for school. By quarter past eight Emily and myself headed out the door to her new school in Oakham. Thankfully when I start work we have arranged a lift to and from school on the days I can't do it. Catherine meanwhile took herself to school at half past eight to meet her friends in the playground, something she started doing at the end of the last school year.

After a shave and shower I picked up Lucy at ten and we headed out to the park to enjoy the morning sunshine. It was really quiet there after the holidays and we almost had the whole play area to ourselves. Lucy loves the new things there to play with and  quickly had me on rotating ring with her. At first she tried to push me around but it is just too stiff, so I had to help her with my feet. What we did discover, much to Lucy's amusement, that when I got to certain point on the ring my weight pulled the ring down much to my surprise. Boy did she chuckle and laugh as nearly fell off the first time it happened. Needless to say we spent a long time on the ring before we headed off to play on all the other things in the playground. She had a super time and so did I.

Most of the rest of the day was spent at home. I managed to get all the times wrong for doing things, basically because I got use to not having to worry about the time we did things in the afternoon during the school holidays. I just messed up the timing of everything. I wanted to get out to another park in the afternoon and when I got round to looking at the clock it was all too late. All the same we had a great time playing trains in the family room, cars in the garden and I'm teaching how to use the painting program on the old PSone that girls use now and again. I had a lovely time playing with her.

About forty minutes before Catherine came home we popped to the supermarket to get some food for the next few days. Lucy was really good waiting until we came out of the supermarket to have ago on the Thunderbird ride, when we went in I didn't have any change on me. One of the things we got while were there was some things to make cakes with tomorrow, something they all love doing.

When we got home Lucy got a big Catherine welcome, they hadn't seen each other for a week. Instantly Lucy latched onto her and they played together in the family room and watch some television together as well as playing in the garden. I did say to Lucy in the afternoon, when she had Georges lead on her toy dog, she could take George for a walk with Catherine but we both forgot to ask Catherine. Maybe they can do that together tomorrow morning.

Emily wasn't due home late today. If you read yesterday's entry you will know she was off out in Oakham with her friends having coffee. They went off to Costa Coffee and while she was there she bumped into Lucy's mummy and her Lucy's other sister Mary. Emily told us when she got home how Mary smiled from ear to ear and how Emily offered her a sweet. I know Emily was pleased to see her and Catherine wished she had been there too, even Lucy asked about Emily seeing her mummy and her sister. Emily's social calendar is filling up and at this rate we will hardly see her before dinner in the next few weeks, she even arranges her own lifts home.

When Emily got home I started cooking for everyone. Tonight we had a chicken curry with pilau rice. It was Catherine who requested a curry and by having a mild curry it went down well with everybody. Lucy loved the yellow spicy rice and asked for more.

All to soon it was time for Lucy's bath and she happily trotted up the stairs, only to say she didn't like baths when she got to the bathroom and the water was running. It seems she is frightened of slipping in the bath but we managed to reassure her and she got in and sat down and we had loads of fun. When she got out Catherine helped me dry her and read her two stories, while I got her juice ready and then read her her final story and gave her everyones kisses and hugs. She closed her eyes and fell into the land of nod.

With Lucy in bed Emily and Catherine, tired from their day, went on Facebook and chatted to their friends before helping me tidying the toys away and going to bed themselves.

It lovely to see th three of them together and I'm so pleased we have the extra night now. I was hoping to go out to the seaside with everyone tomorrow. Everything is perfect including the weather, but with no dashboard display on the car and not being able to trust the battery in the satellite navigation system for the drive we will have to think of other things to do.

Sunny Langham

It been another lovely day here in Langham. The morning cloud melted away into lovely sunshine that shone all day long. Better still it wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold. Just the sort of weather that makes you smile, and a lovely way to finish my summer holidays.

Again this morning I took Emily to school in Oakham, but soon she is going to have to get herself there and back on her own. It is amazing how fast her confidence has grown even since she started at the new school. This evening she went round to her friends house in Oakham and tomorrow she is going out with her friends after school for a coffee in the town. I knew she would change, but I didn't expect it to happen this quickly. 

Catherine, meanwhile is growing too without her sisters shadow to hide in. At last she can find herself and grow in confidence. The year six teacher at Langham is wonderful and I'm sure by the time it her turn to leave the school she will really have surprised herself. She so looking forward to going away with the school and I know it will do her the world of good. Catherine with her new independence invited her own friend around today and they had a great time together. 

The end of the day was as lovely as it started. The sun burned into the west producing a lovely sunset that promises a fine day today. I hope the old weather tales are right as have little Lucy is here tomorrow, it is just a shame the dashboard is still broken which has spoiled my weekend plans, but sure we think of something nice to do.

High School

Today is Emily's first day at high school. She was so excited when she got home last night she put her uniform on we had picked up with Lucy. I was right, she is so proud of herself, and she feels so grown up. It's amazing to think looking at her now that she was once Lucy's size. Catherine feels a little left out, but I promised we make as much fuss when she goes up to high school too. 

Emily got up herself really early, showered and made her own pack lunch before even I got up, something that is unheard of for my practicing teenager, such was her excitement at her first day. When I came down stairs she was already to go and boy did she look grown up in her new uniform. As we drove to the school her nerves kicked in but it was still being out done by the thoughts of all the new friends she would make and all the new things to do.

When she came home she was talking for England about all she had done in her day. Telling us what it was like, what lessons she had and new friends she had made. Clearly the new school has lived up to all she wanted it to be a more, which is what I hoped. First impressions are important and I think in this case they sold the school to Emily and I hope her she fulfills her dreams there.