Spacemen before Bed

Another grey start to the day. I'm starting to wonder if we will ever see the sun again in the morning before the autumn is upon us. With the weather the way it was the it today the only thing was to play inside and and make sure we made the most of the sunny spells to get out into the garden.

Something unusual happened when I picked up Lucy, her Grandmother, Bubba, arrived at the same time, she was picking something up. It was the first time I had seen her for ages and I wish I had had the Emily and Catherine with me. They both would have loved to see her. They both have a soft spot for her and love her loads. As for me, it was nice to see her too, especially with Lucy and how they both interact. I have always liked her from the first time I met her. It was nice to talk to her even if it was only for a few minutes. On the way home we chatted about Bubba and I can tell how much Lucy loves her too.

When we got home Lucy there was the customary welcome for Emily, Catherine and George before she played shops with me. We took it in turns being shop keeper and shopper. It was great fun playing with her and I even manage to take a little video of it which I later posted on my Facebook page. During the morning there were lots of hugs for George and me, then there was playing on the Xbox 360 with Emily and finally plate decorating with Catherine on the paper plates. Lucy loves drawing just as much as Catherine does.

Before lunch we made a quick trip to the supermarket to pick up supplies for the weekend and more importantly more ice lollies for the afternoon. All the ones from yesterday had been consumed, except for the yellow ones that always get left to last. We got two boxes but I'm not sure they will last for long. Lucy can consume them at an alarming rate just as can when she is eating bananas and apples. 

After lunch a ham and tomato rolls the girls got down to playing again. With Lucy getting the train set out to play with and Catharine going on the computer to update her Facebook and chat with her friends, while Emliy had gone round to Charlie's and George's house to play on the Xbox 360 with them both. Later in the afternoon, when Emily returned and I gave them all some bubbles to blow and play with in the family room. Catherine and Lucy played beautifully together for most of the afternoon.

Before Dinner Catherine headed out with Lucy to take George for a walk. I'm not sure where they went but they were gone for half an hour. Catherine loves taking George on a walk even if it is on her own. It gives her some space from Emily which she needs sometimes.

For Dinner we all sat down to honey glazed gammon and fresh vegetables. The honey glazed gammon turned out to be popular, even with Catherine who has been rather picky of late.

What was wonderful about the time just before Lucy's bedtime was the space game she started playing. The kitchen became a space ship and the garden space. She was the commander of the ship and she was taking us on rides to visit space. It was all very amusing and well as being an insight in how imaginative someone so small can be. 

It was all too soon for Lucy to go to bed and off up the stairs she went for a space bath. She had a great time in the bath and add some more toys to her bathroom fun. One of which she pretended was a rocket. Finally with the bath over and hair washed it was bath time, and to carry on the space theme I read her Q Pootle 5 which she loves. Lucy is at the monsters under the bed stage and was talking about the monsters at her mummies before she went to sleep. I took the same approach as I took with Catherine and explained that people and have cats and dogs do so to scare the monsters away. It seemed to reassure her combined with a quick check under the bed. So finally with kisses and cuddles for all the people she loves she went start off to sleep hugging Ollie and her juice bottle. I love peeping on her before I go to bed. It's lovely.

Tonight was the start of the new X-Factor session, something I never watched properly until I was introduced to it back in 2007. Now Catherine loves it and I still enjoy it too. It use to be a whole family event every saturday night, now it is just the two of us that watch it all. I'm sure Lucy would love it too, but it is just that to late for her. I hope it is a good year. I think sharing television programmes is important. Given I don't really watch soaps, like Emily and Catherine, this gives us an entertainment bond which is always good. Not sure what to make of the first show there was nobody that really made me go they have the X-Factor, whatever that is. 

Before bed the Emily and Catherine cleaned up the mess left by Lucy, there wasn't time to get Lucy to help tonight, before they headed off for the land of nod. I know they have had a great day despite the weather.

Lets hope the weather is better Monday and we finally make it out to the country parks in Northamptonshire. As for tomorrow we will try and make it to the play area's around Rutland water in the morning, fingers crossed.

Windy Day

When I work up the wind was blowing through the trees and if it was wasn't for the warmth in the air you would have thought it was autumn with it cloudy skies and brisk breezes. I was just glad the weather forecast for rain proved to be wrong and the rain was mainly blown away by the wind.

I was first out of bed by miles and even the George was asleep in his bed and didn't even stir as I came down to make a coffee to wake myself up. As I sat, I pondered what the day ahead would bring and what we could do with such a grey day. I didn't want them all to be stuck indoors all day. We will have enough of that to come when the summer is over.

I picked Lucy from her mummies at the normal time. It was lovely to see her. She just talked and talked. I love the way she wants to tell me all that it important to her. It just warms my heart and brings a big smile to my face. Today we set off to the CoOp to get some food for lunch and some petrol for the car. She was so good round the supermarket and she got some sweets herself and her big sisters and we had to wait ages at the petrol station.

When we got home Lucy went to straight to find Emily and Catherine to give them their sweets, she had already eaten hers on the way home. Thier faces lit up when they saw her and the both gave her a big hug and thank for the sweets to which Lucy replied "you're welcome". Soon they were all playing in the family room together expect for the occasional visit to sit on my lap and give me a nice long cuddle. 

For lunch they all had ham sandwiches in the family room, and we discovered the Lucy has a love of sweet pickle. She was trying to get Catherine to spoon it on to the side of her plate so she could eat it with the clean spoon she got from the kitchen. 

In the afternoon we headed out to Oakham park at Emily and Catherine request. They wanted to go there with Lucy and mentioned it yesterday while we were there with me. It was lovely to see Lucy pushing Emily around on the roundabout and having so much fun. Emily was really impressed at how fast little Lucy could push her. They all had a great time at the park together.

Just before we left Emily started playing with a little girl and ended up looking after her for her mother while she checked to see if it was her car alarm going off. She is turning into a lovely young person and I'm so proud of her when she plays and looks after the younger children. 

After the park popped to the supermarket to get some food for dinner and some ice lollies for being so good at the park. I also thought it might cool them off in the muggy air of the afternoon before we set off back home.

For dinner the girls had southern fried chicken, mini roast potatoes and sweet corn. Lucy loves sweet corn and was soon trying acquire as much as she could from every source possible. For puddling they all had another ice lolly each. Too soon it was time to get Lucy dressed again and returned to her mummy. I got a lovely big cuddle and "I love you daddy" before she knocked on her mummies door and was gone again until the morning.

After I got back from dropping Lucy off, for the last time on a friday, the Emily and Catherine were playing between watching television. Unfortunately the plans I had evening didn't workout, so that will have to wait for another day, and so the highlight of their evening was Eastenders, after which they helped clean the toys away and emptied and refilled the dishwasher for me. Before long it was time for bed and off they went. 

I had a great day with them all even if I did feel sad towards the end of the day when Emily found a get well soon card to my mum she looked at and put away before died. It took me back to a time when life was so so different and sadness of losing one person was replaced with the joy of the arrival of other. It was a time I don't remember too well. I was too busy looking after everyone especially after my mum died and before Lucy arrived.

The weather looks at best changeable for tomorrow, but I hope it is mainly dry so we can go out to one of the country parks in Northamptonshire, they look really nice and it will be a good excuse for picnic, as if we needed one. 

Mostly Dry

Well at last we had a mostly dry say and we even got to see some sun in the morning although it did cloud over and rain in the evening, but at least we could get out of the house.

The morning was spent mainly in and around the house with Emily and Catherine watching TV or playing on the computers. It was a very lazy morning they both got up late. They must have needed their sleep. especially Catherine who is normally the first to rise. 

In the afternoon we headed out to Oakham park to have some fun and get some fresh air. The weather wasn't wonderful but it was nice and warm and we all had a super time. Oakham is a super park and it in a lovely setting with Oakham Church and the Old School being on the edge of it. It was just nice to get out again and not be stuck in the house other than going shopping. Emily and Catherine had a lovely time.

After we finished at the park, just before the rain started to fall, we head off to the shops to get some food for dinner before going home, with the rain falling on the windscreen of the car.

While cooking dinner Emily went out to her friends to play on the Xbox 360, while Catherine decided to watch some television while playing on the computer and after dinner they both played quietly in the family room to bedtime.

Can't wait to see little Lucy tomorrow. It will be the last Friday she comes, on the weekend I have her, that she doesn't sleep over. Her mummy kindly suggested it yesterday and I was more than happy to have the extra night. She will be staying Friday through to Sunday. I'm really looking forward to that happening, it will free up Saturday to go out places further afield.

Wet Days and Sunny Evenings

The last two days have been at best showery if not just wet. Not what is needed for the last part of the children's summer holidays.

The poor things have spent most of the time inside the house. Every time we have tried to venture out in the day to the park down has came the rain. Yes there have been beautiful of rainbows but it is not what we wanted or expected. The only thing to be thankful for is the evening sun which has managed to appear two evenings in a row. At least that has given them a couple of hours to play out with their friends around the village.

Although they have found things to do and games to play indoors I know they are longing to go out. I hope we get some more sunshine before the holiday's are over so the summer can end with some fun.

Three Girls and a Dog

Poor little Lucy must have been exhausted from seeing her sisters yesterday, she didn't wake until I got her up. A rare thing indeed. Gently as she lay asleep I stroked her cheek and slowly her little eyes open and looked me full in the face and a big wide grin appeared on her face. Slowly she got out of bed and onto her feet and gave me the most lovely hug and said "I love you Daddy". I hope this is one memory that will never fade with time. 

After our hug we went off to find Emily and Catherine and try and get them out of bed. Now in one case, Catherine, that wasn't hard but in the other case, Emily, it mission impossible. Teenage tendencies are really starting to kick in. 

With Catherine up, and Emily still in bed we headed downstairs to make some breakfast and it was long before Lucy and Catherine were watching some morning television while laying on the sofa together.  After a while Lucy decided Emily should get up and she marched upstairs shouting "Get up Emily, it's morning". When I got there Emily was still hiding under the covers so I pulled Emily bedding off so she had to get up. Lucy found it all highly amusing and then wanted to get into her bed and give her a morning hug.

With them all awake they all went into the family room together and started to play together until it was time to have lunch. I cooked the girls a meal so we had more time out in the afternoon. The cloudy cool morning turned into a lovely hot afternoon and we wanted to make the most of it.

After lunch we headed out to Melton Mowbray to the country park with Catharine in the back seats of the car with George. George really doesn't like the car but with someone to sit with him he settles eventually. You just have to make sure that the person in the back has some thing to cover their legs so he doesn't hurt them with his claws. 

As soon as we arrived Lucy and Catherine headed of together for the children's play area while Emily and George headed out to the fields to get some exercise. The weather was lovely and after a while Lucy and Catherine went to the café together to buy and ice cream to cool down. When they came back we all sat on the grass after moving away from the tables because of the wasp's which Lucy really dislikes. It wasn't long before we spotted Emily and George running together in the fields before she headed off to the woods. After Lucy and Catherine had finished their ice creams they went off to the children's play area and were having a great time when Emily reappeared. Emily was thirsty so another trip to the café was in order for drinks which they all drank in the shade of the trees. They were happy to stay there until Lucy wanted to walk George to and headed back out into the fields with Emily she was having a lovely time. It was lovely to see them all so happy together. Eventually with little George needing a rest they all went off to the climbing area for some more fun before finally going to the stepping stones to play before we headed home. It was a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

On the way home we popped into the supermarket in Melton and got the things we needed for Dinner and for tomorrow. Emily stayed in the car to look after George, while Catherine and Lucy came with me. Lucy instead on carrying the basket for me until I put something in it. Then she went hand in hand with Catherine round the shop stopping to buy a bag of sweets for everyone for after dinner. They were both so good in the shop and very helpful.

For Dinner I made everyone hot dogs, they all love them with lashings of tomato ketchup and in Lucy's case with onions too. It's nice to do finger foods once in a while even if I do miss having them round the table. It just nice to eat informally while watch television or playing. You just have to make sure George is out the way to stop him nicking everyones food.

I felt sad having to take Lucy back to her mummies, I really wanted to see a bit more of her, but I know her mummy misses her as much as I do when I don't see her. We had a lovely time in the car on the way there and I played music to her and we danced. As I got her out the car all the pennies she had in her car seat fell out and we had to pick them up. So with money and sweets in hand she trotted off inside the house until we meet again.

When I got home I made a call to Catherine's and Emily's mum. Catherine has been rather moody of late and I needed to discuss it with her. I'm sure it is a phase and I remember Emily going through the same thing at the same age and she has now grown out it. Just thought it was best if we tackled it together and if we both talk about her to her feeling may be we can make this time pass a bit easier for her.

Before bed the girls relaxed and caught up on some of the television they missed while enjoying a ice cream milkshake to fill their tummies before bed.

I really enjoyed having Lucy again for three nights and four days in a row. It is lovely to see her and not have to worry about the time. I feel it makes us much closer and I know that Emily and Catherine find that too. I just wish I had her over night more often. I would see her everyday if it was possible. 

Finally it was nice to get a thank you text for having her. I hope she settles well for her mummy. I should get a text in the morning letting me know, well I asked.