After the excitement of yesterday I was pretty sure Friday would end up being a bit of an anticlimax but of course I shouldn’t have been so pessimistic! We are all completely exhausted this evening after the kids’ energy levels reached a new high and we just weren’t allowed to stop. Fortunately they are both flat out asleep but the adults aren’t far behind.
After an overcast start to the day (which began with E climbing in with me well before 7am and insisting I read her a story all about the Hairy Haggis) the weather has just gotten better and better which is lovely but not so great for my poor nose which is now peeling profusely!
A quick fire pre-weekend top 5 for you to enjoy:
1. For some unknown reason I had agreed to accompany my wife on a run first thing this morning. I think I’d convinced myself it would be a good recovery run after my 10k which I’d completed only 10 hours earlier but actually I just want to support her as she works her way through C25k. I learnt that there’s a fine balance between being supportive and encouraging, and sounding like Mr Motivator and annoying the hell out of her. It’s a balance I don’t think I got quite right, but I’ll keep trying (if she lets me come on another run with her!) 🏋️♀️
2. This morning the sporting activities continued with football, cricket and scootering high on the agenda. M derives so much joy from playing with his sister and that makes it a lot easier to teach/ coach/ supervise. He also has developed a real love this week for Grandma’s garden. He just loves wandering around looking at, smelling and then (when he thinks no one is watching) picking the flowers. He particularly loves the lavender, presumably because of the gorgeous smell. The only downside to his new passion is that he’s taken to trying to catch the many bees which hang out in the flowerbeds. It freaks E out no end when he almost catches one in his hand but I suppose it’s one of those life lessons you might have to learn the hard way! 🐝
3. As readers from yesterday know, E had grand plans for an 8 mile bike ride this afternoon. I was a bit apprehensive but knowing how determined she is, we packed up and headed off. It was an inconspicuous start as she lost balance after 12 metres and wobbled off the pavement onto the main road but we quickly recovered and made it safely onto the railway line. I’ll be honest, she was fantastic! She worked her legs so hard and chatted away to me and we sang as we went. Lots of cyclists went past us but we overtook pedestrians too and she handled that really well. We stopped for refreshments at half way (with matching flamingo glasses!) and then turned for home. We were half way back when E decided to try and brush some of her hair out of her nose, lost control and went careering into a nettle bush. It was horrific. She was so upset and I am definitely scarred for life. The dock leaves had limited effect despite Daddy’s promises and she declared that she was never going on her bike again. But I’m delighted to report she did and we cycled back very carefully. If anyone reading this is lucky enough to speak directly to E in the near future, make sure to comment about how impressive her cycling is! You’ll make a friend for life! 🚴🏼♀️
4. Grandma appeared back from the shop this afternoon with surprise presents for the kids. M was delighted with his Duplo counting train and E was really chuffed with her new lego set. Now I’m a pretty big fan of lego, especially those packs with instructions given that my imagination isn’t up to much these days. The only problem is that the toy is for a E and it would be nice if she sat and built it herself. I don’t mean she shouldn’t have help but some active participation from the child would be very nice. Instead she just left me to it as she took the little characters off to play in whatever the latest fantasy world is she has created. I didn’t get it completed before bed, so the parting shot from my darling daughter was to “make sure you have my lego all finished by the morning as I want to play with it as soon as I get up!” I’m telling you know that I haven’t bothered and I’ll just have to accept the consequences tomorrow! 👷🏼♂️
5. Steph and I announced that we would make tea tonight as a thank you to our amazing hostess all week. After that was agreed, there was then a bit of a panic as we tried to decide what to make. We ultimately settled on a chicken dinner. Now, dinners are very fine things when cooked well regardless of whether it is a Sunday lunchtime or a Friday evening. Everything turned out pretty good even if it did take longer than planned meaning I ended up cooking chicken nuggets and chips for the kids to stop them dying of starvation (apparently a genuine risk according to my elder child!) Got to love a job done well and we are all set up for a busy weekend. Let’s be having you!!!! 🍽
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