Today started with a bit of deja vu as M joined us just after 1am. I think my wife took the brunt of it as I just woke up with morning to find him sleeping across my feet, like a badly behaved dog who insists on climbing on the bed!
Today also saw the big farewell to Grandma so tonight will be the first night E has slept in a different house for over 2 weeks. Sad times! She has been brilliant however and loved every minute of her extra special holiday.
We are on the cusp of yet another new week so let’s head straight into the top 5:
1. After an unfortunate early start, and buoyed by my decent run yesterday, I decided to head out again. I have no idea why but I wanted to double up and try a 10k in the early morning sunshine. During my challenge earlier in lockdown I got my 10k time down to just over an hour but have never managed to break that barrier. So that was what was in the back of my mind when I started and I deliberately chose a flat run. I was pleasantly surprised to smash my PB and go more than 2 minutes under the hour. My legs definitely felt it after my run yesterday but I feel that it was a real step forward when I consider where I was at the start of lockdown! 🏃♂️
2. The big planting experience took place and our flower bed border now looks so much better. My green fingered mother can take all the credit but it’s now over to us to try and keep it looking good. We couldn’t find a single ant after yesterday’s extermination attempt so I think we can chalk that up as a victory. Steph is also very pleased and inevitably now has grand plans for the next set of plants she wants me to buy. All we need now is for M to start sniffing the lavender. And then eat it (his usual party trick!) 🌷
3. M found the play doh today and insisted on getting it out. We are not big fans – it gets everywhere and is an absolute pain to clean up. In fact I don’t remember the last time it was out. But of course Grandma was happy to supervise and the grandkids duly obliged by sitting very nicely and playing together. They even cleaned up after themselves at the end. I don’t know what this mysterious power that grandparents have is but I wouldn’t mind just 1% of it. My kids are just really well behaved for others but let their inner devils out when they are “just” with their parents. 😈
4. After Grandma left the house became very quiet very quickly. E went for a lie down (read, she snuck a screen up to her bedroom and no doubt watched the blasted Sarah & Duck), M played his favourite game (read, he had a nice nap) and Mammy and Daddy chilled with a bit of Pirates of the Caribbean. There’s definitely something to be said about lazy Sunday afternoons. Sadly that didn’t last long as the kids went just a tad hyper afterwards and insisted on playing a number of very inventive games. We played bridges, doctors and patients and hairdressers, to name just 3. I’ve noticed I always end up being the submissive character in these games and usually just have to sit still and be told when to move, and how. Such is the love a father has for his children that I feel obliged to always comply! 💇♂️
5. Tonight was a never ending story time. The kids were ready earlier than usual so I offered three bedtime stories in the hope I could get ahead of the game. That worked well until we actually took them upstairs and they both then insisted on more stories from their beds. Steph ended up reading another 4 for M and he then got out of bed to pick a 5th. She drew the line there and left him very upset that we weren’t satisfying his appetite for stories! I do love that they are both turning into bookworms but it does make the bedtime routine somewhat extended! 📚
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