One of those days.

Have you ever had a day that has just been a struggle? Today has been just such a day for me.

I have had to keep looking at my feet to make sure I am in fact not walking through treacle!!

Ugh.

Through the night, last night, poor K was inconsolable. She had woken up and was super sad to be alone in her room. I felt really bad for her, she shared a room with Murray and I last week at the holiday house and enjoyed waking up and seeing us. I just cuddled her and reminded her that she had her baw baw and Emmy and that her new fish Hannah was by her bed. Eventually she settled and I was able to return to my room. It sure made for a tiring day today though! Both of us being tired equals a disaster usually! She whines when she is tired. A lot. And my whine tolerance is less than zero when I am tired.

oy.

Last week we added a new member to our family. The kids have been wanting goldfish for a long long time, so after a recent bedroom overhaul, for them both, I told themn that if they could keep their rooms tidy and organised for 4 weeks they could get a fish each. K is going on at least 8 weeks or more now and while on holiday last week I noticed something in a pet shop window as I passed

I saw a fish bowl with a pink sparkly lid. When we went to collect it K was so happy, she carried that little bag out and was overjoyed with her bowl. Then we surprised her and told her she could get her fish that day too!!

And so she did! Hannah the fish.

K is being super responsible and feeding her and talking to her. I'm very impressed and proud.

Fraser's 4 weeks are up on Sunday - looks like another addition will be happening. And now - they have to keep their rooms tidy for the fish. So they can have a nice home.

Since I started this post, K has gone to bed, Fraser has gone for a sleepover to my Mum's house. I am about to pour myself a glass of wine and call Lor Lor for a chat.

The day has passed, it now just feels like a bad dream. But it is over!

My night could only be better if I could have a stroll here

I am sure it would blow the cobwebs away.

Crazy thing is we live by the sea! We may not have a promenade but we do have the sea. Must find a walk that I love as much as this one. Maybe K and I will go looking tomorrow.

Maybe we can find some of this too

mmmm snickers ice cream!

I want one this size!!!

Goodnight for now x

Rainy days.

Our home away from home was lovely. With a large open plan room on the top level with beautiful views to the sea. Large enough to hold all 7 of us, plus miffers the dog, comfortably.

we had a little rain during the week so the wii and games/books etc came in very handy.

We cooked and ate

And generally lazed around.

K took charge of the camera and tripod!

And did very well in my opinion!

Monday was very wet, so the boys headed off to the local museum and K , Beebs and I went to Pot - a doodle - do. (awsome name no?) K called it pot a noodle noo. lol.

Anyway, this was a ceramic painting place and it was a very enjoyable way to spend a rainy morning.

Our girl painted a little pot all on her own, I drew around the stencils for her but that was all.

I loved the little farm buildings surrounding us.

I painted a little pendent for Lor Lor's birthday gift.

What a wonderful rainy day.

Home.

We are home. Whilst packing, I was desperately wishing we were staying until at least Monday. We have had such a lovely and relaxing time and I will miss our little beach so so badly.

As soon as we walked through our front door I felt it. Home just wrapping around us. Us in every corner. Bunting still hung from my Birthday celebrations and a big old hairy face sitting on the stairs waiting for us.

Dorothy was right, there is no place like home.

That doesn't mean we didn't have fun. And that I wont miss these crazy guys!

Good thing I will still see them tomorrow ( although prob not at 6am!)

 Oh we had a great time. Our little family has not had a proper summer holiday in 3 years! So we made the most of this one.

My new camera came along for the ride and we spent some quality time with each other. On average I took around 100 pics a day. That is a lot for me to sort through! I did a little while we were away and I look forward to dipping into the rest to soak in the memories we created.

Off to snuggle into my own bed now and I can already feel myself sinking into those delicious pillows.

Night night x

Thoughts.

Having lots of time on my hands to think and relax brings up some unusal thoughts. I have made a few observations.

• When I pay with coins, it makes me feel like a little girl.
• I miss the internet far more than is normal.
• I take a lot of photos.
• I am not as good a Mum as I think I am.
• People who wear bikinis to swim in this country are showing off.
• I can be quick to judge.
• It is possible to sleep through my girl waking up.
• I want a dog.
• I am a little crazy.
• I miss being busy with a project, next time I go on holiday I will bring some hand sewing or crafts to do.
• Time passes too quickly when you are on holiday.
• I need to learn to have more patience.
• I had never seen Disney's Aladdin before this week.
• Swimming makes our girl fall asleep before tea time.
• I definitely want to make our Kitchen/living room/dining area open plan at some point.
• when you go swimming, you are supposed to shower with soap BEFORE entering  the pool. Who knew?? not me!

Just some more random ramblings from a relaxed mind. Our holiday continues to be busy, relaxing, sunny, rainy and fun. We finally got down to the beach and built some sandcastles. Today we went swimming, must remember to sign K up for swimming lessons when we get home. Hope you are all enjoying your summer too x

Summer holidays.

Right now I am sitting  no, make that lying along a comfortable couch, surrounded by family. We are currently on day 2 of our summer break, back to our beach and holiday house, that we enjoyed so very much at easter. I, personally, have yet to set foor on the sand, but we have had so much fun already.

The little place we are staying is on the same East coast that we live on but a little further down. Only a two and a half hour drive, just over the border into England. But we don't need to go far to be on holiday. And this sandy beach and long promenade are perfect for playing and strolling on.

There is no internet here, but we have discovered that Murray's phone can act as a modem , when connected to the laptop! Woo hoo!! I'm not sure how it will behave when I try to upload photos, but its worth a try. At the very least, I can document with words as it happens, so I can remember the little things that can easily slip away.

K has been very unwell over the past week. I actually thought she was going to end up with a hospital visit on Tuesday. The pain she was in does not require documenting. It will forever be etched on my soul. With some headaches and vomiting filling the night before we left, the holiday was in jeopardy of being postponed by a day.

But she rallied!! And we arrived with no mishaps in the car on the way.

Our first day ended with a little stroll  along the promenade just as the sun was disappearing

It was awesome.

This morning we were all up bright and early at 6.20am. This is so not me! LOL I even tried to go back to bed as it felt so alien to be up at that time! But sleep could not find me. I guess I was just too eager to begin the fun. After an awesome cooked breakfast, made of course by chef Raymond, we headed out for a walk in the rain. We planned on popping in on a charity car boot sale for a nosey but it was cancelled due to the weather. No fear we headed to the little local shop and stocked up on some goodies for our cosy time inside, sheltering from the rain.

After lunchtime the clouds parted and a very warm sun broke through!! Raincoats off and suncream on for an afternoon at a local Lifeboat fete/gala.

We watched the kids play in the funhouse, ride the big wheel (ferris wheel) , K took part in the worlds most dire magician act. They won teddy bears on tombolas and had their pictures taken on huge motorcycles. The motorcycle K was on was incredibly, owned by a man who comes from our home town and lives in our own street!!!! What a small world! He and his biker friends toured their way down too. Crazy.

I so wish I could add the pictures of all our fun but the little modem offering me my little writing space, just can't cope with uploading pics.

I will just need to bombard with pics when we get home.

Our girl seems better and is sound asleep in her bed (on de top bunk!!) .  I am sitting with all the guys, in the awesome living/dining/kitchen space, watching top gun on tv after a few wii sessions,  a glass of white wine in my hand, listening to the rain tip tapping on the window. And we all know how I feel about that sound.

Happy.

I sent mail.

As I mentioned in a previous post  I once again took part in the handmade gift exchange hosted by Linda at Craftaholics anonymous. I was matched up with a fellow Brit blogger (who knew there was more than me!? ;-) )  My partner was Steph , who has a very sweet blog called southern fairy designs.

We chatted back and forth via email and asked a few questions, a few things I took from our conversations was that Steph liked colour, she enjoyed making and wearing jewellery/pins etc. I also found out that she had a little point and shoot camera , like myself, and after a little stalking  research on her pinterest boards, I noticed that she didn't have a case for her camera.

I made her a couple of little brooches/ pins. I used floral and gingham fabric.

The frst one had two little fabric rosettes with some pearls tucked in, it is ridiculously difficult to photograph as it was slightly rounded.

This fabric flower was made using a tutorial I found on the fab ruffles and stuff blog, but be warned - they are super duper addictive to make!!

I also made Steph a little pouch for her camera, I have used the tutorial before when making one for myself and noticed Steph had pinned the same tutorial.  I hesitated before making it though as I was a little worried that Steph really wanted to enjoy the process of the " making" . In the end I figured she was probably like me and could use more than one gadget pouch and there was also the scope for her to make one as a gift too!!

Lined with polks dot fabric, of course.

Thanks to Linda and Steph, once again I thoroughly enjoyed the gift exchange , can't wait until November and we can do it again!!

To be continued...

On Sunday I turned 30. I have had the best weekend. I have lots of photos and thoughts to share. But my poor girl is feeling very under the weather, so I haven't had the time to go through all of the pics yet.

I am feeling so thankful and very blessed. I have the most amazing family and friends, they have made me feel so special and loved.

And - they spoiled me beyond belief!

I'll be back soon and be prepared to be bombarded with photos for a while!!