Busy bees.

Gosh, life has become busy in these quarters.

The weekend sunshine meant a  mamoth laundry session, one more load and I've caught up again.
The weekend sunshine also meant I decided to mows the lawns, and tidy out the shed so I could actually get to the lawn mower, and put away garden toys that will be utterly ruined if left out all winter, and my buggies.  Hmm, not overly keen that "buggy" is these days plural.  Oh well, needs must.  The sandpit needed moving too, popping it on the decking was a not a good idea - I hadn't considered that the sand is always damp and thus the decking would always be damp, and of course, rot.  Factor in all the rain we've had recently, and gosh that sand was heavy to move.  Ooomf!

 And here is Rye about to sit on the sand man he built.

Woohoo, lawns mowed, and shed tidied at this point.  So naturally a game of bat and ball was necessary.  Rye is trying very hard to learn how to throw the ball up in the air and bat it.  Not wholly successfully at the moment, he tends to hold the ball up high and sort of drop it on the bat.  He throws the ball pretty, critical little man though - "You missed it," he accuses.   "Sigh......" and an excellent "Kevin" impression as he goes after a ball I've misbatted.   Those missed balls were useful in demonstrating that not even I can always hit the ball - especially when he was feeling a little too self critical.

Rye's imagination is taking off these days too.

A farm yard.  Although admitted, I do think there was a crafty intention behind this.  Rye has been looking at the Myriad catalogue, and he's absolutely desperate for the Fergus Tractor.  So I suspect he will be receiving that rather than the Excavator for Yule ;-)

The treehouse has been played wiith a lot too.  Before it was all about the crane and cranking up various vehicles and knocking animals, people, pirates etc off the top levels.  The past few days though, Rye has been telling himself little stories as he plays with little wooden people, I picked up last year.  It is wonderful to listen to his little stories and watch him being so engrossed in his play.  Singing too, I suppose because I'm singing to the children a lot, lot more than previously.  The only song I'm not so keen on anymore is "Rain, rain go away, come back another day," because this has replaced the tuneless humming he use to do when rocking on the sofa.  At least it is mostly limited to when he first gets up.  I drink coffee to help me wake up, Rye appears to like to rock and sing.

A busy ole week and weekend; and very enjoyable it's been too.

Chores.

Not my first choice of a fun Sunday activity, alas the gardens desperately needed tidying and interspersing it with a few games of bat and ball, make it pretty fun.  Rye helped with tidying all the toys in the garden away so I could mow.  I must get him some gardening gloves; he wanted to help pull the weeds up from the drive - but cleavers are spiky and can cause skin rashes, so instead he watched, asked loads of questions and ran around, as little boys tend to.

Now, I'm a firm believer in chores - and that the waldorf way is to also include children in chores, is just added bonus.  A fellow blogger and online mama friend, Fiona over at Living in the Land of Chocolate, posted an entry on her girls helping to clean - and it seems some  people think it's a tad child labourish to do so.  Really?  How bizzare.  How else are children to learn those essential domestic skills?  Do you involve and encourage your kids to help around the house/garden/home office etc - and honestly, with little ones there's not often much encouragement needed, they LIKE to help.

Rye is expected daily to help tidy his toys away.  He's expected to put his plate after meals in the kitchen.  He's expected to take his nighttime nappy downstairs and put it in the wash bag next to the washer... and anything else is bonus.  That we often have music on and the chores are mixed with wrestling, splashing each other with water etc.. means he often gets involved in other chores.. washing windows, the glass panels in the interior doors, helping load the dishwasher and the washing machine.  Helping to prepare meals etc.  After all, how else is he suppose to learn these skills, and as I commented on Fiona's blog, I'll dye of shame if Rye is ever on a "How clean is your home" type of show - you know the one where dirty little toerags haven't cleaned or thrown rubbish away for years and the house is revolting.  Now I'm not a domestic goddess when it comes to cleaniness and I do firmly believe in the health benefits of a bit of dirt.... but there's a big difference between a bit of dust on the shelves and it been a week or so since I last mopped the kitchen floor to a house that is so dirty it ought to be classed a biohazard.

So chores, we've managed a fair bit today, both lawns have been mowed.  The drive has been deforested of boob height weeds (mostly cleavers), logs have been removed from drive to the back garden for sawing, worst of the weeds have been removed from the boarders of the back garden, had a shuffle round with the outdoor toys so the garden, in general, looks tidier.  The kitchen has been cleaned down, alas not the floor as I remembered when I went to do it, that the kids had broken the mop the other week, and I'd broken the mop bucket a wee bit before that.  Oops.  Where's the betterware folks, when you need em, eh?
Laundry was done - and note to self - do not take a meter reading when washing machine is on, it's depressing to see the dial turning like that.

Hehehe, and I would like to say the impulse to do all these chores today was pure domestic pride.. alas, it was more necessity; I have a mama coming to see me tomorrrow about possibly minding her baby come January, when the baby will be 10 months old.  Its a part time arrangement, 2 days a week, so I thought it probably best to have the gardens and drive looking a bit more respectable.

And finally, another fellow blogger and online mama friend has just opened a misi shop selling her beautiful dollies.. for a very reasonable price considering these are hand made and the stuffing is organic wool!

Go have a look here  Beautiful, beautiful... tho it looks like the dolls are selling like hot cakes, so be quick!

Edited to add:  I think I've bought the last doll - so here's a link to Pippa's blog where you can see the dolls:

Pippa's beautiful dolls.

Sun, gardening and pottering.

I treated myself to a few books from Amazon, for my birthday, and they arrived on Monday:

Having read the Artisan Bread in five minutes a day I do now want a baking stone and bread peel.  Little consumerist part of me raising her ugly head.  Mind, yorkshire skinflint me ain't paying nearly £50 for a piece of stone!  I shall pop along to Wickes at some point and see if they have any suitable stones... in the meantime I'll have a go with bog standard baking equipment.  I'm not that fussed about a "cracking crust" anyway.

The motifs book is gorgeous.  Not had a go at any yet, as I've taken everything off the hooks until I've finished the dress for Michelle.  And The Crochet Answer Book so far feels a tad unremarkable.  There were a lot of good reviews for this, but the chapters I've looked at and the questions and answers I've read have seemed fairly basic to me.  Still, it might come in handy, and I haven't read it completely - oh actually it does give the equation for working out a pattern to your own gauge, rather than using the pattern's.... being that I'm blind when it comes to maths, I don't actually understand the equation.. but I'm sure if I wrestled with it a bit, all would come clear.

Anyhoos, today.
The sky look rather ominious this morning - but as the day wore on, it brightened considerably and phew, really rather warm in my garden, so I filled the paddling pool and the kids had fun experimenting with different containers, sieves etc:

And Rye told me very seriously, how much he likes playing with water.  After lunch, mindee went for a nap and Rye quickly fell asleep on the sofa too.  Sigh, waking up when he wet himself.. mind at least he came out into the garden to finish off weeing, rather than standing next to the sofa and peeing on the floor, like he did yesterdeay!

I potted out some herbs, and repotted Rye's naming tree - which is alive and doing well - I thought it had dyed.  The tree is the same age as Rye :-)  Rye came out toward the end and helped me with the last few, and then our friends turned up and the kids played in the garden, then indoors, then outdoors..a nd after everyone had gone home, I decided to take Rye out on his bike.

I think that boy is having his teresterone surge early!  He never stops, being quite manic sometimes,  banging on the table at meal times, shouting, jumping and yes, tormenting poor C too.  Quite exhausting... thankfully the water play helped to focus that energy a bit.  The bike ride this evening being an attempt to wear him out a bit, which did seem to work.. well after the 2nd or 3rd circuit around the various footpaths on this estate.. several trips to the wee park, so he could ride aorund the climbiing frame, and have the local kids exclaiming, "what a cool bike", and he climbed the climbing wall with help from me.. and he managed to walk over the monkey bars to the platform.. made me rather nervous as the last few are really rather high - he loved it though and was beaming from ear to ear.  I was considering a slide for the garden.. I'm beginning to wonder if a climbing dome would be a better investment!  (Around £150quid.. there again.. I live near so many parks is it worth it..a nd again its consuming!)

Oh, and I saw my neighbour today about their felled tree.  Sadly, for me, they have a wood burner on their narrow boat, so are saving the logs for that.  I had such lovely visions of a little wooden circle.. then a corner with all the smaller log cutoffs for building with etc.  Oh well.  I suppose in part, it's because I'm finding the bright colours of most kid outdoor toys jarring and I'd like something a little less in your face.  Mind, that does seem to be my issue rather than the children's; as they love to play out in the garden.

Anyway, after the park and bike ride, came back and tidied up the garden, popped toys away etc as it's suppose to rain heavily tomorrow - and then indoors for supper.  We had creamed veg and tomatoe soup with bread rolls.  Very yummy.

I've also adopted the Waldorf practise of a mealtime blessing candle.  Both kids seem to really like this, and love taking turns to blow out the candle at the end of the meal.  They have quickly become accustomed to me standing in front of my seat and saying the blessing, before sitting to eat, (although, at this stage I don't make the kids wait to tuck in.. although Rye is starting to wait until I've said the blessing, of his own accord).

Supper, wouldn't normally be a "meal", this soup was planned for tea, however our friends, Sarah and her boys, J & I came to visit and Rye nor C will sit and eat while the boys are here - they want to play.  Indeed, during our supper, Rye told me he likes playing with his friends :-)
Then after supper, upstairs for washes, teeth cleaning and bed and stories.. he was spoilt tonight, we popped by the library on Monday and picked up some books - so we read Tyranasaurs Drip, (love this book, this is the 4th or 5th time we've had it out), Giddy the Goat.. a mountain goat scared of heights... lol made me smile.... and a book I bought from Amazon a while back for Rye, Dr Seus's Sleep book.  And yes by the end of that little lot, my wee boy was looking very heavy eyeliddy and big yawns.

Me too. Definitely time for dreamland.

Sunshine and Warmth.

Another lovely day and the sun this morning was really warm, so warm I took my coat off in the garden and continued gardening with just a sleeveless t'shirt on!  The borders of the garden look so much better and all the bits of rubbish that had got blown into the garden have been picked up; a bush, that I discovered has sharp thorns, has been dugged up, (well, I'd prefer to use that bed for herbs anyway) and just a general tidy around.

Rye enjoyed digging too.  The back border is under some Hylander trees and so nothing grows there, except a few hardy bits of grass and weed; so I dug it all over and decided that could be Rye's digging pit; and wow he had fun;

I plan to buy a sandpit soon too; I just can't decide on the size at the moment.  I was looking at water tables too; but frankly I think £40+ is a rip off; so I plan to start picking up different sized bowls and maybe a large plastic storage type box and drill them together - far better and will cost me peanuts.
Anyway a few more shots of a nice tidy garden; I am looking forward to spending much more time here, plus I want to get on with some planting - I saw some tubs in town on Sunday that were ranged from 50p-1.50p and would make fantastic tubs for growing stuff and colourful too; so I'll be popping into town at some point this week to get some more; plus I need more baskets for the toy shelves.

Regarding the waldorf, finding some really good stuff; I'm not too sure about the not playing with the kids... well actually, no, that part is fine, I too believe that children should play without adult interference as much as possible; whether we like it or not, when we involve ourselves in our kids' play we tend to end up directing the play.... the bit that I'm not keen on is the suggestion of telling the child, for example, you will be the marvelous cook (if you're cooking), while they play some game or other etc.... it just seems  dishonest somehow.  When Rye asks me to play and I am in the middle of something or quite simply do not wish to join in at that time, I tell him so; but instead offer an activity later I know he will enjoy; perhaps painting or playing with his puzzles, building castles etc.  To pretend I'm sort of joining in play, when really I'm just getting on with the cooking or whatever seems dishonest and a little bit manipulative.  Perhaps I've misunderstood? 

Various Photos.

Rye's has for a while been attempting to write numbers and a few letters, I was very suprised when looking at his work to discover this section, where he's clearly written a "1, 2, 3, 4, 7", and "A" and an on it's side "M". He is very interested in the written word and loves asking what the words say.
















Rye was desperate to have a go at taking a photo; this is his effort.... his thumb and part of my blanket.
















Lovely snuggly morning, leisurely breastfeeding.
















I was in the kitchen cooking tea, when I realised he was very quiet, popped my head round the door and discovered him "reading", chattering away telling the story to himself. He clearly has an excellent memory because I've not read the various little Thomas the Tank Engine books to him often, well frankly, because they are rubbish, but oh, he so loves all things train at the moment.
















Hehehe, I love this photo, he looks like a right little bruiser, when in actual fact he's just got his mouth full of food.
















My friend became very excited when she saw this photo thinking Rye was an engineering genius and built the fairy megablock castle himself; he hadn't of course, I had helped him build it, and just followed his directions of when he wanted a window, an archway etc, which fitted just lovely over the traintrack
















Another of the photos taken the morning we leisurely breastfed and played with taking silly photos with the camera. ( I love lazy mornings)
















Bless him, he is a bit of a boob monster; not bothered generally through the day; but oh he does kick up a fuss if he doesn't get his morning and evening "boooobssss" :-)

Rye's language skills have improved dramatically over the last few weeks, he's now speaking in quite complex sentences; unfortnately his clarity isn't as good as he often jumbles the words into one another. My hearing issues aren't helping either so I need to make a GP appointment to get them checked out as its been years since I bothered, and get Rye checked and maybe on a list for some speech therapy to help with his clarity.

We've also noticed he has a bit of a lazy eye, which is definitely becoming more noticable - it's not bad, it's just I can see when his eyes aren't always quite aligned better. I had popped into the opticians but they've said he needs a referral to the hospital because of his age. Bit of a nuisence but still, the quicker the squint is sorted the easier it will be, especially while it's only a slight problem - much easier to fix.

Tremendous Tuesday.

Ok, nothing "tremendous" about today really, I just fancied using that as a title. :-)

We woke up rather late again, me waking first for once. Rye has developed the habit of getting up and putting a dvd on if I'm not awake too. I love the self raliance and that he can keep himself entertained but I'm not overly keen on the increased dvd watching. Especially, as this evening he kept saying "bed, bed, bed" and I was really chuffed thinking he was asking to go to bed...... nope, he wanted to go up to bed to watch TV. (TV is in my room). Mmm, think I will look at ways to limit dvd watching it's becoming a bit too habit for my liking.

When Rye did wake he wanted boob and to clamber over me, jump on the bed, and generally be very giddy. Once the bouncing on the bed start to become irritating I decided it was time to get downstairs and make some banana pancakes accompanied by apple slices. Rye really enjoyed them and asked for seconds; "Um, (lipsmacking) nana pancakes, yes, please". Bless him. Very pleased with how is verbal skills are developing. I love the lipsmacking too, he does it when he's trying to think of the word he's trying to say, and oh gawd, it's unbelievably cute!

After pancakes I read for a bit, (Idle Parent - cue much muttering, snorting and desire to throw the book across the room - coupled with nodding in agreement - finding this book really conflicting.. basic idea I agree with, some of his notions though I find very, very offensive, even appalling. For example, exhorting leaving very young toddlers to go on holiday as a good way to break the "apron ties" and quoting a mum blaming herself that previously her child had being "clingy", "whiney" and difficult to put to bed. Mmm.), Rye drew on the large piece of paper that I now leave on his table all the time, along with his pencils, then he played with his wooden cars, helped me to tidy up a bit and then we played in the garden for a while.

Having texted my landlady to let her know the outside tap is dripping badly and her reply that she would get it sorted for me, I decided I better get on with some gardening. The front was a real mess; large spikey dandelion like plants had erupted through the gravel on the drive and looked awful, along with chickweed type plant everywhere and something that looked a little like Thyme but isn't. Rye ran around me while I pulled up weeds, trying to avoid the spikey leaves and stems from touching my skin, because it felt like it could be an irritant. He also climbed onto my back a couple of times and once onto my shoulders, which freaked me out because I was worried he would tumble off and hit his head on the paving stones. The neighbours must have thought I was nuts laid in the gravel while Rye jumped up and down on my back. Then I ventured into the spider infested shed for the mower. This entailed the removal of the tunnel, bike and large dumper truck, much to Rye's approval and me getting a hairful of spiders - eek. I really ought to sort the shed out; but those darn spiders tend to mean I don't particularly want to spend much time in there, perhaps I'll wait until winter when there won't be so many.

It's been a bright sunny day, with a stiff breeze, which I think masked just how warm it was; by the time I'd mowed the little bit of lawn at the front I was caked in sweat and in desperate need of a sit down and a cuppa. Before I knew it, it was time for tea. I made slaw pasta; shredded lettuce, cabbage, carrot, apple, lemon rind, apple, lemon juice, ranch dressing and a bit of mayo, mixed together and then some pasta added. I though it tasted very nice; although not convinced at the addition of pasta. Think it would have been better to have buttery, garlic pasta with a side serviing of slaw. Rye fell asleep in the chair so he didn't have any and I decided to take advantage of his nap to enjoy a long relaxing bath. Cor, pure bliss, I can't remember the last time I had the opportunity to just lay back in warm, gentle sloshing water and allow my mind to wander.

Then time to pick my friend up for a good ole chinwag, another friend popped in later after her work and then I dropped the first friend off at home and then took Rye up to bed. He's snoring softly beside me now. He's going through a stage of prefering to sleep in with me. It's fine, I decided a while back that I wouldn't fuss where he slept, solong he did and when I did try him in his room the other night he got very upset only settling once I laid beside him and held his hand - no actually, he held mine. I tried to leave once he was asleep but he stirred and became very upset saying, "Mummy, nooooo, Mummy, carr-eee," so I asked him if he'd like to sleep in with me, and he said yes. Tonight he insisted on holding my hand again; but because he's in with me, he's not stirred when I've moved away. He'll sleep in his room when he's ready.

I am actually considering swapping rooms with him. His room is much much smaller than mine; basically I'd get my double bed in there and that's about it. But I am thinking as my room is so much bigger and his room has been approved for minded children, that actually giving him the bigger bedroom would be a good idea. It would certainly mean in the winter I'd have a larger space for him and minded children to play on those days when going out isn't particularly attractive - there's also the advantage that the loo is just across the landing too. I dunno though, not entirely sure I want to give up my bedroom.

His dad called today and arranged to have Rye tomorrow, so I'll use that time to get my room sorted - I was lucky enough to get a small bookcase from freecycle and I have another small bookcase available now too; it will be nice to have some of my books unpacked and around me. And I think it will give me a better idea of whether I do want to "sacrifice" my bedroom. On the one hand it will be the one room in the house where minded children will not be allowed, so it will be my sanctuary, a place where I can have my more overt pagany belongings out and also have enough room to have my easel set up so I get on with painting. I started a painting of Rye when I was still in the flat and I haven't touched it since - it's now sliently reproaching me for my neglect at the other side of the room.

Initially, when considering using my room as a "playroom", I did ponder the feasibility of setting up my easel too; but I would have to take it down each day, artist paints are toxic and the easel it's self is not that stable affair, yet it's heavy, were it to fall on a child it would really hurt. Mmm, I think I've kinda decided really. In affect I'm turning most of my home into a business; it would be nice to have a large enough room where I can relax and have my things around me; plus the room is big enough to have a small area set aside for Rye and those toys which I think would be nice to be kept solely for him. I think keeping a space that is solely for us is important; he is going to have share so much. His toys, his home, and, of course, me; keeping my room our "special" place, is I think important.

Where has the day gone?

I suppose not getting up, till 10 is one reason today has passed in a blurr. The little man must have been very tired, he's not usually such a later riser, not that I'm complaining the lie in was lovely. For once, I actually felt ready to get out of bed!

It's been a pottering kind of day. Rye has been full of beans, bouncing around, laughing and giggling. We've been out in the garden, I've hung out yet more laundry (another couple of loads and it's all done!), we've pottered in the kitchen. Made yummy humous to have with crackers for lunch and I grilled some strawberries that were beginning to look a bit past it, touch of cinnamon, then squished with a fork and added to yoghurt. I ended up freezing it though because the yoghurt I picked up is very runny indeed.

Rye was asking for "Bobbles" again, so we sat in the garden while I blew copious amounts of bubbles for him, and he blew some himself too. Too funny. He played in the paddling pool some more and yah, finally heeded my "Oh, Rye, please don't wee in the pool", so whenever he wanted a pee he got out and did it beside it. Ah well, some progress.

I've also moved his potty to the bathroom upstairs, good in that he does go up there to use it, and good he empties it himself.... bad when I forget to check the toilet seat and sit down and get a wet bum - ick.

Tea was lovely, I chucked some onion, garlic, cumin seeds, pepper and a heaped teaspoon of marigold vegetable stock powder along with veggies and green lentils in the slow cooker. 3 hours later I had a lovely tasty watery stew, so I poured it into a sauce pan and reduced it down a bit on the stove and afterwards topped with nutmeggy mash potatoe and baked in the oven to brown the top. It was blumming lovely and Rye scoffed his with nay a complaint. Then we had the yoghurt I'd made earlier and popped in the freezer. It wasn't solid, just nicely thickened and ever so tasty :)

Then wash, clean teeth, nappy on, story, breastfeed and little man in bed. Although, he did protest a wee bit when I left the room. Waited a few moments, just about to go back in because he seemed really quite upset and silence. Peeked and he's fast asleep.

Tomorrow I MUST go to the post office, a baby sleeping bag to post, which I promised to post days ago, but then couldn't find it. Found it today when I put the mountain of clean laundry away (yeah my wardrobe actually has clothes in it again!), I need to post off my summer season gift swap and, assuming I get it finished, a dog portrait I'm doing for a mama from the Green Parent forum. Might not though because I've had the water on today and it's lovely and hot and the bath is calling to me :)

Enjoying the paddling pool

Lots of fun play in the garden. Apart from the couple of cloudy days recently, it has been glorious down in Cheriton, if windy! The balls were in the pool earlier; but once it started to get warm I thought it was time to chuck in some water. Nor did the water go to waste as Rye used it to water the tomatoes and herbs.

The Cake.

I've been giggling all afternoon as I baked, cut out and then put togethe this cake for my friend's birthday.

There is a story to this cake. Both Queenie and I frequent UKPagan forum and there was a thread wishing her many happy returns with pictures of ridiculously pink, kitsch cakes. Queenie had commented about the possibility of such a cake materialising through her broadband. Thus was born the idea of making her one.

We each had a piece of the cake; to be perfectly honest I wasn't that keen, far, far too sweet; especially with all the butter icing (that the colouring made taste slightly odd) and then with all the sweeties and jam holding the various levels together - it was sugar overload. But then such cakes aren't really meant to be gastronomic delights, and it did make us all giggle.

It's been a nice day; pottering in the kitchen, mowed the lawn, played out in the garden with Rye most of the afternoon, inbetween baking above cake and then this evening it was Circle and the wee Party for Queenie. Rye had fallen asleep about 6pm so I'd put him to bed, unfortuately he woke at half eight and made it clear he wanted to join in the fun. He's just starting to show signs of being tired; so bed for him in a little while.

Tomorrow we're planning on going to the beach.

Gulp.

Finances are very very stretched and I've got bills coming through the door left, right and centre so feeling a tad nervous, especially as I was expecting a final tax credit payment today and its not gone into my bank account. So I called Inland Revenue, I am still getting it but they send it out as a cheque - blah.

I've received a call from Job Centre Plus too and they've requested I attend a "get back into work" interview on Friday, and if I don't they won't process the claim. I don't quite understand why when I've been very up front that I'm only claiming until my registration for childminding is complete and then I'll be doing that. Oh well, I suppose the establishment likes to make us leap through the hoops.

Also, I have been informed that maintenance people will be contacting me to discuss my rights and how to receive maintenance from Rye's dad. Nervous about this because Rye's dad is in financial straits and if they go after him he will do his nut - on the one hand I think it is about time he made some sort of financial contribution, (when I left I said I wouldn't chase maintenance and would give him time to sort himself out; I don't think he's even seen anyone to see if there is anything he can do and it has been over a year now), and on the other hand I'm not sure its worth the hassle I'd get off him. I'm conscious too that he struggles to find the petrol money to visit his son (so far hasn't been able to, so I use to take Rye up to Maidstone when I was working as it's closer to my ex's home) and I would rather he is at least able some times to come and see Rye then receive money off him and never see Rye. I've never had maintenance and I manage ok so its not like I miss the money; although saying that it would mean I could top up Rye's trust fund with it.

If Rye was doing without I wouldn't hesitate but he's not and I think its more important for him to have his dad in his life and at the end of the day this is about Rye not me or my dislike of the man.

On the up side, it is a nice warm day and most of it has been spent in the garden having fun with Rye. He's so funny; its flying ant season and they are attracted to the brightly colour soft play balls. So he keeps poking at them and laughing when they fly off. He is also pointing at the seagulls and saying "Burds" :) I wonder if he's having another growth spurt though because he's eating me out of house and home at the moment. Already he's had 4 or 5 bananas on top of breakfast and lunch and some breadsticks too, oh and a fromage frais.

Easter Monday.

The house seemed a bit quiet so Rye and I popped round to Queenie's and had a fun afternoon in the garden. He loved exploring and playing with a ball with his Aunty Queenie :)

1st day of the rest of my life.

What a lovely day. The sun is blazing, the breeze isn't too chilly and Rye and I have had a lot of fun this morning. The girls came round for Circle last night and because of the clocks going forward Rye wasn't going to sleep at 7pm, so I decided he could just stay up, its no biggy and he adored showing off for the ladies. Such a charmer. This did mean a very late night and much to my suprise he slept until quart to ten this morning.

Breakfast was toast with chocolate spread and multigrain hoops (toast and marmalde for me) and then he played with the wretched plastic police car; thankfully he did move onto playing with his brio cars and the suspension bridge and then he wanted to draw. Too nice a day to spend indoors though and while the beach did beckon, the garden was also scolding me silently for neglecting it. So, I got out the millions of softballs and popped them in his tent and left him to giggle, dive and generally cover the garden in plastic balls, while I got on with weeding. Every so often the little tyke would throw a ball at me or leap on me - he did manage to throw a few on my head. Monkey.

Suprising how a bit of weeding can build up an apetite, we had marmite and grilled cheese sandwiches for lunch and Rye also had raisins and dried apricots. Quicky nappy change and upstairs for a breastfeed and a nap for him. I wasn't sure if he would nap but once I prised that gawd awful police car out of his hands, he settled down and peacefully slipped into dreamland. I dont oftne take him upstairs for a nap but now I'm home all the time I think for both our sanities it is best that we both have some quiet time during the day and it will also make the childminding easier - I hope, if I can also instigate an after lunch nap with my minded children.

I confess to being a little nervous about the taking on a couple more toddlers; in the main going out and about with them; Rye can be a handful sometimes and it is a bit scary thinking of having 3. I will have put in place a policy that children under say 5 must wear reins or a wrist strap when out and about with me - if not in a pushchair. I think some of nervousness comes also from not having a car and knowing that wherever we go has to be within walking distance or its public transport. I suppose its all about setting firm boundaries from the start and practising those boundaries with short trips before progressing to longer trips.... still any tips greatly appreciated!