Last week was half term and for us it was pretty relaxed. I love having the kids around, they are not too demanding now that they are older and it’s just nice to have their company. I’ve been thinking a lot about mortality lately, especially as a really lovely lady I know has been told that she has probably just three years left. It certainly makes you think. And I just want to spend as much time as possible with my family close by.
Halloween
We hadn’t planned much this Halloween as Graham had to take Ash (the kitten) into the Vets for his operation. Only, I got the time wrong and he was too late, so Ash still has his manhood intact for the time being.
This means that there was no-one to take the kid’s trick or treating so I made it up to them a little by baking cookies and letting them decorate them with spooky creatures. They had loads of fun. It’s funny how a simple gingerbread man cookie cutter can be used to create monsters. The other cookies I cut out free hand.
They also enjoyed answering the door with a big bucket of sweets to hand out to all the visitors.
Bonfire Night
The rest of the half term week was fairly quiet with us staying in and keeping warm and occupying our time with homework, laptops, and lego. I just enjoyed not having to get up and rush around in the morning to get everyone ready for school.
Our friends invited us over to their house for fireworks on Saturday night. There was no bonfire but plenty of explosions to enjoy.
If I’m honest, I’m not a huge fan of garden fireworks and after the first few the Little Man decided he couldn’t handle the noise (he does have sensory issues.) So we watched from the window. I had to go in because the cold and noise was making me feel ill too. Pretty soon, Boo joined us along with two of our friend’s kids. I was surprised at Star who stayed out and enjoyed every minute, she’s never enjoyed fireworks before. But she was with a good friend which I guess made a difference.
The sparklers were a better hit, and so were the hot dogs that were served. Overall, it was nice to catch up with friends and do something different.
Back to School
Monday saw the kids going back to school. We had everything sorted, clothes, homework, p.e. kits, school bags etc the day before. It still turned out to be a manic morning. What is it about school mornings that things just don’t go smoothly?
The kids going back to school made me think about our friends, the ones we spent Saturday night with. When we lived in our old house, all of our kids went to the same school and that’s how we met.
I remember one day, some 7 years ago, I was waiting in the school playground with a baby Little Man in his pushchair. It was nearly time for Boo to finish her day at nursery. Then this man, who I don’t ever remember seeing before, came over to me and started telling me about how he’d fallen off his bike and hurt his knee.
He then proceeded to lift up his trouser leg and show me the hurt knee. Then he showed me his hurt elbow and I remember thinking ‘who is this strange guy showing me his body parts in the school playground?’
After that, he sought me out every day in the playground and spoke to me, it turned out that our three children were all very similar in age. Before long, they were knocking on our door in the morning and we were walking to school together.
Over the years we have become good family friends, despite us both moving house and school. Of course I don’t see them every day now, but it’s still nice to catch up when we do.
The #ItsOK Linky
Your kids companionship soounds idea. Glad you survived half term! #keepingitreal
You too! Strangers telling their stories to you. Wonderful that you became such good friends. I’m not a big fan of fireworks either, but my husband likes to do them each year and the children love to see them. Even our dogs never seem bothered by the noise and want to join us. You sound like you had a good half term. Fun cookies and clever of you to cut out the rest freehand. Back to school is never easy, is it? #MMBC
Yes, it seems like a talent that a few of us possess. Most people avoid me because I have a natural miserable looking face. Thankfully Robert didn’t because he’s a great friend, even if he did sort of freak me out with our first encounter. 🙂
We’re settling into the Back to School routine now. x
Half term? We don’t have that here. I wish we did. The next vacation is for our Thanksgiving. Baking is always a good way to pass time! #keepingitreal
It sounds like a lovely half term for you all.
I really don’t like fireworks either. They hurt Ellie’s ears. Even though she’s deaf in one the other does double the work and I guess they must seem louder to her. The kids were watching them from the bedroom windows last night, running from the front to the back of the house. lol
How lovely to have a friend like that from the school yard.x
Yes, watching from the window is best 🙂 x
Sounds like a good 1/2 term. Ours was good too. It’s definitely better as the kids get older! lol
Thanks for linking up to #itsok linky. Please come back next week.
Hi Anne, I bet Ash is happy his jewels are still there to lick for another day, but it would have been nice to have got the op out of the way. Things like that play on my mind until they’re done… Love the gingerbread monsters! It just goes to show you don’t have to brave the cold to have a fun Halloween… For me the best thing about the school holidays was not having to stress about getting my son out the door (he has no sense of time and takes an hour doing things that should take five minutes – still). He was exactly the same with fireworks or loud noises and still is to a degree, but we no longer go to anything noisy… How lovely that Star enjoyed her firework evening, it just goes to show what an influence a good friend can be… Isn’t it funny how we come about some friends? I think most people would have wondered about a strange man showing them his wounds, but I find the quirkiest people make the best friends.
Thank you for sharing your week at the #keepingitreal link up.
xx