The week started off with Father’s day on Sunday. The girls gave Gary some lovely cards, although it was the words inside of both of the older girl’s cards which had both of us quite emotional. There is a special bond between father and daughter which the girls are appreciating and loving more and more as they mature. T (being a typical son) chose not to get him a card but instead dedicated his first ever stop-motion animation to him, so that when the credits rolled at the end they were Father’s day wishes instead!
The older two girls, with the ‘help’ of the younger two made him breakfast in bed (a full English breakfast) and managed to refrain from decimating our kitchen in the process. I was suitably impressed!
We have made it down to the pond this week and we are all enjoying the novelty of watching the ducklings growing up big and strong. We also noticed that the male Mallards are molting. We all love going down and it is also a great excuse for some fresh air and exercise!
All the photos are taken with my new phone! I have at last joined the 21st century and got myself a phone. I’m not entirely sure how to use it yet and don’t know my phone number to give to anyone, but it’s a step in the right direction, right?
These are some more phone photos. I really struggle to answer the phone when Gary rings (note to self -you need to swipe the screen not tap it vigorously to answer), but I’ve mastered the taking of pictures. When I say mastered, what I actually mean is that I know which button to press. Mastery will probably come in the next century.
Each Wednesday the girls have a friend around whilst the little ones are in bed and T12 is fencing. A lovely side effect has been getting to know her mum, Lorna (top left hand picture). I look forward to Wednesdays almost as much as the girls do!
Since the children have had their own computers they have all learnt how to change the screen saver on mine. Throughout the day I get various messages, usually reflective of the state of their stomach – mostly along the lines of ‘I’m hungry’ or ‘ I need more food’. I prefer messages like the one above. Ah yes, messages of love never get old. Messages to do with their hunger status, I could well do without.
I may have alluded to the effects of hormones during these tweenie years. Each child is struggling to come to terms with all the changes they are seeing in themselves and I am once again so pleased they experience all this confusion within the safety of home. Gary and I decided that increasing their exercise might help to alleviate some of the stress of these changes. So as a family we now all belong to the leisure centre and the older children have been enjoying badminton, tennis, junior gym and daily swims, whilst Gary has been to the gym each day and I’ve been taking the little ones to the soft play area. It has worked a treat, with all five children sleeping much better and the older one’s mood seems to be less up and down.
You may (or may not) be wondering what I am doing. As the little ones require adult supervision at all times at the centre, I am getting my exercise by walking the 40 minutes home. Having not done much exercise in the past three years, a fairly fast and long walk seems the perfect way to begin.
Since I have started to sleep I have lost 10 Ib without a huge amount of effort. The weight loss is slowing down now but I would like to continue with a bit more effort. Would anyone like to join me? I am toying with the idea of sharing it on my blog and would love to have the support of others who also want to lose some weight and/or become a bit healthier. If you are interested would you please leave a message in the comment or email me (you don’t need to be a blogger).
Gary and the older girls are going away for the weekend with their Sunday School group and T and I have planned late nights with Poirot and home-made pizza! I hope you all have a lovely weekend ahead of you.
