Summer holidays in full swing - can someone have a word with the weather department?

It's been the first full week of the holidays and in almost carbon copy of last year the weather has been absolutely honking. 

Still - we didn't let this deter us and in amongst some heavy planning sessions trying to maximise the weeks ahead we were able to get some things that we really wanted to get done quite early in the holidays.

for example - I was able to take Sophie into my work - now it's not as noisy and exciting without all the kids there but I thought Sophie would benefit from a quiet look around. She didn't want me to take any pictures but she didn't notice me taking this one in the fitness suite. Highlights of the trip for Sophie? well it is a tie between the water cooler in my office and the gym hall where she kicked a ball around for at least 30 minutes. We had a right old laugh - it was proper Daddy and Daughter stuff.

As for the wee man - well he isn't so wee anymore and he took his first couple of steps the other day unassisted. Things are about to get much more interesting - Lauchlan is like a steam train and isn't easy to stop. He isn't really compliant with his nappy going on or anything he cannot be bothered with to be honest. He loves baths but likes to throw the toys around, he wants to play with everything that Sophie picks up and he likes to make lots of noises. He can moo like a cow and he can quack like a duck, he has also started to say cheeky cheeky (we talk about cheeky wipes a lot - a brand of wipes) He is also still eating us out of house and home and if he claps eyes on a bit of fruit (especially bananas) you better get out of his way - he will take you down.

Daddy made a list at the start of the holidays of the things he wanted to get done and on that list was a lot of things with the family and the kids. You have already heard about the trip into Daddy's work for Sophie but the next thing I wanted to do was take her on a bus. This trip was a big success but again made me realise that I cannot get disappointed when the trip doesn't happen the way I plan - Sophie is only 3. She wants to climb a mountain next ;o)

Anyway - we left early at 9am and wandered down to the bus stop - we were off to the museum! This involved a bus to the city centre and then the underground. all very exciting - Sophie was especially tickled by the fact there were no seat belts on the bus. her favourite question however was "what's that smell". 

Sophie took this photo herself.

We got to the museum before it opened and we hung about outside waiting - I had in my head it was going to be an incredible day - we would run around inside the museum for hours, have our packed lunches, maybe head into town, perhaps by some clothes or toys in a big shop - the possibilities were endless.

In reality by the time the museum opened at 10am we were both knackered. By 10.45 Sophie had done a poo and eaten half her sandwiches. She had a mini-meltdown because I refused to give her the emergency chocolate buttons I had bought for later (bought in case of a mini meltdown) She wanted to get a toy for her and Lauchlan from the gift shop and she wanted to go home for a sleep (she never says this).

I persuaded her to go the park - where she fell off a swing and banged her head. Then she played in the park to the soundtrack of an 8 year old boy in a Celtic top who was singing "I like to move it move it" on repeat.

We left, and I managed to get her on another bus into the city where she told me she didn't want to walk anymore. So I carried her the length and breadth of the city, she wanted to stop and watch buskers - which we did and then we bought some orange juice and got the bus home. We were home for lunch - which we had already eaten on the bus - so we went to the park.

Sophie and I also went for a sleepover to Gran and Grandads this week - this served a triple purpose - not only did Dad get to stay up and drink some beer with his Dad, Sophie was genuinely excited about staying over and it meant that Katie got some less complicated, less noisy but not less difficult Lauchlan time.

When Sophie and Daddy got home - Katie and Lauchlan were out so I had to entertain Sophie so I reached for the emergency fun kit I had in the car - a face painting kit. Sophie demanded to be a bunny - this was a very funny shared moment I have to say - i copied the instructions closely but my Higher Art qualification was seeming like a distant memory. Please believe me that the black mouth and the teeth at the bottom lip were all part of the original instructions.

Sophie then wanted to paint me and I think the look she was going for was a Pirate who had been in a road traffic accident involving an acid spillage and a fight. All good fun though.

So that was the first week - not much Lauchlan this week but he will feature heavily in this next week I feel with perhaps a video or two of him tearing down the house or anyone who stands in his way.

Hope you are all well.

Uncovered these gems recently - i have been laughing all week.