Crashing

Trying really hard to catch up so going to attempt to do 2 entries in one evening but it is already 9pm and the dishwasher needs doing and I have a few things to sort out before I can shower and go to bed.

Anyway, the day after we got back was spent around the house trying to sort out all the washing from our holiday and Leo had had some dodgy nappies and was sleeping really well in the afternoon so we didn't go to Mummy afternoon.

At lunch time we were all in the kitchen waiting for Ellis to finish eating as usual and Leo was walking up and down the kitchen messing around so I thought it would be a good opportunity to capture some video of it. As soon as I got the camera and put it on, he started crawling and falling all over the place. I won't even bother to post what I captured.

In the evening Caroline came over for a few drinks. Her other half is away at the moment too so she had to bring Angus with her. She arrived just after 7:45pm and our pizza had already been delivered. Leo was still screeching in bed as his afternoon nap dragged on a bit and so he didn't want to go back to bed at 7pm. It always happens on days when you have something planned.

Angus was awake when they arrived and although Caroline tried really hard to get him to sleep, he really couldn't as Leo kept waking him. Eventually Leo dozed off and so did Angus so Caroline and I were able to have a few drinks and a bit of a natter. It was really nice and I felt like I learnt a lot more about her and her life.

On Friday afternoon we have the gym class and Rob 9 times out of 10 makes it home in time to come with us. The boys were both fast asleep at 2:30pm and I tried to wake Ellis up. He really didn't want to and I moved him to the sofa and put his shoes on. But that was as far as we got.

Ellis had been quite troublesome in the morning and I was sort of expecting it as it was his first week back at school, his groups had started again, Daddy had gone back to work and we had been on holiday where his sleeping and eating habits were all out of whack. I didn't blame him but was just tired of him so Rob took him to gym class on his own. Leo was sound asleep but woke 5 minutes later.

On the weekend we had to go back to the big shops about my phone and Rob wanted to get some new clothes so we all went up together.

It was a really busy day. First we stopped for some lunch in Rob's favourite, Nandos.

Then we hit the shops hard. The boys stayed awake the entire time but I eventually managed to get Ellis to stay in the buggy and they soon crashed.

Speaking of crashing, we left the shops to find this.

Luckily or unluckily the lady that hit the car was still there so we were able to take her details. I have since spent over an hour on the phone to insurers and I have to drive into the centre of town tomorrow morning with the boys at 9am (rush hour) to get an estimate that will take 10 minutes then I have to book it in for repairs and arrange for the hire car to be dropped off at the same time. Then I have to take the car in for repairs, transfer the car seats and buggy while looking after the 2 babas before carrying on my day and then eventually going back to pick it up. Hopefully it will be repaired quickly and properly so that I can put it all behind me.

Getting back to it, Sunday was rather boring. Rob was in bed pretty much for the whole morning and then after lunch we went to my Mum and Dad's so that Rob could fix something. The boys slept in the car and I pottered about for a bit. They woke up and we played with some toys before I took them home for bath and bed. Rob came home a bit later.

Obviously we have been doing stuff this week and I will try and do another post on the weekend to finish catching up.

Going Home

We all got up and lazily had breakfast and I started to potter about getting everything packed.

We decided to keep Leo awake for as long as possible so that he would sleep on the journey home as he doesn't really like being in the car for any length of time and can scream for very long period of time. He wasn't particularly happy but Rob entertained the boys while I packed and loaded the car.

As I said before the camera has been making a funny noise, but on leaving the van for the last time, I realised I hadn't taken a picture outside yet. I ran over the road and switched the camera on. It made a really funny noise so I turned it over to look at the lens and I accidentally took a picture.



As you can see the lens hadn't opened properly. I gently tapped on it and it opened and has been fine ever since.

Here is the van. It was the only one like it on our road. I really liked it and would quite happily stay in it again.



We met Lucy, Craig, Shauna and Ashlee at the park so that we could spend a bit more time together and to say our goodbyes as we were going straight home and they were going to go out for the day.



Leo was really tired. Lucy attempted to give him his milk but he didn't take much and we used this as our cue to leave.





In the car Leo fell asleep almost instantly and Ellis surprisingly followed shortly after.







We arrived home in good time and the boys woke up just as we pulled into the driveway.

We had lunch, emptied the car and spent a huge chunk of time sorting clothes out etc.

In the afternoon I took Ellis up to the big shops to take my phone for repairs. It was so nice just being the 2 of us. He was really good and we had so much fun in the toy shop.

Back at home Leo's walking was greatly improving. On holiday I was sure I saw him push up from the floor to standing but then when I got home I knew he did as he has started doing it loads. It won't be long now before they are running around like idiots. It will be fun though and I will just have to stop myself from joining in with them!

I have taken quite a lot of pictures and videos in the last few days so lots of catching up to do. I'm doing my best.

11 Months

I'll catch up with the rest of the holiday and the days since the holiday soon but I wanted to post about Leo turning 11 months.

I did a little video diary for my other blog which I thought I might as well post on here too.

It is near on impossible to take a half decent monthly picture of Leo now. He just constantly moves and barely looks at the camera. Add to that the fact the Ellis feels left out and just wants to get in the way all the time and you end up with one frustrated photographer. I have also noticed that my picture taking recently has become rubbish. Not that I was every really good but now I seem to chop people's heads off and most are blurry. I love the below picture of Ellis but it is really blurry. Plus the top of his head is chopped off. I must try harder.

Here are the pictures of Leo that I managed to get.

Here is Ellis at 11 months.

And the boys.

My baby suddenly grew up.

Other posts to follow shortly.

Country Park

The next morning the boys slept a bit better as they weren't too cold but Leo did wake Ellis up, who I am pretty sure would have slept for a lot longer as he had such a late night.



Breakfast was followed by Ellis taking some photos but I realised that he was leaning the camera lens on stuff and it has now started to make a clicky noise. I hope it doesn't break fully.







We had a bit of time to kill first thing in the morning as Craig's parents were popping down for a visit. It didn't matter though as Lucy's lot came over to our van for a bit and then we went to the pub and park again.

We were soon bored of the park and the men wanted to have a go at the crazy golf course. I of course wanted to have a go too but I'm pretty sure Rob just wanted to have a go on his own with Craig. I understand that with young children you can't really play properly but that is the fun of it really. I thought it was a right laugh but the kids were getting rather fed up by hole 9 so we quickly rushed the last bit and went to meet up with Craig's parents.













The idea for the day was to go to a local country park. We parked up and then there was a bit of a hike up a hill to the big house and grounds.











We were all feeling rather hungry so the first stop was the cafe. There they served the most delicious baguettes and we all sat outside scoffing our food down. I had brought a packed lunch for the boys and so they munched along too.







After a toilet break we walked along the path past the lake which was really pretty and the model boat club was there too which was quite interesting.



Along the path was a wooden adventure playground. There wasn't any shade around so we didn't set up a base. Everyone played around and had loads of fun.









Lucy and her family had to leave early but we had promised a ride on the train for Ellis so we stayed behind. Unfortunately the train had no room for buggies and didn't arrive again for half an hour. So "we" decided that I should take the boys on the train and meet Rob back down the hill by the car park, which is where the other station was.







I felt a bit guilty about the fact that Rob didn't get to go on the train with the boys and Ellis wanted another go so I thought, why not. I wasn't ready to go back to the caravan park and we hadn't seen the animals yet so Rob and Ellis got back on the train.

So I then marched back up the hill pushing the buggy with Leo in the sling. It was a really good work out!

We sat in the shade waiting for the train. I changed his nappy and gave him some milk before he tried to get used to the grass.





Once the boys had arrived we had another toilet break before walking back past the lake and adventure play ground to the animal enclosures.





After having had his milk, Leo eventually fell asleep. Ellis was totally shattered but we were really keeping him going. He had walked a very long way and it was hot.







It was then time to go back. Ellis was in dire need of a nap before he had to eat his dinner and then go to the disco.

He walked a bit of the way back to the car park but Rob ended up carrying him, and he soon fell asleep.

Rob found a short cut but it was across a field and the buggy shook so badly that I had to walk rather slowly to stop Leo's brains from turning into slosh.

Leo woke as we put him in the car but Ellis remained asleep and we were even able to transfer him into the van once we got back.

Rob then decided to join him.





Leo and I messed around taking pictures on my phone and just practising walking. We managed to get a video of him doing a bit in the morning. He was able to practice really well in the van because it was a nice open space with soft chairs to walk between.





We then woke Ellis from his nap and he was actually very good. The afternoon before had been horrendous so I was very pleased. He woke up, got changed, ate his dinner and then we set off for the restaurant so that Rob and I could eat. We had decided to feed the boys before hand so that it wouldn't be so hectic.



Ellis wanted to go in the truck with Leo and we couldn't see a reason why not. So he did. It was really cute.









The disco evening was yet another success. Leo went to sleep on Rob right after having his bottle and Ellis was up dancing on the dance floor, and really getting into it. I loved it! Ellis' dancing that is.









Another late night but the boys were fine being put into bed. They made it so easy! We had a really nice holiday and I loved being with Lucy and her family and can't wait to do it again.