Day 74 - Typhoon Lagoon

I couldn't sleep.  Kept having bad dreams so was lying there for about an hour looking at the ceiling listening to the blinds banging in the wind.  Decided to get up and go for a run, even though it's Sunday and I'm supposed to have a day off. 😏

I just pottered about for most of the morning and then suggested to Rob that we cycle to B&Q to get some ant powder.  I also needed bananas for the morning which I could pick up from M&S.  We have an ant problem in the kitchen, it happened last year too.🐜

Turned out the bike ride was a good idea.  All the boys were great and didn't moan at all.  It was nice to do a slightly different route too which made it more interesting.🚲

Rob queued for B&Q and I went to M&S.  I started outside and once I was let in I thought that would be it but nope, yet more queuing inside too.  It was very eery and strange in the store.  It's all been moved around and there are barriers and obviously lots of tape on the floor and signs.  Everyone is very quiet and I just hated it.  I think during lockdown I've spent the vast majority of my time at home living in a little bubble and I'm blissfully unaware of what is going on all around.  It's only when you go to somewhere that used to be buzzing with people going about their lives that you see how different things really are.  I don't like it and was looking forward to getting home and back in my bubble.  Luckily everyone else felt the same way too and we stormed it back!  The boys did the Warmley Hill as we call it with no problems and didn't even need to stop for a rest at the top.  They did amazing.👏💪

We had a very late lunch and everyone spent the afternoon chilling.

I spoke to the Mummy Lot in the evening and eventually put the boys to bed.  Leo is off to school in the morning so he was very unsettled.  He said he felt sick and was crying but we had a lovely long chat about feelings etc and he seemed to calm down.  Well I left him just over half an hour ago and he hasn't called out again yet.🙄

So tomorrow will mark the start of another new normal.  Leo will be going to school for 4 days a week, home Wednesday and Rob has told me that he will be going back into the office full time.  I bet he'll still be here at lunchtime.😄

I am so tired.  I have black bags under my eyes, I'm struggling to type and put a sentence together and I need my bed.  Have to go and shower first though and I want to post a longer blog but don't have the energy.  I also need to set up the school stuff for Oscar, do a packed lunch for Leo, clear up and sort out the pool.  I've also realised that if I'm to do a run in the morning I'm going to have to get up earlier as will need to be back in time to get Leo ready and out the door by 8:30am.  It's going to be a struggle.  The school have said he needs to be there at 8:40, not earlier and not later.  Well sometimes Leo can be very tricky in the mornings (and any other part of the day), so much so that there have been occasions where I can't get him in at all!  I'm hoping they'll give me a bit of leeway.

Anyway, our down day 3 years ago commenced with trying to remove a visitor from our pool, before having a quick dip ourselves. I got all the bags ready and we left mid morning for Typhoon Lagoon.  

When you are at the water parks all your valuables are in a locker so you don't take photos or videos.  I thought we would set up base somewhere and spend the day going in and out the pool and sometimes on the slides before chilling out on the sun-beds.  Well we spent the vast majority of the day doing the slides! Mum and Dad both loved them and the boys took to it all really quickly too.  My favourite thing by far is the huge tidal wave that takes everyone out.  I have a very funny memory of watching my parents being swept away and standing back up completely wrecked by the wave.  It was so funny but you had to be there. 😂🌊

At Typhoon Lagoon, they used to have an area where you could snorkel with fish, sharks and stingrays.  I remember it being absolutely freezing cold water but I also remember that I loved it and would run round and round to do it over and over again.  I'd been telling the boys about it for ages, but sadly it was now closed.😢

Back at the villa the boys chilled out, Rob had a snooze, me, Mum and Dad went food shopping.

Another long day.  We didn't eat until 9:30pm and by the time I'd sorted out bags, packed lunches and clothes it was very late.  Not much time for chilling anyway.  I always managed to have a beer with my Dad, that was until he would start nodding off.😴

I hope the blog makes sense.  I'll proof read it again tomorrow and do any updates.  Going to be a busy one in the morning.  I am so very tired right now.😴😔

Can anyone else believe it is June tomorrow!? February half term feels like it was only a few weeks ago, not 15 weeks!  Right off I go to get stuff sorted and hopefully be in bed before 1am.  Not holding out much hope on that one.🥱

Day 73 - Hollywood Studios

Look at these bad boys! Or girls. 😊  They are growing so quickly!  Won't be long and they'll be hanging from the lid and I can transfer them into the net for when they reappear, hopefully as fully formed butterflies. 🦋

It was a funny day today.  I couldn't get my head around to doing anything, so I did nothing and was then frustrated at myself for doing nothing.  Days like that are so annoying and I always regret it.

I did a bit of this and that, went for a run, had a shower and washed my hair, read my new book which I've got into quite quickly.  I find it easier to concentrate on it if I read it out loud, so the neighbours got to hear it too.😂

I talked to a few friends, obviously spoke to Mum and scrolled through rubbish on the computer.

Rob and Ellis went out for a nice bike ride for an hour.  They both have road bikes so can zoom along a lot easier and faster than the rest of us, so it makes sense for them to go out alone.

The boys went in the pool a lot which is great.  I'm so glad it's getting used as it is totally destroying the lawn!

Sally sent this picture, saying cheers and that she was missing us lots today and that things will never be the same again.😔

I thought it was a good idea so joined her with some bubbles too.🥂

And another...

Then we eagerly awaited the SpaceX launch which had been delayed from Wednesday.  I had my champagne ready and waiting.🥂

The launch was a huge success and we all enjoyed watching it.   Later on after Leo and Oscar were in bed we snuck out to see if we could see it passing by the moon.  We watched the ISS zoom by quite clearly but no Dragon following it unfortunately.😏

Today was my Mum and Dad's Ruby Wedding Anniversary.  I had sent them flowers, a gift for Dad and a card, but only the flowers arrived on time.  😤 They spent their day trying to walk around Portishead but didn't enjoy it as too many people and no one giving each other enough space which was disappointing for them.  They went up the yard to do yet more work but my Dad really needs to start being more careful.  So far he's smashed his little finger to bits, fell out the JCB and has hurt his leg and then last night slipped getting out the bath and landed on his ribs! He's in agony apparently, which isn't my Dad, but he's still going up the yard and working.  Take it steady Dad! x

My favourite flowers.

What were we doing 3 years ago I hear you ask!? Well, I'll tell you.  We were on our way to Hollywood Studios.  Think it used to be called MGM when we went there years ago.🤔

The longest queue, other than for the new Pandora ride, was for Aerosmith.  When we joined it, it said just over an hour.  Well we were waiting for 3 hours!  Once we arrived at the front we realised that there were so many people coming in the FastPass queue using paper tickets, which is usually when a ride breaks down they hand them out for you to use later in the day.  Unfortunately everyone was using them right when we started queuing.   I love the ride, not sure Dad was too impressed.😂

Everyone was hot and exhausted but before going back to the villa we managed to get a FastPass for the Frozen stage show.  Not everyone was keen and although we had a FastPass, it still took ages for us to actually get in to see the show.  It was well worth the wait and still one of my favourite bits from the holiday.  It was so funny and we all loved it.🥰

These towels were a God send

Please excuse my singing, I was trying to encourage the boys to do it.☺️  I loved how old and young all joined in.  

Another amazing day in Disney.  It's totally exhausting but I love it.  I could zoom round all day and so can Mum.  The men need to be dragged and the kids ebb and flow because of all the waiting around.  The next day was supposed to be a rest day.  Haha! No such thing!  We were off to a water park.😅

Until next time, stay alert!🙄