Back in the Saddle

I was starting to wonder if I'd be able to remember how to get into my blog, but by some stroke of luck, when I typed blogger into the url bar the dashboard came up straight away!  So, I have no idea what my blogger username or password are, but I'll make the most of it while it lasts. 

We had a fun trip over this year; my friend Annette flew over with us and it was fun to have someone to travel with.  We let the kids have all the cokes they wanted on the plane in return for peace and quiet while we sipped our (complimentary) drinks.  We navigated our way through LHR with a bottle of Captain Morgan that we bought in duty free on the plane, but despite our panic that the Captain wouldn't make it through Flight Connections at Heathrow, he did. 

We started out with a day for R&R, which for Annette equals Shopping.   We had time to browse and wander round as my mum kept the kids with her. 

Tuesday, there was no rain in sight so we set off for Tullymore with Joy and Ken for a bbq. 

 Everyone was pretty happy to be back in one of our favourite places. 

Cole had to go and take a picture in front of the monument.

After Tullymore, we took a quick drive over to Newcastle to buy ice-cream and to check out Uncle Ken's boat in the harbour. 

Tullymore

On Sunday, we trekked to Tullymore for a bbq with Neil, one of the kids' favourite cousins (I hope he read this), and Gwyneth, Larry and Ewen. When we got to the park, it was raining.  We sat in the car for a while (I read my book) and waited for the rain to stop.  It didn't.  We sat for a while longer (I started another chapter, Justin Cronin, The Passage, v good) and it still didn't stop.  We climbed out of the car, put our coats on, paused for photos, then set off in the rain.

Cole actually said he'd wear his jacket (but he wouldn't zip it up, so after 10 mins he was soaked through.  Natural consequences, kiddo!).  Carys was lucky enough (lazy enough?) to find her riding boots in the car.  Score!

I realized I could be in the photo, too.

Isn't that lovely and scenic with the yellow car and the toilet block in the background.  Why did we not stand the other way, in front of the mountains??

When we got to the river, the water was well up over the stepping stones.  Gwyneth nearly had kittens watching the kids jump over the river.  They all managed not to fall in. 

Still raining, so we set up the bbq in the only bit of shelter we could find. 

Good thing nobody's too fussy :)  Look at Neil's wee portable grill.  Ha!

Some people sat in the car and read.  And read.  And read. 

Occasionally looking out for another sausage or a jaffa cake or something.

And some people played in the rain.   (picking grass for Sammy and Elvis). 

Birthday Weekend

On Friday Cole woke up to celebrate his 8th birthday.  He was not too excited at the birthday celebration I offered up ~ brunch with Granny G, but in the end he was lured by the thought of a good feed.  We came back to the Spa and he spent the rest of the day playing with his friend Dawson and Ewen came out later and we had birthday cupcakes.  3 days later, I realized that there was not one photograph of the birthday boy from any point over the weekend; stellar mothering, I tell you. 

On Saturday, the girls went riding and then Chloe managed to spend all day the stables.  The other 2 played outside while Granny and I got some things done around the house (mostly I think I internet shopped for toilet seats, since Chloe stood on ours and broke it and a replacement is impossible to find and the one I can find is £200 + VAT which is more than $350 for a toilet seat.) 

Sunday was our annual birthday outing to Tullymore with the Lyles.  Every year, the heavens open and we get soaked at this bbq.  It would almost be disappointing if there was no rain.  This year, we were not disappointed.  We arrived in Tullymore in beautiful sunshine.  I lit the bbq.  10 mins later, everyone else was sitting in the car while I wore a peterstorm and stood holding a golf umbrella over the bbq.  And then as suddenly as it started, the rain stopped and it was a gorgeous day.

Carys with Granda George. 

Getting the lunch started.  All photos by Chloe. 

A volcano cake.  We added sparklers left over from Hallowe'en (thank you Barbara Tate) for a more dramatic effect.  The strawberry sauce/chocolate cake combination went over very well. 

Look! How exciting is that? You'll be wanting a volcano cake for your next birthday, won't you?

We gave all the children a sparkler after they'd had their cake and ice-cream; oh my godfathers, 7 children with sparklers is a little bit intense. 

At this point, Cole went back to sit in a tree and read a book that Gwyneth got him. 

Chloe and David took off to the river with Peter.  They literally ran as fast as they could from the picnic table in a (successful) effort to make sure no small people joined them.

Granda George poured more wine. 

We all had a brilliant day. 

Even those of us who started out feeling a bit under the weather ;)

After Tullymore, I got to go and meet some friends from long ago to have a drink and a catch up.  It was really good to see both of them again and I hope we can manage to get together with our kiddos next time. 
The icing on the cake was that everyone was in bed by the time last orders had been called in the Primrose.  Don't think it gets much better than that.