Wow where did those two weeks go? Plenty of melt downs but lots of quality time and productive improvements! Cannot believe how awful the weather has been though! Still a better easter break than last year where we managed to breakdown on the way to an inflatable theme park, the lawn mower broke, then Marnie broke her arm. So I had high expectations for this years break!
What have we done.......
I have managed to upload my husbands award winning children's book to Amazon kindle - Jimmy Threepwood and the Veil of Darkness please go take a look and download. The paperback version is also available!
He has also inspired me to write too, so there are some things in the pipeline that I have started. All to do with life at Bumpkin Patch!!
The first week Rich had off too so we took the girls to Tenpin
I started with a strike then the next go put both balls in the gully! Still the girls enjoyed it! We went on a bike ride to Whitemead, had food and rode the bikes back. One advantage of living in the Forest of Dean is the amazing cycle trails. Easily accessed and all for varying abilities.
We often pop to Whitemead, the food is fab and really quick, the terrace is beautiful with a lovely play area. Plenty of friendly staff on hand providing plenty of activities. We love going there to pretend we are on holiday! So if you live local or visiting the area please pop there.
The girls had a sleep over with friends - Never again! The house was trashed, late night and early morning was not ideal and led to two very grumpy girls for couple of days!
I managed to get on the allotment and tidy it up ready for planting out. Not that I have any seedlings ready yet - The patch by the greenhouses is the dumping ground for the burning pile, which we cant burn as its too wet! So I can't get to the greenhouse to tidy up and pot the seeds!
I attempted to make hot cross buns - which were an epic fail, however the annual Easter simnel cake was a huge success!
I have managed to buy an outfit for Emmis wedding - all from Vinted.
I cooked a lush family roast on Easter Sunday which was lovely. I really enjoy Easter, although the girls are really over egged (excuse the pun!) the 'Easter Bunny' coming with easter eggs, which made me feel a bit cross that the commercialisation of easter has taken over and raised the expectations of children that they should be receiving lots of stuff - which I disagree with. But wow - the cost of Easter eggs was ridiculous! Hopefully the supermarkets will re assess next year as there were so many eggs left on the shelves, particularly the expensive ones. I also held the annual Easter Egg hunt in the garden on Easter Monday.
Rich and I also managed to pressure wash the patios, hobbit house and the chickens eglus which has freshened up the garden, ready for when we eventually get some warm fine weather!
Attempting frugality!
I have also started to be frugal with money and have been making a concerted effort with being more mindful with money and having a positive mindset with my finances. I used to bury my head in the sand and avoiding keeping on top of my money and end up skint at the end of the month! So I have signed up to top cash back app. Changed bank accounts, saved on my electricity bills and set spending limits on my weekly food shop.I always save throughout the year for Christmas and we pay monthly instalments for our annual holiday to ensure we don't go into unnecessary debt for luxuries.
I am always planning my meals for the week and that definitely helps with the weekly shop and saves on waste. I try to make everything from scratch with my meals and never buy ready meals. Have also been teaching the girls about the yellow signs in the supermarket and only buying treats (branded breakfast cereal) when they are on offer! I think its important to teach children to manage money from a young age to ensure they grow up knowing that we should live with in our means and not to keep up with the Jones' and be extravagant.
Best part of the holidays.....
All of us sitting around the dining table for our evening meals. I find it really hard to do this when I am at work and the girls in school. I don't normally get back from work until 5.30/6pm and the girls need to be in bed for 7.30 so we never get the opportunity to have dinner together, so I have really enjoyed doing it through the holidays. To all sit down and talk and have no distractions. The girls have eaten really well and we have had some lovely conversations and laughed a lot. The simplest of things to do that have made the best memories this holiday. I think it is so important for children to have good table manners. Please and thank yous, sit at the table until everyone has finished, ask permission to leave the table and definitely no technology at the table. It is certainly not too much to ask of a child to sit still for 30 minutes, engage in conversation and eat well.
When I have been out for food particularly when we were on holiday, I found the worst behaved children were those that were using technology at the table. There really is no need for it and the younger the child is that a healthy routine at the dinner table is established the easier it is to continue. Set the example, they will thank you for it in the future.
Monday morning dread
And just like that I am back to ironing uniform, meticulous planning of meals, walking the dogs at 5am, sorting the timetable of school drop offs and pick ups as the girls school does not provide breakfast club or afterschool club! So I have to be super organised. I always leave for work way before the girls are up so I need everything ready before I leave! I am also dreading going back to work. I am really struggling with the work life balance at the moment and the holidays only highlight how quick the time goes and how children grow up so fast! 7 weeks until the next half term! Hopefully things will change and my dreams and manifestations come to fruition over the coming months!
Watch this space.......
Love Gianna x