The day started with a very hot run. I had really wanted to do one yesterday but it was so hot by 8am that I decided against it. Today was cooler (though not by much) so I forced myself out of the front door. I was super proud of myself as I still managed a 6km run and in a pretty good time too. I got home and there was just enough time for a shower before the kids arrived home!
I was doubly excited to have run today as my very first running medal arrived. I entered a virtual 5km run for the NHS in April, back before I had upped my running distance and just after Stephen’s temperature had finally gone so we were out of isolation. It’s a beautiful medal, the funds from it went to the NHS and I love what I did to get it!
When the children jumped out of the car, it was so clear just how much fun they had had at their grandparents’ house. Genevieve did make a point of telling us how she had missed us, but they were both so happy to have spent time with their grandparents. It was lovely and felt so different from how they had been with us a few days earlier. Or maybe that was just how I felt having had sleep and respite. We were definitely all in a better place.
Something that Genevieve couldn’t wait to tell us about was her missing tooth. It’s the second one she’s lost and she was pleased as punch that it had finally come out (after a lot of wobbly prodding). The tooth was very carefully packaged in a “special” envelope that had been decorated and everything.
Having got both kids home it was time to see how much written work Grandma Lindsey had managed to extract from Genevieve and therefore what tasks still needed to be done. I was so impressed. There was written work, but more importantly, there was a happy girl.
We set about trying to write a short story about Genevieve’s favourite character from this week’s book – the mole. It was just like pulling teeth all over again. Like she had never been away. But she did it. And I worked out that if we talk through and then I write down the sentences before she then writes them down then she was more amenable to getting it done.
Whilst Genevieve and I were grappling with English, Stephen and James were having boys time doing James’s fantastic new dinosaur puzzle. They had lots of fun!
When he wasn’t finding the edge pieces and quizzing Daddy about dinosaurs, James was keen to show off his hopping skills. He’s really good at it!
After all the school work had been accomplished and lunch had been eaten, we headed up to see the friendly neighbourhood monkey. Today he was fishing!
While we were out walking, Stephen had got the hose out. Cue Sprinkler fun in the garden! The kids loved it and I even joined in for a bit. They thought that was hilarious.
I might have been a bit crazy but mid-sprinkler fun I stopped the kids and got them sat at the table for the World record attempt at biggest art lesson with #drawwithrob. We have been loving some online drawing tutorials by a children’s illustrator Rob Biddulph and today he was going to try to teach the biggest online art lesson ever! From one art teacher to another, I couldn’t not participate.
We all drew a whale. And for the most part, the kids loved it. I think I loved it more though, as was evident by the fact I was still sat at the table colouring mine when the kids were already back running around in the sprinkler again.
And boy did they have fun with the sprinkler (and so did Daddy)!
Due to aforementioned sprinkler fun, a bath was required before dinner due to soaking wet children.
Once the kids were in bed and we had eaten, Stephen had his first boys chat since becoming poorly. It was so nice to see him happy and socialising again. I was getting worried he was bored of my company!
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