Today was Genevieve’s second half-day at school before she’s back full time next week, so we were all up early again to ensure we left on time. She was just as excited to be going as she had been yesterday which was, frankly, quite a relief.
On the walk to school we encountered her friend and fellow classmate Erin. Both girls were delighted as it meant we could all walk the school route together. However, once we neared the school gate, Genevieve spotted another classmate and ran full-pelt after her (whilst firmly holding my hand and thus dragging me along too). I felt bad for poor Erin who was left behind (but only until we’d all joined the drop-off queue at the classroom door).
After Genevieve had been dropped at school, I got home to tag in with James so Stephen could go back to bed. The days of feeling so much better on Monday and Tuesday had meant he had clearly overdone it and was really paying for it today. This post-viral fatigue can do one – it’s horrendous.
While I’d been walking Genevieve to school, James had taken out every single maze, puzzle and worksheet that Grandma Lindsey and Grandad Lawrie had sent him over the past couple of months. He’d been excitedly going through them all digging out the ones he’d not done at the time. He had a whale of a time completing mazes and scribbling all over the place.
Having tidied up a bit, we made a maze out of Dulpo in a cardboard box. Once complete, he could then put his bouncy ball in and move towards the winning house in the middle!
Midway though the maze building, James made up an amazing joke: What’s a penguin’s favourite sea? A banana freezing sea! It’s not quite up there with “why did the chicken cross the road”, but it’s still a great joke.
I then resorted to the iPad to entertain him in order to facilitate a Zoom call I had scheduled with some students. The morning went so fast that, before I knew it, it was then time to go and collect Genevieve from school again. But no walking through the woods for us today as we had to collect a loaf of bread and some sausage rolls for lunch. And I wanted to avoid the perils of dog poo footpath!
While sorting through Genevieve’s school bag I spotted a colourful piece of paper. She swiftly whisked it away from me and started to act very coy about it. It turned out that this was a ruse as she then burst out with the revelation that it was a certificate for “doing great maths”. Fantastic!
Genevieve was more than happy to jump in the bath once we got home. She declared that daytime baths are so much fun and also very relaxing. She didn’t want to get out at first, but then I reminded her of the delicious lunch that was awaiting her and she quickly obliged.
Pudding at lunchtime was a special treat of the Kinder cookie traybake we had made yesterday. However, Genevieve was particularly put out that she and James had just one slice each, whereas I had two. I explained that I am Mummy and so I’m allowed more. At which point Genevieve said (rather haughtily) that, when she became a mummy, she would let her daughter have two slices because she would be allowed more sugar than I let her (Genevieve) have. I will be reminding Genevieve of this exact conversation when I am a grandma! Revenge will be… sweet.
After lunch I was a bit lazy and gave the kids some downtime. They watched a film and enjoyed some iPad time (as Genevieve had not done any iPad-based work at school). They also started work on their giant dinosaur colouring project, although this was done without any great enthusiasm despite asking time and time again to be able to do it. Typical!
At 4pm we all went in the garden as Auntie Daisy and Uncle Ben popped by for a socially distanced chat. It wasn’t long before funny faces were being pulled – standard behaviour when those two are around.
It was brilliant to see them, and the lovely chat time quickly turned into a celebration when Ben got a call offering him a new job! The beer came out and toasts were made. It’s really fantastic news.
The kids had dinner pretty much straight after Daisy and Ben headed home as it was a little late. After dinner James must have grabbed my phone as I found this attractive selfie on it later in the evening. Low angles are not flattering, even if you’re four years old.
Then it was time for pyjamas, stories and bed. I’m not sure who was more tired; me, the kids or Stephen (even after his nap-heavy day). Whoever it was, thankfully the children settled quickly so we could all relax.
Stephen and I finished the evening with chicken and too many chips (which is only a sore point as I insisted on leaving some on the baking tray “for later” and said Stephen couldn’t have them, but then never ate them so they went cold and soggy), and the latest instalment of the Great British Sewing Bee! Lovely.
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