This half term, we had nothing planned. It was such an amazing feeling, considering that we are normally really busy whenever we have some time off. None of our relatives live in our area, so we are always either out and about on a mission, or have visitors at home. No matter how much I enjoy going on a road-trip with the children or having guests, it is sometimes refreshing to just be at home, relaxing and enjoying being with hubby and our brood.
Only hiccup, bronchitis for me. Why is it always when you have a week off that you get sick and feel at your worst when all you want is to enjoy your family? Despite the fact I was house-bound for most of the week, we managed to cram in quite a lot of fun.
On Saturday, the children made apple cake and we celebrated Mister Penguin’s birthday.
Sunday was a gorgeous day and we made the most of the sunshine. Our garden is a suntrap and it got to 21 degrees Celsius mid-morning! We then gathered toilet paper rolls and craft supplies to make little owls I had seen on Misplaced Brit, Steph’s brilliant blog. Beanie and Crevette spent ages playing with their cute creations outside with Jumpy and had a bubble blowing session (nothing beats bubbles!) then they took it in turns to stay outside and go inside to wave from our bedside window (the little things in life, hey!).
On Monday, we ventured out of the house and hubby treated us all to a carvery lunch, which was great. During Jumpy’s nap, Crevette, Beanie and I made Nutella Cake.
Tuesday was a great day for the children. After playing with trains for the whole morning, hubby took them to the park and they had a crêpe party waiting for them when they got home.
When the postman came on Wednesday morning, Crevette was over the moon to receive a postcard from his headteacher, telling him he was a good role model. When I was at the doctor’s, the kids did some painting with their daddy and I had a girly lunch with my friend Roselyne whilst hubby and the kids went food shopping.
On Thursday, Jumpy and I had an appointment with her allergy consultant. Hubby, Crevette and Beanie went on an adventure. The children did not know where they were going, which made it all the more exciting. They kept asking to go to “the Dinosaur Museum” and they were not disappointed as hubby had planned to take them to the Natural History Museum. They were delighted to take trains, tubes, buses and spend a few hours in their favourite museum.
On Friday morning, the children and I checked on the flowers that had been showing signs of flowering all week, and we had three open daffodils in the garden… exciting! We spent the whole afternoon at a friend’s house and the kids had a great playdate.
After a lovely breakfast – I actually sat at the table eating my toasted bread and drinking warm coffee (yes, warm!), Jumpy went for a nap and I thought I would do something fun but quiet with Beanie and Crevette. I had a drawing tutorial at the back of my mind. I remembered saving it on Pinterest a few months ago. It took me ages to find it again as I had saved it in my “pins to check” board. The link was not valid (hence the “pins to check” board) but as the photo was self-explanatory, we still ended up with some pretty good sketches.
Crevette made goat’s cheese sandwiches for him and Beanie then we were off to their swimming lessons. After dinner, we relaxed on the sofa and as the children got talking about babies coming out of their mummies’ tummies, we looked at their first ever pictures, which was a magical moment for all of us. After 8 p.m. tonight, we could still hear the older two chatting upstairs and as we started listening more closely, we heard that Crevette was reading “There’s A House Inside My Mummy” (Giles Andreae and Vanessa Cabban) to Beanie… how sweet!
Tomorrow, the plan is to relax in the morning, take the children to their swimming lessons before slowly coming back to reality in the evening and getting ready for work, school, routine…
Why is it that as soon as half term arrives, everyone gets ill! We’ve been trapped indoors all week too. I hope you’re feeling much better now. I love the crepe party that was waiting for them after the park! So cute! x
Author
Oh dear, hope you are better, too… Mel
WOW You guys have done loads!! You already know I LOVE your cute cute owls! And WOW that cake!! Your little ones have done such gorgeous pictures too 🙂 …I really like the #minicreations linky @kidglloves …it’s the perfect place to immortalise these beautiful drawings too 🙂
Author
Thanks Steph, I might have a look into the Linky once I am over the Sunday evening feeling and the dread I feel towards the list of things I have to do for work for tomorrow, bouhou! x Mel
Mel, you really are quite the domestic goddess! How on earth did you manage all that whilst being ill? I hope you’re better now x
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Alexandra, I do not actually do half of what you do, but thanks for the compliment hihi. I was lucky to have hubby off work as well for the week. He did a lot with the kiddies. x Mel
21 degrees? I think I’m going to have to come and live in your garden! I like the owl crafts, very cute, will have to check these out.
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I know, I was surprised myself. It did not last very long, but it was lovely to have a bit of warmth. Check Steph’s blog, it is brilliant! Mel
I hope you are feeling better. It looks like a lovely week though. It’s good not planning to much sometimes I think! x
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Feeling a bit better, thanks. It has been such a nice, relaxing week… very enjoyable! x Mel
What a really lovely half term (although not the illness) that nutella cake looks immense!
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments xx
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Thanks Jaime. The cake was amazing! Have a look at Jessica’s blog, her recipes are all stunning! x Mel
Oh wow! You have had a busy week! Sounds like lots of fun though x
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Busy and fun are two perfect words to describe our week! x Mel
Sorry to hear you were poorly just when the kids were off, still looks like you created plenty of fun for them. #MagicMoments
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Feeling much better right now and glad we managed to cram in so much fun to our time off! Mel
Snap x we too went to the Natural History Museum such an awesome place x That cake looks yummy too. amazing #magicmoments
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We love that museum and whenever we have people visiting, we take them there! The cake was really nice. Might make it again this week, unless another recipe takes my fancy. Mel
Why do the bugs strike when we take time off? Glad you managed to still have a good time – love the red & white straws! #MagicMoments
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I know, just typical, isn’t it? We still had a great time all together and it was great not having any “big” plans like we normally do when we are off. Mel
Such a beautiful post (apart from the bronchitis) hope you are feeling better, adored your pictures and hearing about your wonderful family, really warmed the cockles xx
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We did have a fab week! I just love spending time with my little ones and hubby! x Mel
Wow – one very action packed week. That apple cake looks good
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Thanks, it was delicious actually! Mel
Mister Penguin is becoming quite a celebrity… Maybe those owls could give him a run for his money 😉 beautiful photography again Mel. #TheThemeGame
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Mr Penguin has been living the dream in our house for 5 years already! Who knows, he might get famous someday… Thanks about the photos! x Mel
You did cram lots in! Love that shot of the museum, too, lovely angle. Glad you had fun and hope you’re feeling better now x Thanks for sharing with #TheThemeGame
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We did! It is just lovely having time to focus on the children and them only. Mel
Despite being ill, it sounds like a fab way to spend the week. I do love the Natural History Museum too. Thanks for sharing with #TheThemeGame
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Thanks Iona, it was a great week! Mel
Sounds like a perfect week Mel (barring the bronchitis). Beautiful photos again!
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It really was a perfect week and being ill meant resting a lot which was much needed! x Mel
Still an eventful sounding week off – hope you’re feeling better now…
Love your fun ideas and pictures and Nutella cake sounds wonderfully dangerous!! xx
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Feeling fine now, thanks. The cake was really rich, full of nuts and chocolate… just what you need when you are not well! x Mel
Coucou Mèl, ton blog est super bien et je prends beaucoup de plaisir à faire découvrir à Valentin les photos que tu publies. Grâce à toi, Valentin veut aller au musée que tu as mis en photo donc il va falloir que j’arrive à m’organiser pour lui programmer un p’tit week end à Londres ( ville chère à son coeur ) et le gâteau au nutella l’a fait saliver, pas que lui d’ailleurs. J’espère que ta bronchite ne t’as pas trop épuisée et que tu t’es bien remise. Nous t’embrassons tous et attendons la suite avec impatience………..
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Cindy, ton message me fait trop plaisir! Je suis ravie que tu lises mon blog parce que j’ai parfois l’impression que personne que je connais ne le lit. Merci, merci, merci, je suis toute contente! Quand tu viendras dans notre belle ville, fais-le moi savoir et je te donnerai une liste d’endroits qu’il faut absolument voir et on se retrouvera quelque part pour manger ou discuter! On ne s’est pas vues depuis trop longtemps. Bises Mel