Covering the Bills Over an Expensive Summer

We all know that the summer holidays can be an expensive time of year. The kids are off school and you want to make the most of the time by going for days out or taking holidays.

At the end of the summer holidays all parents have to do the dreaded school uniform shopping trip. This year we have been amazed by how much it has cost us. Our eldest is now going up to secondary school so has needed a completely new uniform, which includes specially embroidered items which have cost us an absolute fortune. This is before we have even considered buying school shoes, football boots and trainers! This year is costing us even more as the twins are starting full time school. When you are buying three pairs of school shoes, three pairs of trainers and uniforms the bills certainly do mount up.

Back to School and Back to Routine!

Yay!!!
It is that time of year. At last, it's back to school day!!!
Please don't get me wrong. It has been lovely to have Joseph at home but the last week has been a tough one and it is going to be nice to have a routine to set my mind to.
This morning Joseph was absolutely full of beans! He was so excited to go back to school and see all of his friends. I am lucky to be able to say, so far, touch wood, I have never had a problem getting Joseph to go to school. He was up and ready to go!
This morning I took him to school in the car so that me and the twins could continue on out to do a spot of shopping. I decided to be brave and park near to school and walk down with the twins holding my hands. They were little stars! I felt so proud of them they both held my hand and walked to the playground, they stood with me whilst we watched Joseph go into school. They even waved to him which was so adorable to see. I looked at them and realised that just over the 6 weeks holidays they have developed so much and are learning about the world around them. I think that they will miss Joseph a bit. I know that I will miss having a little helper around!
After we had a steady walk back to the car off we went to have a walk around the shops and buy a few bits. I had not planned to go out this morning but our chickens have got red mites so we needed something to clean their coop. It was hubby's idea for me to go out. Admittedly I wasn't keen to start with but once we got out I felt so much better. It was lovely to just be out with the twins, strolling around and forgetting all of my worries. After a bad nights sleep the fresh air has done me the world of good! Sometime I think my hubby knows what I need more than I know myself!
I have been trying to keep myself busy to keep my mind off things. This is ok for a while and then something will make me think of my grandad or remind me of him and I go crashing down. But each day that goes by I am having less of these moments. This doesn't mean its getting easier, it just means that I am learning to cope better with my grief. However I know the hardest day is yet to come. So until then I will continue as I am and tackle that hurdle when it comes.
As we all keep saying, one day at a time.
Thankfully, today has started well.

The Last Day Of Summer

Today is Joseph's last day of the summer holidays.
Tomorrow he moves up into class 4!
Today his job is to do some last minute homework. He has a holidays scrap book to complete so we have been looking through photographs to print out. There are some lovely pictures that I wanted to share.
When I look back at the beginning of the school holidays they seem like such a long time ago. So much has happened in the last 6 weeks.
I have to admit that I am looking forward to tomorrow and getting back into our daily school routine! It has been lovely having the three children at home but it has, at times, been a challenge! But, all in all, Joseph has been good and has spent the majority of the holidays playing with friends in the garden so I really cannot complain!
Here are Joseph's holiday pictures for his scrap book:

 

 

I think that these photographs show that Joseph has had a lovely summer holidays.

Now bring on the new school year, work hard, try your best and you will do great x

The Month Ahead......

Wow!!
It is September already!!
I cannot believe how quick this year is flying by.
September is going to be a busy month.
Here is a round up of what is coming up this month for our family.

* First we'll be getting back into a school routine of walks to and from school, homework, reading, spelling tests, early nights and manic mornings!

* We, sadly, have to say a final goodbye a very special man who will always remain close in our hearts.

* Joseph turns 9! I still cannot believe how grown up he is becoming. As he grows so does my pride.

* There are couple of holidays planned. Unfortunately not for us, but for people close that we will miss while they are away.

* The twins turn 19 months.

These are just the events that I can think of!
Of course these will be topped with lots more baking cakes and bread, new recipes, new ideas, twins will develop and learn more, Joseph will gain more knowledge at school and will no doubt try to push the boundaries more, me and hubby will carry on having our date nights and enjoying any spare moment we get to relax together, and the season will start to change in our garden.
Lots of ups and a huge down to get through but, as always, we will get through it together.
As a family x

Well Done Joseph!

Last Friday I got a telephone call from Joseph's school. As any parent, who has a child at school, will know when you see it is someone from school ringing you immediately think "oh no, what's happened?" thankfully this call was different.
This telephone call was to tell me that Joseph was due to receive an award for all of his achievements during this school year and that it was top secret!
Anyone who knows me well will know that I really struggle with secrets. I always panic that I'll say something to give it away or it'll slip out before my brain has realised what is coming out of my mouth! When they told me about the award I was ready to burst with pride. I immediately rang hubby so he could arranged the afternoon off work and started thinking about a "well done" treat and ordered him a Hug Box (this will be another post that I'm excited about writing!). I also decided to cook Joseph's favorite meal on Monday.
So Monday came and Joseph had no idea that we were going to the leavers service or that his dad would also be there.
When we arrived at the village church there he was, sat very seriously, as he does. Then the moment came when the head teacher started to give out the awards. When she got to year 3 I could feel a lump in my throat. She said "this award is going to a boy who was very nervous before he moved up into key stage 2, but once he was in that class, you never would have known it. He settled straight in. This child always tries his best in everything he does and his confidence has grown over the year. This award is going to........
Joseph!!!!!!!"
I could see in his face that this was a huge surprise and he had no idea that he was going to get this. I felt so proud of him as he went to the front to get his gift voucher I had a huge lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. Joseph certainly has had some great achievements this year and is really starting to mature. My baby is growing up!
Today is his last day at school for this academic year. I hope Joseph realises how well he has done and how much he has achieved.
I know that I will keep on reminding him!

How I've Changed

Its is just gone 6am. I am sat downstairs with a coffee and Taylor has got his morning milk. Once upon a time I would have been mortified if you told me I would be up and about at this time.
Since having the twins, I feel that I have changed in so many ways.
Before they arrived I was very career minded and wanted to progress within the organisation that I worked for. Even during my twin pregnancy I was convinced that by 6 months off I'd be itching to get back, that's how much I loved my job.
However once they did arrived everything changed. Work never entered my mind and as my maternity leave flew by I felt my stomach tie up in knots whenever I thought about leaving my children. It wasn't just being with the twins that changed my outlook, but spending time with Joseph also made me realise what I was missing.
When Joseph was nearly 3 I started my job and was lucky that there was a nursery on site so I never felt far away from him until he started school. The place that I worked was 20 minutes away from the village that we live in so I relied heavily on a childminder. I'd drop him off just after 8 in the morning and most days I wouldn't collect him until 6pm. During my maternity leave I got to do the school run, which I had never had chance to do unless I had a day off. For me, I find this walk to and from school, a lovely time of day and feel lucky to be able to do this now after not being able to for so long.
Hubby has also had a huge part in my changes. He has given me the security and contentment that I longed for.
When we moved into our house last year we all settled straight in, this was meant to be our family home, the place that we will raise our children and grow old together. With the house another unexpected change happened within me, not only did I want to be a stay at home mum but I also wanted to be a 'housewife'. I had never been one that stayed at home before but I was starting to thrive on being at home and taking care of our family and home.
I can honestly say, hand on heart, I do not miss my job and feel so lucky that I am able to be at home with the children. I may feel differently in a couple of years but we'll deal with it if that time comes but until then I'll enjoy watching our children grow and caring for our home.