Happy half term was had by all!

What a week it has been!

Half term started slow, with the first few days being what the boys call 'lazy days'. In reality, they were lazy for the children, but a little manic for myself and Hubby! Along with Baby girl still teething and also having a cold.

As camp loomed, Hubby had allot of planning and packing to do. (Whilst still working 14hrs a day!) I did what I could to help, but as I am not a warranted AC, along with not having been to any of the planning meetings, I was little, if any help!

So for the first few 'lazy days', I was chief decorator, cleaner, laundry worker, referee, nurse, chef, peace keeper....... you know, the usual Mum things!!

Thursday was a wonderfully hot, sunny day, so Best friend (who is also a child minder), suggested we meet up with all the other child minders in the area, along with their 'minded children', at a wonderful park and playing field, in the middle of the Forest. Armed with bikes, scooters, balls, bubbles, Frisbee, face paints and copious amounts of sun cream, we all arrived at the park. It a was fabulous day out. Between all the child minders, there were over 50 children there!! It's heart warming to see how all the children get along with each other, even with an age range from 10 months to 12 years.

By Friday, with Hubby and Eldest Son at camp, remaining Sons, Baby Girl and me met up with another friend and her 5 year old daughter, at a different place in the Forest. Again it was a beautiful sunny day. We took bikes for the children and our dogs. (Friend has a Springer Spaniel who loves mud and water!) Great fun was had by all, especially our dogs, who decided that running as fast as they could (which is fast, as I have a whippet, a lurcher and a jack russel - 2 out of 3 ain't bad as Meatloaf once said!!) through a bog would be fun! So, whilst running with big grins on their faces, (anyone who knows these breeds will know what I mean. Anyone who doesn't know the breed - they can actually 'smile'! Not by showing their teeth - but the corners of their mouths really do turn up, giving the impression of smiles!!) flew through the elbow deep stinky swamp. Closely followed by the jack russel who incidentally, is a miniature!! She disappeared! Re appearing absolutely dripping in mud! Lovely! Thankfully, the stream was nearby and all dogs enjoyed a 'dip' before they were allowed back in the Landrover!! The dogs slept well that evening!

On Saturday, 2 remaining Sons were to join Hubby and Eldest Son at camp, to stay over night. More bags were packed, midnight feast sweets were purchased and sun cream applied. Youngest Son was a little wobbly when we arrived, but soon over came this when a Cub yelled "water fight!"

It seemed very strange, if not surreal at home with just Baby Girl. A friend came over, with her 3 older daughters, late morning and we decided to take horse out for a drive, along the cliff and through the village, in the sunshine. It was lovely. It is so relaxing to drive, and is an excellent stress reliever.

By the time I had sorted all the animals out in the afternoon/evening and got Baby Girl to bed, I eventually sat down for my dinner at 9pm!! Bath then bed. I was just drifting off to sleep at 11pm, when my phone brought me back into the room with a bump! Hubby on the other end of the line, asked me to go to camp, to collect Middle Son, who was not coping very well, and was missing me and Baby Girl. I had said I would go to collect either of the younger boys, as I didn't want them to feel they had to stay, which would probably put them off Cub camps in the future. After carefully lifting Baby Girl into the car whilst still asleep, we set off, bleary eyed, through the Forest. (I didn't take the short cut - as it meant driving over an area in a very small lane, in the pitch dark, at almost midnight, where a lot of laylines cross, which is notoriously haunted!)

Hubby and 2 sleepy boys met me at the edge of camp (Youngest Son had decided he wanted to come home by that time too), and we set off for home. Straight to bed and straight to sleep for the boys. A long breast feed and lots of snuggles for Baby Girl and off to sleep she went!

I am now left, trawling through the mountain of dirty washing from camp, after everyone arrived safely home yesterday afternoon and are now back to school!! I will then go on to the challenge of cleaning the bathroom! I am considering using the angle grinder on the bath!! Although, I wouldn't have it any other way!!