the me + mine project {august 2018}

Rich is loving

* seeing Madrid and Turin with work.

* a family day our at Chessington.

* the football season starting again.

* playing mini golf with the kids.

* the miniature train ride at Audley End.

Lucy is loving

* the sunny summer holiday we've had.

* a special week of fun days out as a family.

* taking pictures of all four children together each week.

* Wylder sleeping through the night.

* having her hair a bit shorter.

Dylan is loving

* being a daredevil at Chessington.

* adventure golf at Bear Creek.

* getting into the third Harry Potter book.

* being the most improved player at tennis camp.

* doing bottle flips in the garden. 

Everly is loving

* being a fairy at Audley End.

* tickling Wylder's tummy to make him laugh.

* playing with Mummy's make up.

* the Jungle Bus ride at Chessington.

* picnic days out with her school friends.

Quinn is loving

* having her hair done.

* singing and dancing to Trolls songs.

* learning to put her arms in the air and scream on rides.

* being on stage at the Summer Festival at Audley End.

* seeing the Gruffalo at Chessington.

Wylder is loving

* his morning stretch.

* having all his big siblings at home.

* chewing his fingers.

* rolling onto his side.

* sleep.

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the siblings project {august 2018}

Well even if I do say so myself... I have been really excelling on the siblings photos lately. (Not so much on the getting this post up on time, but you'll forgive me because its the summer holidays, right?) In fact gone are the days of a last minute rush to get a picture of these guys together, because forget monthly photos, I've been trying to get weekly ones while we're on school holidays. Hows that for overachieving? (Again, if you'll forget the fact I'm four days late posting this...!)

Okay, so lets talk about the summer holidays. I'm finding it a mixed kind of bag really. I'm loving having my little gang together, and I already feel sad just thinking about the fact we're well over half way through, and our long together days will be coming to an end again soon. But of course there have been arguments and voices raised and fallings out and times outs and the occasional swipe at a sibling when they don't think I'm looking. 

Just like everything in parenting, and everything with kids in general, it's a mixture of sunshine and showers... but the mixture makes the rainbow. And I actually think there is something lovely about those tougher days too (although maybe not "in the moment"). Obviously, it goes without saying that it makes my heart sing to see my children playing nicely together, being kind to one another, and saying they are best friends. But at the same time, they are learning so much from the harder times; about negotiation and problem solving, about peace keeping and sharing, about empathy and love. Because even though the arguing gets pretty fierce sometimes, they love each other even more fiercely. 

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