Posts in category: Personal

We’ve had a lovely, if slightly soggy, start to the half term holiday.

The children had an inset day on Friday and we made the most of it with a perfectly lazy day at home.  This first term back at school has felt really long and seemed quite intense at times for the children, so it’s been so nice to have this break and let them switch off for a bit.

On Saturday they went out for the morning to Wiggleys fun park with their grandparents and their cousins who are visiting for the holidays.

And then yesterday we all met up for a walk in the woods through to the playpark.

It was a bit wet at times, but by the time we reached the park the rain had stopped and the children were all able to play and have fun.

It’s been so nice seeing the cousins all play together, especially considering how long it’s been since they last saw each other.

We’ve got a few more things planned with them over the next few days which should be a lot of fun.  And then the rest of the holiday is full of things like haircuts and eye tests and trips to town for a bit of shopping and lunch at McDonalds.

I’m hoping we’ll find a good balance of doing things and not doing things so the children have a good time and head back to school next week feeling like they’ve really had a break from everything.

Have you got much planned for this week?

Is it half term yet?  I know it’s just around the corner but it feels like it can’t come soon enough for the children.

They’re both really ready for a bit of a break from the school routine, especially now the mornings are getting darker making it harder to get up and going on time.

Last week was a bit more of a return to the normal routine after a week of poorliness the week before.

Nerys had her drama class on Monday (which she is still absolutely loving) and Rhys had an in-person cubs meeting which he always really enjoys.

The children also both had their swimming lessons at the weekend.

They’ve both been working really hard on their swimming this term.  And Nerys got her Goldfish 2 badge yesterday which she was thrilled about.

Rhys has also been moved up another group which is challenging him a bit more but hopefully that’ll turn out to be a good thing for him.

Now we just need to get through this last week of term before we can take a bit of a break.

The children have got an inset day on Friday so it’s a nice short week anyway, and then we have a few fun things planned for the half term holiday.  Their cousins are coming over from the Isle of Man for a visit and we’re all really looking forward to seeing them after such a long time apart.

Has your child’s school already broken up for the holidays, or do you have another week to go too?

It feels like I’ve barely taken any photos lately, so this month’s siblings project post is a short and sweet one.

I was really aware of the fact that, between the wet weather and everyone being a bit run down, I hadn’t picked up the camera much.  So when I saw a pool of lovely natural sunlight in my bedroom when we got home from swimming lessons the other day, I had to snap a quick photo.

I got Rhys and Nerys together and took this.

Something about the window light in that room always seems to bring out their blue eyes in the most beautiful way.

I tend to prefer taking photos of the children outside because our house is so often on the dark side and I love natural light so much.  But when the sun shines into certain rooms just the right way, it is really quite lovely.

The last month might not have provided that many photo opportunities, but the children have still been busy with school and homework, swimming lessons and drama lessons and cubs sessions, as well as a sleepover with their grandparents.

After the long summer holidays it’s taken a while for us all to get back into the swing of being back in school and having other activities up and running again.

The children are doing really well now, and seem to have settled well into their new classes.  I do have a feeling that we’ll all be well and truly ready for the half term break when it rolls around though!

We had another quiet week last week, with both the children feeling under the weather.

So there was a lot of time spent on the sofa, watching endless episodes of Good luck Charlie.  Luckily it was always going to be a pretty quiet week without too much going on, so they could take their time and rest.

This week though we’re a bit busier with after school clubs and other bits and pieces.

Nerys has joined a local drama class and she went to her third session this evening and came out with a huge smile on her face.

They do acting, singing, and dancing at the classes and I think it’s going to be brilliant for her confidence as well.

What’s really lovely is that it’s a brand new class, so all the children are new and getting to know each other, instead of there being a group that are already established which can be harder to settle in with.

They’re planning on putting on a performance at Christmas so they’re busy learning lyrics and dance steps already.  Nerys is so happy that one of the songs they’re dancing to is from Zombies 2 which is one of her favourite films.

I have a feeling the whole house will know all the words to that and the other songs they’ll be singing by the time the performance rolls around, knowing how much Nerys will want to practice and rehearse at home!

I’m just so proud of her for getting stuck in the way she has.

It can be quite intimidating to start something new like this, especially when you don’t know anyone else doing it.  But she’s just gone for it, stepped out of her comfort zone and jumped right in.

Whether this ends up being something she does for years or something she decides isn’t for her after a term, I’m proud of her for doing it, and I know she’ll learn so much while she’s there.

For the first time in years I missed a living arrows post last week.

And, to be honest, I nearly let this week slip by too.

I’m not really sure why, I just haven’t picked up my camera much recently.  I think it might be a combination of windy, rainy weather and our weeks getting that bit busier now the school year is in full swing leaving me not feeling all that inspired.

It doesn’t help that we’ve all been feeling a bit run down lately.

So there’s been more time spent at home instead of out and about at the beach or the park.

We’ve also got a big decision to make soon which is weighing on our minds a little bit.

Rhys is in year 6 now at school, so at some point in the next month we need to apply for a place at secondary school for him.

There are 2 schools near us that we need to choose from, and we’re taking our time to really think about it and make sure he’s happy that the school we pick is the right fit for him.  Most of his friends will be going to one particular school but, having been to an open evening at the other school recently we think he might be better off branching out there.

It feels like such a big decision, and the thought of him going to any secondary school next year just feels so strange.

Does anyone out there have any advice on how to choose a school, or how to make the transition to secondary school easier?

The children are feeling pretty proud of themselves today.

Yesterday they took part in the children’s races as part of the Swansea bay 10K.  Nerys ran the 1K for younger children, and Rhys took a bit of a leap and took part in the 3K for the first time.

They both did really well, and were so happy at the end with their special 40th anniversary medals.

Rhys has been running in these races since 2015, and Nerys has joined him for the last few years.  They both really enjoy it and love having a little collection of medals and special t-shirts from all the races they’ve completed.

Nerys in particular seems to have enjoyed it this year, so we’re talking about trying a park run at some point soon to see if running is something she would like to do more often.  I think she’s been partly inspired by one of her cousins who is a brilliant runner and I think talked to Nerys about it when we saw her in the summer.

Rhys on the other hand was talking the other day about wanting to give fencing a go.  I think he’s possibly got the idea from watching people play wii sports resort on YouTube, and honestly I think it might be a safer option to get him that rather than let him loose in a real fencing match!