Posts in category: Photography

So this is it, the last week of the school year.

I can’t quite believe it’s here, and that Rhys will very soon be leaving year one behind him.

It’s been quite a big year for him, a year of learning huge amounts both academically and socially.

I’m really proud of how far he’s come with his school work.  He is pretty quick with maths and seems to have a natural ability for doing sums in his head which fascinates me.  His reading has come on in leaps and bounds this year too which I’m really pleased with because it’s opened up a whole world of learning to him.

He goes to bed with books on the solar system and dinosaurs and the Celts, and will tell me in the morning some of the things he’s read about.  He also has several books on Minecraft which he is obsessed with, and I love how his passion for the game has really helped encourage him to read more.

He definitely likes reading non-fiction books more than fiction, and loves finding out how things work and where things come from.

As a sensitive, emotional child he has struggled at times this year, as he’s still learning how to control the big emotions he feels.  It’s something that I’m sure will get easier for him in time, but it’s hard at times knowing he’s finding it hard to cope.  He takes things to heart that other children probably just brush aside, and he often feels anxious about things that are new or changing.

He is an outgoing, chatty little boy and loves to get stuck in and be right in the thick of things, but at the same time he can only seem to cope with being in the middle of things for so long before he needs to step away and be by himself.  I think he gets overstimulated quite easily, and then needs to regroup.

There are a few things I would like to work with him on over the summer, to try and make sure he is well equipped to head into year two.  I have a few ideas for things we can do together to encourage him to be more patient, and I want to try and work out some listening games too, to help him learn to pay attention to what other people are saying.  I would love to start doing yoga or even meditation together, to help him learn to control his big emotions a bit.

Ultimately though, I just want him to be happy in the next school year.  That’s all any parent wants for their child isn’t it?

The Wales national air show was on in Swansea the other weekend, and we headed down to the beach to watch the displays on both the Saturday and the Sunday.

We always have an amazing time when it’s on, seeing the different planes and helicopters flying over the bay.  And the fact that we get to play on the beach while we watch is a big bonus!

I took the camera along with us because we always like to get photos of all the aircraft, and I knew there would be a few opportunities to get some pictures of Rhys and Nerys together for July’s sibling project post.

The two photos above were taken in Singleton park, on our walk down to the beach.

Rhys and Nerys did so well walking all the way from our house to the beach, even running part of the way through the field.  I honestly don’t know where their energy comes from!

The photo below was taken once we’d arrived at the beach, and the children jumped at the chance to try out our friend’s chair.  I think it was a bit of a novelty for them to have a chair at the beach, because we tend to travel quite light when we go.  We normally just have a picnic blanket to sit on, no chairs or wind breaks or the like for us!

These two had such a brilliant weekend, although I think Nerys was more excited about the planes than Rhys was.

She absolutely loves the Red Arrows and laughed and cheered her way through their display, much to the amusement of the other people sitting near us!

Rhys on the other hand was most excited about going and looking round the ground displays.  Last year the army had an inflatable obstacle course that he had a go at, and really enjoyed, so he was hoping to have another go this year.

Unfortunately for him it wasn’t there, but they did have a little rope ladder set up on an inflatable that he had to try and work his way across.  He was so determined to do it, I was really proud of him for not giving up!

Now we’re all just on the countdown for the airshow to be on again next year!

After a couple of quiet weekends, thanks to soggy weather and feeling poorly, we had a real change of pace this weekend.

The Wales national airshow was on in Swansea, and it brought with it glorious sunshine and a lot of excitement.  We have been and watched the air show every time it’s been on, and the children absolutely love it.

So on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend we packed a bag with snacks and drinks and a bucket and spade and we walked down to the beach to watch the planes.

Between displays the children had a great time digging in the sand with our family friends.  They made sandcastles and they dug a huge hole, which they then took it in turns to be buried in.

They brought half the beach home with them on Saturday, after getting so well and truly covered in the stuff.  But they had an absolutely wonderful time.  We all did actually.  It was one of those weekends that just felt really laid back and full of fun.

I just loved sitting back and watching my children having such a good time.  There’s been a real change in Nerys over the last week or two that has been a real joy to see.  She seems to have had a big leap in confidence, and now seems much happier talking to people that she doesn’t know very well.

The real test of this came on Sunday, when one of our friends came to the beach with us.  For some unknown reason Nerys has always reacted, well, with tears and screaming whenever she’s seen him in the past.  This time though, she was a completely different girl.  She would not stop jabbering away to him!

After the weekend we’ve had, I’m really starting to look forward to the school summer holidays where hopefully we’ll have plenty more days at the beach, digging and building and paddling and just generally having fun!