Swimmin'!

we went to a nearby-ish leisure centre yesterday, I've heard about it for yonks but never gone before, it was a horrid rainy overcast kind of day so the pool was of course busy. We first had to encounter changing rooms and small people had to be changed, then a locker had to be found (one that worked and had a bracelet on it...locker number three turned out to be ok).

I wasn't sure how it was going to go at first (could make all the usual complaints about Other Half letting me child wrangle four kidlets on my own...but we'll just take that as a given) as Kane was not a happy bunny and Maya was clinging to me like the proverbial limpet. We had purchased arm bands for the purposes of small child floatation so I could let go of her, but she wasn't so sure. Ruthie loved it and bounced around diving and whooshing about happily, Chay loved the idea but hadn't got his head round the fact that the water wasn't the same depth all the way around.

Kane eventually calmed down about his lack of floating ability, which in turn helped him float...I took that child for swimming lessons for years when he was little and you wouldn't know it!

It was a good set up there, they had four areas, one for serious swimmers, one for teeny tinys and two for kind of playing in...ooh and a circular pool called the vortex where the water pulls you round at speed (we all liked that one ). There was also a slide...I don't know what it was like as I ignored it .

We managed to stay in for two hours and by the end of it Maya was swimming kind of froggy fashion and sooo pleased with herself too. Kane had gained enormous confidence and was attempting to swim, Chay was much less bothered by all the water splashing in his face and I was dead pleased at how well it had gone, Madam Ruthie of course was having a fabulous time showing off to her siblings as she has been several times before with friends and knew where she was going and what she was up to!

After all the exercise we were shattered, Kane was unwell (more to do with popcorn consumption I think) Maya was worn out but happy and I felt the great need for an afternoon nap, which sadly didn't happen.

So a successful outing and it didn't cost the earth, everyone is saying we must go again ...yay? No, it would be fun it's just co-ordinating everyone and swanning about in a swimsuit which bothers me.

Right off to check littlest girl who seems to still be asleep... which is odd, but maybe another cuppatea first

A Lovely Day

This holiday lark is tiring! Other Half is now on two weeks leave so this is when we officially “do” stuff of the holiday variety.

Other Half returned from his outing on sunday a tired and slightly ratty personage, that coupled with my lack of sleep (because Kane stayed awake all saturday night ahem singing death metal songs with his mate….oh and I was petrified by a scary film) and also slight rattiness made for a pleasant evening. We already had the tickets to go to the Isle Of Wight on monday so I hoped a state of civility would return by then.

Sunday night saw Kane being extremely ill and throwing up twice, this led to me stressing about his ability to go on a day out the next day, it was a close run thing but he did perk up the next morning….I suspect a whole bag of doritos and dip had something to do with his state of health, sleepovers see…got to eat a horse between two bread vans haven’t you?

On monday we all jumped up full of the joys and ran about getting ready, taking my tribe anywhere seems to involve inordinate amounts of food and spare clothing…and drinks…and towels and oh yeah there’s that kitchen sink…

We got to the ferry (fairy boat as Maya and her sister before her, call it) in plenty of time, The kids enjoy this bit as much as the actual destination I think.

Maya was singing the “bubble song” at this point, and no as I have told others I don’t know what the bubble song is.

We arrived at fishbourne and made our way to Blackgang Chine it didn’t take long and when we got there it was a bit of a surprise to see quite how full up the car park was. Other Half had a small grumble about where we were directed to park (which I ignored) and then we got on with our day….here is some pictorial evidence…. I shall attempt not to overload you with my fabulous brood…

No I’m not on the phone that is merely a pigment of your imagination.

Strangely I didn’t fancy the rollercoaster…

what is that last picture of? Well it’s me missing Other Half and Chay coming whizzing out on this thing…

I heard Chay screaming all the way through this big black pipe but totally mis-timed the picture taking!

Aren’t boys lovely… can you make out teenagers attractive expression in the last pic? Finally there is one last shot and (you may be pleased to know) camera ran out of battery on me…

The kids had a great day and considering the age range it was lovely to go somewhere they all enjoyed.

There were a couple of bad points of course, mainly where I felt the almost overwhelming urge to murderate Other Half when his road rage tendencies got too much (is it really necessary to swear and roll your window down in order to inform the driver who has annoyed you that this is the case…and the hand signals are inventive) and poor old Ruth had a bad wasp experience, one of the little bu… I mean beggars, decided to climb up her jeans leg in the car. It decided it didn’t like her attempts to squash it and gave her a sting, then we all went a bit frantic when it escaped from the bottom of her jeans leg and flew around the car a bit!

I was so knackered from the heat and general busy-ness of the day I collapsed that evening in a heap on the sofa…and for a lot of yesterday too!

Today we will be going somewhere a lot closer to home…don’t worry I’ve recharged the camera battery…

Cuppatea first methinks

Rain Rain Go Away

It's raining it's pouring... I inadvertantly left a kitchen roll out in the garden last night....papier mache! Better move it from the rabbit hutch before it becomes an interesting sculpture, welded to the roof.

Didn't have any plans for today, but I have been overtaken by Ruthie and her need for her friend to come around. So it looks like I best get a move on as I shall be picking up a young lady in under an hour.

The lack of pennies is beginning to get on my nerves, not because I feel the need for a mad spending spree, but because it seems doing anything with the kids involves some output of coinage...even if it's just for petrol. I do have plans to visit a traveling farm tomorrow seems they take some animals out and about for the children to encounter them. I'm sure I'll enjoy it even if the small people don't and seeing as it costs an arm and two legs to visit the zoo with my little lot it'll kind of make up for that.

Hoping it dries up a tad, just so I can throw kidlets out into the garden and get on with house stuff... boring but necessary

Feel the need for a cup of tea now, so kettle on!

A Cooking Day

Don't know how it happened but somehow I have been persuaded to make goodies today. I investigated various sites and came across this one all recipes. I have found and used a recipe for chocolate brownies and it is soooo easy! It's a microwave recipe too and although it smelled a bit "eggy" whilst cooking they taste yum

Then I was also persuaded to have a go at chocolate truffles... oh that is so messy... I did think littleuns would be helping and we did all start together but as the truffle mix was spreading all over small people I decided maybe it was a mummy job

here are two small chocolate vultures I found on my travels
I am off to now make chicken curry for dinner, unfortunately due to the amount of chocolate I er... accidentally ingested in the making of treats, I'm not as much in the mood for curry as I was earlier .

A Day Off?

decided we could do with a day off today, in other words I am not going on any excursions, I will however attempt some house tidying .

Kane is feeling much better as illustrated by the fact he is shouting at his little brother and generally getting on my nerves! He has already invited his mate round (without asking first) and now when I then say his room has to be tidied is having a stamp about. He was upstairs being industrious (or so I thought) and when I went to check progress discovered him watching Youtube vids on the computer. I told him to desist or his friend couldn't come round...his suggestion? "Maybe I'll just phone him and tell him he can't come round.." Lazy little bleeper! I informed him that if he didn't tidy then HE wasn't going anywhere either, oooh much huffing and puffing and groaning of "Muuuuuuuuummmm". I left him to it for a mo and on my return he had sat straight back down at the computer, don't think I'd even got down the stairs before he sat down!

Computer is now off and I am in a mood .

Ah well time for me to get off MY computer and set a bit of an example I suppose....

Headache

well, I braved the route to the cinema today, got there with minor lane changing needed (think the kids abiding memory of mum driving will be "oops didn't want that lane...") The car park was lovely and empty for me (yay) and we were in plenty of time... result!

Toy Story 3 was excellent and I was very impressed with the 3d, also quite pleased the 3d specs sat over my own quite comfortably. We had sneaked our own sweeties in , can't afford cinema prices for kidlets sweety and drinks needs, and Maya sat still for approx three quarters of the film (better than expected). Ruthie and her friend seemed to enjoy it and Chay loved it, thank goodness as I was a bit dubious as to whether it would hold his attention for the whole time.

I thoroughly enjoyed it too by the way .

Buoyed up by successful outing I wasn't even particularly worrying about the trip home...silly me.

I have now discovered why they fit child locks! We were just exiting the road leading up to the cinema and on turning right leading up to the A27 Maya cries out "shut the door!!" What?!

I ascertained that yes her door had flown open.... bleepin' hell! Very luckily we were on the pavement side and the road was not heaving... pulled over and hazard lights on I managed to scramble out swiftly and get the door shut. Oh my lord I have a headache now! I asked the girl if she had pulled the handle and a very little and sad voice whispered yes, and then she burst into tears...don't think she'll be doing that again but I will have the child locks on at all times from now onwards!!!

Cuppatea time methinks .