This week has been really hectic! On Wednesday we went off to Holiday Club again then our friend Kate came and picked us up for a picnic at Brockhole with her, Dennis and Florence. We sat under a big tree in a patch of sunlight on a huge pile of leaves and had lunch then went off for a walk by the lake on the way to the adventure playground. All the kids went off for the rest of the afternoon playing and we eventually got home at about 4.15pm. Then it was a mad rush to get dinner cooked, eaten and out again, back down to church for an evening 'Garden Party' for the Holiday Club kids and their parents!! Loads of the kids turned up with their mums and dads and they had a taste of what we've all been up to in the mornings! More loud singing, dancing, drama and generally having a laugh!!

We were all shattered on Thursday but went gallantly off to the last day of Holiday Club. Another brilliant morning, although it's been really tiring we will definately consider doing it all again next year. Me and Tim (my team co-leader) even got a box of chocolates each from one of the boys in our team ahhhh!!! All the parents and kids have been invited back on Sunday as they are doing some more drama and songs then so it will be interesting to see who turns up.

On Wednesday we had a message from our friends from Orkney (our best man and family) saying they were travelling back from Kate's parents and wondering if they could stop for the night. Help! Our house (as usual) was a complete pig sty so we spent all afternoon on Thursday tidying, vacuuming, sorting out beds, and getting very stressed!! Then I realised I had piles of ironing (literally!) which needed doing for the cottages on Friday and Saturday. Fortunately for us, (not for them) Mark, Kate, Zachary and Stella had an awful journey up which took much longer than expected so didn't get here until 8pm. The kids got to say a quick hello and goodnight and eventually they all got tucked into their beds and settled so we could sit and chat. It was lovely to see them and to catch up, it's been over a year since we saw them last.

This morning, we all surfaced gradually and Zachary and Ben went upstairs to play trains (both Thomas mad!) while Mark packed up the car and I pinched a few cuddles with Stella (8 mths.) It's always nice to cuddle other babies and then be able to hand them back!! They had to go to carry on with their epic journey north and we had to get a cottage cleaned and go to art group. I dropped Dave and the kids off as Dave was sorting out one of the crafts this month and rushed back over to Windermere to get the cottage done.
At art group they were making spider webs and spiders (Dave's bit!), printing with veg and leaves etc, and making willow lanterns which will then be covered next time with lantern paper. Eilidh made a really big lantern which will look fantastic when it gets finished.

I turned up near the end of the group so missed out on doing any but we managed to come home with a bundle of willow to make some at home for next time so I guess that made up for it! They seem to have had a really good time again, both the kids love going to art group (and us too!!)

This morning we had got a big parcel through the post which was full of lovely presents for the kids from Grandma and Grandpa. We saved this for this evening and they have had great fun building lego cars, playing with dolls and wanting to stay up and do all the other bits as well. However being mean parents, we sent them off to bed early!! They then decided to both sleep in Eilidh's room tonight, Ben is in Eilidhs bed (only because it still had his Bob the Builder duvet cover on as Zachary had slept there the night before!) and Eilidh is on the bed we made up for Mark and Kate out of the old caravan cushions on her bedroom floor!! So far, so good, I think they are both so tired after their hectic week, they would probably sleep anywhere!! We are just hoping for a quiet night!!