Yet another manic week. Lots of fun things for the kids though. Jack did four performances of his play last week - he had two parts, one of which was as a photographer: I thoroughly enjoyed the play! On Friday, Harry went on a trip with his playgroup friends, and us Mums. I wasn't particularly looking forwards to it, but ended up really enjoying it - it was a total break from everything. Harry had a great time too - here he is with the woman in charge - very interested in what she's doing. I seemed to get nominated as the trip photographer too, and had fun editing the pictures and making CD's for everyone.
Harry bug hunting.
Scott was signed up to go gliding with Jack on Friday too, but it got cancelled - too windy. He took Lucy and some of the kids from church bob sleighing on Saturday though, and I took the boys all over the place, getting stuff for our summer holiday such as material and things for the house, getting Jack's ukulele (he has been having lessons at school), and Tom's long awaited Magnext set. I made some curtains in the afternoon - here they are with some bedside lamps I got for our bedroom in France. Also on Saturday I had to do circuits (for the half marathon schedule), so me and the boys went to the park, and I ran round it while they played.

Tom with his Magnext creation.

Jack with his ukulele. He was hoping to get a Union Jack one, but had to make do with red as they had none.

On Sunday, we drove to Essex for a farewell for Dean and Sam (Scott's cousins) who are emigrating to Canada. Had a lovely time with lots of Scott's family, and the kids had a great time playing with all their 2nd cousins. It was good to be able to sit back and chat, and not be having to watch kids every second. Advantages of getting older!

On Monday Tom had his school sports day. He had two races - egg & spoon, and flat race. On the way to school he was a bit glum - thinking he would come last in them. As it turned out he came first in the egg & spoon, and a very close 2nd in the flat race. Harry also had a race, and won, so they were both pretty happy! I was too busy cheering for them to get any more photos than these!Lucy also had a sports day (which she would NOT let me come to!) She was worried about it, because she had to do the 1500m, which she hasn't done before, and didn't know if she could even finish. She managed it anyway, and didn't even come last!

The kids have also all had their reports now. Am I going to be able to talk about them without being ridiculously proud....errrr, NO!!!

Lucy, Jack and Tom are all doing wonderfully well across all their subjects - with them working above the expected level for nearly everything, and lots of mention is made of all of their good attitudes - Tom for example got ticks in the 'Always tries hard' box for every one of his subjects.
Harry's wasn't exactly a report, but described where he is up to, and what he has been doing, with things like:

'When Harry was building with stickle bricks he needed to use the toilet. He was very polite when he asked an adult to look after his creation, and thanked her when he returned.'
Anyway, we are really happy with all of them and their efforts to be good kids, and the fact that they are all doing so well academically, is fantastic too.

Something that has occupied a lot of time lately is our change of plans for our summer holidays. I am now going out to France a week earlier than planned, with me driving the 3 boys. Lucy and Scott will come the next week. I am somewhat terrified of the drive - having never driven on the wrong side of the road, and having never driven further than 3 hours away before. I'll be driving for 9 hours! I'm hoping it will be good for me -having to extend myself out of my comfort zone. Our friends who are coming from America and meeting up with us in France, changed their plans too, so we have had lots of emailing back and forth trying to get sorted out. All of our kids are pen pals with each other, so it will be nice for them to meet each other! We will be there for 5 weeks now, so I am trying to organise plenty for us to do. (And with no telly, phone or computer!)

Anyway, I have bought a satnav to give me some confidence, but I accidentally left the key in the car ignition overnight, after playing with it yesterday, and so this morning I went out to drive to school, and the car battery is totally dead. I was supposed to be out all this morning doing about 10 million things, but have had to stay in, and wait for my rescue company to come and rescue me. (And we had to run all the way to school...)

Talking of running, I managed to do 3 of my 4 runs last week (Scott wasn't home for a couple of evenings last week), and on Monday night I ran 5 miles in an hour. I'm not entirely sure when I will fit in today's run now, so the run to school might have to count!

Yesterday included another trip to Dunelm for curtain poles and more housey stuff, a Relief Society meeting, quilting club, and a Teddy Bears picnic for Harry and all his playgroup friends.