she grew!!

today's preparing for winter activity was more child friendly than schlepping firewood around - I got all the skis and snowboards out! Cue great excitement and turmoil as people realised that they have grown!! And, of course, that it's not too long before they can get on the piste. The children have inherited their dad's love of whizzing down hills at high speed with bits of board attached to their feet. I stay at the bottom and soak up some sun, hand out sandwiches and warm drinks, read my book and make sure that everything fits, is found, is clean, is mended...
Littlest, pictured here, has grown miles in the last year and everything was too small. As she'll only be skiing a few days over Christmas and then moving on to snowboarding when we go to the mountains for a week, I was loathe to spend much money on skis for her. Luckily, the ski shop person agreed that these from last year would do for a few days and I only had to get her new (2nd hand) boots today. Flea's old board is being serviced for her and the bindings put on the right way (typical that they are differently footed!) She needed some new board boots too, also luckily 2nd hand, and I have to admit that I emitted a girly squeak when I saw how cute and little those boots are. Flea's board from last year still fits and she's grown into Andie's old boots so I'll only have to pay for a polish and the edges getting sharpened. And the biggest has only got heavier in the last year, so she just needs her skis serviced too. A very cheap year! Except that they've lost their gloves and need new trousers and have grown out of long johns and their helmets aren't quite right and and and and.....

...and, by the way, the jacket she's wearing was once mine when I was so small. I know I've told this story before but I'm going to tell it again: I fell in love with this jacket when out shopping one day in Haverfordwest - the town I was born in and the nearest biggish town to where I grew up - I beeeeegged to have one but was told no, no way. The next time we were there, it was still in the shop and I beeeeeeged again and was told no. So, as most children do in such moments, I threw a wobbler until I got my own way. And I vowed that I would take care of it, I would wear it 'til I grew out of it and that I would keep it so that if I ever had a daughter, she could wear it too. Now, my parents very understandably didn't believe a word of it but bought me the jacket to shut me up. However, stubborn as I am, I did wear it 'til I grew out of it, I did take care of it and I did keep it for not one but three daughters who have all worn it. It's still in great condition and has been a hit with them all as it's a bit sparkly but very warm and cosy too. I think it would do another child, if I had one. Once this one has grown out of it I might just put it away and see if I can squeeze a granddaughter into it one day. As it only cost about £7, I'd say it was bloody good value for money and well worth having a tantrum about.