The weather here obviously hadn't seen the photo challenge theme for me today. I did get a beautiful sunset on Sunday however... Never mind!

Another full day today. Ben took an eternity to get dressed this morning. He then took an eternity to eat a single weetabix for breakfast, and an eternity to get his shoes and coat on which meant we were very late to our playgroup this morning. Only half an hour - but it's frustrating because we were actually awake and up with plenty time to get ready and out. Took a tin full of sourdough cakes (plum, pear and nutmeg flavoured) to share with them, as the sourdough batter keeps growing and growing! The kids and grownups alike enjoyed them which was nice. Got two ladies lined up to give some of the batter to over the next couple of weeks :)

Rosie and her mummy Amy came for lunch and as I'd not had chance to do much kitchen table tidying we had a picnic in the living room which Ben and Rosie were pleased about. They went upstairs first though so Ben could show Rosie his room, and when Rosie hurt herself on something Ben kissed her better and they carried on playing!

We rode / walked to Libby's through the dampness after that, for the kids to play and the mummies to chat and pray. For the most part it worked really well - the kids entertained themselves, and as kids do they had impeccable timing and every time we stopped to pray or something one child would pipe up with a loud "mummy?" or an "I need a wee mummy!" or come clattering in with some noisy singing toy or fall over.

Ben and I (oh and Charley - I kind of forget to include him in the who went where because he's in the sling and therefore one less body to worry about) went with Lib and her children to the shop after everyone else had gone. Ben and Nathaniel chased each other down the road and, because they were too busy chasing each other they didn't stop at the corner and by the time we caught up with them they were halfway to the next corner. Two unimpressed mummies had little Chats with their respective sons, who were much better behaved after that. Made us laugh in the shop though when another lady lauded Ben as a shining example of good behaviour to her little boy, because Ben was holding my hand quite happily instead of trying to run away! After his riding off just five minutes earlier it was quite funny :)

It made me think though. I may have a high-spirited, very individual, strong minded and strong willed nutter of a son, but I don't think I'd have him any other way. Sure it's hard work, and it certainly pushes my patience levels to their limits and beyond, but I hope I'm not tampering with his temperament too much with my reaction to his pushing my buttons. The qualities I see in him when I'm able to step back from being driven to distraction are fine qualities indeed.


So.

No sunset picture from me tonight.

Instead, Ben having a whale of a time blowing bubbles with Libby, Amy and Nathaniel out on Libby's deck this afternoon :)