Lotsapics day :)

I don't tend to take the dslr out with me these days. Not only am I a bit scared of breaking it if I take it out (and I really need it for work!) I'm lugging around far too much stuff as it is. Including, on days like today, four very big stones selected from the beach by Ben and deposited into my shopping trolley without me realising. I said he could choose one. ONE. Ah well... they came in handy back home in the garden stopping the picnic rug from blowing away!

We went out to get the Lego this morning as a family. Ben declared we had to go home after so we could build it, but we managed to convince him into the cafe (the one with the cakes) and he and I built it there while Steve bought coffees and hot chocolate (and cakes). Ben made friends with a lady in the cafe, completely endeared himself to her! When we got up to go her daughter immediately leapt up to help me with the wrap, wishing that she'd known about wraps when her children were tiny. What a lovely duo. We all made each other smile :)

Convinced Ben to go to the beach after that. He wanted to go to the Lido again, and persuaded Steve to let him play on the pirate blasta again (I'm going to have to work hard to not make that a habit), and then we convinced him to come and play on the stones because Charley wanted a kickabout on the blanket.

We stayed just long enough to feel like we were on holiday again, and then headed home for a very late lunch and a play in the garden. Ben stripped off and splashed in the paddling pool, Charley got himself covered in blackberry juice, Steve was overcome by hayfever and went in to sleep off the worst of it, and so I decided to plant the violas Ben chose on Wednesday. Ben helped (I'd managed to get him to put pants and shorts on by then), Charley watched and laughed...

Steve reappeared, mowed the lawn, we brought everything in, bathed two very sticky dirty boys and I went to bed with them while Steve went out to his meeting!

Bit of a rushed end to the journal but I have maybe two minutes before Ben's wailing starts and I have to go back to bed!