Glorious afternoon

A day of two halves. A boy with a split personality. A baby learning to sit unaided. Toddler group, shopping, bus rides, paddling pool, digging, alfresco eating, beautiful weather.

This morning is forgiven. All the screeching from Ben, the tears and strops, all the misunderstandings and frustrations - we'll leave them behind.

This afternoon has been glorious.

We have done our shopping, we had chips in the cafe, we came home and we played in the garden ALL afternoon, in the paddling pool, digging, eating. It has been an afternoon to just Be with the boys. I can't "work" either on the laptop or on anything else while we're outdoors so all I can do is be there with them - which is just what they need. I have loved it. Charley is learning to keep his balance sitting up, which is exciting! Just in time for paddling pool weather. Couldn't have timed it better really ;-) We have splashed, Charley has snacked on fruit, I snacked on cheese and salami, Ben actually tried a blueberry and a piece of strawberry in exchange for winegums, Ben has dug, Charley has sat in the paddling pool and splashed and tried to eat the rocks, he's covered himself in biscotti cement, wanted to sit sit sit all the time. Ben at least has clean teeth, hands and face to come to bed tonight. He's had a good afternoon playing too.

Hope I get back downstairs this evening. Instruction sheets are almost done, just a couple of amendments to do, and the packs are ready to go tomorrow!