Life's a beach

Last night at 10pm Ella and Thomas were still chatting and laughing so Mr C went in and took Thomas upstairs to another room where he was asleep in seconds. Ella took a while, chatting and singing - when she fell asleep I went to bed.

Pitter patter of her feet at 5.45 am - "Granny is it time to go to the beach?". Thomas had a bit of a sleep-in - till 6.30. So we were at the beach by 9.30 am. This is a picture of them having such fun. The temperature was 18 degrees but they were boiling with all the dashing about. They made castles and tracks to the sea - the tide was very far out, and the River Coquet had changed course massively since we were last there, leaving a much smaller beach area on the north side of the river.

I'd made a picnic lunch which, given the early rising, we had eaten by 11.45. After more playing we headed off home with them - needless to say, they fell asleep in the car. Oh well, that's a problem for the parents to deal with!

But we had a great time and it is interesting to see the change in what's required with a 3 and a 4 year old, compared with when they are together with their younger brothers. They played well without direction, though somehow we are still feeling tired. And the chat is so funny!