An Ordinary Autumn Day

At the start of every new season I think I declare it my favourite and I think it is seeing the world through a child's eyes that allows it.  Whilst summer meant long days out, dinner at the beach, bare foot and six weeks of having all four along, Autumn has so much colour and charm.  Cosy nights in, hot chocolate, not having to wash my hair so much because it is hat weather and Halloween. 

We have planned a few quiet weekends to relax as the transition back to school (and the multiple school runs) seems to be tiring for us all but we still need to get out and run off the energy so we visited our favourite park this weekend to hunt for conkers, play cops and robbers (the boys new favourite game) and watch the squirrels.  

It was nearly a year ago that I took some photos of them all in this same place with a blog post titled ' I think we are done' and looking back at it I can see firstly how much they have all grown, especially Finn and secondly how much I still believe what I wrote.  We no longer have cribs or cots, the nappies have gone other than a night nappy for Cora and she isn't in the pushchair often anymore.  This next stage is certainly no less exhausting than the newborn one but it is exciting and full of promise.

On our visit to the park this weekend the children all played so independently.  The boys ran around playing, Cora climbed and conquered, they hunted, they chatted and I know they appreciated our company, but they didn't need us in the same ways they did even a year ago.  

Four is our number and a year after I initially wrote it, I am still definitely done. 

I want to continue to photograph and document the ordinary days as a family of six and I love these photos as they are exactly that.  It was a simple day, we went to the park, ran around for a few hours and then went home. Perfectly normal, perfectly us. 

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Taken by Dylan!

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What the Kids Wore // Angel and Rocket

  It feels like we have been waiting forever for this sunshine and I am desperate to make the most of every minute as the memory of the long winter is still so fresh in my mind.  We have our favourite hangouts with climbing trees, woodland walks and dens to explore and the boys wore their new t-shirts and shorts from Angel and Rocket on our recent trip.

The big two have spent all week in school and they love the freedom of roaming free.  They are natural explorers and Archie especially loves to climb.  Our favourite park to explore is a private one that we have a membership for.  There are no dogs, the park is so clean and they have named the different areas.  There is the climbing tree (obvious), triceratops trunk (a huge fallen knobbly trunk), the secret garden, the drop slide tree (still not sure about this one) and the rolly hills.  I took my camera along on a recent trip and got a few pictures of them playing in their new clothes.

I don't tend to do full on matching, but matching t-shirts make head counts a lot easier! These cactus ones suit all three boys and they love the soft green and bold front and the print on the back.  The biggest two are wearing Angel and Rocket shorts too which look super comfy.  The boys are wearing age 4 (Finn aged 3) ,6 (Archie aged 5) and 8 (Dylan aged 6 but very tall) and I find the fit is more 'up to' ie size 4 fits as 3-4. The quality is fantastic and everything is washing really well despite my children's love of mud.

We were sent a few other items, including another set of matching t-shirts that again are perfect for all three.  I don't find it easy finding clothes to suit a three year old toddler and a nearly seven year old but these tops are great! 

Angel and Rocket have a gorgeous collection of childrenswear for boys and girls from ages 3 to 12 years. You can see more on the Angel and Rocket website

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Our Ordinary Adventures

Mondays and Thursdays we go to playgroups, Wednesdays and Fridays Finn has nursery in the afternoon.  We have one day left, one completely free day - no commitments, no interruptions, just a day for our ordinary adventures.  We don't always go far, we don't always go anywhere but I love our Tuesdays, just the little two and I.

When we are out at groups or round friends, their relationship is different, but when it is just the three of us, these two couldn't be closer.  Cora looks up to her big brother and Finn loves having a ready made friend in his little sister.  They are as thick as theives and seem to communicate in their own special language.

This week we went to a private local park that we have passes for.  These two are happiest outdoors and they were in their element with things to climb and balance on.  We had the place to ourselves and we were wrapped up warm.  There were sticks to find, leaves to throw, benches to jump off and fish to look for.

We reviewed some wellies from Bogs last year and were so impressed that when Cora started walking I bought her a pair.  They have flexible soles, pull on handles, warm soft insides that keep little feet insulated down to -10 degrees and are machine washable.  We were sent another pair for Finn last month and we both love them.  Cora's are bright pink and orange with flowers and Finn's are black with red and blue dinosaurs.

I tried to keep my camera away for most of the day, to roll down the hills with them, to catch them as they jumped off the bench for the umpteenth time and spin them round in circles, to lift them so they could reach the higher branches and the colourful leaves.  I try to spend these days having ordinary adventures, enjoying them just as they are now.

Cora decided that she was very attached to her water bottle this week and it took a lot of persuasion and distraction to encourage her to eventually put it down.  She is equally as attached to her Bogs boots, bringing them to me and trying to put them on herself if I make no signs of immediately taking her out.  With children that want to be outdoors all the time we definitely have to make sure we are dressed right and these boots will be accompanying us on lots of our everyday adventures over the winter.

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A Spring Weekend

There is something so beautiful about each season and I made the decision when I had children to stop having a favourite, and to appreciate the little things each time the weather changes.  The excitement of snow and frost has gone, Christmas feels like a distant memory and it has all been replaced by blooming flowers popping up everywhere we look, the grass turning a healthier shade of green and that familiar warmth that promises summer is on the way.

I am an outdoor person whatever the weather, but with four small ones some things are just a bit much in the winter.  In the spring it all seems a bit easier, there are so many options, so much to explore and it becomes easier to go out earlier and stay out that little bit later.  

Last weekend in the absense of any plans, we revisited a beautiful local gardens with a museum attached.  We are lucky enough to have lots of local parks, but this one is so clean, dog free and full of things to explore.  I took my camera along to capture some pictures of the bigger boys in their new shoes as Bobux kindly sent us some of their new Kid+ range (they now go up to 7 years!) and I love the images I took.  They capture spring in all it's beautiful glory and the adventures we will be having for the next few months.

The boys love their Bobux shoes because the barefoot soles mean they can really flex their feet as they run and climb.  There are some low hanging branches and trees that are perfect for little adventurers and they kept them entertained for ages.

Inside there is a museum full of animals and artifacts that they love looking at.  The highlight is the interactive room though full of instruments to play and stations to draw at complete with mircrosopes and fancy lights. (If you live locally this is Quex gardens and Museum).  It was a great place to calm down before heading home and there was something for everyone. 

The weather still seems to vary so much daily and there is still plenty of rain but this is what our Spring weekends will look like I hope - full of colour, sunshine and fresh air.  

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