So every year we go out trick or treating so that the kids can stock up on cheap chocolate and weird inedible jelly sweets.
But this means that there's no-one actually in our house to meet n greet the trick or treaters who come to us. So I normally leave a bucket of quality chocolate treats on the doorstep.
I like to think that 87 lovely children all pop by and take one each...but I suspect that really there's one greedy big kid who comes early doors and nicks the lot. Cos it's ALWAYS empty when we get back, and we're not out that long!
So I'm thinking maybe this year I won't bother. People will just think we're those miserable sorts who turn their lights off and hide behind the sofa on Halloween. Then we'll get home and scoff all the quality chocs ourselves.
Either that or I'll just get a butler for the night so he can answer the door...
I had the day off yesterday. Me and my sis and our 5 kids went to Halloween at the York Maze. It was ace!! We went on tractor rides and carved pumpkins and everything. And me and the sister sat in the sun while the kids went mental on all the attractions. The big ones forgot they were cool 14 year olds and turned back into kids for the day. Epic!
The good thing about where we live is that we have woods and stuff on our doorstep....like we're in the middle of the countryside and everything. But it's also only 15 minutes away from Harvey Nics! Bonus!
The dog likes the woods. Not so much Harvey Nichols. So yesterday we did the woods. Gotta keep the dog happy.
The kids have finished school for the October break. Unfortunately I appear to have forgotten to book us an exotic holiday somewhere warm and sunny. I'm not quite sure how this could have happened! All I know is that it's cold and it's dark and we are not going anywhere other than Yorkshire and I am most likely gonna have to juggle work with bored kids and the promise that we would do a full bedroom makeover for the big one...
Story of my flipping life!
How irritating are people who ask you what the kids want for Christmas IN OCTOBER? And people who update their facebook status regularly with all the presents they've already bought, wrapped and hidden in the loft? And the shops selling wall to wall Christmas crap, that no-one really wants, as soon as the summer hols are over. And how damned annoying are those people who say "Only 10 Fridays till Christmas"? JUST SHUT UP! There's no need for it till at least December.
Soooooo.....anyone interested in my Christmas card ideas?
Thought not....
We had a fab weekend with our little visitor. We took her to the park on Saturday and we jumped on fallen down trees in the woods on Sunday. And in between we had every piece of Lego, Playmobil and Sylvanian Families ever invented covering every piece of floor space in every room of the house.
She rejected my Mum and Dad's Sunday roast beef and Yorkshire puds in favour of beans on toast but ate everything else. She slept like a brick and didn't wake up till after 9 both days. Even though she gets up at 6am normally. YES! RESULT!
I'd forgotten what 3 year olds are like. But I remember now...
They ask a lot of questions. And when you answer they say "Why?". 37 times. They need help getting dressed. It takes an extra 10 minutes to get them in the car. They can't be left alone for 2 minutes. They need to be taken to the loo. And they make a lot of mess.
But they also give the best cuddles. And they know how to have fun. And they do what you tell them without a teenage strop. And everything is an adventure. And they laugh. A LOT.
She was a little cutie. And she cried when she had to go home. So she can defo come again.... when I've recovered from this weekend....
The little one has been away on his school residential this week. He's been on zip-wires and giant swings and climbing walls and assault courses. All very outdoorsy. And all very quiet without him. No-one for the big one to argue with.
He's back now.
And in other news our 3 year old niece has arrived for the weekend.
Not so quiet any more..
It was the little one's harvest festival service in church this week. I was volunteered to walk down with the kids. As soon as his teacher says the words "Does anyone have a parent who...." the kid sticks his hand up and volunteers me.
Anyway, this was no ordinary harvest festival...it was the LAST harvest festival. Next year the little one will be at high school. No harvest. No volunteering of parents who can walk. No nothing.
I've been going to the school harvest service for 10 years now. Ever since the big one was in Reception. So it was a bit sad that it was the last one like EVER!
However...
After sitting through an hour of a million kids reading a sentence each (which was barely audible and largely DULL) I was feeling pretty glad that it was the last one!
Turned out walking to and from church with the kids was the best bit! Put my name down for Christmas kiddo!
We had a Dotty Wren day trip to London on Friday. It was fab....but waaay too short. What we really needed was a week in London. Actually what we REALLY needed was a couple of weeks in Ibiza. Maybe next time...
If September was a repeat pattern it would look something like this....
Now onto October people...
