The Simple Things..

It's been so lovely travelling here, there and everywhere, but equally it's been great having a few days to grab at home.  Here are a selection of our favourite memories from the past few summer weeks.

Time in the garden

We feel much gratitude for a beautiful garden, and have enjoyed many meals outside in this glorious weather. The children have wanted a seat swing for ages so we bought one in the sale for them. It's just lovely watching them play together and to share the garden with their friends.

Repurposing

The money we had set aside for home improvements got eaten up with my health bills this year, so we have spent quite a few weekends repurposing what we have to make the house look prettier. Here are the girls shabby-chicing an old piano stool we bought for a couple of pounds in a junk shop.

Silliness

Life just wouldn't be the same without silly moments and friends to share it with. An impromptu visit by some friends bought a much needed smile to our faces.

Cleaning the Chapel

Last Saturday night, after a very long day of garage sale duties, we were just about to settle down for the night when Ismay piped up "ooh daddy, it's our turn to clean the chapel". It was the very last thing we wanted to do after me having been away all week and our busy day, but we wanted to impress upon our children the importance of integrity, and fulfilling our responsibility..

It was with great reluctance that at eight at night we all piled into the car (correction; the children were enthusiastic, the reluctance came from the adults!). Once there however, we worked really quickly and efficiently and had a few giggles as daddy performed a silly cat walk around the chapel whilst cleaning!

Finding joy in the small things 

This holiday has been full of medical appointments, so when things have seemed a bit daunting, we have read from our gratitude jar. (An idea we saw on Facebook where every Monday during family home evening we have each written a note saying what we were grateful for). I am so grateful to be surrounded by my happy little family who recognise joy in the simple things.

As a reward for helping us with the garage sale, the children were allowed to choose something from the items left over. Eden chose some bits and pieces (last photo in the grid) to make a spy costume with.The girls of course chose a handbag. Once they were in bed, J and I were tidying up and discovered Ismay's bag. We peeked inside and there was a jam jar with a tiny, dead frog that she had found earlier. We laughed out loud, most little girls would have a bag full of dolls or makeup, not our Ismay! What a delight it is to have children who are inquisitive.

Frozen

Ever since Aunty Bex gave Mia the Frozen DVD back in April, the girls have been desperate to have Elsa costumes. I was frankly shocked at how expensive they were, and some of the off the shoulder ones seemed too grown up for my little girls.  

So, I kept promising the girls that I would make them one, but with lesson plans, PhD deadlines and some other stressful factors in our lives I just couldn't seem to find the time.  This last week, I buckled down, and with their help, managed to at last fulfill my promise.