Beside The Seaside...a birthday treat!

It was my birthday in July..happy birthday to me! Pain au chocolat for breakfast, flowers, presents and taken out for tea after a long, hot day at work

The following day, we went off to the seaside for a treat!

I've been obsessed with the seaside since I was a little girl, so to me, it's the best place to be..whatever the weather or season.

Even at the grand old age of 28...(oh ok, ok...43), it still has the same magical appeal.

We had such a brilliant day...the weather was perfect, the sea was warm and we laughed and played in the sea for hours

We had a beach picnic and ate some strawberries

Then the tide crept up and swallowed the beach..time to move!

When you're at the seaside, there are certain traditions to uphold...fish and chips, ice cream, funfair and amusements! I would have been very disappointed if we didn't go home with some furry monstrosity from the grabber machine and a pocket full of 2ps!

We got home very late but very happy with sand in our shoes..I love being beside the seaside!

This and That.

My last proper family post was back in September (really??!) and now it's May again, almost June!
I've missed a whole two seasons and I've really missed writing on here.

So what have we been doing??

September to December were the usual mental months in the run-up to Christmas with the added joys of colds and tonsillitis but the Christmas holiday was brilliant. Time off to enjoy with the kids and my Mum and Dad came for Christmas day.

Fast forward to February and there was a worrying few weeks of illness - my Mum for 3 weeks and Alfie for a week. Both of them were hit pretty hard and stayed in bed to recover.

Thankfully, just before the bugs hit, we celebrated Alfie's birthday and took him out for a birthday treat with his best friend Keziah to Cadbury World.

We had lots of other 'doing' days and trips out and about...

We're lucky to have the beautiful Belton House on our doorstep and our National Trust membership is well used! It means we can even pop along for an afternoon for a walk around the gardens or a run around in the adventure playground and not have far to go home. 

It's good to be back!

Well hello!  Been a while hasn't it? 

As ever I'm not entirely sure where those last few months went. 

Now it's August. August!

So here's a quick recap....

We won another award...

Our eldest son turned 6 and I wrote about his party here...

I started writing styling posts for the brilliant LoveLuxeBlog

Our youngest son turned 2 (he LOVES Peppa Pig!)

,

I got another year older and was treated to a surprise tea party

We've worked hard but thankfully Charlotte returned from maternity leave and we managed a holiday!

Best of all I finished my treatment for Post Natal Depression and I'm feeling very positive...

Hoping this good feeling lasts.

You're HOW old??

Last year I had a BIG birthday and I felt stupidly panic-stricken. Not that I felt anywhere near 40 (I had a 6 week old baby) and I certainly don't act like a 40 year old, it's just that number feels so wrong.

On my 40th with big brother

I can remember my parents' 40th birthdays so clearly (I was 18) and I still think of them as the 40-year-olds, not me. My mum had a party in our house (all pleated skirts and perms)  and my Dad got a flight in a small plane...40 seemed a long way off.

Dad's 40th birthday flight

So July 11th came around again and I had another birthday. 41...how could that be?? When I was younger being in your 40s was positively ancient. Now I've reached that age, I don't feel any different to when I did in my twenties. Ok, maybe a few more lines and a bigger waistline but that's about it. I have a mortgage and two kids and sometimes that still smacks me right between the eyes when I'm least expecting it....A homeowner!! A Mother!! THWACK!

Me on my 41st birthday

birthday cake

beautiful birthday table

Maybe it's just how you feel about life in general that makes a difference. I recently ran around the house with pants on my head to amuse the boys. Not the kind of behaviour people expect from a responsible adult but I am responsible I'm just not very 'adult'. Quite frankly the 'adult' bit is boring. I'd much rather play 'duvet mole'  or throw socks around. I'm not very good at being serious...

Despite my ongoing battle with PND, I have somehow retained my sense of humour in the blackest of moments. To really laugh until your stomach hurts is one of the best things in life. Especially when your kids are giggling along too. 

being daft on the beach

In 70s gear

Eurovision Song Contest party...I was 'Spain'

So I am not going to let a silly number bother me and a few grey hairs can be easily hidden. I shall continue to laugh and play and be daft. 

The growing old bit is inevitable but the growing up bit is definitely optional!