Mrs Manic: Almost there!!!!

They're nearly back!!!!! Love my kids dearly, but roll on Tuesday week....

Monday this week saw us all at our yearly Clarkes appointment for new school shoes. £120 later(!!!) Alex came out with shoes that got me all upset for some reason (they just seem like big boy - secondary school boy shoes, and he's 9), Nicholas has a pair of kickers in the hope that they may actually last him the entire academic year and Cassandra, despite my encouragement for something different, has the same style as last year!

Tuesday saw Lee take the day off work and we all headed off to Chessington!

The last time we were there, we didn't have that great a time, food issues and rides closed etc. The main complaint I made to Adventurer Services was the fact that Nicholas and Lee were stuck, hanging on the Vampire ride for some 20 minutes when it broke down.... Chessington were very good, took full responsibility and offered us a "meet and greet" session on our return visit. So all of us got to get up close with a Coati - a bit like a racoon. :)

I had promised the kids we would go crabbing at some stage during the holidays, but the tides had just not been right for the days we could do. Wednesday however, we planned around high tide and joined by Nannie, Alex got very lucky with his net and line full of bacon!

Even Cassandra got stuck in!

It was such a nice day that when we got home the kids all wanted to play with the hose, just love this pic of Alexander with his waterfall!

Thursday saw me playing taxi as Alex spent the day with his bud Ollie and Lou very kindly took them to Kids Kingdom. Much improved since it was bought by the people who own Monkey Bizz...

Nicholas was dropped off at Mum's for his scheduled sleepover and Cassandra spent the morning at Little Steps Gymnastics holiday club. By the time I'd dropped everyone off and gone to Tesco, I had 15 mins to make a cuppa before I had to go and do the collecting! LOL!

Cassandra and I did some craft - Mum had bought teh kids some garden pots, so Cassie decided she wanted to paint her one...

Friday saw Alex and his friend Calum over at Brentwood Karting taking part in their Laser Warfare fun day. A bit like paintballing, but with AK47 laser rifles instead. They loved it. crawling through the mud and running around in the woods - Nicholas can't wait to be old enough next year to go too!

Whilst the boys played "guns" I took the girls - Cassandra and Niamh to play in the school pool for a bit..

Leigh Ramblers football training started up again on Saturday, and despite the pouring rain, they got to train. Reuben's birthday party down at Adventure Island was unfortunately cancelled though, much to Nicholas' disappointment (although re-scheduled for next Wednesday), and Alex still enjoyed cookery club at Waitrose - dinner of pizza and banana pancakes courtesy of him!

Today, Sunday, Lee and our bro-in-law Greg went off to spend the day photographing birds of prey (a Father's Day gift courtesy of their respective kids).

So despite protest, resistance was futile, home learning was the order of the morning and all 3 kids managed to get some English and Maths done. Very proud of Cassandra as she managed to write her own name all by herself!!! Got to love Biff, Chip & Kipper and Floppy the dog!