Photos from a summer weekend. The model birds are made from Lego. Thousands and thousands of blocks, some of them took 120 hours to make. They're at the local wildfowl and wetland place, where the biggest boy likes to drag us so that he can do a spot of birdwatching. I took the littles out in a canoe. They were so looking forward to going in a coracle (a little circular Welsh boat) but you had to be 18 for that. Apparently they're the devil to manoeuvre, what with being round and everything. So we took a canoe instead. We're quite a good team now, turning corners and everything. We were hardly in the wild brambly bits at the edges at all. Well, just sometimes.
In between the outings, and while the rain fell, I moved the middle boy into his own bedroom. He's been looking forward to it for ages. I was dragging my feet a little though I think. I liked that he shared with his older brother. They had good chats after lights out. They have a strong friendship. It seems a little sad that they will be apart a bit more now. Of course, while I was mooning around being sentimental, looking back at sweet memories and sighing deeply, they were both thrilled to have rooms of their own. I put up some blinds in the top room, hauled his bed up there and arranged his books a bit. It's rained almost constantly since, and it's so cosy listening to it tapping on the windows. The views are nice, cows in the distance in one direction and the river in the other. I've spent quite a long time looking out of the windows, both his and the one in the other partly vacated room. Like I said, mooning around. I shall be pulling myself together any day now.
There was a rainbow tonight. With any luck the rain will stop tomorrow. There's not much of the summer holidays left, it's that time when I feel I need to make the most of the days. Although there's a dentist's appointment tomorrow which isn't exactly what I mean. Afterwards we'll do something fun, maybe with ice-cream too. Wishing you all an excellent week. CJ xx
Lovely photo's CJ, so nice to get a shot of the rainbow.
ReplyDeleteThose lego models are wonderful.
Enjoy this week - all too soon it will be back to school and September will be here.
All the best Jan
I love the Lego models, very good work. They're all very realistic and detailed, I can't even imagine being able to do that. I hope your middle boy enjoys his new room. Sometimes I wish mine could share a room and probably should have given it a try a few years ago but I think they're too old now. I understand feeling like you need to make the most of the days now. I always get to that point every summer. I'm sure you will find many fun things to do in the final days. Hope you have a good week, CJ.
ReplyDeleteThe Lego models are amazing and your canoe adventure looks like fun. I'm sure that middle boy will love his new room and older boy will enjoy his independence. They don't realise how poignant it can be for us mums (and that's a good thing). When I feel fed up that only a week of the summer hols is left I remind myself that it's the same as a half-term, and that's always something to look forward to. I do that with the BH weekend at the end too.
ReplyDeleteCathy x
It's a time of change isn't it CJ. I feel your slight sadness at the boys moving into separate rooms but nothing stays the same and I suppose that's good. It means we're human and alive. When I saw the Lego birds I thought they were knitted. I often think things are knitted in Blogland when in fact they're real or plastic. I should wear my glasses more often! Great idea to have a treat after the dentist. Have a lovely week with your best boys.
ReplyDeleteHi CJ.. I'm back from camping. It was fun to see your canoeing trip with the 2 little guys. Kids learn so much from being on the water! Just enjoy your boys being at home.. it's so fleeting a time! I just blogged.. too many photos, but that lake is so pretty! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)
ReplyDeleteAw! It's so nice they will always remember sharing a room. I remember my brothers laughing and laughing in their bunk beds in the room next to mine. Sometimes they'd call me and I'd sneak to the doorway thinking they were going to share the joke. They would just ask me to turn off the light haha. I don't know how many times I fell for it--every time, I guess. I understand how you feel. My oldest starts kindergarten soon and I'm mooning around too. Good luck with it all xo
ReplyDeleteLovely Lego models and the canoe trip sounds fantastic - I can imagine a coracle being rather tricky! You have such gorgeous views from your house too and I love the rainbow shot. My girls have always had their own rooms but even now, at 17 and 21, they have 'sleepovers' on most non-school nights. It wouldn't work during term time though - there's so much chatting and giggling that goes on, that they'd be fit for nothing if they had to get up early the following day! Good luck at the dentist. xx
ReplyDeleteThe lego models were a real delight and a great canoe trip. I know how it is putting the boys in separate rooms, it took me back 20 years when we moved into our 4 bedroom home and my three girls were able to have a room each, mixed blessings.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfectly balanced weekend. Love the photos.
ReplyDeleteFar to big an age gap for my boys to share, although they did for a little bit when Harry was a toddler. I'm sure they are thrilled to have their own space but I understand your sadness xx
ReplyDeleteThe boating looks like super fun. You will laugh when you hear I first read your post on my mobile and thought the animals were real! Small screen but probably also aging brain strikes again, eh?
ReplyDeleteBittersweet about the boys having their own rooms. Raising children is full of those moments isn't it? Is your biggest starting secondary this Sept? (I think you may have told me before, my memory is appalling). xx
We had such heavy rain on Sunday - a deluge. But I love listening to it on the skylights. Love the lego models.
ReplyDeleteNice post and lovely pictures. I like the Lego otter. It's been ages since I last saw a rainbow.
ReplyDeleteI hope that the visit to the dentist goes okay, I'm off to mine tomorrow just for a check-up.
Thanks, and you too. Flighty xx
I have never heard of those Welsh boats. And I've been to Wales! It's tough being a mom. There are so many things about your children that make you sentimental, but none quite so much as seeing them grow up.
ReplyDeleteThe canoe trip looks great fun - more so than the dentist! Hope you enjoy the last week or so of the holidays.
ReplyDeleteIt always comes across in your posts how many great experiences you give your boys, the canoe looks like fun. Those lego birds are amazing, it must have taken ages to make them, I definitely don't have the patience for that. Enjoy the time you have left of the holidays.
ReplyDeleteThose Lego animals look amazing! You do look experts in the canoe, we keep meaning to hide a rowing boat and go up the river. I'm sure we will end up just going around in a circle to the amusement of holiday makers down by the harbour! You have wonderful views from your bedrooms. This weather just encourages us to moon about I hope the last few days of the holiday will be sunnier. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteOurs have shared bedrooms in various combinations when younger, although strangely younger son and daughter shared the most. Once they have separate rooms it feels like a part of their young life has passed, never to return, it always sends you off kilter doesn't it? I get the same urgency when the end of the summer holidays near - must make the most of each and every day! Days are tinged with a bit of sadness as another summer holiday closes. Still you have had some fantastic days out - and the canoeists look very professional.
ReplyDeleteCaz xx
Oh I love the photo of the pier, but the first 2 in a canoe is pretty fantastic as well. Just different. I like to think I'm a pretty sporty canoer (is that the word?) but the household claims otherwise, this may be chalked up to the time I fell out. However I was in the process of getting out when my husband launched a children loaded canoe at me...
ReplyDeleteAn excellent week to you and yours as well.
Well, I'm glad your boys wanted to go follow Shaun's trail and that you followed them with your camera to the ready, CJ :) The whale on his waves of plastic bottles is amazing! While we are making some progress with recycling around the world, we need to be cheered on to do better yet. The Lego models are amazing as well.! Thanks so much for taking us along on some of your paddling adventures through life, and your reflections of the changes you note as your sons grow...the push and pull of feelings as life is lived and treasured. Some of the wildfire smoke has blown away from the Portland, OR, area, but the weather is still unusually hot and dry and I am praying that some of your rain makes its way to the Pacific Northwest. May your week be excellent as well!
ReplyDeleteIt's hard to believe that the summer hols are nearly over - it feels as though summer hasn't really happened at all. Very disappointing. I know that a coracle is hard to manoevre because my son had a go in one at a farmer's fair in the Midlands when he was in his early teens - it was an experience he wasn't in a hurry to repeat. Bruised ego and all that. Poor lad. I love the Lego wildlife - I thought your camera had gone all pixelated when I first saw the pics, it being fairly late and all. Caro xx
ReplyDeleteI think the rainbow is a good sign that the middle boys move is a good idea. I always think rainbows are a sign of something good. Hang in there Mom. change with our boys is hard isn't it?
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Meredith
Wonderful images dear C.J., the rainbow, the sky and clouds, the views, the water bird and what a great time you all must have had canoeing in such a pretty spot. The LEGO is quite extraordinary.
ReplyDeleteGlad your boys are happy with their separate rooms, very exciting for your littlest boy to have his own space.
Enjoy the rest of the holidays, you are a great Mum!
xoxoxo ♡
oh that rainbow. a sign of hope and promise. change is hard, be gentle on yourself, enjoy the last few days of summer x
ReplyDeleteWe had a wonderful rainbow the other day too. It was so crisp you could see amazing colour definition in the arch. Hope you have an excellent last bit of holidays...xx
ReplyDeleteLovely photos CJ. Those lego creatures are fab. How exciting to be moving bedrooms – I hope the boys have settled in well and are enjoying their new spaces. I completely forgot to take my daughter to her dentist appointment yesterday – shockingly completely forgot! I am a Bad Mother. Agh. I am losing the plot. Time to get back to some sort of routine... Enjoy the rest of the holidays. Sam x
ReplyDeleteDid you make the most of this week? Ours was a washout, but the kids seemed quite happy to play at home after the holiday and I was kind of happy to get some stuff done instead of being dragged to the park every day. I hope the room situation is going well and that everyone is settled. xx
ReplyDeleteSounds like a fab day out messing about on boats. Love the lego creations, they are so clever aren't they. Change with the kids is always a hard one, sometimes its welcome (e.g. no more strollers and car seats) but it always means they are growing up.
ReplyDeleteHey CJ,
ReplyDeleteI missed this post somehow. It will be all change on the bedroom front here very soon. Olly will inherit Sam's room, and Sam will downsize to Olly's. I wouldn't dare go in a canoe with my boys; they'd capsize on purpose I reckon.
Leanne xx