Paper, paper everywhere!

Firstly an update on my leg - a lot less pain thankfully! I'm still having to limp around, and I didn't feel safe to drive today. Thankfully hubby worked from home today so he could be around, I'm so grateful he's able to do that when it's needed. It makes such a difference. 

Originally, before I strained my calf muscle yesterday, we were going to go back to the beach this morning at low tide, this time taking buckets and spades we forgot yesterday. It was a lovely day weather wise again but we've had to postpone it until I can walk normally again.

So the children have been making the most of the weather in the garden again. They've been checking on the strawberries daily, watching the progress from flower to fruit. They can't wait till they turn red, and ready to eat. 

At one point today there was a busy period of making things out of paper. It's amazing to see how one activity feeds into another activity sometimes, and today both children fed off of one another too.

It started with one child trying to make a paper folded fortune teller, I remember making those when I was young too, do you? I say trying, as over a year ago we had a book detailing how to make them, and initially he couldn't quite remember what to do but after a few trial runs, he made one. 

Following this he remembered that the book also had animals in, and tried to make a snake, it somewhat resembled it, but not quite. It was this book we had
     

From that he cut off a piece of paper that he thought looked like a cat face, so that's what it became, followed by making a koala and an ant eater face.

Meanwhile daughter seeing what her brother was doing decided to join in making things out of paper, but she started making envelopes. Apparently they were for cards for her cuddly toys birthdays that were coming up. This resulted in a natural chat about months. How many days in each, the order, and who's birthdays were in which months. 

Today has also included some TV - a variety of cartoons, son loves old style tom and jerry atm. Plus Venom Island, which was on Eden, containing Komodos, son loves Komodos. For one of his birthdays a couple of years ago we took a trip to Chester zoo, to see their Komodos. Plus while resting with my leg up, I caught up on The Great British Menu, which the children enjoyed watching with me.

Plus lots more including, playing out with local children, gymnastics for daughter, a random chat about fractions as I was getting out the shower this morning, discussing how much porridge daughter had eaten! 

Beach highs and lows - pop goes the muscle!

It was beautiful weather again today, sunny, warm, just perfect for the beach. I checked the tide times, I always use this site, as it's quick to use, free, and you don't have to register. I wasn't sure how much sand there would still be, but we thought we would head down and see anyway. 

The tide was still quite a way out, and there was lots of sand. The beach was also pretty much deserted, apart from a couple of passing dog walkers and seagulls, we had the beach to ourselves. We are so lucky to live here.


The children entertained themselves with a variety of activities, paddling, jumping the waves, digging with their hands (we forgot the spades!) 

One of the last activities my daughter did was sprinting along the waters edge, I thought that looks fun and joined her! We went one way, and after a short break to get my breath, we set off back. I was halfway back when I felt a pop and a searing pain in my right calf, which stopped me. Somehow, including bottom shuffling up the shingle bank, and singing through the pain, we all made it back home. 


Thankfully it wasn't my achilles, it was further up my calf. I think it's a strained medial gastrocnemius, So I've spent the rest of the day with it elevated, regular icing, arnica, ibuprofen, paracetamol, and I found a tubigrip that I had from previous knee surgery so I've put that on the affected leg too. I did consider A&E but pretty sure they would have done nothing more except maybe give me a pair of crutches 


Still in quite some pain, hobbling around and hoping that tomorrow is another day and it will feel a lot better. Only time will tell. Despite the ending we all had a fab time at the beach, and enjoyed making more memories. 

Oh and I've learnt that being a bit overweight, unfit, in my late 30s I really shouldn't be trying to sprint with my daughter!! 

Cardboard box fun in the sun

We've had a delivery of a computer component, to mend the broken pc. We're having one of those years so far in terms of things breaking, needing replacing, and repairing! Anyone else having one of those times too?


Anyway, I've digressed already! So this component came in a decent sized cardboard box, and  it was quickly claimed by the children. Even at the age of 7 and 8, great games and ideas can be had with a simple cardboard box.


It became a car, complete with drawn on detail which can't really be seen here.

It also became a den with a duvet over it, and a box for randomly sitting in to do other things in, such as eating. Somehow the simple cardboard box made everything else more exciting!


We are loving this gorgeous weather, enjoying our freedom, and the children are choosing to spend a lot of time outside. 


Unfortunately about a month ago we had some strong winds and our 'temporary' plastic cover and metal tubing greenhouse got picked up and dumped upside down! This is the second time this has happened and it's not repairable. We lost half the plants in there and seedlings that were just emerging. 


Anyway, us being us, let's just say we're not always the quickest to de-clutter stuff! So we hadn't put the parts away and they were piled up in the garden. The children decided the poles and corner pieces were perfect for building structures, like a larger version of construction toys you'd have inside and they've had hours of fun with it. Today it was an 'ice-cream shop' 

The ice creams were made from a mixture of herbs/flowers/ soil and water! 

Last week before this lovely weather arrived, they made it into a den in the garden, and sat in the reading and writing various stuff. 

Today a lot of our thoughts and time has been taken up with other circumstances, but I will post about that in a few days when I can access my old photos that are on the broken, but now being mended pc!