Negatives:

• My anxiety has been horrendous. I think last Thursday and Friday were probably the worst days. It was really bad. However, it's a bit better now. Anxiety is so hard to figure out because I don't know why I was anxious. It was everything and nothing (and if you suffer with anxiety, you may be able to relate to that!). Thank goodness it's not that bad now (touch wood). 
• My laptop no longer gives me a warning when the battery is going flat. It just switches itself off. I figure that this is a sign the battery is probably on it's way out. I can't replace it myself because the battery is inside the actual laptop. What a pain. I just need to remember to plug the charger in after an hour or so. It's not the end of the world - at least it still works (again, touch wood!)
• Sports day was cancelled last week because it was pouring with rain  but it's been rescheduled so that's something to look forward to :) 

Positives:

• Charlie had his induction days at high school! I am SO incredibly proud of him. He happily went with Harry on the bus Monday morning and came home with Harry on the bus. I'm so pleased they're back in the same school even if I am in denial that Charlie is old enough for high school. On the second induction day all the teachers were on strike but Charlie got a lift to school with my step dad. He happily went and was super confident about the second day! 
• Ellie also enjoyed two days being introduced to year 4! She's got Charlie's (current) teacher in September, which she is excited about and he is a very good teacher. 
• So far in July, I've read two books! Well, one I started in June but couldn't finish because the stupid brain disease flared up and it effects my vision, I finished that a couple of days ago. I read 'The girl with no name' by Diney Costeloe and 'If I stay' I'll review those over on my book blog at some point. My July 'To Be Read' list can be found here 
• Having good friends and a lovely fella has made me truly happy this week! Being a in a long distance relationship isn't easy but when we do see each other, we really appreciate our time together. Also having a really good friend. We message every day and we talk about everything and anything which is lovely.
• The weather seems to have taken a turn for the better! Hoorah! Finally. I feel much more motivated when it's sunny. Although not a fan of the heat/humidity but it's nice to see the sun! 

I'm looking forward to... 

• The fact that it's July is a positive! Honestly, can not wait for the summer holidays and to have a break from the school routine. I know the kids are excited too!
• C & E's sports day! I can't wait to watch them in there races. They're both super excited about it. My mum is also coming to watch, which will be nice. Harry isn't taking part in his sports day this year, which is surprising because he loves sports. Mind, he did take part in a sponsored walk last week, which he enjoyed! He got to come home from school early, which always makes him happy, haha. I'm proud of him for taking part in that.
• Charlies birthday - He's going to be eleven! I know, I can't believe it either.
• The weekend. I need to do some gardening/weeding. My front garden is starting to resemble a jungle. It's only a little patch of garden, so it won't take too long. I'm sure the kids will help me, they like gardening.
• I am also really looking forward to the end of the school term. I think we all need a break from the school routine! Only another couple of weeks or so. 
• So that's basically been our week this week! There's been a lot going on but mostly all good. The positives defiantly out weight the negatives.  

What are your best and worst bits this week? Or what are you most looking forward to?

I hope you all have a lovely rest of the week!


P.s I also have a giveaway running to win a copy of the children's book 'The Lost Smile' 

This weekend, while the weather was nice and there was a break between rain downpours, we decided to take a little walk down to the river bank and feed the swans and geese. Harry had made plans with a friend so he didn't want to come with us. Charlie, Ellie and I had a great time though! We were only gone for about 45 minutes because it started clouding over again and sure enough, as soon as we stepped through the front door, it poured with rain. We spent the rest of the day playing board games and even Harry joined in when he returned home fifteen minutes after us.

Enjoy the pics.



Oh and we tested out the kids walkie talkies, too, which they got for Christmas. They're such good fun.

Mr swan was chasing us! Such a magnificent creature.

We tried to take photos while we were feeding the swans but they decided to chase us.. They could see the bag of food and apparently we wern't feeding them quick enough. Just as well I'd wet the bread before feeding it to them.
We eventually managed to convince the swans back in the water by throwing in the food.






 We also spotted this little wagtail. So very pretty and cute! Ellie and Charlie hadn't seen one up close before. They were fascinated. Awww.



We had a lovely aftternoon (or half an hour) and I am really starting to look forward to spring because this place will be just beautiful in spring and perhaps we can take a picnic along with us! Although, we'll probably be mobbed by swans, haha.

Have you managed to find a break in the weather and enjoy it lately?

Sarah xXx

With it being nearly the end of term, the little's are feeling quite tried as it's a busy time at school! end Filled with school plays, special assemblies, tests, picnics and sports days! By the time they come home from school they're not really feeling like going out and about. Plus the weather hasn't been on our side for the last 4 or 5 days. We've had a fair bit of rain (which has been very welcomed after the hot weather we have been having! The rain is rather refreshing). We haven't really ventured out much! We are saving our adventures for the six weeks holidays which begin next week! We are all so excited.
The kids have been playing outside a lot though, riding scooters and paying with there friends for half an hour here and there. Ellie has taken a liking to puppies just recently and she really loves walking her (toy) pup who she has named 'Sweetie' altough the name changes on a daily basis, bless her!
We're lucky to have a back garden where the kids can enjoy ball games and relaxing in the garden.
Bring on the summer holidays so we can get out and about exploring and completing our summer bucket list. 

Harry actually let me take a pic!

Sarah xXx
Living arrows

What makes me smile this week..

1) The weather - It has been truly beautiful weather, a little hot at times but it's nice to see the sun and actually have a decent summer! I have a lovely tan (not that I've been trying to get a tan mind). The little's have been enjoying the weather, too.
The thunderstorms were rather amazing! Lots of lightening forks and funky coloured skies. I didn't manage to get a photo of the lightening but I did manage to get this photo of the sunset and thunderstorm both at the same time. It was sunny, thundering and lightening while the sun was setting, it was a bit weird.



2) It's officially the summer holidays! It's a very welcomed break from the school routine. It's lovely spending extra time with the kids and what not. We're just chilling out this week, no plans. Just chillaxing and enjoying the weather in the garden.


3) Last weekend we went to the summer fete. It was such great fun! The kids had a blast on the bouncy castles (thank goodness for wrist bands & unlimited time on the bouncy castles and activities). They loved riding on the donkey's. :)

So those are my reasons to be cheerful this week. What are your reasons to be cheerful this week? Why not join in the blog hop which is hosted by Lakes Single Mum.

Sarah xXx

It was a lovely sunny day yesterday. It was lovely to see the sun, it's been raining all week and ever so windy! It was still windy yesterday but not as bad as it has been. Ellie and I went for a walk along the seafront with my brother, sister in law and niece. It was lovely to get out but we weren't out long because it was cold and the wind was picking up again.



We were gonna look for shells but it was too cold and breezy. We went for a short walk on the beach and under the pier! Ellie found a ball that someone had obviously left... or that the wind had blown, lol. I took lots of photos of the waves. The waves were quite 'choppy' I certainly wouldn't want to be under the pier when the wind is bad, that's for sure lol. Ellie didn't seem to mind though. (The boy were at there dads btw)


After the beach, we went to the park for a little while. It was a little bit muddy but that's ok. Ellie had a good half an hour playing before she wanted to leave. We found some huge pine cones. We're gonna paint those another day, hehe.






It was lovely to get for a while. We have been coped up inside for what feels like months, not good! Hopefully we'll be able to go out and about this half term, as long as it's not windy and raining like it has been last week!
Roll on spring....
Sarah xXx

Monday afternoon/early evening it suddenly went very dark and the sky was a bizarre colour. It was purple, pink and grey!


It was pouring down with rain & ever so windy.

Charlie was like "Is it the polo lips?" pointing up to the sky
I stood there baffled for a few seconds thinking 'Is the "polo lips" someone that's eaten too many polos and perhaps have white lips' but no, that doesn't quite fit with him pointing to the sky.

"Hmmm, polo lips??" I said baffled. And probably a puzzled look on my face.
"You know, like the end of the world?" Charlie informed me
"Ohhhhh, You mean apocalypse"
I couldn't help but chuckle, lol. 'Polo lips' bless him.
"That's what I said!" Charlie protested. 
"Naaah" I replied "Just a really unique sky and some windy, wet weather" I said to Charlie.
"It's not very likely the world will end anytime soon, if ever" I tried to explain...
Charlie looked thoughtful for a moment and then said "But the sky changed so quickly, it was sunny and bright now it's just weird" He said unconvinced.

We then went into an depth conversation about how the world wasn't gonna end and that it's just freaky weather. He wasn't worried.. he was just very fascinated! Wouldn't surprise me if Charlie becomes a weather man when he's older.

Then he realised it was his turn on XBOX and off he went.
Was a very random conversation to have with an eight year old. Sometimes he seems so much older than eight years old!

Bless him. Apparently he knows all about the 'polo lips' because his friends talk about it and it's been on T.V.

We've been having some really bizarre weather lately. One minute it's sunny and blue skies and the next?! It's cloudy, dull, windy and raining! Not as bad as some parts of the U.K. Wales for instance, has been hit bad by wind and rain, causing floods. I can not even imagine that. My heart goes out to all those affected by this dreadful weather.

Sarah xXx