Tuesday 4 June 2013

The playmobil pieces are no longer asleep on the keyboard



Two of our grandchildren ( and their parents ) have spent the last week with us. It was warm and sunny for the first two hours of their trip, and the last 5 hours. The week inbetween was wet, grey and cold. However, as I managed to take photos during the brief breaks in the cloud, maybe, in about 5 years, their memories of the holiday will be of sunny skies.
We managed to do quite a bit, despite the weather……and I am sure the children enjoyed themselves. As always, following the example of our great friends in Arizona, Jane and Lee, we hope to have created some memories for them. I also hope  that their parents, at least, felt that it was a change…and they had a bit of a rest from work.

We visited the Sigean safari park
 
Liam particularly liked this photo of the zebra's backsides.....and was delighted when our car was stopped by a real zebra crossing........5 or 6 zebras blocked the road, while they crossed.

and Narbonne Plage
 
 

We had the beach to ourselves....but then, it was very cold.
 
 
and Gruissan.....a bar, where Liam discovered his pin ball skills, and  climbed the tower with granddad.
 
 

The playground in Caunes



A vide grenier in Conques
Finding a Power ranger for 1 euro may have been the hi light of the day
Carcassonne ...where we avoided buying plastic swords and shields,

 
Liam swam in the pool…with a little help from dad at one point
 
 
and Izzie wanted to play with the water too....despite it only being 18 degrees c.
 
Izzie climed the steps on the slide and went down it by herself
 
The 3 bears house was visited by Goldilocks and Liam did some art work for the walls
 
this porridge was too hot....and daddy bear's spoon was a bit big too
 

 
hang on a minute....the 3 bears are at home....Goldilocks has made friends with them
 
We played draughts…..Liam now understands the rules…..and beat me twice…..aggghhhh.
 
 
The piano took a hammering
Playing bingo with yet another bargain buy from the vide grenier
 
Liam and Grandad surveying the landscape, just before leaving for the airport.
 
Is this the way things are going to be from now on ?.....Izzie, in charge, doing the driving....we will have to wait and see.
 

Now….all is quiet again. No Liam yelling “ Nana, where are you ?” everytime  I go to the bathroom. No Izzie saying “ Yeah, yeah, yeah” to almost everything....especially anything to eat.

I have mopped the floor a few times, moved the bucket loads of toys to the hallway, ready to go back upstairs into the children’s bedroom and wiped the finger marks off the windows. The playmobil pieces are no longer asleep on the keyboard.
 

They’ll be back in about 7 weeks, with our other children and 2 more grandchildren…..and it will be brilliant again.

28 comments:

  1. Super photographs! I particularly like the bucket and spade one...that expression!

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    1. Thanks Helen...not a particularly fascinating post( except of course for close family )...but a record of what we did, and an excuse for me to look through the photos we took. The kids are completely delightful. Jx

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  2. And hopefully the weather will behave itself next time! Wonderful photos and you obviously had a really super time with them, but fleeces on the Med at the end of May?! We had the same experience with our two - lovely when they arrived and on the day we drove them home, but mostly cold and wet in between. Sigh....

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    1. The weather is already much better. The sun has shone ever since they left...it is much warmer, and it is possible I might get in the pool by the end of the week. I hope you had as good a time with your two as we did with ours. Now I'm ready for a rest though ! Jx

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  3. Hi Janice,
    More sun would have been nice but I expect this is just the sort of week that you were dreaming about, when undergoing your treatment earlier this year.
    And in seven weeks more of the same - fingers crossed that there will be sun this time!
    Now, get some rest!

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    1. You are right Gaynor. This has been the goal for some time. The sun is out now, and we are enjoying what I hope is the start of the summer. I'm sorry you'll be heading back to school by now...but it'll be waiting for you. I am going to spend the next few days recovering from being so busy.....the washing can wait ! Jx

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  4. P.S. I forgot to say that your photographs will provide wonderful memories

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  5. How very wonderful, lucky you! And the 3 Bears House came into it's own.
    I absolutely love the zebra picture of course :)

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    1. The 3 Bears' house is still to be developed further, in time for the children's next visit...but even in the state it is in now, it caused some amusement for the 5 year old, and little Izzie just loved baby bear's chair. J.

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  6. What beautiful photos and memories to cherish...happy everyone had a good time. The kids look so adorable and always look like they are having a good time....you also look very nice Janice. Love the zebra pic . :-)

    take care...XX

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    1. The zebra picture is certainly a favourite. We did have a lovely time with the children...but now I need a rest ! Jx

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  7. Lovely photos - love the bingo in shades, very cool.

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    1. Yes, he saw grandad in his sunglasses and went to retrieve his from last summer....but only on his last day, as there wasn't enough sun any other day. Jx

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  8. Family is what life is all about. We had a super birthday gathering at the weekend - life's ups and downs forgotten for a while in the sunshine. I hope your weather perks up soon too!

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    1. Yes, summer is here....it arrived properly, just as the family's plane took off....oh well, there's always next time. J.

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  9. What wonderful images you have captured Janice.I love the colour of childhood that shines through them all.x Maria.

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    1. Thanks Maria...they are particularly photogenic kids.....or maybe I'm a little biased ! Jx

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  10. Your grandchildren are adorable Janice, and your post captures that lovely feel of precious time spent with them. Zebra photo is a gem, and I can just imagine our small grandsons loving it too. Finding a superhero for 1 Euro would have made my day too - I am always on the lookout! The three bears house is a delight, as we all knew it would be. Your are a wonderful Grannie! xxx

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    1. I feel there is still considerable work to be done on the 3 bears' house, but it is coming on.... a few more vide greniers and I'll be fine. Jx

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  11. Shame about the weather Janice but clearly it didn't stop you all having a good time. These are lovely photos. I bet you can't wait until they are all back again.

    I love the Three Bears House. What a great idea. xxx

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    1. We had a great time with them, although it is only now I realise how tired I feel. So I am making the most of a few days doing practically nothing. Jx

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  12. Sometimes it doesn't matter what the weather nothing can put a damper on time spent together! Lovely post and gorgeous family. ..

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    1. Thanks Broad.....I think they're pretty gorgeous too. Jx

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  13. What wonderful photos of your grandchildren 'making memories'...I had to smile at the 'shades' on the young bingo player; just like in some casinos!! lol Thank you for sharing these delightful photos of your family, Janice :-)

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    1. Hi Maria....my friends in Arizona have 12 grandchildren, and they certainly see their role as grandparents as being the memory makers. I love the idea, and really hope that our grandchildren will remember at least some of the fun things we try to do with them. And yes...Liam does look quite something in his shades ! Jx

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  14. Oh, Janice, your week sounds (and looks) just like mine was - including the zebra's behind! Memories, indeed, and so well chronicled here. Doesn't it get so quiet it is almost loud when the grandkids leave? I found one of Ezra's socks as I took laundry down, and started crying. Silly.
    Anyways, rest up for their next trip, dear one. The kids are adorable - and I love the three bears house, especially with Goldilocks.

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  15. No doubt about it, Goldilocks made it perfect...although actually I have lots of plans for further development. The table chairs and porridge bowls and spoons are just the first stage. It was an exhausting week, and you are right about the sound of the silence that is left behind. It really did seem that every time I even thought about going to the bathroom, a little voice yelled " Nana , where are you ? "
    I think what would make me tearful about finding one of Liam's socks now, is that they are getting bigger and bigger. He really is a little boy now, and not my gorgeous little baby ( apologies to his mother there....I know he's not mine really. ) Jx

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  16. I love the photo if dad and liam looking over the house! Another great post mum!

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