They think it's all over....

it is now!

Wow! That went quick, didn't it? The summer holidays flew by and I barely blogged about them.

Here is a little summary of what we got up to...

Hubby has been building a kitchen/barbecue area by the veg patch so that we can cook outdoors a la Nigel Slater style. The veg patch has got wildly out of control with me pretty much unable to reach the runner beans. But the pumpkins and courgettes are the biggest I've ever seen! We've had a much better tomato crop this year, too. Even the kids, who won't normally touch tomatoes (goodness knows why?!) have not been able to resist scrumping from the greenhouse!
Our Italian relatives made their usual summer visit, driving up through France and camping their way back again. The children enjoyed meeting up with cousin Eve again for fun and frolics. This was one of the very few occasions when the kids got to use the pool. Most of the summer holiday was lacking on the warm weather front.

I actually got around to doing a bit more sewing, making this table runner for our outdoor table from more fabric scraps from the local market stall. Please don't look at it too closely. It is a bit wobbly and all hand-sewn.


Henry had more hospital appointments because he has not regained the use of his hand. We made the most of his appointment at Deal hospital by going on to the country park there and hiring some bikes. Henry had to go in the cart with Hope. But, following some physio, he can now ride his own bike since that outing. He has more treatment to come.
We spent most of the holiday at home, but we did have a day out at Kew Gardens in London.



Kew is one of my favourite places and since my last visit, just over ten years ago, they have built some fabulous play areas for the kids. My little lot absolutely loved the indoor creepy crawly playground in which the children become bugs and get to experience what it is like to crawl in and out of plants and flowers. We couldn't get them out of there... not even for an ice-cream! The ice-creams, incidentally, were amazing. I wasn't go to buy them one (at £2.50 each!) but Hubby wanted to treat the kids (and himself!) so he did. I had a lick or two of Honor's coconut and lemon one and thought that maybe they were indeed worth the money! Mmmmmm!

During the last week of the hols, we gave up with maintaining the water in the pool for nothing and so we took it down and put up the teepee from last year instead. Honor and Henry transformed it into a hospital using a camp bed, a small table, a pile of paper and a roll of toilet paper (for bandages!) Henry looked quite the part sitting at his desk writing out prescriptions!

So they are back at school now, we had special prayers and breakfast on their first day, and the autumn tv schedule has started with the return of Celebrity Big Brother - shame we don't get Channel 5 so I can't follow the progress of JEdward, the X-Factor and my fav: Doctor Who! I love Dr Who and the first episode with the beginning of River Song was absolutely cracking. I decided, though, that the kids couldn't watch it tonight as the episode 'Night Terrors' was about a little boy with monsters in his toy cupboard. No, really? Far too spooky. Sorry, kids xxxx

Unplugged?

I've just been reading 'Unplug your Kids' (see sidebar for link). Well I wasn't aware but it is 'screen free week'. I think things like this are a good idea. The mere thought of living without a TV would send most people into a panic. But it is possible. Some people do . I remember our German teacher at school telling us that he didn't have one. He was kind of forced to repeat this statement a few times before it actually assimilated into our disbelieving teenage brains! And this was in the Eighties! Imagine that nowadays. I have noticed sometimes, certain people raise an eyebrow when they come to our house to find that we don't have Sky. Neither do we have a Wii or Nintendo. That's our choice for now. These things, in my opinion, have their place and are no doubt enjoyable. (It's a bit of a pain that I have to wait until 'Lost' comes out on dvd!). But I do not think they have a place in our homes at the moment. I prefer not to do without the telly altogether, also. There are particular things our family enjoy watching, and have a positive, helpful effect. After all, this blog is named after our favourite TV programme. Yes, of course we could read the books. Actually, we have done. But the TV programme I think, is even better. Probably down to the absolutely brilliant actors and warm direction of Michael Landon. There are some really gorgeous gardening and cookery programmes that I enjoy watching together with my eldest daughter and Hubby.

However, the point of this post is not to defend my tv habits, but draw attention to the 'Unplugged' cause. It certainly doesn't hurt to think about tv viewing every now and then and try limiting it in favour of finding alternative entertainment. Of course, for kids this can be quite challenging and harder work for parents trying to get a bit of peace maybe?

Anyway, it is worth a read and a ponder.

I'm including the link to a post to the 'Mommy, I'm bored box' post which I've found helpful.

http://http://unplugyourkids.com/2008/04/15/the-mommy-im-bored-box/

Gratitude Friday.

I'm grateful for a fabulous half term holiday and in particular for somehow getting along so much better with my big girl.

Today Hubby had another day off so we decided to go to Folkestone for swimming and then on to Brockhill Country Park. Just as we were getting in the car, my Mum turned up so she came along too. That was a blessing... to have another pair of hands to help with changing!

It has been another lovely sunny day. Although I worked in Hythe for 6 years, I'd never been to Brockhill. We only stopped for a quick look and for the kids to have a good play, but it looks beautiful, lots of waterfalls, wildlife and snowdrops and we'll definitely have to go back for a longer walk round.

Everyone enjoyed themselves and now the kids are in bed, tuckered out. Hubby and I are having nachos and waiting for this live episode of Eastenders to come on when we'll find out... who did kill Archie Mitchell! Duff, duff, duff, duff, duff, duff, duff, duff!!!

Some advice please...

I think the time is approaching for us to transfer Hope to a cot. Hubby and I have been talking about where to put it/her as for now she has been sleeping in our room. Ideally we'd like the kids to have their own rooms. Hubby is all for converting the understairs cupboard! He doesn't like my idea of moving our bed down to the study. So I'm thinking of moving her in with her big sister. The problems with that would be the different bedtimes (HM likes to read in bed) and so far HM's inability to keep all the little bits and pieces off the floor. It is a big age gap but it might be workable for the next couple of years. If there is anyone out there reading this who has managed a similar situation and has any good ideas I'd welcome comments.

Time now to relax for a bit with a cup of camomile tea, Celebrity Big Brother and a cuddle. I've been enjoying this series of CBB. Stephen Baldwin was very entertaining - shame he's already out. And the Tree of Temptation is funny. I'm not sure who I want to win, though.

Already, after just 24 hours using the antibiotic cream, Henry's suspected impetigo is almost completely gone. He still seems to be unwell, though it can be difficult to tell after he has had a dose of infant neurofen. Works wonders, that stuff.

I had Sunday lunch with the in-laws today. Yum. A very welcome treat for me. Hope had her first piece of Yorkshire Pudding. She is now seven and a half months. I managed to exclusively breastfeed her for the first 6 months and we have slowly been introducing various pureed foods. I am now trying her with lumpier food and some finger food too. I was slightly worried that with starting solids so much later than the other two that she might not take to it as well. But she's getting on just fine.

The other children were very tired after their sleepovers so, although it is only 6pm, they are both in bed already. Hope is ahving a good play on the floor with her toys. Just like her brother and sister at that age, she prefers to play with a cardboard box and tube than 'real' toys. I am hoping, in the next hour, to get her fed, put to bed, then have a bath, get into my jammies and watch Dr Who, X-Factor and I'm a Celebrity, Get me out of here.

Little House.

I decided to name this blog 'Little House on the Lees' as a tribute to our family's favourite series. Honor read the book during the summer holidays and is now reading 'On the banks of Plum Creek'. We've also been watching the dvd box sets and are nearly at the end of series 2. When the kids come in from school, they do their Kumon, play for a bit or do an activity with me (Wednesday is cooking day) and then settle down to an episode of 'Little House' while I get dinner ready. They rarely watch any other tv now. I was happy for them to watch CBeebies, but as Honor got older she wanted to watch things like Tracy Beaker and Hannah Montanna which I find appalling and even more appalling was the attitude being copied by the kids. Henry still likes to watch Indiana Jones occasionally and is looking forward to the Star Wars films beginning again on tv this weekend. But 'Little House' remains regular viewing for all of us. Even I have managed to give up watching the soaps as I feel their constant presence in the house has a negative effect. Well, almost. I think I shall have to watch Eastenders this week - just to see Heather give birth to George Michael... and then, that is IT!!!!

Another one of my favourite blogs (see side bar) is Unplug your Kids. The author there doesn't watch any tv at all. Her blog is all about how her family get along without it and is full of good ideas for projects for children to get involved in.

And, today, I've included a couple of pics of Hope enjoying her banana breakfast and looking at a touch and feel book.