Let's go fly a pirate ship.

After a horrendous start to the Bank Holiday weekend (horrendous to the point I had to call all of Ed's colleagues to get them to interrupt his client meeting so he could come home RIGHT NOW because I couldn't stop fainting from a stomach bug. Which he then came down with. Yeah.) things picked up and we made the most of the glorious weather. I know, May Bank Holiday, nice weather and the north west of the UK - I don't think that's ever happened before.

On Sunday we headed up to Lyme Park to fly kites up at the Cage, cavort around the adventure playground and roll down hills.

Let's go fly a kite

Crawling up that hill, made a deal with God....

They were filthy by the end of it. So were we! They don't warn you of that when they're extolling the virtues of babywearing, do they? ;)

Today we made good on Pix's belated birthday trip to Gulliver's World which was heaving - better than our last visit when we tried to go when it was still closed for the season. Whoops. Taking the carrier on its second trip of the weekend was inspired really; it was SO much easier to have Pops tucked up on us rather than being pushed and barged by the crowds in the pram.

The park is looking a bit tired and was understaffed which is a shame as it's the perfect size for littlies. There's only 2 rides that Pix can't go on and there's a fair few that Pops is able to ride on too. Although as she seems to have grown 8 foot overnight that's not surprising. Two things they did really well were the number of toilets (hurrah, says the ridiculously tiny sized bladder person!) and the number of climbing frames where the kids can run riot. They both did really well with queueing and walking and I think it's because they got to run off steam at every second corner.

Apparently as Pix got off the Pirate Ship and his dad said thank you to the guy running it, he shouted "Shiver me timbers!" then ran off. He's a comedy genius sometimes.

Scream if you wanna go faster!

Given the amount of sugar, e-numbers and BLUE ICE LOLLIES they had, I'm surprised they're asleep. Thank god they are, I'm bushed.

"My shoulders have chicken ache"

Chicken pox has reared its pus-filled head for the fifth time in four weeks (over only three people). There's been some colourful swearing, I admit.

So, if anyone has any ideas on how to entertain a bored and pox-y 3 year old, and a bored and teeth-y 3 month old, speak now. But bear in mind we can't leave the house for supplies; to see anyone; or to play in the park as it's raining.

Not my child

Chalk It Up To A Good Day

It's probably fair to say that our TV has done more parenting this last week or two than I have. Between the quadruple dose of chicken pox we've had (only Ed has escaped!) and various other ailments, we've barely left the house and when we have it's been either with incredibly grumpy children, or to wide open spaces where we can't infect anyone. And to be honest, those wide open spaces have usually been Tesco for essentials as I've not been up to braving the chilly playgrounds what with all the razor blades in my throat, hammers in my head, chainsaws in my stomach and rabid dogs gnawing at my shoulder.

*ahem*

I decided to take advantage of the brightening weather today so, after a brief sojourn to be fed lunch at my husband's office, and a monster nap from Pops courtesy of Ashton & Parsons teething powder, I took them into the front yard (why yes, we do live in the north!) with a tub of jumbo chalks from Tesco.

That's actually half a pirate outfit he's wearing. I'd never clash horizontal and vertical stripes.

To the right of the tub you can just about make out my amazing mermaid of awesomeness.

Ah hell, see a close up. See! Awesome.

After covering all available floor space we went inside and I read a counting book to Pixie, had a bath with them all, then nursed Pops to sleep. I think I did more active parenting in those few hours than I have in the last few weeks.