Hiya and Happy Monday!

It’s been a great week because we were away on holiday with my lovely lot for most of it! We were at a big farm house on the other cost, not too far from Scarborough. It had a big back garden with loads of toys, which the kids loved! But more about that in a blog to follow.

Since coming back, I’ve done a heap of admin, preached at the Sunday service, observed our lovely curate celebrating communion at ASSF for the first time, sampled the new iced coffee in the Hub and been to the local vicars BBQ.

Ministry life has somehow still been hard work. We’re waiting for a new administrator, and it was possible that they were going to be trained the week I was away. I checked my emails on Friday and realised there were no church notices there. I assumed, therefore, that the training hadn’t happened which meant that nothing would have been prepped for the service on Sunday either. So me and Soph spent 5 hours in work on Saturday (including half an hour praying, half an hour for lunch and an hour at the end because Sophia wanted to stay longer ‘Mummy, don’t you have more work to do? I want to stay!’). Also, the new super swanky photocopier won’t talk to the computer and it’s all a bit annoying.

Mum life, however, has been really lovely. It’s the end of the year, with reports and certificates for Sophia as she finishes her year in reception. Yesterday, Nathan and I went to a celebration breakfast with lots of other parents and carers, where the children came out and showed us their workbooks. It was staggering to see how much she’s come on in just 10 months!

One thing I find interesting about this time of life is observing how other parents choose to behave. I’m by no means judgey – it’s hard work for all of us! But I was completely baffled to see some parents sitting there as the certificates were presented, only clapping for their own child, when most people were clapping throughout as we had been told to. I mean – what?! They have all worked so hard, adjusted so well and learned so much – they all deserve as big a cheer as each other! Anyway, soap box moment over (for now!).

Sophia had a really nice time on holiday, even if she was unsure about missing school for a week to begin with (‘my learning is important, Mummy!). She learned to play pool with her Daddy and to watch the football with her Grandpa (‘kick the ball, mate!’). She came to Betty’s in York for breakfast, and felt very grown up sat around the table with Aunty Isabelle, Bubba, Granny and Gran Gran.

Aidan is working on his back molars, I think. The joy! His favourite thing continues to be cars, and loves nothing better than sitting on one of the gate posts outside church and waving as cars go by. He’s also getting upset at the most random things, so the new paragraph on the blog is:

Reason my toddler howled in despair this week: After picking bird poo off the hammock in the garden on holiday, I wouldn’t let him put his fingers in his mouth, or indeed, in my mouth!

This week I am especially grateful for Mum rearranging her week and travel plans to come and help us, yet again! She watched the kids so Nathan and I could go to the BBQ, and a couple of weeks ago, she looked after Aidan so that I could take Sophia to Rainbows and Nathan could be in church.

Coming up: party prep and cake making. We’ve nearly got a five year old!