Really busy couple of days, all chores complete and children’s wardrobes are packed full of nicely ironed clothes! Dog successful walked and, for once, no attempted homicides on the local population of small dogs and furry felines. Success.

Now busy sorting myself out for a quick trip to Northern Ireland to celebrate my mum’s 80th Birthday on Saturday. Should be good as my brother and two sisters will also be there, and it will be nice to catch up with everyone.

The past couple of days with my children have been a real pleasure, even though we really didn’t do that much.

I got to say Good Morning to them at the start of each day (or in the case of the two boys Good Afternoon as apparently mornings no longer exist in their world!). and Good Night at the end of them, nothing amazing but to me a joy.

I love sitting down to meals together, just chatting and messing around until eventually we are all laughing at nothing in particular. It makes me happy to see them happy and for us to once again be a family unit, even if it’s just for the briefest time. That feeling is priceless.

Tuesday night myself and my daughter sat in the living room messing around making stupid slo mo videos of us blowing raspberries, utterly childish, but to the two of us hysterical. My daughter blows a mean raspberry!

We finished that evening by creating imovies, it was great going back through all our photos, laughing at just how much they have grown, how time has shaped them on their journey from childhood to teenager and, in regard to my eldest son, to adulthood.

We can’t bank time, but if we could, how marvellous it would be to be able to draw some out and go back to their early childhood times again, when they were still wide eyed and innocent about the marvels of the world.

I miss those innocent days, those snuggled down bedtime story nights, little hands holding onto yours wherever we went, piggy back rides, play parks and an unfailing belief in all things mystical, Father Christmas, Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy.

They grow so fast and before you know it, their belief in the above falters, bedtime stories are no longer required and holding hands becomes an embarrassment! It’s hard watching their childhood slip away, but at the same time you are proud of who they are becoming, of their own personal growth as they establish their place in the world.

I hope they all find their own happy as they make their way through life, that they never let go of their dreams, that they come to understand that money is not the be all and end all that at times it may appear to be.

Whatever your dreams are go chase them, you are never to old and never let anybody tell you otherwise.

Love and hugs

Els xx