Update

The kids are getting on really well at school. Amie's joined the chess club as she got bored beating her daddy (think that says more about his level than hers to be fair).
Noah has really surprised me with how well he's coped going to a totally new school in a new town. He's already made some friends with Joshua and Jacob...obviously has a bias for Biblical names such as his own. He gave me a shock on Monday when he swallowed a marble at school. We did end up in A&E at 5am Tuesday morning, but xrays showed it had moved to his large intestines and he was just suffering from cramps. Luckily with the passing of time occured the passing of the marble so we can all relax again.

Our only other bit of news is this:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-35297270.html

Noah's moved down 2 places on the waiting list to go to the same school as Amie since the start of term. It's pretty clear that if we don't buy a house in the school catchment that he may never get in there. So, we've decided to give it a shot and see what happens. Does not help that the house right beside us is also for sale! People may get suspicious.
And I have had a word with the estate agent. I have given longer descriptions to Noah's bowel motions when passing said marble, AND he's put a picture of our hall in twice...not to mention the illogical order of the photos. But at least it's out there and hopefully someone looking to buy it will see it.

The streets of Wokingham were a little busier this week. Scores of mums wandered around aimlessly with slightly dazed expressions on their faces. Finally FREEDOM, after 6 long weeks of summer holidays. Mixed in amongst the crowd there was a special group, made up of mums who had just dropped their child off to their first day of BIG school. The emotional rollercoaster was just about visible behind their tight and fragile smiles. Their bodies are here, wandering around the shops, especially shops with lots of breakable things in.... just because they can..; but their minds and their hearts had been left in the school corridor where they’ve just left their little one. Most of them search each other out and meet for a coffee....because now they can, and because they know that their friend will need the company and the chat.

There is a feeling of pride, mixed with guilt and a little hurt to see your child walk away from you into their new life as a school going child. Sure, it’s great that they are not clutching to your leg and crying like that poor unfortunate child across from you. But should there not be a little more of a backwards glance from them? More acknowledgement on their part of what a monumental step they are taking? Do they not know how lost you feel, leaving them there? There is a sense of losing your purpose, your reason for being almost. You’ve got not little person to look after for the next 6 hours. What are you meant to be doing? Sure there are piles and piles of housework that you could be getting on with... but returning to the too quiet house seems a little too depressing. That’s why the coffee shops and hairdressers of Wokingham are doing brisk business this week!

And while the children slip stream into the education system, and their mums look on from the sidelines... reluctantly, in some cases letting them go.. There will be some who are overcome with a sudden broody feeling. Something they could not imagine a few weeks ago when they would have given their wisdom teeth for 10 minutes peace to drink a cuppa. Being a mum suddenly to two school age children, marks the end of an era...but the beginning also of a time of great excitement, and changing roles. In time the feeling of loss will be replaced with gain... and a relief to have gotten so far, if a little too fast. Though I do realise that I will probably need counselling when they start college :)

Back From Sweden

We've just got back from a lovely trip to stay with friends of ours that live in Sweden... we know them from our pre children days back in Haarlem, so this was a slightly different experiance... but very nice and very fun!

Legoland Windsor

Viking City, Malmo Sweden

On our way to the beach, 5 minutes away from our friends house

At the Tivoli in Denmark... Rich threatens not to go back to Legoland again. There were NO queues! I spent 1hr 15 minutes in a queue with Amie for a ride that lasted 3 minutes the week before at Legoland.... but we live in the UK, not Denmark.

Trip to Ireland

What a fine pair.... and the kids aren't bad either. Amie and Noah get to meet Molly Malone in Dublin's Fair City. Her boobs are shiny because it's customery to give them a rub for luck (apparently).

Amie driving the boat on the Viking Splash Tour. http://www.vikingsplash.ie/. Would definately recommend it, was very informative and great fun. We got to 'be Vikings' and ROOOOAAARRRR at unsuspecting passersby.

Noah got a go too. The children also got called into the cockpit of the airplane when we were flying back to England. So some future career prospects there (though Noah still just wants to be a man when he grows up...I'm all for aiming for achievable goals, but sometimes it's good to stretch yourself).

Ah... Summer in Ireland

But where you have rain you sometimes get rainbows. This picture isn't great as it was taken from the car on the motorway, but it was a complete rainbow... the first I've seen in years.

Feeding the ducks by the canal, Noah almost thowing himself in each time he chucks bread in.

Aw isnt' it cute

Hightlight of Amie's holiday was getting to walk Grandad's dog.

Trunki's were really handy, great that the kids have to carry their own luggage.

Weekend in Cumbria

We had a lovely time visiting Nana and Pa in Cumbria this weekend. It took our mind off the trauma of Noah finishing nursery forever :) Cousins Benjamin and Thomas came up, and the children had a great time. We also snook out to see Harry Potter in the cinema and used up one of our final wedding gifts, with dinner in the Punch Bowl.

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Noah had his first (and only) taster session at his new school this morning. He wanted to wear his uniform in today and looked so cute in it. The session seemed to have gone well, so hopefully he'll be happy to go back in September.

Jessie has found herself a new favourite resting place.. though obviously she still prefares to find a freshly ironed set of clothes if she can (rare find in this house at the moment!).

The two above images sum up the problem with chickens. One minute they're clucking away at you, and the next thing you know they've mistaken your toes for something tasty to eat.

Amie got some seeds a birthday present and we planted them out in the garden not expecting too much from them. For the longest time they looked like weeds, but have really come up nicely now as a bunch of wild flowers (complete with wild animals living in them!)

A lovely suprise this week was Emma making a flying visit to Wokingham. We had the chance to have lunch with her before she went to the airport which was lovely. Looking forward to catching up with her properly next month!