This week we’ve been preparing for back to school – making the most of the last few days of the summer holidays while getting everything ready for the first day of the new term. I’ve enjoyed having the time over the summer with Sophie and Thomas but having a little bit of me time on their first day back at school was nice too!
It’s Jessica’s birthday today and I’ve been preparing for that too, baking her birthday cake which will be decorated today, ready for a birthday picnic at her forever bed. I wish there were more birthday preparations. She’d have been thirteen now. Another milestone missed. I wonder what teenage Jessica would have been like.
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 243 – I am grateful for a lovely day out at Chessington World of Adventures. We had so much fun and it was especially lovely to bump into friends in the afternoon and spend time with them. Thank you to Halo Children’s Foundation for the tickets.
- Day 244 – I am grateful for a free family day out at Bekonscot thanks to winning the tickets in a raffle earlier this summer.
- Day 245 – I am grateful for reusable water balloons.
- Day 246 – I am grateful for a haircut.
- Day 247 – I am grateful for time burning off some energy at Jump-In.
- Day 248 – I am grateful for all the fun moments we’ve had over the summer holidays and the beautiful memories we’ve made.
- Day 249 – I am grateful for a good first day back at school.
Other things that have made me smile this week:
- Having a go on the organ at church after the service. I normally play the piano for Sunday services but I’d quite like to learn how to play the organ so we can use it occasionally.
- Thomas’s delight at getting to “paint” with water in the garden.
- A fun afternoon on the nets at Go Ape to finish off the summer holidays.
Sounds like it was a good last week of the holidays with lots of fun. Wow, can’t believe Jessica would have been 13, that’s so much time gone. Hope you were able to have some nice memories of her on her birthday. I remember my mum taking me to Bekonscot all those years ago when I was little.
I hope the kids have settled in well at school. It’s lovely having them home but nice to have a bit of time to yourself too.
How lovely that you celebrated Jessica’s birthday with a picnic at her forever bed. Sending love and hugs. x
Lots of preparation but some fun too. I cannot wait for my two to go back to college tomorrow! Wow, Jessica would have been 13. A picnic sounds like a really nice idea xxx
A lovely way to end the summer holidays. Jessica would have been the perfect teenager, a little bit cheeky but still full of joy and love. How could she have been any different. I loved your cake. My Mum used to play the piano and organ, she was a natural and self taught, she could also play an accordion and sing as well. I’m afraid she didn’t pass any of her talent down to me. Back to school is bittersweet, great to get back into routine, but sad that it’s the end of summer. It goes quicker every year.
I’m glad you had a wonderful summer holiday. Lovely to see them go back to school, buzzing with new term excitement, but I always wish it would last just one more week. I hope you have a chance to learn to play the organ. That would be special. Ah, thirteen. Seems to have flown. I’m sure Jessica would have been keeping you on your toes, running her around to all her activities. I didn’t know they had nets at Go Ape. I’ve only seen the rope bridges. Hope you are swishing your hair and enjoying a little bit of extra time this week.
Happy belated 13th birthday since Jessica made you a mum, I’m glad you found a way to mark the day with cake and a picnic at her forever bed.