Travels with my children!

We are on our way up to London to see Vicky & Rich and baby Eminny (Emily!) I was at school with Vix,

now she and Rich are Evie's godparents. We saw quite a bit of Vix and Emily (who is actually only a couple of months younger than Sadie) when we lived in Sevenoaks, so I am very excited to see them.

We got up at 5 to get a 7 o'clock ferry. Our usual trick is to get the girls up last minute, dress and feed them on the ferry and then hope they catch up on sleep in the car. Today we have to wide awake girls! Sadie has stripped her shoes and socks, taken arms out of straps, chucked dollies on floor, thrown crayons into untraceable places and generally been a pain. I thought she'd sleep!! I am seriously considering us pulling over and putting Evie in the front and sitting with her as I am spending all my time twisted round with my arm fishing madly behind my seat trying to pick things up for her! And there is a constant whinge soundtrack!! Meanwhile Evie is 'reading' her reading book and colouring in, bless her heart. I put reading in inverted commas as without a mummy or daddy to point at the words she will 'read' the pictures and make up more interesting stories. Certainly 'the little bug climbed on his bed to moon' is more interesting than 'Bob is a bug.' 

Post visit:

A few pics of our fun times :-)

God families are important.

Commuting

In my first teaching post I commuted in Bristol from Clifton Village (still believe we loved on this amazing street! Albeit in a flat 4 floors up. The stairs! Yikes.)

to Whitehall. That involved a trek down the M32, aka the shortest motorway ever (although it doesn't feel like it when you are sat on it for two hours on your way home from work!)

When we lived in London I worked in Camden, and went on a variety of public transport including the tube, the Thames link overland train and smelly London buses from our homes in Cricklewood, and Highgate.

I loved the views on my commute in from Sevenoaks to Camden. 

The lavender fields of Kent (I really miss my home county!)

to the Houses of Parliament,

a bus from Trafalgar Square

and finally arriving in Camden town.

What I didn't like was the hour and a half commute! 

These days I drive twenty minutes from our home in Alverstone to Newport where I teach. My quickest commute. And so beautiful. 

Working

When we first moved to the island I didn't have any work, (other than mothering and having our two god sons two days a week!) 

Then my lovely Donna found me work at her school, on a supply basis, doing (sorely needed) phonics interventions with Year 1 children (5 rising 6) It's been a really positive experience! I was very apprehensive as Donna had not had a particularly happy time there initially. Although I was really worried about Donna in her first term at the school (with good reason!) I do think things are on the up at the school and spirits seem high (certainly Donna seems more her normal self!) I have been working for just a few hours each day which has allowed me to be present for most of Evie's school runs 

and I have still been able to spend quality time with Sadie (although she does seem to have fallen head over heels for her nana - my mum!)

 I think the school have been pleased with my work and Donna asked me if I wanted to teach in reception (4 rising 5) with her in September when her current parallel teacher goes on maternity leave. I have accepted the job on a part time basis and I will be teaching three days a week) I have such mixed feelings about it. So it'll have to be a pros and cons list! 

Pros: 

-Working with Donna (she's amazing, I can't wait to see more of her, she and I have a very similar outlook on early years education)

-Income! On my real pay grade! (Although I doubt it will stop Marc from worrying non-stop!)

-Making more of the time I have off (especially if I can arrange my days well)

-Maybe trying for baby #3 so I can get some mat leave rather than living off our savings? 

-feeling more like I belong on this Island off an island?

-doing something that I once thought I was quite good at. 

-keeping a hand in with my career. These girlies will one day up and leave me so it will be good to have something to bury myself in when empty-nest syndrome kicks in. 

Cons:

-working. Working is definaty a con

-being away from my Sadie Lu and missing out on drop off /pick up.

-sucking. A nagging worry at the back of my head! What if I majorly disappoint these people who think I am going to be good addition to their team?

 -working with Donna... I know this was a pro too but I am so worried about what potential harm this could do to our friendship. 

But regardless of this list, I will be doing the job and I am just going to have to try hard to balance life properly, and work as hard as I can when I am in school. Sigh, I am exhausted just thinking of it!

Partied out

My lovely girls have had a busy party weekend. Evie was invited to two parties on Saturday, and our littlest godson Ollie had his birthday tea party today. 

Our first party on Saturday was a sweet little girls 5th birthday at a holiday park. Evie was very impressed with the Princess Sofia birthday cake and enjoyed sitting at restaurant tables with her little friends. 

I still worry about whether she is happy at her school and if we made the right choice for her. I hope she feels settled and as though she belongs. 

In the afternoon we went to a friends farm for another little classmates party. Nathaniel's had a treasure hung and messy outdoor games, and Evie seemed much happier and more relaxed. 

She really enjoyed being on the winning team for tug of war! 

This is a winners dance in case you can't tell! We stayed after the party to have some supper with the little host's family and a few other parents while the kids watched a DVD. I think this was a case of us feeling like we want to belong! The girl enjoyed playing with their friends although I think Evie felt a little overwhelmed by all the rambunctious little boys! Sadie thought Nathaniel was just wonderful! 

Today was more low key for Oliver's second birthday. We headed over to Donna and Brian's after church to enjoy sandwiches and a gorgeous tractor cake made by Donna herself (chief birthday cake maker!) sweet Oliver was excited t blow out his candles and open gifts 

I think Sadie was most impressed with our gift to him! 

You can only marry someone you really truly love

Evie called Dylan her husband today. She told me today 'you can only marry someone you really truly love, that's why I'm married to him.

Evie met Dylan 4 years ago, when she was 7 months old. He was less than a day old. I had been with his mummy, my friend Donna, through a long hard labour and delivery and my husband snuck baby Evie into the antenatal ward at The Royal Free in Hampstead to meet her god brother for the first time.

They are two very different souls, but love each other so much. In so many ways they are like siblings, having grown up so closely intertwined.

They play together for hours,  intricate games with twisting storylines, characterised by loud, urgent voices and high drama. It's hard not to laugh, but they take it very seriously!

They also argue like siblings, and know exactly which buttons to push to antagonise each other. 

They became a big brother and big sister at around the same time. I like to think they helped eachother through that transition. 

 My heart is gladdened to see them able to spend such a lot of time together now we have all moved to the island, another huge change made far easier by eachother's presence.

I am realistic enough to know that their friendship may not last in the way that it is now, but I hope they will always love and look out for eachother. 

Day 1

I think I might want to blog. I am not sure why other than loving reading other peoples blogs (99% American!) and have got so much good advice and support (non-directly!) from doing so! I don't know who would want to read any blog I wrote, and I would be mortified if anyone I knew read it (truly, boneshakingly mortified!) 

Anyway, my lovely little girls have trotted off with their daddy on the school run.

Evie was excited to be in Mufti today rather than school uniform but Sadie was very upset for reasons unknown.

I think she struggles with Sissy leaving her and the hustle and bustle of being thrust in and out of her car seat. She's a determined little character and doesn't like being forced into anything she doesn't choose for herself! It's a challenging season. I am about to head off to school myself, for a busy day of phonics interventions with some lovely Year 1 children. I can't believe my baby will be in Year 1 in September. She is so looking forward to being 5 but as it is still 5 months away I am clinging to 4 as long as possible.