Grandchildren, Grandchildren, Grandchildren

Now I did warn you if you have a terror of children then don't go any further and tune in next week! This last weekend I had the amazing privilege of having ALL four grandchildren at the same time - with their mummies and daddies too. This is the first time since they were babies that the cousins have been together. I could hardly wait to watch how 24 month old twins and 25 month old Rowan interacted along with 8 month old baby.

First picture - the twins just arrived early Saturday morning. Note Rowan still in his jim jams! He's eyeing them up suspiciously! To be honest they were not bothered about each other - until it came to sharing some of the toys. The biggest causes of trouble was mainly a toy shopping trolley followed by the slide.

The girlies love flowers and I think this is Sophie pulling up the dandelions.

We all went off to Abbey Park but oh it is such a long walk around to get to the swing area for the small ones! Think frustration is going though this ones little mind - will I ever get there, I can see the swings!

Ayla not too sure about the swing, unlike her brother who at her age adored being pushed high. Don't you just love her outfit?

Now I don't have too many pictures of the twins at the park as the timing was all wrong and they had to go back early as the girls needed a sleep.

I know it's not the best picture but just loved the smile. This is Karis - she's the more adventurous twin. It's fascinating trying to see the different personalities rather than seeing them as the same child.

This was their favourite ride. They were so funny as they suddenly got upset - grandad thought they wanted to come off. He lifted one of the girls off the ride but the cries got louder. He had to be told that they were crying because the ride had slowed down, in order for a child to come off and this was what was making them cross! They wanted the ride to be continually fast!

Sadly Rowan and Ayla were full of cold. It was at this point in time that the twins went home and I helped them back to the car but when I walked the long walk back to Rowan I was greeted with a lovely cuddle.

OK there seems to be a gap between pictures to the next morning! I'm guessing it was because once we got home I was busy cooking the chilli con carne. Oops which ended up being too chillified! So I then had to recreate a new one for the children! Then by the time the grandchildren went to bed we all looked exhausted!  A new series of Dr Who started and we recorded it so that we could watch it once they were all soundly asleep. But you should have seen us adults! Think we too should have gone to bed. To be honest it wasn't that long before we did go!

Oh breakfast time was entertaining! Think Sunday the grandchildren became more aware of each other. Here Rowan is fascinated by one of the girls. Now Rowan and Ayla adore their food whereas the girls appear to see eating as more of a chore or a game?

Here is Sophie trying to feed her feet! Or is it a weetabix foot massage?

Ayla enjoying her weetabix! She was not up in time and lost her highchair to her brother!

I know for sure this is Karis as her sister is not too sure about the slide. Note the dress was made by their aunty - who just makes me sick at times as she is so talented. Whatever she decides to make always comes out lovely. So she has only just started making clothes and makes both the girls a dress for their birthday. Grrrrrrr dead jealous of her skills.

Rowan ready for church. I love his jumper.

Sophie enjoying having the trolley. I could always tell who had last played with the trolley by the contents inside! Rowan would fill it with cars!

I opted to stay at home and prepare the dinner for the masses!

Oh it was such fun to see the grandchildrens' faces as I placed the dishes onto the mats. Rowan in particular was saying "Wow".

All was quite civilised until it came to the chocolate pudding!

Ayla adored the chocolate - think it was possibly her first taste of chocolate!

Some children had to have a bath after dinner.

A little bit of Mozart!

Then it was time to head out for Knighton Park.

Ayla doing the swing in a very relaxed style!

It wasn't too long after this picture that she looked like this....

Looking sooooo cute with her fingers finally fallen out of her mouth!

Girls enjoying their roundabouts!

All three on the see saw.

Having fun inside the train.

Playing in the sand. We forgot to take the buckets and spades. Rather bizarrely the park was filled with three other sets of twins!

Sophie and Rowan loved playing in the sand but Karis was not so happy - she didn't want to have sand on her hands!

Time for home, tea and for their own homes. Oh how I had a lovely time with my grandchildren. I am so blessed with such an amazing family.

Thank you for popping by. Hope you all have a good week. I have no idea what I shall be blogging about next week!? But that's the excitement about life - you never know!

Nice Murder Knitter Is Back!

Golly it feels like I've been away forever from Blog Land. Can't believe it was only three weeks ago I was beginning my two week holiday in France.

Farewell Dover - hello Calais. Have to admit to being rather nervous as to whether we would incur any problems travelling but there were no hitches. Even the sea was calm. 

Spent the first night in Albert and got up to torrential rain. Fortunately by the time we had spent the day driving south to the Dordogne Valley we saw the end of the rain. Just some problems with really strong wind which saw another part of our car decor decide to remove itself! Our car is wonderful except the trims - they have a will of their own! But we did observe other Citroen C4s' with similar problems. Now the plan was to spend one week in Dordogne and then move over to the coast but this never happened. We had such a great time discovering the Dordogne and Lot Valleys.

Breakfast is Mr P's favourite meal whilst on holiday - coffee, croissant, baguette with nutella or jam, along with yogurts and fruit juice. This is the only time I eat nutella - isn't it strange how we do things so differently on hols.

This was the view from Beynac. Note the many canoes - popular activity to hire one for the day.

Our days took on a familiar pattern of going out in the mornings and then coming back mid afternoon to laze by the pool. Here is Mr P trying to complete another Times cryptic crossword. I occasionally can guess one word - I have no idea how he does them. His brain is wired up differently from my nut sized one!

Just look at all my bags! Mr P fell about laughing at the size of my wool bag. Well I've started a new crochet project and it requires ALL this wool. I was hoping that I would be able to take just a few colours out each day, but no it doesn't quite work out like that. So I did end up buying some washing pegs and attaching smaller quantites to the pegs instead of carrying that huge bag! I am crocheting Attic 24 Harmony Blanket. Also in another bag is a knitting project. ANOTHER shawl - girl just can't have enough! But this project has a rather intricate lacy edging which requires me to use my brain so it was good to have both projects on the go - Monarch Butterfly Shawl.

Days were filled with delicious coffees.

Visit to Padirac Cave. This was probably the highlight of the holiday.

Delicious food.

Having time to be together, just talking under the night sky, with the owl for company - oh and the red wine!

Visiting numerous beautiful old villages.

Stopping to admire the sunflowers.

Mooching around Castelnaud. Had the most amazing arranges of armoury.

As we are driving we came across this lovely walk, along a valley to Chatea des Anglais, which overlooks the beautiful village of Autoire.

Now my children would have been very proud of us as we found in the ruins of the chateau a geocache.

We added a business card and some English money. There was not much in this box!

Enjoying wild figs.

Spotting gorgeous butterflies - swallowtail.

Ducks and geese were a common sight as we were driving around. Don't like to say this, especially when one of the few words my grandchildren can say is "duck" - we ate quite a few too! Have to be honest and say I couldn't bring myself to eat Pate de foie gras

The other product that is grown in an abundance walnuts. Golly we didn't appreciate that there are sooo many different varieties.

We had a wonderful two weeks. Enjoying the exploring, time together, relaxing etc and finally on the last night I got some mussels! As we were then by the coast, ready to catch the morning ferry from St Malo.

Thank you for popping by - hopefully I haven't bored you too much. I have to say I took over a thousand pictures!

Speak to you all next week - warning it will be covered in baby pictures! As we have all four grandchildren coming to stay for the weekend.