Sunday Update - it's getting hot in here, photo updates of the weekend adventures with Optimistic Elisabeth and RachelinWales

People... it's getting hot.  I am a bit dread-ful (living in dread??) of the next 4 days.  The UK is NOT a hot weather country, we are not a hot weather family... and 35c (95f) is inhumanly hot in a country with no air conditioning.  Eek.

Right now it's 26c/79f and this is my currently:

Water play.  I guess one nice thing about living in a forever wet country is at least we have a lot of water to use when it gets hot!

This weekend has been BUSY.  It's fathers day today and Andy had three goals

1. Go to the beach

2. Go for a solstice bike ride

3. Have a firepit/roast marshmallows.

Yesterday we did have an evening firepit and roasted marshmallows.  Fun fact, marshmallows in the UK are awful.  Maybe all marshmallows are awful, but my mom is bringing some "real" marshmallow (Kraft brand) soon so I can compare and contrast.

Normally I find fire pits immensely stressful because small children and fire is an immensely stressful combo.  But this time I had visiting teenager (Belle) to help, and once again I realize that a teenager is the answer to all my child management concerns

Belle ran twin bedtime AGAIN, which was good because the more lenient parent let the big kids stay up until 8pm.

As an aside: I was recently listening to The Girl Next Door podcast and they had an episode about being Not Fun Moms and I am a Not Fun Mom in lots of ways too.  For instance, I am a bedtime mom.  Get to bed.  At bedtime.  Always.

Big kids stayed up until nearly 9 and then had swim lessons this morning and we all met at the park after. On the way home we had a CATASTROPHIC kid meltdown over who sat where in the car and then certain kids proceed to be too tired to function.  We stopped by a friend for a quick play date (because when your kids are a mess you should lump them on other people?!) and Andy decided afternoon beach was not a good idea. 

I think he should be able to make his bike ride, and beach has been postponed for the future.  Not Fun Mom Rachel is not sad about this.

FYI, I am Sometimes a Fun Mom! Look at this snack I made today.  Fun!

Other weekend adventures included:

Visiting St. Fagan's Open Air Museum with the Optimistic family:

Indy is a playground user extraordinaire, Ezra and Lily are in awe:

We also went to an afternoon tea, where Lily almost fell asleep after eating 3 scones and 5 ham sandwiches:

It was a busy and fun weekend. 

FYI, this blog post is courtesy of the fact that a 5 year old girl can entertain 2 year old twins for almost 20 minutes!   What a treat.

Aubrey has also sorted Clara's shower, which is so helpful

Are you a Not Fun Mom?  Is it time to abandon the UK for a better climate?  Elisabeth has been doing a soft sell on Nova Scotia and I'm pretty ready to move to Canada now...