"I swing between procrastination and being really thorough so either way things aren't getting done quickly."

It is the end of the first week of the school summer holiday and I can't believe how many times I've heard parents complaining about the up coming six weeks. In one case a woman at the school last week looked distraught at the concept of having her children at home, it's crazy!

Myself and Mrs M love the holidays, I can't see why anyone would feel differently about spending quality time with the people they brought in to the world.

We had a great first day and really made the most of the start of the holiday and the lush weather. Seth was desperate to put one of his plans into action but first we needed to assess an area before executing his idea. A little bit of investigative adventure was definitely on the cards to kick off our summer of fun so we packed bags full of necessary gear and headed out for a ramble through the forest.

We spent a good hour or so stomping through the woods, climbing hills and chatting about all the things we were going to do over the summer before sitting down for snacks. Seth asked me to set them a challenge so I sent the boys off looking for ten different kinds of leaves. Then we did a little woodland craft, the boys built a miniature cave for bugs and then we all set about building a big tree using sticks, rocks and moss.

After thorough investigation it was time to put Seth's plan into action, we needed some rope. We acquired the rope in no time at all and headed back to the forest to look for a tree to attach it too. When I was little I loved a good rope swing but in all those years, discovering these swings while out with my friends I never actually put one up myself and that is what Seth was desperate to do.

Good old Google helped me out with the best knot to use (I'd be lost without it) and then it was time to find an adequate tree to swing on. The boys loved watching me climb up into the tree's and as with all the little things I do with the boys I felt like I was reliving my youth a little. I made sure that I picked trees I could get up and down easily so that we could take the swing back down again and move our swing around the forest trying new trees.

Seth made it quite clear that although he was having a great time he wanted a little more than the 'Opeie suitable' swings I was putting up. Right next to where we parked there was a swing put up that Seth was desperate to have a go of but he didn't feel safe holding on (and I wouldn't have let him anyway). I didn't want him to miss out though so we found a thick branch, strong enough to take his weight and I tied our rope to it making him a seat. I honestly thought he would chicken out but I've definitely brought up a prop little adventurer.

What an awesome start to the summer holidays. This time of year is the best and I can't wait for many more adventures over these very special weeks, woohoo!!

"Climbing is unadulterated hard labor. The only real pleasure is the satisfaction of going where no man has been before and where few can follow."

Opeie has been so under the weather this weekend so we've barely left the house for the last three days. This afternoon though Opeie decided he wanted a nap late afternoon and me and Seth saw that as a great chance to throw his skateboard and pads in the boot and head over to the park to practise Seth's board skills. I assumed this evenings post was going to be about skateboarding but something else took over this afternoon. We did get a little skate in, but the board and pads soon got left on the floor so that Seth could work on something else...

Since our walk in the woods last week and Seth's failed attempt at climbing a tree he was desperate to give it another try. We were in Ironbridge park and there are some great trees for climbing so it was the perfect spot to give it another go. I loved climbing trees when i was younger so there was no shortage of stories to tell Seth while we climbed from branch to branch. Because of Seth's muscles i need to be so much more careful when doing things like this but as far as I'm concerned as long as he is safe and comfortable i just let him get on with it. Seth always tells me when hes had enough or his legs start to hurt and then he just gets on my back and i carry him to the car. Today we made the most of the time we had just me and him, we can't really do these sorts of things with Opeie at the moment so it was a nice change...

Seth was doing great today but it wasn't long though before he needed to rest his legs so he jumped on my back and we headed back to the car, we hadn't quite had our fill of climbing though so on the way home we made a brief stop at Apley woods to see if our den in the woods was still standing (which shockingly it was) and also to see if there was any trees to shimmy up...

yes the 80's have returned, after our recent visit to see our friends Sam and Jamie sweatbands have become to recent 'must have' with the boys???... Thanks Jamie!

  

we didnt stay long and as we got in the car to head home i recieved a text from Mrs M to let me know that her and Opeie were having a bath (extra adventure time for me and Seth), so we made a slight detour and went investigating in a rapeseed field before heading home for tea, i knew it would be a great chance to get some colourful pictures. It was a great unexpected couple of hours in the sunshine and it was so lovely to hear Seth say 'This is so nice spending a little time just the two of us'.

“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, Nothing is going to get better. It's not.”

Although we put a little aside for the boys where we can and we would never see them go without no matter what age, to me money isn't important, It never has been. Too many people out there obsess about what they have and haven't got and money is the driving force of everything they do. When I was younger we didn't have much money and I've turned out just fine. Although it will be nice to give the boys money towards a house or car etc I think it's so much nicer to be able to give them memories. I do all I can to make sure the boys have got an amazing life to look back on. The blog is part of that, I would have loved something like this to read if I'd have had a happy family life..

I think it's really important for the boys to have things to look back on, photos of family adventures and thoughtful personal gifts and cards that show them just how much they mean to us. Opeie as you know if you're a regular reader is a bit of a bookworm and has been a fan of the Lorax for quite sometime, although he already has the book I thought it would be nice to get him a copy to put aside for when he's older.

While I was having a look on eBay I spotted this eco friendly copy of the book made from 100% recycled paper. I loved the colour scheme and the vintage look so I though it would be a nice edition to add to Opeie's memory box which I have been adding to since before he was born. It's nice for the boys to have books with personal messages in too as books are such a big part of their lives.

I'm going to need something a lot bigger soon for their memory boxes but I know that when they are given to them as adults they are sure to bring back some very happy memories and help them to understand how in love with them I am
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