Weekly Wisdom

Without rest, the soul dies.

The Saturday Update

It's been a mixed old week around here.

We celebrated our friends' wedding on Saturday. It was a beautiful day and we had a great time catching up with friends. Isabella loved playing and dancing - she was a joy to watch.

On Sunday we went swimming with my friend and her little girl and then had lots of family time before we went to a music quiz with my Mum.

Monday was a real family day with three of Isabella's cousins with her at my Dad's house for the day. It was busy but fun. I don't see enough of the little ones so it was nice to be around them.

We travelled back to Germany on Tuesday. It was a long day but good to get back.

On Wednesday I went for my check up - all good there. Then we drove up to Nico's parents'. Isabella is having a holiday there until she goes back to nursery. It was strange driving back without her but she is having a whale of a time and keeping everyone on their toes by all accounts.

We had rather a quiet day on Thursday with a long overdue date night dinner in the evening. I'll be writing more on that later.

Yesterday a colleague called over for some school materials and I got lots of crafting done.

I'm planning on getting lots of housework and gardening done this weekend, having a quiet day on Monday and then getting stuck back in at work on Tuesday with a first aid course.

July Goals Review

I wasn't very specific with my goals this month but I have been working towards them. Here's the progress I've made this month:

• I've been monitoring my water and fruit and veg intake and I was improving before we went to England.
• I've researched local yoga courses and hope to start next week.
• I had a great date night with Nico.
• I've been knitting and crafting more regularly.
• I've started keeping a diary.
• I caught up with friends and family through our visit and letters.

Northumbria

 The Lighthouse at Whitley Bay

As I mentioned, we spent last week in Northumbria.  Here are some photos if you'd like to see.

 Alnwick

 Alnwick

 Alnwick

 Alnwick gardens

 Bamburgh

 Bamburgh Castle

 Bamburgh

 Tynemouth Harbour

 Tynemouth

 Tynemouth

 With Mum on the harbour wall at Tynemouth

 Whitley Bay

 Her first dip in the sea

 Lindesfarne

 Lindesfarne at low tide

 The castle on Lindesfarne

 Lindesfarne

The abbey at Lindesfarne

3 things...

Today I wanted to share three things with you that have been brilliant for Isabella lately.

1. Trunki!

My Dad bought Isabella a trunki for her birthday. It's a little suitcase for kids that fits the hand luggage rules and they can sit on the trunki or pull it along themselves. If you've been through an airport recently, you've probably seen one.

As an added bonus, this one had a matching backback. Between the two, we managed to pack everything she needed for ten days.

It was really handy for us and when we got to England and showed her how she could use it, she fell in love. It's a must for traveling with little ones.

2. Caillou.

This is a Canadian TV series for children and a new favourite in our house. We don't like Isabella to have too much TV time but she's allowed to watch a Youtube video now and then.

Caillou came up as a recommendation and it's about a little boy and his family with lots of little life lessons.

3. Clarice Bean

Browsing through a charity shop in Alnwick, we came across a couple of Clarice Bean books for 29p each and bought them.

Isabella likes the bright pictures even though she doesn't follow the story yet.

The chaotic script really annoyed me, to the point that I let her read them alone. A few days later we got back to my Dad's and he was reading aloud to Isabella and I was in tears laughing. The story is so funny - it took me right back to growing up with my brother and sister.

Especially one line about her brother playing football on her bed and saying it was an accident so she accidently threw his duvet out of the window.

It's worth reading for parental entertainment alone!

Recipe: Courgette Bake

 This is an old recipe but one of our favourites. Since the garden is brimming with courgettes right now, we're rapidly reviewing all of our courgette recipes. Below you can see the first of our huge harvest. We're even having to give some away. I love that we have green and yellow this year.

Make it Monday - Painting

I recently got out the paints again. I'd intended to do a pinwheel painting but it was harder and messier than I thought. In the end I put the idea on hold but I had some blue paint to use up so I did this basic whale for Isabella. It was fun and easy and I'm pleased with the results.