Sarah – Page 58

Sarah February 28, 2013

Dear Winter #oneweek

Dear winter,

I cannot do this anymore, I have to come out and tell the truth. I have been faking it for too long. Smiling as we pass by in the street, giggling at the watery sunshine that you throw into the sky. All relationships change, evolve and adjust. This has been coming for some time. Yes I got caught up in the romance, enjoyed the sweet cosy evenings, staring at each other over a hot chocolate and snuggling up under a blanket. The sparkly lights, the puddings, the snow days.

The truth is, and you may already have a hunch about this, that i have changed. We have changed. Its not you, its me…

well..its them.

There is someone else…

i know…im sorry.

Not just one either. Its all their fault really…

They make me hate you winter. They make me wish you right past and into spring. They make me curse your sharp winds and delicate frost glistening in the low morning light.

They are demanding, needy. The gloves, the hats, the scarfs.

Then they won’t wear their coats, they want to wear crocs when you are shivering out your worst.

They they loose things, winter…they loose the things we both know they need. They leave them places and they don’t care.

The slide like crazy newborn animals on your icy puddles, then they wail out when they fall. They suck their lips till they are chapped and then squeal in horror at lip salve. Worst of all, winter. They get into my bed and put their FREEZING feet on my legs. There are some things that can push you over the edge you know…

And winter, you don’t come alone. oh no….you bring your friends, the endless snotty noses, barking coughs and runny eyes. Ive thought for some time now as well that, that everso unsavoury friend of yours that skulks along in your wake, the stomach bug, really does you no favours. I would ditch him to be honest.

So the time has come for us to go our separate ways. Its that time, time to let go.

It was fun for while, the whirring of the boiler in the morning, the porridge and honey, seeing your breath.

But. Now. Well its not so much fun.

Lets not have regrets, lets not look back.

I have a funny feeling we will meet again 🙂

kind regards,

Sarah

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Sarah February 27, 2013

#oneweek. Winter birthdays…

Out of the five kids that i have only 2 of them were born outside of three weeks in Sept/October. Those two were born within a month of each other in the winter months of December and January. When i write it like that makes it look like our family planning isnt as unplanned as i always thought…..lol

One of those birthdays is just a few days after christmas and so sometimes its always a struggle to work out what to do. This year we opted for a ‘theme’ party and we went for a creepy crawly show and going out for tea, as they say round here. I think she had a pretty good day.

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Sarah February 26, 2013

talking of holidays…winter snow fun! #oneweek

This week i am linking in with the very lovely older mum in a muddle and her #oneweek meme. I have also done her link in the summer and the autumn. Its great to focus on some good and great parts of the season. I really enjoy it. After yesterday and my moaning about the weather..i thought i would focus on some nice aspects of the winter and the things that i love about it.

I think one of the first things my OH and i spoke about when we met in a little wine bar all those years ago was a mutual love of the mountains and snowsports. Our views have divided somewhat into him being a wild, and gnarly ‘ill snowboard all day and ride the hardest slopes till i collapse in a heap’ type and me more of a ‘ill have a little morning jaunt to the slopes and then relax in my chalet in front of the fire’ 🙂 I guess when we were in the very little baby stage we never really thought it would be possible to take the kids but then…

The first time we ever thought that skiing could be a family holiday was one snowy day on a hill just outside of the town. It was just after christmas and there was a couple of snow days.

We had missed the opportunity to buy a sledge and every.single.one for sale in the city had gone and we had some very disappointed kids on our hands. We learned that bin lids don’t slide well, neither do bin liners, plastic bags, trays or old bits of wood. Wrecking our brains we suddenly remembered our snowboards lying dormant in the loft since our honeymoon. We got them out, took off the bindings and sat the kids on them and watched the fun unfold. You know even a loftballed, unwaxed snowboard goes way faster than any sledge! They were a hit!

The OH and i exchanged a look ‘they are ready!’

So we embarked on what was the first of our two skiing holidays to France. The kids LOVED it. They picked it up so quickly it was enviable really and are still very proud of their e’cole du ski badges. We havent managed to go this year or last. Skiing holidays are so expensive and actually for a holiday for such a large family that are not on a super duper high roller budget it can be a struggle.

It worked well for us too as my OH got to have a gnarly off-piste day with a pro-snowboarder and i got my sun and mountains..and dusted off the snowboarding legs again. Just a little bit mind 😉

Its all good. Snow + Sun + Mountains + Apres Ski = a great way to enjoy the winter!!

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Sarah February 25, 2013

Oh its a jolly holiday…

The winter makes me wish for a holiday. Especially this month. February is a difficult month i think as the weather seems to never know what to do. We have had warm, sunny days when the daffodils are out and acting all spring like and then its baltic freezing winds that cut through you like a knife. I can just do without it.

So i start thinking holidays….hmmmm…warm…sunshine, flip flops, vest tops and that lingering smell of suncream.

This time of year we start talking about our holiday plans..holidaying with 5 kids isnt exactly easy or cheap but its nice to get away and try and have a break..(although break isnt always how it feels!). For me, its a balancing act. We need to keep it within a reasonable budget but sitting on a beach in summer wearing your jumper and a rain mac is not my idea of a summer break. Which largely rules out this country. I know that the kids don’t need the heat though, they just dont feel the cold in the same way. But then they aren’t spending two hours paddling, ankle deep in an outdoor pool with a swift breeze blowing round your swimming costumed self.

Opt for outside this country and you are looking a LONG drive or flying and that just bumps up your price. Oh yeah you can fly on those super cheap fares but we ALL know that they never stay super cheap. Adding taxes for standing in the airport, food on the plane even going to the loo on the plane. It all gets pretty steep!!

So what do you do and where do you go? What has worked well for you and your family in the past or where are you planning this year?

This week I am lucky enough to have another LUSH cosmetics giveaway.

The winner of last weeks treat box from the lovely LUSH is: Anna Emslie. Congratulations! Please get in touch!

So this week it is another box of their shiny, happy goodness could be winging its way to you, maybe as a little mother’s day gift or just a treat. Just fill in the rafflecopter below!. Thanks so much and don’t forget to check out the lovely ladies I am linking up with this week!