Our Month - July 2021

If last month's round up was late, then there was no doubt that July's was going to be late too. We're currently well into the swing of the summer holidays, and of course June 7th marked 'freedom day' (not exactly freedom, but all restrictions on masks are gone, numbers aren't limited anymore, and we can basically see and do what we want - except travel overseas freely). So with that comes relatively normal life and the hecticness (definitely not a word) that comes with it.

The first few weeks of July were just a muddle of getting through school and weekend clubs. I still can't believe we managed to get to the end of term without Indiana and Parker having to isolate. Unfortunately poor Lilah didn't fare so well, and she ended up having to isolate for a few days due to a case in her preschool. We were all okay though which is the main thing! The big two got to go on school trips, they actually had sports day (although we couldn't watch), and the last days of terms were definitely emotional after another crazy school year. They all came home with wonderful school reports too which was the icing on top of the cake.

The weather continued to be a rollercoaster in July too. A heatwave hit for a few days, so we survived on ice creams and hiding in front of fans. I do love having the sun around, but it's definitely no fun when the house feels like a sauna and no one can sleep properly is it? We actually celebrated Parker's 6th birthday party during a super hot day too. 16 super sticky and sweaty 6 year olds running around at a Nerf party was lovely to watch, but not something I wish to repeat anytime soon!

We had a really fun PR experience in July when we worked with PGL reviewing their new Family Adventures Days. We've never actually done anything like it with the littles before and I actually surprised myself with how much I enjoyed myself. We did rock climbing, archery, a giant swing and a zipwire. The harnesses were crazy uncomfortable, but they were worth it to see the smiles on the big twos faces as they whizzed through the air.

We ended the month with something I didn't think would actually happen this year - our delayed family holiday to The New Forest! We stayed in the Milton-on-Sea area and managed to explore so many lovely places (despite the rain that of course arrived the week we went away). We had the yummiest ice creams in Lymington - a place Jack and I actually visited on our Babymoon with Lilah 4 years ago! Went crabbing in Mudeford Quay, before Lilah ended up fully clothed in the sea and the rest of us got soaked trying to save her. One of our best days was when we went to Moors Valley Country Park - very similar to Bedgebury we have here, but 100x better and much more fun. And if you ask the little's what their favourite day of the week was, I can guarantee you it was the day we surprised them with a trip to Paulton's Park / Peppa Pig World!

Of course we've written up our summer holidays bucket list for the rest of the holidays ahead - although I'm already wishing I added 'mummy and daddy relax in a hammock at the beach' already! But so far the weeks seem to be flying by and I'm not sure I'm ready to think about back to school just yet.

This is a collaborative post.