Daddy and his lads

Jonah turns one!

A little sanctuary

Perfect baby sets with Joules

Little explory legs!

Raising Those Rascals

Glorious evening

There is nothing like a calm, serene sunset to summon the close of day. The other evening I was struck by how insanely beautiful the world looked as the sun began to descend over the horizon. This peace came over me as I stopped to appreciate the changing light and the glorious golden rays filling the countryside as far as the eye could see.

I have always found being outside in the countryside one of the best ways to relax my mind and de-stress. The air, the sounds, the gentle buzz of life all around. It's such balm for the soul, isn't it?

I sometimes recognise in myself that I get 'trapped inside', even if it is simply because there are household tasks that need to be completed. It's so easy for a whole day to pass and you realise you've barely stopped, let alone managed to get so much as a foot outside! Some days that's just the way it goes, but I know how much better I do feel when i've had time to get out. We are so fortunate to have a beautiful space around us to really take advantage of the countryside and so making the most of it is something I try to really encourage our family in. 

It can begin to feel like a battle to keep the tv off during the day, to not be staring at screens of some sort and to really live in the present moment away from the distractions of social media. For me, the countryside is always such a wonderful antidote to these things and I really hope that I can persevere to bring our boys up favouring muddy puddles and windy walks over the indoors!

When was the last time you really stopped to take in the views?

Love,

Sweet spring lips!

Lent for dummies!

 I sometimes think that the way Lent plays out in our home would read to a stranger like a 'Lent for dummies' edition! We really try but at the best of times our plans are thwarted and so often we feel back to square one! 

 For us as Catholics, we regard Lent as an opportunity to have a spiritual 'spring clean.'  It's a time when we focus on our faith and drawing closer to God through prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

 When I was single, this seemed SO easy to do. I was totally in control of how I would spend these weeks. I could fast from junk food, get to church frequently, read my Bible in peace and ultimately feel that yes, I was having a very 'successful' Lent, thank you very much!

Now the way Lent plays out is an entirely different matter. Take today for example: hubbs and I decided to go for a three mile walk with the kiddos, specifically to talk about problems and pray together for clarity and direction. Sounds like time well spent? Did I mention our company? Apparently praying was not on Noah's agenda right there and then, and so our time was happily interrupted and distracted. 

It's a totally different ball game getting through Lent with children. I find myself learning more and more that 'feelings' are not the measure of success at all. Whilst at the time I 'felt' disheartened that we had only managed a couple of prayers, after we made it home I knew that actually it was a success story and in a way, more of a heartfelt attempt than passing up a slice of cake would be.

As a family we now look upon Lent with an approach of 'taking each day as it comes' as opposed to charging in with a strict 40 days and 40 nights commitment. To some, that may seem soft, but to us it's extremely beneficial. We spend far less time worrying about where we've fallen and broken our fasts and more time spontaneously finding opportunities to draw closer to God. Whether by reading the children's bible as a family, talking about church around the dinner table, or simply having quiet peaceful time in the home and a chance to reflect.

My children are my constant reminder that God doesn't count my prayers on a tally sheet, He is infinitely more interested in the heart that offered them.

I don't know what your plans for Lent are, or even if you partake at all. However, I love hearing about how other families navigate it with their littles- do feel free to leave comments and tips below!

Love,

Half term style with Joules!

Celebrating Spring with Laura Ashley

Mother of boys

I have to say, if there was one choice of footwear that I had to commit to for the rest of my life, without any hesitation it would be these: my beaten up, well worn, seven year old Converse! Yes, they are that old! These are my one and only pair of Converse and these have stood the test of just about everything- that is why they have gained my respect over the years. I don't know how these shoes are manufactured but they last in a way that just surpasses my expectations time and time again. 

When Noah came into our lives these already had a good bit of wear on them, but when Noah began charging around the home they quickly became my choice of shoe for the everyday. Comfortable, stylish and keeping me young, Converse know how to make a mother of boys feel fashionable, (even if the rest of me is a mess and my hair hasn't seen so much as a comb all day!)

 I also love how well these wash, making them really easy to keep clean, hygienic and ready to slip on for the next adventure our day brings. For me, quality can only be judged after considerable time. It's easy to buy something new and think, wow, how beautiful does that look?! But actually, if it still wears as well SEVEN years later, then yeah, you struck gold!

As a mother of boys, I have come to realise that it isn't red bull that gives you wings...it's definitely Converse!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend,

Love,

A moment to recharge...

I had a rather special day yesterday which I wanted to share with you. It was just supposed to be another weekly business trip for my husband Eddy, until we decided to merge it with a little adventure of our own.

The other night as I cradled Jonah in the small hours, I realised that it had been well over a year since I had had a full night’s sleep and in fact, I had never been away from Jonah for more than a few hours. I also realised that over the months I had been really starting to feel this constant fatigue and wondering why, oh why our little bundle of joy was still not sleeping through the night…at nearly a year old!

When you have small ones to care for, everything you do is entirely centered around your babes. From the moment you wake, to the moment your head hits the pillow, no decision is made without factoring in the needs of your children. Honestly, it’s one of the most fulfilling and beautiful relationships I’ve ever had, but never to be confused with easy!

I love being a full time mummy and I am so grateful to my husband that I am able to stay at home with the children and together, witness all their  little (and big) milestones. However, i’ll be the first to admit that there has to be balance too. The more I care for my children, the more I realise the importance of keeping our marriage strong and healthy; making time for it and spending quality time together. 

So yesterday, we decided to mix a business trip with a little fun of our own. We stayed the night in Portsmouth in a local b&b where, after experiencing a heavenly full night’s sleep, we awoke to a peaceful breakfast and quiet all around us. 

Of course, it’s such a catch 22- I spent the whole time worrying and missing my boys but I knew it was important for us to make time for each other and so we decided to spend the morning perusing around the place we used to live, talking to each other, grabbing coffee (just because we could!) And really reconnecting with each other, without any interruptions, tears or tantrums from our tinies.

For me, it was just the perfect amount of time to recharge my ‘mummy batteries.’ I didn’t really realise how much I needed to top up my energy levels and also clear my head. As we settled into our b&b for the night, I had such a sense of peace that I had forgotten, or at least not appreciated in such a long time. Mums, you understand that with small ones, you spend a lot of time being touched by them, poked, prodded, cuddled and rugby tackled! Whilst I love having their sweet arms around my neck, there was something so wonderful about having a break for just one night. Having my physical space that wasn’t invaded and time to just sit still and say my prayers uninterrupted. 

One of our resolutions for this year is to try and find a better balance to enable our marriage to flourish and grow. Between running a business and keeping up with toddler routines, I know firsthand how easy it is to let things slip. Before you know it, a few days have passed and you feel as though you’ve barely caught up with each other. We’re lucky in that we have family close by and so we are able to ask for help with the children when we really feel things slipping! However, making time for your marriage definitely doesn’t always have to involve nights away and expensive dining at restaurants. When we can’t go out on an evening, putting the children to bed a little early, turning our phones to silent and having a ‘date night’ at home can be a great way to get that time in as a couple!

And now I am back home, surrounded by my loves and having had a chance to catch up on myself, I feel revived and ready to be the best mother I can to them!

Love,

Something special this Valentines day with Cheerz