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Spring has sprung


Busy few weeks! No blog last weekend as we were proudly supporting Kerrie running her first marathon - the one we almost all ran but in the end relied on Kerrie to run for us all and boy did she do us proud! Despite being pretty nervous beforehand she had a massive smile on her face all the way round and finished in a brilliant 4:31, bang on her target time. She suffered in the last few miles - I ran with her for a few hundred yards at mile 22 and she was willing it to be done, but she still made it over the line at a jog and even then was smiling - what a result. I can't believe how far she has come, both in her running and in her attitude - little would we have thought she could or would have achieved this even a few years ago. We headed out for a big meal to celebrate Kerrie's run and mine and Ashley's birthdays that evening and it's very clear she all grown up now.

While Kerrie ran we ate and walked our way around Barcelona with a few glasses of Rose to see us on our way. We certainly ate well, and had more to drink than we have for a while, but by most people's standards it was a pretty reserved affair - just how we like it these days, I'm happy to say that I'm far to precious about my time off to ruin it with a hangover these days.

On Monday we headed down to breakfast in the hotel to be greeted with 2 waiters, cake and champagne - clearly my birthday was on the system from check in. Not what I expected but very nice all the same to have a little mini celebration. I had to make the most of it - having been away I didn't even get a card from the girls - but I got lots of cuddles on arriving home and that's what matters.

This week has been a departure from the norm as I started the first of 3 development modules for my Grad certificate in Organsiational Development. I was at Roffey Park which was a lovely setting for 3 days of reflection and conversation amongst like minded people. This felt very indulgent, but I'm paying for it myself so that's ok. I came back feeling like I haven't seen much of the girls for a while so it was very good to be home - that's always the nicest bit of being away!

Today we have mostly been reorganising the girls rooms Every so often that they get it into their heads that their rooms need changing (I get this completely!) and so we have to work through the limited options of how their beds can go so that everything gets a new place. We did Abi's room first, and then went into Izzy's, who just wanted her bed with its head next to Abi's so that they are close at night time. As we drove Izzy to a party today Abi was chatting away and saying that she likes the fact that they are close, even if they don't admit it always at school, When I asked why she said "it's not cool", but then added "But I think it is lovely to be close" - I hope that lasts. 

I also hope that we hear Izzy chit chatting away to herself for as long as possible. She's obviously the baby of our family but they are both growing up so fast. I love to hear Izzy in the bath as she was tonight - I often remake the beds on a Sunday evening while she plays happily in the bath, chatting away to herself, complete nonsense most of the time, singing, laughing and happy in her own little world - may that last for as long as possible, my little sunshine baby.

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