Reasons to be Cheerful Week 35 #R2BC

It's amazing how time flies and this is the last R2BC of the summer holidays! Still plenty to be cheerful about even if I am back at work on Monday...
1) Family
We have had family staying up in Kendal for the bank holiday weekend. We only see them about once a year due to the distance and everyone's commitments but my children and I have loved spending time with them:

We have had lots of fun with them including a trip to Sizergh Castle:

And one to Cartmel Races as well as just spending time with them! Hope its not so long until we see them again.
2) Summer
Its been a really nice week weather wise until today. We have had so much sunshine that the sun tan cream has had to come out again:

3) Operation House
So its not been major improvements but I can see a difference in certain key spots:

• The laundry backlog has finally been tackled so there aren't baskets of clothes all over my room. 
• I have re-organised and reduced the contents of the airing cupboard so its easy to use
• The downstairs bathroom has had all the stuff my kids' had dumped in there removed so its now presentable
• I have dug out the kitchen table from underneath all the various craft projects and clutter that seem to migrate there so we can all sit and eat in comfort again

Now I just need that car boot sale to get shot of all the stuff we have decluttered from each room so far..

Reasons to be Cheerful: Second last week of term! #R2BC

Well its that time of the week again to join in with Michelle and think about what is making us happy this week. Thought I'd be a bit different and I've made a little video with some photo highlights from this week with my daughter's singing group providing the sound track:

What is making you smile this week?

Reasons to be Cheerful Week 22 - Half term fun #R2BC

Whilst Michelle has been enjoying Butlins (not jealous much!) we have been having a really fun time staying at home! So many reasons to smile:
1) A taste of summer
It seems to have gone again but Saturday and Sunday were hot and sunny and we made the most of it. I've already written about what we got up to earlier on the blog but this photo sums it up:

  2) Fun with friends
Family friends that are more like family than friends have been staying up here this week. The children are similar ages to mine so we have been out and about showing them so of the places we love. I have already blogged about Keswick which was fun despite the drizzle! Yesterday we went to Brockhole:

  We had fun in the adventure playground, playing crazy golf and enjoying the indoor soft play. 
Today we went to Wray Castle which is being renovated by the National Trust after decades of use by government and commercial organisations. This was my first proper visit so I will have to dedicate a whole post to it! Just as a taster:

Victorian Mock Gothic

Indoor fun

Outdoor Fun

3) Winners!
My mum entered a competition in the local paper and won herself 2 free goes on the brand new 10 m high climbing wall at Tree Top Trek at Brockhole. It officially opens on June 2nd and the climbs will be on that day. She has kindly decided that it would be better for my daughter and I to partake *gulp* so I will have to over come my fear of heights and inability to scale a climbing wall! Watch this space as my mum will be recording the event on camera. I am looking forward to whizzing down the giant zip wire at the end!

Reasons to be Cheerful; week 21 #R2BC

So pleased that Michelle is finding positives in the midst of plenty of angst. This linky really does help you see the light at the end of the tunnel! Here are mine this week:
1) Me
I am so pleased that my weight and body are going in the right direction. For more see yesterday's post! Its a real boost that things are going well. The fact that in the process I have raised nearly £200 for our local Cancer Care charity is a real boost too. There is still time to sponsor me if you want!
2) My son
He came home with a head teacher's award for his class work. So proud of how he has blossomed in year 1 and hope it continues into year 2! At swimming he was top of the class in the floating practice and had to demonstrate how to transition from star to straight to mushroom float. Sometimes he lacks confidence in the pool so it was great to have a lesson where he was boosted all the way. He continues to love reading and is now onto book 6 of Beast Quest so guess we need to stock up on more in the series!

3) My daughter
She is bouncing back after a hard first week back at school. It was lovely in the park on Sunday when she played really nicely with my friend's toddler. I always love the way she enjoys being with little children and how kind and patient she is with them. A sign of the young lady that is starting to emerge.

Dressed to paint granny's shed

4) A brief hint of summer
Hard to believe what the weather was like earlier this week after snow and hail today but whilst it lasted the sunny weather was bliss! Whether it was an evening in the park or being able to walk to work in just a short sleeved top there is something about blue skies and sunshine to raise the spirits. Let's hope it comes back soon..

What is making you smile?

Reasons to be Cheerful with letter I ( #R2BC )

Well it's the school holidays so plenty of reasons to be cheerful!

1) I am a Proud Mummy

My 8 year old swam several lengths of the local pool which is the first time she has ever done it. A real landmark achievement and I hope she builds on this and keeps up the swimming. My 5 yo did a quarter length and I'm sure he will get further by the end of the holidays.

2) Insect Paradise

I went with a friend and her boys to Roanhead at Furness yesterday. Having seen no butterflies or moths most of this wet summer it was a delight to see so many enjoying the nature reserve.

3) Infitessimal taste of summer

We felt like it was summer yesterday with our day on the beach. The boys got to skinny dip and I got a slight tan. What is it about a nice beach day that says summer?

4) Inside

This is my son's idea for an I! There has been some major tidying up in kids' rooms and in fact most rooms looking better. Though looking round my front room right now it looks wrecked!!

Michelle is having a well earned summer break so several of us regulars are standing in for her! So next week (2nd August) look over to Seasider in the City for the bloghop!

Posted with Blogsy

Reasons to be cheerful XXXXII ( #R2BC )

Once again it's that time of the week and not too hard to find reasons to smile this time!

1) Summer has arrived


and we are spending as much time as possible outside whilst it lasts!

I even got the kids Wendy house up to give some shade out back!

2) Family time


My dad came round for a BBQ on Sunday. It was lovely spending time with him and the children doing things like putting up my daughter's den in the garden:

I then got to chill in the den with my daughter whilst grandad played football with my son!

3) Proud mummy


My son got on his sister pedal bike and actually rode it for the first time. He has been a real demon on a balance bike but was reluctant to pedal. Now there is no stopping him (just need to get him on his own big boy bike!):

4) My big girl


She is really growing up and showing no fear of things like the rope swing into the river at Staveley:

This weather may not last but it's certainly had us smiling! Why not join the hop:

Wordless Wednesday: Summer's Over

Reasons to be Cheerful XXIV (#R2BC)

Always a good way to spend my Thursday counting my blessings so thanks once again Michelle. Now its going to be an easy place to start this week:
1) Summer's finally here
OK well its strictly Autumn but we didn't get much of a summer up here in Cumbria. We were teased by a fabulous Easter and then some hot weather in May but the main summer holidays weren't fantastic! I am so glad I hadn't got around to packing away my summer clothes and I'm making the most of the sun whilst it lasts (though remembering to apply sun tan cream is a good idea!).

Sunflowers still going strong

2) The house
It may seem like a silly thing but the fact that the laundry isn't hanging around for days drying is making the house a lot less crowded. By doing a load a day (or even 3 yesterday!) and getting them on the line and getting them away the same day it seems a lot more manageable. The space now in the kitchen means that I've been able to get to the under stairs cupboard enough to sort out and can now shut the door!
3) My children
They both still seem happy in their new classes at school. My son is still keen on getting in to class in the morning. I had a lovely afternoon volunteering in his class when they go to Forest School. They go up to the top of the school grounds and have lots of fun in the little woodland and the open spaces. I'm looking forward to doing this every week. My daughter seems to be doing especially well in science and history (her favourite subjects!) and is looking forward to her first overnight school trip next week. She has planned her birthday sleep over for the following week down to the finest detail!
4) Kendal Passion Play
Last night I went with the children to the launch of A Passion For Kendal by Kendal Community Theatre. This is an exciting project that I am running the social media campaign for. My daughter was impressed on meeting his Worship the Mayor of Kendal: