Another month has gone by and we’re now officially in Autumn. The boys have been busy at school with a bright jumper day, drama workshop, learning about the Fire of London and a library trip. They even got to wear shorts (and we know they love that!) again twice last week as the weather was so mild.
Bedtime in our house can be stressful, two boys that don’t want to go to bed, excuses and distractions to delay getting in bed, too busy watching TV or playing with Lego, messing about getting changed, trying to use our bed as a trampoline, twenty questions as you’re turning off the light, sometimes getting back out of bed to go to the toilet again or to come downstairs and ask us something else.
Recently I’ve been feeling sluggish, more tired than usual, irritable, struggling to get back into routine after our holiday and lacking in motivation to do the things I love, blogging, dance, swimming, reading. The pain in my knees that was basically non-existent has come creeping back to the point where I couldn’t ignore it anymore. I have been feeling like an old decrepit person who struggles to get up if they sit on the floor.
Fall is here, the first leaves are turning orange and yellow, the temperature has dropped a bit and it’s time for another seasonal maintenance for our body. An adjustment here and there, a bit of fine tuning and we are ready to great fall looking and feeling our best. So let’s see what it is that you can do to stay radiant and healthy throughout the fall months.
What do you do to keep your children occupied on holiday when you want some quiet time after lunch and they’re too old to nap? When it’s raining and you’re stuck inside for the day or when it’s the middle of the day and too hot to be in the sun? Do you take toys, colouring, books to read, watch TV or try to stop them jumping off the sofa and using the bed like a trampoline in my case?!
It only seems like a moment since I was writing August’s Siblings Post. The boys were away having an amazing time in Italy and I was looking forward to having a week at the seaside with them and bringing them home. The last four weeks have seen sun, sea and sand in Italy contrasted with coming home to our mixed British weather and back to school.
We get through so much pasta on a weekly basis in our house. Pesto is our favourite for a quick family meal on a school night but when we have people round for dinner we always do one of the same two recipes. One is a Classic Ragu Bolognese from The Chiappa Sister’s book “Simply Italian” and the other is a Courgette Carbonara from Jamie Oliver’s book “Jamie at Home”. I’ve made these over and over again over the past few years and we never get tired of them so why not have a go and let me know which one you prefer?
Unless you were blessed with a child who just magically drifts off to sleep each night, you have likely asked the question, “How do I get my child to sleep at night?”
Most parents do.
In fact, sleep is one of the most common concerns parents have for their children, and it can be a tricky issue to sort out. If you’re one of the many parents struggling to get more sleep – for you and your child – this quick guide will help your family tremendously.
Oh August, the boys have loved you so much! What a wonderful time they had in Italy. 25 days in total and I got to share seven there with them. I was not ready to come back home at all! I’m always a bit sad at the beginning of September because it means that summer is coming to an end but there are lots of lovely things to remember. We spent a lot of time apart this month but I’m happy the boys have had such a great experience and their Italian has definitely improved.
Your children starting school is one of the biggest milestones you’ll face. For me it was certainly the most emotive, my babies were really growing up. It was the start of a new chapter, the boys being more independent from us, off to make new friends and learn so many new things. For families with twins, starting school means there may be some extra things to consider.