So when did my connection to Italy begin? Most people think it began when I met Matteo in 2003 but actually it was quite a bit before that. My first taste of Italy was as a teenager. We stayed in Sorrento and visited Pompei and Capri. Something about the people, the food and the language must have drawn me in as while I was doing my A levels I started teaching myself some language basics using an audio course.
I’ve loved putting this month’s video together and I have to say it’s my favourite video so far with some wonderful memories to look back on like going to Clip ‘n Climb for the first time and singing Happy Birthday, plus I got some everyday moments documented like bedtime stories and getting ready for football. We finished off the month with some Christmas magic, twinkly lights and meeting Santa. Click below to watch:
For the boy’s birthday we decided to go to Clip ‘n Climb Nottingham. They really enjoyed it although it took Oliver a while to get his confidence up to let go and drop down. Matteo wants to have a go if we go again. We then went for a pub meal with my Mum & Dad and my brother and his girlfriend and then back home for tea and chocolate birthday cake. The day of their birthday was a Monday so the boys were at school but they enjoyed being sung to and took raisins in for all their classmates.
October was all about Autumn fun. Pumpkin picking, a walk to discover somewhere new, half term with lots of chocolate and grading at karate to get the next belt.
This month the boys have been loving eating and drinking all the chocolate at our meals out at Bill’s and Timmermans Garden Centre, swimming and going down the big slide with Nana pushing the wheelbarrow at the pumpkin patch, trick or treating and spending a little bit of their pocket money on new pens and a small toy.
My Dad stayed at home watching the rugby, also because he’s having a problem with his ears at the moment which means his hearing is even worse than usual even with his hearing aids in. The boys had been to this park twice before with Nana and Grandad but it was mine and Matteo’s first time there. It was nice to have some fresh air as we hadn’t been out of the house the day before. Ethan & Oliver were in their element running up and down and going on everything. Their favourite has to be the zip wire. In some parks they have to be lifted up to get on but here they can do it all themselves. They loved zooming down and running back to have another go. After half an hour of watching them running off some energy and us adults only really walking a little bit and pushing them on the roundabout and swing, we started to get a bit cold and so we headed back for a cup of tea to warm up.
Gedling Country Park was an old colliery and was officially opened after paths were installed for walking and cycling in 2015. The playground was added in autumn last year and the boys love it. There is a large area for toddlers with a sand pit, floor trampoline, swings, slide and a roundabout and then another large area for older children with swings, two slides and a climbing frame among other things. The boys favourite is the zip wire. There are also picnic benches so you can take food to eat.
Oh September, where have you gone? Summer is officially over and Autumn is here. Our school, after school activity and work routine has got back to normal now and we made it through some very busy weeks and weekends. Our first week of September was spent in Italy on holiday. We had a lovely time, […]
The month started with the boys at YMCA camp. They had a fun packed week going back and forward on the bus to camp and making some new friends. The second week they had a few more days with Nana and Grandad and we managed to fit in a haircut, buying new school shoes and a play date with a friend from school.
What with all the change of routine and craziness during the week, this month has been full of quiet weekends, catching up on cleaning and washing. The first weekend we went to a house party, the second Saturday the boys went to their last football practice until September and last Saturday we went into town quickly for a pizza at Suede bar to celebrate to start of the summer holidays but apart from that we’ve been having lazy mornings and time at the park.