Monday 14 January 2008

Weekend gad about!!!

This weekend seemed to just whizz past us. We had planned a lazy weekend as the children are very tired after their first week back at school. So whilst we seemed to be working at a lazy pace we did managed to get so much done. Saturday was the out and about kind of day, a visit to a park, some time spent in the garden and best of all a little time shopping in a craft store. I am not usually a big fan of these big craft warehouse style shops, I think they are bad news for the small retailer who puts their heart in to their shops...As I only wanted a refill from my glue gun, needs must. Yes, of course we came out with rather more than glue sticks, a few small kits for the children as they had Christmas money to spend and I finally managed to get some quilting safety pins. As the store is quite a drive from my home and near to my Moms, we phoned her from the car and asked if we could call round for tea...sadly her reply was she had nothing in to offer us and could we do it another time...I know I do not talk much about personal stuff, so forgive me but, it sets up the rest of the weekend...My Mom loves me and the children, I fear though, that we are a little too much for her, as a family we moved some distance to be nearer to her...I think we actually see her less than when we lived a few hours away. As a Mom I struggle with this and without going into too much detail, I feel she is missing out so much on my children's lives and they could offer her so much in return. So once my rejection complexes had kicked in I felt the need to do lots of quality stuff with my own children just correct the balance...
The next day we woke up and had a sleepy morning chilling out in our PJS, we read books, I did a little knitting and we got all the pens and things out for some crafty time. Once the rain had slowed down a little we put on the winter gear, knitted tops and mittens and we pulled on our wellies...Off for one of our WELLY WALKS...Wellie walks are such fun, we get as mucky as we wish and have names for all the types of puddles we wade through, welly washers, welly dippers etc...
Suddenly we realised it was actually getting quite dark, a little scary too as we had walked for a while, so with a last go at POO STICKS we headed home. A few last pictures more got taken, did I tell you my children are as crazy at taking pictures as I am, yep even the wee one...with comments like 'OH Mom, look at this shot, that is sooo interesting' or 'Mom why is this picture so wobbly?' etc...between us we had taken over 100 pictures on this one walk... So once we got home we pulled off all the heavy winter clothing and had a cuddle to warm up, we thought some biscuits and hot chocolate seemed like a good idea. So out with the recipe books and we got busy in the kitchen...
Peanut butter cookies, chocolate and cranberry cookies and oaty biscuits, we had to make three different types as we all like different things...

A lot of effort, well maybe, a lot of fun and giggles and sticky fingers...you bet...Worth it? What do you think?
So along with a jug of chocolate...a perfect recipe for this Mommy and her babes for some quality time together...
Fancy a cup? How could you resist when those little hands holding tightly to the mug say it all...as for the rejection complex...not after some time spent with these guys!
There is more too...it wasn't all welly walks and baking, when the boys had managed to snooze off in the evening I curled up in my favourite chair put in a DVD (I have been watching:Paris with Sandrine Voillet...must watch DVD...Pure Brilliance and amazing camera work) warmed my toes by the fire and got some knitting done...
So as we start another grey and wet week...I wounder what the following few days will hold as I have quite a few appointments ahead, I am sure I will get some blogging time in though...

16 comments:

Ragged Roses said...

That sounds like a great weekend to me (apart from the hiccup from your mum). Hope the cookies did the trick. I love your knitting, absolutely beautiful and that colour is delicious. Take care
Kimx

Just Original said...

Sounds like the perfect weekend to me! I feel I run around like a headless chicken at weekends, and spending time as a family at the moment is zero as hubbo is building me my studio at every available minute.

Unknown said...

I always felt rather hurt when my father would go into a harrumph mood when he deemed my kids were too noisy/bouncy/chatty (Pick any one from three here) and of course as my parents live away from me he would be staying in their house at the time. Don't worry too much Suzie - she is the one that is missing out!

Linda said...

We have 2 extremes! One side of the family that are similar to your Mum (when we moved back from overseas and they had tasted life without grand children we thought they would appreciate kids more, especially as every time we spoke they lamented the fact that we were too far away) and the other side that are forever here!!!
You can never win with family, just enjoy your time together.x

Kitty said...

Those cookies look wonderful - as does the knitting. I wish I could do 'proper' knitting.

Oh, and I can totally relate to the 'rejection complex' thing (((S))) x

tess said...

family relationships can be hard, it sounds like you are doing everything you can.
the cookies look delicious - perfect family time, and the wellie walk sounds great, I love the idea of classifying puddles!
hope you have a good week. x

Sarah said...

Love the idea of welly walks - must try one myself. As for the biccies and hot choc - YUM!

I love a weekend approached witha relaxed pace which yields so much. Perfect.

Sorry about the tough time with your Mum; hopefully she will realise she is missing out and things will improve

French Knots said...

Families can be hard, at least the rest of your weekend sounds like special time with your boys. Puddle splashing and cookie making - perfect

Sarah and Jack said...

My father only sees Jack maybe 5 times a year, despite living 30 minutes away from us. And yet, he sees my brother's children all.the.time, and they live hours and hours away from us.

So, I completely, utterly, and totally understand the disappointment and the hurt from the thing with your mother. :-(

Anonymous said...

Wow - your knitting looks fantastic - and it's really growing isn't it? Sounds like you had a really good weekend there.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a wonderous weekend in the end. I totally understand the rejection issues - we have similar with my husbands mum and dad. Our children are their only grandkids but they seem to only want to see them if they can show them off or get money/or something of value out of it - it is really sad as my children adore them so much. But it sounds like your rejection issues made for such a special weekend - so maybe it was a blessing in disguise! Thanks for this beautiful post.

andsewtosleep said...

Sounds like a simply perfect weekend. I look forward to seeing the finished knitted item - love the colour. How does the saying go 'you can choose your friends but not your family'. Mary

Diane said...

I too have a similar relationship with my mum who makes it clear that she much preferes to spend time with my sister as she has no kids. My kids are 15 and 12 now and I feel she has missed out on having the great relationship I had with my granny (one of the most special relationships of my life). However the choice (and loss) has been hers. Enjoy what you Have got with your beautiful family and dont fret about what you HAVE NOT got. Thats how I deal with it. xx

julia said...

What a great weekend, those cookies look totally delicious!
Families are complicated things but you have those little pudgy hands to wrap around your neck whenever you feel rejected and to remind you that whatever happens you have your two who will never stop loving you.
Julia xx

Louise said...

Hi Suzie, what a busy weekend was had by the three of you, more so as you were originally going to have a lazy one. I am not surprised some crafty shopping was done. Maybe next time you want to visit your mum, just turn up on the doorstep with some cakes/buns in hand, and just say that you would all like to come in to catch up with her news, and to have a quick cup of tea? Well, this is the first I have heard of welly walks, I really must do this sort of thing with him indoors, something I have never thought of, although wouldn't want him traipsing indoors with his big size nine muddy boots! I don't know where you got the strength from to be making three different types of cookie though, you must have been flat on your feet come the evening. Maybe you could have that lazy weekend this week? x

Anonymous said...

The cookies loo absolutely YUMMY!!
I bet they were! :)
x