Our summer holiday - 1

We left on our summer holiday on Friday afternoon. Camping on the Yorkshire Coast. We arrived and the weather was ok. We got the tent pitched and had a cuppa. 

We then played at the park for a bit 

It started to drizzle so we headed out to the local pub for tea - luckily it had a soft play area and , for me, a carvery!! 

When we got back we mainly had a nice sit down. 

It then started to rain... 

We then attempted to get della to sleep. It took a while being so light til gone 10pm but she was happy. 

She slept ok after falling out of her air bed a few times. It was chilly, but we survived! 

On Saturday morning our friends Millie and Rich arrived, more on this to follow 

Music and dancing

Della has enjoyed her weekend away. On her last day in Durham she mainly embraced her love of music and dance. Grandma managed to find her some tap shoes which clip clop a lot and della loves. She sat cuddling dolly looking at them for a while and then danced so happily for a long time... 

She also has a microphone which she sang into whilst listening to some classic tunes... 

After more playing it was home time, we took the train again and della was very excited to see daddy

Waiting for the train

Watching out for the train

Waving!! 

Enjoying beef sandwiches and fruit

A happy Sunday

Yesterday we popped to the bootsale first thing. Della wore Granda's hard hat for the journey 

della got a new (or old and 50p) iron and a nice cream 

After that we went to see Ethan. They were very excited to see each other and did lots of lovely playing. We also had a family BBQ which was very tasty

Of course there was cake

Down by the river della and Ethan had a dual with stcks whilst watching granda and uncle Steve working hard

For a little rest Della jumped into bed with Ethan 

Pottering around

Last night me and della got the train to Durham. Simon stayed home as he has to work. It was a pretty late train for della and we didn't arrive until gone 9. This is how della said bye to daddy

Today we have mainly been sitting on the bench granda made when della was born

Digging and raking mud

Having to pay £90 for tea and cake at Della's cafe

Della built her own forest, and watered it

We then popped out to the shops, della swindled a peppa pig magazine with free iPhone and some interesting hair clips

A few more pics from the weekend

"Hold tight, we don't want to take off!"

 And this is Della hiding in her new play hut, along with her lovely new doll's house from Uncle Nick - where the bin men appear to have come for lunch. (Also featuring her new purple shoes from Aunty Anna)

And a few from Gran Helen. Here Della shows off her impeccable fashion sense.

Enjoying her first ever boiled egg

A couple of other birthday videos

Here - Della finds her birthday bike:




Here she forms a band with daddy using her new guitar:





Here - we sing happy birthday to her with Gran Helen:



Here - she is under-whelmed when finding her new birthday hut/ shed/ house! As it turned it was all too overwhelming and she hasn't been out of it since eating a few meals, decorating it with hooks to hang things on and filling it with cushions for her babies to sleep on

Wedding party

On 7th June we celebrated a wedding. Our friends Andy and Martin tied the knot in Ely. Della was very excited and got very dressed up. As it was the day after her birthday she was feeling especially like a big girl!

Her dress was very floaty

 

 

On the tables there were little goody bags for the children - during the speeches Della stuc all the stickers on her

 

There was a BBQ and then a very impressive raspberry pavlova - it was very yummy! 

 

Outside there was a bouncy castle - perfect in the sunshine

Simon had a little cuddle with Theo

 

 

Della talked with Amy about the lovely wedding cake

The highlight of the day for Della was the disco. When the curtains were closed, the lights went down and the music came on loud Della was pretty awe struck and loved it. She danced all night and by 11.30pm she was crying as we dragged her away from the dance floor. She could have stayed dancing into the early hours. In fact I was more tired than her!

 

 

 Some video of the dancing

All in al it was a beautiful day and I'm pretty convinced Della will have a memory of it as she grows into an adult. My happiest feeing about this is that she will know that two boys getting married is the norm and as romantic and beautiful a thing in the world.

Birthday party at the beach

This year Della is like the queen - two birthday. Last week was her official birthday, yesterday was her party birthday. Before the celebrations began she opened a couple of more presents and then ate breakfast in two party hats!

The party was at the beach in Scarborough. A few of her friends were able to join us and although the weather wasn't scorching (we needed a beach tent and windbreak!) we still had a brilliant day. Della was so very happy to be in the sand, splashing in the sea and to have lots of happy people around her. 

We also got a beach hut (ours is the one with orange doors and the deckchair outside) which meant we had a place to get food ready - stopping the sand from getting in everything and a kettle for tea! 

Here are some of the highlights... 

Katie, Dell ana Gemma get buried.

The water was pretty chilly but didn't stop little toes splashing around! 

The wind was just right for some amazing kite flying. All the girls loved it and instantly got the hang of it!

After the BBQ it was time for jelly! 

Granda and Anna get serious digging a really big hole

By the end of the day the tide was catching us up

Della and Katie have a shouting contest! 

The kites proved to be so much fun, della takes the helm of two at the same time