Wednesday

I'm posting a quick update while Alice has her afternoon nap - I can see this is something I'll have to get used to doing because by evening I'm ready to collapse and relax ;-). 

 Yesterday, Emily and I were picked up by a friend to go and see the lavendar field near Croydon. Unfortunately the weather wasn't in our favour but I did manage to get a few photos while we were there.

 I've never seen a field of lavender before and it is quite stunning.

 Next year I'd love to go back on a sunny day because I think it would be quite spectacular.

After the lavender fields, seeing as we were already virtually there, we had a quick trip to Ikea. I've never managed to get round Ikea in less than a few hours but my friend said it'd only take about an hour and, with her way of going round - it did! I think Emily and I will have to go back again to have a more leisurely look around :-)

 In the afternoon I took Mum and Dad round to see Claire and Craig's new flat. They moved in on Saturday and have done really well at getting things sorted out. There are still a few boxes left to unpack but I don't think it'll take them long. The flat is really lovely, they have a smallish lounge/kitchen area - seen above - where they've already had friends round for dinner. There are two bedrooms, a family bathroom and Alice has an en suite shower room attached to her bedroom. It's an ideal starter home for their little family.

 I had been worried that Alice might find it a bit strange not having everyone around and also being in a smaller house but it doesn't seem to bother her at all. She is quite at home there and when we popped round she was happy to see us.

We're working out the arrangements for when I have Alice and it seems to be going well. I pick her up from Claire at work and bring her home with me for the day. In the evening Craig comes to pick her up, either with or without Claire depending on what time he finishes work. If he's working late Claire walks back to our house and he picks them both up. Alice enjoys being here with us on those days but always has a big smile ready for her Mummy or Daddy when they come to pick her up. I think the time was right for them to move to their own home and I'm so proud of the way they're managing.

This also means that our house is feeling fairly quiet these days. Most evenings it will be just Emily and me for dinner and, at the moment, the TV tends to be off and we read or I work on my log cabin quilt. It's taking a little bit of getting used to but it's all good!

xx