England - week 1: starting as we mean to go on - with a holiday

Our annual holiday to centerparcs was as a family of 6. We borrowed R from TheBabs to keep BB happy and friended as we had FrB and SB as a pair. It worked really well. We were also lucky enough to have friends in the directly opposite chalet - we could wave to the deependers and SOTP - made socialising v easy! couldn;t have picked a better chalet arrangement if we tried.

We went swimming as DH did all the moving in. great swim had by all :) and we kept that up all week with swimming 2ce a day as a minimum - 3 hours morning and 2 hours evening - apart from thurs where we were in the pool pretty much all day. The kids [and dads] had a fab time racing around on slides, flumes, rapids and the cyclone. I mostly pooled, hottubbed, lagooned and rapids with some lazy rivering :) . I do think it is a fab holiday for all. lots of laughter and love and happiness. Also very wet! we all have a few bumps and grazes and a chlorine skin itch i think!






I took the kids to the play area in one of the swimming free breaks, and DH took them cycling around the park.

other than that, we celebrated birthdays. DH had his birthday on the Monday, and SB had hers on the tuesday, so we had 2 birthday cakes and candles and presents. Made for a party atmosphere. SB chose to have a pizza takeaway for birthday tea, and friends round to share the cake.


We played board games, watched some DVD's, started FrB on an animal crossing craze on the ds and did lots of laughing and socialising.


On the thursday TheBabs and B joined us for the day as well, and that was great fun. Centerparcs is definately a 'the more the merrier' kind of holiday place.

On our final day we swam, the girls shopped ;) and then we went to the pancake house for a ceremonial dinner. TBH I don't thenk the pancakes are a nice as they used to be [or perhaps mine are better??] but it is fun for the girls. I think SB chose the best pancake.

The holiday for me was a lovely relaxing time with friends and family. Welcoming FrB into our home and life with love and attention, laughter and equality. I hope she has a wonderful time with us, that we get the balance of her, SB and BB right. Having been an only for 6 months, BB is having to do a rapid readjustment.