Summer 2013 Bucket List

The weather has been teasing us with high teen temperatures masked with harsh winds. This week I have been longing for the summer, an unusual thing for me as many will know!

Daydreaming of spending hazy afternoons with picnics at the meadow, playing in the brook, listening to summery tunes and feasting on home made picnics.

Camping in the Cotswolds, our annual family trip moved to summer from the autumn.

Visiting more country houses and gardens, Kedleston Hall, Stowe, Farnborough Hall.

Eating breakfast al fresco.

Summer munches, homemade ice cream, strawberry picking, summer pudding, homemade jam.


Our late summer holiday to Cornwall. A week by the sea, exploring the beautiful beaches and quaint villages. Cream teas and pasties in our favourite haunts.

Spending the entire day in the garden, playing football and cooling down in the paddling pool.

So how much of the list will Summer let us get through I wonder?

A Few Things

Due to my silly hypermobility, I have been out of action with a very sore ankle this weekend. We stayed home and this is what we have been up to.

- Enjoying the Olympics

We have been bitten by Olympamania! Mr Bee thinks it is wonderful and is well and truly hooked on whatever the sport of choice may be. Gymnastics seems to be his favourite, he has been practicing headstands and somersaults all weekend. We are planning and looking forward to popping down to the Big Smoke on Friday to visit Papa for the day and take in some of the Olympic sights all being well.

- Cutting, sticking and drawing in the sunshine to keep us busy busy.

- Any spare minute I have had has been spent editing, creating and preparing to hand over the images from my very first photo session! I gave it my all and I hope that they love the photos! For a peek, pop over to my other blog, Heidi-Liz Photography.

- After a few weeks planning, we have finally booked our Autumn Camping Trip. A wonderful looking campsite in Wiltshire. We are praying for nice weather!

- We have been missing Papa, he has been gone for over a week now and he will be away for another two at least, before we get him back for a few days and he will be gone again!

- Mr Bee has become a proper little chatterbox. We have been having the cutest conversations. I can't believe I worried so much that he wasn't talking when he was younger, he is doing so well now!

- I stumbled over this GORGEOUS blog the other day, definately worth a peek at Hello Hue.

- Hold on to your kite...

Sudbury Hall

Today we visited Sudbury Hall, we had planned to go visiting on Tuesday but decided to go to Ikea instead. So as we were both around today, I thought it would be a nice day out :)

So we got up early, went to get a picnic and headed off :)

Sudbury Hall

"Don't get your pooey shoes on me!"

Whilst exploring the gardens, we found the most lovely little play park for Louie to play in. A little wooden climbing frame with houses at either end, a slide and a swing. We just LOVE the wooden play park toys, I would love to have a huge garden with them in for Louie to play with.

At Sudbury, there is a Museum of Childhood. There are exhibitions about how children worked in the Victorian times, the attendant commented that Mr Bee was too young to work yet, but he would be in the work house at the age of 6! We visited a victorian school house, but skipped out on the lesson ;)

We both saw lots of toys that we remembered from when we were younger, this one stood out for me. The Polly Pocket in the middle. I had that one when I was a little girl. I even still have it in my bedroom some where.
Then we stopped to have some lunch and Papa Bee treated us to tea/coffee and cakes, mmm! Mr Bee was eyeing them up something chronic!

Ladybird

Then we visited the Hall. Sudbury is where the BBCs Pride and Prejudice is set (yes the one with Colin Firth as Mr Darcy! Swoon!). It was very grand, Papa particularly liked the Long Gallery, and especially the decorated cabinet, which we didn't actually get a photo of.

Papa Bee's perfect desk!

The servants steps, see how worn they are in the middle.

My PERFECT stove!!!

The Long Gallery

The Library stairs.

I also wore Louie on my hip for the first time using the Ergo. I usually wear him on my back, and sometimes on my front, but as I know they are a bit funny in these places about having children on your back (even though Mr Bee is as good as gold) I wanted him to be able to see and enjoy the house, so we experimented with wearing him on my hip. It was surprisingly comfortable, and Louie seemed to like it, however I couldn't reach around to do the straps on my own, so it wouldn't be practical if I didn't have a helper. At least we got a photo for good measure though :)

We both really loved it here at Sudbury Hall, and we will definitely come again. We plan to go later on next time though and head into the village and find somewhere nice for some dinner. I also picked up a leaflet for Hardwick Hall (we were debating between Sudbury and Hardwick Hall today, we went to Sudbury as it was a shade closer) so I think that will be our next NT visit. It looks beautiful.

How We Do a Back Carry

On a forum I frequent, it became apparent that people were struggling with back carries using a mei tai or other similar sling. I kind of do my own thing and have found an easy way of getting baby safely on my back so here is my tutorial :)