Family Time

Chatting to Ove today during our run we were discussing our lifestyles and in particular making the most of opportunities, and keeping things fresh. Recently he has been out quite a lot and talked about how much him and Emma were looking forward to a few weekends at home, I on the other hand was talking about the need, after a few too many weekends at home to get out, mainly for a bit of a change of scenery. It is with similar sentiments that Sarah and I decided to book a 3 night break away at Sherwood Castle Forest Log Cabins a few weeks ago, a change of scenery before the Christmas Festivities kick in.

Since Ellie was born Sarah has been going to Sherwood Castle with a group of friends who all had babies at the same time and met through the children, they have a yearly short break with the kids. When they were babies more a break for the adults, the last few years it has become a chance for the kids to see Santa at the nearby Sundown Adventure Land. Sarah has always said how good it was, so on Friday after my School Carol Service we set off down the A1.

I was quite excited, the cabins sounded great, we had gone for one with a Log burning Stove and a Corner Spa Bath and more importantly it was a chance for some quality family time. We hadn't unpacked the car before I had a huge roaring fire going, a theme for the weekend. We went through three big dustbins of logs and numerous bags of kindling wood!!

The girls had a lovely time at Sundown on Saturday, it really is a great place if you are under 8 years of age. Evie was really excited when she saw Santa, Ellie went a bit shy but soon told him not to come down our chimney because he would get stuck behind the wall, he said he had a special magical key so it would be alright. The weather was a glorious bright, cold day. Back in the cabin, log fire and curry....... and The X Factor. Sorry Folks had to do it, it was the Final and although Sarah had set it up to record, I knew she really wanted to watch it (I read the latest edition of Triathlon Plus, in between checking out Olly's backing dancer's!!!)

On Sunday we had a very leisurely morning. We got a bit carried away with bubbles in the spa bath, much to the amusement of Ellie and Evie. Went for a couple of walks in the woods, a play on the Outdoor Assault Course and a long play in the indoor play centre. We watched a couple of movies, Elf and some ice skating one, then when the girls were asleep me and Sarah flicked between X Factor and Sports Personality. With Ellie's school play "The Wiggly Nativity" taking place on Monday morning we had decided to stay Sunday night and just get up and drive the hour home first thing on Monday. It worked perfectly, we dropped Ellie off at school, then an hour latter went to watch her be an Angel in the play, where she sang her heart out and didn't stop smiling.

We had a lovely weekend. Although we still had to deal with the energy sapping energetic toddler that is Evie, and there were moments when Sarah and I wished it was just the pair of us, the change of scenery and opportunity to spend time with the girls and together as a family was great. We are already looking ahead to 2010 and planning a couple of similar weekend breaks.

I started my Holiday on Friday, three weeks off with not the hint of work, it's a great feeling, have a good week......