Sunny Sundays.

Today the fog lifted and by fog I mean Scarlet Fever.  Wow what an intense few days it has been in the Brookes household.  Lochlann has been poorly for over a week and slowly but surely we all started to succumb to illness too.  It has been quite a sorry state of affairs.

It all started last Friday when it seemed Lochlann had unfortunately picked up yet another sick bug but when it hadn't left him by the weekend we started to suspect Scarlet Fever as his nursery had emailed confirming cases of it over the past week.
I wasn't sure what to expect but soaring temperatures of 39.5, two very poorly children and in the end two rather sick parents was definitely not what I had anticipated. I fear the children in my class have probably forgotten what I look like as I only managed to work one day this week between Lochlann being ill, then me.
On Friday I was all ready to haul myself into work despite feeling terrible, it was assessment week and I had lots of loose ends to tie up before the end of term.  I was up dressed and ready to leave the house.  My aunt had come over early in the morning to take care of the children and Lochlann was slowly but surely on the mend.  I went to Posey's room to give her a cuddle and a kiss goodbye but was greeted with a very sad, swollen, red and puffy face.  Scarlet fever is a bitch!  I called work and explained and then rushed Posey off to the doctors to make sure she started a course of antibiotics straight away.  This illness has knocked us all off our feet and was not the start to the Easter holidays that I had hoped for!

In spite of all this doom and gloom this morning, I woke up to a beautiful blue sky and a daughter happily whispering,'good morning mama' in my ear.  We all sat and managed to cheerfully eat breakfast after our first dose of antibiotics of the day and Lochlann actually asked for seconds (which to be fair is normal Lochlann behaviour but the boy has barely eaten anything in over a week).
We still spent all morning at home pottering, cleaning and playing before sending the littles off to bed for a long, entirely necessary nap.  Whilst they napped, Sam insisted that I sit down, drink tea, eat toast and rest.  He's a damn good husband when he wants to be! Together we enjoyed the quiet drank our tea whilst it was hot and caught up on some reading (well I did Sam sat and grunted at his playstation whilst driving erratically and shooting people).

When the children woke up it was clear the long nap had done them the world of good and we decided to go out on a walk to feed the ducks.  It was another glorious day and I didn't want it to be wasted sat in the house willing the illness to go away.  Posey and Lochlann love to go for walks and its one of those rare times where they don't bicker... which of course I relish.

So off we went, hand in hand on our traditional walk down by the ship canal to find some ducks to feed.  It was the best idea we have had all weekend.  Lochlann loved searching the skies for areoplanes whilst Posey raced her Daddy and searched for the perfect stick to do her, 'work.'
We ambled along the path in the warm sunshine and chatted about future plans and our impending mini break to Ireland with Sam's family.  The littles loved it and so did we.

A memory I so don't want to forget is Lochlann shouting at the ducks to eat their food and eat it NOW! ... It was hilarious, bless him.

Now we are home and I have a Sunday lunch food baby in my belly, our littles are sound asleep and Sam is chilling on the sofa next to me.  I hope today signals the end of Scarlet fever in the Brookes house...

For any other mamas or dads out there reading this Scarlet Fever is highly contagious and seems to be spreading round the country like wild fire at the moment.  Lochlann's illness was actually asymptomatic according to the doctor because it took so long for his rashes and high temperatures to appear so be vigilant and do not be afraid to take your littles to the doctor.  It is what they are there for and it is peace of mind for you.
Signs to look out for are;

• redness in the face/ cheeks - can look like sunburn 
• a temperature
• a rash spreading all over the body but in particular around the ears, under the arms and across the torso 
• sickness/ vomiting
• a red and white or spotty tongue. 

I am not a qualified medical professional so if you are concerned make sure you seek medical attention. 

Here's to happier and healthier days for us all to enjoy for the rest of our Easter holidays. 

Thanks for stopping by,

Lots of love.xx

Child free date night.

A couple of weekends ago the littles stayed with Sam's parents overnight and we got some alone time for the first time since his birthday in November.  It was a simple evening just dinner and time together but needless to say it was much needed.

Us mothers and fathers love our children dearly and wouldn't alter the effects that these little beings have had on our lives but every now and then time to be just us, the boy and girl that met and fell in love just a few short years ago is entirely necessary.  You need time to be a couple to chat about things other than who's turn it is to get up with the children first or who's fault it was that we forgot to buy more milk.  You need time to see through the realities of full time working/ parenting/ married life and find the person that gave you those butterflies in your stomach at a busy bar in Didsbury on a chilly December evening. 

So after the dump and dash of our precious children in Stafford we hit the road and headed back home all the while deliberating on where to go and what to do.  A child free night, the possibilities are endless I hear you say.  Well yes I suppose they could have been but we are creatures of habit and decided that a Pizza Express in our local village and a couple of cocktails before heading home for a delicious night of uninterrupted... SLEEP would suit us perfectly - any parents dream right there! 

I so enjoyed having a little extra time to take over my makeup, even adding a red lip which rarely happens these days.  I felt nice in my £13 Primark number with heels and it was just so lovely to dress up for my husband who usually sees me sporting either work clothes, a big jumper or Harry Potter PJs! 

Over a candlelit dinner we chatted, smiled and devoured lots of yummy food.  A simple date but a bloody brilliant one.  It sounds silly but I had really missed my husband.  Life is just so busy at the moment and although we live in the same house sometimes we barely even have a minute to ask how eachother's days have been.  A marriage needs to be nurtured and I need to remember that.  I am his wife as well as their mother and I damn proud of both those job titles. 

I love my favourite three and I wouldn't be without them. 

Sam, you are often a pain in the arse but I bloody love you and our little date reminded me of just how brilliant you actually are. 💓

Sam I love you always, thank you for waiting for me, I only hope I was worth it.  

P & L if you are reading this I know you'll be cringing at your mother gushing over your father but sometimes he does deserve it...honest! 

Thanks for stopping by, 

Lots of love. xx

A child free trip to the cinema.

It has been a long while since I have had chance to write, almost a month in fact but here I am again and this time I really wanted to write about my trip to the cinema to finally see Beauty and the Beast!

I have been so so SO unbelievably excited to see this film ever since news hit the headlines about the remake and when I heard that Emma Watson was playing Belle, I nearly peed my pants with excitement.  She is my ultimate woman, I mean she played Hermoine Grainger, after all!
Beauty and the Beast is my absolute favourite Disney film and has been since I was a little girl.  The scene were the Beast shows Belle the library... wow.  If only things that like happened in real life, that is my idea of romance!

So, after a long day at work I didn't go home to mama duties as usual.  Instead my two friends and I headed to the the Vue Cinema in Altrincham.  I was so excited, being mama usually means lots of mundane routine.  Get up, get me ready, get the children ready, rush to work, finish work, rush home and get the children into bed.  All of which I love but knowing I was going to cinema for 2 hours of me time with popcorn and my favourite Disney princess on a Thursday evening was such a delight.

We navigated through the traffic and headed into the cinema.  I felt silly about how giddy I was.  The smell of sweet popcorn was too good to pass up so I ordered a large popcorn and diet coke combo and we headed into screen 2.

The film did not disappoint, I blooming loved it! I laughed, I cried (alot) and I had two hours to myself to just be me.  Not to worry about whether I had snapped at the littles or whether I would have time to mark my school books before my eyes got to weary.  It was pure bliss and I want, no need to see the film again, like now!

In all seriousness though, I sat there in the cinema with two lovely friends and realised how important 'me time' really is.  It doesn't have to be a special trip out every time but to be the mum I want to be I must remember to take some time out to chill I remember who I am,  I was Holly first before I was mummy and I mustn't forget that. It is so easy for mothers or those with hectic jobs and commitments to forgo 'me time' but in this hectic frenzy that we call life we really need to take the time to slow down and rejuvenate every now and again. I for one am going to take a leaf out of Belle's book this half term and make sure I spend at least 10 minutes a day with just myself and a good book because do you know what, I deserve it and so do you!


What is your favourite way to spend your, 'me time?' Leave a comment and let me know. 😊

Thanks for stopping by.
Lots of love. xx