Cousins!

So at last - after the best part of 2 years, the cousins met up this weekend.  It always surprises me when children play so well with each other when they don't know each other that well.  As adults we find interaction with those we don't know difficult, is is something that comes with age and experience?

Gooning about

Anyway, they played well together.  I wouldn't say they were angels, they all played up at some point (some more than others) but on the whole they got on well and enjoyed each others company.  Obviously Jake and Amber are used to being with cousins as they have some from Clare's family, but poor Tom of course doesn't have any others - he's doomed to be from a small family, the same as his parents!  At least he has some cousins the same age as him - which is more than me, but just a shame he doesn't see them that often.

Anyhow, they got stuck in traffic coming up on Friday night - we told Tom he could stay up until 9pm and if it looked like they were near, he could wait until they arrived, but if they were stuck, go to bed.  Unfortunately they got stuck on the M6, due to a vehicle fire and advice on the Internet said that they might not be free again until 11pm.  Tom was yawning and actually said himself that he wanted to go to bed, which he did and he fell straight asleep.

The Branches arrived around 9.30 (Jake's opening words: "You are coming to us next time") - having managed to get off the motorway and dodge the worse of the traffic.  I couldn't wake Tom up, so they released a little energy downstairs and then went to bed.  Eventually Tom woke up and then of course there was no chance of them going to sleep.  There was a lot of chattering, in the end Simon went up and gave them a massive bollocking and they finally went to sleep - phew!  We weren't long behind them!

On the Ribblehead walk

Saturday dawned clear, cold, windy but not raining so we decided to go out.  We did the walk around Ribblehead which was freezing cold, punctuated with various moans, sheep chasing (Jake) and Amber flying down a hill so fast that she face planted on the grass in some sheep poo!  Oops.  There were a lot of tears, but they soon calmed down once I found some chocolate!

Next stop was Hawes and the creamery.  We headed to the cafe to have a warming drink.  Well the others did anyway - both Simon and I were on coke - I guess we are alike in some respects!  Next stop was the tasting room.  Now Amber had been going on and on about this all morning as she likes cheese, but as we got there, she decided she didn't like cheese, and didn't want to go in.  Jake, on the other hand had said that he didn't like cheese and wasn't interested in going in the tasting room.  Jake was so excited he went round it 3 times, and would have done some more circuits if we hadn't stopped him!  Amber did try some, but the Ginger & Wensleydale was a shock to her system and she refused to try any more after that!

At the fireworks

We then did the museum - which has got a lot bigger in the last year.  However, they weren't making cheese!  Really, on the run up to Christmas, we were surprised and disappointed.  There was a video on how cheese is made - I think Amber watched it about 5 times, so she would have enjoyed the factory.  Oh, well, maybe next time.  We then headed into Hawes for lunch and a little walk around - Clare and Simon were surprised by the range of goods on offer in the shops (typical Southerners - think we are food heathens up here!)

We then headed home for a rest before going to the fireworks at Kirkby.  Now we haven't been to fireworks for 2 years as someone tends to get himself in a state about them.  Last time we saw some fireworks, I think his howling was louder than the bangs.  For sure, EVERYONE around us was looking at him and not the fireworks and I had to literally drag him home screaming! We had a long talk about it this year and he agreed to give it another go if he got to wear ear defenders.  Hurray - a break through.  He also didn't look at me with dread in his eyes as we talked about it.  We continued to talk positively about it and on the night he was even looking forward to it.

People had told us to get there early as the roads would be in chaos, so we did.  No need, we zipped in with no hold up at all.  We bumped into loads of people we knew - think half of the school was there.  It was a nice atmosphere.  We got ourselves some burgers and hot Pimms and warmed ourselves by the bonfire. At 8pm on the dot the fireworks started.  WOW, they were brilliant and they went on and on.  In fact it was 20 minutes long, a brilliant show.  Even Simon said it was good - he doesn't give out praise readily so they must have been good - and they even said that although they thought it was an expensive entrance fee, it was worth it!  And Tom, well he had a smile on his face for pretty much all of it.  Matt kept his hand on his shoulders the whole time to reassure him, but I think we can say he is officially past his firework panic.  He did say he wouldn't want to watch them without the ear defenders - so that's the next hurdle.

We got out of the car park easily, returned home, the children went straight to bed with no arguments whilst we collapsed downstairs.

Sunday morning, Clare and I went for a run.  I've never run before with anyone else, and was a little worried, especially as Clare has run 10kms and half marathons, so would be faster than me.  However, I took a deep breath and went for it.  Yes, Clare is faster on the flat and downhill than me, but I was faster on the hilly bits so over all we were on par.  Clare wasn't impressed by the hills, but she did them stoically.  When we got back, the time was pretty much what I normally do it in.

When we got back the children were getting ready to go to the pump track.  I had borrowed 2 other bikes so Jake and Amber could have a go.  Tom got in a mood because we wouldn't let him on the BMX and asked him to ride Seth's bike as that was the most precious bike and he was less likely to fall off than the others.  It was so bad that Matt actually initially banned him from going - we had temper!

After 10 mins, Clare took him down - he had to go as he had to show them how to do it.  So, Amber had a go, fell off, cried, tried again, did it - had fun, did it again, again and again.  She was a natural.  Matt was very impressed.  Jake on the other hand refused to even try one bump - so much so that Simon and Clare almost lost it with him and each other.  He came home in a huff and played on Tom's computer until Amber and Tom came home.

Kitchen helper

Matt's Go-Pro got a good video of Amber doing a circuit - she really enjoyed it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYHXTWoEwxc

When they got back, Simon, Clare, Jake and Tom went for a walk around the village - with Tom acting as Tour Guide - he took them to the scout hall, the village, the park and Storrs Common, did a good job.  Amber stayed behind and made an apple crumble and laid the table for dinner.

I did a lot of bonding with Amber this weekend and really really enjoyed her company, I would happily spend more time with her.  I still haven't managed much of a conversation with Jake though - he has pretty much always ignored me and continues to do so.

We sat down for a roast at 12 - all ate up well - phew.  They then headed down south as Simon was going out for the evening.  We had an easy afternoon.