SWANAGE  August 2015 Part One.


We usually have the kids at some point during the summer holidays. They come over to us and we have a few days out here and there. This year we thought it would be nice to take them away somewhere. We took them to our friends house in Swanage. Its just a little two up two down but perfectly fine for a short break. What we weren't planning was a week in the pouring rain.
Jo and Andy were also on holiday nearby in their caravan. We saw them most days which was lovely as the kids all had a whale of a time playing together.
First day on the beach.   RAIN !

 Abigail was not impressed, with Phoebe or the rain
Madelyn wasn't bothered by the rain. She just wanted to dig.
   

  

Grandad wondering if it was going to rain all week,umbrellas at the ready.

We did have a few dry spells and during one we went to Kimmeridge Bay. It's not a beach really just a very rocky shoreline, no sand at all. Its claim to fame are the fossils that can be found in the soft slate cliffs and in the rocks on the beach.

No idea what this creature is but it shows the layers of slate really well

Looking for that special find.

What was really quite worrying was the fact that bits of slate fall out of the cliffs all the time.Where people walk along the beach on it it turns into a crumbly grey mush. I guess that's why so many fossils get uncovered.

 Kimmeridge Bay

Jo and Andy suggested going to Lulworth Cove. It's  not sandy there either but it is very pretty. Grandad got lumbered with sorting out the kite but it wasn't windy enough and everybody bogged off to search for fossils and play with stones.

Who needs sand?

 

William discovered that when grown ups say "don't climb on the rocks, they are slippery" they really do mean SLIPPERY! He got soaked but in true William fashion laughed it off with good humour.

Lovely smiles. Madelyn just being cheeky

 We finished off the afternoon with ice creams. Yum.

We had a morning of sunshine so headed down to the beach sharpish. Understandably it was fairly crowded. William and Phoebe decided to dig a hole, as you do. Grandad was drafted in to do some of the preliminary work while the girls did some swimming

 Beach babe!

A "Baywatch" moment

A boy, some sand, some sun, perfection

 They dug for ages and made a car

 Wills just wanted to dig a hole. He sat there for the entire morning just digging. Phoebe helped and eventually they dug down to the manky black sand that nobody usually sees.

 Quite revolting.

 William had sat in the sand all day. He didn't want anyone else to "steal "it so there he sat. Of course the inevitable consequence of sitting in sand all day is that you get it in places where it clearly shouldn't be. We had no idea how to get it off without scratching his delicate little places! Phoebe had a few suggestions, none of them helpful. We got most of it off with the towel but in true fashion he just pulled on his shorts and said it would "just fall off by itself. " Most of it did I think, the shower sorted out the rest.

JO'S BIRTHDAY AUGUST 2015

Can't believe that Jo is 40! This year we were able to spend her
birthday with her.
 Emma ,Nick and the kids came up for the weekend and Andy did a fab B-B-Q for us and some of Jo's friends. The big day kicked off with prezzies of course. Followed by Bucks Fizz and a super breakfast

The birthday girl

 Here you are mummy. This is from me. Most kids are desperate to rip the paper off whether it's for them or not. Madelyn is not most kids! She just handed Jo her presents and waited patiently for her to unwrap them.

 Colouring pencils. Madelyn quite liked the look of those.

Madelyn looking gorgeous

Andy looking relaxed,

Both looking anxious. Hope she likes it. She did!!

 That afternoon we went to a place called Boughton House,a lovely stately home with beautiful grounds. It wasn't cheap to get in and unfortunately it was the most deadly tour we have ever had to endure. Our guide was a very stern old dear who clearly loved the house but her style of delivery was very curt and we all spent the entire tour in silence for fear of getting told off. I did get a telling off for looking at a magazine and Malcolm trod on the carpet which earned him a sharp rebuke. How Madelyn managed to hold it all together I will never know. She was so so good.
Unfortunately, it started to rain just as she started to play with these. However, coffee and a cake soon alleviated her disappointment

 No apologies for these photos. I think she gets a bit fed up with us all taking photos of her so when she walked up to the car and said" you can take my photo now" I didn't need asking again.

 She is just too gorgeous for her own good

Mummy and Daddy, taken by Madelyn

Everybody smiling.

We went out to dinner that night. I can't remember the name of the place but it was a burger and ribs place. The food was delicious. Desserts were a bit limited so Andy suggested we went to an ice cream parlour just over the road.  

Two gorgeous girls

New camera, always a bit confusing

 Did somebody say ice cream

 Oh yes!! For some reason the cones were much bigger than the sundaes. Someone got in a right old mess.

It got messy

 Very messy. It was a lovely way to end the day though. We all had a really good time.

 On Saturday Emma, Nick and the kids came up. They had only got back from their fab holiday in Barbados the day before and they were all looking very tanned. Within about 2 seconds the kids were all on the trampoline having a fabulous time.

Beautiful Emma

Looks a bit serious, what were they talking about I wonder.

 Will never tire of taking photos of these girls. They fill my heart with such pleasure it sometimes takes my breath away.

Whatever it is Madelyn isn't impressed

 Trampoline hair.

Kiss anyone xxxx

Birthday girl looking chilled.

Phoebe looking way to grown up.

Andy did us proud with a spectacular BBQ. It was delish

The girls with Madelyn's friend Izzy. 

I don't know who he is, if I ignore him maybe he'll go away.

There's always one.!!

Right lads, last one to get his hands out of his pockets and round a beer is a sissy.

 Kids picnic.

All these candles are making it heavy

The Ellis Family.

 Two beautiful princesses, not posing or anything xx

 No words needed for this one.

Or this one!

The next day was hot and sunny too. Andy cooked us a fabulous breakfast

 Lots of bangers.

 Kids having a quick bounce while they were waiting

 My lovely, lovely girls

 My loving sons-in-law who both treat me with love, respect and consideration. Err, no they don't. They are both "very naughty boys"

 Little soul mates. Madelyn followed Abs around all the time.

 We all had an excellent time. Hope Jo did too.