0400: Feeding Plum who after 8 hours of sleep only had half a feed.
0600: Feeding Plum (other half of feed) Daddy got up and so did the boys. No wet beds today :)
0730: Had a nice lie in with Plum but as daddy left for work (half an hour later than usual) I had to get up to be with the boys.Helped Pumpkin with a puzzle and facilitated a few disagreements.
0800: shower and dressed myself; washed and dressed the boys; fed, washed and dressed Plum; Pumpkin helped me make porridge; made toast, brewed tea, milk in cups, phoned the doctor; got colouring pens and books out for Bean.
0900: shopping delivery arrived; ate breakfast; put freezer food in freezer; phoned friend K who was supposed to be having Bean and Plum for an hour this morning to cancel - no reply; text K; filled paddling pool with water using buckets (hose pipe ban); spoke to elderly neighbour over the fence; received tomato, cucumber and runner bean plants from neighbour over the fence; helped Pumpkin in the bathroom; put up tent to provide shade in the garden; put balls in the paddling pool; change boys into swim wear. Boys played at throwing the balls out of the pool and then taking in turns to go and fetch them.
1000: Settle Plum for a sleep; get boys two drinks to have on demand; no reply from K; text OA (K's husband); speak to OA on phone; K comes over for a cuppa; hang out yesterday's laundry; take down dry laundry; put cold food in the fridge (from earlier food delivery); get boys a snack; get towels from upstairs; dry off Bean and Pumpkin a few times; get cushions to go in the tent; Bean finds a pip in his apple and wants to plant it.
1100: Dry off Bean and Pumpkin a few more times; smell the peonies with Pumpkin (who has a rotten cold and can't smell anything); look at a spider's web with Bean; K plays ludo with Bean; Pumpkin disappears to play alone upstairs; feed Plum after an unusually long morning sleep (must have been the peace and quiet as the boys were outside); changed nappy.; cleared table from breakfast.
1200: Prepared lunch, sandwiches made by daddy plus a boiled egg each for the boys and some salad bits; ate lunch outside; put remainder of shopping into cupboards.
1300: Bean and Pumpkin came in from the heat and watched iplayer; played with Plum; tidied conservatory; put on laundry; replenished boys water bottles; settled Plum for a sleep upstairs; had a small feed.
1400: sat with Plum whilst she slept and had some quiet time; fed Plum.
1600: start dinner (lasagne); Bean helps to make the cheese sauce; Bean gets naked and puts on flippers and snorkel to go in the paddling pool; Pumpkin follows suit asking for the 'slippers' and then when corrected says the 'flipons,' we all laugh; Pumpkin blows bubbles in the pool with the snorkel; Pumpkin pours his water bottle all over the coffee table and it runs onto the carpet; Pumpkin helps to clear up the deliberate spillage; Plum cries.
1700: Try to settle Plum for a sleep, not happening; put Plum in sling, she carries on crying; I wash up a days worth of plates etc; Chop some salad for dinner; Plum is still crying; put Plum down to get lasagne out of oven and on plates; Plum still crying; Put Plum back in sling; eat dinner outside, boys still naked; Pumpkin eats all the salad; Bean eats all the lasagne; ice-cream for pudding with hazelnuts; Boys help bring all the dishes in; Plum still crying.
1800: Boys watch iplayer; Go upstairs to find wee on the bathroom floor; clean floor; Plum and I bath; Plum stops crying; get out of the bath; Plum starts crying; dress Plum; Daddy arrives home (God be praised!) Plum smiles for daddy; feed Plum and put her to bed (why did I not think to try feeding her before... probably because she has got herself a nice little rhythm going on and it would have been unusual for her to want to feed now..but it is hot...silly me, must engage brain more) Daddy baths/ washes the boys and does teeth etc. Pumpkin screaming he wants to get out of the bath but won't let daddy do it; has to wait until I have settled Plum.
1900: Get Pumpkin out of bath and read him stories; daddy does stories and prayers with Bean; both want to say thank you for K and our neighbour. Daddy gets Bean some water; Pumpkin wants me to stay with him and cuddle; nip downstairs to let daddy know where his dinner is; pick up Pumpkin's bedtime toy; go and cuddle Pumpkin; come and sit with daddy and converse a while whilst daddy eats; receive phonecall from lovely friend.
2000: Begin tidy up operation. Daddy takes the garden I take the house; check emails; write blog; have tea and chocolate; daddy brings in laundry and hangs up today's lot.
1000: Hopefully bed.
