Joining in with TheBoyAndMe and her linky 365 Project A Photo A Day, Every Day, For A Year! We’ve been in Spain for a week so I’ve saved up a few weeks to post together! Project 365 – Week 9-11 Days 54 – 74 .
Week 9 – Sunday 23rd – Day 54
Chilling out over a drink as we popped out to get some bits for our trip to Spain. Monkey is getting very excited.
Monday 24th – Day 55
My trust old Sony compact camera has finally given up the ghost – or should I say, given up on focussing! Gutted, but with our trip to Spain to celebrate Mum’s birthday coming up later in the week, I needed to act fast. I’d earned a few pennies so upgraded to this Nikon Coolpix Bridge camera – now to practice! Monkey struggled with overtiredness today. Took 20 minutes to get him on the pool for his swimming lesson and he had the biggest meltdown at bedtime 🙁
Tuesday 25th – Day 56
Every morning when Monkey wakes up he comes into my room clutching his beloved Teddy and friends. He’s still half asleep and crashes out on my bed as I get ready. Love this moment, before the chaos of the day begins.
Wednesday 26 – Day 57
Getting organised for the holiday including some things to try out for the blog with Granny and Gramps! I really wanted a chill out evening on Thursday night, so got as much pre-packing done as possible, as we needed to up really early Friday morning.
Thursday 27th – Day 58
Monkey had picked this at school for me! I nearly cried, it was such a lovely little surprise, love that boy!
Friday 28th – Day 59
Now that’s more like it! We arrived at Malaga to sunshine. Sadly by the time we got to my parents it was rather overcast and very windy!
Saturday 1st March – Day 60
Well we’ve brought the English weather with us! It’s raining, windy and cold. But after a tiring day travelling, it’s good to just spend a day with Granny and Gramps. Monkey was so pleased to be with them, sharing Daddy P’s steam train magazine. Gramps grew up in a house that backed on to the railway so he was sharing his steam train memories with Monkey, it was wonderful.
Week 10 – Sunday 2nd – Day 61
We headed out for the day to visit El Chorro and the Dam at Presa Conde de Guadalhorce. But on the way we passed the village of Teba. I’ve been to the Castillo there are number of times over the years, the views are amazing but with no safety barriers at the window openings it’s not a place to take a 4 year Monkey yet. The weather still wasn’t playing fair, but not raining!
Monday 3rd – Day 62
We caught the local coach to Sevilla for the day. One of my favourite cities, it’s flat and really walkable for old and young alike. Loads to keep everyone amused. I hadn’t been back since Monkey arrived on the scene, so it was lovely to show him the sights. By lunchtime the sun came out up to 21 degrees, the coats were off and the sunglasses were on!
Tuesday 4th – Day 63
Happy 70th Birthday Mum! We decamped to Ronda for the day, one of Mum’s favourite places. It’s rather high up, so always colder than other places, 8 degrees – ouch! We had a wonderful birthday lunch at the Parador de Ronda, overlooking the gorge. The staff treated us to complimentary Cava when they realised we were celebrating a special birthday. It was a lovely touch. Monkey decided on a buffet lunch of various cheeses with olives and breads while we were treated to a wonderful gourmet meal. Everyone was happy.
Wednesday 5th – Day 64
The local villages and towns were all gearing up for Carnival time, Mum and Dad’s local village centre had coloured streamers hanging from all the lamp posts. We had a lazy day, and went tractor spotting around the village, much to Monkey’s delight. The John Deere agent has done a very good job in this part of Andalucia!
Thursday 6th – Day 65
A glorious sunny day, perfect bug hunting weather. So off we set for a 2 hour walk in the countryside with Guru Gramps leading the way. Monkey loved it.
Friday 7th – Day 66
Time to come home, it was a lovely week. Monkey had a wonderful time with Granny and Gramps, and I felt like I’d had a break. We were amazed to come home to good weather!
Saturday 8th – Day 67
A lazy day at home, Monkey just wanted to play with his toys, he’d missed them. Suited me as I had a mountain of washing to do. I just love this photograph, it looks like his reflection is wearing a wheelie bin lid as a hat!
Sunday 9th – Day 68
The weather was glorious, so we headed off to our favourite haunt, Blenheim Palace with Daddy P. We decided to visit the formal gardens for a change, as we rarely go that side of the Palace these days. It was lovely, and we visited our ‘NCT picnic tree’, regular blog readers will know we spent practically every Monday from 3 months old under that tree with our buddies – special memories 🙂
Monday 10th – Day 69
Monkey had been sent a Policeman dressing up outfit to review. He’s really chuffed as it goes with his Police Bike. Monkey’s swimming lesson went well once we’d finally convinced him to go in the pool.
Tuesday 11th – Day 70
You can’t keep Monkey away from a train set for long! Granny had bought him a Big Jigs set in Spain that he played with when we were there. But he couldn’t wait to get his set out. I’d bought him an ELC Crane a while ago in the sales, and had been keeping it aside. He finally got to play with it, it’s really rather good, in no time he’d found his Big Jigs Mine set out too and was going from one crane to another – happy chappie.
Wednesday 12th – Day 71
Brewster wasn’t very happy about his staycation at the Cattery and has been sulking a fair bit since we’ve been home. But I think, he’s finally forgiven us.
Thursday 13th – Day 72
Monkey was planning ahead, and deciding what he’d take to school for Show and Tell. We’ve moved on from tractor, tractor, tractor, combine, tractor to a crop sprayer! You can see the theme. Nothing if not obsessed.
Friday 14th – Day 73
We had an Orchard Toys afternoon, I pulled back the kitchen table and we made up the On the Farm, Giant Town and Giant Road jigsaws. Monkey was in his element, it wasn’t long until his toy tractors joined in the fun. I had my first swimming lesson in 20 years, I blew bubbles in the water for the first time in my life!
Saturday 15th – Day 74
I have a really good relationship with my ex-MIL, and Monkey has known her all his life. He absolute adores her, and we spend a day with her once a month. Today was our day to see Special Sheba, and Monkey spent the afternoon in her back garden. Her rockery became a quarry, and her old dumpers and bulldozers set to work. Another afternoon of construction, with a break to fill up her various bird tables with food for the birds.
I am in my 40s and Mum to one boy too. He is 10 and still comes to my bed first thing in the morning. So snuggly. Not sure how much longer he’ll do that for though with
a dolescence if around the corner. Nice to have parents in Spain, lucky you. So sweet when boys doing something sweet and caring, the daisy thing was adorable.
I’m holding onto every day with Monkey, I know he’ll grow up so fast once he’s at school properly!
What a mega busy couple of weeks! Looks like a lovely holiday. Have been debatting over getting the Orchard Toys road puzzle for Max – after seeing how much fun it is, I think I might have to buy it! #project365
It#s certainly been action packed! Can recommend the road puzzle – it really is good, lots of detail too.
Sounds like you have had a fab few weeks Mary! I bet that trip to Spain was just lovely! There would have been tears before the journey home from me in the same situation! Monkey looks like he has had a thoroughly enjoyable time! #Project365
It’s been lovely, so special to see him with his grandparents. A special 70th birthday present for my Mum
WOW you certainly look like you have had a very busy couple of weeks… But how lucky are you to have parents aboard! I wish :D…
I’d swop tomorrow, to have them be here to be honest
Great that you guys managed to get over to Spain for the special birthday. Looks like you had a great time and a busy couple of weeks.
I think N will be following Monkey in taking tractors to show and tell, although at the moment he tends to take in a lot of books to his nurseries – because of course, they don’t have books there!)
I’m waiting for him to ask to take the John Deere catalogue in – I know the day is coming!
awww honey i am so pleased you had a lovely time with your parents xxx x
It was lovely to catch up with them, no sure when we’ll be able to go back.
Wow Mary you’ve been a busy bean! So glad you had a good time in Spain, must have been great catching up with your folks. Monkey must have loved it too 🙂
Yes, it has been a rather full on few weeks, and taken me so long to catch up with stuff now we’re back
Wow, what a busy few weeks! Glad you had such a lovely time with your parents and pleased to see that you managed to fit in a bug hunt 🙂
It has flown by, as family trips always do, but yes, good to get a bit of bug hunting in too!
I definitely think that the break has done you good, there’s an air of calm which radiates throughout this post! The holiday looks lovely, I visited Sevilla many years ago and I’d love to return.
Not sure Daddy P would agree with you!! It’s such a lovely city, I always enjoy visiting.
Some lovely photos, and makes me think I might like to visit Spain one day. Lovely to see your boy enjoying himself and mine always misses his favourite toys when we go away!
Spain is such a beautiful country, I really love visiting.
Gorgeous photos – glad you had a wonderful time.
Thank you, yes it was lovely.
Love the Police uniform! And the giant Orchard Toys play area! Glad to hear you enjoyed your break in Spain.
He loves it, which is actually quite unlike him to really enjoy dressing up.
Looks like you have had a very busy, enjoyable few weeks! 😀
It was lovely to get away
A busy but exciting week glad you had a good holiday 🙂 x #Project365
Thanks, it was lovely to be away.
It looks like you had a lovely time with your parents
It just went too fast as always
How fab being able to pop over to Spain for a break.
I like the giant road. It reminded me of when my son used to have his mats, cars and trains laid out on our big landing.
Glorious photos. Looked like a really special time with family #365
Thank you, it was a lovely way to celebrate Mum’s birthday.
It looks like you had a lovely time in Spain and Monkey sure looks to have been enjoying his toys since you arrived home!
It was lovely to be away, but it was really sweet when Monkey got so excited to see all of his toys again.
We’re loving the giant road jigsaws from Orchard Toys, they’re such good fun aren’t they? Glad you had a good holiday, nice to recharge your batteries at this time of year. Good luck with the new camera, looking forward to seeing the results.
Thanks for linking up to Project 365.
We love Orchard Toys and the giant jigsaws are just great.