This holiday was unfortunately the only one we managed to share with all
four children together in our 11 years as what is sometimes known as a
'blended family'. I wish we had been able to share more together but
somehow 'life' manages to get in the way. We spent holidays with them
individually or in twos but were never able to gather all four together
again; you always think there is so much time... This is one of the
reasons our Longleat holiday is such a cherished memory...
We drove down in two cars; Laura must have drawn the short straw because she came in my car, with the newly passed driver (me), it was felt that as the oldest she was the most sensible and wouldn't distract me...
Laura was navigator in case we lost Graham on the way. We laughed the
whole way down but I think Laura was terrified most of the time
especially on the motorway!
We spent 5 days together, swimming, riding bikes, squirrel spotting from
the chalet, visiting Longleat Animal Park, and just spending time
together. I can still recall Beth and Charlie giggling with Laura about
her fake tan running down her legs at the top of the water slide!
Charlie managed to go head first over his handle bars on a bike far to
big for him. Laura stepped in to 'big sister mode' with him; wiping his
tears whilst giving him advice on how to use the back brakes rather
than the front! Laura and Ollie went quad biking with their dad watching
and holding his breath! Beth went horse riding with me for the first
time, Charlie turned in to Robin Hood with Gra on the archery range. I
think the most fun was had one very wet and muddy day spent running
around the woods with laser guns. Ollie, Gra, and Charlie were fearless
and throwing themselves through bushes and ditches. But Laura, Beth,
and me were a little more sedate about it all! This holiday was in the
June before Gra and I got married in 2009. We took loads of photos to
use as part of a 'big screen' display showing the children through the
years and we had this running whilst we signed the register. As with
all families we had our ups and downs, good times and some not so good;
but there was always love running through and still is.... I was
honoured and proud to be Laura and Oliver's step-mum and I still am...
Xxxx