A day in the life of...

I'm feeling less like an Earth Mother and more like a frazzled firework at the moment! It's been five weeks since I had a landline or internet connection, we finally got it all sorted yesterday and it's such a relief! For half of that time, Chloe was on an amazing trip with my parents to visit my brother in America so being out-of-touch has been awful! But I'm back, plugged in and planning to blog my way back to sanity. So here's what our crazy existence is like right now:

Wake up way too early, listen to Phil slamming doors and stomping about getting ready for work, hoping (in vain) that he'll remember to take out the rubbish and check outside the kitchen door to see how many headless gifts the cat has left us. Play peepo throughout a two minute shower as smiley baby can't bear me to go out of her sight right now. Also watch small gorgeous boy prancing about on the bed in his pants and a wizard hat.

Attempt to converse with tired biggest girl and eventually give up trying to persuade her to get dressed as she's intent on feeding all of her soft toy animals. Throw random food at children and brush teeth, rushing out of house late as usual, stepping over a small bike and a banana on the doorstep...Sprint to school, thankful all the way that we no longer have to drive 15 miles down the motorway to get there, and say goodbye to biggest girl. Slowly walk back through town chatting to lots of people (and ignoring lots of looks at the rainbow sling which isn't discreet enough for this town...) and go to the farmers' market for lovely spelt bread and delicious-looking things from a veggie deli stall which has never been there before. Buy things as instructed for biggest girl to bake and ice tonight - she saw beautiful cupcakes for vast amounts of money at the market last week and plans to develop her icing skills as her cakes already taste better.

Pop into charity shop...and stay there for ages as they have lots of beautiful baby things and a lovely dress which fits me perfectly and will be great for one of the strings of weddings we have coming up! I haven't ever spent so much in a charity shop and I shouldn't have spent so much this week really but for £20 in all, these were amazing bargains.Walk back via park, where small boy drives the train and races around until it starts to rain, so walk home, step over the banana again and hang out the washing (on the covered washing line which is the best idea ever!). Have a minor dispute about where small boys should play (I think not in the middle of the road, he thinks it's fine), and then another about whether it's a good idea to walk in the firepit.

Come inside, build marble run (great breastfeeding activity!), change smiley baby's nappy and watch small boy dive over the back of a chair while attempting to write a blog post...and it's only just lunchtime.

I love it here. I really do. The house is characterless but friendly, light, practical and homely. The garden is a dream. The school is close and brilliant, the people are friendly and welcoming. And less than five minutes from our house we have this: For Daddies and biggest girls to swing, and for small boys to dance.