We started the week with Finlay coming out of isolation on Sunday but we still had most of the week with Florence still in isolation due to her preschool bubble being sent home. We thankfully got to enjoy our weekend after isolation ended so we could celebrate Teddy’s Birthday and enjoy a trip to Helmsley swimming Pool in the Yorkshire Moors.
We have really had to juggle everything around one of us always being at home this week. I felt a little disappointed as I really wanted to enjoy her last ever preschool weeks with a few days out just me and her before the others are off for the holidays. I would say that we had plenty of quality time together in the house but the reality was that I had quite a bit of work and housework to do.
This meant that she ended up with a bit too much Cbeebies babysitter in-between Dougie who thankfully kept stopping between meetings to play a game or do a jigsaw with her. To be fair she was as happy as Larry with it all. I think it’s us mummies that give ourselves a hard time with the dreaded mum guilt. I took the picture above after we had spent some time in the garden together on her last day of isolation. We checked her magic beanstalk that she brought home from pre-school and it had surprisingly grown really well! We took this pic to share with her teachers!
Moving on from the isolation, we moved into the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed the good (albeit a tad too warm!) weather. I’m not complaining though as I love a bit of heat, just not when I have to do anything in it! Once Flo was free from isolation we invited Teddy’s best friend over in the garden for a paddling pool afternoon to celebrate his birthday.
On Sunday, on his actual birthday we had a lovely day. After a lazy morning of present opening and family Facetime we split up for a few hours whilst I took Florence for her first Birthday party of one of her own friends group. It’s crazy to think that this is the first time she and lots of others are only just getting to go to nursery / preschool parties due to the pandemic. She got all dressed up in a lovey white dress and a few accessories and had a lovely time in her friend’s garden.
On return from the party we drove up to Helmsley and visited the town’s outdoor swimming pool for a treat for Teddy’s birthday. We have visited Helmsley Pool before but on such a hot day it seemed even better than we remembered it to be.
There is just something special about being able to swim outdoors in Yorkshire with the hills in the distance and the sun shining down. We spent 2 hours there for the fun session and it was fab. It was a pre-book session and there were just the right amount of people there to feel safe. They have resurfaced the pool area so it looks really smart and there were tables and chairs with parasols for us to take a break from the sun and have a drink and a snack when needed. it really was just what we all needed after a busy week of juggling and tired end of term children.
The big two haven’t swam for nearly a year due to Covid and the fact they no longer have swimming lessons meant they really loved being back in the water. We also haven’t swam all together since being in the sea last summer, so it really made us all smile and made for the perfect way to celebrate Teddy’s day.
We left Helmsley and arrived home, where my mum had got the dinner ready and we finished off with a homemade Birthday cake that Daisy and I had enjoyed making together the day before.
I’m going to sign off here now as I’m typing this up late after a busy day. We have one more full week of school left and we’re so ready for the holidays. Late starts, relaxed bedtimes and no more busy Sunday evenings organising for the start of the school week. Whether you’ve already finished or are finishing this week, we wish you a lovely summer holidays. I think we all deserve the break after navigating yet another weird year of schooling!
Visiting Helmsley Swimming Pool
- They’re currently operating via online pre-booking.
- We chose a 2 hour fun session.
- They have tables and chairs (some with parasols).
- It cost us £22 for our family of six. Spectators also have to pay to attend.
- There is a play park and playing fields next to the pool which is also a good spot for a picnic.
You can read last weeks Living Arrows here
It looks like Teddy had a great birthday – and that pool looks fab too! x
It sounds like you’ve had a brilliant week, despite the isolation at the start. The outdoor swimming pool looks ace – I don’t think we’ve got anything like that near here 🙂
Lovely pics and the swimming pool sounds great! 🙂 xx
What a fantastic place to be in a heatwave! It looks great. I know what you mean about the mum guilt, it’s tough when they are isolating and you’ve got to carry on as normal x
I can not remember the last time I went to a Lido or swimming! It looks so much fun. Harry is the same he has not really expert any birthday parties at all.