Back to routine!

Oh my goodness.......it is absolutely FREEZING outside.

        This morning was the first early rise in order to get three of the youngest children off to school It is their first day back and boy was it a struggle. No-one wanted to get, everyone as cold, no-one could find their uniforms and one had a tummy ache already.

At least I was half organised and made packed lunches the night before and polished their shoes. Dad had laid the table ready for breakfast too which helped.

The next drama was discovering one of the bike tyres had a puncture. We have spent 3 years cycling to school each morning. It's 6 miles a day and for one year it was 9 miles due to my youngest still being in pre-school and only doing half days. If there is one change I can encourage you to make is switch the car for a bike. It really does not make much difference to time because you find alley ways and back routes where a car cannot go. It's so much healthier for you. Every day I raise my heart rate and push through the burn knowing I'm doing my body good. What's even better is the children are keeping fit and healthy.

The route we take is phenomenal. The sights and sounds we experience makes a nice relaxed journey as we see the horses and hear birds. We pass people along the way, commuting to work and just a smile or say "morning" actually makes a change to their day if they were feeling a little grumpy so early. It teaches the children manners and to be friendly too. We talk to each other on our journey and discuss what they are going to get up to today, what they would like for dinner in the evening? what their favourite subject is today? etc. It's also good on the way home, if they have had a bad day then cycling home and talking can de-stress them before they get in the front door. It makes for a nice pleasant evening.

So, the bike had  a puncture.....back up plan, dig out the scooter! They still complained all the way to school, hopefully the day got better and they are in a much better mood now they have seen their friends and completed their first day.

This is what every morning is like. Bikes everywhere. We do not have a side alley as out house is mid terrace. The solution we came up with was to put bike storage in the front garden to stop bringing the bikes through the house every day. It would really mess the floor up.

We made it on time and I made it home in the warm. Food shop arrived, dog walked and bathed, window cleaner been,  new iron arrived (January sales) so it looks like this evening will be ironing.....oh the joys! It's just been one of those days, but I'm thankful for waking up this morning.