Our summer.

It seems (probably because it is!) an awfully long time since K & M were away at korfball camp, which is when I last blogged.  They both had a great time, although M did have a nosebleed on the final evening when she was accidentally punched in the face by a 16 year boy.  He was understandably absolutely mortified, and even more so when he found out that she'd voted for him as the 'campers' camper', as having been particularly friendly or helpful!  M came home with a trophy for the top girl scorer over the week for the practice shooting that they did each morning and she got 20/20 on the final day.  While there, as well as plenty of korfball, a run and wide games every day, they went kayaking and did high ropes and abseiling, as well as on a trip to a waterpark.  I think it's fairly likely that they will be back there next year.

We have seen various friends in various places, including the lovely Ma, who came to stay for a few days.  She came along to the Summer Scientists at the university.  K & M really enjoy this, although sadly it's the last time K will be able to take part at least officially.  We were told she might be able to go along as an older sibling next year though.

The girls and I went to stay with my parents for a few days while A went to the US for a meeting (flying out on the Monday for the meeting on the Tuesday and home after an overnight flight on the Wednesday morning!) and while there we met up with my friend S and her four children.  It was a happy coincidence that they were staying just for one night with her cousin, who lives in Stratford-on-Avon and we were able to join them there for a cuppa while the children all played in the garden.  We also went to Mary Arden's Farm, Halls' Croft and Shakespeare's Birthplace.  Rather sadly, some of the Shakespeare Aloud actors who perform in the garden, and whom K & M consider friends, have moved on, but we met one of the replacements, Steve, who although he has some big shoes to fill, seems very promising!  K & M also went to a sewing workshop, the third year they have done this, where they made some very cute owl doorstops and paperweights.  M and I have made some more since at home.

Mine is the big one on the left, all the rest are M's made either at the workshop or at home.

K & M were booked in to do three days of gymnastics, one day soon after they were back from korfball camp and two days later on in the month.  Unfortunately M sprained her wrist (the same one she broke which caused her to miss two days of gymnastics last summer!) and couldn't go to the second and third days.  She was not happy, but quite sanguine about it and desperate to be able to go climbing with friends later that week, which fortunately she was!  While K went to gymnastics, M and I had one day when we had lunch in town and the second we went to the cinema to see Inside Out.

We had friends come for part of the Bank Holiday weekend and as well as introducing us to a new game, Smash Up, we went on the Sky Trail High Ropes at Holme Pierrepont and to the National Forest Wood Fair.  The weather wasn't ideal, but it wasn't too bad either.  M and Ma both did some pyrography, burning a picture onto wood and M and I did some willow weaving with help.

M's very sturdy little willow basket.

We've also seen local friends quite a bit, and also sadly had to deal with one of the perils of growing up as one of their friends has decided she'd rather spend time with other people or on her own than with K & M, although I am grateful that her mum made it possible for me to help K & M with this by letting me know honestly what was happening.

One thing that K & M have been doing quite a lot of, variously individually in M's case, the two or them together or with other people including both adult and child friends and me, is making either photo- or little video-stories.  Some of them are quite short, but others are really quite extended and have involved writing signs to go between photos, setting up scenes for their toys to be put into and making props and even costumes.

I'm sure there's plenty more that we've been up to, but those are some of the highlights anyway.