....to get up this morning and want to celebrate the fact it's now nearer the END of the school hols than the beginning?

[Tittybangbang]

Gather ye here moaning minnies and join in the festivities!

We now have 21 days to go until school resumes.

21.

Count'em.

[Flamesparrow]

aww i'm enjoying them DD isn't, she keeps asking for school

[mrsmalumbas]

I'm enjoying them too. Mind you I work in term time and so this is a holiday for me too. I am feeling sad about DD2 starting reception in September - she's only 4 at the end of August and she seems such a wee little thing. So I really don't want the holidays to end.

[Crocky]

Noooooooo, I work term time and it means I have to go back to work. Was quite happily pootling along thinking it was ages off yet.

[SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore]

what you all need is a really difficult dc(s) and a mum who is signed off sick from work and is a intefering doting nana.

my parents keep taking dd1 camping and on day trips. she is at beamish today and was at the cinema yesterday at the weekend sil had us all camping with her and during last week dd had two days camping with nana.

nana is going back to work next but has day trips planned for her days off.

i have hardly seen dd1 during the holidays.

dd is very difficult to handle at times so i get loads of breaks from her, but she has been reasonably good this year. she is happy playing dora pc games untill its time to go whereever we are going.

[fruitful]

I have this holiday all planned out like a military operation. Today, dd is doing a holiday club and I'm taking the boys to indoor play at the leisure centre, followed by puddle-jumping if the rain ever stops.

I am loving not having to do the school run. But, yes, I'm counting the days.

If I don't keep ds1 (3) constantly busy / exercised, he jumps on ds2 (8mo). Or goes and breaks dd's toys. He starts nursery-school 5 mornings a week in September and it can't come soon enough. He'll love it and it will wear him out, so the afternoons together will be pleasant instead of stressful.

[fruitful]

Caprica, I'm a bit sad that I'm not getting to enjoy holidays with my dd(6) like that - owing to being bounced on by ds1 and screamed at by ds2.

I'm hoping for a few peaceful years in between when ds2 is old enough to be a little buddy, and when dd hits the teenage years.

[SlartyBartFast]

aargh, too quick. still need to buy dd's uniform for senior school, but online and i dont know her size, nor have a tape measure

[nailpolish]

we go back a week today

[Ripeberry]

I'll miss having the girls at home and i've NOT been missing the school run!
But at least the youths down the road might start going to bed earlier as they have been hanging out until 11pm at night and they are only 12yrs old.

[Ripeberry]

The day after school finished i was super efficient and got DD2 her new school shoes and new uniform all ready for September!
Just can't stand the mad rush at the end of summer holidays when the shops are heaving.

[Tittybangbang]

If I only had dd1 (9) and ds1 (5 in September) I'd be really enjoying myself as they are up for doing all sorts. We could go to the cinema, swimming, the library, we could eat out, we could go to galleries and sign up for all the lovely arts and crafts activities they do at museums.

BUT

ds2 (just 3) is completely hyperactive and you can't take the little bugger chap anywhere.......... including swimming, as you can't take two children under 5 swimming together at any of our local swimming pools.

So we've been indoors or in the garden or park most of the holiday. ds1 and ds2 have created a swamp with compost, water and mud with which they have on numerous occasions pelted each other/the windows/the fence. Then they come and walk it all through the house. They've fought LOADS...... sigh...... dd wants to do stuff like junk modelling, cake making etc, but ds2 can't settle to anything - it's really hard to co-ordinate a sustained activity that all three can do.

And the house is degenerating into such a state - I'm not a tidy freak but it's got to the point where it SMELLS, plus I can't find anything. When do you find the time to do the things that have to be done - shopping, cooking, cleaning? By the time they go to bed in the evening I'm on my knees.

And I feel so guilty that dd1 is having such a boring holiday.

[SlartyBartFast]

ripeberry you are far too organised

[hippipotami]

oooooh nooooooo, I don't want them to go back to school. Mind you, mine are 9 (well, he will be on Sunday) and 5, and are just great fun to be with.

I love not having the pressure of hte school run, I love not having to help with homework, I love not having to rush to after-school clubs or activities, I love not having to stress over 'playdates' [shudder at the term], I love not having to deal with anything to do with school.

So far we have met up with a few friends from school for days out, the dc have both done a weeks swimming course, we have met up with two Mumsnetters and their dc [great fun!] and on Thursday we are on our holiday in Holland for 10 days.
When we come back ds (9) will have a sleep over at a friend's house, and we still have 4 days set aside where we are meeting friends etc.
And then it will be back to school

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[SlartyBartFast]

well - in my defence DD has been away - only just back - but still doesnt stop the panic - and of course i could have bought it before the hols like some people

[Oliveoil]

I love the holidays

no rushing about in the morning etc

we were in the park with macs and wellies yesterday, in puddles, in the stream

cafe break

home

what is not to like?

[Tittybangbang]

DS starts in reception in September, and ds2 starts in nursery 9.30 - 3.30. Come the new school year I'll have 5 hours a day ALL TO MYSELF, something I haven't had for the 9 years since dd was born.

I'm hungry for it. Starving.

I'm going to learn to play piano, start my own business, redecorate the house from top to bottom, build a patio, write a novel, train as a bf counsellor, rejoin the MSLC, lose 2 stone, swim 10 miles a week and do yoga every day.

Looking at it written down, I wonder if I'm being a bit optimistic about how much I'm actually going to get done while the kids are out the house during the day.

[Ledodgy]

I have mixed feelings as it's only dd that goes to school. On the one hand I won't miss the fighting between dd and ds1 but I will miss the slightly more relaxing mornings and am not looking forward to the morning school run delegation madness.

[Oliveoil]

dd2 starts in September so I will have an empty house then for the two days I am off

more tiime for cleaning and ironing!

[FluffyMummy123]

Message withdrawn

[Oliveoil]

as soon as my house sale goes through

have just sold (again!) but am not holding my breath

[pointydog]

back to work/school next week - oh noes