Its The Simple Things In Life..

So today is the last Saturday before the kids go back/start school.

I had heard the weather was meant to be full of sunshine and high temperatures so we got some picnic food yesterday and planned to go to Cassiobury Park.

You can find out about Cassiobury Park Here -

http://cassioburypark.info/cassiobury-park-childrens-attractions/

However on waking up this morning, the weather hadnt turned out as promised. It was cloudy, breezy and looked as if it might rain at any second.

After a whole morning of umming and ahhing, firstly with me trying to get in at the dentist (and not succeeding) due to a half finished root canal on a tooth of mine (more about that later), we John decided that we would go to a local park nearby.

I really didnt want to go. Firstly its a small, secluded park set in a field with a little community centre next to it. It seldom has any visitors apart from when there is a function going on and its not atall like the wonders of Cassiobury Park or any other large family fun/adventure place.

But with the weather being so tempermental, and John insisting it would be ok, i begrudgingly packed the picnic and off we went.

When we got there and had set everything out, wrenched the kids off the play equipment and started to eat, the sun came out and it felt quite nice sitting there in peace.

Once everything had been eaten, the wasps and ants brushed away and the kids happily playing on the park equipment i lay back on the picnic blanket and began to relax.

The sun was out, the kids were happy, we could see them from where we were sitting, there was no crowds to worry about, no water to watch them like a hawk around, no where they could run out of sight from us and we actually managed a conversation.

Maybe this wasnt such a bad idea after all i thought to myself as i pictured the scene in Cassiobury Park; Trying to get a parking space in the over filled carpark, us frantically chasing after excited children running amock through the adventure playground, us lugging our picnic and bags around from pillar to post so the children could go and do everything they fancied, us keeping an eye on three children splashing in the pools, us then having to round them up, get them dried, dressed and back into the car amid tantrums and cries of 'Nooo! I dont want to go hooooome!' and us getting home frazzled, grouchy and tired times five.

No, this was actually quite nice. 'I could get used to this' I told myself as i relaxed on the blanket and soaked up the sun. John had grown bored of my conversation and had run off to join the kids on the slides, so for a few precious moments it was just me, and some peace and quiet. Bliss!

As i watched them all running around laughing, shouting and having a whale of a time with their daddy i had to smile in spite of myself and agree with John that it actually was alright after all, and in fact it was more than alright because i actually really enjoyed my afternoon.

John, the biggest kid of them all!

How he and Katie landed LOL

Sophie who had to walk around and eat her lunch!

Who needs a busy, stressful, chaotic afternoon trying to have fun with the kids when sometimes the simple and so effortless things in life are just as good, if not better?

For a couple of uninterrupted hours, the kids had a relaxed and happy mummy and daddy all to themselves. They got to run and play as they wished without having to wait turns or deal with someone elses bullying children, they didnt nag for the bouncy castle, water, ice creams and whatever else they would have asked for at Cassiobury Park because there simply wasnt any of this at our local park. They were simply unrestricted, free and HAPPY.

And thats really, all that counts :)

PS: Just dont tell John he was right!!