familytastic!

After I walked out of my parents' house on Saturday, I proceeded to do exactly what I'd promised the boys. I took them out and we had an excellent day together.

I had taken Daniel to a little harbour round the coast called Portbradden earlier in the week. While the weather wasn't wonderful, we managed quite a lengthy walk that revealed some interesting little places along the coast. It was then that I resolved to come back at the weekend for further adventures.

Well, we were a family of six for the last week or so. Lisa's mother and stepfather went over to Italy for her sister's wedding, leaving the younger brother in our protective custody!

I've heard it said that once you get past a certain number of children, one more doesn't make a difference. However, with a ten year old, he's more help than hindrance anyway and while I was out at work during the day, he'd be helping Lisa around the house.

I found it a bit harder in some respects because making time for a 10 year old is different to making time for our younger kids. Nathan wants to do different things and sees himself as more of an adult than a child, so he was a bit high-handed with the young-uns! I don't think when ours are that age it'll be a big deal, just with the age gap between Nathan and the others it's hard to play to both audiences!

Regardless of that, we had a pretty good time - went out a couple of afternoons and had some fun in Antrim town and up the North Antrim coast at the weekend, stopping in Waterfoot to be sandblasted on a very windy beach (or exfoliated, to put a positive spin on it) and then over to Kinbane Castle to view the always-breathtaking ruins that stand there.