Let me introduce to today’s guest blogger Sarah and the rest of her clan from Chez Lee.

Sarah’s enjoyment of her children and Wellington just beam through her writing. Their family of 4, now have 5 members in it. Like other mother’s in her position she is discovering a different kind of rhythm now that she is a mother to a baby, pre-schooler and a school aged child. It is such a privilege to share this journey with her through her writing. Here she is introducing her gorgeous girls:

Charlotte,

Age 7:

Sarah – Mummy, blogger, cook, cleaner, entertainer, mediator, general dogs body Wrapped up warm on last day of term down at Lyall Bay.

Thanks for inviting me to do a guest post Meeks Happy Holidays everyone, from Chez Lee x
When the rhythm changes it can sometimes take a while to adjust. In term time we march to the beat of a drum. In the holidays we get to hold the drum sticks and beat out a rhythm of our own. It takes us a day or two to find our groove, to let go of our individual routines and pull together as a merry band. When we find our beat the fun really begins; we rediscover our creativity and revel in free time to discover and play.

We bake and take time to eat together. No hurried breakfasts and boxed up lunches.

We paint and create, with inspiration aplenty on the Internet. This week we’re inspired by a link on the ‘Crafty Crow‘ to make our own tissue paper window collage. We’re also planning to make wool pom pom balls (a first for my girls).

Painting is a favourite and we have upcoming Birthday cards to make (and Charlotte is working on her Birthday thank you cards).

We remember toys that gather dust in term time. Whilst the rain and wind beat down we open the toy chest and play our favourite board games; snakes & ladders, junior scrabble, charades, monopoly, memory…

We build Lego towns, string beads together, make up a batch of play dough. We dance and sing, jump around, crawl under sheets and feel the pulse of physical freedom. We hammer out some notes on the piano and learn some chords on the guitar.

We delve into activity books, read and play games on the Internet.

And of course we have the practical jobs of housework too – but even these can be fun when we all pull together. Help is often forthcoming when a squirty bottle of warm, bubbly water is involved My girls are good at helping with dusting, cleaning the kitchen surfaces, the floors and the sinks. They volunteer to do the windows – when the rain stops and the sun shines (usually getting drenched in the process!).

The housework is usually rewarded with a trip out and a hot chocolate, ice cream or smoothie By the second week of the holiday we are really getting in the groove and realize, with sadness, that we have only one more week together – and it isn’t enough.

When the weather is fine we hang out at the beach, visit the gardens and play on the waterfront. So many playgrounds and spaces to run. Places to walk and explore.

When the wind and rain won’t let up we brave the crowds for a couple of hours at Te Papa, The New Dowse, City Art Gallery and Museum of City and Sea. We swim at the pool (so many to choose from in Wellington), we take our wheels for a spin at the rec centre, we cosy up for stories in the library.

And at the end of the day, when the curtains are drawn early to keep us warm in the mid-winter gloom, we pop on a movie, light candles, switch on some fairy lights for a little cheer and cuddle up with cushions and blankets aplenty.

Ah, having written this post I am now feeling so positive about the holidays and have just enjoyed a trip down memory lane looking at the past year’s school holiday blog posts on Chez Lee. I don’t want them to end! Here’s to beating our own drum and dancing a merry tune!