A Wale of a time (sorry!)


Toddler wearing Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler and older brother wearing twinning Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler and older brother wearing twinning Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Next swimwear at the sandy beaches of Freshwater East, South Wales
Travel
#wales2018 #daysout

It feels like months ago when in reality only a few weeks have passed since we were last in Wales, filling every spare minute with the beach, soaking up the sunshine, dipping our toes in the water, smothering the children with so much sun cream they end up looking like miniature sand monsters within minutes of our arrival. It doesn't always stop the stress, travelling with young children can be a challenge in itself (though both the boys are amazing in the car, opting either to sleep or entertain themselves with passing landmarks; only occasionally choosing to partake in the battle of the last Wotsit) and Jesse was unwell with a fever so all the medicines, syringes and thermometer refills were packed, but there's also something refreshing about handling the stress in a different setting, where the mundanity of the old routine fades away for a short while and allows you to focus that leftover energy on simply being a family.

Boy wearing Le Petit Germain t-shirt and trilby straw hat at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Friendly robin amongst the flowers at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Boy wearing Le Petit Germain t-shirt and trilby straw hat at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Toddler wearing Hugo Loves Tiki gelato shorts and trilby hat standing on the bridge at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Toddler wearing Bobux driftwood sandals in black ash at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Boy swinging over the river on rope swing laughing wearing trilby hat at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Boy swinging over the river on rope swing laughing wearing trilby hat at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Boy swinging over the river on rope swing laughing wearing trilby hat at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Boy swinging over the river on rope swing laughing wearing trilby hat at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Toddler wearing Bobux driftwood sandals in black ash at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Toddler wearing Bobux driftwood sandals in black ash at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Toddler wearing Bobux driftwood sandals in black ash at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Toddler wearing Bobux driftwood sandals in black ash at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Brothers wearing Bobux driftwood sandals in black ash splashing and paddling in the stream at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust Toddler wearing Bobux driftwood sandals in black ash at Colby Woodland Gardens, National Trust

As well as umpteen visits to the beach, we visited Colby Woodland Garden as it was just down the road from us and it was a wonderful place to adventure and explore. The gardens are huge and a small stream zig-zags through the middle of them, awash with cobblestones and log bridges, rope swings and climbing trees, plenty of places to bare our feet and paddle and gorge on ice-cream whilst watching the little robin with the big personality (who clearly gets a lot of attention from visitors) hop around our feet, preparing to snap up the leftover crumbs dropping from the boy's sticky fingers.

Toddler and pre-schooler brothers wearing Bobo Choses, Maed for Mini and 1+ in the Family clothes and Bobux driftwood sandals at Folly Farm, Wales Toddler and pre-schooler brothers wearing Bobo Choses, Maed for Mini and 1+ in the Family clothes and Bobux driftwood sandals at Folly Farm, Wales Toddler and pre-schooler brothers wearing Bobo Choses, Maed for Mini and 1+ in the Family clothes and Bobux driftwood sandals at Folly Farm, Wales Toddler and pre-schooler brothers wearing Bobo Choses, Maed for Mini and 1+ in the Family clothes and Bobux driftwood sandals at Folly Farm, Wales Mother and son in the go-karts at at Folly Farm, Wales Mother and son in the go-karts at at Folly Farm, Wales Visiting the penguins at Folly Farm, Wales Boy on the cars ride at the vintage funfair at Folly Farm, Wales Visiting the penguins at Folly Farm, Wales Visiting the penguins at Folly Farm, Wales Visiting the giraffes at Folly Farm, Wales Visiting the giraffes at Folly Farm, Wales

Folly Farm is just down the road from where we stay and as Jesse was but a babe in arms for our last visit, we knew he'd love it now he's a walking, talking almost-two year old (*sobs*) whose favourite words are "LELL-LOW" and "MORE!". Jesse is the sensitive one, an animal lover, so feeding the baby goats, nattering away to the donkeys and stroking the rabbits and guinea pigs would've been the highlight of his day; Archie's, on the other hand, were the funfair rides and go-karts. We didn't realise we'd forgotten the baby essentials, nappies & wipes, until Jesse had dropped an almighty number 2 and the seagulls flew in and devoured the last of our chicken bites, but we still had a great day.

Pre-schooler wearing Bobo Choses winner t-shirt taking a nap at holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Pre-schooler wearing Bobo Choses winner t-shirt taking a nap at holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Pre-schooler wearing Bobo Choses winner t-shirt taking a nap at holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Pre-schooler wearing Bobo Choses winner t-shirt taking a nap at holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler clutching teddy bear and dog soft toy walking on a warm Summer's evening outside the holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Made for Mini vest and crown holding magic wand in the golden hour on a warm Summer's evening outside the holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Made for Mini vest and crown holding magic wand in the golden hour on a warm Summer's evening outside the holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Made for Mini vest and crown holding magic wand in the golden hour on a warm Summer's evening outside the holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Made for Mini vest and crown holding magic wand in the golden hour on a warm Summer's evening outside the holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales Toddler wearing Made for Mini vest and crown holding magic wand in the golden hour on a warm Summer's evening outside the holiday home in Freshwater East, South Wales

The week we were away also happened to be during the 2018 world cup and I'll forever remember the evening where I took the photos of the boys above in the golden hour because a) England got kicked out and b) I got some beautiful shots as the sun was setting and they're probably some of the best photos I've taken (the better shots from our shoot will be featured in Jesse's birthday letter next week and I'm so proud of them).

Boy wearing Bobo Choses and H&M velvet leggings at Tredegar House, National Trust in Newport, Wales Painted boots used as plant pots at Tredegar House, National Trust in Newport, Wales Boy dressing up in vintage clothes and cloaks at Tredegar House, National Trust in Newport, Wales Halloween models such as Frankenstein at Tredegar House, National Trust in Newport, Wales

On the way home, we stopped in at Tredegar House to break up the journey and happened across a few unusual things (I loved those old boots they'd planted in above) and stumbling across the Halloween models in the last stable on the right (sounds like the title of a horror movie) scared the crap out of the boys (and possibly me).

We managed to squeeze a lot into one week whilst still being able to keep within our own little bubble. I'm trying to stop myself worrying about the little things (something I'm very good at) and enjoy it instead; I'm all too aware that the boys are growing so fast and I love this, being parent to two young kids, it's blissful and difficult and challenging and awesome and I know I will miss it one day, so for now I'm aiming to feel every moment, whether it's good, bad, or a carpet covered in poo (that happened just this morning).

A family holiday to Freshwater East, Pembrokshire, with days out to Folly Farm, Colby Woodland Garden and Tredegar House
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