Only a mother could love him!

Our day out yesterday seemed to go pleasantly on forever. We walked, talked and picnicked in the sun. The younger children took off their wellies and socks and paddled about in muddy puddles, hands went in too. I relish the way they are free to play like this. The older two strutted about a bit, as is their pre teenage way, they too would have paddled in muddy pools, once.

Later we bonded over the dining table, 8 of us happily eating together, no formalities, no pretence, confident in

each others company.

By the time Tall Girl, Small Sprog and I returned home it was dark and I couldn't wait to get Small Sprog in the bath to scrub off the mud. There is a certain joy, from a mothers point of view, of having a clean Small Sprog! Once clean and out though, he was off and looking for fun. It was nearly bedtime but I did have one thing waiting to do with him. I produced two yogurt pots and some string. He smiled gleefully, he'd been asking to do

this for ages, we made holes and attached the string.

His face lit up when it worked, string stretched tightly, him in the hall and me in the kitchen. We played for a while, then suddenly he said

"Just a minute"

"What's the matter" I asked, and then I realised.

He put his yogurt pot on his bottom and farted into it!

Can you believe it? A massive great big one.

And do you know what? It resounded in my ear as

though I was right next to him. Lovely. I suspect he's

been planning that all along.