Officially summer

There are certain things that indicate that summer has arrived aren't there? For me, in no particular order:
Not being able to see through the tears or smell through my nose due to the pollen, failing to get a Father's day card to either of our Dad's on time, my Mum's birthday, that ever-present music from the elusive ice-cream van (he's torturing me!), seeing a bit more of Mark now that his timetable is lighter because of exam time, that snake of hose becoming an almost permanant fixture across the lawn, the car sitting in the drive all day because it's actually nice enough to walk, the moth 'sweep' as I enter a room, the paddling pool!

Yep, yesterday it was decided that it was worth getting out the paddling pool. This year we are premiering the super-duper pool that we were given by our friends- the lovely Matt and Anna- who felt their garden was too small to accomodate it. It's a lovely big pool (for a toddler- I'm not practising for the Olympics or anything) with an integral sun canopy, and it's nice and sturdy so it can be a pretty permanant fixture throughout the summer.
It was brilliant out in the garden yesterday, I noticed that all the toys that were in the garden had been given to us, and I felt cherished. Most of all though, both Mark and I felt blessed by God when we saw how big and beautiful the garden he gave us is. Please come and enjoy it with us any time! (Unless you're a strange stalker who doesn't actually know us- then you'll have to at least give us a ring first okay?)