Last week was Squidge's first holiday, we were due to set off on Monday with Granny and Grandpa to stay at St Brides castle in Penbrokeshire for a week. On the Friday before Fidget was very excited about the idea of a holiday, cottages, swimming and the beach.



Here she is with a drawing she did of me and Squidge...

We decided to borrow an idea from Sophie's mum Sharon and start a sticker chart for Fidget to record her "potty progress", here she is on the first day proudly showing off her two "wee" stickers and her two "poo" stickers...

very proud...!

Granny and Grandpa stayed with us over the weekend. On Saturday we went to visit Aunty M and Uncle A, where the potty progress wasn't so marked (sorry about your hall carpet guys!), we did have a lovely lunch out and a really nice day.

Sunday was mainly spent with me packing the mountain of stuff we felt we needed to holiday with two wee ones, while Granny and Grandpa entertained the girls.

We set off on Monday morning, stopping on the way for lunch at a service station. It was a very good journey, Squidge slept most of the way and Fidget was an angel just chatting or playing with Bear or her sticker books. We arrived at our cottage in the old stables of the castle, mid-afternoon. Squidge proceeded to have a good look around...

Fidget was very impressed with her bedroom, which had a little low window (with a sea view no less) that she could sit in, and her own en suite! perfect for the potty training princess.

On Tuesday Squidge was 17 weeks old. It was a damp, cold and windy day. We went to Littlehaven for lunch, which is a beautiful cove. We had a yummy lunch at the Swan Inn, sat in a window seat, near a roaring fire, looking out at the rainy bay. It was lovely, but I had forgotten to take my camera. We came back and had a swim, and by then it was quite late, so the birthday photos were a bit improvised...

Fidget at 17 weeks...

Wednesday was also pretty wet and miserable after a slow start we headed out and drove round a few places to find somewhere for lunch, but most places were shut, either for winter or their owners hadn't bothered to get out of bed that morning - which i could well understand!

We eventually found a cafe open at Broadhaven and went inside for hot chocolates and lunch.

After lunch we drove back for more swimming. The pool was really great. Big, quiet, attractively designed and very warm, which was certainly appreciated by both our little swimmers. Squidge loved it and just squeaked and smiled the whole time. Fidget was getting really confident in the water, happy to float around out of her depth just hanging onto a noodle.

Thursday was still damp and grey, but as soon as we saw the rain had stopped we suited up and decided to walk down to the bay just beyond the castle....

We got nearly to the bay after only a short walk down the drive, but found that the path through St Brides church had been locked, so we would have to cross a small stream. As we considered how to do this the heavens opened and so finally, wet and defeated we trudged back to the castle. The rain cleared as we got back, but we were all too soggy to try again.

Fidget was making her own entertainment running round with the sofa arm covers on her head as a cape, but went all coy when the camera came out. The result is a surprisingly lovely photo even if I do say so myself, it is vying with one of Fidget on the beach for "latest favourite Fidget picture"...

Squidge is a real chatterbox, she squeaks all the time, and since the holiday has also added blowing raspberries to her increasing vocabulary. Here she is making her opinion known...

Granny had bought Squidge a lovely denim dress, but it turned out to be a real squeeze to get on her, we were quite worried about how we'd get it off. But it was so nice I wanted to take some pictures as she wouldn't be able to wear it again. So Aunty M - here is one coming your way!

I think in the photos above and below she really looks like M...

though in this one she looks like Yoda "Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm?" ...

Thursday night was really stormy, I though we would wake to find ourselves washed into the bay. But instead we woke to the first sight of blue sky since arriving. We were away in good time and headed back to Broadhaven to give Fidget's kite it's first run on the beach there. The tide was in but there was still some room...

Squidge was getting a bit fed up, so we went back to the same cafe for hot chocolate...

When we'd finished the tide was noticably on the way out, so we had more of a walk along the beach, the wind was fairly mild and Squidge was alot happier facing outwards.

Fidget enjoyed checking out the pebbles

wandering about...

stamping in puddles...

and watching the surfers...

enjoying the sushine!...

We then went back to Littlehaven and had lunch at a different pub, and then explored the bay

Fidget and I went back to the pub to use the loos - she did brilliantly and was dry all week, she certainly prefered to use nice toilets and was not impressed each time I proffered the travel potty, particularly on a windswept beach! The others walked up a path around the cove to a lookout. When we retuned, M, Squidge and I went back up to take pictures while Fidget, Granny and Grandpa played on the beach...

there they are...

Then it was back to the castle for a swim before bed.

Saturday was also glorious, we set out for St. Davids. We stopped at Newgale beach, where we had stopped after Aunty M and Uncle A's wedding. Squiudge was asleep so Granny stayed in the car with a flask and bicuits, while we explored...

It was really beautiful, the sound of the waves on the pebbles was mesmerising

Fidget really enjoyed throwing pebbles into the water

This is my other favourite Fidget picture...

We carried on, having lunch in a cafe just outside St. Davids. Granny took Fidget to the loo and Fidget ran out shouting "I've done a poo and a wee!!!" everyone stopped talking, most people gave us little smiles, some even added their own congratulations to ours!

We walked down to the cathedral.

having a look around the chapel where Aunty M and Uncle A's service was held...

Squidge taking in the architecture...

Then back for one last swim. Due to a poorly ear I stayed out, did a bit of packing, then wandered around to get some photos...

One of the common rooms in the castle, may favourite, but Fidget wasn't sure about the chap in the corner...

The view from the pool room (the table type not swimming). The windows were reallyt beautiful with mirror inlay...

back to see a bit more swimming....

Then on Sunday it was time to head back. Fidget had been dry all week and was very pleased to show off her sticker chart...

It was a really super break. Thanks so much to Granny and Grandpa for organising it and all your help - you made it very relaxing and enjoyable. Thanks from us all.