Family Archives - Laura Rutherford

WOW what a Summer!

10th September 2017 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

WOW what a summer! We had the best 30 days in France and boy did it fly by. We’re so lucky to get to spend all of the summer holidays at a house in rural France. This year there was an extra special occasion, which was my sister’s wedding on the last weekend of August. Half an hour away from the house, we all gathered at a beautiful boutique hotel called Les Orangeries- where lots of friends and family also came to stay and celebrate with us all.

I flew out to France on the 1st August with my two boys and spent two weeks with my parents there. After those two weeks, my husband drove out, then over the following days my siblings and their families. This year was a particularly FULL HOUSE! At one point there were 15 of us; 9 adults, 4 children and 2 one year old toddlers! There was laughter, singing, dancing, tears, tantrums… you name it, we had it all.

We all go back summer after summer and over the last few years we’ve discovered even more hidden gems and beautiful areas to visit. Considering we are so rural, it often on average takes between 20-50 minutes to drive anywhere. Luckily all of the children are used to those drives now, so it’s pretty normal for us all. Spending all year living in central London, it really is a breath of fresh air (quite literally) spending so much time in the countryside. We have everything we need at the house and when we are there we really don’t need much. We all have each other and with it being such familiar territory, the children and their cousins are all comfortable with their surroundings. It’s summers in France that always remind us how little we really need. Simple pleasures are what it’s all about.

The house is situated in a tiny hamlet, on the edge of a national park: Parc Naturel Régional de la Brenne, in the South West of France. We are spoilt for choice in terms of beautiful villages, towns and Lakes to visit. These are some of our favourite places we like to visit time and time again;

Montmorillon

Known as the ‘City of Writing’, this is a very old and charming town, with a stunning gothic bridge over the river running through the town centre. Each time we’re there it’s beauty takes us aback. Montmorillon has everything you need- convenience shops, cafe’s, bars and restaurants. We love to have tea and scones in ‘Kim’s Cafe’ which is on the bridge and has a terrace on the river bank. Kim is an English lady who has lived there for years, so she has continued to be a great source of information for us. For yummy burgers and frites, there is a lovely small food shack on the other side of the bridge which has a large outside terrace and the food and drinks are so cheap: 1 euro for a glass of wine and 2 euro’s for a pina colada! Just up the hill towards the church is ‘The Cave’, a bar which in the daytime is a great pit stop to have a beer, and in the evening provides live entertainment. Every August Montmorillon has a fantastically large Brocante which is our favourite. It takes up a number of roads in the town centre and offers plenty of stalls selling everything from bric-a-brac, antiques and second hand clothes. My family often laugh at my approach to any Brocante…it’s as though I’m a frantic child in a candy shop! I have all of my small euro’s and notes at the ready with my bartering head on. I LOVE me some second hand junk! Especially French junk!

Chaillac

Chaillac is a small village, based around a central square (as most of them are!), with a couple of great restaurants and perfect for sitting outside late as the sun goes down. Just on the outskirts of the village is a large Lake. There are designated picnic areas, but the best thing of all is the sandy beach and the fact that it is a swimming lake! Not all lakes are, but the ones with the man made beaches obviously are. You’ll always find plenty of locals as well as holiday-makers. We have spent many a sunny day here.

Bellebouche

Base de Loisirs de Bellebouche, near the town of Mezieres-en-Brenne, is one of the largest Lakes in the National Park. We discovered Bellebouche only last summer and what a find it was! With over 900 metres of sandy beach, the beautiful lake offers safe and warm swimming (on hot days it’s like a giant bath!), it’s lined with hundreds of Pine trees providing much needed shade, children’s playground and play areas. There is also a fantastically good restaurant on site which you often need to reserve a table at because many of the French specifically travel here just to dine for lunch or dinner. They do fantastic Moules and frites which the kids also love and large fresh salads. We love spending long days here on the beach and won’t leave to head home until 5/6pm. There is also a large campsite based at Bellebouche, which proves very popular during the summer.

Angles-sur-L’Anglin

This medieval village is listed as one of the top 5 most prettiest places to visit in France. We discovered it last year and have since made various trips there. It really is such a special place. At the heart of the village stands the ruins of the medieval Castle which is impressive to say the least. The quaint streets and beautiful houses are full of character and charm. The river Anglin runs through the village and has a small footbridge to cross leading on to a small grassy island which we love to have picnics on while the boys paddle in the shallow waters. There are a handful of restaurants and cafe’s to chose from including a nice tea room. This place really is so picturesque and worth exploring.

Poitiers

Considering the house is between Poitiers and Limoges, I had never visited Poitiers until this summer! It’s a stunning characterful medieval city. The town centre is lined with houses and shops you can’t help but ‘look up’ to admire the attractive shutters and Juliet balconies a plenty. We only spent a matter of hours here but I certainly intend to go again for a mini break and to explore further.

by Laura xx

French Story Time

27th July 2017 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

Ever since the boys were little, story time has been a big part of our routine- whether it be us reading to them, or them reading independently. We often have books lying around to try and encourage them to pick them up, have a flick, even if they’re just picture books.

We spend EVERY summer in France, and while I have a small understanding of French (basic, very basic!), I’d love the boys to grow up learning the language and building on that every year. Harry is currently learning French at school so he’s beginning to pick up essential key words.

We recently got sent this fantastic French Language story book called ‘Tonton Makes Friends’, written by Heidi Rivolta. Tonton is a kind tortoise who visits the park and makes some friends during his time in the playground. It is a very thought out simple story which is clear in its message through dialogue and fun illustrations. The words and phrases are easy to use and understand and fundamentally are a useful language for beginners to learn the basics.

Harry felt quite grown up reading this story book to his brother. The French words are very clear and in a bolder and bigger text to the English translation. But as well as picking up the repetition instantly, he also thoroughly enjoyed the animated illustrations! Repetition is key in any child’s book because it consolidates learning and helps absorption. At the end of the story in the back of the book is a brilliant ‘what have you learnt’ worksheet, where your child can fill out some of the characters’ names- giving them an opportunity to reinforce what they’ve learnt from the story.

This is Heidi’s first book of the series so hopefully many more to come. Parents who feel nervous about their own French language can access ‘Bonjour Tonton’ on YouTube for some tips and help on Phonetics, translation, pronunciation and much more. Also, for anyone who purchases a book, you get a FREE download of 16 French Nursery Rhymes- how fab is that?!

Visit www.bonjourtonton.co.uk to follow the adventures of Tonton the tortoise and together we can develop our children’s understanding of the French language.

by Laura xx

Why our Quinny is still so essential

23rd July 2017 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

Let’s face facts, we all know that the Pushchair is a very essential accessory when you become a parent, but what most people don’t realise is also how long you end up using it for and the importance it still plays with your growing toddler which is why we love our Quinny!

Since having Harry 8 years ago, we’ve had a total of 3 pushchairs which is probably more than most families with two children however it would have been two in total, if I hadn’t have left one on the pavement and driven off after loading a baby Harry into the car. But then on the other hand, some people have a certain item they love to buy NEW every child they have, like maybe a nice new blanket/ new cot etc… Not my friend. Nope. She ALWAYS wanted a new pushchair for every new baby! That was her ‘thing’. Did I also mention she actually has 6 children; so it was quite an expense to say the very least as she had a total of 13 pushchairs since having her 16year old teenager.

Stanley has just recently turned 3 and even now I STILL very much need a pushchair. I’m all for encouraging toddlers to walk when and where they can, because after all it’s a vital part of their development and encourages independence. I also know from experience that little legs get tired. Very tired. And when you’re running around town with a toddler, the last thing you want to be doing is carrying them on your hip- which happens often.

We recently got sent the Quinny Zapp Flex Plus for Stanley having seen it and been so impressed at the launch party. Stan spent a good half an hour sitting in one that afternoon ‘trying it out’ and I couldn’t quite believe how easy it was to push and similarly collapse. As pushchairs go, it is extremely smooth riding, aesthetically pleasing and easy to manage.

I’ve particularly found the one-handed pushbar such a great feature because you can very effortlessly steer it with a single hand even despite its 4 large wheels. Having gone from a stroller with two handlebars to this Quinny, the one thing I did miss was being able to hang a million shopping bags from the handles (vital design necessity in my books)! So I did have to rush out and purchase a couple of buggy clips to enable me to do just that. Collapsing the pushchair is relatively straight forward and can be done in 3 simple steps and once folded is quite compact, although the large wheels add a little extra to the dimensions. It is these wheels though that I think make the strolling a lot smoother, especially when you’re on bumpier terrain, but equally through town and on and off buses which we do frequently.

If I had one gripe, I’ve found the shopping basket underneath the seat to be a little impractical in comparison to other models I’ve had in the past. Because of the way the chassis is designed, you are restricted to access due to the central T’bar running up the back. There are a limited amount of things you can squish in there, which I have to say is a design feature that I’ve now gotten over and accept, because everything else far outweighs this.

We use our Quinny Zapp Flex Plus every day because Stanley and I don’t often have use of our car while Harry is at school, and although Stan no longer naps in the daytime now, I don’t like to be caught short without it when he needs to rest his legs. He’s also not yet in nursery, so it’s great for him to jump in and out of it whilst running our daily chores! It’s also so important for when we go away on weekends and with our upcoming holiday, it’s essential for our travelling needs.

We love this model and I’ve had so many compliments since using it. I certainly would not trade it for anything else and I know that we will still be using it for an additional year or so because it serves us very well.

Check out the full range on their website here, where you can also customise your pushchair given the vast range of colours and additional options available.

by laura xx

Perinatal Depression

14th May 2017 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

With it being Mental Health Awareness week I thought I would talk about the perinatal depression I suffered with during both of my pregnancies. I recently went to the launch of the brand Lobella Loves, founded by my friend Jo. Her online boutique stocks some fabulous independent brands and the best part is that a percentage of each sale goes to the charity ‘Cocoon Family Support’- a charity supporting families suffering from perinatal mental health issues.
As most of you know, I have a history of depression which I take regular medication for. It’s nothing I’m ashamed of nor is it something that hinders my day to day living. When I first fell pregnant with Harry 7years ago, I thought that I was certain to fall into the ‘post natal’ depression category. I was bound to be the person to give birth then have a total breakdown- given my history. However that wasn’t the case. In fact my hormones and emotions were pretty level (ok apart from the rollercoaster that is the first couple of months) until the last trimester. During both pregnancies the last trimester certainly made itself known.

I suffered with perinatal (pre-natal) depression whereby my hormones reached a peak causing me to emotionally fall apart and feel unbalanced. It was in the 7th month of my pregnancy with Stanley that I felt incredibly scared and afraid of the sadness and depth of loneliness, so I physically took myself to my local hospital and insisted someone from the mental health department see me straight away. Crying and afraid, I signed in at the reception and waited in the waiting room to be seen. I had to sit on my hands. At this very moment all I thought I wanted and needed was to be admitted and fundamentally ‘taken care of’ by the professionals. I felt desperate, but also very confused. What did I have to be sad about?
Within half an hour of arriving at the hospital, Tye turned up with my parents. As much as Tye is a huge help and comfort, there is something about my mum being totally in tune with me that all I need is for her to swing her arms around me and I instantly feel safe. No words need to be exchanged, just simply being held is good enough.
I saw a counsellor, talked through my sadness and was soon home and calm surrounded by loved ones. The hospital were great at following things up with me. I saw someone weekly and felt totally comforted knowing I could make a single phone call whenever I felt desperate.
Depression is a very strange thing. But it is so real. It’s not something you can just ‘shake off’ or ‘snap out of’. If I learnt anything from my perinatal depression during those few weeks, it was that I had nothing to be ashamed of. Yes I was joyful about the pregnancy but it was in no way a sign that I didn’t want the baby, or didn’t want to be pregnant. You’re in a mass of confusion and a point at which you are literally holding your hands up to say ‘you can’t cope’! Just saying those words really do give you some relief. It’s ok not to be ok. We can’t always cope. But in order to get through it and out of the other side, it is so important to TALK.

If you suspect someone is low, encourage them to talk about it. Maybe you’re not the person they want to share it all with, but be assured there are MANY people out there ready to listen.
By Laura xx

check out Lobella Loves HERE

Family Scooting with Micro Scooters

7th May 2017 By thatmummysmile Leave a Comment

You cannot go anywhere these days without passing someone on a Micro Scooter, and for the first time ever we recently had our first family scooting day out! Yes that’s right, Tye and I have our very own, very cool, adult scooters. Wait for it…..with suspension!!

The boys have been massive Micro Scooter fans for years. Harry even went through a phase of collecting rubber bands which he gathered on the bar of his! When Harry was younger we always instead he wear a helmet too. The speed in which kids whiz around on them can be quite terrifying for parents looking on. Harry no longer wears one but Stanley does and everyone knows how much he loves wearing something on his head so we’ve luckily never had a battle with him not wanting to wear it!

We have some fabulous parks and open spaces in London so we thought we would test drive our new scooters in Battersea Park. Having mastered the art of collapsing and unlocking them, they slotted easily into the boo of the car and clicked back into the upright position swiftly once we arrived. I’m not going to lie, I was pretty terrified about the prospect of totally stacking it in front of passers-by. Tye on the other hand was totally relaxed about the whole thing, even at one point showing off with some ‘crouching’ down ‘skate-boarding’ action! The boys loved seeing mummy and daddy joining in on the scooting fun. I was very dubious about how much I would get into it but I was honestly HOOKED instantly. We effortlessly glided around Battersea Park like an updated Von Trapp family…minus the outfits HAHAHA!

As a family, we regularly have days out and find new and exciting places to go to. With us all having our own Micro Scooter, the FAMILY FUN has now been taken to another level. The giggles we all have every time we take them out are priceless!

If you too have been thinking about getting the adult scooters and amping up your family fun days out, I highly recommend the suspension scooters Tye and I have. The foot plate is a great width for a steady balance and the wheels are larger than most, perfect for a bit more of a rugged terrain. You can find ours over on the website HERE.

To check out the full range visit www.micro-scooters.co.uk and all of the accessories they have on offer too.

I would love to hear all about your own family scooting experiences 😉

by Laura xx

Montmorillon

Chaillac

Bellebouche

Angles-sur-L’Anglin

Poitiers

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What I’ve been up to