My Year in Review

In January of this year, I decided that I would keep a record of all of the good things that happen throughout 2017.

I’ve surprised myself because I’ve actually managed to write in this book every month and I’m so pleased that I have because it’s been lovely looking back through it, and reading about things that I’d forgotten about. I’ll definitely be doing the same thing in 2018!

Until then, I thought I’d share with you my ‘Year in Review’…

January

• I turned 30 years old
• We made bird feeders
• I went to spin class and did yoga
• Had a cuppa with friends
• Played games with the girls
• Visited family
• Had lots of lovely days out, walks and trips to the park
• Listening to the girls giggling whilst listening to a story their daddy was reading them
• Finding Thumper! A toy from my childhood trip to Disneyland!
• Booked onto a parents 1st aid class
• 5 year wedding anniversary
• Girls had a play date at their friends house
• Had my first ever manicure thanks to my friends who bought me a voucher
• Made a rocket with the girls
• Watched the girls nanna colour in a picture of spiderman!
• The girls read their reading books all by themselves
• Wrote birthday party invitations for the girls birthday next month
• Watching the girls make crafts with their brother
• The girls older sister, E, stayed over ours as she was home from university

February

• The girls turned 5 years old and had a lovely day, and a party with their school friends
• Still going to spin class
• Girls parents evening went really well
• Went for a night out with friends
• Nige, the girls and I went to the cinema
• Completed a parents first aid course
• The girls made me a Valentines card and I made them one
• Gifted my sister with a surprise ‘food’ parcel
• My friends came over after school with their kids and we all had tea together
• Nige, the girls and I went into town on the train and went to the museum
• The girls chose their birthday cake
• Went on the carousel ride with the girls
• We built marble runs together
• Received my 10k St Davids Day Run Race Bib in the post
• Watching the girls play Ker Plunk with their brother and sister, J
• R won two certificates in school Eisteddfod for handwriting and art (her daffodil picture)
• M put on a show for us
• Ran the St Davids Day 10k with my friend, C, and realised how unfit I am

March

• Treated myself to a pair of running shoes
• Entered the Cancer Research UK Race for Life 10k
• Entered the Women’s Running Series 5k
• Had a lunchtime party for my nephews third birthday
• Girls had their friend over after school for tea
• Watching the girls play with their brother
• Went for two runs in the first week of March
• Entered Nige, the girls and I into a 2k family fun run
• Ran for 20 minutes non-stop one day!
• Ran three times the second week in March
• Mum would have been 62 this week. Went to the crematorium and placed some flowers
• The girls wished their nanna, my mum, happy birthday and said they love her
• Celebrated my step-son’s 18th birthday
• Ran my fastest ever 1k – 5:45 average pace
• Found all five of my race for life medals – think one is missing though!
• Nige and I went to the cinema to see Beauty and the Beast
• Ran three times in the second week of March
• Met my 70k step goal in one week and exceeded it
• Went over my friends house whilst girls in school
• Made easter bonnets with the girls
• Enjoyed Mother’s Day and was spoilt
• Watched the girls sing Easter songs in their Easter bonnet parade at school
• Took the girls out on their bikes
• Nige, the girls and I completed the 2k family fun run
• Went to a friends sons Christening

April

• Nige, the girls and I watched the schools annual duck race
• Nige, the girls and I went to the farm
• Girls rode a pony at the farm. R’s first time! M’s 3rd time!
• Went running twice in first week and got a new 5k personal best time of 32:43
• Booked all of our dining reservations for our trip to Disneyland in June
• My sister and her kids came over
• Took girls to Techniquest during half term and had ice creams, watched the boats, then went on the carousel
• Went to another farm and went on a tractor ride, sat at the front with the girls
• The girls brother and sister, E, came over
• Went to a farm shop with my friends, their kids and the girls
• Went to Pughs Garden Centre to make Easter crafts. They had baby lambs there and R bottle fed them. My sister came with her kids too
• Made chocolate crispy cakes with the girls
• Met Alexandra Burke for a SlimFast blogging event
• Went into town with my sister, did some shopping and had lunch together
• Finished my Pandora charm bracelet off with some Disney charms
• Girls took their medals from the 2k family fun run into school to show them in assembly
• Nige was on BBC Radio Wales talking about tests for 6 years old in school
• Went for afternoon tea with my friends
• The girls went up another level with their reading books

May

• Nige and I took girls to see Boss Baby in the cinema – they loved it!
• Girls and I went on the marry go round ride
• Girls went on school trip to the farm
• Bought some Disney clothes for the girls & I for our trip in June
• Nige has been shortlisted for Blogosphere Magazine’s Parent Blogger of the Year award and has been invited to the award ceremony in London
• I made it to the number 1 spot in the Rise Parent Blogger Chart
• Finally broke through the 5k barrier and ran 6.32k
• Watched the girls in their class assembly
• R did the monkey bars all by herself for the first time
• R and M went over their friends house for tea
• Ran the Women’s Running Race Series 5k for the NSPCC
• Got a new 5k PB
• Girls met Jack Sparrow in Parc Play
• Got the padding pool out for the girls
• Took girls swimming to local leisure centre
• Signed up for the Cardiff 10k in September
• Ran 7.42k without stopping! Longest distance yet!
• Maisie did the monkey bars all by herself for the first time

June

• We went to Disneyland Paris and had an amazing time!
• Entered the Cardiff Half Marathon in October
• Girls had sports day. Took part in the sprint, and bucket and beanbag race
• Running regularly now as in training for Cardiff half marathon
• Went for a meal for Nigel’s mum birthday
• Running going well, stuck 100% to half marathon training plan
• Went over friends house for a catch up
• Girls older sister, J’s, birthday
• Went to our local village’s festival
• Went for a bike ride 9.3k

July

• Half marathon training going well
• Completed Race for Life 10k
• Treated myself to a bamboo deep tissue leg massage
• Nige and I took girls to cinema to see Cars 3

August

• Took girls swimming
• Took girls to farm with my sister and her kids
• Took girls on their first run. They’ve been begging to go running with me. They ran 1k and did so well
• Entered girls into 1.5k mini mo run and me into the 10k
• Accepted redundancy from my job – Start of a new chapter
• Made smartie cakes with the girls
• Ran twice with step-daughter, E, who’s going to Uganda soon for University
• My sister and her husband won a holiday to Budapest
• Completed my longest run to date – 15k!
• Lots of trips to the park and swimming
• Went for a drink with friends
• Had lots of play dates with girls friends

October

• Started my own business!
• Ran the Cardiff Half Marathon! I can’t believe I did it and I ran it all! 2 hours 29 minutes 3 seconds!
• Signed up the 2018 Cardiff Half Marathon
• Took girls running again

November

• Went out for Nigel’s birthday for some food
• Girls and I completed the mini mo run. 1.5k. They were great!
• Completed the 10k Mo Run
• Girls took their medals to school to show them

December

• The elves have returned!
• The girls decorated the Christmas tree all by themselves!
• Went to our local village Christmas festival
• Took girls to see Santa
• Forgot to mention girls started Rainbows and after-school football a few weeks ago
• Girls had their Promise Ceremony in Rainbows and received a certificate and badges
• Went out with friends for Christmas food and night out