Socialising

So Thom's getting on with his usual evening antics (feeding copiously, pretending to fall asleep then waking up, wriggling and flapping, for more frenzied feeding....) - I thought I could update this while he gets on.....
It has been a sociable week. We had a great day at my brother's BBQ on Sunday last week. Noah's a big boy now, and aspires to be more like his big cousins, I think, especially when it comes to jelly-eating....... Eve and Noah had a brilliant time, Thom got loads of family cuddles (and a Kung Fu Panda figure to the head from his big bother at one point but we won't dwell on that....) and Harv and I had loads of time to chat with Ad and Jen.
Tuesday was Eisteddfod parade day - always a wonderful spectacle. Quite spine-tingly seeing all the costumes and hearing all of the instruments and rhythms. Some of the competitors have travelled such a long way to join - I try to imagine what Llangollen must be like through their eyes.....?! Eve, Noah and the friends we met up with were all captivated, and loved the music and costumes. Thom fed, bless him.....
On Wednesday we drove all the way to Slapton in Devon to visit friends, and spent some wonderful days with them at the beach. We also went to a fantastic play morning where they all made and decorated their own musical instruments; and a lovely local farm where the chiddlers played in a little wooden playhouse and Clare and I got to chat (almost) like grown-ups with only a few interruptions/chases....
Eve did some brilliant drawings on the journeys to and from Devon, including a family of fairies camping on a beach and the life cycles of frogs and butterflies - they're just beautiful. Noah showed a side I have only glimpsed before - his devotion to his siblings! At any sign of what he perceived as 'trouble' between them and my friend's little girl he immediately, and passionately, sided with Eve or Thom - got a wee bit Eastenders about it if I'm honest.....
Lots of co-sleeping - do you know how much room is left in a double bed which contains a two year old sleeping sideways and a five month old who's assumed the 'starfish'? Hmmmmm - well that's why I'm kind of tired.....