A cold but sunny day, we stay local and head for a family walk up High Pike for some views.
There were some spectacular clouds in the sky, but glad we had all the warm kit in the bag and a good packed lunch, including hard boiled eggs and bonfire biscuits to give us the energy to descend!
A wet and windy October day but needing some air without anything too epic, Hallin Fell ticks the boxes.
A steep little Fell, your little legs at just over 2&1/2 years old do so well to get up to these cairns with great views.
One of your best phrases …. ‘What a view’!!
It was fancy dress walking up Walla Crag with buddy Oliver today. Very sweet as they set off with their bags and poles.
You keep the poles a surprisingly long time but then realise that it is easier to run free so they get dropped and mummy has to go back and find them…
Multiple games of hide and seek, dragon chasing, tigers in the woods, we made it to the top for a picnic. Not that Evie and Oliver ever really sit down!
Oliver gets down on one knee….. a bit young yet, but they do like a kissing gate!
Acorns, scrambles and bridges. Finally back at the car, a full but lovely day put up Walla and it’s amazing view.
Evie has learned to turn the pedals unsupported on her pink Isla pedal bike age 2&1/2.
Her first couple of facilitated attempts were on the newly surfaced Keswick to Threlkeld old railway.
And then suddenly the next morning before mummy had to go to work she announced she wanted to go biking…. and on a glorious September morning bike she did just this about the small roads of Bampton with Omi nearby as well. What a fabulous morning that was – big smiles for all involved.
For a while there was no stopping her, practicing whenever she could, with mummy having to run faster and faster to keep up. Around Keswick park and along Mosedale were two favourites.
What fabulous places to learn your first pedal strokes.
Continuing with lockdown, but starting to be allowed to meet with one other person, life started to be a little bit more fun for all of us.
Where to start? We had just returned home from our holiday to Austria, had one week of normality and then on 16th March 2020 the UK went into lockdown due to COVID-19. We were about to be in each other’s company full time for the next few months and discover a new kind of work – how to amuse a young child day in day out from home without friends.
Biking close to home Being allowed an hour of exercise a day, we did a decent bike ride most days. We had got Evie a new bike seat – a Shotgun- so that she could sit upfront. Although she did keep falling to sleep so quite often for the longer rides we still used the back seat.
Painting faces Early on in lockdown I bought some craft items – sensing that we may be needing them. I think the face paints were the most used to begin with as Evie really liked to be a ‘tiger’. She likes baby to be a tiger to!!
Camping in the garden Having just bought a new tent we decided to put it up. Mainly for something else to play with in the garden, ‘sleeping’, having tea parties, but also to have some nighttime adventures sleeping in the garden. It sometimes felt like being at a festival the next morning!!
Learning to ride the balance bike Early on in lockdown we spent a lot of time on the ‘bumpy track’ where Evie got the hang of lifting her feet up and learning to do big ‘weeeeeee’s’. It was a great time to learn, when no-one was driving their cars, especially the time when she continued out of the bumpy track and straight down the middle of the road!! As we were allowed to start visiting places in the car Evie’s bike rides got more adventurous…. and so they continue.
Local walks like everyone, there were lots of local walks to be had near where we live, with daffodils to smell, rocks to climb on a puddles to jump in. The walks got a lot more exciting and pretty once we could drive or cycle to nearby places. We especially enjoyed the forests of wild garlic and bluebells and seeing the lake again so that Evie could throw stones in.
Building dens The den building spaces at home are not brilliant- but it didn’t stop Evie enjoying those that she did build with her daddy!
Doing art We spent quite a bit of time painting various things to make cards to send to people that we couldn’t see. Although the projects often started and finished well, there was often a painted Evie as a consequence as well! Thankfully only once a painted house to! Evie remains very proud of her rainbow!
Evie’s 2nd birthday Fitting with the general theme of 2020, Evie had her birthday just with us and her party was via zoom. Thankfully at age two, I don’t think she really got it and therefore nothing was missed by her. It was lovely how much her little friends made an effort – even though today of all days Evie refuses to get her face painted!
Easter Although just the three of us we tried to make Easter special. We had had a delivery of eggs from Evie’s Omi with foresight and stuck to my family tradition of painting our boiled eggs at breakfast. After breakfast we set out on an Easter egg hunt that I and a friend had set up earlier in the morning, which Evie and Oliver could then both do separately – good job we had good clues!!
VE Day Maybe not as spectacular as some places, but the villages nearby were definitely worth a bike around to see the efforts that had been made for VE Day. I don’t think many will have surpassed the collection that one of the gentleman had collected throughout the years and was kindly displaying for everyone’s interest, including a babies gas suit amongst many other items.
Digging, wheelbarrows and doing the back garden. Make way for Beans Lodge! We knew that Evie would love her own little playhouse and she had this as a present, but that meant turning the back garden from a winter quagmire into a useable space. Thankfully the local timber yard and suppliers of gravel stayed open through lockdown, so we got some supplies and got digging, wheelbarrowing, sawing, banging and finally painting! Evie got a house and a fence made from pallets, daddy made a golf tee out of pallets and mummy made a table and benches from pallets. Although it took many weeks to complete, it has been well worth the effort.
Helping mummy to cook Evie has her own special knife and is always keen to help with cooking and baking. Learning her vegetables as she chops and especially enjoying putting sprinkles on cakes (that she can then eat immediately)!
We have made it to the Newcastle ferry via picking up some fish and chips locally, which we sat and enjoyed on the sunny decks of the ferry.
We set sail and wave goodbye to the port as the sun dips in the sky. Evie enjoys a good run around the open decks with lots of benches to jump off. 
Inside there is a pirates soft play to enjoy, with balloons and drawings and even someone to paint faces. 
The next morning we are off the ferry and in the car, with plenty of time for Evie to practice wearing her glasses! She does enjoy sporting them this way up. 
We arrive late but the next day there is plenty of energy for running in the fields near the house whilst mummy and daddy go up the mountain.
Evie is well prepared for her walk into Alpbach town! 
Where she can enjoy a drink! 
Evie spots a neighbours house decoration – it takes her a little while to realise that this thin deer is not suitable for riding, despite being the perfect height! 
Evie and Omi make a trip up the mountain to visit mummy and daddy. 
We enjoy a hot chocolate and Gluwein in the mountain cafe.
Evie wonders at daddy….. what on earth are you doing daddy?? 
Taking in the beautiful views as well as wondering at all these people dashing everywhere. 
She gets back in the lift and mummy races them to the lifts middle station – making it just in time to jump in and travel down in the lift together.
Down at the bottom Evie has a little go on her own mini skis. Enjoyable for a short period! 
Not as enjoyable as eating pizza for lunch though – daddy I am not sharing this – it’s mine! 
Another day and back enjoying the snowy park!
Looking at the choo choo, where the friendly driver gave me a chocolate. Later in the week Evie gets to ride on it. 
However the shop is really quite a highlight – with perfect Evie size trolleys….
Or cars to drive around the supermarket! 
Celebrating the day with a big prost.
Another afternoon, with a little go on the skis again before instead trying sledging.
Bum boards a ready, whizzing down with daddy. 
All good fun but never as fun as a slide….
Or a run….
Or a picnic 
on the balcony with baby! 
Visiting the ducks
And of course getting to grips with her glasses!!
What a busy week it has been, not to mention the trips to the Pirates ship at the local Wörgl Wasserweld water park. More than a swimming pool – an aquatic world of adventure and relaxation for all that visit.
Time to wave goodbye to the beautiful mountains – it’s been a lovely holiday and thank you to Omi for looking after me and allowing mummy and daddy to go and enjoy the snowy mountains.
It’s time to PARTY!! And we were the first to arrive (makes a change!), so Evie gets Bellas full attention as they play with the balloons.
A head full of static – how fun! Bean suits a Mohawk to should she ever want one! 
A big silk parachute comes out for songs and games.
What – did someone mention ice-cream time?? Let’s go! 
Out into the indoor playground, a great place for adventure when it’s wet outside. 
You can do the ladder but this one is still a little beyond you! 
The favourite side – a fast one to! 
Another group photo following a fun party. 
Happy birthday Bella.
We wake up to snow!! And I bought a sledge. I’m more excited than anyone as I bundle us all into our warm kit over our pyjamas.
Evie’s first time on a sledge (she refuses gloves). Not sure at first but then she loves is and soon it’s more more and wheeeeee. So that’s good news!
Us as daddy pulls us up the road! 
It’s melting fast but Evie tries to drive her car in the snow!! 
They next day we manage a very short ride on a snowy Askham Fell. It was too cold to go far but we enjoyed our fresh air and then went to Omis to warm up! 
Another morning – this time too snowy to drive to work first thing, so we bundle up warm again and get the sledge our again
Evie in her new hat and with her new walking poles, trudging in the snow in her PJs before its even light! 
Time to go in for porridge and warm up!
The ultimate soft play – fun for all and a great way to spend a morning with the minis and mums.
Evie and Bella climb the roller ramp – quite a feat for a mini!
Evie’s favourite – a swing
Claire and Paula chill in the mammoth hammocks 
The quiet fish room, beds, hammocks, fluffy things and fish projected onto the walls – very relaxing . 
Time for food, turns out they were all hungry! 
Evie pushes Oliver on the indoor zip wire.
Into the enormous ball pit, big enough to fit a few adults and kids into.
I’d like to say relaxing…. but actually it was the sleeping bunnies song (in a relaxation room!)
A group photo – almost impossible but definitely asking too much to get everyone looking and saying CHEESE! 
Great times all – we will definitely be back.
Around the world with Evie Bean 