SUMMER DAYS | Farmhouse Renovation Updates, Family Days Out & Some Sad News

making my coffee sitting out here lovely today it's warm but it's not heatwave hot and there's a really nice breeze actually lovely but yeah I absolutely love this part of my morning enjoying my coffee outside admiring my hydrangeas I am just I'm obsessed with them the amount of times I look out the window just in awe at my hydrangeas is not normal actually Anyway, I don't mean to alarm anyone, but when I was watering my veg patch last night, I noticed that a few things might be ready.We're gonna go and have a look.There was an onion that looked quite beefy, looked like it was ready to pick, and...What else did I see?A couple of carrots, maybe.Also, my spinach has gone a bit wappy, so I need some advice on my spinach.

Any gardeners out there, please tell me what's wrong with my spinach.Anyway, I'm gonna grab my little basket and let's go and do our first harvest.Can I call it that?Because there's essentially onlysingular onion and carrot ready still a harvest isn't it?

Let's go, let's go check out the veg patch.

Okay, vegetable patch update.Can you actually believe what this looked like a couple of months ago?Like, it is thriving.So, tomato plants have literally taken over.They are so huge and there's so many little tomatoes on here which makes me very happy.Fun fact, this is the first time I've properly done tomatoes and I actually thought I needed to pick these flowers.

And then my sister said, oh my goodness, no, they, like the fruit turns, no, what is it, the flower turns into the fruit.Just know I nearly picked all of these little yellow flowers off.So I'm glad that I didn't.But I feel like my dad would be proud of this.My dad would be proud of this.tomato plant.

My sister also said that he would have found it hilarious that I was about to pick off the actual tomatoes.Then over here we have my onions.Now, oh my goodness, what is that?Whoa, there's an alien on my onions.What is that?Is that onion seeds?

Okay, if someone could tell me what that is and what that means, that would be great.But in here, it looks like there's a red and a white onion ready to be picked.

I'm so excited.

I'm an onion mom now.Then this is the spinach.It looks like it's bolted.So I don't know whether spinach season is over or maybe I've, I don't know, maybe I've done something wrong.Probably that.I've probably done something wrong.

Do I need to like pick this out now?Any advice is welcome.Then we have down here, my carrots, whichsome of them, let's have a look, look like they're ready to come out.Oh, like that one.Look, you can see, apparently when you can see the top of them like this, they're ready to come out.

So I think I'm going to pull that one in a minute.We've got my cavolo nero, which I definitely need to do a bit of a harvest and get rid of all of the eaten bits probably by you mister that butterfly flying away so yeah i need to i need to spend a bit of time out here really just kind of clearing everything up we have my broccoli which i'm not very confident about it's looking i don't know now i'm wondering did i plant sprouting broccoli or is this just normal broccoli it's quite cool how it grows though like these big leaves you get like a really mini broccoli growing from here but i don't know again there's flowers in this I'm not sure.Any vegetable advice is welcome.And then my peas, which died, are over here.So yeah, this is my very realistic, don't have any clue what I'm doing, vegetable patch update.

I can't do this.I'm so excited.

Okay, let's, let's get a spring onion first, because I think these have been ready for quite a while.Oh!Yes!Spring onion.Perfect.That's a beefy spring onion.

Oh, it smells amazing.Okay, onions.I want him.This one looks ready.Excited.

Oh, proud mom.

I might put this as my new...pic.Like when men pose with their fish that they've just caught.Oh, I don't know why I was expecting it to be rubbish.Can't wait to cook with that.We need to cook something with onion for dinner.

Smells amazing.Let's try a red one.

Well, I don't know if one's quite done yet.

I think they need a bit longer.

Okay, it's time to pull out a carrot.Fingers crossed everyone.Oh, I grew it.

Why do I feel so precious?over this carrot.Like, I can't possibly eat it.It's far too cute.

Oh my goodness.I grew that.Me.Me. I grew that.

I'm just looking at this poor excuse for a harvest.I always see people with, like, an absolute abundance of vegetables, but, you know, this is a beginner's harvest, okay?We've got an onion, a spring onion, and a carrot.

It's better than nothing, eh?

Oh, I feel really sad.I've just seen a couple of dead bees on the grass and I don't feel like I'm gonna cry.I love bees.And I saw this video the other day, which I saved, which I meant to do last weekend.And basically, everyone in their garden should have one of these.I'm preaching it when I don't have one.

But it's really easy to make.And it's like a little bee.What would you call it?Like a little bee.I guess?Um, because they can get dehydrated really quickly.

Basically a bee expert now, okay.Tilly, could you not actually scratch the rug?Why must cats scratch everything?So all you need is like a dish, and then some gravel, and you pour the gravel, oh, that's actually quite heavy, on one side, and then you fill up this side with water, and what they can do when they're hot and thirsty, Why, why is this just so cute?When they're hot and thirsty, they come and perch on the little stones and drink from the water.So I'm going to make a couple of these.

I've got a couple of these dishes and just scatter them around the garden to save the bees.

We must save the bees.

Okay, I'm going to fill this one up with water.I feel guilty that I didn't do it the other day because those bees probably would still be here.Bee here, excuse the pun.Right, let's fill this up with water.There we go, my little bee beach.I'm gonna pop this by the lavender because they're always hanging out in the lavender.

Of course, there's a dinosaur there.Why wouldn't there be a dinosaur there?Let's pop it there so they can go in the lavender and then they can pop down to the beach and get a drink.We'll put Mr. Dino there too.Actually, no, he might scare them off.I am just about to get ready for the day.

Jamie's actually taken Nora and Jonah to the shop, so I've got a window of opportunity here to actually get myself ready.Usually if we're going anywhere that's a little bit far away, I'll usually just take my makeup bag in the car and get ready in the car, because it's quite chaotic getting everyone else ready.But we've got a little bit of time this morning.We're actually going over to the Dinosaur Park in Norwich.It's the best day out ever.kids, so I'm looking forward to that.

But I thought we could have a little bit of a catch -up whilst I got ready this morning.I feel like it's been ages since I've done any kind of, like, Q &A, and I think it's nice to do these every so often, um, just to catch up.about all things life.I always feel like I can tell when a little catch -up Q &A is overdue as well because I notice the same sort of questions in my comments and I think right Gemma it's time, it's time to do a little catch -up.So I asked you over on Instagram on my stories to ask me some questions and I just thought we could go through a couple of those this morning whilst I get ready.So the one actually which was one of the most common questions which i've been seeing a lot in my comments and um to be completely honest it's been something that i have been avoiding speaking about um if you don't know this about me by now i am an avoidant person um and i I don't know, there's part of me that feels like if I don't talk about it, it's not happening and it's not real, which is not a great coping mechanism.

Mechanism, I must admit.But, so many of you have been asking how Tilly is and I have some really sad news to share actually.So, a little bit of a background about Tilly.She's had a what we thought was a polyp in her nostril for a little bit of time now.Been back and forth to the vets, had loads of different opinions.I've been to multiple different vets.

and last time we spoke about this, I had actually found a new vet who were really, really, really good, got a really good vibe from them.And we actually paid for her to have a CT scan on her skull.So that was kind of like the last time I updated you.We actually got some really sad news back from that CT scan, which really knocked me out to me. I wasn't...The vets that we'd seen previous had kind of, I guess, prepared me for this, but it was like worst case scenario.And we were told that Tilly actually has a really quite aggressive tumour growing in her nostril, which goes all the way up to her head.

It goes in her ear, it goes into her eye, and it goes down her throat, which they said is cancerous.So, as you can imagine, that was very shocking news.There was part of me that had prepared for that, but the amount of vets that had said, it's definitely a polyp, we just need to put her to sleep, pull it out, and it'll be gone.I was quite shocked to receive that news, actually.So, where we're kind of at now is Tilly has a very limited time left with us.I have had a second opinion on that as well because there was part of me that just needed to hear it from another vet so believe me when I say we've been to so many different vets, we've had so many different opinions, we've had two different CT scans which both confirmed the same thing and yeah the vet called me, they were really really really lovely actually and they kind of said

from their professional opinion, there aren't too many options going forward.We can put Tilly on some steroids, which she's currently on and kind of see how she is for the next couple of months or so But the problem is with cats is they hide pain Incredibly well and to be honest.She she seems fine.She seems in herself.She seems happy The steroids would take down any swelling, but there is this kind of looming cloud over me Where I know I have to make a decision soon with what to do and obviously there is only really one decision.It's just knowing when.

I'm kind of waiting for a sign as to when that needs to happen, because, like, if you were to look at her right now, she has this tumour, but she seems fine in herself.So, yeah, it's really hard when I'm taking her to the vet next week for just a bit of a check -up and to get a bit of advice, really.But the vet did say that chemo was an option, but it's not recommended, and I always said, me and Jamie always said, when we first took her to the vets with this polyp, that if it - because the vets then said, you know, it could be cancerous, but it's like a 1 % chance, I said to myself then, like, if it is cancer, there's - there's no way I would be ever putting her through chemo.Possibly if she was a bit younger, but she's nearly 9, And I just think that would be so hard on a cat like they would have no idea what's going on I don't want her to spend the last bit of her life in and out of the vets like to me that just feels really unfair and yeah, it's just really it really is very very very sad news andAnd I've had a while to sit with this information now, so I feel almost ready.And another thing, I know a lot of, you know, if you haven't had a pet, this will seem like very, oh, they're just a pet.

But if you do have a pet, and if you have a cat, you will know that they are such a huge part of your life and like the love I have for Tilly is like the love I have for Noah and Jonah and it's um heartbreaking to be completely honest it's been like I lay in bed at night just before I'm going to sleep and it's all I can think about um and it's just a really really horrible situation especially when you have to make the decision as to when it happens so yeah some really really sad news um which I'm really sorry to have to share with you all but um yeah really sad And I'll obviously keep you all updated with what what happens next But yeah, that is the update with Tilly.Okay, let's move on to a little bit more of a light -hearted Question.I shouldn't have started on that one because now my brain is like Okay, what is your favorite thing about motherhood and the hardest thing about motherhood?So favorite thing is definitely the unconditional love that you feel towards your children.I have never experienced anything quite as amazing as that just pure unconditional love that you have for these little humans.I also think watching them reach milestones is also amazing but also heartbreaking.

When they stop doing one little cute thing and they're kind of on to the next and having children they are constantly constantly changing.Also justseeing the joy through them is so special especially at like Christmas and birthdays and just being the magic maker for those occasions as well is one of my personal favorites like I just love I love the thought of, like, their childhood being in my hands and being able to make it, like, such a special time for them.That's really important to me.The hardest thing I find in motherhood is probably the overwhelm.And do you know what?

That doesn't even come from them at all.It comes from everything else that comes with being a mum.Like, just the never -ending to -do list I find quite... challenging and quite overwhelming.Just that like feeling of so many things need doing and remembering and it's just a lot.I feel like it's extremely overwhelming sometimes.I think especially when you're in the midst of it, you've not had much sleep.

The house is a mess.The laundry is out of control.Everything needs cleaning.A food shop needs doing.The kids need new clothes.I've got clean washing but I can't put it away because the drawers are so full they barely even open and I think it's really easy to compare yourself to other mums.

I do it all the time.I'm like, how do you have your life this together?We bumped into some of our friends the other day.I haven't seen them in ages and just like watching her with her children and chatting to her and she is a stay -at -home mum and she is going to homeschool her babies and I always see on her Instagrammaking these meals and these like little sensory trays and I just think wow like you are you are that mum you are that mum and I felt myself really comparing myself to her and just feeling like a bit of a rubbish mum.It's nothing to do with her like it's a me problem I shouldn't be comparing myself to someone else.

And I think as mums, whenever I speak about the things I find hard in motherhood, like the overwhelm, the never -ending to -do list, and just like the challenging parts of motherhood, I always get so many messages from you all just saying that you are in the same boat.So I think it's always really really important to talk about.And I do think the overwhelm and the never -ending to -do list does just come with being a mum.There's just, I just feel like there's so much to always do and so much to remember, and especially like the house, there's always just so much that always needs doing in the house, like things that need cleaning, things that need organizing, things that need ordering.Remembering certain days, like there's a World Cup day tomorrow.Do the boys have football kits?

No, they don't.We're gonna have to make handmade ones, I think, in the morning.I did try and order some last night, but they're sold out everywhere and then I feel like a rubbish mum and I'm like, oh no, it's World Cup day and the thought of Noah and Jonah going to nursery and preschool and everyone else being in football kits and them not makes me feel terrible, but I just think as mums sometimes we do put too much pressure on ourselves.Anyway, that was the brain dump that no one asked for, but that's just my kind of thoughts into my favourites and something I findhard about being a mum.So many questions from you all asking how I'm feeling and how I am recently, which is very, very, very sweet.

I always appreciate all of you so much.I feel like this is such a safe place for me to come on and speak about how I'm feeling and I do feel like this is the only social media platform, but I would feel comfortable like just coming on and chatting to you all and Really opening up.I don't feel like I would do this anywhere else I just feel like the community that we have on here is so so gorgeous So I'd say I'm in a really good mental place at the moment and I say at the moment because My emotions are like this.But, um, no, for the past, I'd say good - I'd say this year, I've really felt really good in myself.And, I mean, life is still stressful.We have two young children.

We have a full -blown renovation project going on, which is extremely stressful.Obviously, everything going on with Tilly, which is very stressful, and...I feel like I'm in a good, like, stable mental place, though.And I've spoken about this a lot, especially this year, but something that's really helped to keep me quite level, especially through, you know, times that I feel like this time last year would have really knocked me, like, obviously the Tilly situation.The biggest difference now is how I deal with stressful situations.I actually started therapy last year and it's been life -changing for me to be completely honest and I'm really really grateful to say that the paid partnership of today's video is

BetterHelp.I have spoken about BetterHelp a lot over the past couple of months.I didn't really recognize my anxiety for what it was and I I didn't have the tools to be able to cope with it.I would very much like take it day by day.Some days I would wake up feeling so overwhelmed, so anxious that I would kind of just have to like ride the day out.Whereas now, since I've been speaking about it with my therapist and I'd probably say the most beneficial thing for me has been learning techniques to be able to cope with it.

So no matter how I kind of wake up in the morning, I'm able to carry on with my day and almost like turn it around, which I think is so important with being a mum.Because you don't really have the option to not do today.You know, you have to get up and you have to keep going and I think another reason I started therapy was because of that.I wanted to be the best version of myself that I could be for my children.So yeah, if therapy is something that you have been thinking about, couldn't recommend enough, and BetterHelp actually makes starting therapy really straightforward.You take a short quiz and then you are matched with a therapist.

And if you ever feel like your therapist that you're matched with isn't the right fit for you, you can actually switch at no extra cost, which I think is really reassuring.I also love that you can communicate however you feel comfortable, whether that's phone, video, or text.I think especially for your first couple of sessions, Starting therapy can feel really quite daunting, and I feel like BetterHelp really takes the scariness away from starting therapy.Six million people have gotten help through BetterHelp, which is incredible.It's actually rated 4 .8 out of 5 on the App Store, which I think says a lot in itself.So yeah, I'll leave a link to BetterHelp in the description.

box down below.If you click on my link, you can actually save 10 % off your first month of therapy, which is amazing.And yeah, like I said, it's helped me with so many things, like even just to have that scheduled appointment.I actually only have one therapy session a month now.I had weekly sessions, then two weekly sessions, and now we kind of just have a bit of a monthly check -in.But I think at the start, the weekly sessions were really helpful to me to have something scheduled at the end of the week, which I knew was a time that I could speak about all of my feelings, it was a really safe place, and over time I've learned some amazing coping mechanisms.

The next question I've actually seen a lot of is what happened to our rabbits.So we had two gorgeous rabbits, Maple and Snowy.I actually spoke about Snowy last year.So Snowy very sadly passed away.I don't know how.I literally went out to their hutch one morning and found him, which was really, really sad.

And after then we were kind of, we didn't really know what to do because rabbits love being with other rabbits.They are very social animals.So we didn't really know what to do.We were going to get another rabbit and introduce them.But in the time of almost, like, looking for another rabbit, one of our family friends was in the same situation, where one of her - she had two rabbits, one of them had passed away, and she was looking for a little friend for her rabbit.And she was looking for another rabbit, and they were in exactly the same situation.

We just felt like it was the right decision, I think, especially with us moving soon and everything kind of being a bit up in the air with the renovation.I don't feel like our life is as set in stone.be. SoSo it just felt like the right decision then.We still see Maple, we get pictures of him all the time, he's living his best life.There's lots of questions asking for some farmhouse renovation updates.

So, Jamie actually posts videos every other week on his channel, which I'll link down below, it's called Country & Co.And they are very much real -time, weekly vlogs at the farmhouse with all the updates.But, We've been going there a lot in the evening, so probably, I don't know if we'll get time today, probably tomorrow, I'll take you over to the house and give you a little bit of a run through of what we've been up to.There's also lots of questions asking when we'll be moving in.So, it was meant to be this summer, like now, but obviously we've taken on a lot more than we had initially planned.So, Jamie thinks it's gonna be before Christmas.

I I'm just really trying not to put any pressure on it and I'm kind of just telling myself it'll be ready when it's ready.I feel like it's probably going to be next year, which I'm absolutely fine with.We love the house that we're currently in and we're so grateful to be able to still be living here whilst we renovate our forever home.It's such a luxury and I'm so grateful for that.Yeah, I feel like there isn't a massive rush on the house, although I can't wait to live there, like, I literally would move in tomorrow if I could.I am happy to kind of wait for next year.

I feel like time goes so quickly as well, like, how are we in July?We need to speak about this for a minute.This is a new found favourite.It's the Truffle Serum.So nice.Like, I've been using it before a setting spray, and it just melts your makeup into your skin and makes your skin so glowy.

We'll do one more question and then I need to go and get dressed because Jamie's gonna be back in about 10 minutes and I need to be ready to leave.So, there's lots and lots and lots of questions about weight loss and how I have lost weight.And to be honest, it's very much been down to a couple of things.So, First one being, I'm actually back to my pre -pregnancy weight with Noah.So, I feel like this is my, this is my non -pregnant weight.Um, and I haven't been this weight for a while because obviously I have been pregnant with Noah, I've been postpartum with Noah, then I was pregnant with Joah, Joah?

Jonah, and then I was postpartum with Jonah.So, I think this is my like, my comfortable weight.Um, something I have been doing though, which I've spoken about a lot, is for the past year, I have been massively focusing on eating whole foods.I'll still have treats here, there, and everywhere, and we'll have the odd takeaway, but I have really been trying to eat whole foods, um, My main meals.I also another thing which I think really helps is I don't really stop.I am constantly on the go Especially with two young boys.

They are very active.I am constantly here there and everywhere with them And another thing I think plays a part is I'm actually still breastfeeding Which I actually think I gained a lot of weight at the beginning of breastfeeding.So I I didn't put that much weight on in pregnancy, but when I was postpartum with Jonah and the early birth,of breastfeeding, so maybe like the first six to nine months of breastfeeding, I gained a lot of weight.And I don't feel like it was from necessarily eating a lot more.I don't know if my body was just holding on to lots for breastfeeding.

Another thing as well around the same time as breastfeeding, I was actually on antidepressants, which Notoriously cause weight gain So I think it was a it's a lot of things there isn't just one thing that I can pin it down to That has led to me losing weight might look like it's been a real like drastic weight loss But it hasn't been weight really steadily over the past year And I just think that's down to a number of things Pregnancy being postpartum not being on antidepressants anymore and not being in those early stages of breastfeeding.Also, just being super active with the boys and eating really healthily.I feel like I've really found a love for eating healthy because of how it makes me feel and I think I fell off that wagon for a really long time.Ever since I fell pregnant with Noah, to be honest, which was five years ago, Before then I used to eat so healthily and I used to really enjoy it not even for Like how it makes you look just how it makes you feel I feel like when I eat healthy food when I eat nourishing whole foods I feel so good.I feel full of energy.I just I feel happy I feel Really my best self so I would say that's how I've lost weight, but there's not really one thing that I can kind of pin it on.

I haven't really been doing anything majorly different.It's just been probably the lifestyle switch of eating healthily.really looking at what I'm putting in my body.Anyway, my loves, I am gonna get dressed.Thank you for tuning in to my brain dump and let's have a fun family day out.

We are on the way to the dino park.We just stopped off at Costa and every time we're at Costa, I'm annoyed at myself because it's like the perfect opportunity to prank Jamie.I always write on my phone like the order instead of me relaying it to Jamie and it would just be the most perfect opportunity to just write something stupid.

I was concentrating on getting that.What's that?Oh yeah, I was looking out for it this time though because you said it last time.

And I was laughing because I was thinking just how, I was like playing in my head how funny it would be.

The thing is you could make it sound legit and I would ask for it.

It's like, there's this one at Christmas time that's like a prank.and it's called... it's like a fa -la -la -la -la -te but you have to sing it and you get it free so you have to go fa -la -la -la -la -la -la -la -la -te oh and I just...

I wouldn't do that, would you?

I feel like you would well you wouldn't now because I told you I'd forget bloody hell what a goldfish next time I'd forget my Christmas this is...your next Costa trip watch out you looked at me funny because I got a... iced whipped caramel latte and when you when you got to the whipped bit, I noticed that you're a bit like Is it that point you thought I might have pranked you?

No, I was just like what on earth is this?

Like just get a latte.

By the time I'd finished saying what the drink was I was expecting everything to just start floating like it was some kind of spell.

What?Sorry if you can hear Peppa Pig in the background.It's my life.Peppa Pig is always on somewhere.Wanted to say a thing.we discovered last week that baby chinos are free with adult drinks.

Well, the milk one.I think the chocolate one is like 30p.65p.

Do you remember that?

But the milk one is free.I thought that was really cute.Like, they're such a cute little drink to get kids.They're essentially just stuffy milk.Um, oh.Alex just come off that.

Got an egg mayo.That's rookie.

What do you mean?Listen, I like a bit of egg in the morning because then...

I've never, for all the years I've known you, I've never ever seen you eat an egg mayo.

I know, actually true.

I don't think it was your thing.

I can't remember the last time I had an egg mayo.

Because you're either an egg mayo sandwich person or you're not.

Where did we go to the party where they had party food?That was probably the last time I had an egg mayo.Where was that?It was recent.

I don't know.

I was like, oh actually, an egg mayo is not that bad.And now it's my sandwich of choice.

No, it's not.You get a meal deal every day and you get tuna.

I was even surprised the other day when you got a cheese triple because I was like, cheese triple?Jamie usually gets a tuna.

Like, what's going on?

What's wrong with him?

I'm a basic boy now, Gemma.I'm like, there I am.

There I am.Egg mayo, hey?Who are you?Who is he?Tell me you're a parent with us.Tell me you're a parent.

Just jam into Peppa Pig.I'm so shocked that you've got an egg mayo.

To be fair, I wasn't expecting it to be a bit posher than that.

What were you expecting?Were you expecting, like, the panini ones?

I don't know, isn't it?

Oh, look at that.That looks unbelievable.

How much were those egg mayos?If these were more than 10 pounds,I'm upset.

They were definitely more than £2.

I'm upset, though.

They were at least like... £8.No, not £8.Probably like £4.

Mmm.Dears.is one of the nicest coffees.So I started getting these loads at the beginning of the year and I loved them when I first discovered them.But I stopped getting them because, I remember saying to you about this, when I glanced at the calories, I thought they had 800 calories in and I thought that is just not worth it for a drink.

I was actually looking at the energy bit.

Is that what I'm saying?

No, there's like two sections.One says energy and one says something else.horses oh no horses one's eating something is he a carrot so i think they actually have like 180 and 180 calories which i thought wasn't actually bad for like a really nice coffee it literally tastes like a dessert um so yeah i'm back on the ice whipped caramel we're here what can you see what can you see we got captain america in the back with us today What's that one doing there?Can you see any more dinosaurs?

Keep our eyes open, guys.

I feel like we're in Jurassic Park.

Dido Park.

Dido Park.

Dido Park.

Oh my God.I didn't get the reference at first.

I see one.

Can you see one?

Where?Do you want to see one?

That's the deep dark.Jonah's going to see one.shhh.

Door, door.

If you're wondering why we've got Captain America with us today, it's because who's at the dinosaur park today?He was Batman this morning, but last minute decided he wanted to get changed to Captain America.

I guess he's ready to get in.I've got a blanket here.

What's this?

That's a picnic one, but this is probably better.

Should I put this in there?

Yeah, you can put that in there.You're going to pull Jonah along.

Oh, sorry.It didn't hurt your head, did it?

Can I put this bag in there?Can you look after my bag, Jonah?

We have come to the dinosaur park over in Norwich.We actually came here for Jonah's second birthday, and it was just the best day out.We had such a lovely time.I feel like it's one of those places that's just amazing for all age kids.So if you get the chance to come, come.It's called Roar.

It's a really, really great day out.I feel like for Jonah's age of, like, two, there's so much to do, but then Noah's age of four, there's also so much to do.And, like, each park has a big park and a little park, because I find sometimes you go somewhere and they've only got a big park, so like the little ones can't really enjoy it.They've also got like a splash little park, um, and then also a couple of little rides.It kind of gives like mini, well, does it?Mini Ultratower vibes.

It's really, really cool.I'm excited to be here again today.Oh my goodness, look at this.Just Captain America pulling his baby brother.This is a must.This is a parent hack, this cart.

We actually never use a pushchair.As I say that, we're just struggling on the gravel.

We never use a pushchair anymore because this is just so much easier to carry bags, carry kids.Our Captain America's given up.Here we go.Do you know what I love?The music going into any kind of like adventure park.It's just so happy.

It feels really nostalgic, like going into Alton Towers, Peppa Pig World, the Dinosaur Park, like the music is just very joyous.Who's that Jonah?Very excited to go in here later.This is the best gift shop.I love a gift shop.Yes, Darlene?

Oh yeah, they've also got this giant bouncy castle.It's very cool.

Splash Zone.There's loads of different parks dotted around and it's also not too far for the kids to walk either like it's all quite close together Wow guys, what are we going on first?

We've got a very excited little boy.We just spotted Batman We're going on the slide.There you go.

You can walk up this bit.Oh my goodness Noah meeting Batman melted my mama heart.He was - You can go, bubby, I'll hold your hand.He was - Oh, you want my other hand?Hang on.Jonah wants to hold both hands.

It might be a bit wobbly.It was so cute.He was in absolute awe.Hang on.I need to go mum mode.I'll be right back soon.

Mummy's - Mummy's stuck.I'm so excited.There's this giant dinosaur slide over here, which is very...This is a dada job going in the dinosaur with Jonah.You going with daddy?So it's a bit steep for Jonah in there.

Go on, dada.Dada duties.Oh my god.I almost thought I couldn't see you.I can hear a lot of banging.My dada.

Stopping for a bit of lunch.We've got a big selection today.Buttered pasta, plain wrap, because we love a plain wrap.

Ham sandwich.Pizza, blueberries, Babybel.Domino's pizza.Yeah, not any old pizza.Domino's.

Does it look nice, guys?

Yeah?Good.You like the grapes?What colour do you like best, green or purple?Green.They're your favourite.

Nova's got grapes.Jonah's got blueberries.What's in there?I don't think we went in there last time, did we?

It's a word that we can't say.

S -O -F -T.P -L -A -Y.

What's that?S -O -F -T.P -L -A -Y.

No.Oh, no.See?

What?Whoa.What is that?

A fly, like the one in the bag.

I think that's a big slide, is it not?The one that goes down the hill, it wasn't open last time.

It's inside the S -O -F -T -P -L -A -Y.

Oh, is it?

Yes, we'll go and have a look in there when you've eaten a little bit more of your lunch.

I feel like an S -O -F -T -P -L -A -Y is a breeding ground for germs.

S -O -F -T -P -L -A -Y.If you're a parent, you know you can't say everything.

We're going to be doomed when Noah can spell.We're not going to be able to do it anymore.

But S -O -F -T's P -L -A -Y is one of my least favourite places.I used to quite like it, but now I just find it very loud, overstimulating, and the kids always get ill whenever we've been to one.

He's dropped his F -O -R -K.

You can say four.Looks like we're going to the...You want to go have a look in there?That is the soft play bay.Pray for us.Just two parents in the soft play.

Sweating out.

Right, come on then guys.Last time we managed to actually avoid going in there because there was so much other things to do.They didn't ask, but he has just spotted this slide.Shall we go?Let's do a rock, paper, scissors of who's going in the soft play.

Let's just both go in there.Come on.

1, 2, 3 and then go.1, 2, 3.let's both go in actually actually let's both go in share the load soft play time there'd be a less chaotic soft play in there come on jonah we're going on the slide okay this is actually a very cool soft play there's a dinosaur let's go seeJust a mom, in a soft play.Oh, oh not another tunnel.I always get really, I don't know if it brings back some kind of like childhood trauma, but I always get really scared of like, um, tunnels.

And also, like these really small spaces in soft plays like this, like the idea of this, is not my idea of fun.Aww.She's so big, Darren.Actually, no, this isn't even too bad.It's like the ones where...I can't even explain what they're like.

No, I've seen it.This.This is what I actually don't think I can go in.Like, something like that.You know where you have to get down really low and, like, get through really small gaps?What do you wanna do now?

What do you wanna do now?You wanna go that way?Blue's not in there.

No.

oh my goodness it's them it's these holes that give me childhood trauma and like when you go down but there's children down and you can't like get down oh my goodness you gotta go through the middle on your own or with noah you're allowed to go in it i'm not sure so this is the little area of the rides we went on this last time but i think

me and Noah are gonna go on this.This gives me, like, pirate ship vibes, but for kids.If you come to Roar, don't make the same mistake as me and wear flip -flops, because I can't go on any of the rides with Noah, and Jamie also has, like, Birkenstocks on without a back, so he also can't go on the rides, so I'm feeling like the worst parent ever right now, but Jamie's just popped his head around and asked me what shoe size I am.So I'm kind of scared with what shoe he's gonna come back with.He's gone on the hunt.

I don't know whether he's like asking other people if I can borrow their shoes.Or he's going to find some kind of crock.

Two's.

Jonah's one.Say thank you.Say thank you.Yeah?What flavours have you got?Ooh, ice cream flavoured rock.

I haven't had rock in so long.Do you want me to open yours?It's like one big lollipop.Is Daddy finding me some shoes, Noah?Where's he finding the shoes from?

He looked in all the shops.He looked in all the shops?Aww, I've just seen him disappear up there.He looked in all the shops, but they didn't sell any.Here you go, Jonah.That's your first ever rock.

Now you hold it in the packet, baby.Hold it down here, look.Like a banana.

And then lick that bit.

Open the top bit like that, babes.And keep it wrapped up, otherwise you'll get really sticky.Oh my goodness, Jamie's got shoes.Daddy's got shoes.You just know he's chosen the most hideous shoes that he can find.Oh my goodness.

I'm scared Do you know what this means though Noah?

If daddy's got shoes mummy can come on the rides with you.

That was mummy's silly fault for wearing Oh, they look like a flip -flop, but we can't have flip -flops.Oh, no, they're swim shoe.Oh my goodness I think they're a swim shoe.No, stop it.What shoe is that?

They're like lake shoes.

I can't believe you found some though.Well done.Are they for you?

Well no, they're a size 5, they only had size 5.

No they didn't.I bet they had your size.

No they didn't really.

Maybe not.

They're actually good for a fiver.

Only £5.

£5.We should get some for everybody when we go down the marsh.

Stunning.

Stunning.

Oh they're even adjustable.

Can't be wrong, they've just got to have heel protection apparently.Look at them.Oh my god, I love them.They're perfect.You've just literally gone from a 10 to a 12 in them.Rockin' mama.

It's so horrible.

You like them though, eh?Bit uncomfortable, eh?Fun mama.Yes.

What do you think Jonah?

What's mummy up to?You like it Noah?Lovely.Jonah, do you like it?

Jamie convinced Noah to go on for its own benefit.

It's now the next day.We had a lovely time at the dinosaur park yesterday.We actually didn't get back until quite late.So by the time we got home, had dinner, it was then bedtime.We are at the new house.We've actually been coming here most evenings because it's just, just so gorgeous.

in this garden and we just love it here.I can't wait to live here.I need to show you our newest addition to the garden.

Our new playhouse.

Nora and Jonah absolutely love this.It's from Walton's Gardens.I'll leave it linked down below and it's just the most beautiful little play area I've ever seen.We actually have some logs over here and our plan is we're going to build like a whole kids area in this section of the garden.And we're going to cut this down.I'm going to pop a little visual on screen so you can kind of see what I mean.

But we're going to make like a really nice little play area.We're going to get some bark.We're also going to pop a trampoline over this backside.

If I go around here, you'll be able to see.

We've done, oh, I think it's gone now.Oh no, it's here.little circle for the trampoline we've bought like an in -floor trampoline and excuse Jonah's face he's covered in chocolate thank you did you make me dinner thank you this is just the most amazing playhouse feel like this is something i would have loved when i was little we've also bought the kitchen from the playroom in here as well just thought it would get a lot more use here because i was thinking down here especially we could play like cafes and stuff like this just reminds me of like a little cafe perch like can i have an ice cream please So yeah, we are absolutely obsessed with this.We've been coming here every evening and I can't wait to actually spend summers here when we live here.But everything is just amazing, amazing quality.Would highly recommend this.

And it just looks so gorgeous.Here comes Noah on his quad.Here he comes.

I don't know if you guys have seen Noah's quad yet.

If you can hear the quad bikes in the background, boy mum life.I need to tell you about the story of the butterfly and I'm really happy that I have video and Photograph evidence of this because I don't think anyone would believe me if I told them so when we came here last week I was literally sat on the bottom of the slide with an orange owner and I was like talking like this and a butterfly landed in the palm of my hand andthis is like never ever happened to me It's actually this is a bit sad but it's my dream when we live here to like basically become snow white and be able to like talk to the animals and I really want like Robins to land in the palm of my hand like I watch a lot of videos about How you can like make them trust you and I just love the thought of that Oh, look, let's see if he does it if he feel really emotional.

Oh my god It is the same one!

I know it's the same one because he's got a little bit of gold on his wing, like he's got a little bit of a broken wing.Oh my goodness, I can't believe.I was kind of joking when I was like, I wonder if he'll land on me.But when I actually put this on my Instagram story and said, oh, I'm the butterfly whisperer, so many of you said a butterfly is like a symbolic sign of a past loved one.Hi!He's vibrating.

What does that mean?Someone tell me what a vibrating butterfly means.

You're always here, aren't you?And I know that it's you because you've got the funny wing.

When things like this happen, I feel like I know it's a sign from my dad, but I want something more obvious.Like I want the butterfly to talk and be like, hey, I'm your dad.I cannot believe he's on my hand again.I've never seen a butterfly.Oh, oh, maybe I scared him.See if he'll come back.

Oh my God, is he on my head?Where did he go?A little bit taken aback.I just don't know, I've got such a strong feeling that that was my dad or like a sign from my dad.every single time We've been here for like the past five evenings in a row.We didn't come yesterday, but like we've been for the past like five evenings in a row That exact butterfly has been here because like I said, it's got the little like gold marking on its wing Only one wing and one wing is slightly broken.

I can't believe we got to share that really special moment I'm really glad you got to see it because I feel like Even when I told Jamie a butterfly just landed in the palm of my hand.

He was like, okay Gemma Okay, and then I put my palm out and he landed back in my hand and Jamie was like, oh and he won't go to anyone else like Jamie stood there with his hand out Noah stood there with his hand out and he only comes to me.So basically I have a pet butterfly.I love it here so much.I truly cannot wait to live here.Look how absolutely stunning the willow tree is looking as well.Noah's coming on his quad.

Oh, look at it in here.Like how dreamy is that?I just love being in here as well.It feels like an actual dream.It feels so magical.What have you got?

My favourite raisins!Thank you, darling.They do look like raisins.They're cherries, aren't they?Thank you.

Are you even got apples, my darling?

Little chocolate monster.

Thank you.

Oh, thank you, my darling.abundance of apples our apple tree let me show you is looking absolutely delightful and we also actually realized we have two cherry trees as well these twoare cherry trees however we don't think they're edible cherries because they are so incredibly sour and now they're starting to go wrinkly so again I need some more gardening advice please.So excited to pick some of these apples and make an apple crumble.Noah's excited to make a Gruffalo crumble.But yeah, we're going to have lots of apple crumbles and like apple desserts come the summer.

So this is the cherry tree, this one here.And as you can see, they're kind of going a bit wrinkly now.Like I think they are, I don't know, they never got really very big.Is there such thing as an unedible cherry tree or maybe a sour cherry tree?I'm not sure, but I'm kind of sad because when I first saw it, I thought it was going to be like the big, Juicy black cherries, and I was like yes, we've got a cherry tree But I don't know maybe I could pick some and make some kind of jam and just add a hell of sugar And then the apple tree is looking like this Look at our chairs that we got from Facebook marketplace.They are perfect these little deck chairs But yeah, these apples will be ready probably in the next couple of months.

We can pick some I know Oh look at these boys Apple just to reassure everyone it's in extra slow mode so it doesn't go quick when it's in no it's like super slow isn't it it's got like a speed control on it um because obviously when it can go quick noah wears his helmet but jonah likes to jump on the back when it's going very slow but yeah this is the apple tree in all of its glory i love how low it is feels really lovely and cozy we've got our little deck chair we have got another one of these as well oh it's lovely in here Hey!

Stop picking my apples you!I don't think there's going to be any apples left.Look at my sweet pea.This is all I hear, meow.

I don't know if we'll have any apples left come autumn because Noah just loves picking them off when they're little.But there's so many.Oh, look at the sun through the apple tree.Dreamy.So lovely here in the evenings.Wow, look at that.

Cinematic shot.Gorgeous.

Here's the house in all its glory.love it here.Jonah looks alright today.He's got his shorts around his knees.He's covered in chocolate.

Oh Jonah!

His trousers just fell down.They're actually Noah's shorts.Oh Jonah.Jonah's obsessed with the apples.What's this?Bubble?

He calls it a bubble.Is it a bubble?

on the way.I love a Nutella pizza.It sounds strange, but it's absolutely delicious.With the really thin, slightly sweet, crispy dough.Here he is.

Oh, he's so funny.on that quad bike.Jamie's just out here eating his dinner at the picnic table.

Really want to do something nice in this little play area.Thinking maybe some little fairy lights, maybe a little...

Oh, thank you, a drink.You have some?

I've got an idea.

What's your idea?

You know that big fence post?

Fence posts?

Yeah, the tall ones.Circle.No.Look at Noah.Oh my god.So a big pendant post.

Yeah.

Cool ones.Festoon lights on them.

Well in here.

Around this area.

That would be cute.

Like outside around the playhouse.That would look cute.Yeah we could have festoon lights outside like around the playhouse area and then in here I was thinking we could have some kind of little chalkboard.I don't know I've been looking at ideas on Pinterest and there's some really cute ideas.

um you just go round and round and then i saw you can get some like little flower pots we could maybe hang from the windows and we could maybe grow some like i don't know some strawberries or something i just want to make it like a really cute little summer house want some pizza nom nom nom nom it's yummy it's got choc choc on it yum yum you got choc choc pizza this is hilarious If you're wondering why I'm not anxious about Noah on his quad, it's because I've got used to it.First couple of weeks when he had it, I was...a mess it's so funny seeing him on it because he looks so tiny and he like leans right forward he absolutely loves it why can he control it jamie is it down to you no because we've let him do it true i feel like me and jamie are a good balance of i'm I would wrap them in cotton wool if I could.

Yeah, I feel like me and Jamie are a very good mix of, I am, like this is the anxious scale.

I'm like here, Jamie's like just very chill, a lot more chill than me with the kids.Why do you think what's the worst that can happen?And I think of the worst that can happen and try and stop that happening.

Yeah, but even then it's like what could happen?

So I feel like we're a good mix, really, as parents.We're a good team.

Yeah, because I'm probably a bit too much the other way.

Yeah, that's why I did, like, the scale.I feel like I'm too overprotective.Jamie's a little bit too underprotective.So we meet in the middle, which is a good balance.See?

Did you say spicy?Do you remember when we were at school and kids always used to have broken arms and stuff?Kids don't have, and everyone was signing the cast.

Yeah.

People don't do that.Kids don't do that anymore because they're stuck inside on the PlayStation.

I feel like this is the childhood that I I don't know, always dreamt of.

I feel like this is the childhood that you see on like American films, like hanging out in the treehouse, spending your summers in the treehouse.

I feel like that's the kind of childhood I always wished to be able to give my children.So it's very surreal when we're here actually.I think especially because we're not living here yet, it still feels like a little bit of a fever dream that we're actually one day going to be living here.It feels a bit strange being like between two houses.and it still feels like we're just visiting when we come here and we're not actually gonna live here so I can imagine it's gonna feel very very surreal when we actually move in but yeah that's why I want to make this a really nice little hangout area for the kids for when all their little friends come over after school I want it to just feel like, I want to be the hangout house.They spend all their summers where all their friends spend all their summers and I just want, I want it to be that house.

I want to be like the hosting mum where everyone comes after school and they spend their weekends in their summers.So it makes me feel like really emotional because yeah, we just feel like this is what life's all about.Making it really special for our children.And this is just a really special place.just here with my chocolate pizza having a moment of gratitude it's been a while so let's do a little farmhouse renovation update currently looking like a building yard but let's go inside so i can give you a little bit of a tour of the progress made whoa why can i hear so many flies I can hear so many flies.The house of the flies.

So don't be alarmed, it is looking a little bit scary.Just because it is completely stripped back.I think you guys have seen a lot of this.The floors have now been removed.You'll see a lot of this progress in Jamie's vlogs on our renovation channel.But yeah, the floors have now been removed.

We're actually having underfloor heating down here, so that's whykind of removed all of the floors It's crazy to think it was like built on mud like it's why I would think this just this was under the floorboards I don't know.Am I the only person that thinks that's crazy?The fireplaces have been completely exposed It's looking just so I don't know stripped back and if you look up here you can see out the top of the roof we're in the middle of getting the roof done um we're having a new roof so that's why it's kind of looking like that but quite dark in here because we've got the scaffolding up so it kind of blocks out a lot of the lights but um i've said quite a few times that we never anticipated on doing quite this much um we didn't really plan to take on a project this big um Like to the point the floors are now gone, the ceilings are now gone, we're getting a new roof.But kind of as we were at this stage when everything was stripped back, it made sense to just do everything that we needed.that needed to be done, which actually turned out to be quite a lot.

Now, whilst we're not living here, whilst we are still in our other house, and whilst we kind of have the time to do it now, and, I mean, the plan is this is our forever home, we're gonna be here forever, and we really don't want to be having to do any of these things whilst we're living here, it's just too disruptive, so that's the reason.Everything's taking a little bit longer, and we have basically stripped it back, right back.I just laugh all the time when we first came to view this house.It was actually this time last year.It was actually July.Yeah, last year.

We were like, yeah, we can just restore the floorboards and paint the walls and here we are.

A year later and it is just so stripped back.So this is my current kitchen.

I feel like it's really exciting to actually see though.like we if you remember the doorway used to be here now it's been opened up we're going to have some beautiful french double doors here which are going to look absolutely gorgeous same with over there if you remember the sink was here there was a door here out to the courtyard whereas again this is going to be big paneled beautiful double doors which match these ones, this is going to be the arch through to the pantry, the sink's going to be over here, it's going to look very very different and this is going to be my view.Add the dusty windows to the garden and I can see the playhouse from the kitchen which makes me really happy and do you know what?Years ago I had this dream, this like incredibly Vivid dream which I've thought about most days since I had this dream I was looking out a window stood at the kitchen sink looking into a beautiful garden I could hear birds in the trees.I could hear children laughing It was beautiful like golden sunshine shining through the trees and I could see two little boys I couldn't see their faces or anything.I could just see like their little hair Playing in this treehouse and when I look out the kitchen window and I can see Jonah's little head He's currently on the swing.

Oh my goodness I can just see their little heads playing in the playhouse.It really, it just really hits me that that dream that I have been thinking about for so many years is actually now my reality and it's just really crazy to um, it's really crazy to be in this season of life and I'm just, I'm so blimmin' grateful.I just, I feel such gratitude and yeah, I, I'm so, I know I keep saying it but I can't wait to live here.Can't wait until the renovation's finished and we can start our life in this house.Everything kind of feels a bit limbo -y at times.like I'm waiting for something, but essentially we're waiting to move in, so it just, I don't know, it just, I just can't wait to live here.

So, currently in the hallway, we moved this entryway, you would have seen that.This is the front door, this is gonna be the office, this is gonna be blocked up, this is gonna be double doors which match the ones in the kitchen.We've got toilet behind that board, boot room here, and then let's go and have a little look upstairs.so upstairs is very very very stripped back so just brace yourself we actually found a load of cracks which were letting in loads of water in the walls so that's all been repaired and this is what the upstairs is looking like so this side we have Nora and Jonah's bedroom as you can see almost ready to move in This is one of my favourite rooms.I love the double windows.And this is very exciting.

You can actually see the space for our dressing room.This is going to be blocked up.So you'll actually access the dressing room.Have to be careful because there's lots of holes and I do not have appropriate footwear on, as always.But this will be our bedroom.Whoa.

And there'll actually be an arch here.which you'll go through into our dressing room.Which is gonna be gorgeous, I love that little window.All of the ceilings are gonna be obviously put back in.I did really love the idea of a vaulted ceiling, but Jamie said no.

And poor old Jamie's out here like, please no.Someone stop her.No more work, please.So yeah, standing in our soon -to -be dressing room.

And then, ooh, another exciting update.Oh gosh, step over this.So, it's kind of hard to see when it's looking like this, but The entryway to the bathroom has been pushed back so this is going to be like an extended corridor with a nice picture here wall -like.and then you'll enter the bathroom like this there's going to be a hidden shower behind there this is going to be an arch where the toilet and shower are bath is going to be under the window and yeah it's all coming together.Like we are kind of finally at that stage with the renovation where things are starting to go back in.It's not just taking everything back out, which is a really nice feeling that we've got pipes coming in from the plumbers and things are starting to be put back in.

And then this is the spare bedroom.As you can see, the ensuite wall has started to go in.Floorboards have started to go back down.We're also having a vaulted ceiling in here, which I'm really excited about.Oh gosh.What a gorgeous gorgeous evening.

I can see Noah in the woods in his little Gruffalo house which we made at the weekend.

Hey there Gruffalo.Got some little seats in here as well.

We saw a Gruffalo house at a park we went to the other weekend didn't we Noah so we decided to make one.Yeah we need to get some bigger logs so we can make like a proper Gruffalo house because the one that we saw at the park we went to you could actually like stand up and walk around in the Gruffalo house and it was really cool and they had little seats and stuff in there so I'd love to be able to recreate that so we can actually have like a little proper little Gruffalo hideout in the woods that would just be super special.I'm gonna look at focusing on the garden next year when we actually are living here because obviously right now the priority is the house but I'd love tohave some kind of creek some ducks it's going to be very whimsical um but yeah we'll make a proper gruffalo house won't we noah soon you know like the one at the park where we can have like proper little seats inside or even like maybe a little table would be cool that'd be cool wouldn't it and a little mat i was there a little rug Oh, okay, we can have a rug in there.Why not?Anyway, my loves, that is gonna go ahead and conclude the end of the vlog.

Thank you so much for spending time with us over the past couple of days, and I will see you all next weekend.Bye -bye.