As regular readers will know, my husband was away on business last week, I was flying solo!
The boys were desperate for daddy to get home (as was I), so Saturday became all about distraction. Thankfully they had swimming to keep them occupied in the morning, but I wasn’t sure what time my husband would actually get back in the afternoon (possible flight delays, potential queues at immigration…!). So, I needed another distraction from the ‘when will daddy be back?’ mantra…
Kanchan, who blogs at The Intrepid Misadventurer (a beautiful blog, you must check it out if you haven’t already) had mentioned to me that she and her kids had made a Welcome Home Daddy banner in anticipation of the return of her husband from his last trip away. I thought this was a wonderful idea.
What a lovely way to keep two very impatient boys happy, and what a lovely surprise for a daddy who had been missing his family.
So, once the wee girl was down for her nap, they got started.
I love to see my boys doing an activity together. I wrote last week about the joy of watching my children look out for each other and work together; and this was another example. [And, yes, daddy is saying ‘roar’ (long story!) and wearing a t-shirt that says ‘hibs rule!’]
After what had turned out to be a fairly tiring and trying week on my own, watching them put so much effort into this project left me feeling proud and positive. It would have been very easy for my overriding memories of the past week to have been ones of irritation and stress. For my first reaction to the inevitable ‘how did it go?’ to have been a grimace.
Instead, when my husband returned to find two very excited boys sitting on the porch looking out for him, I was smiling.
What a lovely activity, all working together beautifully. Hope hubby appreciated the efforts, what a welcome xx #MagicMoments
He really did, he was thrilled x
Ah so sweet! Looks like you were just there as official photographer on this occasion! Congrats on having your husband back! X #magicmoments
I was, I did nothing at all!
Oh, that is so sweet! Great idea to keep them happily occupied, and the banner looks fabulous! I bet your husband was so pleased :)
He was very pleased, a lovely welcome home :)
This is a great idea, sounds like a lovely ending to a busy week.
It was a great final distraction :)
Lovely banner. Daddy must have been thrilled. And ooh, Hibs. I broke the mould with my family and am a Hearts fan ‘gasp’! Come from totally the wrong side of the city for that x
He was :) Ah, my school friends are all Hibs supporters… hubby adopted them when he moved to Edinburgh (even had a season ticket for awhile!)
awww what a beautiful thing to do!! i love it and looking at them working together so hard is fantastic
thanks for linking up with #MagicMoments x
Thank you Jaime, and thanks for hosting x
What a super cute picture, flying solo is never easy.xx
#MagicMoments
Thank you x It’s definitely tiring, glad he’s home again!
ahhh bless them! What a brilliant banner. I hope daddy liked his loving welcome :) x
He did, he was thrilled :)
Ah gorgeous – he must have loved coming him to that! I’m getting a bit nervous about next year – it’s a crucial stage in Leigh’s course and is going to mean him spending regular time away. At least I only have one little person to cope with on my own though… x
Thank you. It’s tiring, but you just need to have a good routine and not try to do too much x
Must be great to have Daddy back again. I love this post, so great to see the boys pulling together to make a fabulous banner for his return. That said I love the photo of them on the doorstep! I hope hubby had a good trip. Lovely post, thank you so much for sharing with #whatsthestory
Thank you Charly, they did a great job. I also love the photo of them sitting waiting for him though x Thanks for hosting x
aww that’s lovely! Bet you are so pleased to have him home, and I’m sure he’s happy to be home, especially with such a lovely welcome to let him know he’d been missed! xx #magicmoments
Thank you – we are very pleased to have him home x
What a lovely thing for the boys to do – I bet you’ll keep that banner for ever!
Thank you, I suspect we will :)
So sweet! What a lovely welcome home! :)
Thank you :)
Im sure your husband will be super touch! They made such a nice banner =) #MagicMoments
He really was thrilled with it :)
How sweet, what a lovely idea! Great job :) #magicmoments
Thank you :)
Fantastic post – I absolutely love the banner, and beautiful photos!
Thank you very much Charlotte x
I loved what you’ll did with the banner :) Bet your husband was pleased as punch…the children seem so pleased while working on it! You’ve put a big smile on my face with this post, Sara :) xx
He really was thrilled :) I’m so glad it made you smile x
Your boys did a great job! It’s really hard to be smiling after a week alone, so kudos to you for making it happen! :) #magicmoments
Thank you, I was quite surprised I managed it!
Oh that’s lovely that they worked together on it.
Thanks, it was lovely watching them x
What a great activity! The boys look really focused in your photos. Lovely result! Mel
Thanks, they enjoyed it and daddy loved it :)
What a great way to greet their father on return! And I love the photo of them on the doorstep waiting.
Thank you, he was rather pleased. And, I like that photo too x
How, how wonderful. Lovely photo of them waiting. I bet there were tears! (and you must tell the story of why daddy says ‘Roar’!!)
Thank you, they were all very pleased when daddy arrived home :) And, the roar…? I will :)
A very sweet idea :) I bet they loved making it for their dad.
They did, they were so excited to show him :)
What a lovely idea, and how nice you were able to relax and be positive about being solo for his return:) I often feel for my husband if he comes in and I am at my wits end, and thats just the post school to 7pm slot!
It really did give me a far more positive end to the week :)
Love the banner, what a great idea and so cute. I hope Daddy was impressed. Well done you for getting through a week on your own with three – I don’t think I could cope with just our one! #MagicMoments
He was :) My key word is routine, alongside a little bribery and a lot of treats :)
That’s so lovely! We made one for my OH the first time he went away too – he still has it stashed away somewhere – 12 years later!
Oh, that’s lovely x This one will be going in to a memory box too :)
what a lovely idea and what a lovely banner, i bet Daddy was really pleased when he got home.
Thank you, he loved it x
What a wonderful banner. I’m sure your husband was over the moon with it! #letkidsbekids
He was, thank you x
Such a lovely idea. I must remember to do this when my hubby goes away again next time. I do love the banner, they did really well.
Thanks for linking #LetKidsBeKids
Thank you, it was a great activity for them and my husband loved it. I think they did a great job too x
Love post, with such lovely pictures to display how happy the children were for Dad to be coming home. Love the roar drawing!
Thank you, they were so pleased to have him home :)
A lovely post and a great way to keep them busy! #letkidsbekids
Thank you, it certainly did keep them occupied!
How fabulous and what an amazing piece of art it turned out to be! I bet Daddy was super chuffed to see it {as well has two very excited boys on the porch!} Lovely! #magicmoments xx
Daddy was very chuffed :) They made a good job of it x
I bet daddy was thrilled to see they had done this for him,and great working together too #letkidsbekids
He was, and it was great to see the boys pulling together on a project x
Grace says – What a fab banner and the perfect homecoming – awesome job. Thanks for linking to #minicreations
Thank you x