So we thought we would do our good deed for the ....year(?!) and offer to look after little Raina giving the newly Civil Partnered couple a day to do something for themselves and spend some quality time together. We’ve met Raina a couple of times now and compared to some other little ones we knew of the same age Raina has always been an angel, so we thought a day out in Legoland would be a breeze. Following our interview with Ruth (Momma) of our intentions and child experience the happy couple accepted our offer and agreed a date.
A couple of days before our big day out we found out the cost of taking a family of 3 to Legoland and MY GOD it’s not cheap, so the night before Uncle Chris went on a hunt for a Kit Kat to get half price tickets.
Neither of us had ANY experience of looking after children so anxiously we arrived at the family home. Ruth told us she had let Raina know the night before what was happening and Raina had told her that she was excited but was going to be shy! Well if screaming Legoland and jumping up and down was shy as we walked through the door then I would hate to see Raina excited!
After a lesson in car seat adjustment we set off with ‘If you’re Happy and you know it’ blaring from the CD player. This lasted all of five minutes as Chris discreetly turned the radio on and Raina didn’t seem to notice or care. Phew. Raina kindly directed us from her favourite book, the A-Z albeit she was reading it upside down.
On arrival after a quick loo stop we showed Raina a map of Legoland and asked where she wanted to go. “Cafe!” she repeated over and over pointing at the Lego Cafe Man. We managed to cleverly distract her with the slide as we entered the park which she went down about 6 times before we managed to drag her away.
We soon learnt that Raina liked being in photos when she began posing in other people’s photos!! She was so excited to get into one family photo that she landed face first in the mud. The first and not the last time we made use of the wonderful invention of baby wipes. Raina had a warning from Uncle ‘Cwis’ not to run off again and she listened and stuck by our sides for the rest of the day.
Raina was so very well behaved and thoroughly enjoyed herself including going on rides, going in a submarine, hill top train and having her face painted although she wanted to keep referring to it as ‘Paint Face’. The submarine was not the first one she had been on as apparently she had been on one with Mummy Hannah in their town, surprising what you can find these days in a UK town centre.
Lunchtime was an experience which I learnt not to let Uncle Chris take a child to a buffet. We knew from the Raina's brief that she would eat anything but when Auntie Sarah took her along the line she said she didn’t want sausages, chicken, soup, salad, lasagne, curry or anything on the list. Auntie Sarah advising her that she would have to chose something or she would not be able to carry on playing she chose bread and ketchup. Auntie Sarah made her a sausage sandwich with some mash and baked beans which she hoovered up. Uncle Chris on his 3rd plate of food (he loves to eat) left little Raina feeling as if she was missing out so on the third trip asked if she could get some more bread which Auntie Sarah agreed. Raina managed to convince Uncle Chris to get her fish fingers, chicken, chips, more sausages, more beans and more mash and some vegetables. All of which she had told me she didn’t want!!! Auntie Sarah was less than impressed and told Uncle Chris Raina’s little belly would explode...Uncle Chris then said he would just take the plate away to which Auntie Sarah decided she need a visit to the loo! Uncle Chris managed to swipe the plate convincing Raina she was full and getting a waitress to take it all away.
The weather was beautiful and ice creams were enjoyed by all. Raina provided entertainment for many in the queues with her booty dancing and her tiger roaring.
The shop was also a challenge when Raina picked up about ten things and told us with her puppy dog eyes she wanted them all. Uncle Chris managed to convince her only one would be purchased which Auntie Sarah ensured was something educational and would not take up the whole of Mummy and Momma’s living room. A Lego watch and clock to help Raina learn how to tell the time as throughout the day she wanted to know what the time was.
We escaped scar free and Uncle Chris slept all the way home. Raina was buzzing off the ‘red drink’ she had convinced Uncle Chris to buy her.
Home and reunited with Mummy and Momma we were worn out. Raina gave back Mummy her keyring that was attached to her ruc sac. It was appreciated as Raina kept asking to see it and sometimes wanted to hold it. I think she didn't trust us not to lose it. We wondered how they did this day in and day out and went to work. Whilst we recovered on the sofa; bedtime routine and kisses led to a little Raina straight asleep.
The adults enjoyed a scrumptious dinner and then a long drive home for auntie and uncle with good memories and the offer to do it all again :-)
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