Clothes, clothes glorious clothes

Ben working, Ruby at school and Rivan at crèche - a quiet still house when I return from doing the school run.  It is a strange silence and I think back to the time that we first arrived in France - no kids, no work, just a new house and life to build - how things have changed.  Rain means that indoor jobs on the agenda today so after tidying up after breakfast and making pizza base and tomato sauce for the meatballs and freezer I decide to tackle Ruby's new clothes.  Many of her dresses and tops are now too small for her and we have bags of clothes for her up in the barn, very kindly given to us by Ben's boss - her daughter too was a lover of pink.  I get all the bags down from the barn and bring them inside - I have to step over the bags to get into the lounge - 2 hours later and finally I have sorted out a pile of new clothes for Ruby including some Dora tops which she will be delighted with.  Several bags of clothes still too big for her, a bag of clothes to go to the charity shop and a bag of clothes to pass onto a friend as they are too small for Ruby now - her favourite pink dress is for a 12 month old and she can get away with wearing it with tights but with the warmer weather coming we need to pass this on!

Every time I go and get the next lot of clothes I am always so grateful that we have been given so many things for our children (both Ruby and Rivan), Ruby loves the fact that a few times a year her entire wardrobe gets renewed and I really appreciate having all these clothes without having to go and pay a fortune for them (as neither or us earn a fortune).  I am also glad and thankful that we also know people with children younger that ours so that we are able to continue the "giving" and pass the clothes on once they are too small for ours.  Thank you to all those who have given or lent us clothes and continue to do so in the future!