Can I just start this by saying what on earth is going on with the weather?! Last week I was sat in sunnier climes and I’ve come home to rain, snow, hail and sun. And that’s all just in one day!

Anyway, if you have read my previous posts on choosing a family holiday and my concerns over boarding an aeroplane with small children then you will know that I had been planning our first family holiday abroad. I’m sad to say the holiday has now been and gone but my gosh it was good! So much fun and so many memories. Shame the healthy glow is staying hidden under warm jumpers for now!

For various reasons, namely being pregnant or having a tearaway toddler, we have never made it abroad with the girls but decided with Molly starting school in September we really should. I’m not sure why we waited quite so long.

When it came to choosing where to go I think I spent an inordinate amount of time online browsing every possible website. Last minute.com and Teletext became my new friends. Luckily Teletext is a tad easier to use now and there is non of that sitting in front of the TV frantically trying to get it to pause on the screen you wanted before having to sit for another 10 minutes whilst it went back through it all. Or am I just showing my age?!

We started off thinking about the Canaries but I wasn’t sure if the flight would be a bit far so instead opted for Portugal. I spent ages trying to find somewhere good to stay (luckily the O’Sheas had more luck that me as they are jetting off soon) and finally settled on a hotel. Then I had a mild panic that it might not be that warm and the pools weren’t heated so was it the right place to go? I will point out here that I am one of the worlds most indecisive people. A constant frustration to my long suffering husband. Anyway, fast forward a few hours and I had found a god deal on Thomsons at a hotel I had been recommended in Gran Canaria. Suddenly, after months of looking we were booked.

We ended up going a few week’s earlier than we had planned simply because the flight times were so much better. No one wants to be arriving at 2am with two small children. And the flights were absolutely fine. I don’t know what I worried about (as you all told me!). As long as they had the iPad and a constant supply of biscuits they were good.

I honestly can’t gush enough about our hotel. We stayed at the Lopesan Baobab in Meloneras which slightly randomly is a sprawling African themed hotel which I was unsure of to start with but I shouldn’t have been. I’ll put my hands up and say I am a hotel snob. I love staying in gorgeous places which, to be honest, is probably because we very rarely get to stay anywhere anymore (sob!). This hotel did not disappoint. I have to say it was probably the nicest foreign hotel I have ever stayed in. I’m hoping I am not alone when I say this but I always judge a place on the toilets (sad I know) and the Baobab definitely passed the test. Boutique styling, big granite sinks and immaculately clean – even by the pools with all the wet children running in and out. The rest of the hotel was fantastic and there were nine different pools for the girls to choose from which kept us busy.

To be honest we didn’t do a lot for the whole week and that was just what we needed as a family. No dashing off here and there on sightseeing tours. Just leisurely days spent lounging by the pool and eating – far too much judging by the fit of my jeans!! Every day kind of floated by and the best thing was having Edd there the whole time. He’s away so much in the week that it was lovely to spend time together and the girls adored having Daddy around to splash and dunk in the pool with. Plus it meant I got much needed sun lounger time. I managed to read three books in peace. AMAZING. Edd is fantastic at being the fun playful dad and luckily loves being in the water as much as the girls did.

Molly became a complete mermaid and went from not liking her face being splashed to full on dunks and swimming in the water. I kid you not, Edd would literally throw her across the pool like a rugby ball where she would plunge under until her armbands floated her back up. She LOVED it. Luckily I am used to Edd’s sometimes rather heart stopping playfulness. From a very young age they have been swung exceptionally high on swings and spun round so fast on roundabouts that I’m not sure how they can even stand afterwards. I just have to look away!

I’m ashamed to admit we only made it to the beach twice. It was a short stroll away but for some reason the girls just preferred the pools. The beach was fantastic though with some of the most epic sand dunes I have seen. They were vast.

We didn’t really venture out many places as we had booked full board so all our meals were included. In retrospect we could have done half board quite easily and I think my poor stomach may have thanked me for it. That said, the food was really good. All manner of sea food and dishes cooked fresh for you each meal time with a plethora of salads and accompaniments. Breakfast was my favourite with tables of cereals, seeds, nuts, fruits and yoghurts along with freshly cooked omelettes and of course the obligatory pastries. I tried to stay as healthy as I could at most meals but the puddings definitely snuck in. But then if you can’t treat yourself when on holiday when can you? I actually managed to go for a run each day which believe me is very unusual. I think I felt I needed to in order to compensate. Whilst Edd and I tucked in we really struggled with the girls which is no surprise given their fussy tendencies. It wasn’t that there was a lack of choice for them, the complete opposite, but they survived on pasta, chips and biscuits. They wouldn’t even eat the usual things they love like bananas and strawberries. No chance of anything remotely healthy passing their lips. Unless strawberry ice cream counts?!

The hotel did offer a babysitting service but we preferred to spend time together. Plus, who would want to miss the nightly mini disco?! It was the highlight of the girl’s day and they loved getting dressed up ready for dinner and the disco and having a little boogie.

Oh, and I must say a huge hello to the lovely Rock My Family reader and her gorgeous little boy who we met during a rendition of ‘The Music Man’! Love that I can go away and still chat to you lovely lot. Quite hilarious being ‘recognised’ though!

I know everyone says it but I can’t believe it is over. It was back to reality with a bang though as we landed Monday night and Edd was off down to London early the next morning and I headed straight off the next day to a Rock My Wedding shoot. It’s all go!

Roll on our next family break in Devon. I’m just hoping the sunshine makes an appearance or the girls may get a shock at the sea temperature!

Are any of you jetting of on your travels any time soon?