Back in April we thought we had found our dream house. But we hadn't. It was a temporary lust and we are so happy fate took over.

July has been the month of certainty. Certainty that we have exchanged and secured our dream forever house, assurance that Sammy has a school place to start in September and Ollie a new pre school and total confidence that we are buying the right house.

We have said goodbye to Sammy's beloved school this month. We watched him proudly hand out his little end of term treats and our hearts ached listening to all his pals saying their goodbyes and wishing him luck at his new school.

He had a final scoot around the playground like king of the school, had some photos with his chums, hugged goodbye his favourite Year 6 friend who had become his mentor, adorned in her signed t-shirt, (Who else remembers that ritual?!) and we headed for dinner on the beach!

We've had one last viewing on the new house this month, taking my in laws to visit for the first time and it was wonderful seeing them love and appreciate the house as much as we do. At one point as we were walking around the garden my mother in law hugged me and giddily said "Oh I am so excited for you all!" And that's how we feel every time we have been there.

This final few weeks as we wait to hear a completion date feels like torture and it may mean Sammy and I have to spend a couple of weeks in a B&B so that he can start school with all the new Year 1 children. But it will all be worth it in the end.

Having a blog is a wonderful way to journal our move and I thought a little video before we get the house officially, would be a nice little tradition to start. I think I will take one on moving in day too.

Turn the volume down - for some reason every time I upload it the audio is dreadful! I've almost lost the will to live!

Music Credit: Philip Philips - Home

Now I've shown you me and mine, it's your turn to show me you and yours. Link up your family snap from July with all of us. Can you believe this project has been running for 18 months! I love seeing how we are all changing. Older, wiser and one of us has lost a tooth ;)

Pop over to Katie's blog to see her happy family, tanned and refreshed from their Summer holidays. There's a milestone in their house too, a super cute one is walking! 

<div align="center"><a href="http://www.dearbeautifulboy.com/2014/07/me-and-mine-family-july.html" title="dear beautiful" target="_blank"><img src="http://i291.photobucket.com/albums/ll320/looby_boo/meampmine-button_zpscc9f6437.jpg" alt="dear beautiful" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

When the weather is delightful there is no where better in the world than beautiful Britain.

If you want dreamy blue seas, picturesque lagoons and happy family snaps on the beach then just jump in the car and head for an adventure!

Yesterday, we should have been sorting a hot stuffy garage, but we decided to abandon the sensible plans and whizz off to Salcombe in Devon. A beautiful part of the world that's teaming with bunting, festival cheer all year round and the most stunning coast line, with rivers and seas peppered with bright shiny yachts and weathered coloured sailing boats, bobbing in the breeze.

We packed a car picnic and headed off at 12.30, getting to the town for the post lunchtime rush and missing all the traffic. The boys had a snooze in the car, Sammy made us all a loom band (THE BEST TRAVEL TOY IDEA ON THE PLANET) and we stopped at the first beach we saw opposite The Winking Prawn beach restaurant at North Sands beach. The restaurant has been at the beach for over 17 years and is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Bright pink umbrellas shelter happy tourists and locals from the sunshine and spots of Salcombe Dairy ice cream splatter the route from the ice cream truck to the beach steps, as little ones struggle to lick their ice creams fast enough!

We hadn't planned for a full day on a beach so without towels or swimming shorts we rolled up the shorts and paddled amongst the families on holiday playing beach cricket in the low tide. I loved people watching as the boys climbed on the rocks to get a better view of the swimmers. Older couples reading papers, groups of teenagers on post exam celebrations, children making new friends.

After getting our toes properly wet in a English sea for the first time this Summer (Friday night's beach trip to Weston super Mare was more mud than sea!) we jumped back in the car and found a parking space on one of the steep side streets and headed for a wander into the town.

The brightly coloured bunting makes everyday feel like the Queen is coming to visit and there are scores of "boaty" boutiques and brands to entice you to embrace the nautical look! 

I heard a voice shout Lucy and turned around to see a work contact of mine from my property job, who is lucky enough to have a house walking distance from the town centre. We had a lovely catch up, met each other's families and picked up some recommendations for our final few of hours exploring.

We walked the length of the town, stopped in Cranch's Sweet Shop for treats and then mooched up to the Ferry Inn where we hopped on the small ferry boat to the beach on the other side of the harbour. 

It's surreal lying on a golden sandy beach with scores of yachts sailing by with rolling hills and cows as a backdrop. Salcombe has the best of everything!

We couldn't say no to the boys who were desperate to play in the sea so we stripped them to their pants and let them get wet! It was s snapshot of our holiday to Spain in 10 days. This year I can see those two getting lost in their own little world together, making up games on the shore line and gaining confidence in the water. This is the Summer Sammy is desperate to lose the armbands and learn to swim. He's almost there, it's wonderful to watch.

The Venus beach cafe at the top of the hill sells drinks and snacks and a small selections of beach toys and with a toilet block next door we and a quick pit stop before heading back to the jetty and catching the ferry back before they stop at 6.30pm.

As the boys were worn out and a little sandy (as well as pant less) we decided to jump back in the car and head a little closer to home for dinner. We drove through Kingsbridge and spotted The Crabshell Inn, a family friendly beach house come pub on the quayside. There's an adults terrace upstairs and an abundance of wooden picnic tables over looking the water as well as a beautifully decorated inside restaurant for wet days.

The children's food was freshly cooked, a portion large enough for a teenager and not a nugget in sight. There were so many delicious things on the menu and I couldn't resist the Devon crab cocktail and a gigantic salad to balance out the rosé and ice cream!

We left as the sun was still warm, as scores of families with older children arrived for an evening with friends and drove through Totnes to find the only little store open for an ice cream on the way home. There were lots of vintage shops I'd definitely like to visit during opening hours!

The boys slept on the way home and we all collapsed into bed, still a little sandy, full and happy just after 9.30pm. Don't you just love throwing school routines out of the window?!

Have you been to Salcombe? Where would you recommended we go next time we visit?

Linking up with #theordinarymoments and #CountryKids

The internet is going to be painted pink today! Our darling boy Ollie, who turned 3 last week had repeatedly asked us for a pink party after falling in love with fuchsia a few months ago!

Not fairies or princesses you understand, apparently they are "disgusting" and "for girls". "I like pink."

Well if it was pink he wanted, pink he got! We were so lucky to be able to borrow my in laws beautiful home for the weekend and host a family party in the garden. The sun shone, the pink Cava and pink lemonade flowed and our sweet boy got his wish. Ollie shares his birthday with my Mum so it was a joint celebration!

He was the most grateful and loving boy, delirious with everyone getting into the pink spirit and adored having his cousins as party play mates.

These are special times and I am going to celebrate every single one!

After an awesome pizza and pasta buffet, as much ice cream and sprinkles and sweet treats as we could all eat we headed to the pool!

The giant balloons made a perfect volleyball and we even managed to Skype with my brother and sister in law in America from the hot tub!

A wonderful day of traditional party fun - who doesn't love a balloon between the legs relay and an egg and spoon race?! And party bags for home time.

What an amazing family we have! All in party pinks!

Party details

• The chairs and tables were kindly loaned to us by Dine In
• I sourced party decorations from Party Delights
• The big balloons were from Giant Balloons
• The Little Things party company were very generous and provided lots of lovely party ware including paper sweet bags, stripy straws, lollies and the sweet daisy mason jars
• The tableware, pinwheels and stripy bunting were from Sainsburys
• The birthday sprinkle cake and coffee and walnut cake were from Tesco
• The party buffet was a selection of Domino's Pizza, sides, a meatball pasta bake from Tesco and salads. For dessert we set up an ice cream station for you to make up your own creations and a sweet table for extras. 

Anything else you want to know - just ask!

The next birthday is actually mine! We will be heading to Spain in 2 weeks to celebrate my birthday in Altea with my sister and her family and my brother and sister in law from America! Paella, tapas and Cava sounds perfect! 

Linking up with the fabulous Honest Mum and and #BrilliantBlogPosts and #CountryKids