Tag: quality time

Children, Families, Family Life, Large Families

Making The Most Of Those Early Years

by thejoyoffive2 Comments on Making The Most Of Those Early Years
Making The Most Of Those Early Years

The other day I make the announcement that in a few months time I’m going to be a Nanny!

As you can imagine this revelation has caused me to have a million and one thoughts flooding through my mind and one of the things that has become even more apparent is the fact the time passes way to quickly.

That age old saying of ‘this time will go so fast’ is so true and I feel as though I have blinked and my eldest has turned into a young woman with her own family on its way.

With Oscar growing at a rapid rate I’m going to make the most of the precious time I have left with my youngest before I lose him to school.

We still have a while yet and I have decided that with Wednesday being the only day we have completely to ourselves it is going to be used to have as much fun as we can.

It’s going to be a day to forget about the housework and the millions of other boring jobs that need doing and just having quality time that I will never get back again.

Those early years are so precious and short that I’m going to make the most of these moments.

The dirty dishes and grubby carpets will still be there but those precious little moments with your babies won’t.

We started this off last week with a trip to Worthing where we threw stones into the sea, chased waves and ate scrumptious fish and chips and ice cream.

You can’t get much more perfect than that!

Cafes, Cakes, Children, Families, Family Life, Food, Garden Centres

Having An Extra Cuddle On Mother’s Day

by thejoyoffive11 Comments on Having An Extra Cuddle On Mother’s Day

As I sit here tonight with some little ones in bed and my youngest cradled in my arms I am feeling eternally grateful for being blessed with five wonderful children.

For me Mother’s Day is a time to sit back and really take in how lucky I am to be a parent.  With everything going on in day to day life we tend to take things for granted and although a lot of people are negative about days like Mother’s Day and feel it is to commercialised I think it can be as extravagant or as simple as you want to make it.

This year I was woken at 2.15am by number four whispering Happy Mother’s Day to me and clutching his card.  I snuggled him in bed with me until I was woken again with a huge pile of pastries and chocolate.

  
I didn’t want to go out for a restaurant meal as it always ends up costing a fortune for something we end up throwing down our throats before the children all start to play up.

I love spending time outside so opted for Priory Farm in Nutfield.  Sadly everyone else had the same idea and we couldn’t get a table!

Bundling everyone back in the car we went to one of our favourite cafes in Reigate, happily got a table and had great food without the formality of a sit down meal. 

   
   
We then walked down to Priory Park and head a good walk and mess around in the playground.  

   
   
I went on a bit of a mission hunting for fairies doors that we had never managed to spot before. The kids got bored but I kept searching much to their annoyance and couldn’t find even one!

  
We made our way back home to yet more food and the normality of getting ready for the week ahead.

Such a simple day and nothing that we don’t do on a regular basis but with the emphasis of Mother’s Day in our heads the kids were that little more well behaved and I was that little more relaxed and thankful for all that I have.

What did you all get up to today?

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Children, Families, Family Life, Grandchildren, Grandparents

A Night At The Movies

by thejoyoffive3 Comments on A Night At The Movies

 
 The biggest and most important thing in my life by far is my family.  I’m so lucky to be close to my parents and only sister who live a stones throw away.

A wrote a post a while ago now about the huge role my parents play in my family’s life and really feel that children can learn so much from the older generation.

They can recall stories from days gone by and give them an insight into things they will never be able to experience themselves.  They can bring back fond memories of family that are no longer with us and most importantly share that unconditional love that only a grandparent can give.

We spend a lot of time out and about with my parents but don’t very often have the chance to settle down and share a movie together.  Thanks to Gracewell Healthcare who kindly sent us a ‘Night At The Movie’ package we were able to get together as a family and share a movie together.  I hope that this is something my parents will remember as they get older and a story that my children will be able to relay to their own children in years to come.

 

We were sent a DVD and sweet selection for the purpose of this post. 

Box Hill, Children, Families, Family Life, Large Families

Special Time With My Little Big Man

by thejoyoffive12 Comments on Special Time With My Little Big Man

Number two turned thirteen this week and I got that sinking feeling that comes with your little one turning into a teenager!

He is growing into an independent young man that has a little job at our local skatepark and loves to spend time on his beloved X Box which leaves little quality time for us as a family.

This weekend we went for a meal to celebrate his and my husbands birthday followed by a lovely long walk through Box Hill.  This is something the the rest of us do most weekends whilst he is busy at the skatepark.

His face hit the floor at the thought of walking through muddy fields with no technology or skate ramps in sight.

  
 
Once he realised this was his only option he really let himself go back to that carefree child he is and had so much fun running around with his brothers and sisters, trying to grab rope swings across the stream and found it hilarious to get soaked crossing the stepping stones that had  become half immersed due to the heavy rainfall.

   
 
We walked and chatted about nothing in particular for hours and he said how much he had enjoyed his day.

Im making it my mission to make him come along with us more from now on as I’m a great believer in letting children do what they love and have their own space but these years have already flown by and it’s days like these that cost nothing but mean so much. 

 

Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall

Art Galleries, Cafes, Cakes, Children, Families, Family Life, Image Of The Week, Memories, Parents, Photography, Sons, Surrey

Image Of The Week:Everyday

by thejoyoffive4 Comments on Image Of The Week:Everyday

The theme for this weeks Image The Week over at Truly Madly Kids is ‘Everyday’ and this is one of my favourite weekly moments.

Now we are all back into the school routine and it’s just me and number five a home we love a weekly trip to our favourite cafe Art Rebellion for coffee and cake and a bit of quality time for just the two of us, we’ll sometimes we get Daddy joining in too!!

   
  

Allergies, Behavioural Problems, Children, Families, Family Life, Large Families, Memories, Parents, Sons, Toddlers

Just Me And Baby 

by thejoyoffive3 Comments on Just Me And Baby 

  
You would have thought that by child number four I should be hardened to that ‘first day’.  As today proved I’m clearly not!

It was number four’s first day at nursery and all of those mixed emotions came flooding through just as they had with the others, but with a few more thrown in.

Number four has without doubt been my most challanging child.  He is massively strong willed, extremely boisterous and is hugely outgoing.

This has driven me to the edge over the past three years yet I wouldn’t have him any other way.  I just worry now how his character is going to go down in a nursery environment.  Play areas and toddler groups have always been a challange for us and I would be on guard the whole time.  In a large nursery with lots of children I am worried he will realise he has a bit to much free reign as there are plenty more children that need to have an eye kept on them. 

There is also the worry that I’m not there to watch what he is eating and as he has not reached a level yet where he understands his allergies I am in a real panic that I am going to be getting ‘that’ phone call!

The upside to him getting some much needed structure to his day is that I get to have a few hours on my own with number five.  He is such a placid child that has really been a little pushed into the background being the last in a long line of little ones.  It’s his time now and I am going to make the most of trips to the park, toddler sessions and cuddles on the sofa with my little baby for those precious few hours of the day.

  
  

Allergy Free, Children, Exercise, Families, Family Life, Food, Holidays, Large Families, Memories, Outdoor Play, Parents, Parks, Photography

Center Parcs:The Perfect Family Holiday

by thejoyoffive15 Comments on Center Parcs:The Perfect Family Holiday

I first visited Center Parcs twenty one years ago when Longleat was opened and have been there nearly every year since.

It is the kind of place you simply can’t tire of and had something to offer if you are 1 or 101!!

If you were to ask any of my children what their favourite hoilday is they will always pick Center Parcs as the top of their list, well baring Disney (sorry)!

Over the years we had had trips where we have taken part in lots of activities and others where we have relaxed more and made use of exploring the wonderful surroundings Longleat is set in.

  
We always hire bikes when we go as it is the easiest way to travel from place to place, and much more fun than walking.  It’s a great place to practice your cycling as the roads are car free once everyone has checked in and there is not the worry that you would get riding a bike at home.  If cycling is not your your thing then there is a land train that you can hop onboard.

We always get a trailer for the youngest ones which doubles up perfectly as a shopping cart!

 
  
We usually grab our bikes and head off to our favourite resturant, The Pancake House.  This year was made extra special by an allergy free pancake being put on the menu so number four was not left out.

   

  

  

  

Tummies now full we made our way to our lodge to get settled in.  This year we were greeted with the usual open plan, cosy lodge nestled in the woodland with all the things you need from any self catering accommodation.  To our delight our lodge was set right onto a beautiful large pond which was perfect for on tap duck feeding.

   
     

     

The children were now champing at the bit to get to the pool which is a favourite for everyone.  They have a well set out area for babies and toddlers, a large pool area that has a wave machine on the hour that leads into a great lazy river, several water slides, jacuzzis to relax in; but our firm favourite is the Rapids.  It is an outdoor slide adventure that I love more than the children!

  
This year the children picked one activity each and we filled the rest of our time with bike riding, swimming, playing on the beach and making use of all the playgrounds on offer.

   
  

         

Number four had his first outdoor activity this year which was the Mini Trek.  He had a fantastic time and thought he was on ‘Ninja Warrior’.

   
    

 

‘Super Grandad’, hubby, number two and number three all took part in the High Ropes Challange.  This was a two hour activity and they loved every minute of it.

   
       

Last of the activities was the Arieal Adventure. This has changed slightly this year but was still the firm favourite.

   
       

As far as eating goes at Center Parcs we have always found the restaurants really good value for money and there is plenty of choice.

   

We usually eat in a lot as it is easier with a large family with young children and ours love to make use of the barbecue area at the lodge.  There is a supermarket on site with mini trollies which are always a highlight.  The supermarket has everything you could want but is very pricy so I would suggest bringing your own good if you were trying to save money by making use of the self catering.

   
 

   
 

We always have tears when we have to end of trip and I can hand on heart say that Center Parcs can’t be faulted.  It is the perfect family holiday and the fact we have visisted for over twenty years should just show you what a truly fabulous place it is. 

           
  

  

  

Cakes, Children, Craft Fairs, Crafts, Families, Family Life, Flowers, Food, Gardens, Grandchildren, Grandparents, Kids Days Out, Large Families, Memories, Outdoor Play, Parents, Photography, Surrey

Flower Show With More Cream Teas

by thejoyoffive8 Comments on Flower Show With More Cream Teas

Every year a wonderful house in the pretty village of Chipstead in Surrey opens its grounds to allow the local flower show and fun run to take place.

This is always a favourite for our family as it feels like a step back in time with a traditional brass band, coconut shys, cream teas and Pimms tent.

   
     

We took a wonder around the gardens of the owners grand home and had a look at his collection of exquisite classic cars that number four wanted to have a drive in!

   
     

Next stop was a jump around on the bouncy castle, trying our hand at the tombola, a successful throw on the coconut shy and some cupcake making.

   
     

We had a pit stop and endulged in a scrummy cream tea whist listening to the fabulous brass band.

  
It really feels like you are on the set of something like the ‘Darling Buds Of May’.

There are lots of games and shows put on in the centre of the main field and plenty of stalls selling lovingly handcrafted goods, flowers and lots of yummy food.

We saved the show tent until last and left the little ones outside with my Dad so I could have a good look around without the worry of one of them destroying someone’s entry that they would have put so much time and effort into.

   
   

My Mum was a keen flower arranger many years ago and I am really getting into photography do next year we are thinking about entering ourselves!!