Celebrating The Small Things:Week Twenty Six

I am miles behind with these posts as I predicted I would be at the beginning of the year, but I’m going to try and play catch up with them as I’m very good at this and these posts are something I’ve really enjoyed and had great feed back about.

Coaxing The Teen From His Den – For those of you that follow my blog I’m sure that you will have noticed a bit of a gap when its comes to posting about my eldest son. This is not by choice or because he doesn’t want to be featured, it is purely because the lure of the Xbox is to great most of the time and quality moments are pretty rare.

However we had a pretty good run lately as he been taking part…and dare I say enjoying the Disney 24 Hour Challenge that we have been set.

The challenge in short is a way to encourage families to get active together in any kind of way you want. It has been a real breath of fresh air for us and we have thoroughly enjoyed spending time together in an active way and hope to keep it up even after the challenge has been completed.

Strawberry Picking – This is definitely one of my favourite simple pleasures in life and as soon as the sun shows his face I am eager to get out their and pick all those juicy strawberries.

It gives the children chance to run free and get to know a little more about where food comes from. It was always something I loved to do as a child and adore doing with my own.

Afternoon Naps – Oscar to me seemed to skip the toddler phase completely and moved straight onto a pre schooler. He has always been wise beyond his years, tackled toilet training at really young age, dressed independently for a long time and as for those longed for afternoon naps well they were given up at just over a year.

Although I love his fierce independence and grown up attitude I kind of feel robbed of those precious toddler years that seemed to skip by to quickly with him. So walking in on him curled up and fast asleep on my bed the other was a lovely reminder that he is still my little one that I have for a few more months yet.

Ergo Pouch Sleepsuit Giveaway

All of mine have been crazy sleepers in the sense that they can’t keep still in bed for more than a few minutes! From tiny babies it was always the relentless task of going into their rooms at night to cover them back up before they got woken by the cold.

This is where the discovery of baby sleeping bags with my youngest two was an absolute game changer and the ability to keep them warm all night was finally discovered!

As they grew though we still had the issue with missing bedcovers but a real lack of anything to use once they outgrew the sleeping bag stage.

However the clever people at ergoPouch have got this covered with their amazing Ergo Pouch Sleepsuit.

Ergo Pouch in fact start with baby swaddles and sleeping bags for little ones and then allow older children to progress to the sleep suit.

All their products are made with natural, skin friendly fibres that allow both temperature regulation and breathability which gives the child comfort and you peace of mind.

Oscar is probably on of my most wiggly little ones who also feels the cold terribly so trying out the sleep suit bag on him made for the perfect candidate.

The bag is easily converted into a suit from a bag allowing the child freedom to move around or the perfect way to move them from car to bed in one easy movement without having to fuss around.

Being avid campers this is also the perfect alternate to the traditional and somewhat uncomfortable sleeping bags we usually use for the children and we will be testing ours out at Camp Bestival in a few weeks time.

If this sounds like the perfect solution for your little ones then please feel free to enter my completion below to win one of your very own!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In The Night Garden Live 2018:Family Ticket Giveaway

It is around this time of year when all the fun of Christmas is over, the weather is rubbish and there is nothing exciting planned that I start to think about the warmer weather ahead and the exciting things we are going to get up to.

One of the highlights for us for the past few years has been the fantastic on stage performance – In The Night Garden Live.

The musical theatre show brings to life all the familiar characters from the popular TV show through magical puppetry, breathtaking projection, enchanting music and life-sized characters.

Tickets go on sale from 26th January 2018 and there is also an exclusive resale on 23rd January.

The O2, London

Thursday 24 May – Saturday 9 June

Performances at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm

No performances on Tue 29 May & Tue 5 Jun

Richmond Old Deer Park, London

Saturday 16 June – Sunday 1 July

Performances at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm

No performances on Tue 19 Jun & Tue 26 Jun

Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham

Saturday 7 July – Sunday 22 July

Performances at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm

No performances on Tue 10 Jul & Tue 17 Jul

intu Trafford Centre, Manchester

Saturday 28 July – Sunday 19 August

Performances at 10am, 12pm, 2pm, 4pm

No performances on Tue 31 July, Tue 7 & Tue 14 Au

If this sounds like something you and your little ones would be interested in then or if you are feeling lucky then I have a fantastic competition for you to enter below for the chance to win a family ticket for four(minimum 1 adult) at a venue and performance of your choice.

powered by Typeform

The competition closes at 23:59 on 14th January 2018. Good Luck!

Toddler Time At Chessington World Of Adventures

Chessington World Of Adventures main attraction for us as a family is the diversity of the theme park and its ability to cater for all ages.

With this in mind I took some time out with Oscar to see what that have to offer pre-schoolers during the week when all the others are busy working away at school…I have to add this didn’t go down to well with the others.

I don’t need to tell any of you what tricky creatures three year olds can be and days out can often be more than a little fraught.

Queuing is something that is certainly not one of Oscar’s strong points, so the relief to be able to get on every ride within minutes was a massive bonus for me as well as him!

Our first port of call was the Gruffalo River Ride Adventure that saw us following mouse on his adventures with The Gruffalo whilst floating along in our little wooden boat through spooky dark areas, over a few lumps and bumps and a good few moments of getting a little wet.

The Gruffalo theme is something that is certainly present throughout Chessington World Of Adventures now which is perfect for the little ones and Oscar was over to the moon to meet the ‘real’ Gruffalo at the meet and greet session.

From here we headed off to take in a few more rides and with such little queuing time was got so many in.

Out of the eighteen rides suitable for toddlers some of our favourites were the Sea Dragons where we wizzed and whirled around in the little boats.

The beautiful new carousel called the Adventure Tree that we tried our pretty much every animal on.

The Flying Jumbos that took us flying way into the sky, and for my little thrill seeker a trip on the front of the Scorpion Express that he was thrilled to be riding upfront on.

There is food aplenty available and all tastes are easily catered for from BBQ chicken to fish and chips or burgers to pizzas there really is something for everyone.

I grabbed a much needed coffee and refuelled ourselves with a quick sugary treat.

A ride that we had yet to try out was Zufari and I have to say after trying it out I have no idea why we had left it this long.

We hopped on board the Zufari truck that took us on a a very bumpy adventure through the wild spotting some pretty spectacular animals on the way.

I couldn’t believe how close we managed to get to the giraffes and rhinos. Oscar was hugely amused by being so close to rhinos bum!

In the mood for some more animal spotting we took a walk through the Trail Of The Kings and spotted a very sleepy lion.

The gorillas were out to play and Oscar was highly amused with their antics.

It’s not just the bigger animals that Chessington World Of Adventures homes. The petting zoo is always a big hit with mine and we spent a good while petting the sheep, looking in on the greedy pigs while they fed and trying to keep up with the cutest little goat I’ve ever seen.

From land animals we made our way into the Sealife Centre to see all the creatures of the sea.

Oscars favourite moment was getting the chance to touch a starfish and ask the poor lady a hundred and one questions on the subject that she more than happily answered for him.

It was wonderful to be able to experience Chessington World Of Adventures from the perspective of just a little one rather than having to keep my large brood all happy.

It is the perfect way to allow them to experience the excitement of the rides without the stress of the queues and get to see the animals without it being so busy which can be very stressful for tiny ones.

It really is a day that allows them to build their confidence and independence and gain knowledge of a huge variety of animals all in one place.

Oscar came away bursting to tell his brothers and sisters about his day and literally can’t wait until his next trip.

If this sounds good to you then you can get yourself an adult and pre-school pass ticket for only £21 or an annual pass that always you in on selected dates and times for only £60.

We got so much done in the few hours between school runs that it is certainly well worth a visit.

‘I am a Chessington Blogger Ambassador, I was given a Chessington Annual Pass to do this review with my family and I was not paid to do this post. If anyone would like to confirm any details in the post, please email press.office@chessington.co.uk’

My Size Potty Review

For me potty training is one of the worst stages of parenting.  The endless trips back and forth to the potty, the accidents and the stress of being out and about when they scream for the toilet at the most inopportune moment!

Number five had been showing a lot of interest and had been using the potty sporadically for a while but I was yet to take the leap and go for it.

When I was asked by Summer Infant UK to try out their new My Size potty I realised this would be the perfect time to take the plunge.

When the parcel arrived all the children were so excited to see a potty that was just like a miniature toilet.  To be honest I was even really taken with how lifelike it was.

The package came in several parts and was really easy to assemble.

There is a liftable lid which can also have a splash guard attached to save any accidents from little boys.  We haven’t tried this out as being the youngest of three boys he had taken to standing already!

Under the lid is a removable bowl that is really easy to remove and clean as it is a lot smaller than a traditional potty.


In the top of the potty there is a little compartment to store wipes and if the top is removed you can place a few books or toys to keep them amused.  This has come in really handy as number five had a tendency to jump up from the toilet before he is ready so something to keep him occupied that is close to hand is perfect.


The selling point for us though was definitely the toilet flush they when pulled gives a great flush and giggle sound which makes for the perfect reward for doing a good job.

For me anything that make such a tricky task fun and as easy as possible is a hit in my book.  It is the perfect potty to make the transition from potty to toilet go smoothly as they look so alike.

The My Size Potty was a huge hit with number four and it is a shame that this great potty was not around through the struggles of my other four!
*we were gifted this potty for the purpose of this review and they are all my own, honest opinions.

#PointShoot:Terrible Twos

This week I’m linking up my #pointshoot photo of our trip to Gatton Park.

We have had a few weeks of illness and really needed a good walk in the fresh air.

I was also hoping to wear out stroppy number five!  The terrible two’s have kicked in with full force and now only wants things done when he is good and ready!

The first tantrum was about wearing his favourite hat that is now way to small but that was a battle I was happy to let him win.  Spending the entire day sitting on this steps did get more than a little tiresome though!

  

You Baby Me Mummy

Christmas Is Over And So Is My Breastfeeding Journey

  

A while ago I wrote a post ‘Breastfeeding For Me Of The Baby’.  I was feeling torn between continuing my extended breastfeeding with number five.  He was still very dependant in the evenings and I was no where near ready to stop even though there was a worry in the back of my mind that even though I loved everything about breastfeeding he would never wean himself off.

After some wonderful feedback from my readers I continued to do what was best for both of us and carried on.  I loved the closeness, the way it still helped him to settle and knew that he was still getting lots of goodness from it.  If I’m honest though there was a huge part of me that wasn’t ready to let go.

After having fed five children I knew this would be the last time I would be able to enjoy everything that breastfeeding brings.  I’ve struggled with feeding all of mine from one that didn’t know how to suck when he was first born, one with a tongue tie and countless bouts of mastitis that even landed me in hospital.  It’s been a tough journey with all of them but something I will never forget and I’m so glad I battled through each time as it was such a special experience for me.

A few weeks before Christmas number five was waking in the night as usual but not needed to be fed.  He wasn’t asking and was settling with a little cuddle.  This was actually a welcome change after nearly two years of night feeds!  He was still having his feed to get to sleep and this was the one that I couldn’t see going as he routine was bath, story and milk and he was extremely set in his ways about this.

But then the hustle and bustle of Christmas started and with a few late nights he had happily fallen asleep without a feed.  When it came to two concecutive nights without a feed I just went with it and neither of us have looked back.

I didn’t get that planned emotional last feed I was expecting, I didn’t have an upset baby crying himself to sleep at night it just worked.  He had weaned himself away beautifully and I am finally happy about that.

Super Cool Teething Necklaces By Lara And Ollie

  

I stopped wearing necklaces a while ago due to the fact that so many got completly ruined at the hands of inquisitive babies and toddlers.  

They are like magpies, they spot something around your neck and drag and pull at it until they have part of in in their sticky little mitts.

When I was asked by the lovely ladies at Lara And Ollie to try out their stylish looking teething necklace I jumped at the chance.

  
There is a vast choice of different colours with beautiful stacking bangles to match. I opted for the black, grey and cream necklace as I felt that it would fit in well with the majority of my wardrobe and would be the perfect tones for the colder weather we have coming up.

As soon as I put it on number five made a beeline for it and was more than happy to sit there and chew and pull on it without causing him or the necklace any halm.

   
  
I have also found it really handy to pass to him to keep him amused if he gets a bit ratty.  Let’s face it they all want to play with anything but a toy!

  
This is a funky yet functional necklace that looks great and is perfect to soothe little ones sore gums, keep them amused and make you look fab!

I was gifted this necklace by Lara And Ollie for the purpose of this review.  They are all my own honest opinions.

I Want One!! 

Something that brings me out in a hot sweat with just the thought of it is shopping with kids.  I try to do my shopping online but unfortunately there is the odd occasion I have to brave the the shops with the kids in tow.

We had a last minute dash to get a birthday present this week which to be honest went well until we hit the dreaded till point!

Narrow walkways with shiny object to pull at, shelving to pull down and hundreds of sweets to ask for.  The two minute queue felt like hours, number four had a melt down on the refusal of a Spider-Man electric toothbrush whist ramming the buggy into the unsympathetic woman in front. Number five was trying his Mission Impossible moves to free himself from the buggy to devour any chocolate item he could get his hand on.  

Trying to block out my screaming children and disapproving looks we make it to the till point. The ‘sorry for the wait’ really didn’t cut it today and I would like to challange any store manager to queue with my youngest two to see if these ‘impulse buy’ till point displays are in the least bit pleasing for parents!!

Road Testing The UME One Pushchair

After five children and around eight pushchairs I would say I am a bit of buggy connoisseur.

I love the excitement of going into the store and picking out a sparkly new pram to transport your precious new cargo around in. 

The problem I always find is the big bulky prams are wonderful for your newborn but what you really need is something light weight and easy to put up and down when you are out and about.

When I was asked to try out the UME One pushchair I jumped at the chance as it was it seemed just perfect for number five.

This light weight buggy weighs a mere 6.5kg and is super easy to put down with its one hand fold mechanism.

  
There is a shoulder strap which is something I’ve never seen on a buggy before which makes it even easier to carry.

There is a more than spacious shopping basket and an additional zip pocket on the hood which is great for safely storing things you need easily to hand.

  
The extra large canopy is perfect for sun protection and coverage for a sleeping baby and the little spy hole in the top is perfect for keeping an eye on your precious cargo.

  
One of my favorite extras is the cup holder which always comes in handy for our much needed coffees!

The multi position recline allows for a comfortable sleep whist on your travels.

I always feel the best way to really get the feel for a buggy is to road test it – and what better way than a trip to Brighton.

  
Number four was more than happy to try it out and the Houdini in him couldn’t even try to escape due to the clever covering over the buckle.

  
The steering was a lot smoother than I expected for a stroller and it even made it through the dreaded pebbly beach challange!

  
I would highly recommend this if you are looking for a light weight, comfortable, stylish buggy as this has ticked all my boxes.

I was given this pushchair for the purpose of this review and they are all my own honest opinions.