"It is better to travel well than to arrive."

Booking a holiday, as exciting as it is, can also be very stressful! With so much to organise before you actually board the plane, the build up can be quite a daunting time. As a parent, I am thankful for anything that makes the trip that little bit easier on everyone and this year before heading off to Florida my favourite company came to our aid, helping with something that worries us every time we go away. There is a lot of walking involved at the airport, which I guess I don't really notice that much because I am so focused on getting from A to B with all the bags etc. For Seth though, all this walking can be very stressful due to the effect his muscle condition has on his legs. 

If we have to walk long distance while at home, there is a lot of stopping and starting so that Seth can relax his legs before starting the next leg of the journey (haha). A few years ago we started an ongoing adventure with a company that has changed our lives in so many ways and helping Seth get to his destination quicker and with a little less strain on his legs was one of them. Being able to push and roll gave Seth much more confidence getting about and really changed our outdoor play. So much so that before heading out to the states, Seth, along with all of us in fact, were talking about how much we wished we could have taken all of the Micro Scooters away with us.

As much as we would have loved to take the four scooters away, it was Seth that could have done with one the most and Micro (being the AMAZING company that they are), had a very special scooter, suitable for our needs, taking the strain off of Seth and giving him the confidence to be on his feet a little longer than he probably would have liked, while turning heads and giving him a huge amount of street cred! 

The ladies were swooning as Seth scooted by...

The Steve Aoki Micro Luggage Scooter is an awesome bit of kit, with its colourful quirky design it had everyone taking at the airport as Seth whizzed by. Being able to maneuver from baggage, through to security then to the shops before making our way to the departure lounge on wheels made all the difference to Seth's legs, and the smile on his face as he did so was contagious. With certain points of the airport being too busy to scoot, due to the number of people about, being able to turn the luggage scooter into a trolley to pull along made our journey even more productive.

With a 26 litre capacity, the Micro luggage scooter is perfect for hand luggage, which means your wheels can stay with you throughout the entire journey. This was great as I don't think Seth wanted to let it out of his sight. If the look, feel and fact that it revolutionalises your travel isn't enough, the SoundtoGo sound system included (yes is has a speaker built in!), easily connects to your phone via Bluetooth making it possible to listen to your favourite music as you scoot along. 

While reading the box when the scooter arrived, Opeie informed me of who Steve Aoki is and his favourite Aoki remix (yes our 5-year-old is that cool!).

When I put a green, it is not grass. When I put a blue, it is not the sky.

Well there was bound to be one day during our 'Art week' that Opeie wasn't all that bothered about, Cutting shapes out of a piece of coloured paper and sticking them down was never going to have the same appeal to a 4 year old as throwing paint around the garden but the whole idea of the week was to show Opeie some different art styles and to show that pretty much anything can be deemed as art.

Our artist of the day was Henri Matisse and his paper cut out style of art. We started with a piece of coloured/patterned paper, cut shapes out and flipped and mounted them on a larger piece of white paper making positive and negative shapes. It was a nice quick activity but as I said Opeie didn't really get in to today's art so I'm going to have to really think about something more entertaining for our next activity.

Our morning of Matisse ending in Opeie doing multi coloured scribbles and us creating a fox paper aeroplane so in the end a great start to a day of creativity.

"Talent is a flame. Genius is a fire."

If I'm honest LEGO Technic doesn't really appeal to me as much as the classic brick does but I could see while building recently that Seth is getting into the more technical side of LEGO building and he's even been eyeing up the electrical kits in our local toy store. I thought it was time for us to try something a little different. Although the parts used in Technic don't do it for me, the amazing finished articles that are popping up in the range look really interesting.

To start with, one of the mid range kits to get Seth's technical building started (42040 Fire Plane). I personally find it really difficult to custom build with the Technic piece system but that's mainly because I am so familiar with the classic bricks. As we made our way through the build though I was really impressed with the design and being able to see the moving mechanisms starting very early on. The propellor on the plane moves when you push the landing gear along a surface and the boys found it really interesting that that was made possible using only a series of cogs and a small rubber band. I could hear the cogs in Seth's head going round as he was asking "could I make something that does this...." and "If I built this could we make this bit move". The ailerons and elevators also move using a joystick on the plane and if that's not enough, there is a button on top of the plane that you can press to release the water bricks from the hatch below, it is a really detailed build.

LEGO Technic offers a completely different side to LEGO building and for a builder that wants what they have created to include motion it really is a great addition. the Fire plane looks awesome and has great playability. What makes this build even better though is it is a 2 in 1 kit and can also be rebuilt in to a jet plane. A lot of thought has gone into this build especially being 2 models and it has got me thinking more about my own creations.

*Note: The plane does come with stickers, unfortunately our over excited 4 year old is yet to let us stick them on until we have built the jet plane.

Now to move on to a bigger build, we have started kit 42042 The Crawler Crane which is taking Seth longer than expected but he is loving learning more about the power functions so stay tuned for that post very soon. I may have been converted to the magic of LEGO Technic after all.

Gifts From The Pirates in Orlando - How to entertain your children on a long haul flight...

For the past few weeks Mrs M had been really stressing out about the holiday (yes I said 'stressing out'). The main stress has been Opeie's behaviour on the plane. He's not a naughty child at all but over the past few weeks he has become a real moaner, possibly just out of frustration from not being able to fully explain his emotions. Clearly entertaining the boys was going to be something we really needed to organise pre-flight. It wasn't just the entertaining though, we wanted to make sure they were both as comfortable as possible. So what do you pack for a 9 hour flight?

Well the important thing is to avoid bulkyness and weight, you don't want to go overboard with the hand luggage which is a mistake we made last time we went away. So firstly we needed to find luggage for them suitable for taking on the plane (size weight etc). When it comes to children's baggage there really is no competition, Trunki make cases that measure perfectly for hand luggage and the designs and colour are enough to ignite any child's imagination. This was made even more clear to us when we stepped in to the V-Room at the airport and saw these cuties looking back at us

We let Opeie pick a case at home and surprise surprise with his "nobbly knees and turned out toes" he chose the Gruffalo (a great choice I thought). The Gruffalo Trunki is fantastic, I wish all our baggage looked the same (a business Idea I could maybe take up with Trunki as I'd love a Lorax inspired one haha). As a case the Trunki design is really spacious, with strapping inside to hold your items in place. There is a clasp either side of the case that can be locked with the special Trunki key, Making the boys feel quite important. I remember when I was younger feeling chuffed when I had something I could lock, I was obviously a very private child (or a secret agent in the making). Because of the solid frame of the case it can also be used as a seat, perfect for the inevitable long wait around the airport or a comfy spot to eat your roasted fox. My favourite part of this product (and Opeie's) is the wheels, the case comes with a strap that can be attached to the front so that the case can be pulled turning this sought after travel accessory Into something your child can actually travel on, genius! So it came as no surprise to see many children wizzing around on these at the airport. This was such a help getting Opeie about after check in and Opeie had the time of his life riding around on his beloved Gruffalo, Thanks Trunki!!

Baggage sorted, now how to fill it? Well you can't go wrong with a sketch book and pens it's how we did it when I was younger, but there are some great products on the market perfect for travel. One of our favourites is the Nintendo DS which over the years has served as a great way to keep Seth motivated to do his physio daily. The recent release of the Nintendo 2DS was something that Seth was really excited about so when Nintendo offered to send us one we were overjoyed. For younger children the design of this handheld console is perfect, it's much more robust and I wish these had been about when Seth had his first DS as he dropped it and broke the hinge. For Seth the appeal was being able to play the 3d games in 2d, I wasn't sure that I would like the unit being in on piece but I actually enjoyed playing it more than my DSi XL. The 2DS is compatible with all 3DS games and most of the DS games (I'm yet to find one that doesn't work). So far this has also been great for keeping Seth occupied during long car journeys around Orlando. So big thanks to Nintendo, a sure favourite with the boys.

We're big apple fans (then so are most people these days) and aside from our iPhones our iPad tends to go everywhere with us especially on long journeys so an obvious choice for in flight entertainment. They don't take up to much space and the variety of uses, games and apps is endless. Opeie was so excited about a new ipad mini and i had filled it with apps, videos and plenty of books, thanks Apple. There are some great products on the market compatible with apple devices. The leapfrog 'Learn to write with Mr Pencil' is a great source of entertainment and education for toddlers.  

Opeie is getting to that stage where his scribbles are starting to have a bit more shape and structure and I think that products like this that make writing a game are amazing for Opeie's development. As part of the blogging holiday we've had a new camera and Seth has also had one for his birthday last week (tkeep a look out for a new feature on GFTP coming very soon), thanks to another great Leap Frog product there's no need for the youngest member of our party to feel left out. The Leapfrog Creativity Camera protective case is a very clever way of turning your iPhone into a child friendly camera. Most importantly the home screen button is blocked so that it can only be used as a camera during play. I can't wait to see the pictures the boys take during our holiday.

Thanks to Trunki again, flight comfort was covered with Trunki Snoozihedz a great travel accessory that now weve used once will come with us on all long journeys. The blanket folds up nicely into the pillow case for great space saving and the pillow is infatable which was great for taking up minimal space inside the Gruffalo Trunki.

In flight snacks are a big issue with us especially with all the allergies and Intolerances that Opeie and Mrs M have. When we go on holiday we have to take a suitcase of food just incase we have issues finding certain products abroad. Rather than write about this you can find out more about what we pack over at Mrs M's blog Natural Vegan Eco Mom.

In the end the flight went smoothly, the boys were fully entertained during the entire ten and a half hours that we were on the plane and were comfortable and well fed so our careful preparation and the great products supplied by the fantastic companies all worked in unison to get us to our destination stress free.

If you are interested in finding out more about any of the products, all products mentioned will have a full review once we have returned.

Stay tuned for our next post which at this point is looking like 'Driving on the wrong side of the road and car hire'.

"If we took a holiday. Took some time to celebrate. Just one day out of life. It would be, it would be so nice".

 It seems that summer is now a thing of the past and we are back to having our family days out ruined by the grotty weather. Last weeks pumpkin and conker hunt ended in an inevitable down pour and Mrs M has complained many times in the last week or so that she has soggy feet. Carrying Opeie about on my shoulders has now turned into me trying to avoid muddy foot marks down my coat. We need a holiday! it's been 18 months since our last proper holiday. This thought was only made more clear today when we opened the boot to get an umbrella and saw our Visit Orlando umbrella staring back at us. 

Even Seth has been desperately looking through his books for pictures of bright skies and sunshine to try and cheer himself up. I thought id write a post about booking a holiday to try and take my mind off the rain thrashing it down outside. Plus Seth has been desperate to make some airport related lego pieces.

Booking a holiday can be quite a stressful time (for Mrs M that is). She is quite the negotiator when it comes to planning that perfect family time away, so I leave her to her own devices. I may make many sarcastic comments about her habits but Mrs M's obsession with making lists has never steered us wrong yet (it's a habit that Seth seems to have taken up too, list after list after list). Once the booking is out of the way, transport sorted, insurance, money, cases, those special locks you need for those cases, transfers, car seats, travel adapters and airport parking It's time for Mrs M's pack the car with cases for a test run activity (yes she's very organised).

And then it's time for my least favourite part of the holiday, hanging around the airport waiting to depart. I never like this part and always feel a little anxious but I guess a lot of people feel the same. Sending your cases off through that black hole with plastic tassels wondering if its going to be there waiting at the other end

Having to send your hand luggage through the x-ray machine can be a little daunting too especially with all the limitations of what you can and can't take through.

 There's something about having to walk through the metal detectors that makes you feel a bit like a criminal, I'm always expecting them to go off and that sinking feeling in my stomach only goes when I've stepped through beep free. Maybe that's just me though, I get like it coming out of shops sometimes too.

Once that's out the way though there's the sitting in a waiting area for x amount of time twiddling our thumbs. We took full advantage of virgins V room last year which was great and made our waiting around that little bit more bearable.

(Mrs M has taken to living in her new Pj's while at home so it's only right that her minifigure does too)

Although the airport arrival time can be daunting its usually over within three hours and then you're on your way to your holiday destination, it's a shame that's not now for us as the rain beats off our Lounge window and I'm having to sit here wearing a jumper... And socks!!

I cant wait to get out of this country for a bit at some point this weather always puts me in this gloomy mood.

Super baby Vs the deactivated rockets

As much as I love cleaning the house and doing the washing, after dropping the boss off at work and Seth off at school I had a good think about what me and mini me could do for an hour or two to keep us out of the house (and out of trouble). I wanted to do something inexpensive as we're saving at the moment so after weighing up our options I asked Opeie if he fancied having a look at some planes, he excitedly said 'yes'.

Cosford RAF museum isn't far from where we live and all you have to pay is parking. I've been before and although it really isn't my cup of tea I thought it might be something a little different and something Opeie might enjoy. To start with though Opeie had other ideas and on the drive there he decided to get some shut eye. It worked out well though because by the time we arrived it wasn't open for another 40 minutes.

He woke up soon after opening and we headed in, I wasn't sure how he would react to seeing the big planes but he seemed excited at the thought and as soon as we walked through the doors he was hooked. The first thing he spotted was a cardboard cut out that he said was "silly". Just past there were the doors to the outside, He loved the large planes that were out there.

After looking at the planes out side we headed to the cold war exhibition and nothing could have prepared me for the level of excitement that was brewing. Opeie at the moment loves rockets, if its a similar shape to a rocket, then its a rocket, if hes running fast hes a rocket, when hes shouting out 'super baby' with his arms out, he's a rocket. I really cant remember why it all started but rockets are definitely flavour of the month. So when we walked in to a room full of missiles Opeie was in his element and wasn't afraid to make it vocal.

This little rocket is apparently called 'baby rocket'

We walked around for quite some time and the little rocket enthusiast was really taking it all in. Opeie was in one of his clingy moods but selfishly from a smitten dads point of view i like days like this. Lots of kisses and hugs for me (I'm so greedy) and a boy that doesn't want to let go of me, whats not to like?

Opeie was really having a great day and it was putting a huge smile on my face.

After going round this exhibit twice (i think Opeie was worried he may have missed something), we headed over to the next hangar. When we stepped outside the weather was beautiful and made the afternoon so much nicer. I'm really glad the weather is finally starting to perk up it makes me want to get out more and be doing things.

There was plenty more planes to look at in this hangar but Opeie had clearly got a taste for rockets and wanted to turn around and head back to look at them. I love that he has got to that age where he is in to everything. It makes days out so much more fun and its great how now he can really get involved with me and Seth when were playing, this though is probably making Mrs M's craving for a little girl harder as her little baby is becoming one of the lads.

Coming somewhere like this when i was younger wouldn't have been my idea of fun and as i said at the start of the post it isn't usually my cup of tea but having my excitable little boy with me made all the difference. We were only there for 2 hours but i had a great time and its left Opeie with an even stronger need for rockets