"Gotta Catch 'Em All!"

I'm not usually one to get caught up in the latest craze so when the boys started talking about Pokemon GO they didn't really sell the whole concept. But being the kind of dad that I am I knew I had to get involved or I wouldn't hear the end of it as I had an excited Pokemon fan who wanted to play. After some reading and writing today I figured I should take him out hunting, so we headed out looking for Pikachu and his friends.

It didn't take long for my inner geek to come out when Opeie said 'Dad! I can't catch this Zubat!'. From the moment I flicked that first Pokeball I was hooked. I was a big Pokemon fan back in 1999 I even shamefully gave myself a Pokemon name and had it tattooed on the back of my neck (no I'm not adding a picture). We've just got back from an after tea Pokemon hunt and over the past 2 days Opeie and I have walked roughly 15km looking for these adorable little creatures, above everything else it is great exercise.

The reason for the post though was the raised concern of a 5 year old walking around with an expensive phone. We've already had to replace two laptops because of child related accidents and I didn't fancy being without a phone, so while I had a spare hour and the boys were playing with their friends, I turned to my old friend, (LEGO) and built a Pokemon case fit for outdoor Pokemon fuelled adventures.

The boys, as expected loved it and while we've been searching we've had some interest from other Pokemon hunters out and about. As happy as the boys were with the case, Opeie had his own idea and informed me that it needed the word 'GO' on the back in blue. I love the extra little ideas the boys come up with so I was happily oblige.

If you've not played Pokemon GO yet, get it downloaded to your phone. Its very addictive, its great exercise and overall it gets you out with the children, fun, FREE, outdoor family bonding! Perfect for the summer holdiays.

"Technology is a way of organizing the universe so that man doesn't have to experience it."

In a world controlled by technology I spend a lot of time worrying about the amount of 'screen time' Opeie has and the effects it may be having on him. I try and limit my own usage during the day as i don't want it to seem the norm to him and i would rather him be playing outdoors or doing creative things. As i stood in the kitchen a few days back and listened to him talking to my phone though I realised as far as technology is concerned, he can take it or leave it...

"Just living is not enough. One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower."

I'm quite sure that over the last few days most of the UK bloggers have had a post about the sun coming out, sorry to disappoint you but I'm jumping on the ban wagon. It's so much nicer when its bright and sunny and warm. Over the winter i get really lax when it comes to tidying the garden, the shed seems to become a dumping ground and the weeds... well they just take over everything and i cant be bothered to tidy them. As soon as the sun comes out though its a different story. The grass in our back garden is finally cut making it a lot more inviting to the boys to come and play which they have been taking full advantage of.

The weeding still needs doing and there's plants that need putting in the ground but that will come with time. Right now its all about making the most of the sun (could all be gone tomorrow). The garden looks really bare since we sold our climbing frame last week so we're in need of filling it up with new toys, any recommendations?

 In the mean time we can concentrate on other garden fun like feeding the birds...

Feeding ourselves...

 And larger scale painting...

Like many of you i will have my fingers crossed for a good summer, it doesn't seem fair that its only the rabbits that get to take advantage of the garden. I'm going to make it my mission to get the garden looking pretty so we can make the most of it this year.