Review: A night out at Ben & Hollys Little Kingdom Live Stage Tour

We've not had a great week this week with a lot of family stress and plenty of worry but we got to spend an evening at the theatre with the boys to take our minds off it all. We had tickets to go and see Ben & Holly Live and if I'm honest me and Mrs M were just as excited as the boys. It was a bit of a rush to make our 4.30 showing in Shrewsbury after picking Seth up from school and then Mrs M from work but we managed to get there with just enough time to pop to the loo.

I really didn't know what to expect of a theatre production of the show and if I'm completely honest, after taking Seth the year before last to see Batman Live (which really wasn't cheap) and being quite disappointed I wasn't expecting to much. I shouldn't have been so pessimistic though it was a great show for children and although I thought Seth may have felt he was a bit to much of a big boy for it both boys were hooked. Opeie, being a big fan of the show was in his element. What I loved about the show (unlike batman live) was there were no cringe worthy bits where they tried to do some special effects, it was a small stage and they used what they had in the way of props and stage set excellently making the most of every bit of space.

The first half seemed to go really quick but that was great as I needed the loo and Opeie had spotted a Gaston the ladybird toy and Seth a Ben elf horn which they were desperate to get from the gift stall. After buying our souvenirs we headed back in for the second half, Mrs M was exhausted from work bless her. I loved that there was lots of audience participation and because it was a small venue it had a really nice atmosphere filled with excited children and a few even more excited parents. I wasn't sure Opeie would sit through it without getting fidgety but there was no need to worry he was great and really enjoyed it all.

The show was on for approximately an hour which flew by so I was a little disappointed but after a long day of school for Seth, a busy work shift for Mrs M and a day in the sun playing for Opeie I think the timing worked out quite well (according to Mrs M all i do all day is spend my time high fiving Opeie, so i was fine). Seth asked me what my favourite part was and it had to be the Gaston they were using, whenever he needed to do something the cast pushed him along which I thought was cute (he kind of reminded me of a cuter K9 from Dr. Who). Seth loved the flying scene, Mrs M loved the way the fairy wings fluttered and Opeie, well I'd say he would find it difficult to chose one thing as he was completely in awe of the entire show.

On the way out we bumped in to Seth's teacher who was there with her Niece so that was a nice way to end the evening. We had a great time with has got us looking at other up and coming shows like the 'In the night garden' show and the new 'Peppa Pig tour'. We would definitely recommend this show to anyone who loves the show or for children that enjoy going to the theatre.

“The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree is the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other”

Seth couldn't wait to get out of school today as he knew that tonight we were putting up the Christmas tree. In many houses I'm sure that families have very elegant tree's dressed to a specific colour scheme that matches other festive decorations in the house. Our tree is not one of those, imagine one of those 'old curiosity shops' but in tree form.

Mrs M has been collecting Christmas decorations for about 10 years so as you can imagine we have quite a collection and there is a bit of everything on our tree. Some brought, some homemade. There's memories from the start of our relationship and reminders of people that are no longer with us. As Mrs M pointed out earlier its not to everyone's taste but it means a lot to us and we love being able to get it out every year.

After an eventful year of Lego building with the boys we have added a couple of home made decorations to the tree. Myself and Seth made a Christmas bauble which if you have tried to do this yourself you will know is a nightmare trying to build a sphere from Lego bricks, If I'd have had hair i probably would have pulled it out. For my Birthday this year our friends Chris and Michelle brought me some Lego Head pepper and Salt shakers. We had some already which Mrs M had broken so we were very greatful of the replacements. I found a use for the broken one and made a bauble.

We love a good mustache in our house so Mrs M was very happy last year when we walked past the window of Urban Outfitters and she spotted this Mustache bauble which obviously was going to be coming home with us. Strangely we found a cracker tonight from last year in our decorations box, which we pulled and inside...... Was a Mustache which Opeie wore for about half an hour.

Being a HUGE Dick Bruna fan, Miffy does tend to pop up a few times on the tree too...

The Mug above was from a Hotel in Birmingham that we stayed at a few times over Christmas when we met. We still try and go there a couple of times a year as staying there is always lovely. It may seem strange having a mug hanging off the tree but these things as odd as they seem are really important to us.

When we started seeing each other we brought these little mice from Cath Kidston and although they are not actual decorations they have ended up on our lovely tree.

Every year we buy or make more decorations and every year Mrs M is adamant that they will all fit on the tree. To be fair i didn't think we were going to manage it this year but bless her she stuck to her guns and they are all on display. We will eventually have to buy a second tree but it is a lot of fun to watch her and the boys find branches that dont have a decoration on.

Last year we had a big wooden Miffy on top of the tree but we decided on a change this year, Mrs M thought that we should have something Batman but then she spotted Ben & Holly in Seth's room so we thought Princess Holly could make her Christmas tree debut.

Well another year of Christmas tree erection has gone, i do look forward to walking past it for the next month it always puts a smile on my face. Now to get on with decorating the rest of the house, i think were going to make Lego decorations for Seth's room which should be interested so dont forget to check in on us soon.

"Jelly flood, Jelly flood"

This afternoon Mrs M had some work to do at home and needed a bit of peace and quiet. It can be really difficult sometimes trying to get things done around the house as that beautiful boy of ours can be quite demanding.

I decided to take Opeie on a tour of the toy shops (for a change), I'm still looking for things for Christmas for the boys so it gave me a great chance for a mooch. We pottered round Toys R Us first which was a little disappointing as there wasn't anything new. Opeie usually prefers Toys R Us but he didn't seem all that bothered today, so after we headed up to Mothercare as they've had some great toys in recently. Opeie went straight to the keyboard/drumkit/Mixing table/Karaoke machine, sat down and started rocking out (that's my boy).

Opeie then spotted the book section so we sat down and read a few books, they had plenty of Rod Campbell and Peppa Pig books so he was a happy little boy.

After using Mothercare as our own personal public library we ventured next door to Smyths, Opeie got so excited when we walked through the door so i decided to conduct a little experiment. I thought i would let opeie wander about on his own and pick something fun for himself. hes only got little arms so i knew he couldn't go mad grabbing everything, it was very interesting to watch.

He started off by picking up a pack of three textured colourful balls, that was then dropped in the isle when he spotted a talking Mickey mouse who was quickly discarded for Minnie. We only got as far as turning around when he spotted all the Peppa Pig stuff, It was a toss up between the Peppa Pig doctors kit and the giant Peppa teddy. He ummed and ahhhed for a while and then decided he wasn't interested in either of them which was a surprise. He then turned and pretty much ran and grabbed a Bob the Builder which was strange as he doesn't usually Like Bob but that was short lived too.

He then wandered about a bit lost, we perused the Lego isle but nothing, Even the super hero isle didn't get much attention today apart from a brief fondle of a Spider-man figure. We went back up the pre-school isle and Opeie's little eyes lit up, i had no idea what he was going after as it was on the bottom shelf but he grabbed hold of it and smiled at me looking very proud of himself. Well the hunt was over and that little cutie of mine decided on a talking Holly from Ben and Holly's little kingdom doll. Well you cant have one without the other, that would be very lonely so i grabbed Ben too.

Opeie talked to them all the way home and then when he got home he kept blowing on Ben's trumpet all excited. It was so much fun watching his little adventure around the toy shop and it's made me realise that even though he does love the super hero toys like his big brother i still need to remember that hes still a toddler and is going to be into some of the younger childrens toys so i will make the effort to get him some for Christmas so ill be no looking for a Gaston to go with his new friends.