"Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well."

Blogging is amazing for so many reasons. Being able to look back at all the things we've done and knowing that friends and family can look in when they want and see the way our family is developing really makes me smile, It's what keeps me motivated to write. Being able to review the odd product along the way is also a nice little bonus. I never thought at this point in my life of blogging that we would have worked with so many amazing companies. But we have worked hard and have been really blessed.

There are a few things i have been concerned about though and sadly although its not a huge and devestating thing one of these things happened this weekend. The boys have been so lucky to receive some great items and it has all been so much fun. It must be great for them to see packages delivered to the house knowing that there is a good chance it is something for them. I was worried though that at some point one of them would take it for granted.

I don't see any of the things we are sent to review as 'free stuff' which i think is important when you are a blogger that reviews. I work really hard writing posts, reviews and making videos and we put a lot of effort in to making sure that many of our posts are different from most reviews. So because of this i cant see it as 'Free Stuff' as we work for it. The boys get involved too which i also see as very important as it teaches them values and I'd hoped it was teaching them that things don't just come for free.

This weekend we had had some great news from a company about something that was being sent for Seth. I was excited and really touched that they were sending it as its not a cheap item (not that price is important) and because they had already sent us two items a month back, it was very generous on their part. It was going to be a surprise for him when it arrived but while were at the park on Saturday Mrs M said i should tell him. I told Mrs M to tell him as its usually me dishing out the fun products as they usually come during the week while Mrs M is at work. So Mrs M told him and he smiled and dismissed it like it was nothing. Ill be honest i was really angry and extremely disappointed in his response, or lack of.

The boys are so lucky when it comes to the things that they have and i really never wanted to see this in either of the boys but there it was staring me in the face. Well we had to do something about it so we told him we had cancelled the item in question as at this time we didnt think he deserved it. I think that's where it sank in and not because he wasn't going to get something but because i think it clicked just how disappointed both myself and Mrs M were with the way he had reacted as we had never done anything like that before. The remainder of the afternoon was dominated by a grumpy face and Seth feeling sorry for himself, we had tears and was told "i feel like a horrible person" but we assured him he wasn't and that he just needed to think about things and be a little more considerate. We explained the effort that needs to go into working with companies and i think he understood so fingers crossed that is the last of that and who knows? with a bit of good behaviour the item in question may find its way back to him.

"My guiding principles in life are to be honest, genuine, thoughtful and caring."

If you are a regular reader you may have read our post a few weeks back about the name of the blog and where it originated, if so then you'll know all about the pirates. They have been a part of our life for years. This week on the way home picking Seth up from school, Seth sat in the back talking about how much he loved the pirates. Being the thoughtful and caring person that he is he said "i want us to do something nice for the pirates to say thank you!" he continued to tell us that they are always doing nice things for him and he would really like to show his appreciation.

It's little out of the blue comments like this that make us realise what a great job we are doing at raising the boys. He has morals and his priorities are exactly as they should be. He understands that you cant go through life taking, you should always give something back and when it comes to acting responsibly and doing the right thing he clearly knows the difference between right and wrong (unlike a certain blog author, but i turned out alright in the end).

Ive now got my thinking cap on, the pirates have and will continue to be a great source of motivation for the boys and as Seth so rightly said they deserve a huge thank you. Whatever we decide to do to show our appreciation it needs to be a celebration worthy of our eye patch wearing pirates of the sky.

Watch this space...

Thoughtful acts and Opeie's drawings at 2

Little thoughtful acts are so important, they make day to life life so much happier. Yesterday i needed to pop out for an eye test and when i returned Opeie was standing at the front door to meet me clutching a beautiful card he had made me with mommy. I love receiving things like this out of the blue it really makes my day. These thoughtful acts no matter how trivial some may seem make everything seem just that little more smiley.

Opeie seemed very proud of his creation and rightly so. His little scribble drawings always put a huge grin on my face and the fact that he tells you what each one is is just adorable. Another great addition to my ever expanding memory box, thanks Opeie.

"No duty is more urgent than that of returning thanks."

After popping out this morning we got home and walked through the door to find an interesting envelope lying on the floor addressed to "The lovely Saucils". If we receive anything through the post addressed to a saucil we know it is going to be fun as it is a pseudonym that both myself and Mrs M have been using since we met. Seth was very intrigued and once he had seen the Santa stamp he was convinced it was a letter off the jolly red chap himself, possibly with an early request for next years gifts. Inside though was something a lot more fun.

After sending our friend Annie over at Snowingindoors a little Lego gift (if you remember the post), She very kindly made us a thank you card which blew me away and put a smile on all of our faces. Annie had drawn us the Lorax and used her artistic flair (and colourful pompoms) to make some lovely Truffula trees. Inside the card was signed and Annie had written 'Thank you' beautifully inside. Well we were all very impressed and i was touched that she had gone to such efforts. I love seeing childrens drawings and Annie's was up there as one of my favourites.

There has been talk between our two families of a meet up later in the year when the weather gets a little warmer and Annie has come up with the idea of a 'Lego Picnic', Obviously we are very excited about that concept and will be counting down the days.

Thank you Annie for your very kind card, it's nice to know we have such lovely friends xx