Why do most of us only have pancakes once a year? I love pancakes! Yesterday morning we woke up and while I got Seth ready for school Mrs M made us all pancakes for breakfast. Opeie didn't know what to make of them and Mrs M doesn't really like them but me and Seth took full advantage of this tasty time of year. I'm a classic lemon and light sprinkling of sugar kind of guy and Seth likes lemon and honey. What's your favourite flavour?
The mornings feeding festivities gave us a chance to fill the table with all our favourite Nuby products making our breakfast table colourful and Inviting.
As most of our readers know, we are huge Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom fans. Holly actually graced the top of our Christmas tree this year for the festivities as Opeie wanted her as our fairy.
We are very excited to announce we have teamed up with the Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom Live, from the makers of Peppa Pig and the producers of the two hugely successful Peppa Pig theatre tours comes the first ever stage version of the BAFTA award-winning TV animation, Ben & Holly’s Little Kingdom. And we have tickets to give away!
The Little Kingdom – where everyone is very, very small – is home to Princess Holly and her best friend Ben Elf. Holly is a young fairy princess who is still learning how to do magic properly and sometimes her spells don’t work out quite right. Ben is an Elf. Elves don’t do magic but they are very good at making things. Ben doesn’t have wings like Holly but he flies on the back of Gaston the Ladybird.
As we’ve often mentioned before, we wish we could have a pet Gaston in our house, as he is brilliant! Who is your favorite character ?
In this exciting new musical adventure, Ben and Holly have fun and games helping Gaston clean up his messy cave; they go on a trip to The Big World with tooth-fairy Nanny Plum; and still have time to plan a surprise for King Elf’s birthday party, complete with an unplanned jelly flood.
Packed full of games, songs and laughter, this is an enchanting and magical visit to the Little Kingdom, live on stage for the very first time. This beautiful story of elves, princesses and childhood innocence will delight all the family.
This brand new UK tour is now on the road until July 2013 and we have 1 family ticket up for grabs at the venue of your choice, subject to availability. (A family ticket is for 4 people, minimum 1 adult. The tickets are non-transferable. No cash alternatives, accommodation or travel are provided in this competition.) For further show information and tour dates: www.benandhollylive.com
Weve been looking about to take Opeie to some sort of toddler group for quite some time. Ive taken him to ball pits etc but our problem is that we find many of these places quite dirty. plus although its nice for children to run about we really wanted to be taking him somewhere a bit more educational. Opeie hasn't had a lot of interaction with other children apart from Seth and we don't want the inevitable going to nursery to be a problem so it was time to get him mingling.
Today we took him to a pottery class in Ironbridge which was a lot of
fun, i studied ceramics at uni for a while so i was also in my comfort
zone. when we got there we met Sarah...
... a lovely bubbly woman who welcomed
her new class mates with open arms. There was lots of activities to
choose from, not all ceramic based so we started Opeie off with some
paper plate painting
as with most activities when it comes to young children after making his mark on three plates he had lost interest and wanted to turn his hands to something else so we headed over to the clay table and Sarah got us a large chunk of clay to play with. There was a great selection of cutters and tools, perfect for beginners. Opeie was happy pushing his hand print into the clay and then destroying it. Mrs M cut out stars and Opeie added texture but then.... yes you guessed it, destroyed them.
Mrs M eventually made a miffy without it being destroyed and i cut out a heart shape for it to go on. We cut out a bear and Opeie made some eyes with mommy while i made an upside down Muno-esque finger bowl. Their all going to be fired so hopefully when we go again we can have some fun glazing them.
The conversation was great and everyone was so friendly which was great as it was the first time we had been and sometimes these things can be a little daunting. I would definitely recommend this group to anyone that wanted to take their children to something creative and we will definitely be going again. after an hour and a half Opeie started to look sleepy so we got our coats to head home, but the fun didn't end there. Before leaving we brought some ceramic flowers and a magnet for Seth to paint when he had finished school (we didn't want to leave him out of all of the fun). So as soon as he got in we got the paints out.
I spend so much time writing about the boys, Mrs M, friends and all the nice people that we come in to contact with. These people are important to me and i love writing about the people outside of our family because the boys can look back at the posts and see who played a part in the fun that we have. Until last week i had never read a post written about us/me by someone else and in the space of a week giftsfromthepirates have appeared on two great blogs.
After meeting Em, Annie and Ezra last week, our new friends from snowingindoors.com, Em wrote a lovely post about us and what we got up to. I can see how Seth felt now when we were mentioned on the Batblog. It's so nice to know that we have friends out there that really enjoy knowing us, ill be honest after some of the things i have been through over the last few years i had given up on the idea of making new great friends but it just goes to show there are lovely people out there.
If you would like to read the post and are interested in the adventures of the snowingindoors family then click below...
Then after writing a response to an article i read that upset me, my friend Alice from bigmilkthing wrote a beautiful post pegging me as some sort of parenting Guru, which was really nice. I'm not of course, but who doesn't like reading nice words about themselves. Its spurred us on to collaborate on a post which has the makings of quite a fun post for both Alice and her boys. So again, I'm really thankful for new friends.
The Link below (proud to be a 'moron') is to Alice's lovely post and if your interested in reading more about the family behind bigmilkthing then be sure to check them out...
Seth's recent Lego idea is that we each make an army of custom minifigures for us to have a Lego battle, so when he got in from school a few nights back we emptied out the minifigure box on the floor and got to it. I was glad Seth had decided to do this as when he's playing lying on the floor it means he can do his physio as well. I got to make the villains, Seth always see's me as the villain when playing, i guess every hero needs a nemesis.
I'm not quite sure what i was thinking with Yoda's head on a stick but Seth found it quite funny...
Seth was very proud of his 'good guys' and wants to continue with his army after school tomorrow. I especially like the man with the star fish gun, very creative. I enjoy playing with the minifigures because Opeie gets involved too. I think this army idea is going to go on for quite sometime so stay tuned for the next wave of soldiers.
It was one of those days today where it seemed that every room on the house was a complete mess. Mrs M had to work and I really didn't want her coming home to toys all over the house and a lounge that looked like it had been transformed into a craft/play room. I don't like days like this, not because I have cleaning to do on my own but because it means I can't give Opeie the attention he deserves (plus it means i don't get to concentrate on playing).
I find that when I hit a day like this and have lots of tidying and a child to entertain i have a certain routine which works out best. I set up something to do in each room to keep him occupied and it makes it easier for me to flit between rooms. I started with the lounge where I had got out some Yo Gabba Gabba colouring sheets that Mrs M had printed out yesterday. Opeie was happy colouring so it meant that I got to Hoover and sneak all the toys back into the boys room.
Then I moved us both in to the bedroom where I had got all the Star wars chunky figures out for Opeie to play with on the bed. Since collecting toys for Opeie I've worked out that it's really handy to have some toys that don't come out very often. I've had the Star Wars figures since before Opeie was born but I only get them out when me and Mrs M have things to do around the house as we know they will keep him entertained while we take care of jobs etc, (Seth's never even seen them) and today was no exception Opeie played quietly examining each figure.
Luckily I had cleaned the kitchen before dropping Mrs M off so we had a break to play and I ended up playing for the rest of the time she was at work, oops. When Mrs M got back from work I decided to tackle the boys room while she was relaxing in the bath and again Opeie was happy playing on the floor with his most recent favourite toy, the Lego Joker ice-cream parlour we had built, he loves putting all the minifigures in the jail cell.
I didn't get to do nearly as much cleaning as I would have liked but the house didn't look terrible and Opeie had a smile on his face so I was happy. Mrs M was just pleased that the lounge looked like a grown ups room again. It's strange the routines you get in to as a parent but its a way for us to make certain situations easier and to keep a smile on the boys faces.
I've been thinking alot about getting out and about more with the boys this Summer, and have been compiling a list of things I'd like to do: A 2013 Summer wish list. Exciting hey?
Somethings on our list.
Seth wants to make some huge den's in the garden. (He wants to make a tree house but our tree is too puny)
Seth is so excited about going camping! SO SO excited. Opeie on the other hand shouts ''Tent!!''
( which he learnt from Peppa Pig , when they get a tent too small and Daddy Pig
has to sleep in the car) which leads me to ask... have any of you been
camping with a 2yr old / 6 year old for a few days? Is it fun? Or
is it stressful with two little ones? Can anyone recommend a tent for
us??? One that doesn't take long to put up / take down / store?
Since we were invited by Lego to Lego Manchester Legoland we've been so excited , and can't wait to go to the Windsor outdoors LegoLand attraction, have any of you been? What were your favorite parts for little ones? Did you stay in any of the hotels near by?
What are you planning for your Summer? I am so hoping for good weather as we really want to get into camping with children and share our adventures with you! Can you recommend any good campsites for families? I really hope you can share your experiences with us!
Opeie's tooth brushing routine has been a battle. In comparison to the potty training that will inevitably come soon it's probably nothing but we have finally made it to brushing twice a day with no tears. He will only brush his teeth with one song playing now and were so thankful for that song. So to the Aquabats thank you for all your help in the cleanliness of our boys teeth, as super heroes you really are the real deal...
Nothing on the internet has made me angry until today, there's so much rubbish about to read but it can all be taken with a pinch of salt. I love writing the blog but I don't tend to sit on the computer for hours reading articles and posts that don't draw me in straight away. My friend Alice from bigmilkthing sent me this article and even though I'm a really laid back guy that doesn't let anything get to me, this made my blood boil and I am really disappointed that someone like parentdish would publish it. First the article: (click the link below)
I was limited to 3000 characters in the comment box so I thought something like this needed to be put in to a post as it is relevant to blog and what I'm all about as a parent, so here is my (extended response).
When i found out me and my partner were expecting our first child I knew that I wanted my son to completely adore me, I mean what father wouldn't? i didn't have a great relationship with my own father growing up and I didn't want that for me and my children. I have a step son from my partners previous relationship who on a daily basis tells me that I am his best friend and am also his favourite person to play with, this isn't because he is shy and he doesn't have issues talking to other children, he is a very outgoing child.. This has nothing to do with me being a 'moron' and I'm not even sure what 'obsessed parents' is supposed to mean?
The problem isn't that your children are boring its that firstly most parents seem to have no idea how to talk or communicate at all to their children, you don't have to talk to them in baby talk or act like an idiot. Just talk to them like adults and if they don't understand what your saying then explain what you mean (sadly parents think their lives are to hectic for this level of commitment). The second major issue is that most parents have no imagination and rather than actually listen to what their children are talking about and get involved they would rather make a coffee, put their feet up and apparently watch Jeremy Kyle, if what i hear on the school playground is anything to go by.
Try and think back to when you were a child, what did you love to do? My eldest loves hearing stories about all the things I got up to growing up and these stories open up his own imagination. I used to love 'making bases' so how hard is it to take a couple of hours to make a base in the house with some sheets? Lego was a big thing for me when i was younger and I have introduced my boys to this and its something we do together when the weather isn't great and were stuck indoors. My boys love playing dress up and Ive been known to don a Captain America outfit and run around with them playing 'The Avengers', it puts a smile on their faces and if you don't want that as a parent then it says a lot about your parenting skills.
All it takes is a little effort and some imagination. I play with my boys everyday which is why I started our blog giftsfromthepirates.com as a kind of online diary for them to look back on and also to show other parents that read the blog that spending time with your children is a never ending amount of fun. Your commitment to your children doesn't end at changing nappies, cooking food and bathing etc. I have a feeling that the article was written to make waves and get a response, I'm quite shocked that parentdish have posted such offensive material and to label a parent a moron for wanting to get involved in the development of their child is a ridiculous comment to make.
Your children want to spend time with you, they want you to interact with them and take an interest in what they are doing, this may not always be the case, these could be the golden years in your time as a parent so you should be making the most of every spare minute you have with them. Yes you have many mundane things to do, we all do but if you communicate with your children and explain that sometimes adults have grown up things to take care of but you still take some time to give them the attention they deserve then they will understand and in time respect you for that.
Too many parents that I come in to contact with seem to have gone in to the whole parenting thing half arsed. When you decide to have children it is a huge commitment, yes your going to have to watch Children's TV and play with toys but your making them happy, Isn't this the thing you want the most? a happy family and children that want to spend time with you? I cant believe that in the article there were so many ridiculous comments from apparent parents. I'll be honest i just feel sorry for the children as apparently "parts of the business of child-rearing are, frankly, dull.". I could go on and on but i feel that doing so would just make me more and more angry. I love and respect my children, I'm there when their happy, I'm there when their sad and I'm there if they want me to build them a hideout in the back garden and dress up like a super villain. Its all part of being a great parent.
I will agree with one part of the article though the "creaking knees" can be a pain.
Anyway rant over, I'm happy in the fact that I am putting everything I can it to my relationship with my boys.
Since writing for Nuby we've been given some really great things. But My favourite thing to have come out of the whole experience is new friendships. I've been chatting to a few great bloggers and today we we're lucky enough to get the chance to meet one of them or should I say three. Em, Annie and Ezra are the... Well I guess you can call them the stars of Snowingindoors. Both myself and Mrs M were drawn in to this blog from the start mainly because of the great pictures but also because Annie and Ezra looked like such happy children much like Seth and Opeie I guess.
After finding out they live near our beloved 'whole foods' we arranged the meet. So when we woke up this morning we were excited about our mini trip. Our high spirits were almost destroyed by motorway traffic but we eventually got through it and arrived only 10 minutes after we had arranged to meet. We were greeted by three very smiley people which is always nice. Annie very confidently introduced herself and told me how old she was and how old she will be next birthday which I thought was great. Seth is very confident around new people too its a really good trait for a child.
We sat and had a drink in the wholefoods cafe and had a nice chat. We've talked a fair bit online but it's so much nicer to meet people in person. And it's always nice to meet genuinely lovely people. Annie was great with Opeie and I think he was quite excited at the thought of a new friend. We told her all about the super heroes we love and in return she told us how much she liked Star Wars and that Luke was her favourite character. Gotta love our nerdy kids.
We had decided prior to meeting that we would have lunch at Wholefoods, a perfect opportunity to use our Nuby products so we both turned up well armed. We all had a great lunch although Em forgot to eat hers as she was concentrating on the children, classic parenting move. The children were a delight. Ezra made us realise just how bad Opeie's eating is as he was happy munching down his food and Annie was making us laugh with some crazy talk, kids have great imaginations.
After lunch Mrs M, Em and Ezra went to do a bit of shopping and i entertained Opeie and Annie at the play area outside of the supermarket. Annie is like a whippet and was running rings around me and Opeie. Opeie was really loving having an extra little person to run about with, he was really missing Seth as he does every day that he is at school. It made me realise how much i was looking forward to Opeie running about like that.
We had such a great time and i always appreciate new friends, were already planning our next meet up and apparently Annie is really looking forward to meeting Seth.
