"Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity."

Mid last week I just assumed that the coming weekend was going to be a quiet one. I knew Seth wasn't going to be with us (which is depressing enough) so I though it was just going to be a chance to go out walking and maybe sort the gardens out. By Friday morning all that had changed , Mrs M had some work to take care of on the Sunday in London and me and Opeie were going a long for the ride. We're lucky enough to have two great friends that live there so it gave us the perfect opportunity to catch up with them and go adventuring. So on Saturday morning we headed out on our adventure. The journey down was fine until we hit tooting and sat in tragic for an hour but once we got through it it was time for fun.

We had a drink and some lunch and then headed out to the museum of childhood. I'd not been to London for about 10 years and I forgot how busy it was. These days I'm used to just jumping in the car, easily finding parking spaces and going about my day so the thought of a bus and two tube journeys seemed a little daunting. Thankfully though we had the best tour guide and the journey went quite quick. Mrs M was stressing out about Opeie being on my shoulders walking about the underground, but as always he was safe and had big smiles on his face.

The museum of childhood was amazing, crammed with some amazing toys, many from my childhood and some that I still owned until recently. It was great to see some of the old toys I used to play with as a child. I'd have loved it even more if you could have got into the cabinets to play with them.

Opeie was really excited while we were there and was loving investigating. There was a giant vintage style wind up robot which was amazing and Opeie kept saying 'Seth would love this'. There was such a great selection of toys, games, puppets and play things. Opeie even got to give us a Punch and Judy show with mommy.

Although ive never read any of the books i loved the Jacqueline Wilson exhibition it was so colourful and fun...

After an hour or so taking in the sights we headed back to Sam and Jamie's but Sam took us home a different way so that she could show us the view across the river from blackfriars station. It was a lovely sunny day and despite the enormous escalators that had stopped and me carrying Opeie up on my shoulders and feeling like my legs were going to give way it was well worth it. It was a great view.

The journey home seemed a lot quicker and before we knew it we were sitting around the table tucking in to Jamie's lush food that he had be preparing while we were out. It was so nice getting to have a  meal with friends and sit around chatting and opeie was joining in and entertaining us. Opeie dropped off within an hour or so and we all sat up chatting and swapping funny stories. It was a great end to a fun afternoon with friends.

I slept like a log and everyone woke with big smiles and high spirits. Mrs M had to work on the Sunday so to fill our afternoon me, Opeie, Sam and Jamie headed off to the Museum of natural history. Although I could never live in London (far to many people for my liking), visiting is a lovely change and I love how there's so many free things to do. The walk to the museum from Mrs M's convention was a fair treck but was really nice as the sun was out and it was early so still fairly quiet. Opeie was desperate to see dinosaurs and when we arrived he was very excited.

 Opeie was hooked from the moment we walked in, there's something interesting everywhere you look. Even the escalator in to the Museum is lots of fun...

I'm not really one for taxidermy but the animals on display were really quite beautiful. 

We finally got to the Dinosaurs and Opeie's eyes were wide open, he had been talking about dinosaurs all the way to the museum. Surprisingly this is the first time Ive seen dinosaur skeletons in a museum and it was great. There was a huge amount of fossils to look at that was really interesting. Although i was talking to Opeie about the dinosaurs and he looked excited, it will be great to take him somewhere like this when he is a little older so he fully understands whats going on.

We soon stumbled upon the gift shop and Opeie made it quite clear he had a pet dinosaur on his mind. Sam and Jamie were so kind and bought Opeie some cute dinosaurs and Seth some create your own dinosaurs. Opeie has been taking his new friends with him everywhere we have been since the weekend. We stopped off for a snack before heading back to pick up Mrs M. We didn't get to walk round a lot of the Museum but that just means there's plenty to explore when Seth is with us next time.

 Sam being the great friend she is did some research for Mrs M's work, tracking down vegan friendly munchies and documenting her findings with fun pictures. Vegan friendly popcorn, yum.

 We had such a great weekend with Sam and Jamie, not having an extended family on my side its weekends like this that make me realise how important our amazing friends are. I feel so lucky to finally be at a point in my life where i am surrounded by genuinely kind and thoughtful people who love the boys and treat us like family.
 

Thanks Sam and Jamie for an amazing weekend xxx

"If you're walking down the right path and you're willing to keep walking, eventually you'll make progress."

Being a stay at home parent is amazing it's the most rewarding thing I've ever done and the time I have with Opeie is cherished. Along with Mrs M and Seth he is my best friend. Spending the bulk of your time with a three year old though does come with minor disadvantages. When everyone is happy and all smiles it's amazing but when things are playing on your mind, your life's having bouts of negativity or your upset, the day times (especially when Opeie is napping) can sometimes feel a little lonely. 

Last night our friend Lucie text to ask how we were in light of things that had been going on, Seth's operation etc and asked if I fancied meeting up this morning, I jumped at the chance. Opeie is the best entertainment I could possibly ask for but sometimes I really need some adult conversation. I tend to avoid friendships with moms I meet in fear of upsetting over protective partners, it's happened in the past and I didn't like the way it made me feel. There are a couple of you moms out there that I really get on with though which is lovely and Lucie is one of them.

We arranged to meet up at Apley woods for a walk about and to let the kids have a run about together. Even though it's not far away I'd never been but I knew the fresh air and adult conversation would do me some good. Lucie has recently joined the blogging world also and writes Magee and Magoo so we got to talk about writing, life, parenting and general chit chat. It was such a nice change and Opeie and Mrs Magee loved exploring together.
 

Apley woods is great for walking about, its quiet and tranquil and there is plenty to explore if you're in an adventuring mood, there are carved sculptures dotted about, a lake with ducks and plenty of trees to climb if that's your thing.

As i said before the meet was well needed and did wonders for my sanity but it was clear that Opeie needed it just as much as i did. He loves being at nursery, spending time with his friends and today was no different. I forget sometimes that Opeie needs time around children his own age and getting to run around with Mrs Magee today was lots of fun for him.

Here's to many new adventures with our friends.

"It is in the compelling zest of high adventure and of victory, and increative action, that man finds his supreme joys."

When I was around 9 I had a harsh telling off from my mom. I say harsh but that's more how it felt back then, it clearly wasn't a huge milestone in my life or I'd have remembered the conversation word for word. It was probably something minor like 'your rooms a mess' or 'you're back late where have you been?', but that day I felt a rage I had never felt before and decided I was leaving and never coming back! So what do you take when your a child leaving home with no intention of coming back? A backpack full of chocolate and biscuits, a compass,   Devil bangers, my favourite he -man figures and last but not least the one thing I couldn't be without, my neon green Ghostbusters skateboard. As I walked away with my backpack on and my board supported nicely between my back and backpack I felt pretty cool not to mention adamant I would stick with my decision.

I called on my two best friends Paul Kenny and Kelly Valentie (no idea whatever happened to them pair) and we headed to our tree house (which was more just a tree that we climbed up that me and Paul had cleverly propped a really big piece of guttering we found on, which stuck out of the side of the tree so that we could wee down it (it's what boys do). Clearly Kelly wanted no part in our urine extraction plans (a true lady).

The relevance of the story isn't the argument or the tree house and it definitely Isn't the homemade toilet, the story is about the skateboard. My lifeline, in my head it was my way of getting further away from home, faster. For a 9year old it opened up my world much the same as getting my driving licence. Seth loves all my stories from my past and most nights as I am tucking him in he asks me to tell him one. My skateboard pops up more times than I can mention between the ages of 8-11 and Seth has been desperate to get in on some four wheeled adventures.

After having a chat with the genuinely great guys over at Native Skate Store they aggree'd to send out two Tricks Skateboards for myself and Seth to begin our adventures and for me to relive my wonder years. Seth looked so excited when he saw them, they are great boards and for a starter board for Seth they are awesome. Nativeskatestore.co.uk have a great selection of boards and accessories and since finding them i have come up with another great idea for a future post over the summer, which i'm really looking forward to.

Some people may say that with Seth's muscle condition skateboarding would be a little irresponsible but if these people were to say this to Seth he would tell you about the 'blind skater'. i had no idea who he was talking about until i Googled it and found Tommy Carroll, it's great to know that these are the sort of videos they show the children in school for sports relief, proving in many cases there's no need to limit yourself, anything is possible...

Its good for Seth to have a goal and we will always embrace whatever he is aiming towards. Since Seth has been talking about skateboarding he has always said he wants me to skate with him (hence the second board), its going to be a lot of fun and another great way for me and Seth to bond. Although Laura goes in to over protective mommy mode sometimes with the boys, we both feel that we shouldn't hold Seth back. He's no different to most children his age, he wants to adventure and who are we to stop him? He will always have one of us right next to him so there's no cause for concern. 

Because of Seth's operation we'd not had a chance to get out on the boards until today and Seth was itching to get out. The fear of split stitches was far more important though. I'll be honest he really surprised me how well he balanced on the board and although he needs me standing next to him for support he did a great job. I really loved the chuffed look he had on his face 'ive got a skateboard and i feel cool' and rightly so he looked awesome.

 I'm fortunate to know some great skaters and even got chatting to a woman at Opeie's dance class recently who used to be sponsored and is making a new video at the moment. I think this is just the start of our posts about skateboarding and thanks to Native Skate Store Seth is feeling confident and excited. This should be a great summer for us boys and our new hobby and hopefully I can help Seth create adventure stories of his own to pass down the generations.

“It's not about what it is, it's about what it can become.”

Every now and again a company or product comes a long that i/we fall in love with. 9 times out of 10 its the product itself but our recent and final package as Bigjigs toys Play patrol agents was an amazing product from a company with an ethos that you want from a business that makes children's toys. The Green toys fire truck is more than just a robust vehicle great for playing indoors and out. its classic design and bright clean colours make it the perfect play thing for any child. The fact that it is so sturdy is great as it means its perfect for the more boisterous children who love to throw their toys down slides or have them in mud holes in the garden (the way i used to play when i was younger).

The thing that clearly stuck out for me though and the reason these toys are so desirable is the fact they are made from 100% recycled plastic. We are so good with what we recycle week by week, i hate the thought of landfills so its a breath of fresh air to think that all that plastic recycling we do could be used to make something as amazing as this product. Our beloved Lorax would be very proud of this company.

With the fear of 'what are my children playing with?' in terms of the chemicals used in production these days its also great to know that these products don't contain BPA, PVC or phthalates. As it states on the box also, the products are safe to use with real food and are dishwasher safe too. Green toys tick all the boxes when it comes to the design process and morals behind children's products. They seem to know exactly what children want aesthetically but they are also taking care of the parents needs too. They really do live up to their 'Earth friendly' title on the box.

Bigjigs toys have a great selection of Green toys products, my favourites being the Green toys Rocket and the Pizza Parlor. Green toys are here to stay and with the amount of plastic products that are thrown away weekly we'll be keeping them in business. I cant think of a more rewarding way for our younger generations to learn about the importance of recycling. 

 Remember, don't just throw it away, bring new exciting life to your plastic milk containers and other recyclable trash.

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything."

It seems that Opeie is getting more in to music as the days go by and now DJ's on most car journeys by requesting songs one after another. It seems he has quite the eclectic taste like mommy and daddy. I was a big fan of Kylie back in the 80's and recently Mrs M put her debut album on in the car. Despite bringing back memories of my crush on Charlene from neighbours, Its also unleashed something in Opeie and he cant get enough...

Unlike 'It's no secret' above, some tracks don't get asked for by name. This song for example is simply called the robot song due to the dance moves that me and Mrs M bust out everytime we hear it. Its always lovely to see Opeie doing the robot in the back seat too...

Its not all pop and electro though with our little dance enthusiast, a little bit of Punk rock is usually requested. "hey ho lets go" can be heard from the back seat a lot but usually its Opeie singing the slightly inappropriate "beat on the brat with the baseball bat, oh yeah... oh yeah, oh ho"

He hasn't completely outgrown his children's music yet though and 'Hold still' from Yo Gabba Gabba will go on most car journeys. It gives us the chance to go a little crazy for a minute or so...

Probably the most requested song at the moment is 'Teenage dream' by Katy Perry. Opeie loves her. It was "Katy Perry car song" for a while but now he knows exactly what it is. I love how his personality is developing and hes really passionate about what he likes. His love of music is making me think we need to get him in some classes to dance or learn an instrument. I never had that option as a child so it would be nice to give Opeie the chance to do some thing like that.

And then its back to another of Kylie's classics which Opeie loves singing along to.... "I still love you...."

“Nothing is more real than the masks we make to show each other who we are.”

I can sometimes be difficult to get Opeie interested in craft, he's more of a tinkerer and will happily sit for an extended amount of time taking Lego Minifigures apart and creating his own. One craft activity he loves though is making masks and so far this seems to be the week for it.

Yesterday was one of those days where you wake up and there seems like no time to get things sorted before dropping Mrs M at work and Seth at school, Mrs M was über stressed and ended up forgetting some things for work, plus she realised last minute she had the house keys in her pocket, it could have been a disaster. When we got home I realised we hadn't made anything for Opeie's dance class, it's not compulsory but we've made something every week and I feel we owe it to the teacher to make the effort. The theme was the letter 'A' and the first thing that came into my head was ant, so an ant mask it was. Sadly I was far to rushed for lots of photos but I did get a shot of the finished piece and Opeie class teacher loved her gift...

Last night Opeie seemed like he was coming down with a cough and he had a temperature, Because I'm still fighting off Bronchitis and Mrs M has had it too i decided to keep him in today and do some fun activities in the house. After dropping off Mrs m and Seth i asked Opeie what he wanted to do and he decided he wanted to get the craft box out that Auntie Lottie had got him for his Birthday and make some more masks, this time though, masks of characters from his and Seth's new favourite show, Adventure time. I must admit the boys have got me hooked, i love the insanity.

We planned to make Jake and Finn the two main characters but as expected that demanding little mini me had other ideas, i love a good craft session though and was happy he was getting involved cutting and pasting. The masks turned out great and Opeie kept saying 'Seth is going to love these when he's back from school'. Its lovely to see the boys proud of the things they make.

The Ice king and Marceline were added to our craft session and then the craft boxes were packed away for another day, or so i thought. An hour or so before picking Mrs M up from work Opeie decided he wanted to make Seth a mask of one of their favourite characters from the show. Sadly Opeie got side tracked doing something else and i was left to complete 'Billy' the ultimate warrior from the land of Ooo...

And then it was time for a little posing by Opeie...

Finally we used the masks to decorate one of the only empty walls in Seth's room. Job done, a well executed craft session.

"As far as I'm concerned, there's no job more important on the planet than being a mom."

I love Mother's Day, I love being able to celebrate Mrs M and all the amazing things she does. She always puts us first and always makes it so clear how much she loves us I feel so lucky to have her in my life and I would never take that for granted. Although sometimes she can feel a little pushed out when were doing our boy thing I know that if there's ever even a slight mention of cuddles the boys are all her, I completely understand though, I'm quite partial to a bit of her affection myself.

Mother's Day is a great way for the boys to make a fuss of mommy and despite us celebrating Opeie's birthday yesterday too he must have said 'happy mothers day' at least 50 times. They really do love their mom. Mother's Day preparation started around a week a go and although our house is full of craft stuff the boys were excited to see a new box of craft items for our little creative session.

Me and Opeie had used the bits to make mommy an I love you card a week ago to so we've made good use of it. we made her a sheep out of buttons, combining two of her loves, sheep and textile related things.

The boys wanted to make a Mother's Day card each and I also made one too because I wanted her to know just how much I appreciate her as a mom. I really couldn't ask for a better mother for our two boys she is a truly amazing woman. So production started and the boys were loving anything with a sticky back. I decided to use some pages from a Dr. Seuss book and hand sewed some buttons on. In keeping with Dr. Seuss Seth made a Truffula tree on his card which was very cute.

Cards made and gifts wrapped we hid them away and waited patiently for the mommy celebration to begin. 

As expected Mrs M was all smiles and couldn't get enough of her little boys yesterday. It's so lovely to be reminded every day just how much me and boys clearly mean to her as she truly is the most important person to us and we would do anything we can to make sure she is as happy as can be.

Happy Mother's Day Mrs M we are all so smitten by you xxx