What have we been up to.....

Firstly I'm so sorry for the un-announced blog break. I'm not sure what happened really just insanely busy with real life LOL! One of the main things taking up my time was Joseph's (5 1/2) School carnival float. A fellow mum & I spent many hours making the giant orange rocket for our Wallace & Gromit float. Most of our time was spent making the frame from cardboard & corrugated plastic. I then sewed the 'tent' at home, which was hard going due to the size & weight of the fabric! It took me nearly an hour just to iron the thing! The Gromit was made by a very clever couple in their garage, its great to have our own school Gromit.

I also had our costumes to source & make. Joseph was dressed a Wallace (painting the rocket), Daniel (4) was Shaun The Sheep & I was Paella the Bake-O-Lite lady. We had lots of fun on carnival day & were blessed with good weather, we are looking forward to doing it all over again next year!

At half term we had a lovely weekend away at Butlins. I think the boys enjoyed getting to see the Skyline Gang again most of all & also having a go on their new helter-skelter. Why not take a look our post form our holiday at Butlins last year.

The boys did brave the then freezing outside paddling pool, I expect it has been lovely this week though!

We've also had the go ahead on our loft conversion from the planning people so the last week, has seen our back garden & much of the house taken over by builders! Goodness knows how many cups of tea I have made, that is until they all switched to squash as it was just too hot working upon our roof all day!

I will write more posts on the loft conversion as it progresses & as we get to decorate it as our bedroom. Once its all done our old bedroom will be coming the family room, somewhere for all the toys & a sofa bed for when Nanny stays. For more instant updates follow me on Instagram...

x Jo x

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Easter Messy Play & Crafting

We have been having a great Easter holidays so far, its been so nice having the nice dry weather. We have held 2 group messy play sessions, been catching up with friends and attended a Gromit model making session. The boys had great fun learning to make a Gromit, with George from Ardman animations. I was hoping that Joseph (5) would be able to make his own but he did need lots of help, so I ended up making most of both!

On Monday we held an Easter themed group messy play session, where we made bunny grass cups, and Easter bonnets/hats. To make the hats cut a strip of card to fit your child's head then cut out and staple on some bunny ears on top.

I didn't get chance to share the Easter bonnets I made the boys last year, I was inspired to make Joseph's angry bird hat by this chick hat I found on pintrest.

Back to the messy play session.... We had an easter sensory box with rainbow rice in the base, & in the other box I used cooked seed pearl tapioca. I was hoping the tapioca would be like water beads but its more sticky, but still lots of fun.

In one of our pools we had cornflakes and fake flowers. In the other pool we had lots of pom poms and we painted and labeled egg boxes so the children could match the colours, they also had the option to use child's chopsticks for some fine motor practice.

We also had a table set out with Easter colouring sheets (lots on my easter pintrest board) and play dough and laminated play dough mats.The kids had lots of my funky crayon miss-shapes to colour with...

On the floor we had a large sheet of paper for painting, using brushes & stamps. We also used a potato masher as i'd seen on pinteset it maks a great egg shape! The other tip I found on pintrest is to use a sponge in the bowl it applies an even coat of paint to the stamp to make it easier to get a good print.

It was a very busy and fun session, so much so I didn't get chance to take many pictures!

If your looking for more Easter fun take a look at these posts from last year...

E is for Easter... Last years Easter round up!

Easter Chick Farm Sensory Box

Paper Plate Lamb/Sheep (pic is right at the bottom of the post)

The second messy play session we held was Lego Movie themed & I promise to share all the details soon. We are going away for the second week of the holidays, down in Dorset, fossil hunting. So I will apologise now if I go AWOL until after The Easter weekend & hope you all have a lovely Easter whatever your up to. 

x Jo x

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Free Museums

Whilst on the Gromit Unleashed trail this summer we got to experience many parts of Bristol we hadn't ventured to before. One of the highlights for me was the museums. The M-Shed is a museum for the history of Bristol, entry is FREE but they do ask for a donation. Unlike the museums I remember as a kid everything is so hands on with anything not to be touched being well protected, so I was able to let the boys explore freely. They have a real (old) double decker bus, pelican crossing with traffic lights, air raid shelter, old fashioned toys & street games. As we were on the Gromit trail we only had an hour but will be visiting again to discover more. We also plan to time it so that we can take a trip on Bristol's Harbour Railway, as the boys would love to go on a real (steam) train!

We also visited Bristol City Museum in Clifton. Its more of a traditional Museum however it was still family friendly, with a dedicated (play) area for children to explore. The boys loved the dinosaur & sea life areas. Its also worth noting a that as well as a cafe, they also have a picnic room that is available all year around (its tucked away so ask if you can't find it). Entry to Bristol Museum is also FREE, again asking for a donation.

Whilst we were staying at my Mums in Devon, we took the chance to visit Barnstaple Museum. I visited several times as a child & remembered admiring their insect wall. Again everything was family friendly with exhibits designed for children. In the world war area they did have sound effects of bombs, which scared Joseph (4.5) a little, even though it wasn't loud. Barnstaple Museum is also FREE to enter.

During the summer we also took the boys to @Bristol, Bristol's science museum. All though its not free & to be honest a little expensive, I would say its worth it. At their current age (4.5 & 3) it was great fun with lots to play with & lots of buttons etc to test. It will also be great in a couple of years when they can really get the educational benefit from it. Its a full day out, be aware that parking can be expensive. If you want to skip the cafe at lunch time, they have a great picnic room or if its nice lunch in millennium square (just outside) is lovely, but pack a towel as the fountains are a favourite for the kids to play in!

If you would like to find a free museum in your part of the UK check out this listing over on Money Saving Expert.

x Jo x

Silent Sunday

 

x Jo x

Silent Sunday

 

x Jo x

Animal Week At Messy Play

Well last week saw my 1st proper messy play session, with real paying customers who weren't friends or anything! I'm running sessions at my local hall for 5 weeks in the summer holidays initially. 

I was going to have a farm week & a zoo week but being limited to 5 themes, & having so many ideas I decided to combine them in to 1 week. 

Farm small world using porridge oats

Small world zoo with dry pasta, & sweet tin lid as sea.

Blue gloop frog pond, with craft foam lily pads.

Daniel (3) & his friends helping out on in the farm!

Joseph (4.5) really enjoyed the play dough with our animal cutters.

He also made this creation with the rollers!

Vegetable printing & hands & feet!

A bit of body art!

The finished master piece.

 Well the most popular animal around here at the moment is Gromit. So animal week wouldn't be complete without him & Shaun the sheep at the craft table.

My Gromit 'Patch'

My Shaun the sheep.

Joseph & Daniels Gromits

Joseph & Daniels Sheep

I'm looking forward to next weeks theme Artic!

x Jo x

1st Theatre Trip

So we were lucky enough to win tickets to Dora The Explorer Live form a competition run by Mummy from the hart's blog. We didn't tell the boys until the night before & they were so excited, they love all the shows at Butlins so I knew they would love seeing Dora! It was a great 1st experience of the theatre, we saw the show at the Bristol Hippodrome.

 They both loved looking at the gold detailing & were amazed at how big it was. Next time Joseph (4.5) wants so sit up high & preferably in a box! They both were totally absorbed in the show & sat nicely & loved joining in with the songs & waiving their blue stars when required.

Where's Wallace - Bristol Marriott Royal

Poetry In Motion - Collage Green

 After the show we took the scenic route back to the car & took in a couple of Gromits! We would have seen a third but he has been moved for the weekend, during the Harbour Festival.

Fountain at college green

It was a lovely family afternoon & has given me the confidence to take them again (maybe on my own!) perhaps the Xmas panto.

x Jo x

Rainbow Doggy!

 So I caved in and drove the boys all the way to Staple Hill on the other side of Bristol to see this beautiful Gromit called Roger. I have to say that he was worth driving to see & we did combine it with a visit to a city farm in that area as well so wasn't a complete waste of fuel!

Only thing is Daniel (3) keeps asking to go back & take is best friend Thomas with him!

x Jo x

P.S. There is still 2 days left to enter our Blackpool Tower Ticket competition, a perfect start to the summer holidays!

Suspension Bridge & More Gromits

To make the most of this lovely weather we have been having here in the UK, we decided to tick off one of our to do's which is a picnic on Clifton Downs. I haven't been since I
was a child on a school trip, which is terrible since i have been living in the area for over 10 years now!

As Daddy was busy at lunch time we packed the picnic for tea, to enjoy after some sight seeing in the afternoon. And we just happened to be in a good Gromit spotting area! We found the 2 up on Durdham Downs. These have got to be our favourite's so far, with the boys liking the extra legs on 'It's Krackin, Gromit' & I thought 'Blossom' was beautiful.

We then headed down to Clifton Suspension Bridge. This was the first chance the boys have had to walk across the bridge, It has some really amazing views of Bristol.

We then headed down Sion Hill, to find another 2 Gromits. Both Gromits have great views of the bridge.

Once we had finished Gromit hunting we grabbed the picnic from the car & went to find some shade, at the little park to the side of the bridge. It made a real change to have a picnic for tea & worked really well in this hot weather.

After tea the boys had a good run around the park which includes this really cool rock slide, Daddy was worried for their safety so they were limited to the smaller slide. However it cant be too dangerous else the health & safety people would have shut it down years ago!

It was a lovely afternoon out & all it cost was 50p to cross the bridge, as the boys wanted to drive that way back home!

x Jo x