Bike Riding at Sunset

The shed is generally a no go zone for me. It's filled with spiders and that alone is reason enough not to enter! The sun was shining however and the Mini Mes wanted to go for a ride so I put on my bravery hat, entered and exited with their bikes as swiftly as possible (there may have a been a few shrill noises from me), and headed out to the nearby fields.

Family Fun at Hatton Adventure Farm (and your chance to WIN)

With it starting to get a little chilly and snow covering many towns at the moment, we decided to head to Hatton Adventure World on Sunday knowing that they have great entertainment whatever the weather. 

We aren't particularly bothered by the cold, it's nothing wrapping up warm can't solve, but many will prefer to stay indoors at home much to our advantage; it was lovely and quiet but we were able to enjoy all of the usual falconry displays, rides and animals.

The schedule showed that the Scales and Tails event was running when we arrived (it's on every weekend during January) so we headed to the exotic animal area to get hands on with lizards, snakes and spiders! 

I must admit I'm quite fearful of small creatures and creepy crawlies but on this occasion I felt rather brave and I happily held a cockroach. I wanted to persuade the Mini Mes to have a go too and sometimes you just have to lead by example which resulted in them plucking up the courage to hold some critters of their own. 

There's No Such Thing As A Gruffalo...

As many children returned to school on Monday but the Mini Mes had a teacher training day, we decided to make the most of the beautiful empty woodland and check out the Gruffalo Trail.

Salcey is our most local forest and it's a lovely one too with a cafe, play area and a treetop walk to enjoy. With our discovery pass providing free car parking we like to call by as often as possible for some outdoor family fun. So, we popped the poochie in the car, as dogs are more than welcome, and we set off with our wellies to see what characters we could spot from the well loved story.

'A mouse took a stroll through the deep dark wood...'

Mini Moment - Wild and Free

The evenings have been so warm over the past few days that it would be a waste not to go out and enjoy them. It may have meant the Mini Mes have had a few later bedtimes but the family fun and memories made have certainly been worth it. As the sun has set we have walked through overgrown fields playing 'I went to the shop and bought', ran around playing tag with each other until we were out of breath (me quicker than the rest) and we have walked the dog for miles.

Feeling the breeze in our hair is quite liberating and it doesn't cost a penny.

Outdoor Family Fun - With Hasbro and Spin Master

The beautiful weather has enabled us to spend plenty of time in the great outdoors climbing trees, walking across the fields... and playing with a giant glider. With a 4ft wingspan it's a seriously impressive toy and we have all enjoyed throwing it to see just how far it can travel before landing in the grass.

The Air Hogs Titan is ideal for anyone, including competitive siblings and families (like ours), as you can see who can throw it the furthest, do the best stunts and run alongside it the quickest. We have used it so many times already and there are plenty of giggles shared each time. We practise our

I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside - California Cliffs

Last week we escaped from the hustle and bustle of every day life and travelled to Great Yarmouth for a few days. Our accommodation was within a 5 minute walk of a fairly quiet beach so we took a stroll there each evening to play in the sand.

We wrote our names with stones, skimmed rocks, built a wall to block the sea and we even spotted some seals! There is something about an empty beach that is so relaxing. Watching the waves crash, the glistening shells and listening to the Mini Mes giggle as the water splashes them always makes me smile.

Although I adore travelling abroad any beach will make the Mini Mes happy and if they are happy then I am too.

Learning Through (messy) Play

As the weather was so beautiful over the weekend I managed to get a lot of jobs done around the house, including a load of washing being hung on the line for the first time this year, while the Mini Mes took advantage of their new 'tuff spot' on the patio. 

They are at the age where they don't need to be watched 24/7 and I can trust them to play together while I just observe from the kitchen cook and clean in peace.

The National Lobster Hatchery and an Afternoon on the Beach

While in Padstow recently we decided to head out and do something a little different. I'd had a look at the local attractions and came across the website for the National Lobster Hatchery. Somewhere that would not only shelter us from the wet weather but would be interesting and educational; teaching the Mini Mes about the importance of conserving marine life.

 I must admit I was quite excited to see tiny baby lobsters too!

Back to Basics

No TV and remote to argue over who watches what.

No games consoles to fight about which character they want to be 

No board games to stress about who goes first and which colour counter they wish to control.

Going back to basics brings the Mini Mes together.

I Believe

There was a time, several year ago, when I felt alone. 

Unwanted, fearful of the future and incredibly down about my life in general.

I wondered who would want a single mum, a single mum with two very young children that had already been through so much.

They would always be my priority, as any child to any mother should, but as time went by I wanted someone for me. 

Someone to cuddle up to in the evenings.

Someone to be there through the ups and downs.

Someone to hold and love. Someone that would love me back in return.

Someone that would accept me for who I am and not see my children as 'baggage'.

Someone that would treat both me and my children as their own, without question.

I was scared that this someone didn't exist.

Then along came the Mr.

He made me believe that you can find love when you least expect it.

He made me believe that not everyone judges parents without partners.

He made believe I was special and that I deserved happiness.

He made me believe I am beautiful and my children are worth loving by someone other than me.

He is my boyfriend, my best friend, my rock.

I believe in family.

Pooh Sticks and Den Building

I'm rather glad that we decided to head outside for several hours of family fun last Saturday, despite the rain, as on Sunday I managed to injure my back and I've not been able to leave the house since (bar 1 trip to the GP yesterday). I've barely been able to walk and, much to my embarrassment, I've had to borrow my Grandma's zimmer frame just to move from one room to the other! 

If you shook me I would definitely rattle.

Fingers crossed this week we will be able to get outdoors more frequently, especially with it being half term.

We visited our local wood again, Badby.

We had a lovely time walking through lots of mud and puddles, throwing branches for the poochie, playing pooh sticks, den building and exploring.

We may have had quite a bit of fun pulling silly faces for the camera too...

 

Hehehe!

What outdoor fun have you enjoyed this week?

Win a Family Pass to BeWILDerwood

Boggle Wish Bonfire

Saturday 15th February – Sunday 23rd February

Hooray! The Boggles are sprinkling a little Boggle magic on BeWILDerwood this February half term and can’t wait for you to arrive! Pop along to the curious treehouse adventure for the re- light of the warming bonfires and to re-commence the party! The ‘Boggle Wish Bonfire’ is the first weeklong event of the season – head to the ‘Big Hat’ which you’ll find brimming with pinecones and twigs, card and tissue paper; pots and pans (borrowed from Swampy’s mum’s kitchen), and gallons and gallons of glittery glue! Get busy on your wish-making potion, (don’t forget to add a dollop of dreams) and join together at the fire pit to make all your wishes come true! 

Even though you will be busy there will still be time to explore and engage in the wild Norfolk landscape. Walk the Wobbly Wires, brave the Tricky Tunnels and take a lazy boat ride across Scaaaary Lake. Cross jungle bridges and visit treehouses and take time to enjoy the enchanting storytelling sessions and listen to the tales and adventures of Mildred, Swampy and the characters of the BeWILDerwood stories.

We visited BeWILDerwood last summer and we look forward to returning in Spring. It's a great place for outdoor family fun with plenty of climbing, sliding and swinging to be had by all.

You can read our full review here: 

http://www.theminimesandme.com/2013/06/bewilderwood-review-and-giveaway.html

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win a family pass to BeWILDerwood this February you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 12th February 2014.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit bewilderwood.co.uk and sign up to the Twiggle Times
to receive your 3 for 2 offer for February half term.

Saturday Caption

Who needs the gym when the Mr and Mini Mes love our local park equipment so much...

Have you got a caption for their evening work out?
I'd love to hear it!


Have a great weekend.

Linked with:

Silent Sunday

Linked up with...

    

5 Walking Games For Kids

As the weather cools and the evenings darken earlier, the Mini Mes enthusiasm to walk the dog is somewhat dampened! But as I've mentioned before, our beautiful yet daft Border Collie still needs his exercise, so it's something we do come rain or shine. Plus we do actually love being outside as a family, it's just the initial transition from the warm house into the cold the children, and sometimes I, are not so keen on. 

I started to introduce some more games into our journeys to make it easier to part from the blankets and heating at home. It keeps the Mini Mes entertained, helps with their mental development and makes the walk feel a lot quicker for us all. 

The Shopping List game

Starting with "I went to the shop and I bought" you take it in turns to select an item you could purchase, working through each letter of the alphabet as you go. The idea is to recall all of the ones stated previously before adding on your own until someone can no longer recite the list. It's great for memory building and fun to hear which items are added on each round.
Sometimes we add a theme to the game too to make it a even more challenging.

Geocaching

I'd heard about geocaching some time ago but I didn't realise just how exciting it would be or how popular it had become until recently! For those that don't know, it's a bit like a treasure hunt. Using co-ordinates you find caches and sign the log book inside, some even have items you can take home with you to keep.

It's a great way to explore your local area and enjoy some time exploring the outdoors as a family. Plus it's free!

I decided to download the app myself to find out if there were any caches nearby and I discovered that there were plenty hidden away on our regular walks and in local parks. We now make the most of our walk and look for caches too - the Mini Mes LOVE this activity.

Once Upon A Time

This is a very easy game which involves story telling but it often leaves us giggling due to the extreme and completely random tales that we create. Each person takes it in turns to make up a part of a story, usually just a few sentences, and then the next person continues. What happens to the characters, which could be a princess, hamster or even a flying tortoise is completely up to you. 

This is great for developing imaginations.

Word Association

Somebody begins by selecting a word and the next person has just a few seconds to think of a word that relates to it. You are knocked out if your word is a repeat, you take too long to answer or if it isn't related. This game is all about speed!

What/Who Am I?

This is a game that we sometimes play at home too. Somebody thinks of an object or a person and everyone else takes it in turns to ask a question to try to determine what/who it is. The winner is who works it out quickest.

Simple yet a great way for children to learn about problem solving.

What games do you enjoy as a family?

Magical Moments - Siblings Search

A warm Autumn day.

The golden leaves crisp under foot and the giggles of the Mini Mes echo while they search for conkers under the trees.

I'm sat on a nearby step, just watching.
Just taking it all in.

They chatter together, lift fallen twigs and look in hope of finding prickly green balls camouflaged in the grass.
They squeeze them open carefully, standing closely to each other, both watching to see if a brown gem sits tucked away inside.

They return to their scooters and pop their treasure into a bag to take home-
Knowing seasonal crafts and games await them.

There is a great big world out there, I hear it can be a fright.

But take my hand and hold on-I know we’ll be alright.

Brother and sister we will forever be.

I am so happy; I have my best friend right here with me.

- Ericka Reynolds

Have you been collecting conkers yet?

I'm linking this with...

  

Magical Moments

It's the memory behind this photo that is special and makes me smile, despite not being picture perfect.

We have had so many lovely days out this summer but it's the simple things like running wild in the fields, walking the dog up huge hills, geocaching and evenings in the garden that have really brought us together as a family.

This photo was taken only last week and it was when the four of us spent an evening at the park after dinner, completely care-free, playing chase. The Mr and I were up on the climbing frames pretending to be monsters, sliding down the fireman's pole then hanging upside down like little monkeys on the bars!

The Mini Mes were in fits of giggles attempting to run with their little legs not going fast enough while they laughed.

The few people there looked and starred but I didn't notice them for long. 

We are big kids and neither of us really worry about what others think as long as we are having fun and the Mini Mes are happy that is all that matters.

I hope to always be this way.

We don't stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop playing

- George Bernard Shaw

Silent Sunday

Linking this with...

Country Kids

 One of the many benefits of the recent sunshine is that we have been more inclined to spend time outdoors and take advantage of lots of free activities. We have been to the local country park several evenings when it's been nice and quiet, often with us being the only ones there, and had some great fun as a family....

The Mr and I chased the Mini Mes around this pretending to be the troll under the bridge from the Three Billy Goats Gruff!

Swinging...

Balancing...

What outdoor family fun have you enjoyed this week?

Linking this with...

Outdoor Family Fun

With the weather being so beautiful over the past few days, we have enjoyed lots of time outdoors in the sunshine. Not only only is spending time outside in the fresh air beneficial in terms of your health and fitness but it's a great way to reduce stress... which some of us parents may be suffering from now the summer holidays have arrived!

We have taught the Mini Mes how to play rugby properly with an official HSBC Lions ball...

We had a BBQ at my mums (which also involved assembling the BBQ and cooking everything for her) and drank lemonade from wine glasses. Because we can...

We walked the dog a lot further through woodland and fields...

and Minxy sat in a cardboard box, strapped to a skateboard and rolled down the garden while dressed as Iron Man...

As you do!

What outdoor fun have you had as a family this week?