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.

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!

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?

Project 365 - A Photo A Day #4

Our week that was...

Sunday - Cuddling up with Jamster after he returned home from his dad's house. He is such a mummy's boy and still loves to stroke my hair! 

Monday - Our daft poochie with his tongue hanging out as always. He always makes me smile.

Tuesday - A woodland walk. I liked the dark branches against the blue sky in this one.

Wednesday - I was blue lighted to hospital in the early hours of the morning when I woke up with severe chest pains that extended into my arm and jaw. I spent several hours in A&E having ECG's, X-Rays and blood tests. This was my view for much of the day!

Thursday - Sweets and a movie after school for the Mini Mes as a little thank you for being so great the day previous when I was poorly.

Friday - Pretty get well soon flowers from a best friend.

Saturday - Sausage and chorizo casserole for dinner with jacket potatoes. 

What have you been up to this week?

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:

If You Go Down To The Woods Today...

After school on Tuesday we decided to go for a walk around a nearby wood; Badby. 

We popped on our wellies, jumped in the car and set off.

The air was cool and the leaves crackled beneath our boots as we clambered over fallen trees and around flooded streams. It was incredibly wet and muddy!

We walked for 70 minutes in total. It really left us feeling refreshed and we had a great time playing eye spy, squelching through puddles and running with the dog.

It was also great to see that the wands we had created several months ago and left in a spot where other toys had been placed for fairies were still there! 

What outdoor fun have you enjoyed this week?

Project 365 - A photo a Day #2

This week seemed to fly by! Here is what we got up to...

• We visited Badby Woods on Sunday for an afternoon walk with the poochie. The Mr decided to walk through what appeared to be a small puddle and sunk right up to his thigh - hilarious!
• We had some more outdoor fun at Draycote Water Monday. The Mr and Mini Mes love to see how high they can go... even if their expressions say otherwise.
• Our last afternoon together before school restarted was spent at our local park. We played chase and this was taken while I was 'it' and they escaped to the climbing frames!
• Spartan doesn't really understand what personal space is and he likes to ram himself between the armrest and I while I'm trying to work.
• After school the Mini Mes asked to go to the indoor play centre so we headed there straight away. I was surprised by how quiet it was! You can just about see them right in the centre (Jamster in a yellow t-shirt).
• A yummy homemade jam sponge for dessert - mmmm!
• We received some lovely furniture from Ikea to review so Saturday was a DIY day.

What photos have you taken this week?

November

November comes

And November goes,

With the last red berries

And the first white snows.

With night coming early,

And dawn coming late,

And ice in the bucket

And frost by the gate.

The fires burn

And the kettles sing,

And earth sinks to rest

Until next spring.

― Clyde Watson

The theme this week is November

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?

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