Rolling Around

New carpet needs to be tested!

Not only for bare feet comfort but for jumping, jogging on the spot and forward rolls too, apparently.

The Mini Mes were keen to get active the moment they came home from school by dancing and

Our Favourite Books for Inspiring Family Fun

I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.

There is something truly magical about book stores. 

I love to visit Waterstones regularly with the Mini Mes to select something new to read. Opening the door you can almost smell the fresh pages longing to be read with the colourful covers and shelves stacked neatly. Maybe a flying rocket adventure, a mystery solving hardback or a fun filled book with jokes and interesting facts. We all have our own collection of favourite books to curl up with at home and enjoy too, especially on rainy days like today with a hot chocolate!

The great thing about books is that they can really inspire you and change your perspective on certain things. There are some that might get you cooking or crafting and others that encourage you to go out and try something new. 

This is our reading list for inspiring family fun!

What the Ladybird Heard - Julia Donaldson

With beautifully illustrated pages this book tells the story about a Ladybird that overhears the plans of two burgulars and then manages to save the day with the help of it's farmyard friends.

There is a great map within the book and it's a lovely idea to create your own with the kids and maybe hide some treasure in your home to discover! You might also want to play Chinese whispers and see what the last person thought they heard being said.

Funny Bones - Allan Ahlberg

This funny and not very frightening trio are keen to find someone to scare but as they leave their dark dark cellar they soon discover everyone is asleep! This is a lovely humourous tale and the language is quite repetitive which is great for little ones that want to read along with you. 

You could easily create your own glow in the dark pictures with paint, make skeletons from card and paper fasteners to play or just use the book as a way to discuss bones and how the body works.

Spy Dog - Andrew Cope
If you have the next Johnny English in the house the Spy Dog collection is definitely worth a read.
You and your secret agents could then visit Gullivers Spy Zone for some problem solving fun as a family. It's perfect for little ones that dream of becoming detectives with the code breaking tasks to complete.
We had a great time there last summer.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
 A quirky story packed with plenty of tasty treats and an important lesson about greed and honesty from a well known author. Taking a trip to Cadbury's World is a great day out where you can see how chocolate is made, pick up lots of goodies on the way round and visit the giant store filled with all of your favourites. Yummy.

We're Going on a Bear Hunt - Michael Rosen
You can follow a family as they explore grass, mud and caves in this book and then re-enact what you read!
Try creating your own bear hunt by popping some toys in the garden the kids can search for or take some bears with you on your travels to the park or wood. End it all with a delicious teddy bears picnic too.

Peter Pan - J M Barrie
A classic tale about a boy that doesn't want to grow up. I remember reading this as a child myself so it's lovely to now share it with own two! It has fast become another favourite having seen the Disney movie many times to match and we recently visited the theatre to see Wendy and Peter Pan as a family which was a great evening out.
I'd highly recommend a visit too for pirate swashbuckling fun and high-flying action!

The Girl Who Loved Wellies - Zehra Hicks
A easy to read story that is ideal for pre-schoolers and young readers. This book is about a wellie obsessed little girl who wheres her boots for everything from ballet to having a bath. Why not pop on your own shoes and go puddle jumping, squelching in mud and climbing trees.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar - Eric Carle
I still read this to the Mini Mes aged 7 and 9 now and we all giggle away at just how much the caterpillar eats and sit in awe at such a beautiful transformation. This is the perfect book to teach about the life cycle and I think growing your own at home too is ideal for linking with this story.
You can watch them get bigger before releasing them as butterflies into the wild.

The Gruffalo - Julia Donaldson

This is an all time favourite which is very cleverly thought out and features some great poetry.

For some family fun you can head out to Thorndon Country Park in Essex where they have an amazing Gruffalo Trail! Complete with owl, fox, mouse and more it's certainly a great way to spend an afternoon - it's great exercise too!

Stick Man - Julia Donaldson

Speaking of trails, the Forestry Commission has 13 sites where you can have plenty of fun based around the Stick Man book. You can make your own character, build dens and spot hidden items or simply download and print a variety of activity sheets including quizzes and drawing from the website.

Which books inspire you?

Woolly and Tig App

Based on the Cbeebies TV show, the Woolly and Tig app is ideal for children aged 3-6 as it aims to build confidence and help children to complete essential every day real world activities. 

Jamster is a big fan of games on our iPad so he was keen to have a go too.

Who are Woolly and Tig?

Tig, aged 3, lives with her parents and does something different each day with her favourite companion, a woolly spider. Some new experiences can be scary so Woolly is there to help reassure her and build her confidence. The 5 minute episodes can be viewed on Cbeebies.

The app is quite easy to use on both iPad and iPhone so your child, even as young as 2, should be able to play this with very little or no assistance from an adult. It may take a few minutes to get used to the actions required but Woolly explains everything well during play and repeats himself if your child hasn't mastered what to do. There is also a button to access the grown up area which needs to be held down so children shouldn't be able to move from the home page or activity page - a useful bonus.

The app is split into 2 areas of play; casual play and structured play:

Casual Play

When first opened, the app goes into casual play where your child can stroke, tickle and hug Woolly through touch screen interaction. They can make him roll and jump and this is a great way to build number skills and hand-eye coordination.

Structured Play

There are 6 activities based around daily scenarios including teeth brushing, getting dressed and washing. Each of these activities allows your child to help Woolly complete a task and there are awards to be given to to create a sense of achievement.

There is an area for grown ups where you can schedule in messages to be sent from Woolly to encourage your child to undertake a specific activity, at a specific time. A great idea for younger ones to learn when every day tasks need to be completed during their day.

Play is very limited and Tig isn't featured in the app at all so I feel it is quite expensive in comparison to similar alternatives on iTunes that are cheaper or free. However, if you are struggling with your child getting into a routine or completing a task each day like getting dressed this certainly may help.

The app is available from iTunes for £2.99 

What is your child's favourite app?

*We received the app and some Woolly and Tig items for the purpose of this review. The opinions given are honest and our own*

WIN Just Dance 2014 #ChristmasGiftGiveaway

Just Dance 2014 is a game the entire family can enjoy with a variety of hits from several decades, easy to follow instructions on screen and fun playback options - it's the ideal gift.

We received a copy and we were all keen to give it a go!

The game includes 47 hits including songs from One Direction, Robbie Williams, Lady Gaga and Bob Marley so it has something to suit every taste. The game is easy to navigate and you can dance alone, with up to three others or online with anyone anywhere in the world using multi-player mode. It's a great way to encourage your kids to get active while at home - and a great form of exercises for parents too! You can even track calories burnt and create your own playlists

The more you dance the more features you unlock, including alternative choreography, so it's certainly a game to return to regularly. The idea of the game, similar to the previous editions, is to copy the actions on screen and the more you do correctly the better you score. The lyrics for each song are displayed on the screen so you can even sing along!

The thing that the Mini Mes loved the most was the chance to watch themselves back afterwards and share their crazy videos on Just Dance TV.

You can watch them in action here (it's rather amusing!)...

Just Dance 2014 Playlist

Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight) – ABBA 

The Way – Ariana Grande Ft. Mac Miller 

Could You Be Loved – Bob Marley 

Isidora – Bog Bog Orkestar 

Fine China – Chris Brown 

Limbo – Daddy Yankee 

Get Lucky – Daft Punk Ft. Pharrell Williams 

Moskau – Dancing Bros. 

She Wolf (Falling To Pieces) – David Guetta Ft. Sia 

Prince Ali – Disney’s Aladdin 

It’s You – Duck Sauce 

Turn Up The Love – Far East Movement Ft. Cover Drive 

Alfonso Signorini (Eroe Nazionale) – Fedez 

The Love Boat – Frankie Bostello 

Careless Whisper – George Michael 

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor 

Rich Girl – Gwen Stefani Ft. Eve 

Feel So Right – Imposs Ft. Konshens 

Wild – Jessie J Ft. Big Sean 

I Kissed A Girl – Katy Perry 

C’mon – Ke$ha 

Applause – Lady Gaga 

Just Dance – Lady Gaga Ft. Colby O’Donis 

Just A Gigolo – Louis Prima 

Blame It On The Boogie – Mick Jackson 

In The Summertime – Mungo Jerry 

Pound The Alarm – Nicki Minaj 

Starships – Nicki Minaj 

Troublemaker – Olly Murs Ft. Flo Rida 

Kiss You – One Direction 

Feel This Moment – Pitbull Ft. Christina Aguilera 

Gentleman – PSY 

Ghostbusters – Ray Parker Jr. 

Maria – Ricky Martin 

Where Have You Been – Rihanna 

Candy – Robbie Williams 

Blurred Lines – Robin Thicke Ft. Pharrell 

99 Luftballons – Rutschen Planeten 

Miss Understood – Sammie 

Nitro Bot – Sentai Express 

Danse (Pop version) – TAL 

Flashdance…What A Feeling – The Girly Team 

Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In – The Sunlight Shakers 

Y.M.C.A. – Village People 

#thatPOWER – will.i.am Ft. Justin Bieber 

Follow The Leader – Wisin & Yandel Ft. Jennifer Lopez

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win 1 of 2 copies of Just Dance 2014 you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below.

The giveaway closes on 1st December 2013.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Make sure you enter the previous competitions and return tomorrow for our next #ChristmasGiftGiveaway!

You can find out more information here: 

http://www.theminimesandme.com/2013/10/christmas-gift-giveaway-2013.html

A Castle Fit For Your Prince and Princess

Faced with the competing demands of modern digital media and electronic toys, there is something refreshing and reassuring about the continuing popularity of the toy castle. While today’s children could not be further removed from the times when knights rode across the land on quests and crusades, they still love to hear the stories of armoured warriors on horseback slaying dragons, jousting at tournaments and rescuing maidens who always seem to be imprisoned at the top of a high tower.

Parents who are looking for toys that encourage children to use their imaginations can be confident that a toy castle from WoodenToyShop.co.uk is a sound investment. These wonderfully detailed and (especially nowadays) colourful toys will inspire even the most unwilling children to start playing and dreaming up stories and adventures. Children love finding trap doors and hidden dungeons; they enjoy raising the portcullis and the drawbridge; and they are always ready to lay siege to a castle, especially when there are catapults and trebuchets involved.

Here at WoodenToyShop our customers’ favourite castle is the Le Toy Van Lionheart Castle. This magnificent wooden castle has seven towers, each of which is topped with vibrant red ramparts. Two pennants fly from the castle’s flagpoles and as stated earlier there is plenty of fun to be had lowering and raising the drawbridge and portcullis. Customers have praised this castle for its robustness, detail and design. It is easy to assemble, “well made and brilliantly finished”.

Toy castles, like train sets and dolls’ houses, can always be enhanced and improved by a whole host of accessories – a fact that is not only perfect for children, but also for family members who are desperately trying to come up with a present for the next birthday or Christmas. Need some knights or a Royal Family set? No problem. How about a play mat or (we love this one) a siege tower? You’ll always find something to add to the fun and to help the children enjoy their favourite toy even more.

If you prefer your toy castles more ‘fairy tale’ than ‘fearsome crusader’ then the new Le Toy Van Fairybelle Palace is an excellent newcomer that is guaranteed to enthral children who love to hear the story of Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty or Rapunzel.

This utterly fabulous palace really is fit for a princess and is packed with delightful detail and delicate designs. Painted throughout in a wildflower theme, the garden even has room for a table and tea set, while the back of the palace has a cobbled courtyard where ponies and carriages can be stabled. Fairybelle Palace is arriving in August and is complemented wonderfully by the equally fabulous Fairy Carriage and Unicorn.

Nowadays many classrooms also contain toy castles as this is a popular topic at the Early Years Foundation Stage and also Key Stage 1. Teachers use castles to encourage creative thinking, teach literacy and numeracy and of course history. Parents who play alongside their children can supplement this learning with questions and stories, although who could deny that grownups just want to have fun, slay a few dragons and rescue the odd damsel just as much as the kids!

*Guest post*

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...

Letters

I love finding bits of paper with little messages and drawings on from the Mini Mes. I'll admit they are usually requests for food or sucking up because they want something, but I still think their notes are lovely and I often pop one in their lunch box for them to read at school too.



They write me messages and post it under my bedroom door in the morning or, their favourite, post it into the bathroom while I'm on the toilet which isn't appreciated quite so much.


They play cafes, write out a menu for me and create order forms so they can ask what I would like for lunch. They then take over the entire kitchen, drag chairs over to the work surfaces and carry food around on trays while hanging a tea towel over the other arm. True butler style!


They play cinemas and bombard me with tickets then tell the poochie he isn't allowed in the lounge to watch the movie because he is under age!

They also write letters to the pets...

... which usually end up getting nibbled!

What funny things do your little ones do?

I'm linking this with...

Christmas... In July

I'm usually quite organised when it comes to buying Christmas gifts but I've never started purchasing presents as early as July! However, many of the big stores will be thinking about what toys will be the biggest sellers this year and Argos, the UK's number 1 toy retailer, is one of those.

With Christmas being 5 months away and the year speeding by already, you can take a sneak peek at which products Andrea Abbis, chief toy buyer for Argos, feels with be most in demand this December. You can also learn about how important toys are in child development with author and parenting expert Anita Naik and have your questions answered.

See the show live here:

Show date: Wednesday 24th July 

Show time: 4pm

What do you think will be on your child's wish list this year?

Dobble *Review and Giveaway*

When you want a few minutes out of the summer sun, a refreshing drink and family game is a great way to enjoy a little shade. We received Dobble to review and we were all quickly hooked with this fast thinking, reflex based card game.

 

Included within the box is a metal storage tin, 55 circular cards and an instructions booklet. I loved how compact it was as it doesn't take up much space in the cupboard and it is ideal for popping in your bag when you go on holiday or even over to friends.

Each card, which is good quality and not yet bent or torn during play, has 8 images on which are easily recognisable to children and include a clock, pencil, ice cube, tree and cat. The object of the game is to match an image on your card with the other cards as quickly as possible. There are 5 mini games you can choose from to vary play all of which are very quick to learn and easy to complete.


With each game lasting under 15 minutes, usually a lot quicker, children will be kept entertained without the worry of them getting bored!

 

Minxy and Jamster have played this many times already by themselves, although we have also played as a family too, and the Mr and I have played alone too when the Mini Mes have been in bed! It was great to see how quickly the children could identify a matching image (they were faster than the adults at times) and it's a great way to build fine motor and observation skills.

 

There are over 50 symbols across the cards!
 

The game is suitable for children aged 6+, for 2-8 players and we found it simple yet fun.

This will be coming away with us camping and abroad!

You can purchase a set for RRP £12.99.

　

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win a Dobble of your own, you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry for below.

The giveaway closes on 13th August 2013

Good luck!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can purchase your own set here:

 



 

 

*We received Dobble for the purpose of this review and giveaway. The opinions given are honest and our own*

 

Poker night in

Poker is a hobby of mine that I've enjoyed for a few years (despite playing for fun rather than real money) and I've recently introduced both of my parents and the Mr to the game so I can defeat them lose against them terribly too! It's fairly simple to play, it doesn't take long to learn and it makes a great evening in, especially when food and drink is involved and a good movie is playing in the background.

 

We recently received a Pizza Hut voucher, poker set and Oceans 11 DVD to enjoy, so we arranged a family night in and had a catch up while playing cards...

 

 

 

 

We combined the chips and cards that we received with our own set to make the night last well into the early hours. Having something delicious and easy to nibble on was lovely as it meant we could continue to play without needing to clear the table to set out plates and cutlery ...and having Brad Pitt on TV, well, need I say more!?

 

We even took the compact set on holiday with us which was the ideal size for our suitcases so once the Mini Mes were fast asleep we could play - the Mr and I are both quite competitive!

 

I think the Mr had a few too many beers!

 

 

If you fancy a go at Poker you can pick up a beginners guide and basic set very cheaply or you can even play poker games online.

 

 

How do you spend your evenings in?

 

 

*We received a voucher, poker set and movie for the purpose of this post. The thoughts and opinions given are honest and our own. Yes, I really do love poker!*

 

Youth

 

 

The lack of responsibility, commitment or pressure is what youth is all about.

Having fun, laughing, playing and enjoying yourself ...without a care in the world.

“Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good”

Lucia Capocchione

 

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is Youth



Saturday Caption

Who turned everything upside down?

 

 

 

 

Do you have a caption for this silly duo?

I'd love to hear it!

You can link up your own picture or view more over with the Mammasaurus

Have a great weekend.

Saturday Caption

It looks as though Minxy is a little too keen to get home for dinner!

 

 

Do you have a funny or witty comment for this picture?

I'd love to hear it!

You can link up your own picture or view more over with the Mammasaurus

Have a great weekend.

Country Kids

One benefit of playing outside while it's cold or wet is that you often have the entire place to yourself and that was just the case yesterday.

After school we visited the Country Park and had an hour playing on the exercise equipment, climbing frames and chasing each other around before dinner, me being the troll or Gruffalo as usual! It was rather chilly but as we wrapped up well it and it wasn't long until we all felt warm anyway.

Calorie count

Climbing

Have you had some outdoor family fun this week?

 

I'm linking this with...

The theme this week is the letter C
(Country Park, cold, chasing, climbing, cardio, calorie count)

The funny things kids say...

This week the Mini Mes have said a few things that have made me smirk, giggle and cringe too, as kids do. Luckily nothing too insulting to others or out in public however so I have survived quite nicely without huge embarrassment!


Jamster: You know the PPI adverts mum?
Me: Yes, what about them?
Jamster: Did you know PPI backwards is I P P (I pee pee). *giggles*

----------------

Minxy: Are Always pads like nappies for grown ups? *laughs hysterically* I can't believe ladies wee their pants!

----------------
Jamster wanted to play with Minxy but she was adamant that he would not be going in her room...

Me: Aww Minxy, be nice to Jamster and let him play with you too.
Minxy: OK then mum. But I'll only be nice for an hour. I'll set my timer.

----------------

Have your little ones said anything entertaining this week?

Silent Sunday

Project 366, 224/366 - Secret Agents

After seeing Jamster crawling across the landing I went to investigate.... They are both secret agents for MI7 searching for Pascal Sauvage and Pik Sen Lim, apparently!