Easter Picnics #betterwithcake

The weather has been lovely this Easter holidays it's been such an blessing. We have had plenty of little picnics in th garden and out and about. For us this holiday has been spending time together, weather it be the park, beach or even just hanging in the garden it really has been lovely. I think now I'm back to work annual leave can be precious and making memories with the kids is something I hope they will treasure.

With my husband busy with work we didn't let us stop us, I made sure we could do things that catered them all with out them asking for the TV or iPads. Some days we failed and the kids didn't want to do the craft activities or play in to the garden, but the majority of the time we spent having a good time. I remember from my childhood days spent on the beach, my dad bringing fish and chips and us going home at sunset. They really were beautiful days and a reason why I love the beach forced down every day, my mum like me trying anything to keep the kids entertained. 

One thing that does make a day awesome is some cake, any cake actually my whole family will agree. It can be any if there's cake you will find us. We were sent some Mr Kipling cakes in which I had to hide as my husband would eat the majority in next to no time. After our busy holiday me and the kids just wanted to chill at home so we decided to have a little picnic in the garden mainly so I could catch up with washing and the kids were shattered. 

I put some of the Mr Kipling cakes on a plate and when I showed the kids they went crazy, French fancies, Vietnamese whirls but wait where where the cherry bake wells? Daddy had found the stash and had eaten them already! The sunshine was so lovely the the three of my children were enjoying the cakes, also sharing them too son son didn't like the French fancies but Ami did so they would swap. Before we knew it the cake was all gone and the children were hyped up on the sugar. We enjoyed the last of the spring sun before heading indoors, back to demanding TV and tablets. I really enjoy my kids , I love seeing them play it brings me such joy. 

We have loved our holidays still a few days left, but it has been beautiful memories and lots of outside play. The kids have had a blast and I hope they do remember it because it's been a good one.

 “This post is an entry for #betterwithcake Linky Challenge (http://bit.ly/betterwithcake), sponsored by Mr Kipling. Learn more at   https://www.facebook.com/mrkiplingcakes”

Wicked Wednesday - bucket head

My Sunday Photo - 12/04/2015

Spring Harvest - Butlins Minehead - April 2015

You may have thought we have been quiet this last week and not posted much, that we have but we have just come back from a awesome little 5 day holiday at a event called spring harvest. The week has just flown by and the kids and me and the hubs are absolutely exhausted. Spring harvest is a event that happens at Easter at both Skegness and minehead butlins and is a massive Christian conference thing with lots of kids clubs, entertainment and seminars.  Me and my husband were both serving in the youth venue my husband being very busy in his role and me helping with the additional needs teenagers and young adults who came along. We took along a awesome nanny who watched the kids for us when we were busy and also was helping out on team when I couldn't.

I have to say at working with young people with additional needs is such such fun, they really see the world in such a way that is full of no pressure and care for the outside world. The young people we had were just so awesome I obviously won't go in to any details of them here but we had one chap with such confidence and dancing ability that the band got him on the stage to dance it was amazing. We saw them dancing with pure joy and it was beautiful to watch and hard to join in. People teased me saying I fit in and too right I would love to be in a environment of no stress were I can be free, looking that way they are blessed so much. It was great also to give the parents a break and a chance to do something for them, the letters we got from the parents brought tears to the teams eyes. Good fun. 

So here is a little snap shot what we have been up to, along with this and the fun fare, beach, arcades, swimming, soft play, outside play and generally chilling and milling about. The kids loved it especially my eldest who loves a bit of freedom to roam about generally causing mischief but having that chance to be a boy and not be stuck in watching Minecraft videos. The toddlers loved it too, poor son son needed some reigns he was running about everywhere and Ami in the other direction who had her balance bike and was riding everywhere. So it was fun trying to keep to toddlers together. My eldest went to a few clubs but is the hardest boy to get to go along, he hates the idea but loves it when he is there, then makes out he hates it. Funny boy.

It really was a lovely week, I focused on making sure the kids had a good time and maybe sometimes put too much pressure on trying to cram everything in but I think I succeed they loved it. Ami said when we got home she loved the beach and swimming and Asti loved the arcades and playing lots of football. Another great bonus was that is was sunny all week and was just beautiful not wearing a coat all week and not lugging the kids ones round all week.

So here is a few photos of us at a park, I shall put more on the blog as I find my other SD card (its not lost just not unpacked).

Wicked Wednesday - helping hands

My Sunday photo

Happy Easter everyone

Messy play for beginners -part 2 water play

Water you say not overly messy, but I can tell you my little monkeys were soaked head to foot. I had to strip them down before they came in the house. Being a little daring and letting them be free to play how they want outside i filled half the water tray up with water and the other side with the left over foam. 

My main aim of this activity is to try and get son son to like water again, for some reason he has become petrified of water? He shakes at bath time and screams all the time he is in the bath. We do not know what's brought it on but it means his baths last about 10 seconds. Bearing in mind he hates baths he actually loved the water play after a while, he joined in when all the Foam had gone (another thing he is scared of). 

I brought a super cheap teapot and saucer set from tescos I think it was about £2 and let them play with that. ami loved it she pretended to play cafe making me lots of hot chocolate. Son son used the cup to pour water on the floor and on his head. In which they both found hilarious then both started to do it. It wasn't long before all the water was gone and I had to get more.

We counted how many cups the teapot could make and how many cups to fill one side of the water tray. They absolutely loved water play both familiar with water play at nursery it's only their poor mum that isn't so. It was such a success it meant I could sit in the sunshine with a hot, yes hot tea. It was lovely we shall definitely be doing it again, they played for a good 45 mins and the weather wasn't to cold meaning they were happy to play on soaked clothes. This would work well in the summer of em they have the less layers on too.

So here is part 2 to me doing messy play (cries a little). If you have any inspiration for me them please comment below.