Me and Mine - Febuary 2016

So another month is over for this year and its come by as quick as the last. We have had a busy month with work and home life. My husband has been to Denmark this past week and me and the children have been enjoying the sunshine out a bit more. 

This month Daddy is loving: 

- Going to Denmark and having alot of fun.

- Getting some more work locally

- Learning how to fix washing machines ( not really) 

- Being creative and thinking of new ideas.

Mummy is loving: 

- Daddy coming home (he was only gone four days but felt forever).

- Walks in the Sunshine. 

- Some time off work

- Watching Impractical Jokers with the hubby. 

- Forgetting the diet and gone back to eating chocolate for breakfast (Doh). 

Asti is loving: 

- Playing video games 

- Finding his scooter and going down ramps on it. 

- Reading all the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. 

- drinking tea and biscuits

- Having a fry up with Mummy 

Ami is loving:

- Bike Riding even down big ramps

- Finally being 3 and a half, its a big deal you know. 

- Seeing her friends 

- Mummy picking her up from nursery

- Playing in the garden. 

Son Son is loving:

- Thomas the Tank engine, especially his new vests. 

- Daddy coming home.

- Cuddles and kisses. 

- Ami having a poo in the bath

- Talking alot more. 

- Playing in the garden with Ami. 

I love this time of year, the nights are getting lighter. I keep on finding myself checking the time and thinking its earlier than it is then rushing to sort dinner. Time at the park after school is becoming a bit more tolerable, Son Son is the one who gets cold. The other day he was so cold he cried all the way home. Time is going too fast I know I say this every month but it just does. 

My Sunday Photo - CraZy toddler face.

When taking some photos in the garden (yes I know she is in just a t shirt it was rather warm at the time) and she was showing me some different faces. This one was her confused face and by far the best one. I think she looks like an old littaian pizzeria "so what we run outta pizza" if you know what I mean.  

Getting back into the Garden

I have always wanted a garden a proper one with grass and everything so when we moved to this house 18 months back I kind of hoped it would come naturally. Having grown up in flats and courtyards all this grass and plants is completely new to me. It is really lovely to just open the doors and just go outside to a safe place is actually wonderful. I kind of forgot all about it over the winter complaining to be too cold. 

The weather is warming (some days anyway) and we have been in the Garden. The kids were overjoyed and ran straight outside as I opened the conservatory door. Well that was more the toddlers Asti just strutted outside like cool Nine year olds do. Our garden is surprisingly warm especially on sunny days so the children were happy in just T shirts. I was in a jumper I am far too much of a wimp to not feel cold.

This year we are going to get into gardening, me and Asti are making a plan and we will learn ( hopefully). My past experience of gardening is awful I am completely hopeless but need to learn. I cut the gradd which was rather long so thats a start I suppose  There is alot of weeds and other things that I have no clue and its about time. My husband isn't too keen either. I have made a bit of a start I sorted all the broken toys that have broken and put them to one side for the tip. I have also brought a kids garden table and a broom... not getting that far at all really.

The children love to be outside and it does them good, with the weather brightening up there is no excuse not too go outside. If I can get the little ones on board even better I am sure nothing will stop them from getting involved. They love a bit of messy play and a bit of mud is perfect for that. Just need to get over the fact thats there are lots of little bugs and spiders even worse are the bees that come from nowhere. So here is to more Sunny warm days and more time in the garden.

#SagGoneGrooveOn with Pampers Active Fit

My Son Son is by far that child that always has a saggy nappy. It looks like it needs changing even when it has just been changed. The boy can neck a bottle of drink in next to 20 seconds ( usually fruit shoot before you get bad ideas). It is actually a really impressive actually and a skill he will appreciate when he is older. Anyway more on track a soggy nappy just gets in the way of running, playing and generally any funky dance moves that Son Son wants to throw on a usual pre bedtime night. We have struggled to find a nappy that is comfortable and pracitcal for little Son Son.

We were recently sent a box from Pampers with the new range of active fit nappies and asked to be part of the #SagGoneGrooveOn campaign. The box contained a box of nappies and all we would need to carry out an experiment to find out how much the new magic pods really work.

As you can see above ( well as much as you can through a photo) that it is completely different to any other nappy. The nappy works by soaking up liquid really quick, I poured 150mls into the nappy and to dried in about 10 seconds and was almost dry to touch. I then cut the nappy open to see the magic inside. The magic pods are three long pouches that spread it across the nappy meaning all the liquid is  spread across the nappy resulting in no sag, and a nappy meaning your little one can be comfortable for longer.

We then tried it out on little Son Son who actually loved it. He was such a little star and ran and danced around without it looking saggy at all. The nappies did not restrict him in any way as you can see below. He loved the way they felt but decided to wear wellies and a hat to complete his outfit. I have used many nappies with Son Son and this is the first that hasn't made him sore when running. Defiantly a win with us.

Check out what they look like below its a super cute video (obviously being biased).




We will defiantly be buying the Pampers active fit they are just perfect for toddlers that do not stop.  They give him alot more room and are on the way to big boy pants ( thats a whole other ball game though). The magic pods are an great new invention and worth buying a pack just to try it out. Pampers yet again proving why they are the best nappy brand available.

I’m working with BritMums and Pampers testing Active Fit nappies with new no-sag technology. I have been compensated for my time. All editorial and opinions are my own. Visit http://www.pampers.co.uk/star-product/pampers-active-fit today for more information.

Week of Photos 15th Feb - 21st Feb

Monday 15th - Bat spiderman

We had a chilled out day at home, with it being the first day of the half term we kept it low key. This was Son Son enjoying being a super hero rather than a princess for a change. 

Tuesday 16th - Train Journey Fun

We decided to go to Herne Bay on the train with my sister and her boys. The kids had a good time and even ended up in the arcade. Was nice to waste the day and it not be too pricey either (minus the arcades). We ended the day with a trip to costa coffee as per usual! 

Wednesday 17th Feb - Mote Parking

My husband said lets go out for the day so we did. The first time I have been to mote park and I have to say we did enjoy it. It was a little chilly in the park but great for the children to get some fresh air and my biggest child too ( see photo above). We took our swimming stuff and went to the pool at the park. Whilst we were there the fire alarm went and we were evacuated by the sid of the pool. They had to bring foil blankts to keep us warm. We ended the day in good old Maccy D's which is rather pricy with a growing family of five! Lovely day all in all. 

Thursday 18th Feb - Work Joy

I was at work all day, I shared this picture from the day before as I didn't get round to taking any photos! Doh

Friday 19th - Cat Lady

Another super busy day at work where I worked 13.5 hours with no break crazy got home super late too. Some of the perks of being a nurse I suppose. Saw this cup and it reminded me of one of my friends. 

Saturday 20th - Fun Day

We popped along to the Lark in the Park fun day event which is held by my church as part of its outreach events. Was very popular and great fun, everything was free and the kids had a whale of a time. Such a blessing to the community and to me, you can feel like you have spent a fortune in the holidays. 

Sunday 21st - Son Bear Snuggles

Nothing bets a cuddle with your baby right. I have hurt my back some how so was nice to chill out with my youngest. Chilled out day we haven't done too much. Ami broke the washing machine which is always helpful. Kids aye who'd have em. 

So another week flying by. 

Oh how we love World Book Day.

Do not get me wrong I love books and all things reading but world book day just makes me angry. Ok it was cute back when my son was in reception, he was into owl babies back then so made him a little outfit and that was that. Now five years later here we are world book day is coming up. The day where the school wants you to dress your child up yet again for the 50th time of the year already.

My son is 9 years old and to him he is very cool (this may not be true but he has a lot of confidence). He hates dressing up. I mean hates it you have to force him with a cattle prod and a promise of a pop tart for breakfast. He has been a tudor and a 60s school boy and they were hard work. You see my son adores reading, he is a right little bookworm. He will deny it to your face but spends hours at night reading, even so I have forgotten to tell him to turn the light of and come to bed late to find him reading at 11pm still. Opps.

So in preparation I thought I would get in there early, you know soften the blow get him involved. This is how it went down.

Me: Asti, Soon its world book day what you going to be?
Asti: Oh mum not again I don't want to dress up.
Me: But Asti you have to.
Asti : Oh man (he is going through a phase thinking he is American)
Me: Come on it will be fun, you like reading why not go as that Wimpy Gates Kid?
Asti: Urm Mum its Greg from Diary of a wimpy kid.
Me: Thats settled you go as him.
Asti: Oh ok then.


So as you can see he was rather excited by it all. I have started to look into the ideas and thankfully its as easy as a white top and making a face mask. Well I say easy I am not always the best at these things? Remember Asti's birthday cake last year? You know the minecraft one that was awful? Well tune in a few weeks to see how it all turns out!!!

To conclude this rather Random post!!

Schools stop forcing dressing up days on my children please. Its bad enough I have to remember reading books let alone a dressing up day, non clothes day and what else is on the schools agenda that week.

Finding the love in blogging

Firstly I have included my snow queen photo (for no reason just to show a picture of me So it makes it that extra bit more personal) 

Sometimes I have lots to say and others not much. I find the more I think about it the harder it is to say. There was a time I would love to blog, I would write it all in a little notebook and be all excited but more and more I sit staring at the screen and wandering of to any random website staring at clothes usually for the kids. 

For a time I felt guilty that I wasn't putting much effort into my blog. Working long days and late evenings often means I don't want to be sitting on the laptop when I get home. Then I thought crap why arnt I posting every day what can I post every day. I've tried that for a season but easily lost pace. 

So I find my self where I am today and actually I am happy. I have learnt after three years that it's ok to post when I want. I've never had a massive following so it's really up to me. It's not as if i use my blog to make money it's just something I like to write down the memories of our days out. The fun moments and sometimes the crap too. It's our place on the web that my children will read one day. 

There was a time where I was more focuses on sharing and about the reach we got but it used to take up all my time. My time can be so precious, my children are growing up very quick. I don't want to miss it. I don't want to miss out. We have started dabbling into video blogging which I actually enjoy but don't always have access to the camera. 

For now I will blog as and when. My blog still may be very small compared to others. This month sees it turn 3 which is mental. We have had some great oppurtunites and blessings through it. So I will continue to stumble upon it and writing because I like to write believe it or not. Going of topic but blogging has seriously helped me with my dyslexia. If you read some of my first posts you would be amazed.

So if you are one of my regular readers we arnt going anywhere. Thanks of you are I have always been amazed when somebody says they read what I write.