My sunday Photo - 27/07/2014

Sandy Toes - We love the beach

We as a family love the beach, nothing makes me feel more happy than a walk along the seafront and sand in my toes. Thankfully my children follow suit (or startung too). As a child me and my sisters were forced down the beach everyday during the summer, some nights my dad would finish work and join us with chip shop chips. Those days have such fond memories and thats what I want for my children. 

We live a stones throw away from the beach in the summer its glorious. on boiling hot days its a welcomed relief. Although the other week I was too hot at the beach for the first time ever. I think pushing the double pushchair from the school run done me in! The beach where we live does get too busy either which makes it perfect for the kids to explore and not get to close or too noisy to the people around us.

Although we had to leave the beach due a heavy downpour of rain. It came from nowhere and it was funny to see the beach clear in no time at all. It was nice to see Sonny enjoy the beach rather than cry all the time we are there.

Pants had a great time some kids on the beach taught him how to play cricket, which I thought was rather nice, I could here them calling out his name and encouraging him. Thats the behavior I like to see and if I saw the parents I would have commented on what lovely children they had. I think I have been at the park where the kids come and wont let anyone else join in there games!

Alot of our summer will be about our sandy toes and thats what we love. I love hoovering all the sand up because it means they have had a good time. Lets hope this lovely weather sticks around and we can have many more adventures on the beach. 

How to Build a Sandcastle when you are a toddler

There is nothing more fun than building a sandcastle especially when you are a toddler. She builds them and crushes them over and over again.

Step 1: Try and fill the bucket trying not to miss. 

Step 2: Be aware this may take some times as you may miss the bucket (alot) 

Step 3: Pat the top and make sure any extra sand is knocked off. The next bit requires alot of attention to not get the sand all down yourself so do it quick as possible. 

Step 4: Pat the top and pull it off, oh dear it didnt work.

Step 5: If the sand castle didnt work just ram the bucket into the sand!

Step 6: Watch out for crawling babies who like to steal buckets.

Step 7: Never leave sandcastles unattended in case that baby gets hold of it. 

Step 8: When you finally build a castle celebrate by crushing it. 

So this is the fun we have been up to lately, although we did build a princess castle and she got shells to decorate but was to heavy handed and crushed them anyway. 

Always a beauty in my eyes

8 years ago I looked longingly at dresses knowing I was having a boy it all seemed a long way away. I put down the items of clothing and headed for the plain boys clothes (they have improved in recent years). So when I found out a few years later I was having a girl I could not wait for all the dresses and all things cute, but I did hold back. Seeing things in the shops and holding back also trying more neutral clothes that can be passed down.

The other day we were in a shop and Ami got hold of a white straw hat and fell in love with the hat. It is impossible to keep any sort of hat on her so I brought it as she loved it. I then saw a floral dress and thought why not she would look adorable. I placed her in the dress and she put on the hat and she looked the cutest, walking along the prom she seemed so pleased with her new hat. 

She is growing up so fast and such a delight, people say she will be a handful but I think she is just great. She has the best sense of humour and sure does know what she wants and wont stop till she gets it.  Some times its these little things in life that really make you happy, seeing my little girl with a straw hat on the beach for me was one of the cutest things. People commented and she loved having conversations with people.

Sadly on the way home from school it flew of the pushchair and sadly after retracing our footsteps the hat had gone! I am a little sad will have to get another one as she loved it so much.

K is for Kicking - Alphabet Photo

In our house my husband and son are huge football fans, it would only be natural that Ami would follow suit and with initials AFC she kind of is forced to. Ami is nearly 2 and already has excellent ball control and can tackle her big brother. I was surprised how well she was playing, Pants was pleased as he finally had someone to play with. Her is some shots of her kicking the ball in her cute toddler way.

Penwizard - Ben and Holly's Personalised Birthday book Review

If your child is anything like mine they actually need very little. My daughter is happy playing with her brothers toys that can keep her entertained for hours. So with her 2nd birthday coming up we have been stuck on what to get her. She does not need much although she does want ice cream she told me. When I was offered the chance to review the Ben and Holly book from Penwizard I thought what a great idea and a gift that can be kept and remembered for years to come.

The website was easy to use and the little character in the book can be personalised to look by your child, you can choose the colour hair and skin. Even your child's date of birth is included in the story. Which is a nice touch for your child when you read the book. You can also add a personalised message in the front cover. We went for Happy 2nd Birthday as the book does not have an option to put the age of the child. The book has 24 full colour glossy pages and your child's name throughout the book. 

I loved the little touches in the book, really makes it more special to see and more personal. I can see the book being pulled out every birthday (and everyday between). The story is all about how Ben and Holly make a card for Ami, it is very sweet and one she will love. Thankfully my daughter loves books so this was an ideal present for her, and any child who loves Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom. The only disappointment we had that it didn't include her age, but then it can be re wrapped for the next year too. She got the book a little early and has enjoyed pointing herself out and smiling when ever her name is read out.

You can purchase the book from the Penwizard website where it retails at a reasonable £14.99 for the softback option, which I think is very reasonable for a personalised gift. The best thing is that it came in no time at all, there was me thinking that it being personalised would take ages.

Working mum or Stay at home mum

Some days I just think I can not wait to go back to work. Ami has been screaming/ Little bear has been hanging of my leg and Pants has done nothing but moan, and there is a small part of me that says I can not wait to go back.

Those days are very few and I look forward to going back.

I never thought I would want to be a stay at home mum I went to work 1 month after having my first working in the evening for a few hours one night a week, and I loved it. It was my bit of freedom in the week.  

More recently I as it gets nearer to going back I just do not want to. I want to stay at home with my babies and not worry about the stress of childcare, Little bear being so young and the financial cost of it. I wouldn't mind but its a job I can't leave and just go back. If I left now I would have to go back to uni to get my registration back. I am stuck in a hard place. A place where I want whats best for my kids and the career that I worked so hard to get.

My idea is to see how it goes for the first few months and then if its not going well then maybe hand in the towel. I haven't failed, I gave it a try and it did not work out. I know if I did not pursue it then I would regret it in the future maybe. Or maybe I will miss the time with my little ones.

So for now the babies are in nursery for a day and a half, I work to put them in nursery but hopefully they will get some benefit of being round other children (one hopes)

Have you had a issue like this? What did you do? I am so confused and so torn any comments would be greatly appreciated.