Trick or Treat

Trick or treating has been customary since the 1920's so who am I to break tradition and stop my kiddie winks going from door to door knocking on our neighbours in hope of getting sweets. So as soon as karate was over tonight we all dressed up in our Halloween costumes and hit the streets of The Wick. It always amazes me just how increasingly popular trick or treating gets every year in the UK. The streets seemed to be mobbed with children and adults in fancy dress tonight and some of the house decor and pumpkins were just amazing. Joshua and Brandon seemed to bump into just about every other boy and girl from their school whilst we were out trick or treating.

 

Werewolf Joshua and Skeleton Brandon all ready to hit the streets for some trick or treating.

Our Jack-O-Lanterns all lit up and on display.

Me, Josh, Brandon and Holly all dressed up for Halloween.

Holly wearing her little witch dress but she wouldn't keep her hat on.

Joshua and Brandon meet up with Ethan.

Brandon outside the amazing Creepy Carousel house display.

More of the Abacus school friends.

This was by far the best Halloween display on show tonight. The amazing animated Creepy Carousel.

New for 2014 was a fortune tellers booth.

My little monsters looking for any house that was decorated  and then knocking on them for a trick or treat.

Brandon with his quite full sweet bag walking through some cob webs.

Joshua seemed to be on a mission and was grabbing handfuls of sweets rather than just one!

Pumpkin Carving 101

With Holly's first Halloween fastly approaching, me and the boys have spent some time today carving our pumpkins ready for tomorrow. It was really nice to just sit down with the boys whilst all 3 of us just got on with our own pumpkins. Normally I have to sit there and help them both often leaving my own pumpkin until late in the evening when they are tucked up in bed. This year they were old enough and wise enough to be trusted with the pumpkin tools and just get on with their own designs. Brandon even drew his design out on a paper plan before setting to work (like father like son). Joshua ended up with two pumpkins as the boys both had a day at Wizz Kids today for a Halloween Party event and he carved another pumpkin whilst he was there. For some reason Brandon didn't want to do one as he had his pumpkin at home.

 

Josh and Brandon set to work on their pumpkin carvings.

Joshua concentrating hard on his pumpkin.

Brandon following his design which he planned out on paper.

So nice to all sit down and get on with our own pumpkins.

The boys finished designs. My only contribution to these was cutting the top off and gutting them for the boys,

The boys also enjoyed watching me carving a pumpkin, as I previously said I usually do it late at night when they are in bed. I think they were quite impressed with the skill and technique. I let them pick the theme for my pumpkin and they wanted something to do with London as they have been learning a lot about the great fire of London and Guy Fawkes in school. So my design for this year is the London skyline. I only hope next year they are studying something at school that makes for a slightly easier pumpkin!!!

St.Paul's, Tower Bridge and the Gherkin.

Parliament and Big Ben.

The Millennium Wheel.

Joshua's Beaver Camp at Wat Tyler

This Monday Joshua had his second Beavers Camp / Sleepover but this time it was a Halloween themed camp over at the Wat Tyler Residential area. As always it was incredible the amount of gear they expect a child to pack for one night away from home. Joshua seemed to really enjoy himself over the 2 days. They went on a spooky ghost hunt through the woods with their torches, played some football, did lots of Halloween arts and crafts, played games, went to the park etc.etc. It sounds like the kids all went to bed very late and then stayed up even later talking and keeping each other awake. So he came back on the Tuesday evening a very, very tired little boy. In fact for the first time ever Joshua was actually asking to go to bed rather than normally asking to stay up later!!!

 

Joshua all packed up and ready for his Wat Tyler Beaver Halloween camp.

Whilst Joshua was at his Beavers camp Tina took Brandon and Holly over to Auntie Lisa's Art Studio in Wat Tyler Park where Brandon did his own Halloween crafts. Whilst he was there he made this rather impressive Halloween box which is a peek proof spook box complete with webs and spiders. 

Brandon showing off his Halloween Spook Box. He was very proud of the laminated toungue.

Joshua's 7th Birthday Pool Party

It may have been 1 week after his birthday, but today Joshua finally had his 7th birthday party. This year he decided he wanted to have a pool party which turned out to be really good fun. The one lesson learned we have is to never organise a birthday party in half term because the number of people that dropped out at the last minute was just ridiculous. It got to the point where we was having to phone around any of his friends to offer free spaces during the last week. We were limited to 25-30 people and within this we had to have a 2 to 1 child to adult ratio as the kiddies were under 8 year's old. After all our hard work I think Joshua had about 17 kids in the pool and then another 2 or 3 that came afterwards for the food and games.

 

Anyway all the kids seemed to have a great time in the pool and we had a good bunch of adults on the water to help out (including Uncle David). All the adults were getting stuck in and I think everyone had a go at trying to make it across the inflatable at some point during the hour long session. After the hour in the pool we had a party room with some food and drink and a few rounds of pass the parcel. To make our lives a little easier we ordered in about 6 or 7 large pizzas for the main part of the food and this worked our great providing enough for all the kids and the adults to tuck in too. I wish kids parties were this cool when I was little!!!!



 

The birthday boy Joshua was first to try and get across the inflatable.

Joshua makes it to the end of the Wipeout style inflatable and readies himself for a slide into the water.

This part of the inflatable was probably the most difficult to negotiate and proved very difficult for the larger adults to get around.

Zac demonstrating a perfect slide off of the inflatable.

All the kids have fun on the inflatable.

Joshua gets ready for a run-up at the slide.

He made it to the top and contemplates how to descend.

Trying a roly poly descent and not looking very graceful.

Zac, Josh, Tommy and Alfie all having fun.

Joshua getting brave and trying a summersault.

Great leap from Ethan off of the end of the inflatable.

After the hour in the pool it was time to get some well earnt food in the party room. 

All the kiddies tucking in to their party food.

The pizza was going down very well.

Ryan, Ethan and Joshua sitting opposite Tommy and Brandon.

Not a bad turn out in the end considering how many people dropped out with illness or due to half term.

I'll huff and I'll puff as Joshua blows out his candle.

Joshua didn't get massive amounts of presents this year as there wasn't really anything he specifically wanted. He got some football stuff and various sets of lego. But most people chose to give him money as they knew he wanted to buy the new Westham kit at some stage. Anyway he did very well for cash and ended up with £105 in birthday money this year. So certainly enough to get his personalised Westham kit. Now he keeps walking around singing the Will-I-Am song - "It's my birthday, it's my birthday, I'm gonna spend my money.....".

Rich boy Joshua showing his haul of cash from his birthday.

So that's Joshua's birthday now over with for another year, I still find it hard to believe he is a big 7 year old. Now time to move on to Halloween / Bonfire Night and then straight after that its the big one. Holly's first birthday is only a month and 2 days away!!!!!!!!

Holly Update - Front Facing Car Seat

Tonight we took the kiddies to Southend Seafront to watch the firework display and decided to try Holly in the front facing car seat for the first time. She seemed to really enjoy being able to see where she was going and was watching all the car lights etc. It was nice to be able to look in the rear view mirror and see her for once. It does make you wonder how my Mum and Dad used to get four of us in the back of a car when you see Joshua, Brandon and Holly squished into a big MPV such as an S-Max.

Holly's first car ride in a front facing car seat.

All three kiddies in the back of the S-Max,

Much to our surprise , Holly seemed to really enjoy the fireworks. I had her in the harness so that she could see above the crowds and despite us expecting her to be be scared of the loud noises and bangs, but she was fine. After the fireworks the boys had a little play in the arcades before heading over to the light fountains for their annual soaking!!!!

Brandon charging through the light fountains trying not to get wet.

Both boys just a blur as they charge through the water fountains.

I told Joshua he could have a little splash, not stand over a fountain getting soaked!

The boys running in and out of the fountains getting a good soaking.

Me and Haytchy Babes in the water fountains.



Holly in the harness as a firework bangs over her head.

Holly was fascinated by the fireworks and seemed to enjoy them.

The two boys were gutted as they really wanted to buy a light sword whilst at the fireworks. However just as we was about to make a purchase the street trader was nabbed by two police man and someone from trading standards!!! They basically told him that he could give out the lights but was not allowed to sell them anymore!

Finally for today Holly is learning some basic actions now and responds to giving kisses, she can clap and she can wave goodbye to people. But her little kisses are by far the best.

Brandon gets his 3rd Karate Tag

Well done to Brandon who passed his next karate grading tonight and now has 3 red stripes on his belt. He concentrated really hard which is the main thing Sensei looks for with the tots, but I have to say he also had the deepest and longest stances out of everyone in the class. Not bad for someone with little legs,

 

Brandon proudly showing his new red tag and certificate.

Parents Evening

Yesterday we had the pleasure of going in to Joshua and Brandon’s school to talk with their teachers as part of this terms parents evening. We started with Brandon and his teacher Mrs Lee. She was very pleased with his progress and the way he has settled in to the class. She said he is very polite and always contributes to the class discussions. His class is mixed between year 1’s and year 2’s and she said he is in the middle group which effectively puts him at the higher end for year 1. Overall she had no concerns and was pleased with his progress, the main thing to improve on is to try and get him to work a bit quicker!

We then moved swiftly on to Miss North who is Joshua’s teacher. The feedback for him was equally as praising for him. Last year we felt there was a bit of a conflict or clash of personalities with his teacher and it was a real setback for him after a strong foundation. But this year he seems to get on very well with his teachers and is really enjoying school again and loving the subjects which they are learning about. He is currently towards the lower end of the top group, but she basically said that if he applied himself just a bit more he easily has the capability to achieve 2A level by year end. She said his biggest problem is that he leaves everything to the last minute (normally because he is chatting or worried about what other people are doing), then he ends up rushing it and subsequently it is not as neat. Also she said that sometimes he won’t listen because he thinks he already knows what to do and then proceeds to do the work his way rather than the way he was told to do it.

Finally for today, Joshua had a surprise delivery yesterday which turned out to be his birthday present from Auntie Chris, Uncle Steve and Layla in Norfolk. They bought him these fantastic Chelsea pajamas and a onesie which has been personalised with his name on them. What a great idea.

Joshua wearing his new personalised Chelsea onesie. Should keep him nice and warm on those cold winter nights.

On the onesie his name is across the chest, on the pajamas it is right across the back.