Summer Bounce 2015

Last Friday was the Abacus School's annual "Summer Bounce" event which is basically a summer fete with a whole host of inflatables for the kiddies to play on. As part of the FAPS group with the school, Tina put in a lot of work helping organise the event and then the running of the event throughout the evening. This left me to try and keep track of 3 little ones as they run riot around the school field going from one bouncy castle to another. Holly was just a bit too young to go on the inflatables with some of the big kids and therefore I had my work cut out to try and keep her entertained.

 

Whilst at the fete both boys were also involved in a karate demonstration with Ni-Sen Karate Kai. The both did very well to stand up in front of a crowd and do their basics, some pad work and some sparring work. 

 

Keeping Holly entertained as much as I can whilst the boys are off playing.

Joshua and Brandon line up for some basics as part of the karate display.

Joshua lining up to work the focus pads with Sensie Quinn.

Joshua delivers a front hand to the pad.

Followed by a good reverse punch.

Joshua and Brandon both doing some sparring.

 

 

One of the new inflatables for 2015 was called the "Eliminator" which was basically like a total wipe out type of inflatable. The operator controlled a giant inflatable beam that spun around in a cycle whilst the kids had to jump over it without being hit. Joshua's first attempt was a disaster as he was totally wiped out.

 



Joshua getting ready to try and leap over the eliminator.

Timed his jump too early, this one is going to hit.

 

Joshua getting ready for a life size game of table football. I could do with one of these for football coaching to teach the boys to stay in their positions and not all chase the ball.

This looked so much fun I wanted to get in there and have a go.

Joshua on the ball and ready to strike at goal.

Joshua coming down a giant inflatable slide.

Josh and Brandon line up for an electric go-kart race.

 

Brandon in hot pursuit as he chases his brother down.

Brandon tries to take him on the outside.

It didn't work so can he cut through on the inside.

 

Poor Brandon just cannot find a way through.

Joshua all smiles at managing to keep Brandon behind him.

Holly sneaking a cheeky slide off the side of one of the inflatables.

Brandon wins the race through the Tigers/Lions jungle assault course inflatable.

 

Brandon trying his luck on the eliminator, but his fate was the same as Joshua's.

Brandon about to take a dive!

Brandon's turn for some giant inflatable table footall.

He gets he ball and had a great strike at goal scoring for his team.

I think everyone will sleep well tonight after 3 hours charging around on bouncy castles. The boys also tried a few of the other activities such as throwing a ball at coconuts etc but where unsuccessful. I think next years bounce event will be good as Holly should be big enough to have her own wrist band and then she can get more playtime.

Holly's Little Abs Sports Day

Not to be outdone by her two older brothers, Holly had her first sports day today at her Little Abs Group. She had to do a short run on the school race track and then kick a ball down the track for her second event. With her super left foot she came in a strong second place and got to have her first podium experience to get her silver medal. She seems very proud of her medal and has hardly taken it off from around her neck all day!

 

Holly on the podium with her first ever sports day medal.

School Sports Day 2015

Today Joshua and Brandon had their 2015 school sports day. It wasn't quite the nice warm summer day everyone was hoping for and was actually pretty windy and chilly at times, but at least the rain held off. Brandon was entered into the egg and spoon race and the long distance run and Joshua was entered into the sack race and the long distance run. The big question was whether all of the boys 2k park runs had paid off for the long distance race????

 

At the start of the event the kids all did the usual opening ceremony where each class did a lap of the track with their class banner that they made themselves. Out first was Brandon with his Harry Kane slick back go faster hair style and he was one of the kids chose to hold the red class banner.

 

Brandon (aka Harry Kane) King with the red class banner.

Then out came the yellow class banner. The teacher in the red and black so reminds me of Auntie Lorraine when she was younger!

Joshua doing his opening ceremony lap with fellow Tigers team mate Ethan.

 

First up was Joshua in the sack race. He started really good and was holding a steady second place and gaining rapidly on the leader. However he then had the dreaded fall and then in his haste to get up he went down again resulting in him coming in last. We are not really sure why he chose the sack race. As you can see from the picture the sacks are quite small and all of the taller kids (like Josh) seemed to be having trouble as they had to bend down to jump and be hunched over. It seemed a lot of the taller kids where all falling over as the sacks were too small for them. He tried his best though. 

 

Joshua lines up for his sack race with the sack not too much higher than his knees!

Brandon was up next in the egg and spoon race and I think he fell asleep at the start line. The teacher said go and he was left standing there looking around! He quickly realised everyone had gone decided to wake up and get running. He quickly pulled into second place and then dropped his egg about 3m before the finish. The leader then dropped his egg before the finish line but the egg rolled over the line. Whilst this happened Brandon had picked his egg up and cross the line with it still on the spoon. So watching the video that I took the other kids egg crosses the line first (rolling on the floor), and then they both cross the line with their feet at the same time, only Brandon now has his egg on the spoon. So I thought Brandon had won, but they gave him second. So robbed of gold for the second year in a row.

Brandon snoozing on the start line as everyone else shoots off in the egg and spoon race.

After a slow start Brandon tears down the course and finishes in 2nd place to take a silver medal.

All smiles on the podium, but I still think he should have had the top spot.

 

Next up was Brandon's long distance race which was 2 laps around the school track. He started on the outside lane and therefore had his work cut out from the start to get over and on the inside lane. Once he was there he battled the first lap from 4th to 3rd and then settled into a good pace. Unfortunately his little legs just couldn't close the gap on the top two and he ended up with a very respectively bronze medal.

Brandon looking good as he starts his second lap in 3rd place but still under pressure from the 4th place kid.

Puffing hard but proud of himself for finishing 3rd.

Happy little boy picks up his second medal of the day. Not bad for a days work.

Final race for the King family was Joshua in his long distance race. Expectations were low as he had been reporting that in practise he was in a tough group and had been coming close to last each time. But like Brandon he battled hard and kept a good strong pace going to bring home a 3rd place finish and another bronze medal for his collection.

Joshua battling hard for 3rd place and under a lot of pressure from behind.

He crosses the line in 3rd place with fellow Beaver Laurence closely behind in 4th.

Happy Joshua on the podium, I am so proud he got at least one medal out of the day.

 

 

So another successful sports day for the boys. I couldn't have been more prouder of the two of them and I know they both gave it 150% effort and showed real determination and competitiveness. At the start of each race I think I was probably more nervous than them with butterflies in my stomach and an accelerating heart rate. After the sports day was finished we got to spend lunch break with the boys and had a nice picnic lunch out on the field, a very nice coronation chicken wrap with crisps, apple and a bottle of water. I wouldn't have missed today for the world and enjoyed every minute of it. Roll on when Holly starts school and I can cheer her on as well.

Fathers Day Pt.2

Here are a couple of extra pictures from Fathers Day 2015. The first picture is me with my little Daddies girl taken using one of those arcade sketch machines. All the others were off winning tickets for prizes and I was trying to keep Holly entertained. So after a few little arcade rides I decided to get a sketch done with her. Trying to get her to look at the camera is impossible and I look far too serious.

 

Me and my little girl.

 

 

Holly made me an amazing canvas print at her little abs club as a Fathers Day present. The canvas has two prints of her feet along with the poem below:

 

 

WALK A LITTLE SLOWER DADDY

 

"Walk a little slower Daddy!" said a little child so small.

"I'm following in your footsteps and I don't want to fall.

 

Sometimes your steps are very fast, sometimes they're hard to see;

So walk a little slower Daddy, for you are leading me.

 

Someday when I'm all grown up, you're what I want to be.

Then I will have a little child who'll want to follow me.

 

And I would want to lead just right, and know that I was true;

So walk a little slower, Daddy, for I must follow you!!"



 

My lovely canvas from Holly on Fathers Day.

 

 

Fathers Day 2015 in Leysdown

Fathers Day 2015 and we spent a lovely sunny day down at Leysdown with some of the family. Before taking a drive down to Leysdown the kids all gave me a nice treat in the morning by staying in bed until 7:30am. That is some kind of miracle in its own right to have 3 kids all stay in bed and asleep until 7:30!!! Once they did wake up I was showered with gifts of chocolates, picture frame, personalised cushion and some lovely cards. Probably the most thoughtful present though was this warning cone for the toilet - clearly my kids know the smells from my backside far to well.

 

My warning cone got its first use after breakfast.

Uuum, might need longer than 5 minutes after that one!

 

Tina prepared the three kiddies with t-shirts for Fathers Day. Joshua's read, "Oldest child - I make the rules", Brandon's read "Middle child, I am the reason we have rules", and Holly's shirt read, "Youngest child, the rules don't apply to me"!.

 

Great T-shirts - but white!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Holly seemed to find the car journey down to Leysdown extremely relaxing.

 

Me and Chef Min burning (I mean cooking) the BBQ.

Brandon sitting out side the chalet and enjoying a nice jacket potato, burger and chicken.

Joshua with a plate full of food ready to spill down his nice white shirt.

 

Holly not really eating as she had a bit of a temperature (probably teething) or was it due to my cooking?

Some of us chilling out in the sunshine.

Brandon digging a trench on the beach and flicking sand everywhere.

 

Sorting out his bucket to collect a load of shells.

 

Joshua unsuccessfully trying to catch some crabs under strict instructions to keep his shorts dry.

OK, so he got his shorts wet and seemed very proud of himself.

Once his shorts were slightly wet then he didn't need much more encouragement to get even wetter.

Oh well, why not enjoy a swim in the sea. Shame we forgot to bring him a change of clothes.

A very wet Joshua emerges from the sea. He is so like me and does love the beach and the sea.

With the tide rapidly coming in it was time to get off the beach and hit the arcades.

Everyone else staying well clear of the water.



No trip to the coast is complete without an ice-cream.
 

I had chosen a rather nice choc and mint ice-cream which Holly decided to steal off of me. This is the first time she has ever eaten ice-cream. Obviously felt nice on her new teeth.



Happy Fathers Day to my Dad.

Holly enjoying a ride in Peppa Pigs car.

 

Then Holly driving another little ride-on car.

 

Joshua winning some tickets by smashing minions.

Between everyone the we had accumulated over 2,100 tickets and so the kids chopped them in at the gift shop. Holly got a new drink bottle, Brandon got an Optimus Prime teddy and a toy car, Joshua got a little pocket torch and a toy car.

Apparently it was over 4 years ago since we all last got together at Leysdown. So it was only fitting to try and get a family picture of everyone who was there.

A really pleasant day in Leysdown today and a great way to spend Fathers Day. The kiddies all seemed to really enjoy themselves and are all extremely tired.