Brandon's 8th Birthday at Tropical Wings

Today was an amazing day as we celebrated Brandon's 8th Birthday. Like Joshua, Brandon decided he didn't want a party this year and instead wanted a Zoo Keeper experience. So unbeknown to him we had booked him an experience at Tropical Wings for today. It was a little more expensive than the one that Joshua did at Colchester Zoo, but we specifically picked this one as it gave Brandon the opportunity to feed his favourite animals, Lemurs.

 

Anyway after a good sleep to try and recover from returning from my US business trip, the kids all woke at around 7 o'clock. By about 8 Brandon was tucking in to his presents with help from his little sister. His main present this year was a new Muddy Fox BMX which he asked for. Then on top of that he got a Grave Digger cycle hat, a Match Attacks tin, a Hot Wheels track set, some car books and a West Ham Annual, a laptop bag, some Stunt Pegs for is bike, a couple of PS4 driving games and a new Forest Glade tracksuit (which unfortunately has not arrived in time for his birthday). So overall he did very well for himself and has some amazing presents. The cycle hat, 1:24 Chevy Pickup and laptop bag were presents I bought him back from Detroit.

 

The day at the Zoo was incredible for Brandon. He got to learn about so many animals and get hands on experience. It started with the butterfly house and then on to handling some bugs and stick insects. He then fed some little monkeys before moving on top the farm section. Brandon had to prepare some special food treats for the otters where he had to hide some fish and live mealworms in plastic balls and then throw them into the enclosure to encourage them to hunt for their food. After the otters he moved on to the Coati's, lemurs, squirrel monkeys and then finally the meerkats.

 

The coati's were amazing and so friendly. Brandon has one jump up on his back and smother him like a scarf. Then it circled around his body and in the process it scratched the back of his neck. I don't think I have ever seen Brandon smile as much as when he was in with the Lemurs though, he was absolutely in his element sitting on a log and hand feeding them bits of fruit and sweetcorn, this was really a dream come true for Brandon and something he will remember for ever. For the squirrel monkeys Brandon was tasked with making some challenging food parcels by wrapping fruit in news paper for them to seek out and find. Finally we made it to the meerkats where Brandon had somewhere around 21 meerkats clambering all over him eating live mealworms that were poured on to his lap.

 

We finished the day off with a meal at The Quays and then finally when we got home we all sang happy birthday to B and he tucked in to a slice of his Pokemon birthday cake.



 

Looking very grown up as Brandon turn's 8 years old.

Looks like a nice selection of presents ready for him in the morning.

The amazing Monster Jam Grave Digger cycle hat I got him from the US. I bet there are not too many of them in this country.

Brandon is turning in to a classic car nut and really wanted a Chevrolet Pickup model. So again another present from the US.

First test of the new Muddy Fox BMX and cycle hat with the stunt pegs fitted to the back.

The mean Monster Jam cycle hat with light up eyes.

Wearing his hi-vis jacket and ready for the Tropical Wings Zoo Keeper Experience.

Holly feeding some of the carp in the butterfly enclosure.

Brandon's first real job of the day was to feed some little monkeys by hiding fruit around their enclosure.

Brandon really enjoying getting some hands on.

Brandon had no problems holding a big stick insect as he has previously had one crawling across its face.

Also he was very brave holding a rather larger beetle bug.

They only have two otters at the zoo now, but Brandon had to prepare their lunch for them which meant handling live meal worms.

Wearing gloves as Brandon fills the otters play/feeding balls with fish and live meal worms.

 

Hiding some meal worms for the otters inside a log.

Brandon giving some TLC to a large looking goat.

Next on the farm he was hand feeding crusts of bread to some piggies.

Even Holly was being very brave today and stroking the goats.

Holly having a stare off with a goat.

Brandon looking very happy feeding the coati's with some fruit and veg.



Trying to hide the food but they are too quick and on him like a shot.

One of the Coati's jumps up on Brandon's shoulders.

Brandon smiling away as the Coati grooms his hair!

The moment Brandon gets a scratch on his neck as the Coati circles around his body.

The moment Brandon had been waiting for as he gets up close and personal with his favourite animal, the Lemur.

Hand feeding them fruit and veg.

What a great birthday experience for our little man.

Love this picture, it looks like he is sitting there talking to them all like they are in a classroom or something.

What are these two scheming? Is this a master plan for Brandon to smuggle a lemur home?

Time to say goodbye and move on to the next animal.



Trying to get seated without squashing a meerkat in the process.

 

Are those meerkats looking for the mealworms or some nuts!

Ever wondered what its look to be swarmed by 21 meerkats.

One of the meerkats stands up proud on Brandon's leg.

I think Brandon was scared to move anywhere in case he trodd on or squashed one of the meerkats.

Brandon's pokemon birthday cake.

Huff and puff time as Brandon blows out the candle and finishes off a great day for his birthday.

Brandon's Stage 15 Reading

Brains of Britain Brandon today moved up to Stage 15 in his school reading. Apparently there is only 17 stages and then he is classed as a free reader. He has set himself a personal objective to get to stage 16 before the year end. 

 

Proud Brandon with his first Stage 15 read book.

Joshua's Stage 7 Swimming

Big well done to Joshua who tonight passed his stage 6 swimming and now moves on to a purple hat stage 7. Fingers crossed we will get him a tryout for Basildon and Phoenix swimming club in the near future so that he can join Brandon.

 

Joshua with his new purple Stage 7 swimming hat.

School Swimming Gala 2017

Earlier this week Joshua and Brandon participated on the 2017 school swimming gala having both been selected for the teams within their respective years. Both boys did outstanding and got a certificate of recognition from the school for outstanding performance. Joshua came second in the freestyle and then won the Year 4 team relay. Brandon absolutely smashed the freestyle and then his team also won the relay.

This was Brandon's stage to really shine as most kids at school just do normal swimming lessons where as Brandon has been in the elite training squad at Basildon and Phoenix for sometime now. The difference in ability is really noticeable. After the gala all of the teachers and the swimming coaches there approached Tina and said that if Brandon hasn't already been talent spotted by a swimming club then he should be. I guess you don't get higher raise than that.

Fingers crossed both boys have done enough to get through to the county stage.



T-D-Y

Joshua, Brandon and Holly have all been very different in terms of the comforters which they have used growing up. Brandon used to suck in his mouth muslin cloths which he gave up several years ago. Joshua has always been a thumb sucker and still is to this very day despite all our efforts to get him to quit. Holly has been different again and has always used a little cloth attached to a teddy which is called “Teddy”. We have two’s “Teddy’s” in the house and god help us if ever Holly is getting tired and you do not have one to hand.


As soon as anyone even mentions “Teddy”, Holly knows exactly what you mean and will then start whining for it. So like all parents we started spelling out the word “T-E-D-D-Y” instead in hope that Holly doesn’t understand what we are talking about. This has been an epic fail as she is obviously far more intelligent than we give her credit for. She has heard us spell out “T-E-D-D-Y” and know calls is her “T-D-Y”!!! I suspect in time to come we are going to have trouble parting Holly from “T-D-Y” and I suspect it will be harder than Brandon’s cloths, but not as hard as Joshua’s thumb!!!!

 

Meet Holly's Teddy, looks a bit worn to say the least but she loves her Teddy.

 

Holly in a deep sleep with her T-D-Y and Big Bear.

Holly's Tops Foundation Update



Finally Holly has reached the age where we can benefit from 15 hours a week of childcare funded by the government. This has meant that effective from the start of this week we have managed to increase Holly's attendance at Tops Pre-School from 1 afternoon a week to 4 afternoons a week. So now she goes to school everyday except Thursday when she has her swimming lessons.

 

Because she sees the boys going to school everyday it is almost as if she has accepted this as the norm and has absolutely no issues going to pre-school. She gets really excited about it and loves her time there. In fact on Monday she started crying after doing the boys school run because she didn't understand that she had to wait until lunchtime for her school to start.

 

The pre-school is really making her tired though and she is very sleepy of an evening and often not that interested in dinner. The increase in the school hours has nicely coincided with us phasing out her daytime naps which she really doesn't need anymore. This week at school she has done loads of drawing, cutting, gluing and even made some jelly.

 



Holly with her first ever pot of jelly that she made at pre-school.

Dab & Bottle Flips

We all had our little fads and crazes when we were at school and it appears no different with the two kids these days. Yo-yo's appear to have made a bit of a comeback recently so I have had to dust off some old skills. The two really annoying ones that are currently doing the rounds are "the dab" and "bottle flips". I'd love to know from our parents whether our school fads and crazes where as annoying as these dabs and bottle flips.

 

I am not really sure what a dab is and the boys can't really tell me. Basically the duck their head into their elbow joint and stick their arms out like a lazy Usain Bolt pose. It's almost like its done as a way of flicking people off, but it is very annoying as the boys are doing it at every opportunity and have even got Holly doing it.

 

God only knows who started the bottle flipping craze where they spin throw a half empty bottle and try to land it on its base. This craze has already been responsible for numerous broken school and football drink bottles!!!

 

So new signs to go up everywhere me thinks.............

 

Xmas Bowling

So the final day of the Xmas holiday before returning to work and to say I am depressed is an understatement. The thought that the kids are off until Thursday and that Tina doesn't have to work at all is horrible. I So wish I could stay at home.

 

For the final day of the holiday we all enjoyed a nice lay-in and then a late shower. This was followed by breakfast and some games indoors. After this I took the 3 kids for a lap of the Wick park on their bikes before a nice spot of lunch. After Holly had woke from her afternoon nap we then headed over to Hollywood Bowl so that the kids could finish their holiday with a spot of bowling.

 

Brandon was getting the hump because he was not winning and came last. Both him and Joshua hit a strike though. But without even realising what she was doing, Holly was the winner of the day with over 85 points.

 

Tina helping Holly using the frame for her bowling.

Brandon used a mix of the frame and bowling himself. I think he did better without the frame though.

Holly can just about see over the frame!

Holly very happy beating both her older brothers. Brandon forcing a smile but wasn't a happy bunny losing to his brother and sister.

Happy New Year 2017

 

A big happy New Year for 2017 from the King family. Holly was too tired to stay up and see the New Year in with the rest of us, but Joshua and Brandon did stay up as they wanted to watch the London fireworks on TV. We spent the evening watching Worlds Strongest Man, Captain America Civil War and then a bit of Robbie Williams before the Big Ben countdown. It is quite funny hearing the boys saying all the old jokes such as "I am not going to clean my teeth anymore this year" or "I am not going to bother with any more school until next year" and so on.

 

On New Years day everyone slept in until about 9 to 9:30am which was nice and then we had a lazy day staying indoors playing games and taking down the Christmas decorations. Of course for dinner we had the last serving of the Jamie Oliver turkey and leak pie with some of my special creamy mash. Only one more serving of turkey left and that will be for a curry tomorrow.



 

A quick cheers from the King family as we see in 2017 at home with a glass of wine and the fireworks on the TV.

New Years day dinner was the absolutely scrummy Jamie Oliver turkey and leak pie. Holly thought the pastry on top was play-doh as she helped me roll it out with a rolling pin.

Young chefs as the kiddies wear the Santa's helper jingle bells cooking aprons.