Holly goes to Blue Class at Abacus

 

On Friday we received confirmation that Holly will be joining the BLUE class in her foundation year at Abacus school this September. She thought she would be in pink class but is happy that she is in blue. Her teachers will be Mrs Barley and Mrs Smith. She has a taster session planned for 6th July so its all getting very exciting now. For 1 year we will have all 3 children in Abacus before Joshua goes up to senior school. 

Holly's "Long" Bike



Last weekend I dusted off the old Trail Gator which we used for Brandon when we wanted to go out cycling with Joshua and Bee was too small to ride on his own. It took me a while to find all the bits and then I fitted it to her pink BMX which we had stored away in the garage.

 

As you can see from the grin on Holly's face she absolutely loved it and now calls it her "Long bike". At first she was a little confused as to why the front wheel was off the floor and why she couldn't steer, but she held on well and was also pedalling a little bit as well. We had a good old ride around the Wick, but now she wants me to take her over Hadleigh cycle park with it as well!

 

So Trail Gator this summer - I'll have her cycling on her own next summer.

 

Holly's first test run on the Trail Gator with her pink BMX. The face says it all.

School Sports Day 2018



Today was the school sports day and as it was an all day event I decided to take the day off work, Me and Holly arrived at around 11:30 just in time to join the boys for a picnic lunch, Tina was off getting some blood tests done. After lunch the boys started their events.

 

Joshua ran the hurdles, the sprint and the long distance. He came 4th in his hurdles and sprint and then took a 3rd place medal in the long distance. So only one medal for him this year which his was disappointed with as he has always come away with at least two medals.

 

Brandon only did the hurdles and the long distance. He took a 3rd place medal in the hurdles and then a very good 1st place in the long distance. Brandon seemed to start off slowly in the long distance and was cruising around in 4th place. He had me worried but was a cool as a cucumber and paced the race perfectly. He kicked in his turbo around lap 2 and never looked like losing.

 

What was really cool at this years sports day was that all the kids wore their own t-shirts which they had designed with their name, year and whether they were clubs, spades, hearts or diamonds. Really proud of both boys today and can't wait until next year when Holly can join them for sports day at Abacus.

 

 

Brandon on his opening ceremony lap.

Joshua with his class on their opening lap.

Brandon taking 3rd place in the hurdles.

Brandon in 3rd, beaten by Zac. He would later get revenge in the long distance.

Joshua coming 4th in his sprint race.

Finally Joshua gets a medal with a strong 3rd place in the long distance.

After 3 events Joshua finally gets to stand on the podium.

Brandon had me worried in his long distance as he settles in to 4th at the start.

But he knew the other kids in the race a paced it perfectly, dipping for the line to win easily.

Top spot as Brandon takes the victory.

The boys with their medals and showing their t-shirts that they designed for the sports day.

On the backs they had their class year and their names

Holly's Treehouse Nursery School Pictures

Holly's Treehouse Nursery sent these beautiful school pictures home this week and whats even more amazing is they were free of charge! Normally the schools gove you a right royal fleecing with the cost of school pictures. 

As you can see from the pictures it appears that Holly is so sweet and innocent and that butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. However since holiday she has been a right little madam and been having some very late terrible two's with crying strops. Yesterday she was in loads of trouble as she decided to find a stone and then use it to draw (well scratch) pictures on to my passenger car door. To say I was angry was an understatement - she is in a lot of trouble!

Joshua gets his Stage 7 Swimming Award

Joshua has been on about quitting swimming recently as he is now a very competent swimmer but doesn't want to progress to racing/gala's. We always told the boys that the swimming lessons were mandatory as it is a life skill, but now that they can both swim very well I am kind of OK with them quitting. That being said Joshua has just been awarded his Stage 7 silver hat now and it would be such a shame for him to quit when he has nearly completed all the stages. Luckily we have talked him in to trying out his new Stage 7 class until the end of the month and then we will re-evaluate the situation.

 

Also staying with the swimming, Holly also moved up a class. She stays with her orange hat but has now advanced to the evening classes instead of the early morning. This is just perfect as she starts school in September and wouldn't be able to do the morning classes.

 

 

Well done Josh, stage 7 silver hat award at swimming.

Fathers Day 2018



About a week or so ago I got to go to Abacus school and meet the two boys for a Fathers Day lunch. It seems like this s something they are going to keep doing every year for Mothers Day and Fathers Day. I can't say that I am too disappointed as I think it is a great idea. For the Fathers Day lunch we enjoyed an all day breakfast followed by a chocolate chip cookie (not sure Jamie Oliver's healthy food in school's campaign would be too pleased with the menu).

 

On Fathers day itself I got some lovely presents from the kids. We started the day with Brandon having a friendly footie match against Wickford Town which ended up with a big 9-2 win. So a great start to the day. After that I was hoping to go in to Southend to watch the car show on the beach, but when the boys got back from footie the PlayStation's went on and they weren't going anywhere. So me and Holly enjoyed playing in the garden and chilling in the Jacuzzi.

 

Me and my boys having a Fathers Day lunch at school.

Jamie Oliver wouldn't be pleased with the menu.

I hate glitter, but I love this Fathers Day tie that Holly made me at pre-school.

Me with my babies and all the lovely gifts they got me for Fathers Day. Especially the hand print plate from Holly which now completes my set of 3.

Yeh, finally I have my Holly hand print plate to complete the trio.

The boys school made Fathers day cards were very witty this year.

As cool as an ice cream.

A picture of Yoda with the slogan, "Yoda best Dad......"

 

Me trying to show Holly how to make big bubbles like the man in Barcelona a week or so ago.

 

Holly's turn to try the rope bubbles. She seems to have the knack.

Me making bubbles and Holly running around like a lunatic popping them.



La Pinada, Salou, Spain 2018 Day 14 - The END

As with every holiday the start seems to go so slowly and everyone is having a great time, but then that second week seems to just fly past and before you know it you are packing the cases and getting ready to head home. We made the best of our very last day by spending most of it at the water park and watching the dolphin show again. We didn't have a particularly late night as we had to get up pretty early (about 6am) to get ourselves ready for the airport run.

 

The holiday has been absolutely fantastic and we have made some great memories for the kids to look back on and treasure. Hopefully just a few of these memories are captured in this blog as I am sure Holly will remember little about this holiday just as the boys couldn't from when we last came here 7 years ago. Who knows maybe we will be back in another 7 years when Holly is the age of Josh and Brandon. What I do know is that I need a holiday now to recover from chasing around after 3 kids for 2 weeks. Still it has been really nice to have no cooking, cleaning, housework, washing up etc.etc. for 2 weeks.

 

Joshua enjoying the bowl on our last day in Salou.

Me and H getting one last chuckle on the black hole.

Selfie of me and H about to watch our last dolphin show of the holiday.

We sat down the front this time for a different view and to get at the front of the queue for a picture with the sea lions.

One of the big sea lions soaking up the sun.

Some smaller ones playing in the pool.

Our souvenir picture from Aquapolis with the sea lion. If you look back on the blog 7 years ago you will see the same picture but with just me and the boys. How times have changed.

 

That moment big brave Josh tippy toes across some ouchy stones!!!!

Holly has enjoyed herself, but all good things come to an end.

I think she would like me to build her one of these in the back garden.

Holly making the most of all the slides on our last day.

That little smile is worth every penny this holiday has cost me.

This became Holly's imaginary kitchen where she was making me various drinks and food.

Holly and Josh chilling on a crocodile.

A view out on the water park.

Holly on some more slides.

Brandon in the Maui Paradise.

Now that's a Jacuzzi.

Amazingly we spent hardly anytime in this area of the water park yet it is so beautiful.

Water jet massage area.

Maui Paradise.

Brandon now looking pretty tanned and as if he comes from Maui.

B wanted one more picture with the sharking eating his head.

Family picture outside the pool area at Hotel III.

Bye bye Estival Park. It has been good.

The final meal, Joshua couldn't stop eating just for one quick picture.

Cheers everyone.

It has been a full on and very tiring 2 weeks. We all need a good sleep and a relaxing holiday to recover now. But for now Holly cuddles up with Woody and Estivee for some shut eye.